At the very moment he received the decree, alarm bells rang in Su Yan’s mind.
He knew that he and the Wei clan were already locked in a death feud, and in the process he had gravely offended their powerful backer—the Empress Dowager. Thus, he had always been cautious about his own safety.
In the three months since returning to the capital, he never went out idly, and avoided leaving home alone whenever possible.
He had anticipated many forms of Wei family retaliation, including but not limited to disfigurement, assassination, framing, entrapment… but he had never imagined the Empress Dowager herself would condescend to act against him.
—At such a critical juncture, for the Empress Dowager to summon him suddenly—could it really just be for a casual chat?
Su Yan’s thoughts spun wildly, but his expression remained calm. He said to the decree-bearing eunuch: “I am dressed in household attire, unfit for a palace audience. Allow me to change into my fourth-rank official robes.” With that, he made to go inside.
The Cining Palace guards blocked him with an outstretched hand: “No need. The Empress Dowager has ordered an immediate audience. Lord Su, please board the carriage.”
Su Yan tried again: “Then at least allow me to give a word of instruction to my servants at home, to prepare the evening meal.”
The guard was unmoved: “No need. The Empress Dowager ordered there be no delay. Please.”
With no recourse, Su Yan was virtually abducted into the carriage. He sighed inwardly: Ah Zhui has fled, Qilang is out of the city chasing the enemy. If only Gao Shuo, who lurked on the rooftops, were still here.
Unfortunately, even Gao Shuo had gone home to recuperate from an arrow wound on his back. Shen Qi, knowing Su Yan disliked being spied upon, had also stopped sending men to watch over him.
After the carriage had gone a short way, Su Yan sensed something was wrong. Looking out the window, he saw they had not entered the palace through Meridian Gate, but instead turned near the Six Ministries offices—heading toward the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
…What did the Empress Dowager mean by this? Afraid that if they entered the palace, someone might tip off the Emperor?
A stronger sense of foreboding rose in Su Yan’s heart. But with the situation pressing, he could only take one step at a time as he was escorted through the Halberd Gate.
Once, Crown Prince Zhu Helin had knelt before the ancestral tablets in the temple’s central hall, with Su Yan accompanying him. But this time, Su Yan was not even granted entry into the main hall.
Just outside the Halberd Gate, at the front annex hall, palace attendants raised a phoenix-embroidered canopy, set a broad cushioned seat, and helped the Empress Dowager take her place.
Around the square, rings of guards stood in tight formation. Su Yan knelt on the flagstones before the phoenix carriage and performed a flawless formal kowtow.
The Empress Dowager did not bid him rise. She commanded: “Lift your face.”
Su Yan furrowed his brow slightly, then raised his face and calmly looked toward the phoenix seat.
This was his first close encounter with the Empress Dowager. If it had been when he had just transmigrated, he might have been as nervous as when he first faced the Emperor. But now, his heart was tranquil as still water.
The Empress Dowager gazed into his eyes for a moment, then suddenly gave a soft laugh: “Su Yan?”
Su Yan cupped his hands. “This minister is present.”
The Empress Dowager said: “I have lived long within the inner palace and seldom concern myself with front court matters. But the name ‘Su Twelve’—day after day it circles my ears. They say that on the very day you first set foot in the Fengtian Hall for the palace exam, you made a sensational impression? Quite a feat.”
Su Yan replied: “That was a misunderstanding. This minister misheard the topic due to poor hearing, it was not intended as an attack. At that time, I did not even recognize a single official in the hall.”
“Then knocking the Drum of Appeal outside the Meridian Gate and toppling the Commander of the Embroidered Guards, Feng Qu’e—that too was a misunderstanding?”
“That was not. That, this minister did deliberately. On one hand, to clear my teacher’s name and rid the nation of a traitor; on the other, for my own self-preservation.”
The Empress Dowager seemed a little surprised. The corners of her crimson lips curved: “You are quite straightforward. Good. Talking with someone like this spares much trouble. I am truly sick of those who wear a mask of gentleness and virtue while hiding a stomach full of schemes.”
I have reason to suspect you’re dissing the late emperor’s and your favorite rival, Consort Mo, and the Crown Prince’s Royal Mother, the late Empress Zhang, Su Yan grumbled silently.
But he quickly lost the mood for such inner sarcasm. For the Empress Dowager went on: “I also heard that last night, while protecting the Crown Prince, you suffered internal injuries at the hands of assassins. To shield the heir is great merit. How is it the Emperor sent you no physician? Attend him! Give Lord Su a thorough examination.”
At once, two imperial physicians stepped forward, one on either side, taking Su Yan’s pulse, observing his complexion, checking his bones. After a moment, they reported to the Empress Dowager: “Lord Su has no internal injuries. His body is in perfect health.”
