Chapter 8: A Heart-to-Heart with the Empress Dowager
“Cough... cough... You’ve misunderstood!”
Seeing Empress Zhou’s puzzled gaze and Zhang Yan’s subtly changed expression, Chongzhen hurriedly explained, “I truly have something I wish to discuss with my sister-in-law!”
“Fang Zhenghua, from now on, within ten zhang of this palace hall, I do not want anyone present. Anyone who dares approach without permission shall be dealt with without mercy!”
Fang Zhenghua nodded and waved his right hand; the eunuchs and palace maids inside the hall withdrew.
Once the hall was cleared of outsiders, Chongzhen asked, “Sister-in-law, how do you view the current political situation in the court?”
“Your Majesty, the harem must not interfere in state affairs; this was decreed by our great ancestor. I dare not speak presumptuously!” Zhang Yan suddenly knelt, her face paling.
“Feng’er, help my sister-in-law up!”
Chongzhen sighed in helplessness. “Sister-in-law, I sincerely want to hear your opinion. Just consider this a private conversation behind closed doors within our family. If common folk can talk freely, why can’t we?”
Seeing Zhang Yan still silent, Chongzhen changed the subject.
“Sister-in-law, do you think I am weak and incompetent for not seizing the chance last night to eliminate Wei Zhongxian and his cohorts?”
Before Zhang Yan could respond, Chongzhen continued, “I know Wei Zhongxian colluded with the Ke family to control the court, caused my nephew’s death, and even barred you from conceiving. You must harbor a desire to devour them alive and drink their blood.”
“But do you understand the situation in the Ming dynasty now? First, factional strife is escalating continuously. Wei Zhongxian’s eunuch faction and the Donglin faction led by Qian Yi have intensified their conflicts. There are also the Qi faction from Shandong, the Chu faction from Huguang, and the Xuan and Kun factions from Southern Zhili. Each pursues their own interests, trampling on the nation’s welfare.”
“Secondly, the common people suffer from crushing taxes, and the treasury is empty.”
“Thirdly, the army is plagued by ghost soldiers, with low combat effectiveness. Local troops show signs of warlordism...”
With every point Chongzhen made, the expressions of Zhang Yan and Zhou Yufeng grew grimmer.
“On the night I entered the palace over twenty days ago, you warned me not to eat the palace food. I survived the night on wheat cakes hidden in my sleeve.”
“If it weren’t for the Duke of England and others personally carrying the sedan chair at my enthronement in the Huangji Hall, I might not have been able to ascend the throne. You despise them, but I despise them even more.”
“Wei Zhongxian commands the Eastern Depot, is the chief eunuch in charge of the Directorate of Ceremonies, and the Jinyiwei have already pledged allegiance to him. Half of the six ministries and nine courts have sided with him. In such a situation, it’s not just about killing Wei Zhongxian; I might not even be able to issue decrees from the palace. If pushed too hard, rebellion could erupt.”
“You must have heard about my brother summoning me to the palace, and Wei Zhongxian conspiring with Tian Ergeng, the Jinyiwei commander, to stage a coup. There’s even a rumor about imitating the ‘Raccoon Changing the Prince’ scheme to enthrone the Crown Prince Zhu Youcong of Prince Fu.”
“Killing Wei Zhongxian now would be easy, but if his followers see their leader dead, having committed so many evils, would they not gamble everything to kill us or eliminate a large number of officials? We cannot afford to take such risks.”
The two women’s faces changed drastically; such a scenario was not impossible.
Empress Zhou couldn’t help but say, “Your Majesty, isn’t there also the Duke of England? He controls the capital garrison and supports you, so...”
“Feng’er, you are too naïve. The Duke of England is loyal to the imperial power itself, not any particular emperor. If not for my brother’s will, they could have easily supported Crown Prince Zhu Youcong of Prince Fu.”
“They hold the capital garrison and inherit noble titles passed down for eight generations. Whoever becomes the new ruler, they will always be the kingmaker.”
“Since the Wanli era, you could see they have been neutral and self-serving, avoiding factional strife. Otherwise, with the Duke of England’s intervention, would the eunuch faction and Donglin faction have fought so fiercely?”
Seeing the color drain from the two women’s faces, Chongzhen offered some consolation and continued his analysis.
“Every day I remain on the throne, imperial power strengthens. Now I need time. Even after I fully seize power, I will still not kill Wei Zhongxian.”
Seeing Zhang Yan about to speak, Chongzhen waved her off and continued, “For now, this is not a bad thing for me. Wei Zhongxian controls the power to issue red-edged warrants, which balances the Donglin faction’s power.”
“If I rashly kill Wei Zhongxian, a huge power vacuum will emerge, and the Donglin faction will seize the opportunity. Those Donglin folk are no better than the eunuchs.”
At this, a murderous gleam filled Chongzhen’s eyes.
