Chapter 66: My Heart is Not a Stone
In the spring of the 16th year of the Yongxing era, the draft of the New Policies, which had been debated for half a year, was finally revised and promulgated throughout the realm. It largely maintained Fan Ying's three major reform directions, but the specific regulations were much milder, leaving room for the great families and powerful clans to maneuver. If they continued to cause trouble, once Her Majesty's patience ran out, no one would have a good outcome. The great families and powerful clans all had legacies spanning hundreds of years; they naturally understood when to quit while they were ahead.
And after the decree was promulgated, the next step was to ensure it was solidly implemented. The chancellors of the Council of State had seen too much feigned compliance from their subordinates. They naturally understood that promulgating the decree was only the first step; the real hard battle was yet to come.
Fan Ying was, after all, experienced and shrewd. Her suggestion was to select one prefecture for a trial run first, with an imperial commissioner sent from the central government to oversee it. Once the reforms in that area were complete, it would then be promoted elsewhere. The logic was sound, but as soon as the news broke, the various prefectures became restless. Everyone has a desire to evade things. If it was a matter of sooner or later, then naturally, the later the better. Better you than me. Thus, another chaotic battle erupted over which location would be the trial site, and this battle had little to do with the relationship between the new and old factions. The Reformist Faction watched coldly as the powerful clans of various regions shirked responsibility and passed the buck, saying nothing.
Within the Reformist Faction, the concern was the choice of the imperial commissioner. Everyone knew that while the New Policies were ostensibly Chancellor Fan's proposal, they were in fact Her Majesty's will. Fang Jian had risen meteorically because of the Qinzhou case. Who didn't want to be the next Fang Jian? Who didn't want to have a place in Her Majesty's heart? The method of the trial run had not yet been decided, but ambitious individuals were already fighting another round over the selection of the imperial commissioner. Fang Jian naturally wouldn't compete for it; her future could be said to be already set. The same was true for Gao Yunqu. At this point, the two of them, who had been the vanguards, had instead retreated to the background.
In the third month, the court officially decided to conduct the trial in Chuzhou. It wasn't hard to guess why. Chuzhou was already one of the most remote prefectures, and it was surrounded by great mountains. The people of the central plains always considered Chuzhou a barbaric land, and many officials were even unwilling to take up posts there. A place like this never got to partake in good things, but all the bad things were pushed onto it. Few people from Chuzhou served as officials at court. The powerful clans of Chuzhou tried every means to find people to mediate on their behalf, but they were still outnumbered and outmatched and were forced to accept this outcome. They then turned to hoping that the imperial commissioner would not be too difficult to deal with.
Thus, the focus of the struggle fell on the choice of candidate. The members of the Reformist Faction strained every nerve to seize the position, while Chuzhou hoped for the selection of someone neutral or leaning towards the Conservative Faction. The powerful clans of the other prefectures also changed their attitudes at this time, helping Chuzhou fight for their cause.
But Wei Qi and Fan Ying paid no mind to the undercurrents below. To them, the New Policies in Chuzhou were related to the grand plan that would follow. It was imperative to place someone loyal, trustworthy, and who dared to act boldly. They discussed it again and again in Yong'an Palace, but found that there were too few people who met their requirements. In the end, only one name was left on the paper.
Wei Qi gave a bitter smile. She hadn't wanted to trouble Gao Yunqu again, but now she found there was no second person to whom she could entrust such a level of trust. The same was true for Fan Ying. Gao Yunqu had helped her greatly with the New Policies, nearly tarnishing her own name in the process. She also felt deeply indebted to Gao Yunqu and had also wanted to avoid involving her at all costs.
"Chancellor Fan," Wei Qi lamented, "in these years, you and I have vigorously promoted new talents from humble backgrounds. The court is full of new blood and looks completely refreshed, but in reality, there are still few who can be entrusted with great responsibility..."
Fan Ying sighed along with her. Her strength was not in nurturing and teaching people; she too was keenly aware of the shortage of talent to fill the ranks.
"Forget it. I can only entrust this matter to Chancellor Gao. I will go speak with her," Wei Qi said finally, after a moment of silence.
