Chapter 254: Wenzheng
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
Crown Prince Guangyan’s agreement to the peace with the Wutuo people stirred up a storm in Shuojing City. The memorials from the censorate did not change Guangyan’s mind. The Wutuo emissaries, who were previously detained by Emperor Wenxuan, reappeared near the imperial palace. Despite speaking in a humble and deferential tone with courtiers, there was an unmistakable sense of satisfaction in their eyes.
After the morning court session, the officials had various thoughts, each hiding their concerns deep within. Two days had passed, and tomorrow was the day to enter the imperial mausoleum. Once inside, Crown Prince Guangyan would ascend to the throne, and the days ahead were feared to become increasingly challenging.
As they exited Changle Palace, they heard the distant sound of reciting books. When the courtiers looked up, they saw dozens of students sitting on the spacious grounds in front of Changle Palace.
These students sat on the ground, and the leader among them had long white hair, wore official robes, and appeared elderly. He had a stern expression and was none other than Wei Xuanzhang, the head of the Xianchang Academy.
Wei Xuanzhang was indeed a man of true talent and learning, but his stubborn and obstinate character had caused him to offend many people in his youth. Consequently, he was sent to lead the Xianchang Academy. The position suited his penchant for delivering moralizing speeches, even though he held little real power. Wei vehemently opposed Prince Guangyan’s agreement to peace with the Wutuo people and the establishment of a trading market in Great Wei. His dissent was most evident in the memorials submitted to the emperor. However, given his low official rank, he had no chance of catching Prince Guangyan’s attention. His heartfelt words were merely adding another sheet to the pile of discarded paper.
“Headmaster Wei?” one courtier who recognized him asked, “What are you doing here? Teacher, please return. His Highness is unlikely to change his mind now.”
This courtier was once Wei’s student, reluctant to see his former teacher offend the future king, and therefore tried to kindly advise him.
However, Wei Xuanzhang remained unmoved, focusing his gaze toward Changle Palace and loudly declared, “As a humble official, I risk my life to remonstrate. I implore His Highness to retract his decree. We must not allow the Wutuo people to establish a market in Great Wei!”
There was no response from Changle Palace.
The sun gently bathed the palace grounds in its golden glow, as if sprinkling a layer of fine gold dust. The young students exuded vitality, with clear and distinct eyes, while the elderly official resembled the setting sun, radiating a last hint of brilliance, standing proudly in the spring breeze.
Slowly rising to his feet, Wei Xuanzhang, whose once robust body now revealed signs of aging, stood firmly. After steadying himself, he began reciting aloud, “The weather has righteousness, blending and transforming freely. Below, what is Mount Hua, and above, it is a new day. To people, it is said to be broad-minded, flowing like the surging tide…”
His students beside him paused momentarily, following the elderly curator as he recited aloud.
“…On the yellow road, as pure as water, harmonious and bright. When the time is poor, integrity reveals itself, one by one, painting the Daoist path!”
“One by one, painting the Daoist path!”
Wei Xuanzhang recited “The Song of Righteousness”.
In Chengle Hall, Crown Prince Guangyan slammed his cup to the ground. “What is that old man saying outside? I want his head chopped off!”
His attendants quickly knelt down and grabbed the hem of his robe. “Your Highness, absolutely not! At least not before the coronation ceremony! Wei Xuanzhang has no other charges, and he is the head of the Xianchang Academy. Accusing him lightly may cause the courtiers and the people to gossip…”
“Just a mere teacher, I’ll kill him if I want to! Who dares to discuss it?” Guangyan raged, “How come there’s no charge? He’s blatantly disrespecting the royal family! What does he mean by threatening me outside? Ridiculous! How could I, the prince, be threatened by an old man like him? Does he believe I’ll immediately have his students all thrown into prison, then we’ll see who dares to speak out about this matter!”
“Yes, yes.” His attendant wiped his sweat. “But even if we need to teach him a lesson, please endure for a few days, Your Highness. Wei Xuanzhang has always had a peculiar temperament. When His Majesty was still alive, he was constantly disrespectful…”
“I am not as kind-hearted as my father,” Guangyan gritted his teeth. “If he thinks I’ll be as tolerant as my father, he’s mistaken!”
“That’s natural,” the confidant hurriedly said. “But for now, Your Highness should refrain from getting involved. Let him make noise outside, and once the enthronement ceremony is over, Your Highness can settle the score.”