The early Donglin faction did genuinely wish to serve the country, but now—well, to say all of them are bad would be an exaggeration.
Ninety percent are merely hypocritical scholars who shout slogans loudly but do nothing substantial. They are eager to seize power and wealth but propose no effective policies to save or govern the nation.
Empty talk ruins the country; practical efforts revive the nation. If the Donglin faction controls the government, it will severely damage society’s moral fabric.
Sensing Chongzhen’s fury, Empress Zhou came to his side and held his hand, calming him down.
Historical records show that Chongzhen took more than three months after ascension to use the Donglin faction’s power to crush Wei Zhongxian’s eunuch faction, demonstrating the strength of imperial power and the Donglin faction.
But now Chongzhen does not wish to do so; he wants to eliminate all involved in factional strife.
“Therefore, I must cautiously transition the core power while ensuring imperial authority and my safety. I will let Wei Zhongxian play the roles of ‘watchdog’ and ‘enforcer.’”
“There is a saying: better to err than to do nothing.”
“Though Wei Zhongxian’s eunuchs are incompetent, they excel at confiscations and enrichment.”
“Let them fight among themselves like dogs, while I profit as the fisherman.”
“Besides, last night I removed Tian Ergeng from the Jinyiwei commander position. Such a warning means some Jinyiwei remain loyal to the throne.”
“Though I cannot control all the Jinyiwei, at least palace security is assured.”
“Given the chaotic situation, I have no choice but to endure. So, sister-in-law, I hope you can understand my intentions.”
Throughout, he never mentioned the arrival of the White Banner troops or the new Jinyiwei commander—such information is best kept from as many people as possible to increase chances of success.
After this, Chongzhen fell silent, giving Zhang Yan time to digest, while inwardly lamenting Zhu Youjiao’s foolishness.
Before death, Zhu Youjiao entrusted him to treat the palace well and to employ Wei Zhongxian wisely.
The first point Chongzhen fulfilled by immediately conferring the title of Empress Yian upon Zhang Yan and housing her in Ciqing Palace.
The second point he failed. Zhu Youjiao, though obsessed with carpentry, was not foolish; he supported Wei Zhongxian to balance factional conflicts.
But Zhu Youjian, upon ascending, hastily removed Wei Zhongxian. Though this inspired hope, it disrupted the balance,
allowing the Donglin faction to seize power and thus leading to the nation’s decline.
To be frank, blaming the Ming’s fall solely on Wei Zhongxian is unfair. Although he committed many evils,
he kept the treasury full and never failed to pay military salaries in Liaodong.
Having military funds guaranteed the army’s fighting ability, preventing external enemies like the Later Jin from breaching the Guanning defenses.
Moreover, he came from common origins and understood the people’s hardships, promoting taxes on mining and handicrafts while lowering agricultural taxes.
Zhou Yufeng listened with eyes shining, gazing at Chongzhen with admiration.
After a long pause, Zhang Yan took a deep breath and steeled herself.
“Your Majesty, I understand. You need not worry about my feelings; do whatever you must. The fate of the nation is paramount.”
“As long as the glory of the Ming is restored, my personal grievances mean nothing.”
Hearing Zhang Yan’s response, Chongzhen breathed a sigh of relief.
When Zhu Youjiao was critically ill, Zhang Yan urged him to pass the throne to Zhu Youjian.
At that time, Zhu Youjiao mentioned two pregnant women in the harem; if they bore sons, they could be considered Zhang Yan’s children and inherit the throne.
But Zhang Yan disagreed and persistently advocated for Zhu Youjian’s succession.
Later, Wei Zhongxian and others sent envoys to Zhang Yan to deter Zhu Youjian’s ascension, but she firmly rejected them, saying: “Whether obey or not, death awaits. Then I shall disobey and meet the spirits of our ancestors.”
On the night Zhu Youjian ascended, Zhang Yan warned him not to eat palace food.
For several days after his enthronement, the food Zhu Youjian ate was prepared personally by Zhang Yan.
Moreover, the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother; Empress Zhou was personally chosen by Zhang Yan for him.
Without Zhang Yan, Zhu Youjian might not have ascended, or if he had, might not have survived.
Within the harem, only two truly cared for him: Empress Zhou Yufeng and this sister-in-law.
Therefore, he did not want Zhang Yan to be burdened by the eunuch faction’s affairs.
He came today to open her heart.
“Sister-in-law, I cannot kill Wei Zhongxian for now, but I can kill the Ke family. This will serve both to collect some interest and to intimidate Wei Zhongxian.”
“But rest assured, once the court stabilizes, I will surely execute Wei Zhongxian!”
Chongzhen’s eyes flickered with ruthless resolve.
Though it may seem unfair to use someone then dispose of them, Wei Zhongxian’s crimes are so grave that he deserves to be killed a hundred times over. Letting him live a few more days is already mercy.
“My imperial uncle... sob...”