Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 1140 Retrial to be Held in the Heavenly Prison
"Reporting to Your Excellency, Grand Secretary Song has regained consciousness, and Physician Wang from the Imperial Hospital has also prescribed a remedy. However, Grand Secretary Song is old and in poor health, so he is unable to come here in person. Therefore, I, your humble servant, have come on behalf of the Minister of Justice."

Chang Zuo's expression was somewhat unusual. The trial in the Ministry of Justice was not a big deal. He had specifically inquired about the officials in the Ministry of Justice and asked about the conversation during today's trial. Although the Chief Clerk Xu had said some "insubordinate" things, it shouldn't have made Grand Secretary Song so angry.

Adding to the imperial decree that came from the palace tonight, the mystery lies in this very prison. A thought struck him, and he made many connections, which made him even more respectful.

"This is not the fault of Grand Secretary Song. He got angry during today's court hearing and ruined his health. I wonder what Lord Chang has been doing these days. Looking at his cuffs, he probably got them when he got out of the car."

Zhang Jinyu's gaze swept over the patched garment on the left sleeve of the person in front of her, which was not only stained with mud but also had its sleeve torn.

Chang Zuo glanced down and smiled nonchalantly;
"A little mud is nothing. To be honest, my lord, I was in a hurry today because of the many affairs in the ministry and some accounts to check. I hope you will forgive my rudeness."

Thinking of the account books sent from Jiangnan in the ministry, I was shocked to find that the total amount of farmland in Jiangnan was already more than half short. The mud on my sleeves came from the box containing the account books.

"Lord Chang is selfless and devoted to the public good; there is no reason for him to be ridiculed."

Zhang Jinyu replied with a smile, but instantly understood. It seemed that the Ministry of Justice was also secretly checking the accounts. It seemed that the case in Jiangnan would not be easily resolved, but it would not cause a major incident either, after all, the stability of the court was the top priority.

The two talked in front of the door. After a while, seeing no one else coming, they looked at each other.
“My lord, it seems that you and I are the last two to arrive. Let’s go in.”

"Please, Lord Chang,"

"please."

After inviting each other, the two walked one after the other toward the gate of the imperial prison.

At this time in the palace,
The retired emperor had already changed into a loose robe with a hood at the back. Escorted by the imperial guards and eunuchs, he entered through the back gate of the imperial prison and sat in the interrogation hall inside, waiting for someone to arrive.

But in the courtyard of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Emperor Wu did not appear. Only the palace lanterns in the imperial study were still lit. On the bright yellow imperial desk, Emperor Wu Zhou Shihong sat steadily on the dragon throne, holding a memorial in his hand. His knuckles were slightly white. Although his eyes were fixed on the petition on the memorial, his mind was elsewhere.

Half an hour ago, a eunuch brought a secret report: "The Emperor Emeritus has gone to the Imperial Prison with the Chief Eunuch of the Inner Court and the Imperial Guards of the Divine Machine Battalion." He also summoned the chief officials of the Ministry of Justice to go with him. Could it be that he intends to torture Xu Changwen? Thinking of this, it was hard to calm down.

"Your Majesty, it's time for dinner."

Grand Eunuch Dai Quan bowed deeply, his voice low, but his eyes kept glancing at the imperial table. The bowl of bird's nest porridge had been warmed twice, and a layer of rice oil had condensed on top, but the emperor had not touched the jade bowl once.

"Not urgent."

The Empress Wu put down the memorial in her hand and threw it aside.
"Has the Emperor Emeritus arrived at the Imperial Prison yet?"

Dai Quan's heart skipped a beat, but he still smiled respectfully and answered.

"Your Majesty, Xiao Yunzi just reported that the Emperor Emeritus has been gone for half an hour. He must have gone in. The captain of the Imperial Guards of the Divine Machine Battalion has surrounded the prison so tightly that not even a fly can get in. Chief Steward Xia of the Inner Court is personally accompanying him and has not allowed any outside officials to get close."

"Hmm, if foreign officials weren't allowed to get close, then who sent the chief official from the Ministry of Justice to handle the case?"

Emperor Wu Zhou Shihong raised an eyebrow, his fingertips casually tracing the dragon pattern on the imperial desk.

Just as he finished speaking, light footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall. Several eunuchs carrying food boxes walked in. When they saw the emperor's gloomy face, they were so frightened that they didn't dare to breathe. They simply placed the food boxes on the table at the east end, bowed, and withdrew. Dai Quan took the opportunity to reply.