Guangyan snorted and kicked open the broken teacup lid in front of him. “Then let him live a few more days.”
Outside, Wei Xuanzhang continued to recite loudly, his old and withered body standing straight in the wind.
“Perhaps it’s the Liaodong Cap, with clear principles and icy determination. Perhaps it’s the Imperial Edict, making gods and ghosts weep in its splendor…”
“…Or it’s the decree to fight invaders, with heads raised high in defiance. This is the majestic spirit, chilling and enduring through the ages.”
Behind him, the young students followed the old master in reciting, as if they were not in front of the Chengle Palace, under the watchful eyes of court officials, but in the lecture hall of the Xianchang Academy, reading and learning on a spring day.
“After contemplating deeply, I gaze up at the floating white clouds. My heart is heavy, why does the sky have limits?”
“The wise are far away, their deeds remain in the past. Books are displayed under the eaves, illuminating the ancient path.”
After finishing the poem, there was no response in the Chengle Palace.
Wei Xuanzhang stopped and looked at the court officials before him.
The court officials either avoided his gaze or looked at him with pity. Wei Xuanzhang took a step forward, trembling as he ascended the steps, and as he walked, he took off his official cap.
His voice was steady, like a clear bell, as he said, “For a general, loyalty and valor are as unyielding as gold, penetrating the whiteness of daylight. Bearing arms, awaiting the call to battle, their aim is to fulfill their duty.”
Then he placed the wooden tablet in his hand down. “Civil officials are not like military commanders. As the sage said, culture embodies morality and broad knowledge, and it is the means to establish order. Wenzheng* are truly honored, with nothing further to add.”
* literati entering politics and became officials posthumous name
He walked up to the last step, slowly knelt down, and placed the removed official cap and wooden tablet aside. Looking at the empty hall of the Chengle Palace, his voice was desolate yet resolute.
“Although this humble subject lacks the bravery of wielding weapons and has no military achievements, I possess only a heart of loyalty and righteousness, upright and bright. The Xianchang Academy teaches students to read the books of sages, and now seeing Your Highness stray from the right path, if I do not advise, it would be my fault.”
“In battle or in counsel, life and death are like fleeting clouds to me. Today, this old subject dares to use my own life to advise Your Highness to pull back from the brink and avoid making a grave mistake.”
“I beseech Your Highness to revoke the order and not allow the foreign envoys to set foot on the land of Great Wei. Do not invite wolves into the house, opening the door to thieves!”
With these words, he suddenly slammed his head against the crimson pillar in front of the Chengle Palace.
Blood splattered all over the ground in an instant.
The courtiers standing nearby were first stunned, then alarmed. The students from the Xianchang Academy rushed forward, surrounding Wei Xuanzhang. The wooden tablet and official hat that had been set aside were trampled into pieces in the chaos in front of Changle Palace.
…
In Qinglan Palace.
Noble Consort Lan sat quietly reading a book. Not far from her, Noble Lady Ni, watching the faint smoke rising from the bronze censer, seemed somewhat agitated.
Tomorrow would be the day Emperor Wenxuan entered the imperial mausoleum, the day they would also be buried. If Guangyan were kind, he might provide a vial of poison for a quick death. But if he acted deliberately, they might be sealed alive in the imperial mausoleum, suffocated to death.
“Older Sister, are you still in the mood to read?” Noble Lady Ni couldn’t hold back any longer, stood up, and walked to Noble Consort Lan, snatching the book away. “Tomorrow is the day of our death. I can’t believe you’re so calm. Aren’t you worried about it?”
No one can escape the grasp of life and death. Noble Lady Ni, back when she vied for favor with Noble Consort Lan, believed her youth and beauty would inevitably allow her to replace Noble Consort Lan, only to incur the wrath of Emperor Wenxuan. Afterward, she entrusted Guangji to Noble Consort Lan’s care, which restrained Noble Lady Ni considerably, preventing her from going too far. However, she still felt resentful deep down.
But now, suddenly, she and Noble Consort Lan have both become sacrificial offerings, no different from the vases and decorations buried with Emperor Wenxuan. All past grievances can be forgotten. At least at this moment, they are on the same side.
There are no eternal enemies or friends in the world. Noble Lady Ni, impulsive and arrogant, had no close confidantes in the palace. Now, the only person she could rely on was this thorn in her side from the past.
Noble Consort Lan raised her eyes to look at her, her tone as gentle as before. “Tomorrow is tomorrow. Why worry about it today?”
