Chapter 128: Uniting the Officials to Expel Wen Shengan…

Chapter 128: Officials Unite to Oust Wen Shengan...

As early as a month and a half ago, the people had already grown abuzz with excitement over the Emperor’s Birthday.

It was a rare grand occasion in the Great Yan Dynasty.

Merchant caravans from across the empire poured into the capital, bringing local specialties and rare goods.

The entertainment quarters were packed with traveling performance troupes.

The larger troupes rented stages to perform, while the smaller ones paid a few copper coins to secure a space and stage their performances.

The market outside Daxiangguo Temple was always bustling. Even at night, with no curfew in place, the streets remained lively.

The closer it got to the actual celebration day, the more festive the capital grew.

Huo Ling did not personally leave the palace to witness this spectacle, but she enjoyed hearing accounts of the celebrations.

The prosperity of the empire and the people's welfare were not reflected in the words of court officials, but in the vitality seen among the common folk.

When people had the leisure to join the celebrations, and money to spend on market goods to satisfy their appetites, that alone was a sign of a healthy society.

On the day of the Emperor’s Birthday, Huo Ling woke at her usual hour.

After changing into ceremonial robes newly prepared by the Office of Imperial Attire, she was about to order breakfast when Ji Xianshan strode in excitedly, carrying a medium-sized food container.

Looking at the steaming bowl of longevity noodles before her, Huo Ling asked, “Did you make this yourself?”

Ji Xianshan scratched his head. “Every year on my birthday, Mother would cook me a bowl of longevity noodles. I wanted to surprise you, so I went to the imperial kitchen to learn how.”

“What a lovely surprise,” Huo Ling said with a smile.

Ji Xianshan was still somewhat sheepish.

He explained, “I originally wanted to begin with the dough, but it was too difficult—I tried twice and failed miserably. Xiao Fuzi and the others kept urging me to give up, so I did.”

The dough was kneaded by the imperial chefs, and the stove was tended by palace servants. He merely added the noodles and seasonings himself before boiling and serving them.

“This is quite impressive,” Huo Ling remarked, blinking at him. “When I used to make longevity noodles for you, the dough was always kneaded by your Aunt Wu Mo. I only boiled the noodles myself.”

Ji Xianshan chuckled. “So Mother used to fool me like that.”

Huo Ling stirred the noodles with her chopsticks, speaking with some regret. “Now that you’re grown, you’re not as easy to fool anymore.”

After breakfast, the dowager consorts of the palace, led by Noble Dowager Consort and Dowager Consort Shu, came to pay their respects to Huo Ling.

The palace maids and eunuchs also came to greet her, though they weren’t permitted to see her in person and could only bow outside Shouning Palace.

Later, the imperial clan arrived.

At the forefront was Grand Princess Ningxin.

Seeing her radiant demeanor, Huo Ling smiled. “It’s been a while since you last visited the palace. I heard you were ill recently—have you recovered well?”

Grand Princess Ningxin replied, “Thanks to the imperial physicians Her Majesty sent, after a few doses of medicine, I felt much better.”

Xu Shidu didn’t hold back in exposing her mother. “The moment my mother heard the Imperial Music Bureau had spent three months preparing a brand-new performance, she regained her spirits immediately.”

Recalling Grand Princess Ningxin's typical behavior, everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Lu Zuo, daughter of Xu Shidu, had also prepared a gift for Her Highness Huo Ling—a painting she had done herself.

With just a few strokes, it captured the natural charm of a butterfly fluttering among crabapple blossoms.

"Mother said Your Highness loves crabapple flowers most," Lu Zuo explained. "While I was painting the crabapples at home, a butterfly happened to land on the paper, so I included it and wanted to give it to Your Highness."

Huo Ling gently traced her fingers over the painting and said warmly, "This is truly vivid."

Lu Zuo blushed at the praise. "I originally wanted to prepare something else for Your Highness’s birthday, but Uncle Ji said that since we’re still young, it’s not about how valuable the gift is—it’s about the thought behind it."

The "Uncle Ji" Lu Zuo mentioned was none other than Ji Xianshan.

Huo Ling smiled. "That’s very true. I have no shortage of fine things here."

Knowing that Lu Zuo had recently taken up painting, Huo Ling gave her several masterpieces by renowned artists, encouraging her to study and practice them in her free time.

"You may also visit the palace anytime. The Imperial Painting Academy holds even more works."

When Lu Zuo mentioned Ji Xianshan, Yang’an Grand Princess glanced around curiously and asked, "Where is His Majesty?"

Huo Ling replied, "He had breakfast with me, then vanished—no one knows where he went."

