xymnovel Chapter 51 Do not do evil even if it is insignificant
Chapter 51 Do not do evil even if it is insignificant
The land of eternal glory, Jinling, the imperial capital. The lingering excitement of the various activities held a few days ago to commemorate Liu Yanzhen, the military governor of Desheng Army, for his great victory over the rebel army has not yet faded.
After enjoying the festivities for a while, the common people of Jinling went about their business as usual. Only the officials in the imperial court were still racking their brains to analyze this "great victory," hoping to gain or protect their own share of the benefits.
War clouds loomed in the north, and the Zhou emperor was approaching the Huai River. Surprisingly, the sounds of string and wind instruments emanated from the Jinling imperial palace. Emperor Yu, Li Jing, was hosting a family banquet, where dozens of beautiful courtesans danced gracefully in the hall.
Emperor Li Jing and Empress Zhong sat in the main seats, with princes and princesses and their families seated on either side below.
The Second Prince, Li Jia, was whispering to his Third Brother. He had just married this year, and his wife, known as the most beautiful woman in Jinling, was sitting beside him. Unfortunately, Li Jia was too playful to enjoy his beautiful wife and was instead whispering to his Third Brother, who was eagerly watching the other women.
The princesses were arranged in order of seniority, and those who were to be married were also present. Their husbands sat beside them. Whether sisters or brothers-in-law, in this joyous occasion, they were all reserved and courteous yet tender and affectionate, determined to make the Emperor and Empress Zhong believe they were all good children.
Compared to the gentle and virtuous princesses who had married, the unmarried princesses and young princes were much more lively.
Watching the princes below, loving each other (the second and third princes whispering in each other's ears, laughing in a lewd way), the princesses and their husbands playing music in harmony, the sisters and brothers-in-law having close relationships, and the young princes and princesses being lively and adorable.
Emperor Li Jing felt genuinely gratified; this was truly a prosperous and thriving family. The Emperor's joy naturally brought Empress Zhong happiness as well. However, seeing the Second Prince Li Jia and the Third Prince behaving so disrespectfully, Empress Zhong summoned a female official beside her and spoke a few words. The official, receiving the order, descended the steps to remind the two princes.
Li Jing said to Empress Zhong, "My lady, Erlang and Sanlang are just a bit naughty; they've always been like that. Today is an auspicious day, so please don't punish them anymore."
Compared to Li Jing's extravagant lifestyle, Empress Zhong was a serious and frugal person. Especially considering the Li family's humble origins and Empress Zhong's own modest background, after ascending the throne, she deeply feared that her humble origins would prevent her from fulfilling her duties. Therefore, she held herself and the princes and princesses to high standards in everything she did. In the palace, the princes and princesses might not have feared Li Jing, but they certainly feared Empress Zhong.
She said to Li Jing, "The late lord said, 'Do not do evil because it is insignificant, nor neglect good because it is insignificant.' Today, the family banquet is complete, and all the children are here, except for the eldest son. It is not easy for the eldest son to lead troops in the field; he should be a role model for his younger brothers. I do not expect the second and third sons to be able to shoulder great responsibilities overnight. But for the second and third sons to be so impatient at a mere banquet, how can they not be taught a lesson?"
Li Jing had many flaws, but he held his simple and serious first wife in high esteem. Empress Zhong was in charge of all matters in the palace, and Li Jing would consult with her when he encountered difficulties outside the palace. In Li Jing's view, the Kingdom of Yu was essentially a business he and Empress Zhong ran together.
It wasn't surprising that Empress Zhong wanted to discipline the Second and Third Princes; she couldn't stand children's lack of manners. However, the sudden emphasis on the First Prince's absence was obvious to Li Jing—Empress Zhong was subtly targeting him.