When the news spread, the entire court was in an uproar. The Reformist Faction did not consider Gao Yunqu one of their own and was naturally jealous. The Conservative Faction, however, knew full well what kind of person Gao Yunqu was. Their recent cooperation with her had been merely a matter of mutual convenience. They hadn't forgotten how ruthless Gao Yunqu's previous personnel reforms had been. How could they dare let such a person go to Chuzhou to implement the New Policies? For a time, the entire court was in opposition, and the attacks against Gao Yunqu surged once more.
The moment Fang Jian heard, she went to the Gao residence. Others saw only glory, but she saw only peril. Gao Yunqu refused to see her, so she charged straight through the gate. Even Gao Yuan couldn't stop her.
But once she was in front of Gao Yunqu, she didn't dare to speak again, hesitating, wanting to speak but holding back.
Gao Yunqu sneered and questioned, "Quite bold of you, daring to force your way into my residence."
Fang Jian finally came to her senses, bowing to her in a salute. "I wouldn't dare. Teacher, I was alarmed and acted rashly in the heat of the moment. I ask that you not blame me."
"What's the rush? What matter is so urgent that you would act with such impropriety? Is this how I taught you?" Gao Yunqu continued to scold her with a cold face.
Fang Jian knew she was in the wrong and lowered her head, meekly accepting the scolding.
"Why were you looking for me?"
Fang Jian quickly looked up and asked, "There have been rumors recently that Her Majesty intends for you to go to Chuzhou to implement the trial of the New Policies. Is it true?"
Gao Yunqu was silent for a moment, then replied, "...Yes, Her Majesty has spoken to me about it."
Fang Jian said urgently, "You can't go! Chuzhou is a perilous place to begin with, and the New Policies are the most dangerous of dangers. Who knows what kind of malicious intentions they have for setting the trial in Chuzhou? If they resort to desperate measures..."
"I am the Vice Minister of Works. Building roads and conducting cadastral surveys are part of my duties," Gao Yunqu replied, not addressing her directly.
Fang Jian's eyes turned red with anxiety. "How can this be considered part of your duties? You were against the New Policies from the start, why must you be the one to act as the vanguard! Does Chancellor Fan have no one else under her?"
"Disagreeing and having to do it are two different things," Gao Yunqu said calmly. "The former is a conflict of ideals; the latter is the duty of an official. To hold a position and carry out its duties, to be scrupulous in one's responsibilities—that is the way of a subject."
Fang Jian's eyes were red with anxiety. "Teacher, I don't understand. You are destined to be a person who holds the balance of power. As long as you sit steadily, the purple robe and golden belt are within your grasp. Why do you always put yourself in the most treacherous places?" This was her question now, and it had been her question all along.
"Is that how you think of it?" Gao Yunqu sighed. "Which official doesn't want to reach the first rank? But what is the purpose of becoming a chancellor and governing?"
Fang Jian was taken aback by her question. Everyone around her was looking at that high and mighty position, and she too was striving to climb towards that height. But no one had ever thought carefully about what one does after getting there. It was power, it was status. What else was there?
"A'jian, I have things I must do. I am all alone; what use is power to me? What I want is a clear and just world."
Fang Jian looked at her sorrowfully. "For the sake of such an ambition, it doesn't matter if you sacrifice yourself, is that it?"
"Yes," Gao Yunqu replied, looking back at her earnestly, her words resolute.
"But if you become a candle burned to its end, how will you see the cleansed landscape you leave behind?"
Gao Yunqu didn't speak, only looked at her—gently, resolutely, expectantly.
Fang Jian understood. Her heart felt as if it were being twisted by a knife. She nearly lost her footing and took a step back.
She roared in a last, desperate gamble, "How many people can understand why you're doing this? No one will know what you've sacrificed! Everyone will only see you as Her Majesty's hawk and hound, as a fickle and petty person. Her Majesty only sees you as a useful tool. When you do her bidding, she favors you; when you go against her wishes, she gives you the cold shoulder. When the day comes that the problems are too deep-rooted to solve, will she protect you? Or will she push you out to quell the public's anger? If you can't even protect yourself, what's the point of talking about ambition? What's the point of talking about a just world? Her Majesty is just using you to play her political games! It's not worth it!"
