APSIL -Chapter 93 The Emperor’s Statecraft… and Poetry

“Excellent! As expected of Grand Tutor Ge’s last disciple. Even little Fatty Lu has improved so much after studying under you!”

The Emperor applauded in admiration before turning to the servant who had accused Zhou Xun. In an almost casual tone, he pronounced his judgment.

“If Zhang Shou’s method proves that the plaque is solid, then you have falsely accused your superior with malicious intent. Under the law of false accusation, you shall be executed.”

“But if his method proves the plaque is indeed hollow, then despite knowing the truth all along, you failed to report it. That is collective liability for an act of great disrespect to the throne. You shall also be executed.”

Zhang Shou had not expected such a verdict. He was momentarily stunned before inwardly admiring the Emperor even more.

Making accusations against one’s superior simply because the Emperor happened to be present was certainly not something that should be encouraged.

Zhou Xun, though a high-ranking official, was merely the Director of the Imperial Academy. He was far from being an untouchable figure who controlled the capital. If someone had genuinely discovered suspicious behavior, there were plenty of proper channels to report it. Yet this man had chosen to speak up today, at precisely this moment, making his motives highly suspect.

As soon as the Emperor’s calm yet unmistakably authoritative words fell, the servant could no longer maintain his stubborn kneeling posture. His body collapsed limply onto the ground.

The next moment, he suddenly looked up and shouted desperately, “It was Zhang Shou! Zhang Shou ordered me—”

Before he could finish, A-Liu, who had been as motionless as a statue, suddenly sprang into action like a rabbit. In an instant, he appeared behind the servant and brought the edge of his hand crashing down onto the man’s neck, knocking him unconscious on the spot.

Turning back toward the Emperor, A-Liu wore an innocent expression.

“I was afraid he was hiding a weapon.”

Zhang Shou looked even more innocent than A-Liu.

I don’t even know who this fellow is! Ordered him? Ordered my foot!

I didn’t even know Zhou Xun before coming to the Imperial Academy!

Before Zhang Shou could decide how to defend himself, Zhu Ying had already rushed forward in indignation.

“Your Majesty, he’s slandering Zhang Shou!”

“If I didn’t know that already, would I have judged him like this?” the Emperor replied with an amused shake of his head. He cast Zhang Shou a sidelong glance before smiling at Zhu Ying. “Your judgment is indeed excellent. This boy is calm under pressure and quick-witted—a genuine talent. Bring him into the palace sometime so the Empress Dowager can meet him. Otherwise, she’ll keep worrying that your stubborn personality means you’ll never get married.”

Before Zhu Ying could explode in embarrassment, Chu Kuan had already gestured to the accompanying guards. They stepped forward, dragged away the unconscious servant, and made no attempt whatsoever to search him for the supposed hidden weapon A-Liu had mentioned.

Meanwhile, Zhang Shou bowed deeply.

“Your Majesty’s praise is more than I deserve. However, I believe the claim that Director Zhou secretly coveted the plaque because it contained the Founding Emperor’s hidden writings is utterly absurd. Whether the plaque is hollow or not, I do not believe a respected elder of the literary world would stoop to such behavior. I humbly ask Your Majesty to see this clearly.”

“Heh.”

The Emperor looked at Zhou Xun, who still appeared as though trapped in a nightmare.

“Go help him up.”

Seeing Zhang Shou immediately step forward to support Zhou Xun, the Emperor chuckled.

“The Director of the Northern Imperial Academy spends every day wandering around the Academy’s storage room, only to end up the subject of a subordinate’s false accusation? You’re hardly the only one who admires the Founding Emperor’s calligraphy. If you had simply said so, I could have permitted you to study and copy the originals kept in the Imperial Archives. Why make things so troublesome?”

At last Zhou Xun looked up, his face filled with shock, shame, gratitude, and countless other emotions.

“A petty schemer spreading baseless lies is hardly enough for me to convict you,” the Emperor continued. “This matter ends here.”

“However, allowing Jiuzhang Hall to fall into ruin was indeed your negligence. You shall forfeit half a year’s salary. Effective immediately, Jiuzhang Hall is to be restored, and the Founding Emperor’s plaque is to be rehung where it belongs.”

Had Zhang Shou not been firmly supporting him, Zhou Xun—whose emotions had swung wildly from despair to relief—would have collapsed again.

After a long moment, he finally steadied himself.

“This minister accepts his punishment. I shall see to it immediately.”

“Good.”

The Emperor turned toward the group of young aristocrats. Many still wore complicated expressions after everything they had witnessed.

Smiling lightly, he said, “Well then, since we’re already here, let us hold your reward banquet right here in front of Jiuzhang Hall. A prodigal who returns is worth more than gold. Don’t disgrace the reputation of Grand Tutor Ge’s disciples, or this direct disciple of Grand Tutor Ge will personally deal with you.”

