Yang Lun glanced at Zhang Luo, then turned to Bai Yuyang, “His Majesty still intends to use him.”
Bai Yuyang sighed as they walked, “How did Minister Zhang, such a good-natured person, produce such an underworld official?”
Yang Lun didn’t respond to this, walking directly toward the Cabinet’s duty room.
When the two reached the duty room, they saw the Emperor’s procession prominently stopped at the Extreme Gate.
Zheng Yuejia stood before the procession, bowing in greeting as the two approached.
“My lords.”
Bai Yuyang glanced at the duty room and asked quietly, “Has His Majesty arrived?”
“Yes.”
Yang Lun asked, “Where is Director He?”
“Attending to His Majesty inside.”
After speaking, he stepped aside, “Please enter, my lords.”
Yang Lun and Bai Yuyang dared not delay, entering the duty room together. Just as they entered, before they could perform the proper court etiquette, they heard Emperor Zhenning say, “Though this person is the descendant of a criminal, since he has already been punished and is under the Imperial Ceremonial Office’s supervision, I believe there’s nothing to criticize.”
After speaking, he raised his hand to Yang Lun and the others, gesturing for them to rise.
Neither Bai nor Zhang spoke. He Yixian, serving tea at the Emperor’s side, glanced at the Emperor’s expression and also remained silent.
He had originally intended to pressure Deng Ying to resign voluntarily, but after the caning, Deng Ying had only replied with four words: “Nothing to say.”
Though he remained humble and docile, even cooperating during his punishment, and even personally requesting forgiveness from He Yixian at the Imperial Ceremonial Office when he could walk again, He Yixian understood that Deng Ying would not and could not become his descendant.
But having served Emperor Zhenning for many years, he deeply understood the Emperor’s mastery of the art of checks and balances. The conversation with Deng Ying in the Hall of Mental Cultivation had already revealed three-tenths of his intention. He couldn’t say anything more, otherwise, those three-tenths would become eight or nine-tenths.
The Emperor consulting the Cabinet today was a good thing for him.
So he glanced at Zhang Cong.
Zhang Cong, standing behind Bai Huan, saw this glance and coughed lightly, stepping forward to address Emperor Zhenning, “Your Majesty’s words are profound and correct, but Deng Yi’s entire clan was executed after all. Sparing Deng Ying’s life was already Your Majesty’s heavenly grace. This minister fears… he might harbor ulterior motives.”
“What ulterior motives?”
Bai Yuyang’s eyelid twitched—the questioner was Yang Lun, standing beside him.
Zhang Cong, struck by this direct challenge, suddenly didn’t know how to continue, “This…”
Yang Lun didn’t look at him, turning instead to Emperor Zhenning, “This person is already a palace servant, bound by the ‘Founding Emperor’s Internal Instructions.’ If he still dared harbor ulterior motives, where would Minister Zhang place our dynasty’s glorious internal instructions? Where would he place Your Majesty’s imperial authority? Moreover, this person built Taihe Hall while bearing guilt, working diligently for half a year without a single error—where are these ulterior motives?”
“Yang Lun.”
Bai Huan called out to him, “Do not be discourteous before His Majesty.”
Emperor Zhenning gestured to Bai Huan to be quiet, “Let him speak.”
Yang Lun bowed, “Your subject understands that though Deng Ying has been punished, his father’s crimes were heinous, and his descendants cannot be forgiven. However, I understand his character. Your Majesty established the Eastern Depot to pacify the capital’s turmoil and hear the voices of officials and common people throughout the realm. If this person were mediocre, how could he listen on Your Majesty’s behalf?”
His use of “mediocre” pointed at Hu Xiang, causing He Yixian’s hand to tremble, nearly spilling the tea.
Emperor Zhenning laughed, “Vice Minister Yang speaks truly. What is Minister Bai’s opinion?”
Bai Huan responded, “This subject thanks Your Majesty for asking. This person was once my student, but his sins are grave. I dare not speak more for him. Having received Your Majesty’s deep grace thus far, if he still harbored ulterior motives, even Heaven would not tolerate it. This old subject is aging and already struggles to oversee the offices outside the Cabinet. If someone could, as Vice Minister Yang says, listen to official and common voices on Your Majesty’s behalf, demonstrating Your Majesty’s benevolence and winning the people’s hearts, this subject would also agree. However… if Your Majesty asks this subject’s opinion, this subject would not recommend this person…”
His chest tightened and his breathing became irregular as he spoke, holding onto the table as he coughed and panted.
With the Emperor present, neither Bai Yuyang nor Yang Lun dared step forward to assist him.
After Bai Huan recovered somewhat, he continued, “Your Majesty, this subject cannot serve alongside Deng Yi’s descendant.”
After hearing these words, the Emperor personally rose to support him, “Minister Bai speaks too heavily. The Eastern Depot carries out surveillance duties on my behalf. I will not give him judicial authority, nor is he worthy to question officials.”
Bai Huan moved away from the Emperor’s hand, bowing deeply, “This subject is fearful and has nothing more to say.”
Seeing him thus, the Emperor said no more, flicking his sleeve as he walked to the door, “If that’s settled, then it’s decided. Yang Lun.”
“Your subject is here.”
The Emperor raised his hand, pointing at him, “You draft this edict. While I’m here today, I’ll approve it with the vermillion seal on the spot.”
“Yes.”
The Emperor nodded, reaching for his tea, and He Yixian hurried to steady the cup for him.
The Emperor took a sip of tea and looked up at the sky, “What time is it?”
He Yixian replied, “Noon, Your Majesty.”
“Go tell Zhang Luo to rise. Let’s leave.”
“Yes…”
For a moment, there was silence in the duty room.
The Emperor walked with his teacup to Yang Lun’s side as he drafted the edict, looking at the characters on the paper, “With the Tongjia case concluded thus far, my heart aches greatly. I resent these scholars who, after ten years of diligent study, fail to understand the relationship between ruler and subject. I also pity their youth, their passionate blood spilled in the wrong place. I wonder who bewitched them to such foolishness.”
As he spoke these words, he glanced at Zhang and Bai.
Zhang Cong hurriedly knelt, “This old subject is fearful.”
Hearing Bai Huan’s silence, Yang Lun stopped writing and secretly looked toward him.
Bai Huan’s gaze met his briefly before withdrawing.
Then, supporting himself on the table, he knelt, “This subject’s crimes are unforgivable.”
The Emperor gestured for He Yixian to help the two up, “You two lead the Cabinet, true ministers of the highest importance. I have no intention of implicating you two beloved officials. The Tongjia Academy case ends here—I will not let the Northern Commanding Office investigate further. Another year is nearly over. In spring, with the new policies, while my health is still good, I wish to discuss matters further with you all.”