Chapter 63: Assuming Personal Rule

Uncle Zhang abruptly spun around, towering over Empress Dowager Zhang as he glared at her with fierce intensity and closed in on her step by step.

Empress Dowager Zhang retreated step by step. A palace maid standing nearby was pale with panic, yet she dared not take a single step forward.

Ultimately, the Empress Dowager was driven back against a pillar, with nowhere left to turn.

"If not for me, given those petty little tricks of yours, you and your son would have died countless times over! With that meager intellect of his, he can't even deal with a mere feudal prince; how can he even dream of ruling in his own right?"

The Empress Dowager lifted her chin and met his gaze directly. "Big Brother means?"

Zhang Huidan's nostrils flared, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes. He placed both hands on the Empress Dowager's shoulders and shoved her with sudden force.

"Ah..."

Overcome by pain, the Empress Dowager let out a startled scream. Driven by a desperate urge to protect her mistress, a palace maid stepped forward and reached out to shove Uncle Zhang away. Before she could even get close, Uncle Zhang threw out a kick, striking her squarely in the abdomen. The maid flew backward through the air for over a dozen feet, crashed against another red-lacquered pillar, and then dropped heavily to the ground, vomiting blood before dying on the spot.

Upon seeing this, the other palace maids and eunuchs hurriedly fell to their knees and pressed themselves to the floor. "Lord Uncle, please calm your anger!"

Biting her lower lip tightly, the Empress Dowager spoke in a trembling voice, "Big Brother, did I say something wrong?"

"Rule in your own right? Do you actually think your son has that capability?"

The Empress Dowager lifted her chin slightly. "Doesn't he have Big Brother here to assist him?"

Uncle Zhang raised his right hand, grabbed her face, and shoved her harshly aside. The Empress Dowager stumbled and fell to the floor. The maids and eunuchs glanced at the corpse of the maid who had just been killed, and not a single one of them dared to raise their heads.

Uncle Zhang turned, flicked his sleeves, and strode toward Jinhe Court, the Emperor's sleeping quarters.

When Uncle Zhang and his men forced their way into Jinhe Court, seventeen-year-old Emperor Shen Wu was sitting at his desk, perusing memorials that he had already reviewed and commented upon.

The one right at the top was submitted by Tian Youguang, the Prefect of Cengzhou, seeking instructions on how to handle the detained Japanese pirate Chino Taro. Uncle Zhang's own written notation instructed: "Keep him detained, ensure his safety, and await negotiations with the Japanese side."

Shen Wu stared fixedly at this memorial in silence. He looked up to see the fury-ridden Uncle Zhang, closed the memorial with a snap, leaned back, and sank into the Dragon Throne.

Gao Yinglu, standing close beside him, tightened his grip on the Embroidered Uniform Guard saber at his waist, took a step toward the Dragon Throne, and stood with his eyelids half-drooped, maintaining a calm yet vigilant watch over Uncle Zhang's every move.

This Zhang Huidan was becoming increasingly unbridled. Not only did he storm directly into Jinhe Court every time he sought an audience, but he also dared to openly usurp imperial prerogatives, swaggering about using the rituals and specifications reserved solely for the Son of Heaven.

He was practically wearing the words "usurper" on his face.

Shen Wu spoke in a low, lingering tone, "Uncle!"

Instead of offering a greeting, Zhang Huidan pulled up a chair right beside the desk and sat down, staring at him like a wolf eyeing its prey. "Your mother harbored a favored lover and brought scandal to the inner court. I have already placed her under house arrest in Yongning Palace!"

Shen Wu pressed his heels firmly against the floor, while keeping his expression as cautious and deferential as ever. "If that is the case, it is Mother's fault. Let her reflect properly within the palace; Uncle is only doing this for her own good."

Hearing this, Zhang Huidan felt a bit of his anger subside. "You are more sensible than she is. With the empire's situation in turmoil and Your Majesty still young, I will do my utmost to assist you..."

Mid-sentence, his gaze shifted to Gao Yinglu, and he fell silent for a long moment.

Gao Yinglu naturally understood what he meant—he wanted him to withdraw. Yet he could not retreat; loosening his grip on his saber slightly, he remained standing calmly in place.

Shen Wu naturally saw this as well, and raised a hand. "Commander Gao, you may withdraw first."

"Your Majesty..."

Shen Wu raised his hand once more to cut him off, speaking softly, "I will be safe."

