Chapter 8 This Emperor Wants to Treat Cousin to a Meal

Chapter 8: I'm Inviting My Cousin to Dinner

At the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), Yan Weichu had just risen, washed, dressed, and was partaking in his morning meal.

A servant entered to report that Chief Grand Secretary Zhang Jiong, accompanied by the other cabinet ministers and officials from the Six Ministries, had arrived at the hour of Mao (5-7 AM) and were now kneeling outside, requesting His Majesty to hold court.

Yan Weichu, holding his silver chopsticks, ate unhurriedly: "Haven't they had enough kneeling these past few days? How many have come?"

The attendant truthfully replied: "All the Grand Secretaries are present, save for Junior Grand Secretary Liu, who claimed illness. About seventy to eighty percent of the Six Ministries' officials are also here."

"Tsk," Yan Weichu muttered, his eyes half-closed, "quite the united front."

An hour later, Yan Weichu finally made an appearance. Indeed, a crowd of kneeling officials awaited him outside.

At the sight of the emperor, the officials stirred. One shouted loudly: "We implore Your Majesty to return to the palace and hold court!"

The others echoed him, their voices quickly becoming unified, repeating the phrase incessantly.

Yan Weichu truly wished to ignore them but was so utterly vexed that he had no choice but to emerge.

Zhang Jiong knelt forward, exclaiming urgently: "Your Majesty! You have only just begun to rule personally—you cannot be so negligent in governance and act so willfully, becoming a laughingstock to all your subjects!"

Junior Grand Secretary Lin Tongfu seized the moment to advise: "Your Majesty must not release that treacherous eunuch Wan Xuanju! You will dishearten us loyal ministers and encourage flattery and favoritism!"

Yan Weichu's expression instantly turned cold.

To begin with accusations—you pedantic scholars truly overestimate yourselves.

These people were forcing him to return to the palace and demanding he deal with Wan Xuanju; fundamentally, they were testing and challenging the limits of imperial authority. If he yielded or lost today, he would be forced to retreat again and again in the future, until he was completely controlled by these individuals and reduced to a puppet emperor.

"My not holding court in the palace does not mean I am neglecting state affairs. I trust in your abilities—you can shoulder more responsibilities on my behalf."

Yan Weichu spoke swiftly: "As for Wan Xuanju, the claim that he was involved in treason is utterly baseless. Other accusations are also exaggerated or outright fabricated. I have already ordered the Brocade Guard to investigate thoroughly."

"Your Majesty!"

Zhang Jiong attempted to speak again, but Yan Weichu cut him off directly: "My decision is final. Do not bring this up again."

The Chief Grand Secretary then began beating his chest, sobbing and wailing, blaming himself for failing to persuade the emperor and feeling ashamed before the late emperor and the founding ancestors of Dajing.

His theatrical performance was astonishing.

Yan Weichu watched with a cold gaze, deeply convinced that it was a waste of talent for him not to perform on stage at the Nevernight Entertainment House.

Seeing that Yan Weichu remained unmoved, Zhang Jiong feigned despair, prostrating himself on the ground and pleading to resign and return to his hometown to retire in peace.

Several others echoed his request.

Yan Weichu inwardly scoffed. Did they truly believe the court couldn’t function without them, using collective resignation as a tactic to advance by retreating?

"Granted."

He offered no words to persuade them to stay: "You have all toiled diligently and achieved much. I shall grant each of you an additional year's salary as a reward."

"…"

Everyone, including Zhang Jiong, was dumbfounded.

Why aren't you following the script?

Yan Weichu ignored them and casually pointed to a hesitant official from the Ministry of Works, who was kneeling at the back and glancing around. He asked: "What is your name? What is your position?"

The man was taken aback but introduced himself: he was a Director in the Construction Bureau of the Ministry of Works. His superior, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, had just offered to resign.

"You," Yan Weichu declared, "will fill the vacancy of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works."

The man was instantly overjoyed, completely forgetting about the protest, and excitedly kowtowed in gratitude for the emperor’s grace.

"For all other ministries, apply this rule: if a superior retires, subordinates will be promoted in order of seniority. As for cabinet positions, we will discuss them later. All of you, withdraw." Yan Weichu made the final decision.

Those who had just been clamoring to resign turned pale. The others, seeing an opportunity for promotion, were no longer willing to join the protest.

