Chapter 84: Choices Between Fame and Fortune

Chapter 84: Choices Between Fame and Fortune

The emperor's expression quickly shifted from gloom to pleasure, smiling, he said, "Fine, they shall be spared and exiled to guard the imperial mausoleum." He leaned down to affectionately brush his lips against Zhu Yan's, adding, "If your health doesn't improve, it won't be too late to kill them then."

Zhu Yan, having tried her luck, didn't expect the emperor to actually agree.

Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda.

Besides, it involved the lives of fifty or sixty people. Zhu Yan was pleased, feeling that playing the role of a seductive troublemaker wasn't so bad, though it would have been better without his last remark.

It was utterly ruthless, treating the taking of lives as casually as eating and drinking.

"'Today is New Year's Day, a fresh start to the year. You're talking about killing as soon as you open your mouth. You might not be superstitious, but I am,' Zhu Yan pushed the Emperor away, retreating into the quilt."

"The Emperor, accustomed to Zhu Yan's sudden mood swings, wasn’t offended. Instead, he smoothed the quilt for her, advising, 'Don’t cover your head. I’m leaving now. There's a solar eclipse at the hour of Chen today. Remember to stay indoors. I'll take Ah Ji to the grand court assembly. After the ceremony, someone will bring him back.'"

"Zhu Yan simply hummed in response."

"An eclipse, known in modern times as a solar eclipse."

"Currently, solar eclipses are considered ominous, a warning from the heavens. After the Imperial Astronomical Bureau predicted an eclipse, some officials petitioned the Emperor to cancel the New Year's Day court assembly, advising all citizens to stay indoors and avoid the heavenly punishment."

"However, the Emperor disagreed and reprimanded the petitioning officials, accusing them of harboring ulterior motives and trying to create unrest by misusing the celestial event. The implicated official was ordered to reflect on his actions at home."

"From this, it's evident that the Emperor does not believe in superstitions. He's likely the type who would confront ghosts and deities head-on."

"Zhu Yan wanted to watch the eclipse and woke up early in the morning. She was still weak, partly due to illness and partly due to not eating much in the past two days. Supported by attendants, she moved to the eastern warm chamber. After washing up, she ate half a bowl of rice congee, drank a small cup of pepper and cypress wine, and peach soup. Following tradition, she also had some Tu Su wine and chewed on gum paste."

"Gum paste is a type of malt sugar."

"She even tried the 'Five Spicy Dish' - a plate of cold dishes made with onions, garlic, leeks, mustard greens, and coriander, representing a fresh taste for the new year."

"Zhu Yan declined the medicine brought by Qu Gu. The medications prescribed by the physicians these past few days were mainly for calming the mind. She thought she had figured things out on her own and no longer needed medication to achieve peace of mind."

"Realizing the two physicians were still in the palace and hadn't gone home for the New Year, Zhu Yan instructed Qu Gu: 'Today is New Year's Day. Let Dr. Song and Dr. Chen go home. Give them each 50 taels of silver and 20 bolts of silk so they can celebrate properly at home. They don't need to come for New Year greetings.'"

"Under the current monetary and pricing system, one tael of silver equals one thousand copper coins, and one bolt of silk equals five hundred coins. One copper coin can buy two and a half jin of millet. In modern value, 50 taels of silver and 20 bolts of silk are equivalent to over 200,000 yuan in purchasing power."

"Hearing this, Qu Gu reminded her: 'Your Majesty, it's kind to consider their well-being, but they are here by the Emperor's decree to treat Your Majesty. They dare not leave the palace until you are fully recovered.'"

"Don't worry, the emperor has me. I am well aware of my own health. Just do as I say."

Zhu Yan, considering that it was New Year's Day, felt the palace was unusually quiet. She added another instruction to Qu Gu, "Let the palace servants and eunuchs be at ease. It's a new year, so they should eat well and be merry. Set off more firecrackers. Let everyone be cheerful and lively. It’s more festive that way."

"Don't let it be dreary, devoid of the New Year spirit."

Qu Gu could tell that Zhu Yan was genuinely in a good mood and happily complied, quickly leaving to make the arrangements.

In Fu Hua Palace, as long as the Consort was in good spirits, the emperor would be too. And when the emperor was happy, life was much easier for everyone serving in the palace.

With over a hundred people in Fu Hua Palace, they could easily set up about ten banquet tables.

Consort Yuan loved festivity and would make sure the atmosphere was lively.

Soon, the sounds of firecrackers and music filled Fu Hua Palace. Zhu Yan, sitting alone in the warm pavilion, appreciated Qu Gu's efficiency and felt that during such festive occasions, everyone has an innate desire to joyfully celebrate the New Year.

At the hour of Chen, her son, Prince A Ji, returned from Han Yuan Hall.

"…After bowing to father with the other ministers for New Year's greetings, I followed father and watched the princes present their gifts for the New Year. There were also women presented as gifts, all pretty young ladies. Later, father sent me back here, instructing me to stay with you in case the eclipse really happens."

"If the eclipse does occur, I'll take you to watch it from under the corridor," Zhu Yan said with a smile, patting her son's head.

