Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 1154 Individuals Express Their Opinions in the Hall
The atmosphere in the room immediately became somewhat strange, with everyone harboring their own thoughts. After Zhang Jinyu closed the memorial, she beckoned to the eunuch to return it.

Looking at the others, they were all silent, which surprised him. He asked;
"Eunuch Chen, to be honest, I'm not very perceptive. I just looked at the memorial and there was only one slash. I don't know the rules of the palace in the capital. What does this slash mean? I would appreciate it if Eunuch Chen could explain it to me."

I remember that when the Emperor reviewed and replied to memorials, he would put a checkmark in red ink to indicate his agreement and an X to indicate his disagreement. I had never seen a slash before. Perhaps he had never seen or encountered one himself, which was rather strange.

As soon as the words were spoken, everyone in the hall turned their gaze to Eunuch Chen, wanting an explanation. They were also wondering to themselves if such an official decree had actually existed before. But Eunuch Chen, unaware of such matters, blushed deeply, his face turning crimson with shock and anger, and he retorted sharply:
"My lord, you've asked the wrong person. I don't know what you mean either. Since all of you are here, we should all think about it."

Just as he was about to decline, the other officials below, having finally found a loophole, were not about to let Eunuch Chen slip away so easily.

"Eunuch Chen, please don't refuse. You were the one who delivered the memorial, and only you heard the Emperor's instructions. How could we possibly know their meaning?"

Yang Zhuo, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, saw an opportunity and loudly questioned him. However, Eunuch Chen was somewhat intimidated by Marquis Luoyun, but he was not afraid of these civil officials. He immediately changed his expression and cursed back.
"Nonsense! Yang Zhuo, don't pretend to be a good person. I went in with the memorial, kowtowing repeatedly. How could a servant like me presume to guess the Emperor's thoughts? The memorial was handed over, and I could only kneel and welcome it as it was reviewed. Once the case was decided, it was decided jointly by the Grand Secretariat and the Directorate of Ceremonial. No one can escape. What, does Lord Yang know the Emperor's will?"

Chen Hui's words were also incisive; the issues involved are intertwined, and cannot be separated.

Shen Zhongxin, the Vice Minister of Revenue, finally spoke slowly, his voice deep yet penetrating, overshadowing Chen Hui's excitement:
"Please calm down, Eunuch Chen, and Lord Yang. The time is not for us to shift blame and point fingers. Although the Emperor Emeritus did not explicitly state it, the words 'Since the crime has been committed, you shall handle it yourselves' are an imperial edict. Although His Majesty made a written decree, it also clearly indicates that the case process is complete. The current situation is like rowing against the current; if we do not advance, we will fall behind, and we are very likely to capsize."

Yang Zhuo had expected Shen Zhongxin to say something harsh, but he was surprised that Shen Zhongxin could say such things. Yang Zhuo frowned and glared at him. Fortunately, someone gave him a way out. Xiao Zi'en, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, couldn't help but ask.
"According to Lord Shen, that stroke on the memorial means that the Emperor is already aware of it. As for the matter of sentencing, do the two Emperors agree or disagree?"

That's the key point. If they disagree, they're still here and can change things. If they change things this time, I think Eunuch Chen won't refuse.

"Whether it is true or not, I do not know, but the news that comes from the palace is all brought out by the Directorate of Ceremonial, so if we want to really determine the crime, we still need the Directorate of Ceremonial to make the decision."

He subtly steered the conversation toward the Directorate of Ceremonial, and seeing Eunuch Chen's face turn red with anger, he felt a surge of satisfaction.

At this moment,
The eunuch Ma Fei suddenly stepped forward, his gaze slowly sweeping over everyone in the hall, lingering for a moment longer on Zhang Jinyu's face.
"My lords, in my humble opinion, this case must ultimately be handled according to the 'determined punishment.' Otherwise, if it is delayed any longer, it will only make the two empresses increasingly displeased. Among all the lords present, including these servants of the inner court, who can bear such a huge responsibility? The memorial has already been approved. Xu Changwen should be hanged according to the law, to be executed in the autumn, and Xu Dongyuan should be exiled three thousand miles away... This is already a conclusion. The longer it is delayed, the greater the variables will become. Hesitation will only lead to more chaos."

Ma Fei's words, seemingly meant to mediate, were actually a way of smoothing things over, or perhaps a sign that he had no intention of re-convicting him, while also carrying a blatant threat. Both Gong's intentions were implied, wanting everyone present to realize that if no decision was made, everyone would be in trouble. Unbeknownst to them, this man's actions were somewhat unusual.