The Empress Dowager sneered: “Well, well. So this is the ‘straightforward’ man who cheats the throne for merit.”
Su Yan inwardly groaned. Last night, Emperor Jinglong had told him to feign injury to avoid attention—now it had become evidence of duplicity. Yet before the Empress Dowager, her attendants, and the guards, he couldn’t possibly betray the Emperor! Even if he did, who would believe it? He could only grit his teeth and shoulder the blame.
“Replying to the Empress Dowager: this minister was struck by the force of the Seven Kill Camp Leader’s qi during the attempt on the Crown Prince’s life, and fell with His Highness down the steps. I spat blood on the spot—this was seen by the Eastern Palace guards and the Embroidered Guards alike. This minister has not lied or deceived. Because of ill health, I merely wished to request two days’ leave to rest, with no intent of claiming merit. Even if His Majesty or His Highness wished to reward me, this minister would not dare accept unearned honors.”
When they tumbled down the steps, he and Zhu Helin had bumped mouths, and he had bled a little. Calling it spitting blood from internal injury wasn’t entirely made up. Hopefully, it would pass. Besides, he truly had neither reported the matter for credit, nor accepted reward from Emperor or Crown Prince—that much, at least, was the truth.
But the Empress Dowager refused to accept this explanation: “You are clearly uninjured, yet you feigned sickness to request leave—this proves you are sly and opportunistic at heart. You say you would refuse reward, but no reward has yet been bestowed. If the Emperor chose to reward you, would you really refuse?”
Indeed—how could she assert what had not even happened? And besides, what was so wrong with him asking for two days off? He had worked sick and without rest for an entire month before, and no one ever gave him extra pay!
Of course, such words could only be said in modern times, in the workplace. But here? This was an era of “if the ruler wants the minister dead, the minister must die.” To give your life for the royal house was called loyalty; to withhold it was called treason. Where was there any room for reason?
In this age, the court’s rules were both absurdly strict and full of loopholes. Strict, because officials attending court were not allowed to move their steps carelessly; anyone spitting on the ground would be dragged off by the Embroidered Guards for a public beating. Yet loophole-ridden, because if the Emperor relaxed attendance just a little, some officials would skip morning court altogether, shirking their duties. Even if discovered later, the numbers were so large that punishment by the law could not be enforced, and the matter would be dropped.
So tell me—my feigned injury and request for leave, is that really a big matter or a small one?
It was nothing more than an excuse for her to pin him down! Since she was intent on punishing him, would yielding help? Would begging spare him?
Thus Su Yan, neither humble nor arrogant, said: “This minister is frail, and truly felt unwell, so I requested leave. If the Empress Dowager deems that even after chasing assassins through the night and falling injured in the rain, this minister has no right to rest, then please issue an edict and let the Ministry of Personnel punish me according to the law.”
Issue an edict? She, the exalted Empress Dowager, to formally decree punishment for a minister who, after handling a case, merely took two days off claiming illness? What a joke! Even if others guessed she was using this as a pretext to chastise him, at least she should choose a decent charge. To make a mountain out of such a molehill—she would only lose face herself.
This man was not only sly and sharp-tongued, but dared to answer back. Truly hateful! When Wei Lan had said he seduced the ruler with his looks, she had thought it baseless. But seeing his appearance and manner now, it seemed not far from the truth. The Empress Dowager’s dislike of Su Yan had reached its peak. She frowned and called out: “Qiong Gu!”
The senior palace maid Qiong Gu stepped forward, halted before Su Yan, and said slowly: “Su Yan, do you know your crimes?”
Su Yan replied: “This minister has served in office with a clear conscience. I do not know what crimes I have committed.”
Qiong Gu raised her voice slightly: “You spoke against your superiors and slandered imperial kin, causing discord among the Emperor’s consorts—this is crime one. You colluded with the remnants of Hidden Sword Gate and harbored death warriors—this is crime two. In the middle of the night, you led troops to besiege a marquis’s residence, usurping power—this is crime three. You incited the Crown Prince to neglect his duties, harboring ill intent—this is crime four. You impeached officials at will, eliminating dissent—this is crime five. Each one is a grave charge. Do you still dare deny them?”
Su Yan answered in a loud, clear voice: “First: I am not only Right Shaoqing of the Dali Temple, but also a Censor of the Court. Supervising officials and memorializing on governance is my duty. A remonstrating official is entitled to report even on hearsay, let alone that my impeachments have always been supported by evidence. Where is the crime?”
“Second: When I took in a guard, I knew nothing of his past identity, nor did I ever order him to commit unlawful acts. A lone man, at most, can serve as bodyguard or driver. Who ever heard of raising a ‘death warrior’ by keeping only one? Moreover, I still owe him half a year’s wages, which drove him to resign in anger. With my empty purse, unable even to pay a servant’s stipend, where would I find the money to maintain death warriors?”