The emperor had already turned to leave. Everyone exchanged glances, and as soon as one person got up and left, others quickly followed, and the crowd dispersed.

*

Xie Xiao went early in the morning to the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion to pay his respects to his grandmother, the Dowager Duchess.

For over a century, the main line of the Xie family had guarded the border, while other descendants remained in the capital—this had long become the established rule. The Dowager Duchess had returned to the capital with her younger son and daughter over twenty years ago and had never again gone to the harsh border regions.

Xie Xiao had met her only a few times and felt like an outsider in the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion. After the emperor granted him a title and estate, he moved out, returning only occasionally to pay respects to the Dowager Duchess.

As soon as he entered, he heard shouting in the hall. A young scion kneeling before the Dowager Duchess was beating his chest and having a tantrum, demanding that his family help him get revenge and cause trouble for the Nevernight Entertainment House.

This was Xie Shi, the youngest son of Xie Xiao’s second uncle, ranked third among his generation in the Xie family. Xie Xiao’s second uncle had died of illness early on, and Xie Shi, lacking discipline, had been spoiled by the elders. He knew nothing except drinking, eating, gambling, and disgracing the family name.

The Dowager Duchess frowned and scolded Xie Shi to get up, but he refused, rolling on the ground and cursing, saying that those outsiders who disrespected him were disrespecting the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion and that this could not be let go.

Beside them, Second Madam Shen scolded half-heartedly, "Why are you always like this, child? It’s disgraceful. Get up now," but her words carried no force. Instead, after hearing what Xie Shi said, she stirred the pot with the Dowager Duchess: "Mother, Shi’er isn’t entirely wrong. Look how badly his face is beaten—those people have gone too far."

The Dowager Duchess, seeing her beloved grandson beaten so badly, was also very displeased. She was about to erupt when she saw Xie Xiao enter and quickly put on a smile: "Eldest Grandson, you’ve come."

Xie Xiao stepped forward to pay respects. Madam Shen also forced a smile and signaled her maid to quickly pull Xie Shi up, probably also feeling that her son was too embarrassing.

Xie Shi refused, and upon seeing Xie Xiao, he jumped up: "Elder Brother, you must stand up for me! Those people at the Nevernight Entertainment House disrespecting our Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion means they don’t respect you either. You must take people and teach them a lesson!"

This fool had been thrown into the lake by Zheng Shize’s men that night. Later, he went to the Nevernight Entertainment House twice to cause trouble but gained nothing. The previous night, he brought people to smash the place but was beaten badly by the entertainment house’s thugs, hence the uproar.

Xie Xiao said indifferently: "You caused trouble on someone else’s turf and suffered for it. Why are you upset? If you can’t get back at them yourself, just accept it."

Upon hearing this, Xie Shi began beating his chest and wailing again. Madam Shen’s smile stiffened, and even the Dowager Duchess said discontentedly: "But Shi’er was beaten like this. When has our Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion ever been bullied like this…"

"Grandmother, Mother, Elder Brother is right. Third Brother brought this upon himself!"

A voice came from outside at just the right time. The person who entered was Xie Shi’s biological older brother, Madam Shen’s eldest son, Xie Yi. He first paid respects to the Dowager Duchess and Madam Shen, then cupped his hands toward Xie Xiao: "Elder Brother."

Xie Xiao nodded.

Before Madam Shen could frown, Xie Yi said: "The owner behind the Nevernight Entertainment House is surnamed Zheng—he is the emperor’s maternal cousin. The emperor recently posthumously honored Consort Zheng as Empress Dowager and ennobled their family. The Zheng family is now at the height of their influence. It’s best not to provoke them."

Madam Shen heard this and said disdainfully: "What Zheng family? They’re just a bunch of merchants reeking of copper. Even if they fly to a high branch, they won’t become phoenixes."

Xie Yi said helplessly: "Mother, now Aunt Empress Dowager is practically under house arrest, and Elder Brother’s military power has been taken by the emperor. The emperor may move against our Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion at any time. For now, we should keep a low profile and not cause more trouble."

Madam Shen was unhappy and said angrily: "The Xie family has been a military family for a hundred years, achieving great military merits for Dajing. How dare the emperor treat us like this!"

"Exactly! Without our Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion, how could that child emperor hope to sit firmly on his throne? What a dream!"

