Chapter Thirty-One: Undercurrents

The atmosphere within the Chuihua Palace was stifling. The attendants kept their heads bowed, holding their breath, not daring to let out a single sound. Shaoyin was particularly frantic; she had been gloomy all day, berating the junior maids and eunuchs one after another, throwing and breaking things incessantly.

"Your Majesty, Official Luo Xunchong has arrived," Shaoyin whispered through the beaded curtains, stealing a glance at Empress Dowager Wen’s expression before reporting with utmost caution.

Empress Dowager Wen set aside the scroll titled *Empress Wu Ascending to the Throne* that lay on her desk and said nonchalantly, "Send him in."

Moments later, Luo Xunchong walked into the hall with deep reverence, bowed, and stood silently to one side. Seeing this, Shaoyin waved her hand, dismissing all the other attendants from the hall. Only the Empress Dowager, Luo Xunchong, and Shaoyin remained.

"Official Luo, the birthday gift you presented for my celebration was very much to my liking. You have a thoughtful heart," Empress Dowager Wen said, surveying him with a faint gaze.

Relieved, Luo Xunchong bowed quickly. "Your Majesty is too kind; this subject is humbled."

"Official Luo, I recall that you were the third-place scholar in the first year of the Xingqian reign. You are thirty-five this year, are you not?" Empress Dowager Wen sat upright, asking about his background with a meaningful tone.

Luo Xunchong, having rarely had the opportunity to be granted an audience with the Empress Dowager, replied cautiously, "Your Majesty manages the affairs of the world, yet you still remember such trivial details about this subject. I am truly overwhelmed."

Empress Dowager Wen continued, "When you first entered the court, you spent five years in the Hanlin Academy, followed by three years in the Office of Remonstrance. You are now in your seventh year at the Censorate, correct?"

Luo Xunchong licked his dry lips and bowed. "Your Majesty is wise. I have been serving in the court for fifteen years now."

"Fifteen years," Empress Dowager Wen sighed deeply. "What a pity, Official Luo."

Hearing this, Luo Xunchong fell to his knees with a thud, trembling with fear. "I eat the Emperor’s grain and must perform the Emperor’s work; I dare not speak lightly of pity."

"Oh, is that so?" Empress Dowager Wen wore an expression of sudden realization and smiled faintly. "Official Luo’s loyalty is commendable and deserves a reward. The kitchen prepared fresh pufferfish today; it is quite delicious. Shaoyin, reward Official Luo."

Shaoyin acknowledged the order and brought over a pre-prepared food box, presenting it to Luo Xunchong. Luo Xunchong, clueless, felt cold sweat pouring down his back, terrified beyond measure. Pufferfish—it was highly poisonous! Surely his gift had not been a mistake? How could the Empress Dowager be sentencing him to death? To accept was death, and to refuse was also death. Caught in a dilemma, he was too frightened to utter a word.

"What is it, Official Luo? Do you intend to defy an imperial decree?" Shaoyin pushed the food box forward heavily, her tone growing sharper.

Luo Xunchong was an exceptionally clever man. Pufferfish was poisonous and lethal if prepared incorrectly, but a delicacy if handled well. This meant the Empress Dowager was offering him two paths: choose correctly and find glory and wealth; choose incorrectly and face the execution of his entire clan. He instantly understood her intent. He knelt on the floor and kowtowed deeply. "Your Majesty, I am willing to be your vanguard. I will lay down my life and serve you until my last breath, with no regrets."

Empress Dowager Wen remained expressionless, though her eyes flickered as they rested on his figure prostrated on the golden bricks. "Shaoyin, show him the imperial edict."

Shaoyin complied. Luo Xunchong slowly opened the scroll, and his face gradually drained of all color. "Your Majesty, this... this subject..." he stammered in terror.

"What? Is it beyond your capability?" Empress Dowager Wen watched him with a cryptic smile.

