National Division

Chapter 77 Shen Xian: This humble subject Shen Xian receives the imperial decree… (3,000-word chapter, please vote!)

Dali Temple, government office

As dusk fell, the sky darkened and the rain seemed to resume, pattering down the green tiles and eaves, falling rhythmically on the stone steps.

Zhou Liang remained seated in the yamen hall, sipping his fragrant tea.

Suo Yuanli approached, his face turning fierce, and whispered, "Sir, instead of imprisoning him like this, why not torture him first? That will surely implicate many traitors."

Just then, a few soft, hoarse voices came from outside the main hall of the government office, their eerie tones ringing out: "Who are you going to torture?"

Zhou Liang was startled and looked up to see a tall man wearing a black cloak and a wingless crown with the character "山" on his head. He was fair-skinned and beardless, and his body was surrounded by a group of guards holding knives.

"Eunuch Gao." Zhou Liang was startled when he saw who it was. He quickly stepped away from the table and bowed to Gao Yanfu.

As a ruthless official trusted by the emperor, how could he not recognize Gao Yanfu, the eunuch serving the empress?

Gao Yanfu sneered, "Lord Zhou, you've really got some skills lately."

Others feared Zhou Liang, this cruel official, but this eunuch who had served the Empress Dowager for over thirty years was not afraid at all.

Having served the Empress for over thirty years, witnessing the constant turnover of powerful officials in the court, he knew, based on his political wisdom, that Zhou Liang's reign would not last long.

Zhou Liang smiled ingratiatingly and said, "What are you saying, Eunuch Gao?"

A high-ranking official of the third rank in purple robes, facing the eunuchs of the Inner Palace, though not exactly fawning, was filled with great fear.

Gao Yanfu gave a forced smile and asked, "Lord Zhou, I heard that your men took Mr. Shen away."

A sense of unease crept into Zhou Liang's heart. He asked, "Mr. Shen? Which Mr. Shen?"

"Shen Xian and Shen Muzhi have been taken away by your Dali Temple people," Gao Yanfu said in a deep voice.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Liang was suddenly startled.

Mr. Shen, is that kid Mr. Shen?
Zhou Liang felt a sense of disorientation and confusion at this moment.

Suo Yuanli's face, with its deep cheekbones and high eyes, suddenly turned pale, and unease welled up in his heart.

Gao Yanfu's fair face was ashen, and he demanded, "Where is he, my servant, who is still here to deliver the imperial decree to Mr. Shen?"

Zhou Liang was stunned for a moment, then stammered, "Eunuch Gao, the person is being held in a prison cell."

Gao Yanfu shouted, "Then release them now!"

Before Zhou Liang could make a move, he stood up and said, "I'll go myself."

Zhou Liang also realized what was happening and hurriedly said, "Eunuch Gao, I'll lead the way."

Gao Yanfu ignored him completely, as he possessed considerable martial arts skills. He quickly walked a few steps and headed straight for the Dali Temple prison.

It's not like I haven't been here before, how could I not know the way?
Upon arriving at the Dali Temple prison, ignoring the deafening cries of inmates on both sides, he summoned a jailer to lead the way to Shen Xian's cell.

Gao Yanfu looked at Shen Xian, who was sitting cross-legged and seemed to be regulating his breathing. Seeing that Shen Xian had no injuries, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

“Mr. Shen.” A smile appeared on Gao Yanfu’s fair face, a stark contrast to his previous demeanor as a powerful eunuch: “Why haven’t you opened the prison door yet?”

Shen Xian opened his eyes, saw who it was, and smiled slightly, saying, "Eunuch Gao is here. Oh dear, I dare not open the prison door."

It was clearly the Thousand Bull Guards about to open the prison door.

Gao Yanfu smiled and said, "Mr. Shen, this is a misunderstanding. We are here to take you back."

Shen Xian laughed and said, "The Dali Temple has convicted me of harboring a wanted criminal. Eunuch Gao, look, I haven't even been taken off these chains. How dare I leave the Dali Temple prison before the case is cleared up? If I leave like this without clear explanation, both of us will be charged with escaping by Lord Zhou."

Gao Yanfu was both amused and exasperated, and said, "Mr. Shen, it's all the Dali Temple people making a fuss."