The emperor's mention of 'if the eclipse really happens' was because the predictions of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau weren't always accurate, especially regarding the timing of celestial events.

Thus, when the sky began to darken at the hour of Chen and Si, Zhu Yan found the skills of the emperor's Imperial Astronomical Bureau quite impressive.

The hour of Chen and Si is around 9:00 a.m.

Today, after the snow had cleared, the sun was visible in the sky.

Zhu Yan picked up her cloak and put it on, leading her son, Prince A Ji, out of the warm pavilion to the corridor. Seeing some palace servants and eunuchs starting to panic, she quickly reassured them, "This is a celestial phenomenon that will pass soon. If you are scared, stay inside. If you're brave, continue with your work. Just remember not to stare directly at the sun; it can easily damage your eyes."

"Your Highness, why have you come out?" Qu Gu, having rushed back to the warm pavilion after the celestial phenomenon began, unexpectedly encountered Zhu Yan leading the Fourth Prince, Zhang Ji, out.

"I've brought Tian Tian to see the celestial event."

"Your Highness, the sun being devoured by the 'heavenly dog' is considered an ill omen. Please, Your Highness..."

"If you're worried, come with us."

Zhu Yan cut off Qu Gu's words. The solar eclipse would last no more than seven or eight minutes, and she didn't want to miss it. Selecting a spot, she led Prince A Ji to a bench in the shade of the corridor. Weak from her illness, she felt drained even after walking just a few steps.

"Send someone to bring out that basin of black ink from the warm pavilion and place it over there where the sunlight can reach," Zhu Yan instructed, pointing to a spot on the nearby steps.

The black ink was her own creation, mixed with ink.

Watching a solar eclipse directly can harm the eyes, so in the absence of any tools, observing the sun's reflection in the black ink was the safest way to view the eclipse.

Qu Gu, seeing this, hurriedly complied with the orders and brought cushions and a screen for Zhu Yan to lean against. She helped Zhu Yan get comfortable and handed her a hand warmer.

Zhu Yan thanked her and instructed Qu Gu to remind everyone not to stare at the sun if they chose to stay outside.

Qu Gu immediately agreed.

"Why can staring at the sun blind you?"

"The sun's rays are too intense and can burn your eyes," Zhu Yan explained, holding her son close and completely covering him with the cloak, leaving only a part of his head exposed. She pointed towards the basin of black ink on the steps, "Tian Tian, if you want to see the eclipse, you can watch it from there."

At that moment, the sun was gradually being obscured by the moon, changing from a crescent to a semi-circle, until it was completely covered. It wasn't long before the sky darkened completely, with only the brilliant corona of the sun visible around the moon's edges.

Today's eclipse was a total solar eclipse.

"Mother, the sky dog really swallowed the sun entirely."

"Hearing her son's excited childish words, Zhu Yan quickly reassured him with a smile, 'Ah Ji, just wait a bit. The sky dog will spit the sun back out.'"

"Approximately half a minute later, a sliver of light emerged from the completely darkened sun. The obscured part began to gradually reveal itself, transitioning from a crescent to a half-circle, then a full circle, until the entire sun reappeared, returning to everyone's view."

"Zhu Yan could hear everyone around her simultaneously exhale in relief."

"Someone struck a drum, and the sound of celebratory music resumed, conveying a sense of joy and gratitude for having survived a catastrophe."

"'Mother, why did the celestial dog swallow the sun?'"

"Upon hearing her son's question, Zhu Yan explained the phenomenon of a solar eclipse. 'An eclipse is a natural occurrence. It happens when the moon moves between the sun and our position, blocking the sunlight we see. That's what causes an eclipse.' She even used two small warmers in her hand to demonstrate."

"Zhang Ji quickly understood, saying, 'The moon blocked the sun. The moon represents yin, and the sun represents yang. This is called yin overpowering yang.'"

"'You could say that,' Zhu Yan nodded in agreement."

"At that moment, she was unaware of the implications of the phrase 'yin overpowering yang.' Later, it would lead to a major disaster, resulting in bloodshed. If she had known the severity of it, she would have stayed indoors during the eclipse and not ventured out to watch."

"Yin overpowering yang, a sign of evil emerging in the palace."

"A simple astronomical event was eventually exploited and exaggerated by others."

"Regarding the current situation, the occurrence of the eclipse and the Emperor's decision to hold the court assembly as usual somewhat stabilized public sentiment. Therefore, when the eclipse passed without any disasters or anomalies, many in the court praised the Emperor's virtue and wisdom."

——

"On the fifth day of the first month, the Empress hosted a banquet for female relatives of the imperial family at Yanlai Hall in Fengyi Palace."

"As Zhu Yan was ill, the Emperor specially decreed for her mother, Mo Shi, to visit her in the palace. Mo Shi was also promoted to the title of Junjun of Guidede, with a grant of 500 households."

"The reason for bestowing the title of Junjun was twofold: firstly, under the abolished system of ennobling the families of high-ranked consorts, mothers of first-rank consorts would be granted the title of a national noble or his wife. Secondly, as Zhu Qingyun was a fifth-rank official, his wife, Mo Shi, already held the title of a county lady."

