By the end of the eighth month, the dust storms gradually subsided.
On the day of the Cabinet meeting, officials from the Six Bureaus gathered in the Cabinet’s court chamber. Bai Huan, the First Minister of the Cabinet who had recently recovered from a serious illness, was also present.
Since Bai Huan’s imprisonment in the Eastern Depot, the Six Bureaus officials hadn’t seen him for a long time. Seeing him today, they came forward one after another to pay their respects.
“Has the Minister’s health improved?”
Bai Huan smiled, supporting himself against the table, “I can still struggle on for a few more years.”
A supervising secretary from the Revenue Bureau said, “We originally thought His Majesty would surely execute that person to avenge the Minister, but who knew this recent dust storm would collapse Cloud Cliff Hall and spare his life.”
Bai Huan waved his hand, “We won’t discuss that matter today.”
Hearing this, the man quickly said, “Indeed, Minister has recovered well, we shouldn’t mention that person anymore.”
Yang Lun helped Bai Huan sit down, then straightened up and walked to the front of the table, raising his voice to address everyone, “Today isn’t the regular meeting day. We’ve troubled all officials to come because we wanted to hear your opinions before submitting a memorial to the throne.”
An official from the Rites Bureau said, “We heard a few days ago that the Cabinet was coordinating with the Ministry of Rites to propose establishing a Crown Prince. We’ve been waiting for news from the Ministry, but haven’t heard anything definite. Director Yang, are you bringing this up today because His Majesty’s illness has worsened?”
Yang Lun replied, “This concerns state affairs, not just His Majesty’s illness, though His Majesty’s recent throat condition has indeed worsened, developing into moth-throat disease.”
“Moth disease?”
The officials below began discussing among themselves.
“Oh my, I remember, the Late Emperor’s Worthy Consort passed away from this disease last year.”
“Yes, at first it seemed like just a cold, but somehow later her throat became blocked, obstructing her airway. She passed away within half a month.”
Bai Huan coughed once and said evenly, “We’ve invited you all here not to discuss this illness, but to unite our efforts in proposing the establishment of a Crown Prince.”
The Rites Bureau official who spoke earlier said, “Then there’s nothing else to say. His Majesty has only two sons and one daughter. The second prince is young and weak, and still cannot speak – how could he be positioned in the Eastern Palace? Only the eldest prince is worthy of selection.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd below immediately agreed.
Only Cabinet Minister Chen Tang Xian Ji said, “Minister Bai, have you explored the Directorate of Ceremonial’s thoughts on this?”
Bai Huan replied, “This matter cannot be explored, we can only discuss it with them.”
Tang Xian Ji said, “The second prince has always been raised by the Empress’s side, with people from the Directorate of Ceremonial attending to his daily needs, while the eldest prince was raised by his aunt Yang Wan. Though this woman was previously deeply connected with Deng Ying, after Deng Ying’s conviction, the eldest prince lost all support in the inner court. Although the Cabinet can propose establishing a Crown Prince since this involves the inner court if the Directorate of Ceremonial and Eastern Depot don’t express their intentions, submitting this memorial would be very risky.”
Bai Huan nodded in agreement, “Minister Tang speaks truly, but we must take a position to negotiate with the inner court’s Directorate of Ceremonial. Although Deng Ying has been convicted, the Eastern Depot has temporarily been placed under the Directorate of Ceremonial’s control as a result. This brings no benefit to the eldest prince.”
The Rites Bureau official asked, “May I ask the Minister, what do you mean by this? Deng Ying tortured you so severely in the Eastern Depot, surely you don’t want him to be reinstated? Where would the law be in that?”
Bai Huan remained silent, but Yang Lun raised his voice, “Why are you so agitated? Don’t speak lightly of ‘the law.’ Deng Ying was sentenced to eighty strokes and exiled to Nanjing as a slave. The sentence will be carried out once Cloud Cliff Hall is rebuilt. How is that not upholding the law?”
“Director Yang, isn’t His Majesty’s intention clear enough? Historically, general pardons never pardoned corruption. His Majesty changed the death sentence to beating and exile and ordered him to rebuild Cloud Cliff Hall. Once the hall is complete, won’t additional mercy be granted? I expect by then, he won’t just avoid the beating and exile, but might even return to the Directorate of Ceremonial.”
“Would his return to the Directorate of Ceremonial be so bad?”
Bai Huan suddenly interrupted the man’s words.
Everyone in the room fell silent and looked at Bai Huan.
Bai Huan lifted his tea for a sip, then looked up earnestly, “I know you hate this person, and his crimes indeed deserve punishment, but as officials, we cannot hang ourselves on the term ‘pure stream,’ holding principles so rigidly that we dead-end ourselves. A circular official must be brave enough to reform and create new situations. I am already an old man, but you are still young. You must not put personal reputation before state affairs.”
After these words, several young officials from the Six Bureaus were moved, “Minister can for…”
Bai Huan raised his hand to signal them to stay quiet momentarily, slightly composed his tone, and continued, “I say this not to have you see me as someone who forgets personal grudges for public duty, I merely hope that as officials, you can see further ahead.”
He sighed and said, “Although it’s not the regular meeting day, since we’re all here, if the Six Bureaus have anything to discuss, let’s continue. I still have enough energy today.”
After two rounds of tea in the court chamber, the Six Bureaus officials finally took their leave one after another.
The Cabinet Ministers like Tang Xian Ji also departed through the meeting gate.
Yang Lun supported Bai Huan as he stood up, “Let me escort you home, teacher.”
Bai Huan looked at the sky outside and asked, “Have you seen Fu Ling since his release these past few days?”
Yang Lun shook his head, “On the day he left the imperial prison, I wanted to see him, but my sister…”
He hesitated to speak directly in front of Bai Huan, then continued, “My sister wouldn’t allow…”
Bai Huan stood up, “Is he still living in that duty room by the moat?”
“Yes, he hasn’t moved since entering the palace.”
“Oh.”
Bai Huan responded and waved at Yang Lun, “You go home first, I’ll walk over to see him.”
Yang Lun quickly took a step forward, “Let me accompany you there.”
Bai Huan smiled and nodded, “That would be good.”
The two walked toward the moat, late autumn leaves rolling past their feet, everything desolate and cold.
But Deng Ying’s room was quite lively. Today two young eunuchs had come to see him, helping Li Yu brew medicine outside while teaching him to read. Li Yu looked up and saw Yang Lun and Bai Huan, startled greatly. As a guard at the palace gate, he recognized these two Cabinet Ministers’ faces but never expected them to come here personally. After a moment’s stupor, he hurriedly stood up from beside the medicine stove and awkwardly bowed.
Yang Lun asked him, “Is Deng Ying inside?”
“Yes… but, but, but… let this servant go in first to tell him, let him put on… proper clothes and get up. Yang Wan hasn’t let him leave bed, he’s sitting… sitting in bed.”
He spoke incoherently, making Bai Huan laugh, “No matter, we’re just going in to see him.”
Then he gestured for Yang Lun to go forward and open the door.