“Follow the will of the Ming ancestors, refer to the Imperial Ancestral Instructions, and consult the Great Ming Code.”
Yi Lang tilted his head back, “But you taught me the thirteenth chapter of the Zhenguan Zhengyao (The Way of the Virtuous Ruler), and after I had you beaten, you also warned me to be cautious in applying cruel punishments. Director, I can discuss with the Cabinet about showing you leniency.”
“Your Majesty, you have pardoned me many times already.”
Deng Ying interrupted him with lowered hands, continuing evenly: “The thirteenth chapter of Zhenguan Zhengyao speaks of subjects submitting to benevolent governance. Your Majesty’s benevolence should be shown to the common people and officials, not to me. Regarding punishment, it should indeed be used cautiously, otherwise cases like Tongjia will happen again. But in managing palace servants, there should be no mercy. The founding emperor ruled for over fifty years without eunuch troubles, but your father’s fourteen-year reign saw over a hundred wrongful cases stemming from the Department of Imperial Ceremonial. Prime Minister Bai should have explained the reasons to Your Majesty. They aren’t wrong—to this day, my teacher, the over eighty students of Tongjia Academy, and countless wrongfully imprisoned former officials are still criminals in their graves, all waiting for you to clear their names. Your Majesty, a ruler must be decisive in execution, there’s no need to show me mercy.”
“Stand up first.”
Yi Lang was silent for a long time before speaking these words.
Deng Ying stood up, and Yi Lang had to tilt his head back to see him.
“Director, though you were never a lecturer at Wenhua Hall, and I cannot regard you as my teacher, I will remember every word you’ve said to me. You tell me not to show you mercy, I’ll listen to you. Besides this, is there anything else you want me to do?”
Deng Ying nodded.
“I have no family registration. If Your Majesty permits, after I am found guilty, please transfer my palace registration to the Yang family.”
A clap of thunder sounded from the sky.
Yang Lun looked up at the sky after the lightning flash.
The black clouds had been torn open, letting through a weak beam of light through the rift, yet he could hardly bear to look at that light.
Qingmeng led palace servants carrying more than ten cups of hot tea out from the hall, saying to Yang Lun and others: “His Majesty was caught in the rain, Director Deng is helping him change clothes. His Majesty is concerned that the ministers are also cold and has specially ordered tea to be served.”
The ministers expressed their thanks and received their tea while standing in the corridor. Bai Yuyang asked: “Have today’s draft documents been submitted?”
Qingmeng said: “Yes, the Director personally brought them.”
“Oh.”
He acknowledged and then asked: “Did the Director say anything?”
Qingmeng shook his head: “No.”
“I see.”
Just then, from inside came an order to announce titles again, and all ministers put down their tea to step forward and announce their titles.
Soon after, a message came summoning the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Justice and Revenue into the hall, while the other Cabinet ministers were to wait in the corridor.
After the announcement, palace servants immediately came forward to help brush the rain from Yang Lun and the others’ clothes. Qingmeng withdrew to the doorway to guide them, while palace servants added ten more gilded copper lamps. Though the sky was dark, the main chamber was brilliantly lit.
The three men entered the hall, where Yi Lang sat behind the imperial desk, now changed into casual court dress.
Bai Yuyang stepped forward: “Has Your Majesty stamped the draft documents submitted by the Cabinet today?”
“Yes.”
“Does Your Majesty have any doubts?”
Yi Lang raised his head, “I have no doubts.”
Both Bai Yuyang and Yang Lun were startled by these words.
Yang Lun remained silent while Bai Yuyang tentatively said: “Since Your Majesty has no doubts, I request that Your Majesty hand over the Director of Imperial Ceremonial to the Ministry of Justice for investigation.”
“This is not permitted.”
“Your Majesty!”
Bai Yuyang hadn’t expected the emperor to refuse his request, and couldn’t help raising his voice, “Public anger is boiling over, Your Majesty cannot show favoritism!”
Yi Lang stood and walked to Bai Yuyang, “I didn’t say I wouldn’t deal with him. Let the Ministry of Justice determine his crimes as they should. After I review what they submit, I will write an imperial decree declaring his crimes to be proclaimed throughout the empire. Before that, I will have him held under the Northern Pacification Guard.”
Bai Yuyang said: “Does Your Majesty mean to condemn him without trial?”
“Yes, condemn without trial.”
“This…”
“Prime Minister Bai, is my decision correct?”
Bai Yuyang inexplicably felt pressure, coming from this young emperor’s questioning of him and his position as Prime Minister. The words “Your Majesty is wise” stuck in his throat.
Yi Lang turned to look at the silent Yang Lun, and asked again, “Minister Yang, is my decision correct?”
Yang Lun took a breath of the damp air, slowly lifted his robes, and knelt, bowing as he said: “Your Majesty is wise.”
“Even the Minister can say it.”
Yang Lun’s hand pressed against the ground tightened as he kowtowed heavily, “Your Majesty, I am ashamed.”
Yi Lang turned away, forcefully suppressing his voice: “Prime Minister, you and Minister Qi may take your leave first.”
“Yes.”
The hall doors opened and closed, letting in damp cold air that made the lamp flames flicker.
“Uncle, please rise.”
Yang Lun stood up, suddenly noticing that Yi Lang before him had somehow begun crying silently.
“Your Majesty…”
“Uncle, Aunt will never forgive me.”
Yang Lun stood stiffly before Yi Lang.
All these years, like the lecturers in Wenhua Hall, he had only treated him as a royal student, disciplining his speech and conduct, his thoughts and ideas, yet didn’t know at all what kind of person he truly was. So much so that when he called him ‘uncle,’ he didn’t know how to respond.
“I’ll never dare to face Aunt again.”
After saying these words, his face was covered in tears.
As a subject, Yang Lun could not wipe away the emperor’s tears, and could only step back and bow: “Your subject begs Your Majesty not to speak this way.”
Yi Lang reached out to grab Yang Lun’s sleeve. “Uncle, please help me tell Aunt, I don’t want to kill the Director.”
“Yes, I will tell her.”