Zhang Jinyu's eyes turned somewhat cold. After all this fuss, it was just these few damned eunuchs stirring things up, one after the other. Did they think they were fooling their grandfather? Just as he was about to get angry, he saw several vice ministers and censors nodding in agreement.

Only Feng Yongwen, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and Meng Li, the Chief Censor, frowned and looked in their direction.

It seems to be waiting for its own decision.

From beginning to end,

Zhang Jinyu watched coldly. The people in the hall had already clashed several times, probing each other without coming to a conclusion. By this time, Zhang Jinyu was getting impatient. He loosely clenched his left hand into a fist and placed it on the armrest of the chair, his fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly on the cool rosewood.

When Chen Hui first arrived, he was indeed a bit flustered and eager to shift the blame, but how could the civil officials be willing to do so? Naturally, they refused. There was also Gu Yichen from the Ministry of Revenue, and Shen Zhongxin even closed his eyes and plucked prayer beads, which was simply a joke.

Looking back now, the emperor's single stroke on the memorial was neither agreement nor disagreement. Coupled with the retired emperor's words "you handle it," was he genuinely too lazy to care and let go, or was it the sarcasm of someone in a fit of rage? Or perhaps... he was deliberately waiting for someone to step forward?
Since neither of them wants to talk about it, they might as well be direct. With that in mind, Zhang Jinyu's gaze finally fell on the document that Chen Hui was clutching tightly. After all the arguing, the key might still be that document!

"My lords, making a fuss now is not a solution. Eunuch Chen, since you have submitted the memorial for review and the Emperor has only given a single stroke of his pen, it means that although the Emperor knows about it, he is not very satisfied. In my opinion, since he is not satisfied, we should reconsider the punishment. What do you think?"

"This...re-examination of the crime?"

Chen Hui looked surprised. Wasn't Luo Yunhou's so-called reconsideration of the crime just an attempt to save the person? If he really saved the person, what was the point of what he had done before?

“My lord, I believe that what Eunuch Ma said makes sense. Since the crime has already been committed, how can it be changed at will?”

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Jinyu interrupted him.

"Eunuch Chen, since there's no need for any changes, what's the purpose of summoning us all here tonight? It must be that the two emperors are dissatisfied. I think that although Xu Changwen's memorial contained arrogant words, his heart was not bad. In that case, we should reprimand him and dismiss him from office to return to his hometown. As for that Xu Dong, how many people in the court can be so loyal? If we don't want to use him, we should also dismiss him from office and send him back to his hometown. What do you think?"

If the court doesn't need these two men, and there happens to be a shortage of such capable people in the area beyond the Great Wall, then they can be taken there and put to work.

“Excellent, Your Excellency’s words are truly enlightening.”

Meng Li reacted the fastest and immediately agreed. Feng Yongwen, who came with him, was overjoyed and also agreed.

“Yes, Eunuch Chen, what the Marquis said makes sense. Since they have been sentenced to death and the palace is not satisfied, as the saying goes, out of sight, out of mind. Let these people get out of the court and save so much trouble.”

While it seemed like they were explaining things to Eunuch Chen, none of those present were fools. Many of the vice ministers were looking at the two of them with meaningful glances; everyone knew what was really going on.

Chen Hui's face turned pale. With Marquis Luo Yun and the two of them, that made three votes. What if the eldest son, Li Chaosheng, also agreed? Did they want to overturn the case?

"No, I disagree."

They stubbornly insisted that the decision to punish was made by the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Cabinet. If the Cabinet went back on its word, they would have no way to explain it to the two palaces.

really,

A moment later,

Gu Yichen, who had been keeping his eyes closed, finally opened them slowly. His eyes were deep and calm, devoid of any worldly concern, yet they instantly silenced the noisy hall.

"Alright, stop making such a racket. What kind of behavior is this? Since this is a meeting, let's not talk about anything else."

His voice wasn't loud, but it possessed a calm composure born of experience; every word traveled clearly to everyone's ears.

"Eunuch Chen, you've worked hard. What Marquis Luoyun said just now makes some sense."

This statement sets the tone, seemingly agreeing with Luo Yunhou's words, but in reality, it is vague and uncertain.

"However,"

Gu Yichen suddenly changed the subject, stroking his beard and looking past the crowd towards the dark courtyard outside the main hall.

