Yang Lun gave a cold laugh, not responding to this statement.
He Yixian didn’t seem to mind, turning to say: “Present the edict.”
Hu Xiang responded, walking up the imperial way, bowing as he held the edict, stopping before He Yixian. All those on the imperial way raised their heads to look at what was in Hu Xiang’s hands.
He Yixian swept his gaze over the assembled officials and announced: “Let the Court of State Ceremonial proclaim the edict.”
As the Court official was about to step forward, Qi Huaiyang suddenly broke ranks saying: “This edict must not be proclaimed!”
At these words, Hu Xiang’s hands trembled unconsciously. The Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate shouted: “Vice Minister Qi, these words could harm the foundation of the state.”
Qi Huaiyang replied: “Chief Inspector, I have my reasons.”
He stepped forward several paces, pointing at Hu Xiang, “This final edict is not in His Majesty’s hand – it is a forgery!”
Hearing these words, Hu Xiang’s legs weakened and his hands loosened. The edict fell to the ground, rolling quite far. He hurriedly scrambled after it on hands and knees to retrieve it.
He Yixian looked down at Hu Xiang once, then raised his head saying: “Report the Vice Minister’s words to the hall.”
“No need to rush. Even if you must request the inner court to punish my crime, you must hear me finish explaining.”
He finished speaking and took a document from his sleeve: “Request the Court of Transmission to read this memorial!”
The wind stirred up dust from the north, sweeping over the Golden Water Bridge, almost blinding people’s eyes.
In the hundred-some years of the Great Ming, Court of Transmission officials had proclaimed memorials before the gate hundreds of times, always with strong, clear voices. Never had they been like today, where the official’s legs were trembling by the middle of the reading.
The entire memorial was over a thousand characters, mostly quotations from Deng Ying’s confession after the citations.
Deng Ying admitted to forging the final edict when the previous emperor was gravely ill, privately using the imperial seal, as the emperor had died of his illness without establishing a final edict.
As the Court official reached the end, all beneath the Golden Terrace were silent, with only the harsh, grating sound of the wind tearing at official robes.
“I, Minister Yang Lun, request to bring Eastern Depot Director Eunuch Deng Ying forward for questioning before the throne.”
Yang Lun’s voice broke the silence. Several Cabinet ministers immediately supported this, followed by the Left and Right Censors-in-Chief and Court of Imperial Entertainments officials also joining the request. The chorus of requests rose to the heavens at once. Hu Xiang and others could barely stand, looking fearfully toward the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Soon, Empress Dowager’s command came from the Hall — permitting the Ministry of Justice to bring Eastern Depot Director Eunuch Deng Ying forward for questioning before the throne.
The order was quickly relayed to the Palace Gate. The Imperial Guard general received it and turned to command: “Bring the prisoner up to the hall.”
The guards on either side of Deng Ying immediately stepped forward to grab his arms. Deng Ying hadn’t moved at first, but after a few steps called out to the Imperial Guard ahead: “General.”
The Guard general waved for them to stop and turned around:
“Please speak.”
Deng Ying raised his hands in greeting to him, “May I walk by myself?”
“We must follow procedure. Please don’t make this difficult, Director.”
Hearing these words, Deng Ying said nothing more, lowering his hands and responding with a simple “Alright.”
From the Palace Gate to the Gate of Supreme Harmony required over a hundred steps.
He had once participated in building this imperial way. Before it became a symbol of feudal royal power, he had walked it thousands of times alongside countless craftsmen. Yet after its completion, he had never set foot on this path again.
Deng Ying had always wanted to walk freely alone on this imperial way, to leisurely raise his head and look at the hall he had overseen rebuilding, but he was naturally humble and unwilling to make excessive demands.
He was escorted up onto the Golden Water Bridge. The civil and military officials on both sides stepped back several paces, leaving a path in the middle for him.
Deng Ying slowly walked to the foot of the Golden Terrace dragging his chains. When the guards released him, he obediently knelt.
The officials were all very familiar with this Eastern Depot Director Eunuch. Thinking of the Tongjia tragedy, Bai Huan’s suffering in prison, and now his great crime of forging the late emperor’s final edict, hatred rose in their hearts. Constrained by being before the Golden Terrace, they dared not speak, though several censorial officials wielding brush and sword practically wanted to spit at him.