Lu Zuo chimed in, "I know where Uncle Ji went."

Huo Ling said, "Then tell me."

"He must be preparing a surprise for Your Highness."

Lu Zuo spoke with such confidence and certainty that Huo Ling couldn’t help but laugh again.

Amidst cheerful chatter, as the time drew near, Huo Ling escorted the company to Shaohé Hall, where the banquet was to be held.

Inside Shaohé Hall, ministers and their families had already taken their seats. Though the banquet hadn’t officially begun, some moved about quietly, while acquaintances exchanged soft words.

"Why is there an extra seat up front?" one guest asked.

"Where?" another replied.

"Just ahead of Minister Wen. Who is this high-ranking guest? They seem unfamiliar."

The seating arrangement at the palace banquet was strictly arranged.

Who sat in front and who followed behind was assigned strictly by rank and official position.

While seats in the middle and back rows often shifted due to promotions or demotions, the foremost seats were permanent, seldom changed.

Now, an additional table had suddenly appeared—placed even ahead of Minister Wen—making it highly conspicuous.

"Oh, so this person has been summoned back to the capital. Since you’ve only been in the capital for a few years, it’s no wonder you haven’t met them yet."

"Who is it…?"

"Don’t you work in the Ministry of Personnel?"

Between those who understood, no explicit explanation was needed. With this hint from his colleague, the speaker was momentarily stunned before it suddenly dawned on him.

"It's been years, but the Duke of Chengen still looks every bit the nobleman."

Wen Shengan picked up his wine cup and started talking to Huo Shiming. "If I'd known you'd arrived in the capital earlier, I would have made sure to visit you."

Huo Shiming laughed heartily and clinked cups with Wen Shengan. "You're too kind, Minister Wen. I rushed all the way here and only arrived yesterday noon. Luckily, I didn't miss the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration."

"I got quite a shock when I saw you at the banquet earlier," Wen Shengan said.

Huo Shiming turned his empty cup upside down. "I thought Minister Wen, with your network, would already know I left Xingtang Pass for the capital."

Huo Shiming's laughter was loud, but if one listened carefully, a subtle dig could be heard beneath it.

He was needling Wen Shengan about overstepping his authority.

Wen Shengan took a sip of wine and set his cup down. "You're joking, Duke. Yanxi is far from the capital—I don't have that kind of reach."

Huo Shiming glanced at Wen Shengan’s half-full cup and thought with a mental scoff, his eyes growing colder.

Civil officials had always looked down on military officers.

And as both a soldier and an imperial in-law, it was no wonder Wen Shengan wanted to use him as leverage against the Empress Dowager.

But anyone who tried to use him like that should be ready to face him as an enemy.

Having nothing more to say to each other, the two men fell into mutual dislike. Fortunately, not long after, once the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were seated, the palace banquet officially began.

This year, the Imperial Music Bureau combined elements from both the capital and Yanxi into one performance.

It opened with a familiar folk tune from Yanxi, with drums and horns battling for attention, and the pipa rising above them all. The final result was a fresh, innovative blend—bold and heroic like the frontier, yet refined and elegant like the imperial city.

Ji Xianshan remarked, "It's been a long time since Mother hummed this tune for me."

He still remembered how, as a child, whenever he couldn't sleep, his mother would hum this melody.

It was the sound that shaped his deepest memories of Yanxi.

Huo Ling felt a pang of sadness. "After being away from Yanxi so long, I’ve almost forgotten how to hum it."

Ji Xianshan asked, "Do you miss Yanxi, Mother?"

Huo Ling replied, "I lived there since childhood for over a decade—how could I just forget?"

When she was in Yanxi, her heart had always longed for the capital.

Now in the capital, she found herself occasionally thinking of Yanxi’s scenery—even the sandstorms that once annoyed her now seemed worth missing.

Ji Xianshan took a small jar of wine from a servant. "Then, Mother, please try this wine."

The wine lacked depth, with a faint, grassy bite upon first sip. Once tasted, its unique flavor was hard to forget.

Huo Ling calmly set down her cup. "Wanderer's Return? Where did you get this?"

Ji Xianshan thought to himself: Uncle, don’t blame me for spilling the secret.

"Uncle gave it to me this morning when he came to the palace. He said now is the perfect time to drink Wanderer's Return."

Huo Ling asked, "Did your uncle ask you to speak for him?"

Ji Xianshan answered honestly, "He said that when you were in Yanxi, you used to drink Wanderer's Return several times a year. Since Grandfather brought some jars with him when he came to the capital, he wanted me to offer it to you."

Initially, when Huo Ze came to him for help, Ji Xianshan wasn’t keen on helping.