"Fang Jian!" Gao Yunqu roared, sweeping aside the things at her hand. Memorials scattered across the floor with a clatter, silencing Fang Jian's treasonous words. Gao Yunqu pointed a finger at Fang Jian and rebuked, "Remember your station! What right do you have to meddle in my affairs?"
Fang Jian was practically swaying on her feet. She had done what she shouldn't have done, said what she shouldn't have said, and had backed Gao Yunqu into a corner. But when she truly heard Gao Yunqu's furious words, she felt as if her heart had been pierced through, the pain blurring her vision.
"Do you really not know why I care so much about your life and safety?" Fang Jian looked at her in despair, her expression immensely complicated.
"That is not something you should be concerned with." Gao Yunqu's response was almost cold.
Fang Jian felt another stab of pain. Enduring it, she said, "Are you really so heartless?"
Gao Yunqu instinctively avoided the topic, frowning and snapping with a warning in her tone, "Fang Jian! Get out!"
Fang Jian ignored her words. She cast everything aside, her heart full of sorrow supporting her as she walked step by step until she was in front of Gao Yunqu. They were the same height. Standing together, Fang Jian could look up and meet Gao Yunqu's eyes directly. "Gao Yunqu! Gao Yunqu! Can't you just take a good look at me?"
Gao Yunqu was shocked by her audacity. She couldn't help but look into Fang Jian's eyes. They were a pair of crimson eyes, filled with sorrow, pain, anger, and a sliver of hope. All of that complexity deeply seared Gao Yunqu, but she had already made her choice. She chose to be loyal to her beliefs, not to Fang Jian. With a trembling hand, she placed it on Fang Jian's shoulder and shoved her away forcefully. Caught off guard, Fang Jian staggered back, her spine hitting the door and window frame.
Gao Yunqu stood her ground, declaring from on high, "Fang Jian, listen well. The bond between us as teacher and student ends here. I have nothing more to teach you. You're on your own."
"You... you don't want me anymore?" Fang Jian asked in disbelief, her back against the door.
"...Yes."
"So from now on, you won't care what I do?"
"Yes."
Fang Jian gritted her teeth and said hatefully, "Fine. Fine. I hope you don't regret this in the future, Lord Gao."
Fang Jian slammed the door and left in a rage. Gao Yunqu stood there in a daze for a long, long time before finally coming to her senses. She looked at the mess in her study, squatted down, and slowly began to pick up the memorials she herself had swept to the floor, one by one, carefully smoothing out the creases and stacking them neatly together. She silently tidied the chaotic study. A single tear fell, splashing onto her wrist.
What Fang Jian could see clearly, she naturally could see clearly as well. Wei Qi was the emperor. Although they had that bit of friendship from their youth, it couldn't compare to the supreme authority of the throne. She wasn't offering everything she had for Wei Qi; she was offering everything for her own ideals. The New Policies were set. She was also clear about the opportunities and risks involved. If it went smoothly, perhaps it could truly defeat the opposition in one fell swoop, just as Wei Qi and Fan Ying imagined. Wei Qi wanted her to go, and she herself was willing to go. She had thought of everything except her own safety.
Fang Jian had done nothing wrong. It was she who had let Fang Jian get in so deep. It was she who had tormented Fang Jian, causing her to walk step by step to this point today. It was she who had overestimated herself, thinking she could make a clean break. But Fang Jian was not a pebble, not a straw mat; she could not be casually turned and rolled up.1 It was she who was unworthy of Fang Jian's sincere love.
She arranged the memorials, stacking them neatly in a corner of the desk. She also straightened the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. After all this was done, she had calmed down, appearing no different from her usual self.
Author's Notes
1"My heart is not a stone, it cannot be turned. My heart is not a mat, it cannot be rolled up." From the Book of Odes, "Bo Zhou".
Fang Jian's heart is not a stone; it cannot be turned over and over, controlled at will. Gao Yunqu's heart is not a stone either; it is not so hard as to be unmoved. This is the meaning of the title.
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