Of all his sons, only the eldest, Shangwu, is currently leading troops alone to deal with the harassment from the Wu and Yue regions. Moreover, the results have been quite good. When the Wu and Yue armies launched an offensive in coordination with the Zhou army, the eldest prince, leading 30,000 troops, held the position very firmly, truly a pillar of the southeast. According to Empress Zhong, the eldest prince has military achievements, prestige in the army, and has several of his own loyal followers; therefore, the business of the Yu Kingdom should be left to the eldest son for inheritance.
However, Li Jing always hesitated between his eldest and second sons. His eldest son was stubborn and headstrong, sometimes even daring to contradict his father. He only acted like a well-behaved child in front of Empress Zhong.
Li Jing wasn't jealous of his wife. He was worried that his eldest son's bad temper would cause trouble. The State of Yu was now vast, with hundreds of thousands of armored soldiers, and its internal power structures were deeply entrenched. What was needed was a capable successor who could skillfully manage both internal and external affairs. At the very least, he needed a successor with a good mindset. But his eldest son seemed to lack mental fortitude and didn't know how to compromise.
Compared to his eldest son, the second son, Li Jia, lacked martial prowess. However, he was exceptionally talented in literature and, at a young age, had already become close friends with the powerful figures of Jiangnan. Even though he was not close to the martial arts families from Jiangbei, he had never been disrespectful to them.
Therefore, Li Jing was worried that his eldest son would not be able to unite the domestic forces, and that his second son would only know how to cultivate relationships and would not be able to shoulder the heavy responsibility of the chaotic times. As a result, the selection of the crown prince was delayed until today.
Li Jing smiled wryly, "My wife, I'm in a dilemma too. Our family isn't what it used to be. Our eldest son is suited to be a general, but as for the emperor, I'm worried."
Empress Zhong said, "These are chaotic times. Although the eldest son is not as good as your father-in-law or you, he is still a man who can inspire soldiers. As long as we teach him well, he will not be ungrateful. Although the second son is good at literature and has a good relationship with civil officials, he is weak-willed. Such a temperament cannot control the soldiers below. I'm afraid that if you continue to hesitate, the brothers will quarrel."
Li Jing quickly said, "My wife is right. I'll think about it some more. With us here, the eldest and second eldest won't fall out. Once this war is over, I'll definitely decide who to make emperor next year."
Under the cover of soft music and gentle singing, no one knew that the couple was discussing the important issue of who would succeed the ruler of the Yu Kingdom.
Startled by the reminder from the lady-in-waiting beside their mother, the second and third princes quickly left their seats and knelt down in the hall. The second prince's wife also hurriedly stepped forward and knelt down to beg for forgiveness.
The prince knelt down, and everyone felt it was inappropriate to continue watching the performance. The musicians and singers quickly withdrew to avoid witnessing anything inappropriate.
Of the princes, the eldest and second princes were Empress Zhong's biological sons. That's why Empress Zhong was so calm when she talked to the emperor about the heir.
Looking at her second and third brothers kneeling on the ground, Empress Zhong asked, "What interesting thing did you see just now that made you brothers so rude?"
Empress Zhong's expression hardened, and none of the other princes, princesses, or even their husbands dared to utter a sound. Even the pregnant Princess Xingguo, Li Lizhi, dared not say anything. Of course, she didn't want to speak; after all, the Second Prince was born to the Empress, and she couldn't possibly torment him.
The second prince was clearly not as open-minded as the sixth princess. He trembled with fright and stammered, "Mother, please calm down. I was just thinking about some amusing things from the streets."
The Third Prince quickly agreed, "Yes, yes, Second Brother said some gossip. I found it interesting, and I admit my mistake."
Li Jing could tell at a glance that his two sons hadn't been discussing anything serious, but with so many children and sons-in-law present, punishing the two scoundrels in front of so many people would be undignified.
He quickly said, "It's not easy for your mother to prepare a banquet. It's not easy for the whole family to get together either. Your eldest brother is still fighting on the front lines. I only invited you to dinner, and you've already been so rude. It's clear that I've been too lenient with you. Guards, drag him out and beat him severely."