Huo Ze knew what he was worried about and let him in on the memorial’s contents.

It turned out that the so-called "amassing military power for self-interest" was just some common folk speaking inappropriately in private—not anything treasonous that his grandfather had done.

Ji Xianshan sighed in relief but still felt a bit annoyed at the Ministry of Personnel, thinking they had no tact and were making a mountain out of a molehill.

Over the years, although Ji Xianshan rarely saw Huo Shiming, he often heard about his deeds through Huo Ze. Huo Shiming also frequently wrote letters and sent gifts to keep in touch.

After clarifying the situation, Ji Xianshan naturally didn’t mind acting as a mediator to smooth things over between the Empress Dowager and his grandfather.

Huo Ling just smiled, neither scolding Ji Xianshan nor continuing the topic, and simply poured him a cup.

“You’ve never tasted this wine before—want to try?”

Caught off guard, Ji Xianshan gulped a mouthful and nearly choked.

He forced it down, then blurted out, “Why does this wine taste so strange?”

Huo Ling grinned slyly. “Drink more.”

She refilled his cup.

Ji Xianshan was forced to drink another one.

This time, perhaps better prepared, he held it together, though his face still twisted a little.

Huo Ling switched cups and poured herself some Qiulu Bai.

By then, the performance had changed, the crisp notes of the zheng ringing out as Huo Ling’s gaze drifted toward the graceful sword dance.

The foreign envoy had also prepared many performances.

After the dazzling displays ended, the hall buzzed with activity as many came up to raise a glass to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.

“Minister Wen, shall we go together?” Huo Shiming said with a smile, rising and gesturing politely.

Huo Shiming and Wen Shengan approached Huo Ling one after the other.

Huo Ling had been chatting with Grand Princess Ningxin about the earlier performances. Noticing their arrival, she gave a faint smile. “What’s this, the two of you?”

Huo Shiming replied, “Pure coincidence.”

He bowed respectfully to Huo Ling and Ji Xianshan in turn, then recited his well-prepared birthday wishes, expressing hopes for the Empress Dowager’s long life and prosperity, and for peace throughout Great Yan.

Wen Shengan stepped forward next to offer his own congratulations.

The whole thing went off without a hitch, much to the disappointment of gossipmongers hoping for some drama.

Only a few select individuals could sense the tension lurking beneath the calm surface.

The day after the festivities, Duke of Chengen Huo Shiming submitted a memorial to defend himself against the impeachment while accusing the Right Vice Minister of Personnel of alarmism and false accusations.

That afternoon, Huo Ling summoned Huo Shiming to the Xingtai Hall: “Duke of Chengen, you’ve had a long journey. The Empress Dowager has seen the birthday gifts you prepared—they were indeed most thoughtful.”

Huo Shiming’s heart pounded with unease.

In the past, when Huo Ling was still the empress, she would always receive him in Fengyi Palace and often called him “Daddy.”

Later, when Huo Ling became Empress Dowager Regent, she started calling him “Father” to keep up appearances, but still received him in Shouning Palace.

Now, not only did she address him by his title, but she also met him in Xingtaidian—the throne room reserved for court business and receiving officials.

You could tell how much they’d drifted apart just from these little things.

Huo Shiming said, “If it barely meets Your Majesty’s standards, I’m relieved.”

Huo Ling replied, “These Western Region curiosities do seem rather unusual.”

Huo Shiming echoed her sentiment. “Indeed, though the Western Regions may not be as prosperous and bustling as the Central Plains, they do have many unique things.”

Huo Shiming then gave a thorough report on Liu Ji. Huo Ling nodded and asked, “Was there any trouble when apprehending Liu Ji?”

Huo Shiming answered, “He stayed quiet, just pleading his innocence.”

Huo Ling’s tone was indifferent—clearly, she didn’t take Liu Ji seriously. “Out of ten prisoners the court nabs, nine will holler they’re innocent. If loud protests alone proved innocence, the Capital Prefecture’s jails’d be ghost towns by now.”

Huo Shiming repeatedly agreed.

Huo Ling looked at Huo Shiming and suddenly smiled, her tone softening.

“Father, don’t be nervous. Of course, I don’t believe that memorial. But with the Right Vice Minister of Personnel gunning for you, I can’t just ignore it, or else the ministers will accuse me of favoritism.”

“Besides, A Rao is about to give birth, so I had Daddy come to the capital early. That way, you’ll get to see A Ze and A Rao’s child sooner, and still make my birthday celebration. Isn’t that a happy twist?”

Huo Shiming laughed along, visibly relieved.

