Chapter 18: Reform
It took Gao Yunqu two years to sort out the affairs of the Censorate. She began by clarifying the functions of each department and bureau one by one. Referencing various old precedents, she expanded the simple legal articles from the Statutes on Officials into detailed regulations. The focus was on clarifying the overlapping and ambiguous areas between departments. This matter alone was debated for a long time; the heads of the departments and bureaus argued endlessly. After the regulations were clarified, Gao Yunqu ordered all officials within each department and bureau to then define the specific functions for each official post based on their own rank and scope of authority. And so, another round of arguments erupted within each department and bureau. When disputes couldn't be settled, Gao Yunqu had to be called in to adjudicate. Compounded by the obstruction from lazy and negligent officials, Gao Yunqu was like a paper kite, flying from one end of the Censorate to the other every day, only to be tugged back again.
Sorting out these two matters took more than half a year. After that came the requirement for all Censorate officials to report their planned tasks for the month at the beginning of the month. The reports were compiled into registers: one for internal use in the Censorate, one submitted to the Council of State, and a separate, simplified register delivered to the Emperor. At the end of the month, departments and bureaus would cross-verify each other's task completion, with clear rewards and punishments, and report again. There were also major annual tasks and verifications for the entire year. The entire Censorate was like a taut rope. It seemed someone was always watching over their shoulders, making it difficult to be opportunistic or slack off. The entire atmosphere was completely transformed.
Gao Yunqu had informed Her Majesty of her plans early on, and Wei Qi was full of enthusiasm for it. She had long grown weary of the idleness and inaction of the old officials led by Cai Quan. But she couldn't refute Cai Quan's set arguments that matters of state and ancestral laws should not be altered lightly. She couldn't think of a good solution, so she could only appoint more young officials, attempting to change the court with the ambitious new spirit of the youth. But no matter how many new young officials there were, they couldn't match the power of the old guard, and their impact was minimal. Being able to bring some core departments under her control was already the result of Wei Qi's painstaking efforts over the past few years. Gao Yunqu's memorial seemed to have given her a new line of thought. So, using her pregnancy as leverage, she suppressed the opposition from the conservatives. Coordinating with Gao Yunqu, she had the most vocal objectors in the Censorate demoted and exiled from the capital, making an example of them to clear some obstacles for Gao Yunqu. Even so, it still took Gao Yunqu two years to present her results to Wei Qi.
While flipping through Gao Yunqu's memorial, Wei Qi listened to the Head Eunuch's report on the secret investigation into the Censorate. The Head Eunuch was her most trusted confidant, managing her daily life and also commanding a secret guard for her to gather intelligence.
"Minister Gao is a great talent. Why didn't I think of this? With clear duties and a growing workload, they won't be idle, and naturally, they won't have the leisure for baseless accusations." Wei Qi clicked her tongue in amazement as she listened. "If only this could be implemented in the Six Ministries."
The Head Eunuch gave a wry smile. "Lord Gao spent two years just to sort out a single Censorate, and during those two years, the attacks against her from all corners of the court were incessant—from being too radical and grandiose, to being a young upstart who advanced through luck, to being immoral and short-sighted. Some even accused her of extravagance, corruption, and dereliction of duty. If Your Majesty hadn't protected her, I'm afraid Lord Gao would have long since died without a burial place."
"Indeed..." Wei Qi sighed again. "The gap between the Censorate and the Six Ministries is far more than just one Minister Gao. Cai Quan, oh, Cai Quan. When will I ever be able to replace this Chief Councilor of the Council of State?"
"Your Majesty, this isn't something that can be solved just by replacing Lord Cai. You are still young; you must be patient," the Head Eunuch advised.
"I know." Purging the court and reforming the administration meant confronting the entire bureaucratic establishment and the great clans. Cai Quan was their representative, but in reality, he was also a buffer. It was precisely Cai Quan's mediation that allowed a delicate balance to form between the old-school gentry officials and the newly risen scholars from humble backgrounds. Wei Qi was impatient to remove Cai Quan, yet she also knew he served a purpose.
As Gao Yunqu completed the Censorate reforms, the impeachments targeting her increased, with new ones appearing almost daily. Wei Qi had A'zheng put them all in a box, setting them aside without action.
A'zheng was still by her side, organizing her memorials and accompanying her as she read or played chess. She was tight-lipped and had no ties, so Wei Qi would sometimes speak to her behind closed doors, saying things that couldn't be spread, just to vent. She asked Wei Qi in confusion, "Your Majesty, Lord Gao has nearly finished this task. Why have the impeachments increased?"
Wei Qi put down the memorial and sneered, "They're afraid that if she succeeds, the other ministries will have to follow suit."
"Isn't that what Your Majesty desires?"
"That's why they're resorting to this intimidation. Gao Yunqu is incorruptible, with no weaknesses to exploit, and with my protection, she can't be brought down. But do others have that kind of ability?" Wei Qi gritted her teeth in silent anger, but she was helpless.
A'zheng thoughtfully moved behind her and began to knead her stiff shoulders and neck. "Your Majesty need not be troubled. At least you still have a minister like Lord Gao."
Wei Qi patted the hand on her shoulder, closed her eyes, and said no more.
In the spring of the twelfth year of the Yongxing era, it was time for the Triennial Capital Evaluation. The entire capital was filled with a tense atmosphere. Among the officials being evaluated, Gao Yunqu's achievements were undoubtedly the greatest. Everyone at court and beyond knew this well. The opposition changed its tune, no longer impeaching Gao Yunqu but instead showering her with praise, almost hailing her as a talent on par with Yi and Lu.
"This is killing with praise." Cui Miao slammed her hand on the table, making the bowls and plates jump. Fang Jian quickly steadied a cup.