Even though Zhang Huidan's lackeys and partisans filled the imperial court from top to bottom, there still remained many veteran officials from the previous reign and neutral factions whose influence could not be underestimated. After all, Zhang Huidan could not possibly slaughter everyone all at once.

This was Jinhe Court, after all; at the very least, for the time being, Zhang Huidan would not dare to brazenly launch an attack on the Emperor.

Gao Yinglu bowed and backed out. The palace maids, eunuchs, and the men brought by Zhang Huidan also filed out one after another.

In the vast hall, only the two of them remained.

Just as he had done earlier with the Empress Dowager, Zhang Huidan flicked his wide sleeves and strode toward the desk. He planted both palms on the surface, fixing his greedy, ruthless eyes squarely on Shen Wu.

"Your Majesty, I hope you understand that without me, you are nothing."

He spoke very softly, but Shen Wu heard every single word with chilling clarity.

"Of course I understand!"

"The late Emperor left behind an edict instructing Grand Tutor Lu and me to assist you. Now that Grand Tutor Lu is dead, you must listen to me, do you understand?"

Shen Wu asked, "What has made Uncle so angry? Please speak plainly."

Zhang Huidan leaned forward by a foot. "Why did Your Majesty dispatch men to confiscate Wang Hong's estate without authorization?"

Shen Wu forced himself to remain calm, speaking in a measured tone. "During Wang Hong's years serving as the Grand Eunuch of the Inner Palace, he accepted countless bribes, and his wealth rivals that of a nation. Right now, the Great Liang Dynasty faces troubles both internal and external, yet the imperial treasury is empty. With the end of the year fast approaching, I need these funds to pay out the overdue salaries owed to the various ministries over the past few months."

Hearing this, Zhang Huidan's eyelids twitched. The Emperor really had grown up; he was by no means the ignorant fool he had always assumed him to be, someone who could be manipulated at will.

Zhang Huidan curled the fingers of his right hand into a fist and pressed it against the desk. "Even so, Your Majesty should have consulted me before making a decision."

Shen Wu looked up at him. "I am aware now. Should there be a next time, I will not act on my own accord again."

Zhang Huidan drew in a deep breath, as though swallowing a profound injustice. "Chief Eunuch Wang's bones are not yet cold, yet you sent men to ransack his home. It is truly inappropriate. I simply wished to remind Your Majesty not to act rashly in times of trouble, lest you chill the hearts of all the civil and military officials in the court."

Shen Wu lowered his gaze, his lips trembling slightly as he said, "Uncle speaks wisely; I shall reflect upon this."

Zhang Huidan was quite satisfied with the terror and awe the Emperor displayed. He stood up and loosened his clenched right fist.

"Since Your Majesty already knows your mistake, you must remember this lesson. I shall take my leave now."

The moment the palace doors swung open, Gao Yinglu rushed to Shen Wu's side. "Your Majesty..."

Shen Wu raised a hand. "Commander Gao, I am fine, but our time is running out. How is Lu Ji faring in Lingnan?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, he will be safe. Aside from Su Yuan, everyone else whose estates we confiscated and whom we exiled has had their lives spared."

"Back then, considering Grand Secretary Su's advanced age, I suffered a moment of hesitation and chose not to exile him, never imagining that his entire family would lose their lives because of it. Commander Gao, tell me—when the time comes for me to rule in my own right, will there still be capable men left in this court? Will they ever forgive me?"

"Your Majesty, they will understand."

"My claim to the Dragon Throne has always been fraught with controversy, and coupled with the actions of the Uncle and my Mother, how will the ministers view me?"

Gao Yinglu bowed. "Your Majesty, they are them, and you are you. You are the flesh and blood of the late Emperor, ascending the throne in a legitimate and proper manner. Those who are loyal to the Shen family will naturally understand your bitter pains. Had you not issued the edict to confiscate their estates ahead of time, their fates would not have been limited to mere exile."

"Commander Gao, you are the only one by my side who truly understands me. Uncle seems to have noticed you for some time now, so you must exercise the utmost caution in all things. Beware of Commander Gu; Uncle is currently pulling out all the stops to win him over."

Gao Yinglu replied, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty. Among the Embroidered Uniform Guard, should anyone dare harbor crooked intentions, regardless of their status, I shall certainly execute them by my blade."

The Emperor said no more. He picked up Tian Youguang's memorial once again, retrieved the great seal from the side, and pressed it firmly onto the paper.