The Second Prince's wife, Lady Qiao, was startled and quickly pleaded for mercy:
"Your Majesty and Mother, my husband and Third Uncle behaved improperly before the Emperor, and I am willing to share their punishment. However, today's banquet is a family feast to celebrate the victory at the front, firstly to demonstrate the harmony of the royal family, and secondly to celebrate the Emperor's victory with the soldiers at the front. My husband was overjoyed at home and specially wrote a congratulatory poem, just waiting to present it to Your Majesty and Mother today to make you smile. I beg Your Majesty and Mother to allow my husband to read the poem before any punishment is given."
Li Jing knew what the Second Prince's wife was planning, and Empress Zhong understood as well. Li Jing didn't really want to punish her; he was just pretending to be angry because he was afraid the Empress would insist on playing the strict mother.
Empress Zhong's shrewdness far surpassed that of her daughter-in-law, Lady Qiao. After all, she had personally chosen this daughter-in-law, and Li Jia was her own son. With so many people present, Empress Zhong was inclined to let the matter rest, so she said to Li Jia, "Second son, is that so?"
Of course not! What poetry is there? Li Jia knew his wife was trying to get him an opportunity. But he wasn't Cao Zhi, who could at least take seven steps, and his mother seemed to want it immediately. After thinking for a moment, Li Jia could only find one of his old works, make some temporary revisions, and recite it.
With a poem to submit, Empress Zhong slowly nodded. Li Jing quickly said, "Consider yourself successful today. Remember your place, and never be impolite under any circumstances."
Everyone present stood up, but Empress Zhong said, "Sixth daughter, don't move. You're pregnant, so just eat and drink in peace. You all sit down too. Second son, third son, I won't punish you at the banquet today. When you get back, copy the Classic of Filial Piety ten times and bring it to me."
Li Jia and his third brother reluctantly agreed. They had already graduated from school, but they still had to do homework—ten times over! When would they ever finish copying it? Oh well, they resigned themselves to their fate. Their mother was not easily fooled.
Li Lizhi first slowly sat down, and after she was settled, she expressed her gratitude, saying, "Your child thanks Your Majesty for your care."
Empress Zhong ignored her two mischievous sons and instead kindly inquired about Li Lizhi's pregnancy symptoms, giving her instructions on precautions. Even though Li Lizhi was an orphan, Empress Zhong fulfilled her maternal responsibilities, and Li Lizhi held her stepmother in high esteem.
After Empress Zhong finished speaking, the musicians and dancers who had just left returned to the palace and resumed their music and dance. Since the front lines had reported a great victory, and the court had accepted the report and believed that the Northern Army had retreated south of the Huai River, this was a significant development.
Li Jing had to put on an act of enjoying peace and tranquility to stabilize the hearts of the people in Jinling. This was a family banquet, but also a political performance. Otherwise, given the Empress's frugal nature, she would never have personally organized the singing, dancing, and drinking festivities; at most, she would have simply invited the children to her palace for a casual meal.
Just as the music and dance resumed, a eunuch hurried in, carrying an urgent report he had just received. He lowered his head and quietly walked to the steps beside the throne, whispering something to the Chief Eunuch of the Inner Palace who approached him. The Chief Eunuch was the number one eunuch, a trusted confidant who served the emperor closely. He accepted the urgent report without delay and quietly went up the steps to hand it to Li Jing.
Li Jing and the Empress both curiously opened the report. It would have been better if they hadn't opened it; once opened, the pages were filled with sorrow and resolute determination: "...30,000 troops, scattered in a single day; a hundred miles of naval power, all fallen into enemy hands. The Northern army crossed the river, beyond any control; the thousand miles of Huainan were reduced to scorched earth. Your Majesty, I am guilty beyond redemption, yet the nation in peril cannot be without loyal ministers who would die for their country. I, Ren Zhan, have received the grace of two emperors and dare not fail to repay it with my life. I humbly beseech Your Majesty to select capable generals, devise sound strategies, reinforce Huainan, defend Luzhou, and then attempt another advance. I swear to defend Shouzhou to the death, delaying the main force of the Northern army to atone for my past sins. Your Majesty, I, Liu Ren Zhan, bow and kowtow."