Xie Shi grumbled and uttered treasonous words, earning a slap from Xie Yi: "Shut up! Stop talking nonsense!"

The Dowager Duchess's face darkened as she snapped, "Enough, both of you! Second Son, take your brother away and give him a proper talking-to."

After sending Xie Shi and Xie Yi away, the Dowager Duchess reluctantly forced a smile and brought up the reason she had specifically called for Xie Xiao today: "Since you’ve returned to the capital and have been relieved of your official duties, why not arrange your marriage soon? Your father is utterly negligent and doesn’t care about this at all, so I’ll handle it instead. Your aunt has a niece who’s just sixteen, with pleasant looks and demeanor..."

"Grandmother, can we postpone this discussion about my marriage? My elder sister hasn’t married yet either," Xie Xiao refused. His tone was not forceful, but it left no room for negotiation.

"This is a different matter," the Dowager Duchess said, displeased at being contradicted. "Your elder sister is to join the imperial household. Without an imperial decree from the Emperor, we can only wait. But you’re different—at least you can decide your own affairs."

Madam Shen chimed in, "Exactly. There’s nothing to be done about Yun Niang, but you’re already twenty, Young Master. Among the young nobles in the capital, how many remain unmarried at your age?"

"What does it mean that His Majesty has put off issuing the decree to welcome my elder sister into the palace? Isn’t it clear enough?" Xie Xiao said with restraint. "Aunt’s elder brother is now the Commander of the Jizhou Regional Military Commission. If we were to deepen our connections through marriage, what would His Majesty think?"

Madam Shen was reluctant to drop the subject. "But..."

Xie Xiao shook his head, clearly resolved.

Perhaps the Dowager Duchess also realized that this marriage would draw too much notice and that ensuring the Xie family produced another empress to maintain the Emperor’s reliance on them should come first. "Then forget it. Let’s not bring this up again."

Xie Xiao did not stay long at the Duke of Zhenguo’s residence. Citing duties to attend to at his own estate, he prepared to leave without staying for lunch.

Xie Yi walked him out and also brought up the matchmaking efforts of their grandmother and mother: "It’s just my mother’s wishful thinking, Elder Brother. Pay it no mind. I’ll talk to her later."

"Thank you," Xie Xiao nodded.

Xie Yi was the same age as Xie Xiao, had married two years earlier, and already had an eldest son. He held a sixth-rank position as an assistant in the Rear Military Command, far more accomplished and promising than his younger brother Xie Shi.

He continued, "Previously, His Majesty bypassed the Five Military Command’s recommendations and directly discussed with the Ministry of War and the Grand Secretariat to appoint Bing Yuanzheng to Shuoning to replace you. It seems he doesn’t trust the military nobles in the capital. We indeed need to be more discreet and careful from now on. Elder Brother, take care yourself, and I’ll also remind the family more often."

Though Xie Yi’s official rank was not high, his status as a young master of the Duke of Zhenguo’s household kept him well-informed. The Five Military Command was controlled by the capital’s nobility, and it was only natural for the Young Emperor, newly empowered, to distrust them.

Xie Xiao did not elaborate. "You should be careful too when outside."

Xie Yi nodded in agreement and saw him into his carriage.

*

Near the end of the hour of Si (9-11 AM), Zhao Anfu entered the study and, seeing Yan Weichu reviewing memorials, hesitated and prepared to withdraw.

Yan Weichu stopped him without looking up. "If you have something to say, speak directly."

Zhao Anfu said quietly, "The Marquis of Dingbei went to the Duke of Zhenguo’s residence early this morning and left in less than an hour. On his way back, he ran into that Young Master Su and invited him to the marquis’s residence."

As Yan Weichu had previously instructed that the Marquis of Dingbei’s daily activities and whereabouts be reported to the throne, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had just sent the message, and Zhao Anfu came immediately to deliver it.

Hearing this, Yan Weichu paused, his expression shifting, and tossed down the memorial in his hand.

Sensing the Young Emperor’s displeasure, the old eunuch fell silent.

"Deliver my oral decree," Yan Weichu ordered sternly. "Ask the Marquis of Dingbei to come to the Western Garden now, immediately, at once."

Zhao Anfu opened his mouth but dared not respond.

Yan Weichu gritted his teeth and emphasized each word, "I'm going to have a word with my cousin over a meal!"