The crowd immediately snapped out of their daze and hurriedly acknowledged the command.

Zhang Shou, meanwhile, couldn’t help thinking that after today’s lesson from the Emperor, teaching this troublesome bunch might become considerably easier.

Only then did Luo Siye finally hurry over with several officials to take the exhausted Zhou Xun from Zhang Shou’s hands. He then ordered the trembling attendants to prepare tables, chairs, and everything else for the banquet.

Watching the half-grown youths surrounding the Emperor and trying desperately to curry favor, Luo Siye wisely stayed back and quietly helped Zhou Xun retreat to a more secluded spot.

Only after they had moved a safe distance away did he whisper, “Director Zhou… I was frightened out of my wits just now. I couldn’t even find the courage to speak a word on your behalf. Please forgive me.”

“Forget you—even I almost started believing I had been obsessing over that plaque because I thought it hid the Founding Emperor’s secret writings.”

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Zhou Xun lowered his voice.

“Tell me… why did His Majesty ask Zhang Shou how to verify the plaque, yet never actually insist on carrying out the test?”

Luo Siye fell silent.

The Emperor’s thoughts are impossible to predict. Especially this Emperor, who was famous for acting on impulse. How could I possibly know?

Realizing he would get no answer, Zhou Xun merely sighed.

“I truly never expected Zhang Shou not only to devise such a practical solution, but even to speak up in my defense. Yet the one who accused me was an old servant who had worked faithfully at the Academy for years—and then he even tried to frame Zhang Shou before His Majesty.”

“Unforgivable.”

Neither Zhou Xun nor Luo Siye noticed that Zhang Shou had already stopped paying attention to them.

The imperial guards accompanying the Emperor had astonishing efficiency. In the blink of an eye, banquet tables and seats had already been arranged before Jiuzhang Hall.

To Zhang Shou’s surprise, his own seat was directly below the Emperor’s left hand.

The Academy officials who outranked him were either, like Zhou Xun and Luo Siye, still shaken out of their wits, or remained scattered across the various lecture halls teaching classes.

Since the Emperor had arrived without bringing any accompanying civil officials, Zhang Shou—despite only recently becoming an Academy Doctor—found himself seated in the place of highest honor.

As for Zhu Ying…

The young lady first cheerfully poured wine for the Emperor before being ordered to serve the “heroes.”

Soon cries of laughter, exaggerated complaints, and mock protests echoed through the gathering. Clearly, Zhu Ying was taking the opportunity to settle a few personal scores while refilling everyone’s cups.

Because he had never expected to meet the Emperor today, Zhang Shou had spent the previous afternoon riding hard back to the capital, followed by an entire night cleaning Jiuzhang Hall.

Sleepiness was rapidly overtaking him.

Fortunately, A-Liu quietly handed him a towel soaked in icy well water. Pretending merely to wipe his face, Zhang Shou managed to stay awake.

Unfortunately…

That couldn’t withstand Zhu Ying personally pressing cup after cup of wine upon him at the Emperor’s orders.

By the time three rounds of drinking had passed, and the Emperor ordered everyone to recite poems by the Founding Emperor in front of Jiuzhang Hall, Zhang Shou was already feeling rather dizzy.

Then—

He suddenly sobered with a start.

What… what kind of poems are these?

“The land is so rich in beauty,
It has inspired countless heroes to bow before it…
All are past now.
To find truly great men, look only to the present.”

The Founding Emperor… copied Chairman Mao’s “Snow”?

And according to them, he wrote it just before unifying the empire…

Then came another poem:

“The nation’s vitality depends upon thunder and wind;
Silence among ten thousand horses is truly lamentable.
I urge Heaven to stir once more,
To bestow talents without regard for convention.”

Isn’t this Gong Zizhen’s “Miscellaneous Poems of the Year Jihai”?

And they claim the Founding Emperor wrote it seven or eight years after ascending the throne? That’s… completely out of context! Unless the government had already begun declining? Though come to think of it… the Founding Emperor didn’t reign very long before abdicating in favor of Emperor Taizong…

Then someone began reciting another:

“If only life were always as when we first met,
Why should the autumn wind bring sorrow to painted fans…”

The Emperor casually explained, “This was composed by the Founding Emperor after offering sacrifices to Empress Han. He supposedly wrote it spontaneously beneath a magnificent old tree. Those nearby secretly memorized it, and it was later recorded in the Court Diaries.”

Zhang Shou could only sigh inwardly.

Good thing I never planned to make a living plagiarizing famous poems…

At this rate, the Founding Emperor has already stolen nearly every masterpiece worth stealing!