“Third: When troops surrounded the Marquis’s residence to seize a criminal, I acted under imperial edict. Otherwise, how could I have commanded the Tengxiang Guard? The edict is still on my person—I invite the Empress Dowager to inspect it.
“Fourth: What are the Crown Prince’s proper duties? As for study, his lessons have not been interrupted; when he failed to attend Wenhua Hall, it was with His Majesty’s leave. If he ever absented himself without reason, Grand Tutor Li would be the first to discipline him. Yet of late I have only heard the tutor praise the Crown Prince’s progress, without criticism. As for his frequent departures from the palace, these too were on imperial order to investigate cases. There is no question of neglecting duty. Since the Crown Prince has committed no fault, how could I be guilty of ‘inciting’ him?”
“Fifth: the reasoning is the same as in the first.”
“These five charges are false. This minister cannot acknowledge them!”
The Empress Dowager slapped her armrest and leapt to her feet: “Presumptuous! Who allows you to speak thus to the Mother of the Nation? Outrageous! Insolent to the extreme!”
Su Yan cupped his hands: “This minister is not insolent, but reasoning with facts. As the Mother of the Nation, you should persuade by reason and govern by law, not by force of authority. Permit me to remind you—summoning a court official in private is against propriety. I beg the Empress Dowager to reconsider.”
The Empress Dowager sneered: “I expected this sharp-toothed monkey would try to cross me here. Look—what place is this?”
“The Imperial Ancestral Temple.”
“And look again—what is enshrined here?”
A guard stepped forward, holding a tray on which lay a pillar-shaped blunt weapon, not quite square, not quite round, golden and heavy-looking.
Su Yan tilted his head, peering left and right, and answered uncertainly: “A… pagoda? The pagoda in Heavenly King Li’s hand?”
The Empress Dowager took it as deliberate mockery, and flew into a rage: “This is the golden mace left by the late emperor! With this mace, one may strike foolish rulers above, and treacherous ministers below. Today I shall strike you with it—would that be against propriety?”
Su Yan’s mind buzzed: I thought that golden mace from the tales of the Eight Princes was just some storyteller’s nonsense—who knew it actually exists?!
No wonder they brought him to the Ancestral Temple. To strike him here with the late emperor’s golden mace was not called private punishment—it was a righteous, dignified chastisement. By the Empress Dowager’s logic, even the Emperor or imperial clan members could be beaten if she saw fit.
Did the late emperor lose his senses before death, leaving such a weapon to this witless Empress Dowager?
Su Yan was speechless. And when he looked again at that golden mace—thick, hard, and long—it was nothing less than the world’s most expensive murder weapon! Far harder than the wooden cudgels used in court beatings. One blow, and wouldn’t that mean shattered bones?
My life is over! Brothers… lovers… anyone at all—come save meee!
In his soul, Su Yan roared madly. Outwardly, though, he would not be outdone in bearing, his face displaying fearless resolve. Rising to his feet, straightening his robes and crown, he turned westward toward the Fengtian Hall, solemnly bowed with hands clasped, and declared:
“I must borrow a verse—
Righteous spirit returns to the vast void,
A loyal heart shines through a thousand ages.”
The guards of Cining Palace standing by all changed expression, sighing inwardly: What a man of integrity and backbone… what a pity.
“Ah Jiang-f*k, your Mother. Ah Cong-diu, your Mother.”
The guards: …
The guards: Can I take back what I just thought?
The Empress Dowager clutched her chest, feeling as if her heart ailment was about to relapse. A palace maid immediately helped her sit down, rubbing her chest to steady her breath, offering water and medicine.
“Bring—the Golden Mace,” the Empress Dowager panted.
“Bring the Golden Mace!” the guards echoed in unison.
A burly man strode forward, lifted the mace from the tray, and gripped it firmly in hand.
“Criminal official, kneel and receive the blow!”
Su Yan gritted his teeth. “I have committed no crime—what ‘criminal official’? It is the Empress Dowager who acts against all principle, tarnishing the reputation of the royal house, blackening the Emperor’s name. If today I, Su Yan, fall here, then tomorrow every court official will live in fear, for from then on there will be no law, no rites—only the Empress Dowager’s whim deciding the life and death of ministers and generals. What need is there for a Son of Heaven then?”
By now, the matter could not be undone. This Su Yan had to die—he must not be left alive! The Empress Dowager’s mind was set. She barked sharply: “Nine strikes of the mace!”
Nine was the ultimate number—this meant he was to be beaten to death. The guard immediately raised the Golden Mace high and swung it down viciously toward Su Yan’s back—
