The Lonely City Closed

Chapter 54

Chapter word count: 2424 Update time: 08-08-21 16:18

44. Posthumous conferment

Wang Gongchen and Feng Jing, two outstanding scholars in the imperial examinations of this dynasty, one dressed in purple and the other in vermilion, each holding a white tablet, stood solemnly in front of the Funing Hall with its white jade railings and glazed tiles, awaiting the emperor's summons.

Despite the chilly early spring winds blowing against their collars and sleeves, they both stared straight ahead, maintaining a long silence. In an atmosphere akin to a standoff, not even their eyelashes trembled for a moment.

Beneath this strange and beautiful scene lies the final war between Consort Zhang and the Empress, which was triggered by Consort Zhang's life.

After Consort Zhang's death, the current emperor was deeply saddened and announced the suspension of court that day. He mourned deeply in Ninghua Palace and recounted to others how a thief broke into the palace at night, how Consort Zhang rushed to protect him, and how she wrote a prayer in blood on her arm during a long drought. Shi Quanbin, the supervisor of Ninghua Palace and an attendant in the inner palace, seized the opportunity to suggest that the current emperor hold Consort Zhang's funeral in Huangyi Palace.

According to the ceremonial regulations of the dynasty, a funeral could only be held at the Imperial Ceremonial Hall after the death of the empress. Shi Quanbin's action was actually a suggestion to the current emperor to posthumously confer the title of empress upon Consort Zhang.

The news caused an uproar within the palace. To posthumously honor a concubine as Empress while the Empress was still alive was tantamount to openly damaging the dignity and face of the reigning mother of the nation.

On this day, court was suspended, and the two chief ministers were not allowed to enter. The only officials in the palace who could express their opinions on this matter were two officials who were on duty overnight on official business—Wang Gongchen, a Hanlin Academician, and Feng Jing, a fellow compiler of the daily records.

Of the officials who were sent away for their association with Consort Zhang, only Wang Gongchen was later recalled to the capital and appointed as a Hanlin Academician. Feng Jing, on the other hand, had been serving in a bureaucratic position for the past few years, and a year ago was newly appointed as a co-editor of the daily records of the emperor's life. He was responsible for accompanying the emperor on his comings and goings, recording the emperor's words and actions, and compiling the daily records to be sent to the Imperial Academy for the compilation of the Veritable Records and the official history. This was an official position that only highly accomplished and respected individuals who had passed the imperial examinations or the special examinations could be appointed to. From these two points, it is clear that the current emperor indeed treats these two top scholars with special favor.

When news of Consort Zhang's tragic death reached the Hanlin Academy, Wang Gongchen immediately submitted a memorial requesting that she be posthumously honored as a Consort. Upon hearing this news, Feng Jing, residing in the Imperial Residence, also drafted a memorial stating that such a posthumous honor was not permissible. After the Emperor returned to the Funing Palace, the two men went together to the main hall and each requested an audience with the Emperor.

I was ordered by Consort Miao to travel between the various pavilions to deliver messages for her. At that time, I passed by Funing Palace and happened to see the two of them facing each other.

I inquired with the eunuchs before the palace and learned that their memorials had long been delivered to the Emperor, but the Emperor had yet to summon them. Feng Jing and Wang Gongchen, like every censor in this dynasty, possessed unwavering patience, standing guard at the east and west ends of the palace, their tension palpable in absolute silence.

After a while, an eunuch came out of the hall. Prince Xuan bowed to the emperor and entered the audience. He said to Feng Jinghe, "His Majesty has decreed that court is suspended today. There is no need for Scholar Feng to write. Please return to your residence to rest."

Feng Jing refused to comply. After watching Wang Gongchen enter, he suddenly knelt down in front of the hall and said, word by word, "Your subject Feng Jing humbly requests Your Majesty to grant me an audience."

The Funing Hall was completely silent, and there was no response.

Feng Jing continued to kneel and wait until I left, showing no sign of giving up.

Afterwards, I accompanied the princess and Consort Miao to the Kunning Palace to visit the Empress, and stayed there to await news. A short while later, Zhang Weiji came in with tears in his eyes and reported to the Empress: "His Majesty has accepted Wang Gongchen's suggestion and intends to posthumously confer the title of Empress upon Consort Zhang. He has ordered him to discuss the matter with the chief ministers tomorrow and then write the edict."

"How can this be!" The princess immediately stood up. "I'll go tell my father..."