He said cheerfully, “My conduct’s beyond reproach—I’ve got no fear of gossip. Your Majesty sees right through snakes like him. Still, I hate that my mess might splash back on you.”

As he spoke, anger crept into his expression.

“Your Majesty’s birthday is a grand occasion. Courtiers should know better than to upset you at a time like this. But of course, Vice Minister Xu picks now of all times to impeach me. Did he really have to pick now?”

Then he admitted fault. “But I’ll own up—I got sloppy.”

Huo Ling asked, “Father, what do you mean by that?”

Huo Shiming sighed. “It goes way back. This all started back when you’d just taken the throne, and I was still Deputy Commander of Xingtang Pass.”

At that time, the Deputy Commander of Xingtang Pass belonged to the empress’s faction, while the Commander was aligned with Prince Duan’s party. With different bosses, they were bound to butt heads.

Normally, the Yanxi Trading Market was under the Commander of Xingtang Pass’s control.

But back then, Huo Shiming snatched control of the market right out from under Zhou Jiamu.

Merchants from Qiang Rong, the Western Regions, and even some from Great Liang passed through the market to trade with Great Yan. With so many goods changing hands, the profits piled up sky-high.

Huo Shiming explained, “Market inspectors knew better than to skim goods outright, but taking kickbacks to grease the wheels—that’s old hat. It didn’t start with me.”

“I took over the market as a deputy commander. Though I had Your Majesty’s backing, folks didn’t take me seriously the way they did the official commander. If I’d cut off their side deals, managing the place would’ve been even harder. So long as they didn’t go too far, I let it slide.”

“Once I got promoted, digging up old dirt wouldn’t have looked good.”

Huo Shiming smiled bitterly. “The Right Vice Minister seized on this to accuse me of abusing power for personal gain. I won’t deny it—I lined my pockets plenty. If Your Majesty’s angry, any punishment’s fair. Just give me a shot to set things right. When I return, I’ll scour the market clean.” “Just give me a shot to set things right.”

"But I absolutely refuse to admit to the charge of hoarding military power for myself!"

Huo Shiming all but swore to heaven: "Calling the Swallow Feather Army 'Huo's Army' is merely what the common folk refer to in private. Had I known, I would certainly have put a stop to it.

"The Right Vice Minister of Personnel makes wild, fear-mongering accusations, framing me with disloyalty—truly detestable."

Huo Shiming knew precisely which charges he could accept and which were absolutely unacceptable.

A dangerous glint flashed through his eyes: "I am Her Majesty's father, the Duke of Chengen of Great Yan. If the Right Vice Minister suspects me of disloyalty, what does that say about Her Majesty's position?"

Huo Ling's expression gradually turned cold: "Proceed."

Huo Shiming rose and walked to the center of the hall, prostrating himself before her: "The Right Vice Minister lacks the audacity to sow discord between me and Her Majesty. The instigator of this plot must be Wen Shengan."

He gritted his teeth: "Back when the late emperor intended to name Her Majesty as empress, Wen Shengan persistently argued against it.

"After Her Majesty ascended as Empress Dowager, Wen Shengan, relying on his status as Regent and head of court officials, has continually created difficulties for Her Majesty, interfering with governance, growing increasingly arrogant, and neglecting his duties while keeping his position."

Huo Ling pressed her right hand upon the table and slowly stood, her tone becoming light and emotionless, yet exuding quiet authority.

"So?"

"Please, for the good of the court and the security of the realm, allow me to gather the officials in a joint petition to expel Wen Shengan."

...

As the great doors opened and shut, the stifling summer wind slipped into the hall, only to be driven out again by the coolness radiating from the basins of ice—the cicadas' relentless drone, however, remained in the air.

Wu Mo, at Huo Ling's command, escorted Huo Shiming out of Xingtai Hall. Returning shortly after, she carried a bowl of chilled lotus seed soup to relieve the summer heat.

Reclining on the divan, Huo Ling wore a thoughtful expression.

Wu Mo asked, "What occupies Your Majesty's thoughts?"

Huo Ling tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, returning from her reverie. "I've just realized—matters are more intriguing than I imagined."

Wu Mo did not press further, simply placing the lotus seed soup before Huo Ling within easy reach.

Huo Ling held the spoon idly in her hand and gave a casual instruction: "Have Cui Hongyi look into who the counselor my father relies upon most happens to be."

The cool, soft texture of the lotus seeds soothed her mood, and unexpectedly, she recalled the conversation from fifteen minutes prior—

"Wen Shengan, as Regent, holds the highest rank among ministers, serves as His Majesty’s teacher, and is the Grand Tutor of the court. To remove him without cause—would that not dismay the people?"