Xing Pingchun was dragged into the palace by Emperor Yongtai. The emperor had intended to lash out at him, but upon seeing his red, swollen eyes and pitiful state from crying, he found himself unable to scold too harshly.
“Your father defied the imperial decree, and so he deserves punishment. Why are you making a scene outside? Do you also want Us to lock you up?”
Xing Pingchun burst into sobs. “Then please imprison this humble subject, Your Majesty! Let me take punishment in Father’s place—whether life or death, let it be decided by you! Useless as I am, if my father dies, neither I nor the Xing family will have any way to live on!”
Emperor Yongtai snapped impatiently: “At least you know your own worth! But all your years of study have gone straight to the dogs. Whoever commits a crime must answer for it. If punishment could always be taken by another, what law would remain in this world?”
“But Your Majesty, can you not consider both my father’s great merits and his sufferings, and spare him just this once?”
“You are but a child—do not meddle in matters you do not understand! Guards! Escort the young marquis back to the Xing estate. Without Zhen’s order, he is not to step outside!”
Thus Emperor Yongtai placed Xing Pingchun under house arrest. Yet his cries had already spread throughout Yongan City. In taverns and teahouses, on streets and in alleys, whispers abounded, and the whole city grew uneasy.
“Why has the Son of Heaven imprisoned General Xing? Didn’t he just achieve a great victory?”
“I heard he defied the imperial edict.”
“Why did he defy the edict?”
“They say it was to retake Qinan Province, to drive the Xili people back beyond Hemen Pass—so he went against the decree.”
“But that’s merit, isn’t it? Wasn’t the edict supposed to have him fight the enemy?”
“The edict ordered him back to witness the ceremony of the princess marrying into the Xing family.”
“This… how can that be…”
“Hey! What are you people chattering about? Disperse, all of you!” The shout of the Imperial Guards cut off the discussion at the marketplace, scattering the crowd.
In recent days, the Imperial Guards had been assigned a new task: to silence any talk among the people about Xing Muzheng. They combed through Yongan, ordering citizens everywhere to hold their tongues.
But the effect was meager. Even among the guards, some whispered in secret.
“Hey, what do you think is really going on here?”
“What else? The throne fears General Xing!” One man drew a hand across his neck in a cutting gesture.
“Don’t spout nonsense! The throne isn’t ruled by a muddleheaded tyrant. How could His Majesty harm General Xing?”
“Bah, haven’t the histories recorded plenty of such cases? Great merit overshadows the lord, tall trees catch the wind!”
“But General Xing only just returned with victory, revered by the people—how could the throne choose this moment to move against him?”
“Why do you think the court was so rushed to bestow the princess in marriage? Why else did decree after decree summon General Xing back in such haste?”
“Enough! Even if no one is around, don’t speak such reckless words!” Their captain, Huang Jian, cut them off sharply.
“Chief, this whole business—none of us brothers can make sense of it. Give us some guidance. If something changes, at least we’ll know how to act!” Huang Jian’s second uncle was a high-ranking minister, and the men hoped to hear inside news.
Huang Jian was silent for a moment. “I’m as blind as you. All I know is this—trouble is brewing. Stay sharp. Not a shred of carelessness is allowed.”
For days, Emperor Yongtai had faced off against the ministers, but none would yield. Instead, memorials of remonstrance piled on his desk like snow. News of Xing Muzheng’s imprisonment spread beyond Yongan, sweeping across Great Xie. Petitions from across the land pleaded for Xing Muzheng’s release.
This vexed Emperor Yongtai greatly. Though he had never cared for the voices of commoners, the ancestral injunctions were recited year after year, and now the imperial clan seized on them to press him. He had thought to pressure the ministers into obedience, but in the end it was he who was pressed.
In fury, Emperor Yongtai smashed the treasures on his display shelves to pieces.
The only eunuch still in the hall was Yu Xi, temporarily assigned to serve at his side. He dared not breathe too loud, only hunched his shoulders until the emperor’s rage spent itself, then quickly called others to clean up the wreckage.
Yu Xi poured a fresh cup of hot tea himself, offering it up soothingly. “Your Majesty, such anger may harm the dragon body.”
“Hmph!” Emperor Yongtai brushed his hand aside.
Yu Xi quickly set down the cup, then leaned in again. “Your Majesty, the New Year is nearly upon us. To let things drag on like this—it cannot go on.”
“Rubbish!”
Yu Xi pasted on a smile. “Yes, yes, this servant spouts rubbish, this servant spouts rubbish!”
Emperor Yongtai snorted again. Yu Xi hurried to present the tea, knelt on the floor, and gently massaged the emperor’s legs.
After two sips of tea, the emperor set down the cup, and Yu Xi hastened to place it properly aside, resuming his kneeling posture to pound at his legs. Glancing cautiously at the emperor’s face, he whispered: “Your Majesty, this lowly one dares to speak—though I know not whether I should.”
Emperor Yongtai closed his eyes, silent for a time. “Speak.”
Yu Xi instantly said: “Yes, yes. Your Majesty, I was thinking—your reign is still young, while the court ministers are all veterans. They rely on the indulgence of the late emperor, and each holds great power. If you clash head-on with them now, the outcome may not be to your favor. All the more so with Xing Muzheng fresh from victory, the people’s spirits stirred… that traitorous wretch is loathsome indeed! This servant only wishes I could slip into the prison myself and kill him outright to vent Your Majesty’s anger!”
Perhaps weary from smashing things, Emperor Yongtai did not rebuke Yu Xi’s words. In fact, they struck right at his heart. With a heavy sigh, he muttered, “What you said—does it not name my very worry? I… I am in a most difficult place.”
Yu Xi continued to knead his legs attentively. “Your Majesty, you are upright and aboveboard, so naturally you will not stoop to tricks. But this servant has a plan—not an honorable one, perhaps—but if Your Majesty would…”
“Quickly, speak!”
“Yes,” Yu Xi braced himself, leaning closer to Emperor Yongtai. “Your Majesty, as long as Xing Muzheng dies, your heart’s greatest trouble is removed. Why not take advantage of him being in prison, and then…”
Emperor Yongtai snapped, “What foolish idea is that? Xing Muzheng is currently held by the Shuntian Prefecture. The Prefect of Shuntian is the most stubborn of men, and the Heavenly Prison is so tightly guarded that not even a fly could slip through. Whoever wishes to see Xing Muzheng needs the official seals of Prime Minister Hang, the Prefect of Shuntian, and Royal Uncle Hejing. If I were to send someone carrying an imperial decree, wouldn’t that be announcing to the world that I intend to kill him?”
“Yes, yes, this slave was muddle-headed.” Yu Xi quickly slapped his own mouth, then his eyes rolled as an idea sparked. “Since it cannot be done in prison, why not release Xing Muzheng, and on the day of the Princess’s marriage, let assassins mingle within, and strike him then!”
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