"Your Majesty is wise. This servant has heard that the Emperor Emeritus has issued two oral decrees. One is to have the chief judge of the Ministry of Justice wait in the outer hall, and the other is that the Emperor Emeritus will personally interrogate Xu Changwen and ask him what he has to say."

"Interrogate personally."

Emperor Wu was somewhat puzzled. Judging from Xu Changwen's "sharp tongue" these past few days, he was not someone to be trifled with. The fact that the retired emperor personally interrogated him and had the officials in charge of the Ministry of Justice listen in was clearly a warning. But why did he also summon Marquis Luoyun?

"Let them interrogate me then. Around noon, a secret guard from the Imperial City Guard came to Xizhimen to report that my princes have all secretly left the palace. Is that right?"

Dai Quan dared not respond, but simply listened with his head bowed. The imperial study was so quiet that only the sound of the water clock could be heard.
"Your Majesty, the events here were all due to my oversight. After the two sects caused trouble at the 'Thousand Autumns Banquet,' Lord Sun and the Imperial Guards were busy appeasing the envoys from various countries. After the princes returned, they stayed indoors. However, at noon, the secret guards at Xizhimen reported that the coal convoy from the Court of State Ceremonial had left through the west gate. It wasn't until evening that the secret guards of the Imperial City Guards realized something was wrong and learned that the soldiers from the various princely residences at the post stations had been withdrawn. By then, it was too late."

Most of these events were coincidences, but they were also meticulously planned and had been orchestrated for a long time.

"Heh, whether it's late or not, they've left. Before leaving, they even handed me a memorial, which can be considered a way of saying goodbye. Tell me, why did my brothers suddenly leave?"

Zhou Shihong suddenly spoke, his gaze falling on Dai Quan.

Upon hearing this, Dai Quan froze and hurriedly replied;
"This servant dares not presume to guess the thoughts of the princes, but I have heard from the young princes that the princes were frightened and dared not linger in the capital. Moreover, they have received an imperial edict saying that the bandit troops from the three prefectures of Lingnan have already marched west. For the sake of the stability of the south, they are to return and lead troops to suppress the cult."

Even Dai Quan himself didn't quite believe what he was saying.

"Oh, those few are quite loyal,"

The Emperor sneered, tapped his finger heavily on the imperial desk, and threw several memorials onto it.
"What you said is almost exactly what was written in the memorial. At the time, I hesitated. Whether to keep them or not would be troublesome. Now that they have left, we will leave the Crown Prince in the capital. We will send people to keep a close eye on the south and the situation in the three counties of Lingnan. We will pay close attention to the situation. As long as the cult is not eliminated, it will always be a major threat."

Despite this, Zhou Shihong knew in his heart that once his brothers left the capital, their relationship was already strained. Although the southern prefectures were still wealthy, the taxes they had been paying for years were already unbearable. If it weren't for the fact that the rebel sect was always a major concern, he might have kept them in the capital for this birthday banquet. Marquis Luoyun's suggestion was not unreasonable. Unfortunately, he couldn't get around the Emperor Emeritus. The Imperial Guard, the Capital Garrison, and even the Imperial City Guard—the Emperor Emeritus had accumulated a great deal of power, and he couldn't act rashly.

Or perhaps the Xu Changwen case is a breakthrough, but it remains to be seen whether the Xu official in charge today can withstand the pressure.

"Yes, Your Majesty, this old servant obeys the decree."

Dai Quan bowed and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his hands, and the imperial study fell silent once more.

Night fell.

The moonlight was also hidden behind the dark clouds.

Zhang Jinyu and his entourage had already entered the gates of the imperial prison, where eunuchs and attendants were already waiting to receive them.
"Lord Marquis, Lord Chang, please come in. These gentlemen have been waiting for you for quite some time."

After speaking, he turned around and led the way with a lantern.

Zhang Jinyu and Chang Zuo bowed slightly in greeting and then entered the passageway together.

After walking a few steps, they heard the iron gate of the prison slam shut behind them with a loud clang, the heavy iron lock falling and completely cutting off the faint light from outside.

The sight made the two pause, their hearts skipping a beat. They continued to follow the eunuch inside. A damp chill, mixed with the smells of mildew and blood, assaulted their senses, seeping into their bones through their collars. Despite it being the height of summer, they couldn't help but shiver. The uneven stone steps beneath their feet echoed with each step in the narrow passageway, like the soft sobs of countless wronged souls.

The so-called Heavenly Prison was located above the Imperial Prison.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a sliver of light finally appeared ahead. The eunuch stopped in front of a spacious stone chamber and bowed towards another room, calling out: "My lord, gentlemen, the Emperor Emeritus is waiting inside."