General Liu Renzhan's hastily drafted last testament clearly described everything that had happened at the front. Even more tragically, the old general explicitly reported that the Desheng Army had been completely annihilated, and the Qinghuai Army was about to be, or rather, already surrounded by Zhou's army by the time the report was received. The passage for Zhou's army into the heart of Huaixi had been opened!
As Li Jing watched, he began to tremble all over. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but just as Empress Zhong noticed that something was wrong with Li Jing and was about to pull him back, Li Jing promptly fainted.
The emperor fainted, and the hall erupted in chaos. The princesses cried out in alarm, and the princes, initially stunned, rushed forward to save their father.
Even Li Lizhi was so frightened that she instinctively tried to stand up, but was hindered by her pregnancy and heavy body. Just as she was about to ask her husband, Chen Qianxu, for help, Chen Qianxu himself was so frightened by the emperor's fainting that his mind went blank and he didn't even notice his wife's predicament.
Empress Zhong was also quite frightened, but she reacted instantly and stood up, shouting, "What's the panic? Sit down, all of you! Someone, summon the imperial physician! You must keep today's events to yourselves and not let anyone know. Alright, we've had the family banquet and watched the singing and dancing. Second son, you're to write a fine poem today praising the harmony and beauty of today's royal banquet. I want this poem to be circulated throughout the streets and alleys of Jinling tomorrow, understand? Second son's wife, you must keep an eye on him and not always indulge him."
The Second Prince, Li Jia, immediately bowed and said, "Mother's words are right. Your son obeys and will think about it right away."
What could the Second Prince's wife, Lady Qiao, say? She was no match for Empress Zhong. Even Empress Zhong hadn't managed to raise the Second Prince properly; she truly couldn't control him. Lady Qiao bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will obey. I will certainly urge my husband to study diligently and cultivate his character when we return."
Empress Zhong nodded and said to the others, "Alright, disperse. Someone, watch over Sixth Miss; she's heavily pregnant. Escort her back to her residence safely." As she spoke, Empress Zhong glared fiercely at the Imperial Son-in-Law, Chen Qianxu. Clearly, she had witnessed Chen Qianxu's dazed and out-of-control behavior earlier.
Princess Li Lizhi and Chen Qianxu expressed their gratitude, but because they bowed their heads in thanks, they did not see Empress Zhong's sharp gaze.
The Empress, who ruled the six palaces and was everyone's mother, gave her word, and everyone took their leave. Once the hall was empty, just as the imperial physician entered, Empress Zhong turned to look at her husband with a surprised expression.
Unexpectedly, her husband woke up on his own at this moment.
Li Jing stared blankly at the palace's ceiling decorations. Slowly, he finally remembered what had happened. He watched his wife give orders to their children to stabilize the situation, and watched them leave the palace. Only when his wife turned to look at him did he finally utter a single sentence: "Summon Dalang back to the capital and appoint him as Crown Prince. My wife, you were right. I was confused."
Empress Zhong was saddened by these words, and tears welled up in her eyes. Wiping away her tears, she said, "Imperial Physician, come and examine His Majesty. Is there anything amiss?"
Looking at his wife, Li Jing recalled the day they first met. He had changed his surname to follow his father and become an adopted son and grandson of the Xu family. With the help of the Xu family, he obtained a minor job and also married a wife from a family of lowly officials.
Back then, neither he nor his wife had any money, but life was bittersweet. The young couple would share meals, even a single bowl of water, taking turns sip by sip. Although life was hard and his work was demanding, his wife never caused him any worry about household chores. On the contrary, all his clothes, inside and out, were sewn by his wife.
