Klares Wasser und wunderschöne Berge

Kapitel 117

Upon hearing this, the princess immediately asked with concern, "What did Father send Huaiji to do?"

The eunuch hesitated and said, "I don't know either... Just now His Majesty was discussing the matter of appointing a son-in-law to a post outside the capital with some officials from the Censorate. Those officials mentioned Mr. Liang, so His Majesty ordered me to summon Mr. Liang..."

The princess was very uneasy. She got up, moved closer to me, and tugged at my sleeve.

I gave her a reassuring smile, gently pulled my sleeve from her hand, and said softly, "It's alright, I'll be right back."

I strode out, but when I reached the pavilion door, I couldn't help but turn back. I saw the princess follow me a few steps, leaning against a pillar as she watched me go, her brows furrowed and her eyes filled with sorrow.

……………………

When I arrived at the Chuigong Hall, I saw that many people had already stepped forward, including remonstrating officials and censors. Some were standing, some were kneeling, all holding their tablets and bowing their heads, their expressions solemn. It seemed that another joint remonstrance by the censors and remonstrators was taking place. The current emperor, sitting on the throne, had his head turned to the side, his ears were red, and his hands were tightly gripping the armrests of the throne. The veins on the back of his hands were bulging, a look that only comes when one is extremely angry.

I entered the center of the main hall, and before I could even bow, the Emperor suddenly turned around, pointed at me with a flick of his sleeve, and said loudly to the crowd, "Take a good look! This is the man you forced me to kill! Can you see a trace of treachery and evil in his eyes? Can you sense any aura of calamity that will bring disaster to the country and its people from him?"

"Your Majesty!" Someone immediately stepped forward to respond. I didn't need to look away; I knew it was Sima Guang just from his voice. "How can loyalty and treachery be distinguished by appearance? The reason why people's hearts are unpredictable is that treacherous people may have a gentle and kind appearance."

"Then examine him more closely," the Emperor said. "Time will tell. He served in the former provinces for many years. Most of you are from the Imperial Academy and have had some contact with him. You may have even seen him at court assemblies and celebrations in recent years. Please think carefully: has he ever committed a single wrongdoing? You say his crimes are numerous and he deserves severe punishment. Then please list his specific crimes. As long as there is concrete evidence, even just one, I will execute him according to your suggestions!"

The courtiers were speechless, their eyes darting over me, but none dared to respond to the Emperor. Even Sima Guang couldn't find a rebuttal. After a moment, a man in a green robe, resembling a censor, stepped forward, holding his tablet and bowing, saying, "You say Liang Huaiji is innocent, yet he was previously demoted to Xijing for a crime. If Huaiji hadn't done anything wrong, why would he be in this situation? Your Majesty personally issued the edict of his exile, yet now you claim he's innocent. Isn't this a contradiction?"

These words left the Emperor speechless. He glanced sideways at the low-ranking official in his thirties before him and asked, "Who are you?"

The official bowed and said, "Your subject is Fu Yaoyu, the Acting Censor."

Seeing that the Emperor remained silent, Fu Yaoyu continued, "The appointment of the Imperial Son-in-Law, Li Wei, as Prefect of Weizhou was a sudden and shocking event. Those who have heard of it say that Li Wei is always virtuous and has never been known to commit any wrongdoing, yet they do not know why Your Majesty has suddenly banished him to a remote post. Furthermore, Liang Huaiji, originally exiled for a crime, has been recalled at an inopportune time. There is no more perverse course of affairs in the court. The affairs of Li Wei and his wife are not known to outsiders; how to handle them should be decided by Your Majesty and your daughter themselves. This lowly subject should not speak of them, but now that the Imperial Son-in-Law..." The fact that an innocent person was reprimanded while a guilty official was released has astonished many, who are all speculating about the reasons behind it. I believe that the princess, having received Your Majesty's careful guidance since childhood, is refined and virtuous and would not have committed any impolite act. However, with countless mouths spreading rumors and gossip, slander is inevitable. Therefore, I implore Your Majesty to preserve the princess's marriage and not allow her husband to be appointed to a post outside the capital. As for Liang Huaiji, even if he is not executed, he should still be exiled. Only in this way can the rumors be dispelled and the princess's reputation preserved.”