"With the system abolished, the title of a national noble's wife was not possible, and there was a desire to elevate her status further. Thus, the title of Junjun was chosen as a middle ground."

"The Emperor even inquired if Zhu Yan wanted her birth mother, Lu Shi, to be ennobled."

"Recalling Lu Shi's character, who could open a dye workshop with just a bit of color, and considering that Zhu Qi's entry into the palace to seduce the Emperor might have been her doing, Zhu Yan decisively declined. 'No need. If she gets a title, she'll soon come crying to me to look after her brother's family and ask for positions and money for the Lu family.'"

Zhu Yan had experienced this from a young age: whenever her stepmother Mo Shi gave her something nice, her birth mother Lu Shi would not only demand the same in private, but also insist on sharing with her cousins from the Lu family.

Having been taken advantage of once or twice, Zhu Yan stopped interacting with her birth mother. When Lu Shi's demands went unmet, she would mock Zhu Yan in private for being ungrateful and opportunistic. Eventually, Zhu Yan reported this to her father, Zhu Qingyun, who reprimanded Lu Shi several times, making her become more polite.

On the fifth day, her stepmother Mo Shi came to the palace. By then, Zhu Yan had mostly recovered but did not attend the palace banquet at Yanlai Hall.

In the afternoon, after attending the palace banquet, Mo Shi visited Fuhua Palace again, looking both suspicious and cautious, "Yuan Niang, at the banquet, Lady Yan and Lady Runan were exceptionally warm towards me. They even invited your father and me to the Xu family for a New Year's visit. I only said I needed to return home first and would ask your father when he’s available."

Lady Yan is the Emperor’s maternal grandmother.

Lady Runan is the Emperor’s maternal aunt.

Even though she had only been in the capital for just over two months, Zhu Yan had heard that these two were notoriously haughty. Although the Empress was kind and took good care of Mo Shi, she was extremely nervous attending her first palace banquet.

After pondering, Zhu Yan said, "That’s fine. After you return home, tell Father to decline." She hadn’t forgotten the secret imperial decree – the Emperor had decided on a match for her son Aji with a girl from the Xu family.

That night, Xu Kang of Runan was one of the three witnesses.

The Xu family's enthusiasm now had a source.

Zhu Yan also told her stepmother Mo Shi, "I don't like attending palace banquets. If Mother dislikes it too, she doesn't have to come in the future. Just decline, and if free, send a card, and I’ll summon Mother to the palace for a visit."

After all, she now had four opportunities a year to summon female relatives from her maternal family, without needing a special decree.

Besides, if she exceeded the limit, the dog Emperor would only be more pleased.

"Alright, I'll follow your advice. It's more convenient now that we're in the capital."

Mrs. Mo happily agreed, hesitated for a moment, then spoke up, "Yuan Niang, about the five hundred food estates bestowed by the Emperor, I wish to decline them. Please ask the Emperor to take them back. My current imperial command is even higher than your father's official rank. After the decree yesterday, your father started having other ideas, and your mother cried on the spot. This morning when I left, your father clutched at my sleeve, insisting that as husband and wife, we should be treated equally with our parents."

"When Mother goes back, tell him exactly what I said. Let him stop having grandiose dreams, or I won't hesitate to send him back to Suiyang to be a simple wealthy landowner." Zhu Yan added, "With Mother's imperial decree and fiefdom, she no longer needs to worry about Father."

Lady Mo laughed softly upon hearing this, "I haven't been afraid of him for years." Especially since returning from the palace that year, after the incident caused by Zhu Erniang, she had the upper hand and left Zhu Qingyun and Lu Shi, the co-conspirators, looking defeated and disheveled.

However, the matter involving Zhu Erniang was also a taboo for Zhu Yan, so Lady Mo cautiously avoided mentioning it.

———

After returning, Lady Mo formally declined the fiefdom.

The emperor, upon receiving the report from the Ministry of Imperial Clan Affairs, brought it to Zhu Yan.

Zhu Yan wasn't surprised, knowing her mother valued reputation over material gains, "Since my mother is virtuous and unwilling to accept an unearned fiefdom, Your Majesty might as well grant her request and issue another edict to commend her virtue."

"Remember, you said this. Don't come to me complaining if you feel shortchanged later," the emperor warned Zhu Yan, to prevent any future grievances. A fiefdom meant real expenditure, whereas a commendation was merely a paper edict. The imperial chancellors would certainly prefer the latter.

Especially the frugal and calculating Right Deputy Prime Minister, Shang Quan.

When he appointed Shang Quan as the Right Deputy Prime Minister, in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, Works, and War, it was because of his mathematical skills. Indeed, Shang Quan had excelled in this aspect, turning the Ministry of Revenue into a tight-fisted operation, allowing expenditures only when absolutely justified and legal.

Collecting money, however, he did faster than anyone.

Zhu Yan nodded, knowing that compared to reputation, the Zhu family had someone more interested in profit, her father Zhu Qingyun.

This time, let him feel the sting first, then slowly teach him what differentiated treatment means.

Author's note:

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