Although the young man before her was only a fifth-rank official, the Empress had read his memorial repeatedly today, clearly indicating that she regarded him as a trusted minister.

Shen Xian smiled and said, "Eunuch Gao, this matter should be asked of Lord Zhou Liang. Is I guilty or not? And is that Yu family girl a wanted criminal?"

Accompanied by the prison warden, Zhou Liang and Suo Yuanli hurried to the prison.

At this moment, Suo Yuanli was so frightened that his face turned ashen. He was no longer as arrogant as before, and his heart was filled with anxiety.

Zhou Liang's eyes flashed rapidly as he considered his next move.

……

……

Qianyuan Hall, Side Hall
The Empress, dressed in a magnificent palace gown and wearing a phoenix crown adorned with golden hairpins, sat behind a long table. With her dragon-like neck and phoenix-like eyes, her skin as white as snow, she was elegant and beautiful. Her slender hands were still reading two memorials in her hands, and she seemed to be enjoying them immensely.

At that moment, a eunuch came in and reported, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager, His Majesty requests an audience."

"Announce." The Empress parted her lips slightly and uttered a single word.

The so-called "Your Majesty" is none other than Li Hui, the ninth prince.

In just five or six years, the Empress Dowager had deposed two emperors, and this was the third emperor she had appointed.

In the second year of the reign of Emperor Chuigong, the Empress Dowager had a fierce argument with the Emperor because he had arbitrarily conferred the title of king upon the father of Empress Wang. The Emperor once said, "Even if the whole country were given to the Wang family, what difference would it make?"

Empress Fengyan was furious and issued an edict to depose the first emperor, demoting him to a commoner and exiling him to Luzhou. On the way, Wang Shence, who was delivering the edict, gave him a cup of poisoned wine and strangled Empress Wang and her son with a white silk ribbon.

Wang Shence, though a distant relative of the Wang clan, was deeply favored by the Empress for his act of sacrificing his own family for the greater good. Within a few short years, he was promoted to General of the Golden Guard, with all his martial arts resources provided, and he rose to the Martial God Realm in one fell swoop. Because he had bewitched the Emperor, Empress Wang's father and his entire clan were executed, and the Taiyuan Wang clan never recovered from that point on.

Empress Dowager Tian then appointed the fourth prince, Li Ran, and changed the era name to Guangzhai. Li Ran was terrified and firmly declined the position, but eventually he took the throne with trepidation. After serving for two years, he fell ill from depression and submitted a memorial requesting to abdicate in favor of Empress Dowager Tian.

The Empress Dowager was furious. She deposed Li Ran for being frivolous and lacking the qualities of a ruler, and instead installed the ninth prince, Li Hui, as the new emperor.

This move, however, left the court and the public wondering whether the Empress Dowager intended to usurp the throne or not.
The ninth prince was only ten years old when he ascended the throne at such a young age.

It is now the second year of the Tiansheng era, and the current Tiansheng Emperor is a young dragon.

A moment later, the Ninth Prince, Li Hui, entered the inner study from the outer room. His voice was clear and bright as he bowed to the Empress Dowager and said, "Your subject greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. May you live a thousand years!"

The Empress raised her phoenix eyes and looked at the Ninth Prince Li Hui, whose brows were full of gentleness. She said in a kind voice, "Get up. Someone, bring a seat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Li Hui carefully sat down.

The Empress placed the memorial in her hand, trying to soften her tone, and asked, "Hui'er, what books have you been reading lately?"

Li Hui said softly, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I have been reading the Tao Te Ching, the Zhuangzi, the Liezi, and the Taoist lectures of Lu Chong from the previous dynasty with Scholar Yan."

The Empress frowned and said angrily, "What is Yan Shengzhi of the Jixian Academy teaching? Why doesn't he teach the art of rulership?"

“Mr. Yan said… these are the books of the sages, the imperial teachings of Yao and Shun.” Li Hui’s crisp voice began to tremble slightly, clearly indicating that the Empress Dowager had long held considerable power.

"The books of sages are for educating people; they are utterly useless for governing a country," the Empress said displeased.

Li Hui's youthful face turned pale instantly, and he felt his hands and feet turn ice cold. He dared not respond anymore.

Just then, a eunuch hurried to the threshold and reported, "Your Majesty, the Princess has sent her maid Chun Tao to the palace to say that she has important matters to report."