Another close classmate, Fan Tingrong, was also indignant. "Ever since Lord Gao started the Merit Evaluation System, these people have been spouting nonsense. What's wrong with them? Why can't they bear to see someone else do well?"
"When framing her didn't work, they switched to killing with praise. It's truly dirty."
"Isn't it just? I used to think matters of the court were all solemn and serious, but I never imagined it would be like a children's game of pushing and shoving." This Yao Xingquan came from a humble background.
"Lord Gao won't be harmed by them, will she?"
"Probably not," said Fan Tingrong. She was the niece of Fan Ying, the Minister of Revenue, and was often around Lord Fan, so she was better informed. "Lord Gao is favored by the Emperor. These petty tricks won't cause her any serious harm."
"But if it won't have any effect, why are they resorting to this tactic of killing with praise?"
None of the classmates could figure it out. The classmates gathered that day were all good friends with Fang Jian and Cui Miao, and were all either reform-leaning scholars or from humble backgrounds. They often discussed current affairs together.
"Linshen, you're staying at Lord Gao's residence. Do you know anything?" All the classmates looked at Fang Jian.
Fang Jian shook her head. "Her Lordship hasn't spoken to me about it, but she doesn't seem very worried."
"That's good, then. The court really needs more officials like Lord Gao."
"No need to rush. You and I will enter the court sooner or later. When that time comes, we'll all become officials like her and make this world anew!" Fan Tingrong raised her wine cup and invited everyone to drink.
"Well said!"
After a few more cups, the group changed the subject.
A classmate asked, "The Metropolitan Examination is next spring. Are you all participating?"
"Linshen and I are going to sit for it," said Cui Miao.
"Me too," Fan Tingrong added with a nod.
"Your studies are so good, you're sure to pass. I'm not quite there. I plan to seek an official appointment after graduating from the Imperial Academy." The classmate who said this came from a wealthy family but lacked some talent for the examinations.
"That's also very good."
The group joked around for a while before dispersing. Fang Jian bid her classmates farewell and returned home alone. She hadn't actually told her classmates the truth. Her relationship with Gao Yunqu was special. To prevent others from prying, she usually just said she was lodging with the Gao family and didn't see Gao Yunqu often. But in reality, she had often helped Gao Yunqu over the past few years and had personally witnessed every attack Gao Yunqu endured. At first, she had been indignant, but Gao Yunqu paid it no mind.
"Reform has never been easy, but it is precisely because it is difficult that someone must do it," Gao Yunqu had said.
"Doesn't Your Lordship feel upset? You are clearly doing the right thing."
Gao Yunqu laughed and tapped the desk. "If you know for certain that you are doing the right thing, then you will have endless strength supporting you. Why fear what others say?"
"Your Lordship is truly amazing." Fang Jian looked at her open and cheerful demeanor with some envy. She had only just stepped one foot over the threshold, peering into the court, let alone knowing clearly where she was headed, while Gao Yunqu was already moving with ease.
The talk of "killing with praise" was brought back by Gao Yuan. Not only was there a chorus of praise at court, but there was also much discussion among the common people. Everyone, high and low, was elevating Gao Yunqu to great heights.
"Your Lordship, what is the reason for this?" Fang Jian was deeply worried.
"When things are out of the ordinary, there must be something amiss. I don't know either. I can only face whatever comes." Gao Yunqu said this, but her face showed no sign of worry.
"Does Your Lordship not care?"
"I only do what I ought to do. As long as it gets done, that's enough." Gao Yunqu looked at Fang Jian's worried expression, somewhat amused. "For matters that even I cannot intervene in, what can you do? Just focus on your own affairs."
It wasn't until the cusp of summer that the results of the Triennial Capital Evaluation and the subsequent official reassignments were gradually finalized. Gao Yunqu's placement was the most contentious one. The councilors of the Council of State debated with Her Majesty again and again before finally deciding to promote her to Secretary of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, a position of the Senior Third Rank. Although the Secretary of the Court of Imperial Entertainments was one of the minor nine ministers, the position was in charge of banquets and meals, and also managed the internal affairs of the palace. It was akin to being a grand steward for Her Majesty and the court, with a great deal of trivial work but little say in matters of state—a world away from the prestigious and influential Censorate.
"Your Lordship!" Fang Jian watched as Gao Yunqu calmly and properly received the imperial edict, and felt anxious on her behalf. "From Vice Censor-in-Chief to Secretary of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, how can this be considered a happy occasion?"
Gao Yunqu glanced at her. "Why isn't it? It's the Senior Third Rank."
"Aiya, Your Lordship, isn't this a promotion in name but a demotion in reality?"
"Oh, A'jian understands such things now." Gao Yunqu patted her on the back reassuringly. "It's alright. I knew this would happen long ago."
"Your Lordship?"
"The Merit Evaluation System in the Censorate has just been established. The conservatives are terrified Her Majesty will try to implement it in the Six Ministries, which is why they want to suppress me, and Her Majesty knows that now is not the right time, so she doesn't intend to act rashly." Gao Yunqu explained, "Lord Fan also spoke with me a few days ago. Lying low for now isn't a bad thing."
"As for why it's the Court of Imperial Entertainments, you only see its trivial duties, but you don't realize that no matter of the palace, big or small, can be handled without it. This is also a sign of Her Majesty's trust."
"So that's how it is." Fang Jian understood, but she was still puffing her cheeks in anger. "But I still feel it's unfair to you."
"Haha, A'jian, what is this? Do you see me as perfect in every way?"
"Your Lordship is, of course, excellent."
Gao Yunqu turned her head and saw Fang Jian's earnest gaze. She was taken aback, and the words she was about to say were suddenly forgotten. So she turned her head back and changed the subject.
"Alright, now I'll have the leisure to look over your schoolwork."
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