One day, he discovered that his wife was eating coarse food, just to save up fine grains to make him lunch to take to the government office so as not to embarrass him. He held his wife and wept bitterly, vowing to give her the best life in the world and never let her suffer. He promised that if she ever disobeyed him, he would suffer the pain of being pierced by a thousand arrows.
Now that his wife is old and no longer young, he himself is also getting old, and there are many young concubines around him. Looking back, from beginning to end, the only one who could protect him, cherish him, and support him was his wife.
After examining the emperor and empress, several imperial physicians whispered, "Your Majesty's health is not seriously affected; it's just that you were suddenly startled and your spirit is unsettled. You only need to rest peacefully and recuperate with a vegetarian diet for over a month. It is crucial to avoid emotional outbursts; neither excessive joy nor sorrow is advisable. With proper care, you will be fully recovered in a month."
The emperor and empress were relieved and dismissed the imperial physicians and servants. Tears still lingered in the empress's eyes, and the emperor himself wept.
The couple wept silently, but for different reasons. One was worried about the emperor's health; his fainting spell today was unprecedented and served as a stark warning to Empress Zhong.
Although Li Jing had many flaws, he was always genuinely devoted to her. Even when she had a bad temper and offended him many times, Li Jing would just laugh it off and still call her "my lady" with a playful smile. Empress Zhong couldn't imagine how she would live if Li Jing were gone.
Li Jing was consumed by regret, regretting not heeding his wife's many sound suggestions over the years, and regretting appointing the incompetent Liu Yanzhen. Why couldn't he have known when to quit while he was ahead and stationed himself at Bagong Mountain? The news of the crushing defeat couldn't be concealed; he had become a laughingstock, and who knew how he would recover from the ensuing chaos.
Even more frightening was what lay ahead—what would happen to the Desheng Army? The Desheng Army's capital was Luzhou, a strategically vital location. If Luzhou fell, the Zhou army could train its navy and sail down the Yangtze River. Would Jiangbei still exist then? Would Nanjing still be safe? How long could the Yu Kingdom's rule be preserved?
Li Jing immediately extended his hand, and Empress Zhong, understanding, pulled him up to sit. Li Jing said, "Summon the ministers of the Secretariat and the Privy Council. My lady will accompany me to listen to the government affairs. I will issue an edict to confer titles upon the eldest son, and I will mobilize troops and select generals to reinforce Luzhou. We must not allow Luzhou to fall into the hands of the Northern Army. Commander Zhan is still holding out in Shouzhou, so the Northern Army will certainly not be able to advance south in its entirety. Luzhou is a fortified city, situated on the side of a large lake, and the navy can directly send reinforcements into the city through the water gate."
Empress Zhong nodded and ordered someone to come in and carry out Li Jing's decree.
On that day, Jinling issued a series of orders, summoning the military governor of Ningguo and the eldest son of the emperor, Li Hong, to return to the capital immediately.
Liu Yanzhen was dismissed from all posts and arrested and brought back to Jinling for trial. An imperial edict ordered Luzhou to be held firm, and reinforcements to arrive soon.
He appointed Huangfu Hui, a general of the Imperial Guards, as the commander of the reinforcements, and ordered the last part of the Nanjing Navy to escort the urgently requisitioned civilian ships, along with 10,000 Imperial Guards, as the vanguard to immediately advance towards Luzhou.
He ordered the Xuanhui military governor to send 15,000 troops to reinforce Luzhou and to immediately begin recruiting 20,000 soldiers. He also ordered the Fenghua military governor to dispatch his navy and 10,000 army troops to reinforce Luzhou at full speed.
A succession of urgent messengers on horseback, each carrying their own mission, sped out of Jinling like arrows, rushing off in all directions. Faced with this immense crisis, Emperor Li Jing of Yu finally adopted a firm stance and devoted himself fully to the task.