Upon hearing this, several officials echoed the sentiment, all demanding that Li Wei be spared while I was exiled. The Emperor shook his head and said, “The princess is my daughter, and I care more about her reputation than any of you. If Huaiji has truly done anything to damage the princess’s honor, I will kill him without hesitation. Huaiji is both a teacher and a friend to the princess; he is not as despicable as you think. Besides, he is an inner court official… He is no different from a scroll of calligraphy, a bouquet of flowers, or a stick of incense; he is merely a small comfort the princess can find in her unhappy life…”

Mentioning the princess's unhappy life, his gaze grew even dimmer. After a moment of contemplation with his lowered brows, he looked up and stared directly at his ministers, uttering a few words that surprised everyone: "The marriage of the Princess of Yan was a disastrous decision I made. I once thought it was the best choice, both to repay the kindness of Empress Dowager Zhangyi and to satisfy all of you, but I never imagined it would bring such suffering to my daughter… Since things have turned out this way, I can only try to make amends for this mistake…"

His frank admission that the marriage he arranged for the princess was a disastrous move was already astonishing enough, but his subsequent statement that the marriage was "to satisfy everyone" clearly implied that the princess's marriage involved court politics, and that his choice of Li Wei, a man with no political connections in the court, was also to coordinate the intricate and entangled factional interests within the court. Having spoken so frankly, it's no wonder that the officials in the hall widened their eyes, disregarding the proper etiquette between ruler and subject, all trying to discern the emperor's expression.

Fu Yaoyu was the first to turn around and respond. As the Emperor was about to elaborate on his decision to rectify the mistake, Fu interrupted him: “Your Majesty has never made a mistake! Your Majesty chose Li Wei to marry the Princess solely to bestow honors upon your maternal uncle's family, in gratitude for Empress Dowager Zhangyi's kindness. At the time, the whole country praised this decision, marveling at Your Majesty's benevolence and filial piety, and urging your children to emulate it. Filial piety and righteousness were paramount in the nation, a tradition that still exists today, demonstrating the wisdom of Your Majesty's choice. Therefore, Your Majesty should not change your original intention, preventing Li Wei from being in danger or doubted, thus preserving your initial favor; nor should you allow Huaiji to take advantage of the situation, thus setting a strict warning for the future. Moreover, Your Majesty's daughters are growing up one after another, and their actions will inevitably emulate the Princess of Yan. Your Majesty cannot afford to be careless. I hope Your Majesty will carefully select your concubines, using reason to guide the Princess, helping her to temper her temperament and settle into her home. In this way, Your Majesty's filial piety towards Empress Dowager Zhangyi will increase, and the slander against the Princess in the court and among the people will subside.”

After saying this, he bowed deeply to the Emperor and said, "These are my heartfelt words, and I hope Your Majesty will consider them carefully; I hope Your Majesty will take my concerns into consideration."

The Lonely City (The Princess Who Fell in Love with a Eunuch) Long smoke and setting sun, the lonely city, a dreamlike dance

Chapter word count: 5024 Update time: 09-07-05 10:46

Fantasy Dance

(4699 words)

“My humble heart…” The Emperor repeated Fu Yaoyu’s words, and said with compassion, “Then can you also understand my feelings? My daughter has no intention of living. Every time I go to court, I worry that when I return to the Forbidden City at noon, I will not be able to see her again.”

He sat up straight, suppressing the desolation in his voice, and asked Fu Yaoyu with a slight smile, "Do you have a daughter?"

Fu Yaoyu hesitated, but still answered: "I have two sons, but no daughters."

The emperor then turned to Sima Guang and asked, "Where is Minister Sima?"

This question made Sima Guang slightly uneasy, and a look of melancholy flashed across his eyes, but he quickly regained his solemnity and bowed to answer: "I have no biological children, but I have a son of a clansman as my heir."

The Emperor then looked around at all the censors in the hall and slowly said, "If you had ever been fathers, you should be able to imagine how I feel right now. The Princess of Yan is my daughter. For the past ten years or so, she has been my only flesh and blood. In my eyes, she is far more precious than any so-called 'precious pearl.' The empire is but an external thing, let alone those gold and silver jewels that are like fleeting clouds. But the princess is connected to me by blood; she is a part of my life. When she was injured, seeing her on the verge of death, I was truly afraid of losing her." If she were gone, I would lose not only a princess, but also a broken life. Seeing her in such pain, I feel a heart-wrenching agony, and what pains me even more is that her suffering is caused by me, her father… If you also had children, how would you feel seeing them suffer because of your mistakes? The princess's remaining life will likely be devoid of joy. Therefore, I now implore you to give me a chance to make amends, to do something to at least bring her some peace.”

These words revealed the heart of a parent, leaving most officials speechless and their sharp edges softening considerably. Fu Yaoyu also remained silent, simply holding his tablet and standing respectfully with his head bowed. At the same time, another official stepped forward, poised to offer his advice.

Sima Guang.