Luo Xunchong’s mind raced. Wealth and status are sought through danger—he would take the gamble! "I obey the decree. I will not fail the trust you have placed in me!" Having steeled his resolve, he accepted the Empress Dowager’s demand.

Empress Dowager Wen nodded. "Remember, if you succeed, you shall enter the Cabinet as the Second Minister. If you fail, you shall be exiled to Ningguta."

While the Chuihua Palace was filled with nerve-wracking tension, the Wende Palace was equally restless. Zhao Yizhen stared at Gu Qingzhi, who stood in the hall, and asked, "Grand Tutor Gu, the Empress Dowager has summoned Luo Xunchong. What do you make of this?"

Gu Qingzhi was over sixty, his hair and beard turned snowy white. At his age, most commoners would have long since retired, yet he continued to labor for the sake of the Great Yu Empire. Twisting his white beard, he dismissed the concern. "Luo Xunchong is of humble origins, possesses some quick wit, and is generally upright. He is not worth worrying about. What Your Majesty should be wary of are those in the court who play both sides."

Zhao Yizhen concentrated, carefully recalling which officials had not supported Gu Qingzhi’s petition during the morning court. He realized that if he were to purge those individuals based on this reason, more than half of the court seats would be left vacant.

He shook his head. "Grand Tutor, Cao Heyong, Wen Qixiong, and Qian Weiyong were all impeached. These three are the Empress Dowager’s confidants. Yet, for three days, she has made no move. Today, she summoned Luo Xunchong. I suspect she intends to use this man to overturn the cases against those three and clear their names."

Gu Qingzhi remained unconcerned. "Your Majesty is overthinking. Even if the Empress Dowager craves power, she is not a scourge to the nation like Empress Lü or Empress Wu. I believe that while she may have selfish motives, she exerts her full effort for the sake of the Great Yu. She will not act against the natural order."

Yet, Zhao Yizhen remained uneasy and anxious. He added, "Grand Tutor, have you heard the rumors among the people? Could they be true?"

Gu Qingzhi froze, his expression becoming obscure and difficult to read. "Your Majesty, the current priority is to retrieve the Imperial Seal and have the Empress Dowager return power to you. Do not let groundless rumors disturb your mind and hinder the greater cause."

Zhao Yizhen clearly saw a flicker of hesitation in Gu Qingzhi’s eyes, seemingly mixed with guilt and shame. Desperate to uncover the truth, he pressed on, "Grand Tutor, if the rumors were proven true—that the Empress Dowager’s position is illegitimate—would it not be even more justifiable and beyond reproach for me to take back the seal and rule in my own right?"

"Your Majesty, watch your tongue!" Gu Qingzhi suddenly spoke with severity, his white beard trembling. "Your Majesty is the son of the Empress appointed by the late Emperor, the Crown Prince. The Empress Dowager was the Empress appointed by the late Emperor and is the Empress Dowager designated by his final will. The will clearly states that matters of state and military affairs should be handled by the Empress Dowager. This is an indisputable fact!"

Zhao Yizhen’s heart sank to the bottom of a well. The suspicion that had only been a fraction now grew to sixty or seventy percent. Yet, simultaneously, he felt a profound sense of powerlessness.

Indeed, when the late Emperor was alive, Empress Wen existed first, and then he, the Crown Prince, followed. It was because he was the son of the Empress that his position as Crown Prince was legitimate enough to convince and command the submission of all.

If that "fact" were ever exposed, it would not be the Empress Dowager who would be questioned first—it would be him, the Emperor. After all, though the late Emperor had only one son, he had many brothers, all of whom were also born of the Empress. In terms of bloodline and status, they were just as noble. In terms of ritual and law, they were just as legitimate. And in their hearts, the wild ambition to replace him had likely never faded.

Zhao Yizhen shuddered violently. The rumors he heard, the Empress Dowager must have heard as well. Yet, she had remained silent. This was clearly her way of protecting him!

Zhao Yizhen looked toward the direction of the Chuihua Palace with a complex gaze.