Chapter 11: The Censors
The next day was a rest day. It was only when Cui Miao sat up in bed that she remembered what she had forgotten the day before.
"Ah, blast it, I forgot about Linshen..." Cui Miao threw on her inner robe and was about to get up, but Wei Zhi grabbed her by the end of her hair and pulled her back onto the bed.
Wei Zhi was just waking up, her eyes half-closed. She hugged Cui Miao, who had fallen back, and pressed her canine teeth against her shoulder, rubbing lightly. The threat was palpable. "Is this Linshen a young lady or a young man from some family? A'miao, you're quite the romantic, aren't you? Barely out of my bed and already off to meet your next lover?"
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare..." A chill ran down Cui Miao's spine, and she hurriedly explained, "Linshen is a classmate who came with me yesterday. She's a junior relative of Vice Censor-in-Chief Gao. She's new to the Capital City and doesn't know her way around. I promised I would accompany her..."
"Oh..." Hearing this, Wei Zhi released her sharp teeth and wrapped her limbs around Cui Miao. "She's a grown woman, is she going to get lost? She can find her own way back. Just apologize and make it up to her another day."
"That's true..." Cui Miao relaxed and focused her attention back on Wei Zhi.
And so, they were once again tossed by crimson waves, journeying together to Mount Wu.
By the time they got up again, the sun was already high in the sky.
"Come do my hair," Wei Zhi said, having dressed. She sat before her dressing table, tidying her long hair in the bronze mirror.
Hearing this, Cui Miao eagerly stood behind her, lifting her hair, which was like water and satin. "What style would Your Highness like today?"
"I'll be wearing a coronet today, so just a simple bun will do."
"A coronet?" Cui Miao asked, surprised. Wei Zhi loved magnificent clothes and beautiful ornaments, and since she didn't have to wear official robes for court, she usually wore splendid skirts and blouses.
"Mm, I have to go to the palace this afternoon. Something simpler, so my elder sister doesn't lecture me."
"Why are you going to the palace to see Her Majesty?"
"My chief of staff just told me that my sister came in plain clothes yesterday. She arrived when the banquet was halfway through, and it's not like you don't know what I was doing at that time." Wei Zhi shot her an annoyed glare.
Cui Miao's face flushed red. She didn't reply, obediently combing Wei Zhi's hair.
"I begged and pleaded for my sister to come, but I myself was nowhere to be found. I have to go and apologize." Wei Zhi paused, then added as if remembering something, "Oh, right, you don't have to worry about your classmate anymore. My sister brought Young Lord Gao with her yesterday. I'm sure Young Lord Gao would have taken her home when they left."
"That's good. Let me think about what kind of gift I should prepare to apologize..."
When Wei Zhi entered the palace to request an audience, Wei Qi made her wait for an hour. She stood at the foot of Wei Qi's dais, but Wei Qi ignored her eager smile, her head buried in approving memorials. Wei Zhi watched her approve one after another, growing so anxious she could scratch her ears and cheeks.
After finishing the stack of memorials on her right, Wei Qi put down her brush, took a sip from her teacup, and looked at Wei Zhi. "What? Finally remembered your poor elder sister?"
"Elder Sister~" Wei Zhi knew she was in the wrong and offered a placating smile.
"I had to clear my busy schedule just to make time, and I even brought Minister Gao along to keep the censors from talking." Wei Qi descended from the throne. "I was even telling Minister Gao that the Eldest Princess's villa had master artisans create rockeries and water features, and that the night view of the gardens from a high point was a sight to behold. And what happened? We had just reached the inner garden when an attendant said the Eldest Princess wouldn't let anyone in."
Dressed in plain clothes, the emperor did not seem high and mighty. Her smiling appearance made her look more like a sister from an ordinary family, but her words carried a cold reprimand. "Heh. Cui Yicheng's daughter, wasn't it?"
A chill went through Wei Zhi. She was the emperor, after all. Her reach was vast and her eyes were everywhere; if she wanted to know something, nothing could be hidden from her.
Wei Qi glanced at her, and her tone softened. "Alright, I'm not scolding you. At your age, you should act with a bit more propriety."