"The Emperor Emeritus only said, 'It is up to you to handle,' and His Majesty only approved one sentence. The Emperor's will is unpredictable, and his intentions are subtle. How dare we, as his subjects, presume to make judgments on the Emperor's intentions? The Xu Changwen case involves a wide range of issues. If it is not handled properly, not only will the prestige of the Three Judicial Offices, the Cabinet, and the Directorate of Ceremonial be damaged, but it may also be detrimental to the foundation of the country."

"In my humble opinion," Gu Yichen said calmly, yet with an undeniable authority,
"This case should be carefully examined and discussed before being reported back. We can send another letter to summon Xu Changwen to court, where his crimes can be detailed and his confession recorded. This information can then be presented to the two palaces for review. Alternatively, we can convene the officials to discuss the legal principles of criminal law and see if there are any grounds for leniency, in order to find a solution that satisfies both the interests of the emperor and his subjects. This is the proper way to handle the situation, as it upholds the principles of loyalty between the emperor and his subjects while also respecting the law and human sentiment."

It was clearly a delaying tactic. The matter was already clear, so why talk of a retrial? Besides, who would conduct the re-interrogation? Chen Hui and Ma Fei's expressions grew even more grim. A retrial? A reconsideration? The two emperors had just kicked the people from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs out! To go and ask for instructions again? Wasn't that courting death? Looking at Grand Secretary Gu's "retreat as an advance," it was like a knife hidden in cotton, practically pushing the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs into a fire pit.

Chen Hui and Ma Fei exchanged a glance, their expressions unfriendly.

"Your Excellency..."

Shen Zhongxin hesitated, seemingly also feeling that further delay was extremely risky and that time was of the essence. Although the interior seemed stable, the fact that several princes had left the capital without authorization indicated their disloyalty. In the northwest border region, the Xianbei people were restless, and the four kings and eight dukes also harbored their own selfish motives. If the matter dragged on for too long, chaos was bound to ensue.

"Humph!"

Chen Hui sneered and stood up. His movements were slow, but they carried a decisive air, instantly attracting everyone's attention once again.

"What Grand Secretary Gu said is nothing more than a delaying tactic. The court has many complicated matters. How can so many people be involved because of a mere minor official? In my opinion, this memorial is sufficient. Gentlemen, you may present your arguments in this memorial."

Chen Hui took two steps forward and walked to the brightest spot in the lobby, but ended up standing right on the line between light and shadow.

"My lords, it's not that I'm trying to hide anything, but according to reports from my spies, the Xianbei people in the northwest are stirring up trouble in the east, and on the northern border, an envoy from the Donghu people has been killed. The Right Wise King and Marquis Qieti will find out sooner or later, and when that happens, the border will be a much more serious matter."

"What a joke! Eunuch Chen is exaggerating. The northwest border is guarded by the Western King's Palace and the Gong family. The northern border is always heavily guarded. No matter how angry the Right Wise King of the Donghu is, he can't enter the pass. He'll just be barking like a dog."

Feng Yongwen of the Court of Judicial Review squinted and retorted without any politeness, followed closely by Lord Meng of the Censorate.

“Eunuch Chen, we’ve come here today to reconsider the charges and express our opinions. How has this turned into a one-man show by Eunuch Chen?”

"How dare you! I have been trying to persuade you with kind words, just to settle this case. How can you have such a unilateral decision?"

Chen Hui flicked his sleeves, sat back down in the main seat, and then looked at Luo Yunhou's seat and asked;

"My Lord, what do you think?"

Zhang Jinyu was also somewhat troubled at this moment. The cabinet's method of using the word "delay" was not without reason. His own method was also a viable approach. The fact that the palace did not show leniency for the crimes committed by the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs meant that the matter was still undecided and ambiguous.

It was a difficult situation to both save face for the palace and protect Xu Changwen's life. The intricacies of civil service were truly complex. In the end, Zhang Jinyu turned his gaze to the eldest son, Li Chaosheng, and cupped his hands in greeting.
"Young Master, do you have any advice for me?"

Seeing that Marquis Luo Yun had bowed to him, how could the eldest son, Li Chaosheng, dare to be negligent? He immediately returned the bow, thought for a moment, and smiled.
"My lord, please do not be anxious. This matter requires careful consideration. Eunuch Chen, I have a few questions that I hope you can answer to dispel any doubts."

Before Chen Hui could respond, the eldest son held up a finger and asked;

"First, what was the Emperor Emeritus's expression when he read the memorials? Did he casually flip through them? Or did he examine them intently? Or perhaps... he closed his eyes and remained silent?"

