Chapter Ten: The Emperor Is Merely a Figurehead

Song Shiyu neither angry nor upset, kicked the door open with a single step, grabbed Li Xubai by the collar, and pressed him against the wall, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Second Brother really has changed, hasn’t he? But, Sister-in-law has changed too. Are you looking to test me?”

The beauty’s fists were hard, her expression cold, and her gaze sharp as a blade, as if she could carve out a piece of flesh.

Li Xubai was drenched in cold sweat from sheer fright.

He vaguely remembered that this sister-in-law was a girl from the mountains.

Are mountain girls all this formidable in battle?

Or perhaps she was widowed shortly after marriage, struck by such a blow that her temperament changed abruptly and her fighting spirit surged?

Trembling, he pried Song Shiyu’s hand off and stammered, “Don’t—if Sister-in-law needs anything done by your brother, just say it. But please, no rough stuff. If you get hurt, we’ll have to see the doctor—and that doctor is as expensive as robbery.”

Song Shiyu slowly released Li Xubai’s collar, lightly patted his face, and said, “Second Brother is sensible—that’s the best. Sit here by the door.” She moved a chair to block it and sat upright. “Tomorrow, you’ll work at the carriage and horse depot. Help Sister-in-law find out a few things: one, which noble families’ ladies accompanied the Empress Dowager to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple; two, when they plan to return to the city; three, how many guards are traveling with them.”

Li Xubai’s mouth twisted bitterly, his temples throbbing, as he put away his usual smirk. “Sister-in-law, I’m just a clerk at the depot, not a court official. How could I possibly find out such things?”

Song Shiyu smiled. “I trust you, Second Brother. Besides, the depot serves many nobles, and now that you work in the private rooms, it shouldn’t be hard to gather some information.”

“...” Li Xubai forced a wry smile. “Sister-in-law, I’ve only been there two days, and asking around so much makes me afraid someone might beat me to death.”

Song Shiyu glanced at him sideways. “It seems you’re not afraid of dying by my hand?”

“...” Li Xubai wailed, “I am! I can’t afford to offend you! Please, I’ll get the information for you, alright?”

Satisfied, Song Shiyu beamed and opened the door to leave, then halted and turned back to say, “With your looks, forget about becoming a court official. But a palace eunuch might still be possible.”

“...” Li Xubai stared silently at the ceiling.

A strange feeling crept over him.

Given the Li family’s status, the eldest son and daughter-in-law wouldn’t come from noble households.

So why was Sister-in-law Song Shiyu so concerned about the Empress Dowager’s entourage of nobles visiting the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple?

Was she focused on the Empress Dowager—or on one of those nobles?

Whoever she was concerned about, it didn’t match her status!

Li Xubai resolved to uncover all that Song Shiyu wanted to know tomorrow.

He was best at fishing for information.

***

A massive fire engulfed and destroyed the entire Jade Clear Bright Palace.

The eight halls—Chongde, Changchun, Zifu, Huiqing, Chonghui, Tianhe, Chengming, and Yanqing—were all reduced to ashes.

The palace’s destruction was a grievous loss, but the worst was yet to come.

The imperial seals granting Emperor Jingdi Zhao Yizhen and the Crown Prince their titles, and the Empress Dowager’s honorary seal, were all destroyed in the fire.

This meant that the emperor’s and Empress Dowager’s legitimacy was somewhat undermined, leaving behind latent uncertainties.

Should misfortune strike in the future, it could invite severe criticism.

“It’s late, Your Majesty. You should rest early,” Chief Eunuch Yu Zhong entered the hall holding a calming tea, lighting the candles gently.

With a loud snap, Zhao Yizhen slammed shut a memorial scroll, paused, then asked, “Has Mother Empress Dowager arrived at the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple?”

Yu Zhong bowed. “She has arrived and is settled. Rest assured, Your Majesty.”

Still seething from the day’s debate at court, and with only his trusted eunuch present, Zhao Yizhen spoke without restraint. “Of course, I’m at ease. But I fear Mother Empress Dowager is not.”

“Your Majesty!” Yu Zhong exclaimed softly, then quickly dismissed the eunuchs and guards outside.

Zhao Yizhen’s anger simmered beneath the surface, unable to vent until he added, “Why fear, then? Did I speak wrongly? Today at court, if not for Grand Tutor Gu’s staunch defense, would Mother Empress Dowager have stripped me to verify my authenticity on the spot?”

Yu Zhong hastily tried to soothe him. “Your Majesty worries too much. The Empress Dowager only proposed that out of concern for your health after the fire. She is your mother and would never question your identity.”

The more Zhao Yizhen thought, the angrier he grew. “Do I not know that I am her biological son? Does she not know? If she does, why insist on verifying me before all the officials? Could it be...” He suddenly entertained a wild thought, “Could it be my real mother is someone else, and even the Empress Dowager doesn’t know my true traits?”

“Oh, Your Majesty, such words cannot be spoken lightly!” Yu Zhong almost covered the emperor’s mouth in alarm. “If the Empress Dowager hears this, I doubt I would survive.”

Zhao Yizhen realized he had spoken rashly in his fury.

But in his twenty-three years, he had never suffered such humiliation.

Yet today, in the presence of all the court officials, his own mother had doubted his identity and nearly stripped him bare.

This was unbearable.

The pen of a civil official was a deadly weapon; if they recorded this in history, he, the emperor, would become the greatest joke for all time.

“What do you think the Empress Dowager’s intention was today? If Grand Tutor Gu hadn’t stood up, would my throne have been unstable?” Zhao Yizhen asked.

“Certainly not,” Yu Zhong shook his head slowly. “Your Majesty, I believe the Jade Clear Bright Palace was the late emperor’s favorite place. Its destruction must deeply grieve the Empress Dowager. Her loss of composure at court is understandable. Also, the people are deeply concerned—whether disaster or sabotage, there must be an explanation.”

“An explanation?” Zhao Yizhen scoffed. “I understand now. The Empress Dowager is forcing me to issue a self-criticism edict.”

Yu Zhong shrank back, unwilling to say more.

A profound sense of helplessness welled up in Zhao Yizhen.

He was twenty-three, having ruled for ten years.

For a decade, the Empress Dowager had ruled behind the curtain, holding all power.

At court, he only listened; he never spoke.

Ten years had passed, and he had yet to reclaim the imperial seal.

He was an emperor in name only—a mere ornament.

How laughable!

How utterly laughable!

Zhao Yizhen sighed weakly. “Yu Zhong, this self-criticism edict—does it need the imperial seal?”

“I believe so,” Yu Zhong replied uncertainly.

Zhao Yizhen shook his head. “So, if I write the edict, the Empress Dowager will return with the seal. If I don’t, she’ll stay at the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple forever with the seal, leaving me as an emperor without legitimacy or filial piety.” He sighed deeply. “How could a mother and son come to this? How could it be?”