"Your subject knows her error~" Seeing that she wasn't truly angry, Wei Zhi relaxed a little and tugged at her sleeve.
Wei Qi shook her head with a smile and said, "But you can't keep fooling around like this. I've found something for you to do."
"Ah?"
"Go to the Ministry of Rites as an observer." An observer in the Six Ministries was a temporary position, mostly for imperial heirs to learn about court affairs in preparation for official careers.
"Ah? Your subject doesn't want to enter the court," Wei Zhi said, dumbfounded.
Wei Qi gave her a helpless look and sighed. "A'zhi, you have to help your sister share the burden."
"Fine, your subject will go," Wei Zhi agreed reluctantly, her head hanging.
Wei Qi watched the lively young woman's retreating back as she left the hall, feeling a little melancholic. Children have to grow up one day.
"Head Eunuch," Wei Qi turned to the Head Eunuch standing by her side. "That matter I spoke to you about a few days ago—prepare to carry it out. Be discreet. Don't let any word of it leak."
"Has Your Majesty decided?" the Head Eunuch asked, somewhat surprised.
"Mm. Minister Gao was right. It's time to make plans."
Gao Yunqu had been at the Censorate for over a month, but she was in no hurry to display her ambitions. The Censorate had just suffered a setback, and everyone from top to bottom was demoralized. The Censor-in-Chief, Zou Shuyan, was a complete figurehead. He smiled all day like a neighborly old man and enjoyed chatting with the young censors. But if asked about official business, he knew nothing about anything—"Can't hear you, don't understand, go find Young Lord Gao." And Gao Yunqu, for her part, remained inscrutable and calm. The people of the Censorate were on edge for a while.
Gao Yunqu was not in a hurry. She used this time to read through the rosters and records of the nearly one hundred officials, high and low, in the Censorate. She first did a screening, selecting which officials needed to be reprimanded, which needed to be encouraged, which needed to be transferred, and which needed to change their ways. Then, she divided and conquered, tackling them one by one.
Riding on Her Majesty's displeasure, Gao Yunqu first met with several censors who had jointly submitted a memorial requesting that Her Majesty expand her harem.
These were all older, senior censors. When questioned by Gao Yunqu, they wore expressions of stern righteousness. "Her Majesty is already twenty-five, and to this day she hasn't even summoned a male consort. Shouldn't the various lords of the court remind her?"
Gao Yunqu rubbed her forehead. "It is, after all, Her Majesty's private affair..."
"Private? What is private about the affairs of the imperial family? Without consorts, how can there be heirs? Without heirs, how can there be a successor? Without a crown prince, how can the dynasty endure!" The leader, Censor He Bishi, was over fifty, and his voice boomed like a great bell, making Gao Yunqu's head buzz. She genuinely felt that Her Majesty could not continue like this and was deeply worried about it.
"You all have a point..." Gao Yunqu invited the censors to sit and talk. "But Her Majesty is still young, after all, and thin-skinned. To be confronted so directly by all of you, it's only natural that she would become embarrassed and angry."
He Bishi softened slightly at her words, but then insisted, "This is a matter of fundamental human relations. What is there that cannot be said?"
"Alas, the matter of the Censorate's mass resignation some time ago—you all participated in that, didn't you?" Gao Yunqu suddenly changed the subject.
The censors seemed as if a sore spot had been touched. Their bravado vanished, and they said in low voices, "We were temporarily misled by Han Zhongsi and Zhou Hui..."
"I have no intention of assigning blame; the matter is considered closed. However, I'm afraid Her Majesty still remembers the Censorate's transgression. At a time like this, you all are poking at her sore spot again. Think about it, what is Her Majesty supposed to think?"
"This... Vice Censor-in-Chief Gao, we would never dare to oppose Her Majesty..."
"Of course I know that. You lords harbor righteous spirits and are surely loyal and upright officials. But in my opinion, a remonstrating official's counsel requires the courage to speak directly, but also the wisdom to remonstrate skillfully. If our counsel cannot be accepted, then even if we were to die before the throne, what use would it be?"
"...You have a point, my lord." He Bishi's voice grew softer.