"Your Majesty's pity for your daughter is understandable, but I would also like to ask Your Majesty, have you considered the feelings of Lady Li, the Imperial Uncle's wife?" Sima Guang said, then solemnly declared, "She is the mother of the Imperial Son-in-Law, and she too has the heart of a parent. When Your Majesty bestowed this marriage upon her, Lady Li must have been overjoyed, eagerly anticipating her new bride's arrival and the prospect of enjoying the blessings of children and grandchildren. Unexpectedly, the princess and the Imperial Son-in-Law are at odds; she mistreats her mother-in-law and favors court officials, leading to widespread gossip and astonishment. One can only imagine the sorrow in Lady Li's heart in the face of such a situation. Now, Your Majesty has further demoted the Imperial Son-in-Law because of the princess, causing Lady Li and her son to be separated, their family to fall into disarray, and they to suffer countless worries and anxieties, barely able to live. Is this the outcome Your Majesty originally intended when deciding to arrange the marriage with Lady Li?" Your Majesty, in order to please your daughter, can you completely disregard the Empress Dowager's love for her son and force them to separate? Your Majesty adores the princess, and Lady Yang also loves her son. Despite differences in rank and status, the love for one's child is the same. How can Your Majesty use the pain of others to heal the princess's wounds? The anniversary of Empress Dowager Zhangyi's death is in the second month. Your Majesty, as you peruse the items in the Empress Dowager's dowry and reflect on her life's residence, can you alone not feel a sense of sorrow and grief? Your Majesty, in remembrance of Empress Dowager Zhangyi, arranged for Li Wei to marry the princess, intending to strengthen the kinship and enrich his family to repay his mother's kindness. Now, Li Wei and his mother have suffered such a fate. Can Your Majesty not feel ashamed before Empress Dowager Zhangyi's spirit in heaven? How can you ever repay this debt of gratitude owed to Lady Li?

He was indeed a skilled official in speaking out. His series of probing questions, accompanied by gestures of raising his arms and waving his sleeves, showed no sign of weakness in front of the emperor. Instead, he appeared like a teacher instructing his students, and his words sounded reasonable. Today, the emperor looked troubled, lowered his eyes, and remained silent.

After a brief pause, and receiving no reply from the Emperor, Sima Guang suggested again: "In my humble opinion, Your Majesty should leave Li Wei in the capital. All those who have not yet been imprisoned in the Princess's residence should remain there, and all furniture and belongings should be kept intact, so that the Princess may, after Your Majesty's reasoned explanation, change her mind, follow the proper etiquette, and return to her original residence. Otherwise, the Princess will certainly have no intention of returning to the Li family." At this point, he turned to look at me, his eyes now showing a cold, stern light. "As for Liang Huaiji, if Your Majesty decides to treat him leniently, he may be spared death, but he must be exiled far away, banished to the countryside, and never recalled for the rest of his life."

The other censors nodded repeatedly, all urging the Emperor to adopt Sima Guang's suggestion. Fu Yaoyu also seconded the motion, and then said to the Emperor, "It is only natural for Your Majesty to love the princess, but love should not be equated with spoiling. If you allow the princess to disregard etiquette and the law because of spoiling her, it will ultimately harm her. Moreover, the princess has neglected her husband because of her love. Your Majesty's dismissal of Li Wei and recall of the subordinate officials is a breach of etiquette and has already made you a laughingstock. If you do not take remedial measures as Sima Guang suggested, how will Your Majesty educate your other young daughters in the future?"

After some deliberation, the Emperor calmly raised his head and addressed his ministers, saying, "I'm sorry, but I still cannot do as you suggest. If my daughter suffers another such blow, she will die."

I noticed the change in his tone. When the emperor referred to himself as "I" instead of "朕" in court, it was either intentional, to express his open and honest attitude towards his ministers, or he couldn't help but speak in the tone of an ordinary person without realizing it.

"I married at fifteen, and it wasn't until I was twenty-nine that I welcomed my first daughter, Princess Yan, a full fourteen years later," the Emperor said, still speaking in a gentle, ordinary tone. "To welcome her arrival, I waited anxiously for three days and three nights, barely closing my eyes. On the night she was born, I stood outside the mausoleum where Lady Miao gave birth, enduring the biting wind and dew, and caught a chill. But seeing my first child so beautiful and adorable, I was truly overjoyed. Even staying up all night was joyful, even catching a chill was joyful. That night, when I first saw her, she opened her eyes and cried so loudly it shook the heavens and earth, and I actually shed tears along with her."

When he spoke of "shedding tears," his tone changed. I stood with my eyes lowered, not trying to see his expression, but I could almost see his tearful eyes and sense how sadly he recalled his joyful tears from years ago, through his slightly trembling voice.