“Huirou,” the Empress called to her, shaking her head, “Don’t object. This was Consort Zhang’s greatest wish before her death, and it is the last thing your father can do for her. He will not change his mind.”

The princess frowned and said, "But, Auntie..."

Miao Shuyi also nodded to her and advised, "It's just an empty title. The person is gone, why bother arguing with her about so much?"

Zhang Weiji then told the Empress that Feng Jing was still kneeling in front of the Funing Palace, but the Emperor refused to summon him.

After leaving Kunning Hall, I turned towards Funing Hall, and sure enough, I saw Feng Jing still kneeling there. In the dimming light, he looked like a stone statue wearing a robe.

A moment later, a woman's figure slowly approached him, dressed in green brocade and adorned with white jade pendants. He sensed her, turned his head, and immediately bowed down: "Your Majesty the Empress..."

"Scholar Feng, you may return," the Empress said, a gentle, faint smile on her face. "Too much talk leads to trouble; it is better to remain steadfast."

Feng Jing remained silent. After a short while, he bowed again to the Empress: "Your Highness, I thank you for your teachings."

After the ceremony, he finally stood up and slowly withdrew.

Perhaps upon learning of the Empress's arrival, the Emperor emerged from the Funing Palace with unusually slow steps. Standing before the main gate, he slowly raised his eyes to look at the Empress below the steps. Her expression was weary, and her dull, lifeless face appeared exceptionally aged.

The Emperor and Empress gazed at each other from afar, neither speaking. The silence between Wang Gongchen and Feng Jing earlier had carried an undercurrent of confrontation, like the clash of swords and the clash of spears. Now, as their eyes met in this silent exchange, only their two solitary shadows were reflected in the empty courtyard, creating a desolate and bleak scene.

That night, I went to Hanyuan, still hesitating whether to go in, when Wang Gongchen spotted me inside and shouted, "Who's there?"

I emerged from behind a clump of green bamboo. He saw my face clearly and recognized me: "So it's you, Noble Lady Zhong!"

I think I didn't leave too bad an impression on him that day. He came out to greet me, his eyes showing a hint of joy, and even invited me inside to sit. I smiled slightly and replied, "It is against etiquette for an official like myself to sit in the Jade Hall."

His smile faltered slightly, and he fell silent.

I glanced at the pen he was still holding and said, "If I may be so bold as to ask you, Master Wang, is your advocacy of posthumously honoring an honored person today for the sake of propriety or for your career advancement?"

Wang Gongchen sized me up and asked casually, "Does the Imperial Noblewoman serve in the Empress's palace?"

I shook my head in denial. He did not press the matter, saying, "I also know that Consort Zhang is immoral, and the merits recommended by the Emperor are not enough to make her Empress. Advocating posthumous honors while the Empress is still alive is not in accordance with etiquette and morality."

"Is that for a career in government?" I asked.

He slowly shook his head and said, "Does the eunuch also think I am a petty person who only knows how to flatter the emperor?"

I smiled but did not answer, but said, "Wang Han is intelligent and wise, he will surely see the future political situation clearly."

He smiled slightly and said, "Zhang Yaozu is incompetent and useless. After the death of the Imperial Concubine, the decline of the Zhang family is inevitable. The Emperor has always favored the Empress, and the Empress has thirteen militiamen as her sons. She will surely enjoy the blessings of the Empress Dowager in the future."

"If that's the case, why did Wang Hanchang still propose posthumously honoring her as a Noble Consort?" I asked him again.

He readily told me the answer: "To repay her kindness in giving me the daphne flower."

Seeing that I remained silent, he continued, "She would work hard for what she wanted and would definitely achieve her goal. I admire her for that. In the first half of my life, I often hesitated and dared not fight for what I liked, which caused me to lose a lot... So now I am willing to fight for her and pay tribute to her persistence with the title of Empress that she wanted."

"At the cost of your future?"

He replied, "I often make wrong decisions, so when faced with a choice, I don't care about making one more."

I had nothing more to say, and finally thanked him: "Thank you for your frankness, Wang Hanchang."

He gave me a friendly smile: "I will never forget your kindness in picking up my tablet."

The Lonely City Closes (The Princess Who Fell in Love with the Eunuch) The Pearl Pavilion is deserted, the summer day is long. 45. Wen Cheng

Chapter word count: 2349 Update time: 08-08-21 16:18

45. Wen Cheng