“Why worry?” Noble Lady Ni said, “Of course, I worry! Don’t you see that this edict is suspicious? The emperor is usually so soft-hearted. If he allows you and me to be buried, it must be that scoundrel Guangyan taking revenge for private grievances.” She looked at Noble Consort Lan again, mocking, “I know you’re carefree and don’t care about life and death, but don’t you want to think about the Fourth Prince? My Guangji is still so young. What kind of temperament does the Crown Prince have? We both know it well. Now, dealing with you and me, but after the Crown Prince ascends the throne, the next in line will be Guangshuo and Guangji. Are you going to watch your own son die?”
At these words, Noble Consort Lan’s calm expression finally showed a slight ripple.
But before she could speak, a palace maid rushed in, whispered a few words to the gatekeeper, and the maid hurriedly walked over. When she reached Noble Consort Lan, she spoke in a low voice, “Your Highness, something has happened in Changle Palace.”
Noble Consort Lan and Noble Lady Ni both looked at her.
“It is said that Master Wei from the Xianchang Academy risked his life to remonstrate. He pleaded with the Crown Prince to retract the decree for peace with the Wutuo people. When the Crown Prince did not respond, Master Wei rammed his head into a pillar in Changle Palace and died. Many officials witnessed it, and now there is chaos outside. The students of the Xianchang Academy are refusing to leave.”
“Remonstrating with death?” Noble Lady Ni frowned, “I haven’t heard such words in the palace for many years.”
Emperor Wenxuan was soft-hearted, excessively tolerant. Even if he occasionally read a few memorials from the censors, he would usually only look at one, not resorting to such extreme measures. But now, even if Guangyan ascended to the throne, he would bear the infamy of forcing an old minister to his death. Most of the students from the Xianchang Academy came from prestigious families, and they were passionate youths. Seeing their headmaster sacrifice himself, if Guangyan persisted in making peace with the Wutuo people, it would undoubtedly be unfavorable to his reputation inside and outside the palace.
Noble Consort Lan leaned against the armrest of the chair, not saying a word.
Noble Lady Ni was indifferent and said, “These years, we’ve struggled to survive here, but there are still people eager to die. But that Wei Xuanzhang is already seventy or eighty years old. It’s not a loss for him to die. I haven’t enjoyed a few good years yet. I refuse to die like this. Despicable!”
Noble Consort Lan sighed softly, and the palace maid helped her stand up.
She walked to the window. The sun outside was just right, and it was a spring day, with everything flourishing.
“Look, look more,” Noble Lady Ni couldn’t help but sneer, “After tomorrow, you won’t be able to see it anymore.”
“Lady Ni,” Noble Consort Lan turned around, looking at her calmly, “Do you want to live?”
“Are you asking knowingly?”
“If you want to live,” Noble Consort Lan’s voice was gentle, in the tranquility, seeming to contain a deeper meaning, “do as I say.”
…
When He Yan knew about Wei Xuanzhang’s death remonstration, she immediately went to the Wei family.
Inside and outside the Wei family residence was already crowded with people, and more kept coming. Over the years, Xianchang Academy had educated batches of students. If Xu Jingfu’s students were spread across the court, Wei Xuanzhang was not far behind. However, after the students left the institute, Wei Xuanzhang did not engage with them much. On the surface, it seemed like he held less prestige than Xu Jingfu.
However, now that he risked his life to remonstrate, the news spread, and students from all over came to see their teacher’s last journey.
He Yan finally managed to squeeze into the crowd and saw He Xinying supporting Madam Wei, who was crying and seemed about to faint. Seeing He Yan, He Xinying was also stunned. When the new students came to take care of her, He Xinying walked over when she had a chance, asking, “Older Sister He, why did you come?”
Actually, in terms of age, the current “He Yan” could not be called He Xinying’s sister. But He Xinying always felt that if her deceased elder sister were still alive, she might look like He Yan, so she ignored many rules.
He Yan replied, “Teacher Wei is Huaijin’s mentor. It will take Huaijin some time to arrive from outside the city, so I came here first to check. Is Madam Wei alright?”
“Not too good,” He Xinying shook her head. “Teacher Wei, I’m afraid, had already made up his mind to die. After today’s incident, Madam Wei found several letters in his study desk drawer, each a farewell to family members.”
