The struggle for the throne during the Jiajing reign

Chapter 98 Scheme

Tao Zhongwen's disciples immediately stepped forward to exert pressure: "The war signs have already manifested. The fate of Prince Jing clashes with that of His Majesty. Heaven's will is clear, and His Majesty will order Prince Jing to immediately take up his fief."

Why does Eunuch Huang pretend to be confused when he knows the truth, and intentionally delay the imperial decree?

Huang Jin's gaze remained fixed on Jiajing's face, showing no fear of the other's imposing manner: "Master Wang, you dare not speak recklessly. The Holy Emperor's words are golden and jade-like. When issuing decrees, they must be comprehensive and clear in their meaning. How can a decree be conveyed based on just a half-sentence oral instruction!"

Moreover, the enfeoffment is a major event; how could it be decided so easily without the approval of the Ministry of Rites, the Grand Secretariat, and the Directorate of Ceremonial?

Tao Zhongwen closed his eyes and chanted incantations to relieve the emperor's pain. He wanted to maintain his golden body. His disciples would handle such direct confrontations; otherwise, what was the point of keeping them around?

"Eunuch Huang, it is precisely because the preparations for the enfeoffment will take a long time that it is best not to delay. Wouldn't it be better to issue an imperial decree immediately to discuss the matter?"

"The incompatible diseases will only get worse, all for the sake of His Majesty's health."

Huang Jin turned his head and looked at them with a cold gaze, then looked at Tao Zhongwen: "Tao Zhongwen, Master Tao! You are courting death."

Tao Zhongwen dared to do this because he was determined to support Prince Yu, which meant that a tacit understanding had already been reached. Huang Jin regretted leaving them alone that day.

But he's not angry now, because the worst thing to do in Yongshou Palace is to interfere in the affairs of state.

Tao Zhongwen has crossed this line today, and he won't live much longer. It's not because Prince Jing will retaliate or Prince Yu will silence him, but mainly because of the Emperor.

His Majesty may believe in your elixirs, your efforts to quell the chaos, and your divine will, but he will never tolerate you acting as his master on behalf of Heaven.

Tao Zhongwen opened his eyes and was startled. Huang Jin, a man who looked like Maitreya Buddha, was the first person he had ever seen with such an expression in all the years he had been in the palace.

Could it be that we made a mistake in the rush, or that we were too hasty?

But such opportunities are rare, and you can't feed them high-intensity golden pills every day. If you feed them to death, you'll be buried with them.

Tao Zhongwen quickly glanced at the disciples, signaling them to keep quiet for the time being.

Then he turned to Huang Jin, bowed slightly, and spoke with the same calm and unhurried demeanor of an immortal.

"Eunuch Huang, His Majesty is unwell, and we are very anxious. Our disciples were a bit too blunt, please forgive us."

He paused, then gently flicked his whisk. "However, as Heaven has decreed, Your Majesty is afflicted with disaster, which is beyond my control. I am merely acting on behalf of Heaven to truthfully report what I have seen on the sand table to Your Majesty."

As for whether or not the imperial edict will be delivered, and when it will be delivered, that is naturally a matter for the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Grand Secretariat; this humble Taoist dares not interfere.

His words were impeccable, drawing a clear line between divine will and the government's policies. He said, "I've spoken of divine will; what you do with it is your business."

He couldn't let Huang Jin find any fault with him, and he dared not admit his intentions.

But Huang Jin was too lazy to pay him any attention.

A moment later, the imperial physician arrived. After examining and treating the patient, he breathed a sigh of relief. Then he had someone bring the unfinished nectar. Upon smelling it, he could detect several medicinal ingredients that cool the blood, detoxify, reduce fever, and disperse swelling.

It's the right medicine for the illness, but the Imperial Hospital wouldn't dare use such a strong remedy. These Taoist priests are really ruthless.

"How is it?" Huang Jin asked anxiously from the side.

"Yes, His Majesty's fever has begun to subside and he will wake up soon. However, His Majesty has a history of internal heat, and this has been compounded by fatigue. After waking up, he must rest quietly and avoid any mental or physical exertion. Furthermore, he must not take any more hot or dry substances."

This is an old story; it's not the first or second time that emperors have fainted due to excessive medication.

But he dared not say anything more. It was common knowledge that the emperor was a devout follower of Taoist priests. Previous imperial physicians had also advised against taking elixirs, but did the emperor listen?

If you do, the emperor will ask you, "Do you have a way to make me live forever?"

There's nothing I can do, so you just want me dead!

In fact, Taoist priests before Tao Zhongwen had already convinced the emperor that the elixir of immortality was a miraculous medicine that cleansed the bones and marrow and transcended the mortal body. The suffering of the mortal body was due to the leakage of impurities and the reshaping of the old body, and it was not the fault of the elixir.

If you can't even withstand this little calamity, how can you talk about immortality?

