Chapter 49 What is the Will of Heaven?

The imperial family system of the Great Xia dynasty differed from that of the previous dynasty.

When imperial princes were granted the title of prince, it was not hereditary; the title ended with their own lifetime. If a prince failed to achieve notable merits, he could not secure a title of nobility for his descendants. Within two or three generations, their descendants would be reduced to ordinary members of the imperial clan.

However, if a prince could establish military exploits or distinguished service, the imperial court was never stingy with rewards. Even so, a prince's title would then become equivalent to that of the hereditary nobility.

This was another interpretation of the Founding Emperor's decree that the nobility should serve as a bulwark guarding the royal family. It was very easy for imperial princes to be transformed into noble officials of the imperial clan.

To prevent princes from engaging in political maneuverings, cultivating personal factions, and threatening the Crown Prince, it was customary that before the Crown Prince ascended the throne, all the imperial princes served as companion readers in the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince bore the responsibility of educating his younger brothers.

Once the Crown Prince ascended the throne as Emperor, if he so desired, he could understand and employ his younger brothers.

If the princes possessed talent, combined with their status as imperial princes, they could achieve great things in the political arena.

This also prevented the hidden danger that if anything untoward were to happen to the Crown Prince, the other princes would not be capable of inheriting the grand succession.

This was also why, during the Case of the Rebellious Crown Prince, Emperor Jiacheng not only executed the Crown Prince but also put his other three sons to death, because those three sons were die-hard loyalists of the Crown Prince.

They were also the most proactive when it came to the Crown Prince ascending the throne.

Once the Crown Prince ascended the throne, they would transform from retainers of the prince's residence and idle imperial princes into senior ministers of the imperial clan.

Emperor Jiacheng said, "Summon both of their households here."

He Zhong'an and Madam He entered the imperial palace together.

To enter the palace, Madam He was dressed in official court attire, graceful and opulent.

He Zhong'an had also changed into the formal attire of a marquess's heir, appearing as peerless and elegant as jade in the wind.

Yet, as they sat in the side hall facing a table of delicacies, their hearts fluttered with anxiety, and they found it difficult to swallow a single bite.

"Mother, do not worry. Leave this matter to me," He Zhong'an said. "I am confident in this affair."

Ever since Madam He produced the Iron-Clad Oath of Immunity, He Zhong'an had truly developed a sense of filial affection for her as an elder. However, a sovereign who lacks secrecy loses his state, and a minister who lacks secrecy loses his life. Before the time came to reveal his ultimate trump card, He Zhong'an would not utter a single word to anyone.

Madam He replied, "Very well."

Yet, seeing her looking worried sick with unfocused eyes, she probably did not even know what she was saying herself.

Only then did He Zhong'an realize how overwhelmingly oppressive imperial power was to the people of this era.

Merely at a summons from the Emperor, even the usually resolute Madam He had lost her composure out of nervousness.

He Zhong'an took a deep breath, grasped Madam He's hand, and said, "Mother, rest assured. I am here."

Acting like a devoted mother and son, He Zhong'an walked toward the grand hall. Upon arriving before the hall, however, they saw Zheng Bangcheng clad in the qilin robe of a commander of the imperial guards. He blocked the two of them and said, "Madam He, please this way. That is for the female relatives; the male guests go this direction."

Madam He's heart fluttered with anxiety, but having no alternative, she could only head toward the quarters of the female relatives to see the Empress.

Because this was an imperial family banquet, the scale was small, and the protocols were not overly rigid. Even so, the men and women were seated separately, divided by a curtain hanging down the middle.

Zheng Bangcheng lowered his voice and said, "My young nephew, the Duke of Ningguo and his two sons have already gone inside. You must be careful."

He Zhong'an nodded and stepped inside.

As soon as He Zhong'an entered the grand hall, he saw the pitch-black, polished floor tiles gleaming like mirrors, bright enough to reflect a person's silhouette. At the very head sat a figure wearing a simple, plain Taoist robe, looking as unadorned as a scholar at home, yet occupying the ultimate seat of honor in the hall.

This must be the reigning Emperor Jiacheng.

He Zhong'an bowed and said, "Your subject He Zhong'an pays respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years."

"Rise," the Emperor said indifferently. "Everyone has arrived. Let us speak of the matter then."

"Given all these years of friendship, the Marquis of Wuninglie was praised back then by Prince Guangping as the fiercest general in the military. How did things escalate to such a state that even the Iron-Clad Oath of Immunity was brought out? What is it you wish to do?"