This slight change in tone was fleeting. The Emperor composed himself and continued, “During the time I awaited her birth, I thought every day about what else I could do for her besides bringing her into this world. When I first held her in my arms, I looked into her eyes and secretly vowed to cherish her for life, to give her a happy and carefree life. From the moment we made that long promise, I constantly reminded myself to be good to her, to do everything within my power to ensure her safe and joyful growth and life. My tragedy is that I gave her the greatest promise, but it was a promise I couldn't guarantee I could fulfill… I thought her marriage to Li Wei would satisfy everyone, that it was the best choice, but the result made her so unhappy. My wrong decision back then had already robbed her of happiness and health, so I couldn't make another mistake. According to your wishes, keep her husband, expel the servants she trusted, continue to confine her in this marriage, and let her life be wasted in a bleak existence without even a sliver of solace.”

Finally, he took a deep breath, adopting the emperor's tone, and firmly reiterated his stance: "I am grateful for your concern regarding the affairs of the Princess of Yan's family, but I will not retract my previous decree. Li Wei will remain the prefect of Weizhou, and I will not exile Liang Huaiji again. I naturally feel guilty towards Empress Dowager Zhangyi and the Li family, and I will try my best to make amends. Whether you laugh at me or criticize me, I will not care. I only ask that you allow me, as a father, to be selfish this once in a lifetime in order to save my daughter's life."

Having reached this point in the Emperor's speech, the officials of the Censorate had no further objections. Moreover, the Emperor's words had been quite moving, and the ministers exchanged glances, some even sighing with emotion. The officials who had been standing in the hall, locked in a stalemate with the Emperor, gradually began to return to their positions. Even Fu Yaoyu silently retreated to his original spot. Only Sima Guang not only did not retreat but instead approached the Emperor directly, looking him straight in the eye.

"Your Majesty!" he called out loudly to the Emperor, his tone steady yet imposing. "The world calls Your Majesty 'Guanjia,' a title derived from the saying 'The Three Sovereigns ruled the world as officials, the Five Emperors ruled as families.' The Emperor considers the world his home, and all the people under Heaven are Your Majesty's children. How can Your Majesty favor the princess alone and neglect the rest of your subjects? The current clamor and the trouble it causes you to ignore me all because the princess is indulging her desires, fearless, repeatedly disobeying her father and father's orders, favoring court officials, and disrespecting her husband's family. A woman's marriage has always been decided by her parents, and she should obey. Once married, she should follow her husband; how can she cry and demand a divorce simply because she dislikes him?" Moreover, the princess's status is extraordinary, and with eunuchs influencing her, if she can threaten Your Majesty with her life to interfere in her family affairs today, she could do the same tomorrow to force Your Majesty to interfere in state affairs. Preventing palace intrigues is of paramount importance according to ancestral laws; Your Majesty must heed the lessons of the Han and Tang dynasties. Furthermore, the fundamental principles of heaven and earth cannot be disordered. Now, Li Wei has been banished because of the princess, demonstrating that a woman has gained power over her husband. If a woman can gain power over her husband, then a son can gain power over his father, and a subject can gain power over his ruler. Once this source is opened, its flow will be unstoppable. If the superiors set an example, the inferiors will follow suit, and customs will deteriorate. How then will Your Majesty maintain peace and stability in the realm and the nation?

Then, he held his scepter at his waist, knelt down, clasped his hands on the ground, and slowly nodded his head to the ground, with his hands in front of his knees and his head behind his hands, performing the most solemn kowtow to the Emperor. He then said, “Your Majesty, I humbly beseech Your Majesty to handle the matter of the princess impartially. If Li Wei’s banishment is irreversible, the princess should also be punished. I request that she be granted a fiefdom, but not entirely without demotion. Only in this way can Your Majesty demonstrate the utmost impartiality to the world. As for Liang Huaiji, he must not be tolerated any longer. At the very least, he should be banished to the countryside to quell the rumors. The princess will not be instigated by eunuchs, and Your Majesty can prevent a major disaster from arising.”

After hearing his words, the Emperor showed no sign of changing his mind, and simply waved his hand: "Let's leave it at that for today. You may leave."

Sima Guang refused to comply and bowed again, pleading loudly, "Your Majesty, I humbly offer my heartfelt advice, and beg you to reconsider!"

The emperor's face turned cold, and he remained silent.

Sima Guang made several repeated requests, but still received no response. Finally, he knelt down and reached out to remove the lacquered gauze turban from his head.

The Emperor sneered, "Do you wish to resign?"

Sima Guang shook his head solemnly and said, “Your Majesty, I spent ten years studying diligently, not seeking wealth and fame, but hoping to assist a wise ruler so that the people would be united, the rivers and seas would be peaceful, and the years would be bountiful. Now I am powerless to persuade Your Majesty to set aside your personal desires and demonstrate the way of justice for the people. In the future, Your Majesty will inevitably be branded as unreasonable and immoral. I cannot fulfill my duty and have no place to hide my shame. I can only die in the line of duty to atone for my sins.”