Chapter Nineteen: The Emperor Huizong, Not Yet Awake

“Your Majesty, wake up, it’s time for court! Your Majesty…”
The gentle voice of a palace maid whispered in Emperor Huizong Zhao Ji’s ear, but Zhao Ji had exhausted himself late into the night. The maid had to increase her volume, calling him several times before the drowsy Zhao Ji finally awoke.
After all, he was no longer young, and the constant consumption of the alchemical pills crafted by Daoist priests was taking its toll. When Zhao Ji opened his eyes, he felt dizzy and faint.
Those pills always carried some peculiar effect, and after taking them, one needed to engage in certain activities not fit for children to help digest them. Though such activities were amusing, enduring them every day was another matter entirely.
Unbeknownst to him, Zhao Ji’s body was gradually being hollowed out.
After washing and dressing with the help of maids and eunuchs, he ate a little to fill his stomach, then was carried by sedan chair toward the Golden Hall, yawning all the way as if he’d just smoked opium.
“Hail to Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor, long live, ten thousand years!”
“Rise! His Majesty commands: Those with petitions, present them early; those without, be dismissed from court!”
Zhao Ji hated these morning sessions with all his heart. If not for ancestral rules, he wouldn’t bother rising at all.
No sooner had the eunuch finished speaking than an unduly enthusiastic official stepped forward from the ranks.
“Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present!”
“Speak quickly!”
Zhao Ji replied feebly, not even bothering to see who the petitioner was. His mind was already drifting back to the dragon bed for a second sleep.
“I impeach Prince Yi for associating privately with outlaws, tarnishing the dignity of the court and the royal family. I beseech Your Majesty to investigate.”
Zhao Ji’s yawn was halfway out when he heard the accusation was against his own son. He swallowed the yawn and, before he could speak, another official stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, I impeach Grand Commandant Gao Qiu for unauthorized deployment of the Imperial Guards, with treacherous intent. I further charge him with contempt of the law and establishing his own court, among other crimes. I ask Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly.”
What was happening today? Was he still half-asleep?
Zhao Ji rubbed his eyes forcefully. The two who had stepped forward were censors.
It was normal for censors to impeach anyone, but Zhao Ji knew well: one was a man of Cai Jing, the other belonged to the Crown Prince’s faction.
Cai Jing’s man was expected. But why was the Crown Prince’s man involved? His father wasn’t dead yet—was he so eager to make his presence felt already?

A eunuch hurriedly took the memorials from the two censors and presented them to Zhao Ji.
The impeachment against Zhao Yu described, with great exaggeration, how he had disgraced the royal family, mingled with street ruffians, and even led people to injure Gao Qiu’s son, among other offenses.
The more Zhao Ji read, the more puzzled he became. Was this the same obedient eighth son of his? Could it be that this censor, incited by the Crown Prince, was trying to trip up the young prince?
Thinking this, he cast a sidelong glance at the Crown Prince Zhao Huan, who stood nearby.
Because of the matter with Xiao Yiyi, Zhao Ji already harbored resentment toward Zhao Huan. He thought sparing Zhao Yu would make Zhao Huan restrain himself, but instead, the boy continued to frame his brother without end. If this matter proved false, wait and see if his father didn’t punish him soundly.
Zhao Huan clearly sensed his father’s displeasure and shivered inwardly, wondering if the eighth prince’s standing in his father’s heart was truly rising? That wretched Yang Xu—why hadn’t he warned him…
The selfish always blame others, never themselves.
Now Zhao Ji picked up the memorial impeaching Gao Qiu. After only a few lines, his expression darkened.
What do emperors fear most? Their own safety. The Imperial Guards existed to protect the emperor, and now Gao Qiu could deploy them at will—what was he planning?
Zhao Ji might treat Gao Qiu as a close friend, but only so long as Gao Qiu didn’t cross his boundaries. If these accusations were true, young Gao’s fate would soon turn cold.
“Where is Gao Qiu?”
Only now did Zhao Ji realize Gao Qiu hadn’t come to court.
Cai You, Grand Secretary of the Privy Council, hurried forward and bowed deeply. “Your Majesty, please do not be angry. Grand Commandant Gao was frightened last night and suffered a sudden high fever at midnight. He has sent word to request leave.”
The more Zhao Ji listened, the more confused he grew. Yesterday Gao Qiu was lively and energetic—how had he become too ill to rise in just one night?
“What on earth happened? Speak at once!”
At this point, Zhao Ji was wide awake. His intuition told him today’s morning court and its impeachments were far from simple.
Cai You exchanged a glance with Zhao Huan, then cast a smug look at his father’s faction, thinking, Thank goodness I was prepared, or you would have stolen the initiative.
He cleared his throat, just about to speak, when hurried footsteps sounded from behind.
“Your Majesty, Prince Yi has bound himself and now kneels outside the palace to confess, proclaiming Grand Commandant Gao’s innocence.”
“What?”

Zhao Ji felt as though his mind was failing him. What scene was being played out today? Was he really dreaming?
Cai You was also stunned. After Gao Qiu was brought back by his men last night, he had come straight to Cai You’s residence. There, the two had devised a plan to retreat for the sake of advancing, aiming to force Prince Yi to appear and shift the ministers’ attention.
Everything was proceeding as planned, but Zhao Yu appeared of his own accord, and performed this act of bearing thorns to confess. Confessing was expected, since he did have some culpability, but why plead for Gao Qiu’s innocence? When did they become allies?
It was still summer, so being bare-chested wasn’t uncomfortable, but Zhao Yu was a prince—this concerned the royal family’s dignity!
Zhao Ji wished to send his son to the inner palace and deal with his matter later, but since someone had impeached him and he claimed to plead for Gao Qiu, with so many ministers watching, refusing him entry would seem like favoritism.
Helpless, Zhao Ji ordered Zhao Yu to be brought to the Golden Hall.
Today’s morning court seemed convened for Zhao Yu and Gao Qiu alone. While Zhao Yu was being brought in, no one else spoke.
Cai You, who originally intended to defend Gao Qiu, now watched coldly, clearly eager to see what tricks Zhao Yu might play.
Soon, Zhao Yu entered the hall, bare-chested, a bundle of firewood strapped to his back, his expression dejected. At his side, a eunuch tried to drape a robe over him, but Zhao Yu stubbornly shook it off. His performance was Oscar-worthy.
Before Zhao Ji could ask, Zhao Yu knelt and cried, “Your son associated with outlaws, nearly causing Grand Commandant Gao to lose his life to bandits. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!”
What kind of nonsense was this?
Zhao Ji grew more bewildered and left Zhao Yu bound, blurting out, “You’ve all confused me. What is actually going on?”
“Last night, bandits broke into Grand Commandant Gao’s residence and kidnapped him, demanding he hand over Lin Chong, instructor of the Imperial Guards. Your son had no idea Lin Chong had connections with men of the martial world and frequent dealings with them, leading Grand Commandant Gao into danger. Though Gao returned safely, your son’s guilt is unforgivable. I beg Your Majesty to punish me.”
Zhao Ji had long forgotten about Lin Chong. When his son mentioned him now, only then did he recall the matter faintly.
At this moment, Li Yan spoke at just the right time: “Your Majesty, Prince Yi was likely deceived. When I was at Grand Commandant Gao’s residence, Gao assured me that Lin Chong had already been exiled to Qingzhou. How could he appear in Gao’s residence again?”
Hearing Li Yan’s words, Cai You inwardly cursed. The sequence of events mattered, as did who spoke first. Zhao Yu’s sudden appearance shifted the initiative to his side, rendering further explanations pale and weak…