Chapter 6: The First Clash with Wei Zhongxian

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Outside the East Warm Pavilion, Palace of Heavenly Purity.
Emperor Chongzhen stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing toward the direction of the Palace of Compassion and Celebration, his expression dark and grim.
A single eunuch had dared to lay his hands on the imperial harem—an act of sheer recklessness, as if courting death.
After the initial surge of anger, Chongzhen’s demeanor settled into a troubled calm, his mind swirling with doubt.
Historical records stated that Chen Derun had broken into the Palace of Compassion and Celebration only after the downfall of Wei Zhongxian. At that time, Chen had audaciously intruded while Empress Dowager Yi’an was bathing, attempting to force himself upon her.
Empress Yi’an had fiercely resisted, and when others discovered the intrusion, Chen’s plan was thwarted. Later, she had informed Emperor Chongzhen of the incident.
Desperate to stabilize his reign, Chongzhen dared not execute Chen Derun but instead banished him to guard the Xiao Mausoleum.
Yet how could such an event have occurred prematurely now? Was it the butterfly effect caused by his time crossing, or had this happened twice—was this the first time, which Empress Yi’an had kept secret from him?
In the chill of a September night in the capital, Chongzhen stood silently, four burly eunuchs alert and vigilant, their long knives glinting coldly in the lantern light.
A quarter of an hour later, Wang Tiqian and Wei Zhongxian arrived, kneeling low. Chongzhen ignored them without a word.
Another quarter hour passed before Tian Ergeng and Xu Xianchun appeared.
“Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Tian Ergeng, and Deputy Commander Xu Xianchun pay respects to Your Majesty!”
Chongzhen did not even glance at the two kneeling men nor utter a word.
The four were utterly bewildered; they had been sound asleep when summoned so urgently, rushing over without hesitation upon hearing the emperor’s call.
A further quarter hour later, Fang Zhenghua returned, accompanied by a man tightly bound and dressed in plain clothes.
“Your Majesty, Chen Derun has been captured!”
Upon hearing the name Chen Derun, Tian Ergeng and Xu Xianchun’s hearts leapt with alarm. They knew all too well the perverse appetites of this notorious eunuch.
Now that the emperor was enraged, it meant Chen had likely molested one of the palace ladies, and the emperor had found out.
But what did this have to do with them? The Embroidered Uniform Guard was responsible for palace security, true, but only the front court and outer perimeter—the inner harem’s security was not under their jurisdiction.
“Chen Derun, you have an audacity beyond measure!”
“Your Majesty, I merely entered the Palace of Compassion and Celebration by mistake. I beg Your Majesty’s mercy!”
“By mistake? Ha...”
Chongzhen laughed coldly through his anger. “Are you saying Empress Dowager Yi’an, my imperial sister-in-law, is falsely accusing you? Or are you deceiving me?”

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Wei Zhongxian knelt and whispered, “Your Majesty, perhaps there is more to this...”
“Silence! Did I ask for your opinion?”
Chongzhen snapped angrily, cutting him off. “Fang Zhenghua, drag this scoundrel away and subject him to severe torture until every crime is confessed. I authorize you to use all means necessary.”
Fang Zhenghua seized Chen Derun and strode out. Moments later, Chen’s agonized screams echoed, causing everyone present to shudder.
Chen, pampered and soft-skinned, could not withstand such torment, and after only a few blows, he spilled everything like a broken vessel.
In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Fang Zhenghua returned with a thick stack of papers.
Chongzhen took them and his repressed fury flared anew.
This villain had married nine concubines. Worse still, dozens of palace maids had become his cohorts in corruption, and he had amassed a fortune of hundreds of thousands of taels through abuse of power.
“Guards, bind this scoundrel tightly. I will have use for him tomorrow. Should he die tonight, I will exterminate your entire clans!”
“Wang Cheng’en, immediately lead a raid on his household. All male relatives are to be executed, female relatives exiled, and all confiscated property transferred to the imperial treasury. The palace maids who colluded with him must also be banished.”