Zhang Jinyu looked up and saw that several elders had arrived first and were waiting inside. Hearing the commotion, they all came out one by one. Then, the group went up the steps again and came to a spacious room, which was surrounded by bluestone.

In the center of the stone chamber, several oil lamps were burning. In the dim light, the retired emperor was seen wearing a black casual robe, without a crown. His white hair was tied up with a jade hairpin. He stood in front of the iron cell with his hands behind his back. Although his figure was somewhat hunched, he exuded an unquestionable majesty.

Several people were already standing on both sides of the stone chamber. Xia Shouzhong, the chief eunuch of Changle Palace, had his head bowed with a solemn expression. Chen Hui, the eunuch in charge of writing at the Directorate of Ceremonial, had scrutinizing eyes. Ma Fei, the attendant eunuch, was also there. He was dressed in a purple robe and stood on the outermost side, his gaze calmly fixed on the iron cell, seemingly lost in thought.

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects!"

Zhang Jinyu and the others bowed respectfully, their voices echoing in the stone chamber. Although they did not exchange words, their eyes met upon arrival, and they all seemed to have something to say to each other.

The retired emperor turned around, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and waved his hand, his voice hoarse but powerful:

"No need for formalities. Today is a trial, so there's no need for formalities. You all wait in the corner and don't make a sound. I want to meet the person who wrote these treasonous words in person."

"this,"

Grand Secretary Gu hesitated. How could an emperor personally interrogate officials? If such a thing were to be done, what face would the officials have left?

"Your Majesty, there are still many doubts in the case of Xu Changwen. If Your Majesty is not at ease, this old minister will personally interrogate him. If there is anything amiss, Your Majesty can then inform this old minister. This old minister will inquire on your behalf, which will not compromise the dignity of the royal family."

"Yes, Your Majesty, Xu Changwen is just a minor official in the Ministry of Revenue. Even if he has a major case to handle, there are still officials from the Six Ministries. Why would Your Majesty need to trouble you?"

Meng Li, the Left Councilor of the Censorate, also quickly advised, "If we find out anything bad, what will happen to the Feng family?"

One person's persuasion was followed by two others, and even the eldest son, Li Chaosheng, and the Vice Minister were eager to intervene. Suddenly, Eunuch Chen Hui from the Directorate of Ceremonial stepped forward.

"My lords, the reason the Emperor Emeritus is here is to see what this person looks like. Although he is just a minor sixth-rank official, he is quite audacious. What are your intentions in stopping the Emperor Emeritus?"

Standing on the stage, speaking condescendingly, he had the air of a petty person who had achieved great success.

Zhang Jinyu stood in the crowd, remaining silent. At this point, whether or not to conduct a trial was not up to them. Before she could speak, the Emperor Emeritus tapped the table.

"I am neither King Zhou of Shang nor one of those mediocre emperors. Can't I even see a person? What do you say, Marquis Luoyun?"

Having said that, what else could be done? Zhang Jinyu stepped forward with a fist and palm salute and said respectfully.

“What the Emperor Emeritus said is absolutely right. Since you have come, we should see you and ask what the reason is. I did not sleep at all last night, and I thought about it over and over, but I could not figure it out. However, after reviewing the memorials of Chief Clerk Xu and checking with the various departments, I found that the contents of the memorials were not false. So I do not know what to do.”

He then turned the conversation back on itself, saying that most of the things in the memorials were true, and if the Emperor Emeritus asked about them again, wouldn't that be embarrassing? So, he was reminding him in advance not to end up like Grand Secretary Song, who got so angry that he suffered a serious illness.

But these words, falling to the ears of many, were quite startling. To say such things here... The retired Emperor Zhou Shengzhuo smiled faintly, sat there, and tapped the table.
"People used to say that Marquis Luoyun was young and impetuous. After seeing him today, I really believe it. There are some things that you outside the pass don't know about inside. Take the case of the grain transport deficit, for example. If I hadn't stopped the investigation and delayed the repair of the dikes in Jiangnan, perhaps Jiangnan would have been plunged into floods in some year. How could there have been favorable weather and a prosperous Jiangnan? You all hide away. I'm going to ask this Magistrate Xu."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Everyone responded in unison and retreated to the passageway in the corner of the stone chamber. Their gazes involuntarily fell on the iron cell not far ahead. The cell was covered with a layer of straw, and Xu Changwen sat on the straw. His prison clothes were already stained with mud and dust, making it impossible to see his original color. His hair was disheveled and draped over his shoulders, and his face was still dirty and messy. But his eyes were still bright, revealing a bit of stubbornness.