He Xinying was also very saddened. Because of her elder sister, she lived in Wei Xuanzhang’s mansion. Wei Xuanzhang mostly stayed at the Xianchang Academy and rarely came back. He Xinying spent more time with Madam Wei. Madam Wei was gentle and didn’t mind her past identity, but who would have thought… such a thing would happen suddenly.
“I heard that Teacher Wei sacrificed himself to persuade His Highness the Crown Prince to retract the order to make peace with the Wutuo people,” He Xinying asked tentatively, “So now…”
He Yan gave a bitter smile. “I’m afraid it won’t work.”
How could Crown Prince Guangyan change his mind just because of Wei Xuanzhang’s life? He might not only feel no remorse but also be angered by Wei Xuanzhang’s lack of understanding of the situation.
Just as she was thinking, a voice came from behind, “Little sister He, what are you doing here?”
He Yan turned around and saw Lin Shuanghe and Yan He entering from outside. Both of them were former students of Xianchang Academy. Upon learning about the incident, they naturally rushed over without stopping.
“Did Huaijin not come with you?” Yan He looked around.
“He’s on duty today, conducting military drills outside the city at the Nanfu,” He Yan sighed inwardly. It was indeed unfortunate. If Xiao Jue happened to be present today, perhaps he could have stopped Wei Xuanzhang.
“Waas General Yan not there today either?” He Yan looked at Yan He.
Yan He was agitated, “If I were here, how could such a thing happen!”
Due to the death of Emperor Wenxuan and Guangyan’s arbitrary actions, Yan He was dissatisfied. He didn’t want to attend the court, so he found an excuse not to be present. After all, Guangyan’s participation in the court was just a facade. Now, he was just taking the opportunity to eliminate dissidents. Who would have thought that a major incident would occur in his absence?
“I’ll go check on Teacher’s wife.” Lin Shuanghe lifted his foot and walked inside.
Although Wei Xuanzhang was old-fashioned and strict with women, there were no concubines in the mansion. Over the years, he and Madam Wei had managed to get along. Now, with Madam Wei left alone, the impact on her could be imagined.
The young students knelt in front of the old man’s deathbed. Wei Xuanzhang laid quietly, his official robe wrinkled, stained with dirt and mixed with residual blood. However, he seemed cleaner than anyone else.
He Yan watched, feeling extremely sad.
Although this old man was strict and old-fashioned in Xianchang Academy, the young ones often secretly cursing him as stubborn, yet, it was he who bravely stood up when the civil officials were all protecting themselves, just as he taught in the last lesson, “Read the classics and do loyal deeds.”
Lin Shuanghe’s voice lowered, and the corners of his eyes and eyebrows were not as lively as usual. He said, “Teacher Wei’s righteousness…”
“Righteousness is of no use,” Yan He sneered. “Look at the one in the palace. Have you heard any movement from him? Believe it or not, in a few days, those Wutuo people will still appear on the streets of Shuojing!”
“I really don’t understand,” Lin Shuanghe murmured. “Why does the Crown Prince insist on this? Even someone like me who doesn’t understand court affairs can see that those who are not of the same race have different hearts. Can’t he see it?”
“He’s not blind,” He Yan whispered, “He just has his own desires.”
Yan He and Lin Shuanghe both looked at him.
Lin Shuanghe frowned and asked, “Little Sister He, what do you mean?”
Yan He didn’t ask questions, just looked at her thoughtfully.
After thinking for a while, He Yan gestured for Yan He to step aside. Yan He impatiently said, “If there’s something, just say it quickly. Our identities are different. In the eyes of others, gossip could spread. What will happen then?”
He Yan: “…”
He was particularly clean in this regard. Perhaps it was due to strict family rules.
If it were in the past, He Yan might have teased him a bit. However, today, she really didn’t have the mood to joke. She asked in a low voice, “General Yan, have you seen the Fourth Prince?”
Yan He was stunned, looking at He Yan’s gradually changing gaze. After a while, he spoke in a low voice, “Why are you inquiring about this? “
“Tomorrow is the day to enter the imperial mausoleum,” He Yan looked at him, “According to the late emperor’s will, the noble consort will be buried together. How can the Fourth Prince stand idly by? In addition, with what happened to Teacher Wei today… General Yan,” she asked, “you should know.”
Yan He’s expression changed a few times. The arrogant and impatient expression from before disappeared, replaced by a calm and cold demeanor.
He said, “Marquis Wuan, that’s enough. There’s no need to ask any further.”
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
