By the end of April, Yang Lun headed south to Jianghuai to oversee the land survey affairs.
Xu Qi from the Ministry of Works accompanied him, having received imperial orders to inspect the breach in the upper reaches of Yunmeng Lake.
When the imperial decree reached the Ministry of Works, both the Grand Secretariat and the Ministry of Revenue breathed a collective sigh of relief.
The Ministry of Revenue finally distributed last year’s winter allowance and annual salary to the department officials.
Though summer was approaching, the minor officials in the capital who relied on these salaries to make ends meet still gathered eagerly at the Ministry of Revenue’s gates, anxiously awaiting payment.
The area before the ministry gates became as lively as New Year’s celebrations. While waiting, several Supervising Secretaries from the Bureau of Ceremonies with little actual duties gathered to discuss matters.
One, sitting on a bench by the gate and drinking from a tea bowl, remarked: “At the start of the year, they said payments would be delayed until next New Year. How did the funds suddenly become available?”
A official from the Bureau of Works responded: “Last month during the imperial court discussion, Minister Xu of the Works Ministry presented a proposal for repairing the Jing River breach that was one-third less than the previous estimate. This left the Revenue Ministry with surplus funds, leading to today’s payments.”
An elderly senior official added: “This year we’re seeing real silver… far more dignified than previous years’ mixed payments of pepper, salt, and rice.”
The official on the bench set down his tea bowl and sighed, “Indeed. Last year during New Year’s, my sick wife even cut back on medicine, saying she wanted to save money to make a cotton quilt for my mother once we received our back pay. Alas… while my mother made it through winter, my wife passed away at the beginning of the year. Now that I have this money…”
His voice trailed off into silence.
No one present offered words of comfort.
This was, after all, a deep-rooted problem throughout the Great Ming. The heavy taxation and increasingly severe land consolidation were at odds with each other. Without land holdings, even an official of rank who maintained “two sleeves of pure wind” (untainted by corruption) would have family members dying of hunger and cold.
His words, spoken in the gentle breeze of late spring, stripped away the smiles that had only just appeared on people’s faces.
On this day when the Ministry of Revenue distributed salaries, it happened to be Princess Imperial Fuqing’s birthday. The Bell and Drum Department was performing palace opera in the Banana Garden.
Princess Fuqing was Emperor Zhengning’s sister. In the first year, she had been sought in marriage by the Jing Principality and was wed to the Jing Prince’s eldest son. Though the Prince of Jing had returned to his ancestral home to recuperate, the Princess and her consort continued residing in the capital.
The Empress Dowager deeply loved her youngest daughter and personally hosted her birthday celebration in the palace. To please the Empress Dowager, the Emperor brought the Empress and various consorts to watch the opera. Usually, at such times, several prominent eunuchs from the Department of Palace Attendance would serve at their side, but today only Zheng Yuejia attended the imperial presence.
The Emperor watched the opera for a while and, noticing Princess Fuqing’s listless demeanor, casually asked: “What’s wrong, Fuqing?”
Princess Fuqing sat in a daze listening to the opera, not responding.
The Empress Dowager patted the back of her hand. “Fuqing?”
Princess Fuqing finally came to her senses. Seeing both the Emperor and Empress Dowager looking at her, she hurriedly rose and replied: “Fuqing has been discourteous.”
The Emperor waved his hand, “I see you’re distracted. If something’s troubling you, you may speak freely to me.”
“Yes.”
Princess Fuqing straightened up. “In response to Imperial Brother’s question, the Prince is gravely ill in the south, beyond the help of medicine. My consort and I are deeply worried. Just now, hearing the opera’s lyrics reminded me of the Prince, and I became lost in thought. I’ve shown great discourtesy, please forgive me, Imperial Brother…”
The Empress Dowager asked: “Wasn’t there a report at the end of last year saying his condition was improving?”
Upon hearing the Empress Dowager’s words, Princess Fuqing simply steeled herself and knelt before the Emperor.
The Empress Dowager hurriedly called for the opera to stop and leaned forward to ask: “What are you doing? Quickly rise.”
Princess Fuqing bowed low and said: “Mother Empress, your daughter is but a foolish woman, well aware that matters of state policy cannot be carelessly discussed. But the Prince is truly advanced in years and cannot withstand the repeated questioning from land survey officials. My consort worries day and night about this, and Fuqing’s heart aches as well. Please, Mother Empress and Imperial Brother, show mercy.”
The Empress Dowager saw her speaking so sorrowfully, but as this involved major policy from the beginning of the year, she refrained from speaking rashly.
Emperor Zhengning gestured for Zheng Yuejia to help Princess Fuqing up, spoke quietly to Zheng Yuejia for a moment, and then calmly told Princess Fuqing: “I will have the Grand Secretariat investigate and submit a memorial. Today is your birthday, Mother Empress and I are happy, so let’s not speak more of this matter.”
Consort Ning, seated below the Empress, listened to this exchange and gradually grew uneasy.
She made an excuse to leave the Banana Garden and walked toward Chengqian Palace. On the palace path in front of Xian’an Palace, she encountered Yang Wan.
Yang Wan was returning to report to the Department of Imperial Ceremonies. Seeing Consort Ning’s entourage approach, she initially planned to avoid delay and stepped aside with others to bow, but Consort Ning called out: “Wan’er, Sister has something to tell you.”
Yang Wan then stepped forward and said: “The opera at the Banana Garden hasn’t finished yet. Why has Your Highness left?”
Consort Ning gestured for her attendants to step back and said to Yang Wan: “Wan’er, your brother has been in the south for so long, why hasn’t there been any news?”
Hearing this question, Yang Wan recalled her brother’s parting words: “No matter my situation in the south, do not let Consort Ning know.” Seeing Consort Ning’s worried expression, she forced a smile and replied: “No news means all is well. Your Highness need not worry.”
Consort Ning shook her head, “But today I heard Princess Fuqing say the Prince of Jing is gravely ill due to the southern land surveys.”
Yang Wan hesitated to speak.
The Prince of Jing’s title had been bestowed by the late emperor, and his family had deep roots in the south.
The primary purpose of Yang Lun’s land survey policy was to uncover all the hidden fields these aristocratic landowners were concealing from taxation. However, these great families either had royal connections like the Prince of Jing or were backed by high officials in the capital. Yang Lun’s political situation in the south was predictably difficult.
“Perhaps things will improve once Princess Fuqing leaves the palace.”
Yang Wan offered these unconvincing words of comfort, then added: “Your Highness, you absolutely must not mention my brother’s matters to His Majesty.”
“Sister understands.”
Consort Ning clutched her wrist. “But Sister’s heart is unsettled, and I don’t know what to do.”
“Your Highness should do nothing. These days you must take special care of the Prince, and most importantly, have no contact whatsoever with Yanxi Palace.”
“Yanxi Palace?”
“Yes, Yanxi Palace’s influence has grown too strong lately. We should keep our distance.”
Consort Ning nodded: “You needn’t tell me, Sister understands. Oh…”
She realized she had only thought to question Yang Wan, forgetting she was still on duty today. She quickly pressed her forehead, “Have I detained you?”
“Not at all. My duties ended early today, I just need to return to stamp some documents.”