The Empress's stunningly beautiful face showed surprise, and she ordered, "Let them in."

A moment later, a female official quickly entered the hall, bowed to the Empress, and said, "This servant greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty live a thousand years."

The Empress Dowager's phoenix eyes flickered, and she asked, "What does the Eldest Princess wish to report?"

The female official said, "Your Highness, His Highness said that the people from the Dali Temple have arrested Scholar Shen from the Zhaowen Hall."

Upon hearing this, the Empress's expression changed drastically: "What?"

Shen Xian is a national hero whom she values ​​highly. How dare the people from the Dali Temple be so reckless?
The Empress turned to look at Li Hui, whose face was full of gentleness, and said, "Hui'er, you stay here and read your book. Your mother has important matters to attend to."

Upon hearing this, the Ninth Prince Li Hui quickly stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Since Your Majesty has other matters to attend to, I shall take my leave now."

However, he was somewhat curious about this Scholar Shen.

……

……

Dali Temple government office, prison
Shen Xian sat upright in the prison cell, his face ashen, pondering his next move.

His visit to the Dali Temple prison was not out of spite or to put on a show, but rather to conveniently put the cruel bureaucratic politics in a cage.

Gao Yanfu had a slight idea that Shen Xian was not willing to let the matter rest. He glanced at Zhou and Suo, who had come in a hurry, and smiled, saying, "Then let's issue an imperial edict for Mr. Shen first."

As he spoke, he took the bright yellow silk scroll with the white marble shaft from the accompanying guards.

"Shen Xian accepts the imperial decree."

"This humble subject, Shen Xian, accepts the imperial decree."

Shen Xian rose and knelt to await the imperial decree.

Zhou Liang and Suo Yuanli, along with other prison guards, also knelt down with solemn expressions. Seeing the imperial edict was like seeing the emperor himself; how could they not be respectful?
"brush……"

Gao Yanfu unfurled the silk, and his soft yet hoarse voice echoed through the prison:
"Your Excellency: The lofty rank of the Imperial Secretariat is a source of inspiration for your grand undertaking. The imposing authority of the Tiger Seal serves as a warning to the capital. We hereby appoint Shen Xian of Guhe County, Anzhou, whose wisdom is profound and whose character is serene and clear. He is well-versed in the classics and history, possessing the talent of a prime minister. He is upright, cautious, loyal, and devoted to his duties as a subject, working diligently day and night. His writings in the Imperial Palace have already revealed the essence of governance. His presence in the Imperial Court has greatly contributed to the administration of the state."

The scholars of the Zhaowen Pavilion, responsible for managing books and deliberating on rites and literature, are selected only by the most outstanding talents in academia. The commanders of the Zhuque Guard, guarding the imperial residence and maintaining order within the capital, are entrusted with this responsibility only by those who are steadfast and resolute. Given your literary talent in shaping customs and your military prowess in securing the nation, you are well-suited to possess both qualities to fulfill my expectations.

As per the previous chapter, he may be appointed Academician of the Zhaowen Pavilion, Commander of the Vermilion Bird Division, and concurrently hold the honorary titles of Grand Master of the Palace and General of the Cavalry. He will oversee the Qilin Pavilion and establish the Demon-Slaying and Spirit-Pacifying Divisions. It is hoped that he will promote the sacred scriptures and revitalize the academic system. May he be diligent and valiant, bringing peace and tranquility to the land. He will humbly accept this imperial decree and faithfully carry out his duties.

The Lord administers it.

March 15th, the second year of the Tiansheng era

Cai Hengxuan, the Grand Secretary.

The minister Yao Zhiweifeng.

Xu Shixing, Grand Secretary of the Zhaowen Pavilion and Minister of Rites.

The last few lines were not read aloud, but it was clear that this was an imperial edict issued and countersigned by the Secretariat-Chancellery, and the procedure was legal.

"Your Majesty, I thank you. Long live the Emperor!" Shen Xian bowed deeply in gratitude, repeatedly proclaiming "Long live the Emperor!"

Meanwhile, Jiang Rui, in the next cell, was dumbfounded, looking through the bars at the boy who had received the imperial edict.

He thought to himself, "No wonder he's so calm and composed. He holds both important civil and military positions; he must be very favored by the emperor."

(End of this chapter)