Gao Yunqu smoothed her sleeves and said calmly, "I feel your concern for the affairs of the state as my own, but I have one question for you all."
"Please ask, my lord."
"If a person has immense wealth but no heir, is that person more anxious, or are others more anxious?"
"..."
The old lords looked at each other. Seeing this, Gao Yunqu delivered the final word: "Rest assured, everyone. I have already advised Her Majesty. She is well aware of the situation."
"Your insight is profound, my lord. This subordinate understands."
The second person Gao Yunqu met with was alone. Her name was Zhou Hui. She had been the first to resign during the Censorate's mass resignation in the ninth month. At the time, she held the sixth-rank position of Supervising Secretary for the Ministry of Revenue. Afterward, Censor-in-Chief Han Zhongsi was dismissed, while Zhou Hui was demoted to seventh-rank Remonstrance Secretary, though she remained in the Censorate. However, everyone in the Censorate knew she was one of the main culprits. Previously, she had been an influential figure whose call was answered by all, but now she was shunned by everyone.
Gao Yunqu paid special attention to Zhou Hui's record, even sending people to investigate it in detail. Zhou Hui had entered officialdom as a student of the Imperial Academy. After entering service, she was first in the Ministry of Rites, then transferred to the Office of Transmission. She was a steady worker with excellent evaluations. Two years ago, she was transferred to the Censorate, and she was now just over thirty. Gao Yunqu had assumed she was a follower of the Cai faction, but it turned out she belonged to no faction. She was someone who genuinely focused on her work. As Supervising Secretary for the Ministry of Revenue, she carried out inspections and knew the ministry's duties inside and out. She had a list that detailed when the Ministry of Revenue should perform certain tasks and when the Supervising Secretary should conduct inspections, and she carried them out one by one. Every matter was archived, making the handover to the next Supervising Secretary perfectly clear. When Gao Yunqu saw this, she clicked her tongue in amazement and became curious about her.
"Greetings, my lord." Zhou Hui entered Gao Yunqu's duty office and bowed with her hands clasped. She was extremely thin, dressed in a seventh-rank cyan robe, but her back was ramrod straight. Her lips were pressed together, her expression stern.
Gao Yunqu invited her to sit and personally brewed her a cup of tea. "Shengyan, how old are you this year?" she asked.
"Replying to my lord, this subordinate is thirty-six." Shengyan was Zhou Hui's courtesy name. Faced with Gao Yunqu's friendly gesture, Zhou Hui remained unmoved.
"I've read your handover report. It's very well done. If possible, I'd like to implement it throughout the Censorate." Gao Yunqu held her teacup, her fingers gently tracing its rim.
A light flickered in Zhou Hui's eyes, then died out. "My lord's magnanimity is something I, Hui, cannot match," she said.
"Shengyan, you have great talent. I just truly don't understand why you waded into Han Zhongsi's muddy waters." Gao Yunqu put down her teacup and asked directly.
"Does my lord also believe I was wrong?" Zhou Hui lowered her eyes, making her expression unreadable.
"Oh? Could it be that Shengyan believes there was no problem with Han Zhongsi's impeachment of Ministry of Revenue Vice Minister Shi Yan?"
Zhou Hui shook her head. "Of course not. I have always been the one overseeing the Ministry of Revenue. The ministry's staff, from top to bottom, are meticulous in their duties, with no sign of malfeasance. Lord Shi herself is not a corrupt or morally bankrupt person. Han Zhongsi's impeachment was pure nonsense."
"Then why did you take the lead?" Gao Yunqu asked, puzzled.
"Does my lord think it's some kind of honor for the great Censorate to be the talk of every village rustic? Even the common folk dare to judge our rights and wrongs. Where is the dignity of the Censorate? The Censorate has always held low rank but great power, for the purpose of investigating all officials and keeping the ministers on the righteous path. If the Censorate's reputation is dragged through the mud, then who will be there to hold the reins? This subordinate does not believe she was wrong. Everything I did was for the public good, with no one directing me. If my lord finds me disagreeable, you may dismiss me at will." Zhou Hui grew more agitated as she spoke.
"Shengyan, what are you saying? If I thought that, why would I have summoned you?" Gao Yunqu said soothingly.