"Do you truly wish to test whether the Iron-Clad Oath of Immunity can exempt you from death?"

Hearing the tone of these words, He Zhong'an immediately bowed again and said, "Your subject is guilty."

Simultaneously, another voice rang out, "Your subject is guilty."

He Zhong'an glanced sideways and saw that it was none other than the Duke of Ningguo and his two sons.

"Spare the nonsense," Emperor Jiacheng said. "Duke of Ningguo, let Pei the Second speak first. What on earth is going on?"

Pei Zhao was stunned; he had not expected the matter to fall upon him first.

For a moment, he did not know how to respond.

The Duke of Ningguo gritted his teeth and said, "You unfilial wretch, His Majesty is speaking! Speak up immediately and tell everything as it is without concealing a single detail!"

"Understood," Pei Zhao said instantly.

Pei Zhao immediately recounted the whole affair between the Fengyu Firm and the He family from beginning to end. Having been scolded by the Duke of Ningguo, he dared not conceal anything, though he omitted the true master behind the Fengyu Firm. Along the way, he minimized his own faults with a wave of his hand and shifted all the blame onto He Zhong'an.

Emperor Jiacheng said, "Third Master He, speak. Is what he said correct?"

"What Pei Zhao has stated differs greatly from the truth—" He Zhong'an was about to point out the flaws in his account.

"I asked you if it is correct," Emperor Jiacheng said indifferently. "You need only answer whether it is correct or not."

Though Emperor Jiacheng's voice was calm, He Zhong'an felt a pressure as heavy as a mountain bearing down upon him.

It seemed as though, in an instant, countless gazes landed upon him with tangible weight, alongside the imperial guards standing like statues on the side. It would take nothing more than a single word from Emperor Jiacheng for him to be immediately pounded into pulp.

Only now did he truly understand what it meant to say that serving the monarch was like sleeping with a tiger.

This was a political ecosystem entirely different from later generations.

In later generations, as long as one did not commit a crime, the worst that could happen was spending the rest of one's life fishing, and personal safety was guaranteed.

But in this era, that was not the case at all.

Especially in the presence of the sovereign, saying a single wrong word could mean the execution of all nine clans—and that was by no means impossible.

He Zhong'an thought to himself, "His Majesty's reaction is different from what I anticipated. Where did I go wrong?"

At this moment, He Zhong'an had no choice but to reply, "Correct."

Emperor Jiacheng said, "Duke of Ningguo, this is where your household is in the wrong. Family members may have disputes, but how can they resort to violence and bloodshed? It was your household that first sent men to assassinate Third Master He, was it not? Who gave the order?"

He Zhong'an could sense where Emperor Jiacheng's partiality lay, and how could the Duke of Ningguo fail to notice? Overjoyed in his heart, the Duke thought to himself, "His Majesty indeed cherishes old friendships; this hurdle has been cleared."

"It was Hu Tu, the manager of the Fengyu Firm. I have already punished him before coming here, and I am here to offer my apologies to the He family."

"Quite right. Even tongues and teeth occasionally clash, and family members are bound to bump into each other. Third Master He, the Duke of Ningguo is offering you an apology. Do you accept it or not?"

How could He Zhong'an fail to catch the underlying meaning in Emperor Jiacheng's words?

Could he afford not to accept?

He Zhong'an could only say, "Your subject dares not presume."

"There is nothing you dare not presume," Emperor Jiacheng said. "I decree it. Duke of Ningguo, properly compensate them."

"Understood." The Duke of Ningguo appeared much more at ease now, having apparently concluded that the Emperor was siding with him.

"Matters must be addressed one by one," Emperor Jiacheng said. "Now, regarding the case of Pei Zhixiao. Third Master He, did you kill Pei Zhixiao?"

"Yes. However, when I struck him down at the time, I did not know he was an official of the imperial court," He Zhong'an immediately answered.

"Very well. Those who do not know are not guilty," Emperor Jiacheng said. "Let this matter rest as well. Duke of Ningguo, consider Pei Zhixiao as having died for his country, and properly arrange his funeral rites."

"Your subject obeys the imperial decree," the Duke of Ningguo said promptly.

Emperor Jiacheng said, "Then let us speak of the final matter. He Zhong'an, did no one ever tell you that the two words 'treason' can never be spoken lightly? Once uttered, if you cannot produce evidence, the charge will be reversed upon your own head."