Seeing that everyone around had withdrawn, the Emperor Emeritus raised his hand to signal the eunuch to come forward. The eunuch immediately brought forward a set of coarse cloth clothes and an old felt hat. The Emperor Emeritus took the clothes and slowly put them on. He then put on the felt hat, pulling the brim down very low, covering most of his face, only revealing the wrinkles on his chin.

He then whispered a few words to the eunuch, who nodded and withdrew. Then, the Emperor Emeritus was seen carrying a food box and slowly walking towards the iron prison.

The iron gate of the prison was opened by a eunuch, and the retired emperor went in and then closed the gate behind him, shutting out everyone's gaze. Only two imperial guards who had changed their clothes stood in the passageway outside the prison. The stone chamber fell silent instantly, with the crackling sound of oil lamps burning and occasional whispers coming from inside the prison.

Zhang Jinyu stood in the corner, holding her breath and listening intently. She heard the Emperor Emeritus's voice coming through the iron bars, slightly hoarse and deliberately lowered:
"Master Xu, I am a servant sent by the palace to deliver some food to you."

Xu Changwen raised his head, looking at the newcomer warily, without saying a word, but slowly sat up straight.

The retired emperor placed the food box on the ground, opened the lid, and inside were two white steamed buns and a bowl of hot porridge. Steam wafted out through the iron bars, carrying a faint aroma of rice.

"Don't worry about me. I'm just a gofer. I know you've been suffering here, so I thought I'd get you something hot to eat."

As he spoke, he handed the steamed buns and porridge to Xu Changwen.

Xu Changwen stared at the bowl of hot porridge, his Adam's apple bobbing, but he still didn't take it. His voice was hoarse as he asked:
"Who are you? Why would the palace send you to deliver food to me?"

The retired emperor smiled, his voice tinged with a sense of vicissitude:

"I am just a powerless and insignificant official guarding the imperial prison. How would I know so much? I only heard from people above that you are a disciple of Marquis Luoyun, and that the Marquis's mansion is still taking care of your elderly mother. They thought you might be a loyal subject, just confused for a moment."

These words seemed to strike a nerve with Xu Changwen. His hands clenched into fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, and his voice trembled with emotion.

“A loyal minister? In the eyes of the world today, I am nothing more than a treacherous minister seeking fame! But little do they know that I, Xu Changwen, have never embezzled a single penny from the court! I have never uttered a single word of slander against the Emperor.”

Upon hearing this, the retired emperor's eyes flashed with a glint of shrewdness, but he remained composed and asked:

"Oh? You didn't embezzle? Then why were you arrested? You didn't slander the emperor. I've heard from outside that you're disrespectful and incredibly arrogant. So many people interrogated you, so you probably weren't convinced. There just happened to be an eunuch outside who came to deliver an imperial edict, asking me to question you—no, to refute your words. I'll tell you everything. I want to hear how you responded to them."

As he spoke, he reached for a stool in the cell, leaned against the cell door, and sat down. The adjacent cell was filled with imperial guards and eunuchs recording the events.

"Alright, sir, may I ask what position you hold in the Imperial Prison?"

Xu Changwen didn't touch the bowls and chopsticks. His eyes remained calm as he sat up straight, waiting for a reply.

The retired emperor was in no hurry; he picked up the bowl of hot porridge and handed it to Xu Changwen:
"Like you, I also serve in the Great Wu Dynasty. I am a sixth-rank official in charge of recording prison records. Have some porridge first and speak slowly. If someone has wronged you, you must tell the truth to clear your name. If someone threatens you, answer truthfully as well."

Xu Changwen looked at the bowl of hot porridge, hesitated for a moment, and finally took it. He brought it to his lips, took a sip, and the warm liquid slid down his throat, helping him recover slightly and making his voice clearer.

"Clear your name? What are you talking about? Since I took office, I have only served as a county magistrate. During that time, I provided disaster relief and rescued the people, and filed charges against corrupt officials. I have done nothing wrong. How can I admit guilt when I am innocent?"

"Hmm, well said. You are indeed incorruptible, and I agree with that. It is said that young people are impetuous, and that is absolutely true. In that case, I will ask you this question. Just answer me: Who should be considered the first wise ruler in China within the last three generations?"

The retired emperor pressed on, his tone tinged with a hint of probing. A ruler should strive for a good reputation after death, setting an example for wise and virtuous emperors before and after him. How could he possibly fall behind others?

"In response to your question, my lord, I have always believed that Emperor Wen of Han is the foremost worthy of being called a wise ruler!"

(End of this chapter)