"In that case, this subordinate would also like to ask my lord a question." Zhou Hui looked at Gao Yunqu, her eyes filled with genuine confusion and doubt. "I acted for the public good, yet now I am shunned by all. Does my lord think I was wrong? On the day of the grand court session, the entire Censorate stepped forward and knelt together. All of my colleagues resigned and went home. It was all of their own free will; I did not coerce them. Why is it that today, my colleagues see me as the main culprit?"
"Shengyan, if you trust me, then let me ask you something. Was the idea to cause a scene at the grand court session truly yours?"
"It was... wait..." Zhou Hui was about to blurt it out, but on second thought, she hesitated. "I had written the memorial a few days prior. A few colleagues happened to see it, and they all said it was good. We discussed the wording, and soon everyone knew about it. We gathered and made quite a fuss for a while. I don't know who it was that said submitting it would be like a stone sinking into the sea, and that we sixth-rank officials in green robes didn't have the chance to attend morning court every day. It would be best if we could present it directly before the throne... My lord, are you suggesting..."
"Which people were they?"
Zhou Hui listed their names one by one.
"These few are followers of the Cai family, these few took bribes, and a few others were promised great benefits." Gao Yunqu looked at Zhou Hui with pity. "It was just a game played by the Cai faction. You were merely a pawn they pushed forward."
"But... but how did they know I would definitely present the memorial at the grand court session? And why would they second me?"
"If you hadn't presented it, someone else would have. When all those in scarlet robes knelt, how could those in green and cyan robes dare not follow?"
"So that's how it was! So that's how it was!" Zhou Hui nearly lost her footing, staggering two steps as tears fell from her eyes. "I vainly thought myself loyal and upright, but I unknowingly became a tool for another's faction. How ridiculous."
"Shengyan, being an official isn't just about keeping your head down and working. You also need to look up sometimes," Gao Yunqu sighed.
"My lord, this subordinate... this subordinate is truly ashamed beyond words. I wish I could resign from my post to atone for failing the emperor's grace!"
"Shengyan, you are mistaken. A Remonstrance Secretary may only be a seventh-rank official in a cyan robe, but they can speak on all matters of gain and loss under heaven. Tell me, who is qualified to deliberate on matters outside their own duties? Only the chancellors and the remonstrating officials. The chancellors and Her Majesty decide what can and cannot be done, while a Remonstrance Secretary can debate right and wrong with Her Majesty1. This is precisely where a remonstrating official expresses loyalty and shoulders responsibility. Today was merely a small setback. How can you speak so lightly of resigning?"
"Thank you for your teachings, my lord." Zhou Hui was crying and laughing at the same time as she thanked Gao Yunqu.
Gao Yunqu took her hand and helped her up. "Shengyan, if you don't mind," she said, "I have one more piece of advice for you."
"Please speak, my lord. Hui is listening with utmost attention."
"Shengyan, you just said that even peddlers and porters can presume to criticize the Censorate, and thus its dignity is dragged through the mud? But have you ever thought about why the common people are discussing the Censorate? And why, when it is clearly the Censorate that is in error, the method to regain dignity is to silence the common people? What kind of reasoning is that? Stopping the mouths of the people is more difficult than damming a river. Can it truly be stopped by simply blocking it?"
Zhou Hui was stunned. Her birth was not low; before her father retired from office, he held a fourth-rank position. She herself had entered the Imperial Academy at a young age and graduated at the top of her class to receive an official post. The education she received had always been about becoming a pillar of the state. In her eyes, she had always seen government affairs, state affairs, the world—but not the common people.
"Shengyan, if you have the chance in the future, seek a provincial appointment. Go and see the real common people. Your future is surely not limited to cyan and green robes."
"Thank you for your guidance, my lord. Hui will certainly not fail to live up to your great kindness." Zhou Hui straightened her robes and hat, shook out her sleeves, and bowed low. She solemnly performed a grand salute to Gao Yunqu, thanking her for revealing the cause and effect of the matter, for treating her with sincerity, and for pointing the way forward.
Author's Notes
1Adapted from Ouyang Xiu's Letter to Remonstrance Secretary Fan.
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