When Huang Jin sent someone to invite the imperial physician, he did not deliberately keep the news secret. Moreover, he performed the spirit writing ceremony in front of the palace, and there were many palace servants and Taoist priests serving him. These people had more or less been currying favor with people outside the palace.

They dare not undertake major tasks, but they are willing to exchange information for personal gain.

The first to receive the news were Yan Song and Lu Bing, followed by Zhu Zaizhen and Prince Yu, and finally Xu Jie and others.

Zhang Juzheng frowned and stood up: "Your Highness cannot move and must not go to the West Garden. Everything must wait until His Majesty wakes up."

Since it has already been said that they are incompatible, if Your Highness goes to the Emperor's side at this time and causes the illness to worsen, or if something unspeakable happens, then you will be in a position where you can't clear your name no matter what.

Xu Wei was well-versed in various schools of thought. When Zhang Juzheng pointed out the key point, he put down his paintbrush and circled around the hall with his head down. Suddenly, he looked up sharply and said, "Your Majesty is born with the destiny of metal, and your nature is firm and suspicious. This is the stubbornness of metal. However, you are refined by the fire of elixir within your body, which is the brightness of fire."

Fire overcomes metal, but not to harm it. Rather, it refines stubborn metal into its metallic nature, transforming coldness and austerity into divinity. Metal does not stiffen when it receives fire, and fire does not go mad when it receives metal.

"By overcoming adversity and finding a way out, by breaking free from personal selfishness, one can open the door to a destiny for all ages. This is precisely the opportunity for Your Majesty to attain enlightenment."

-

Zhang Juzheng looked at Xu Wei in disbelief. "This works?"

Zhu Zaizhen was also surprised. This quick wit was truly rare. In particular, Xu Wei did not follow the theory of avoiding the overcoming of metal, but instead took a different approach, interpreting the overcoming of metal by fire as an opportunity for emperors to refine their destiny and attain enlightenment.

If the emperor truly believed it, then Zhu Zaizhen would instantly transform from a rebellious ruler into a treasure. However, this is somewhat difficult, since Tao Zhongwen dared to do so because he relied on his own ten years of accumulation.

Zhang Juzheng immediately offered a suggestion: "Pass this message on to Grand Secretary Yan. Although he and His Majesty are ruler and subject, their relationship over the years is extraordinary. Only he can accurately grasp His Majesty's pulse at this time."

Moreover, the Director of the Imperial Observatory was a protégé of Grand Secretary Yan, making this statement more credible if it came from the Imperial Observatory.

Xu Wei immediately added: "According to what Uncle Da said a few days ago, Yan Song and Lu Bing are on good terms. So we can have the Embroidered Uniform Guard try to investigate. If they can find out that Tao Zhongwen and Prince Yu conspired to seize the throne by taking advantage of the celestial phenomena, then we can strike them deadly."

Furthermore, Yan Song must be brought to the palace immediately. If His Majesty remains oblivious upon waking and insists on sending His Highness to his fiefdom, then every day we can delay the inevitable will offer a better chance of a turnaround.

Xu Wei held Yan Song and his son in low regard and refused to address them as Grand Secretaries.

Zhang Juzheng glanced at the other side: "I wonder if Prince Yu will go. If he does, that would be good."

Xu Wei had been working and planning with Zhang Juzheng these past few days. Although their personal relationship was not deep, they had already been exchanging information.

Xu Wei nodded and said, "Since Tao Zhongwen said that earth produces metal and those who follow metal will prosper, he will surely encourage Prince Yu to rush to the emperor's side to attend to his illness. When His Majesty wakes up, all the credit for attending to his illness and calming his mind can be attributed to Prince Yu, thus confirming what the spirit medium said."

"It's a good thing that everything is so coincidental. This can only fool ordinary people, but for His Majesty's suspicious and distrustful nature, the more he does, the more mistakes he will make. The more coincidental it is, the more it proves that there is a scheme involved."

Zhang Juzheng thought for a moment and said, "Then we might as well retreat in order to advance, and add fuel to the fire by submitting a memorial requesting to take up a fiefdom, so as to relieve the emperor's and father's worries."

"That's feasible. I'll draft the memorial right away, and Your Highness can copy it down in a moment."

Seeing that Xu Wei had already begun writing, Zhang Juzheng cupped his hands to Zhu Zaizhen and said, "I heard that Grand Secretary Yan has taken two days of sick leave and is not in the palace."

"I will go and wait outside the palace gate; he must have already received the news and is on his way."

Zhu Zaizhen leaned back in his chair, not having had a chance to say a single word since receiving the news.

It wasn't that he didn't want to speak, but that he simply couldn't get a word in edgewise. In the short time it took Zhang Juzheng to stand up, Xu Wei had circled the hall three times. The two of them, one making a decision and the other filling in the gaps, had finished all his work.

He picked up his teacup and suddenly felt a bit idle.

"We'll do as you say."