Having spoken, Chongzhen turned his cold gaze to Tian Ergeng and Xu Xianchun, still kneeling. “Warm and cozy in your beds, were you?”
He then stepped forward and kicked Xu Xianchun to the ground. “The former emperor and empress, my imperial sister-in-law’s chambers were breached, and what were you Embroidered Uniform Guards doing?”
“What if one day someone breaks into my chambers and kills me—will you come then?”
“Your Majesty, we Embroidered Uniform Guards only...”
“You mean to say you’re only responsible for the outer security, and the inner harem is not your concern?”
Chongzhen sneered. “Tell me, at what hour do the Jingyun and Longzong gates lock each afternoon?”
Tian Ergeng and Xu Xianchun’s faces instantly flushed with sweat.
Chen Derun was not palace personnel; the Jingyun and Longzong gates were locked. So how had Chen gained entry?
“Your Majesty, I beg for your mercy... my death is deserved.”
“Your Majesty, I failed to manage my subordinates properly. I will investigate immediately!”
The two knelt in earnest apology.
Having vented his anger, Chongzhen looked at Wang Cheng’en. “Wang Cheng’en, according to the Ming Code, what is the penalty for their dereliction?”
“Your Majesty, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is the emperor’s personal army; you alone decide appointments and punishments. For this grave failure, death is warranted.”
“Death?”
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Chongzhen repeated softly. Fang Zhenghua instantly drew his long blade and glared at Tian Ergeng and Xu Xianchun. The two trembled violently, bowing their heads repeatedly, begging for mercy.
“Guards, take them out and behead them!”
As he spoke, his eyes flicked to Wei Zhongxian, who knelt nearby. Since these two had aligned with Wei Zhongxian, the emperor was curious if Wei would plead on their behalf.
Sure enough, no sooner had Chongzhen finished than Wei Zhongxian raised his head. “Your Majesty, may I speak a few words?”
“Speak.”
“Your Majesty, within the imperial palace there are twenty-four government offices. As of yesterday, there were 14,835 eunuchs and 3,216 palace maids. The Embroidered Uniform Guards assigned to the Jingyun and Longzong gates cannot possibly know every individual; such lapses are understandable.
Furthermore, Chen Derun entered before the gates were locked and did not leave; the guards on duty failed in their vigilance. Lords Tian and Xu failed to manage their men properly. To execute them for this would throw the Embroidered Uniform Guard into turmoil and risk unrest.
The primary responsibility lies with the Inner Palace Guards who patrol the harem. They are the last line of defense, yet failed to detect the threat—demonstrating their lax discipline.
Therefore, I implore Your Majesty to spare the lives of these two lords.”
Chongzhen listened, inwardly sneering. The harem had its own operational system; it was inconceivable that mere numbers caused such negligence.
Moreover, their failure in outer security was being shifted onto the inner guards—a blatant evasion of responsibility.
And that veiled threat about potential unrest was nothing less than brazen intimidation.
This revealed Wei Zhongxian’s unwillingness to accept the verdict.
Was he loyal? Certainly—but his loyalty was to the Tianqi Emperor, not to Chongzhen.
A new emperor, a new court—this principle Wei Zhongxian understood well.
He spoke so much because Tian Ergeng and Xu Xianchun were two of his five trusted men; losing them meant losing control over much of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Being emperor under such circumstances was deeply frustrating; the palace held few trustworthy souls. The mysterious deaths of his father and brother were harsh lessons.
Chongzhen feigned silence for a moment. “All Embroidered Uniform Guards on duty outside the Jingyun and Longzong gates today are hereby dismissed and investigated. They shall never be rehired and will be assigned twenty strokes of the military cane.”
“Tian Ergeng, Xu Xianchun, your negligence merits execution of your entire clans. Yet, considering your loyalty and Wei Zhongxian’s intercession, I will spare your lives—for now.”
“But...”
“Death may be avoided, but you cannot escape living punishment!”