"second,"

Li Chaosheng held up a second finger and asked again;
"You said that the Emperor Emeritus said, 'Since the crime has been determined, you can deal with it as you see fit.' Was this said calmly? Or... with anger? Or perhaps... with a hint of mockery?"

"third,"

The third finger was raised, and his gaze locked onto the dossier in Chen Hui's hand. This crucial question was asked with resounding conviction.
"After His Majesty made his imperial comment on this memorial in your hand, are there any other ink marks beside or above and below it? Is there even a small dot that is missing from the memorial, or a place where the ink is too thick?"

With a single, incisive question, he uncovered the crux of the matter in three sentences. The hall was so quiet that the crackling of the candlelight could be heard. Everyone's heart was in their throats as they stared intently at Eunuch Chen's face.

Who knows,

Chen Hui was stunned by the barrage of questions from the eldest son. He stood there with his mouth agape, his eyes filled with surprise and uncertainty, seemingly oblivious to these matters.

Recalling the scene at Chang Le Palace, the Emperor Emeritus sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, expressionless, only calmly waving his golden whisk at the very end... As for the imperial edict on that memorial...

Chen Hui subconsciously, almost trembling, unfolded the folded document in his hand!

All eyes were focused on the unfolded paper! Below that striking red annotation, there seemed to be... there really was a tiny ink mark! A tiny, blurry mark, as if it were a trace left unintentionally by the emperor when he paused his brush!
Everyone noticed that Chen Hui's brows were furrowed and his eyelids twitched almost imperceptibly.

"When His Majesty wrote down his pen, perhaps he had not yet finished his work? This trace can indeed be seen, but I believe it is because I did not hold the memorial properly when I was holding it."

Chen Hui thought back to the Imperial Study, where he had carried the memorial to the Emperor and received his imperial approval. Perhaps it was his own trembling that caused it, but the more anxious he became, the less certain he was. He looked around at everyone, his voice clear and distinct in the silence:

"My lords! Imperial decrees always carry immense weight, but once a case has been discussed and the guilt has been determined, what would it mean if the case were overturned, as you all know?"

"Eunuch Chen, you are mistaken. I believe that it is the best thing to correct one's mistakes. Since the palace is not to one's liking, then let's do as I say. It is not about overturning the case, but about expelling the two from the court. This will save their lives, fulfill the duty between the emperor and his subjects, and also keep the court stable. Wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone?"

Zhang Jinyu compromised on the second best option, which allowed him to avoid losing face in the palace while still giving the world an explanation—a win-win situation.

As Marquis Luoyun's advice fell, everyone present pondered. Perhaps Marquis Luoyun's method was good, but in this way, the favor of pardon would belong to Marquis Luoyun and not the court. But what if the palace did not pardon these two people? How could the civil officials save face? They were truly caught in a dilemma.

Seeing the differing opinions among the cabinet, the Directorate of Ceremonial, and Marquis Luo Yun, unable to reach a consensus, Gu Yichen sighed and said;
"Since everyone has their own ideas, I, the Grand Secretary, will not force anyone to do anything against their will. In the past, when the Ministry of Justice tried cases, especially major cases, the three judicial departments would jointly try them and finally decide the crime. Now that the Grand Secretariat, the Directorate of Ceremonial, and the Marquis have differing opinions, why don't they each submit their own memorials, and whoever wants to support whose viewpoint, let the presiding judge add their name? In this way, His Majesty will have room for choice. What do you think?"

These words, though not a perfect solution, suggested that since everyone had different opinions, they should be presented separately. After some thought, most of the people in the room agreed, including Zhang Jinyu.

"I agree with what the Grand Secretary has said. Lord Feng and Lord Meng, with you two writing it down, I will add my name. How about that?"

"Yes, Lord Marquis."

Feng Yongwen and Meng Li were equally decisive; one ground the ink, and the other picked up a brush and began writing. On the other side, Shen Zhongxin, the Vice Minister of Revenue, was writing, and together with several other vice ministers, they discussed what to write. The group had grown considerably. Only the eldest son of the Li family silently walked to the table and personally picked up a brush to write a memorial. It was unclear what he wrote. Only the two eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs were somewhat embarrassed, holding the memorial and not knowing what to do. In the end, they gritted their teeth and insisted on their own opinion, replying with a memorial that remained untouched.

And so, after everyone had finished writing their reports, added their names, sealed the pages with sealing wax, and handed them to Eunuch Chen, Zhang Jinyu, seeing that the matter was settled, had no intention of staying any longer.
"Grand Secretary Gu, esteemed gentlemen, now that the matter has been resolved, I shall take my leave! Farewell!"

(End of this chapter)