The dispute at the imperial court lasted continuously, even through lunch which could not be taken, naturally alarming the Empress Dowager in the harem.
A eunuch hurried over, seeing Lord Lu Yunqi standing outside the hall, he promptly approached to pay his respects.
"Is it not over yet?" he asked in a low voice, "The Empress Dowager is worried."
"It will take about one more hour." said Lu Yunqi.
The eunuchs absolutely take his words as imperial decrees, and upon hearing this, they responded with thanks.
"Then, this servant will prepare the imperial culinary arts one hour later." he said, turning to leave, then seemed to remember something, "Also, Lord Lu, is it true that you have summoned Imperial Physician Jiang?"
Although Imperial Physician Jiang is not as popular outside as he used to be, the Empress Dowager still trusts him greatly.
Imperial Physician Jiang has been absent for several days after going to the Northern Administrative Court, naturally making his family anxious. Since it involved Lu Yunqi, and unsure if it was by the emperor's decree, they didn't dare to complain directly to the Empress Dowager, so they first asked the eunuchs close to the Empress Dowager to inquire.
Lu Yunqi gave a grunt in acknowledgment.
"The Supervisor Wu Tai sent from Fuzhou doesn't seem to be holding up well, maybe it's an old ailment acting up." he continued, "In order not to delay the interrogation and investigation, I had Imperial Physician Jiang lend a hand."
Supervisor Wu Tai's embezzlement of military provisions in Fuzhou involves the Duke of Chengguo, which is a matter of great importance. The eunuch also knew, and immediately didn't dare to ask any further.
Not daring to inquire whether Wu Tai's illness was genuine or inflicted by torture, let alone whether it was real or feigned.
"This servant understands," the eunuch said with a beaming smile. "The main concern was that he hasn't been seen entering the palace for several days, and there was fear that it might delay the Empress Dowager's medication."
"Imperial Physician Li Changhai, apprentice of the former Imperial Hospital's Grand Physician Sun Jing, possesses excellent diagnostic skills." commented Lu Yunqi.
The eunuch, catching the hint, felt pleasantly surprised.
This Li Changhai must have paid a significant price to get Lu Yunqi to recommend him, for it's not easy to owe Lord Lu a favor.
And this favor could even be considered a free gift; after all, those who enter the Imperial Hospital are thoroughly vetted, and their medical skills are truly competent. Often they just lack the opportunity to be recommended.
"This servant understands," said the eunuch cheerfully.
At this point, a crashing sound came from within the hall, as if something was smashed to the ground.
The emperor was angry again, the eunuch shrunk his head and gestured towards Lord Lu Yunqi hurriedly scampering away with barely a sound.
Lu Yunqi watched him leave, then with an expressionless face, turned and walked into the hall.
Zhu Zan knelt at the center.
"Your Majesty, I am wronged," he said with a look of grievance.
Before his words ended, the emperor took out a memorandum from a box in front of him and threw it at him.
"This is to impeach Duke of Chengguo Zhu Shan for delaying military actions," he said angrily.
He picked up another and threw it towards Zhu Zan.
"This is for impeaching Duke of Chengguo Zhu Shan for deceit and disloyalty."
"This is for you and your father withholding military funds to expand your mansions."
One after another, the memorandums kept hitting Zhu Zan.
Zhu Zan knelt without moving, allowing the scattered memorandums to strike his head, shoulders, and face.
The emperor seemed tired after throwing several, breathing heavily and pointing at the two boxes.
"See this? These are all impeachments against you," he said. "I trusted you, suppressed these charges, and what is the result? How do you repay me? You've practically swollen my face with slaps."
"Your Majesty, it's the Jin thieves…" Zhu Zan earnestly tried to explain.
The emperor became even more furious.
"Is it the Jin thieves who slapped my face? Or was it perpetrated by you and your father?" he roared, "With you "guarding" the northern lands, you allowed the Jin thieves to come and go as they pleased, quite proud, aren't you?"
If it had been any other official, under the emperor's rebuke they would simply confess their guilt and seek to argue their case afterwards, but Zhu Zan always had to retort whenever he was accused.
"Your Majesty, that is not my intention, I am aggrieved," Zhu Zan insisted once more.
The emperor was so angry that his eyes bulged, and he kicked over a wooden box, the memorandums inside spilling on the ground.
"You're aggrieved? You arrogantly command troops, embezzle military funds, avoid battle, delay actions, and falsify military intelligence, and you say you're aggrieved? I am the one who is truly wronged," he shouted, "No wonder it is said in the northern lands that there is an emperor in the south but a Duke of Chengguo in the north. You truly do wield power."
This statement was truly grave, and the ministers present no longer dared to pretend not to exist, starting to kneel and plead for the emperor's anger to be assuaged.
"That's not what it means," Zhu Zan's voice rose again, "The phrase from the northern lands was out of gratitude for Your Majesty's abundant grace, saying that with your presence, with my father's presence, there is peace in the northern lands."
Indeed, the explanation was perfect, worthy of Zhu Zan. The ministers present looked at the man kneeling on the ground with complex expressions.
The emperor was so outraged, it was almost laughable.
"You little bastard, so by your words, it is my fault that there is no peace in the northern lands now?" he cursed.
"How could that be, Your Majesty, you are thinking incorrectly again…" Zhu Zan protested.
The emperor lifted his foot and kicked over another wooden box.
"Whether I am misguided or not, the northern lands are now fraught with unrest, the people suffer greatly, and this is the "reward" you father and son give to me," he roared.
Zhu Zan suddenly moved forward on his knees, bowing deeply, his voice overriding the emperor's reprimand, then lifted his head again.
"Your Majesty, I request to return to the northern lands immediately, and I will surely deliver the head of Zhe Gan Daga to you as a ball to kick!" he announced sternly, "If I can't do it, then I will offer my own head as a ball for Your Majesty to kick."
The emperor looked at him for a moment.
"I don't fancy playing ball," he declared. "What use do I have for your head!"
Ning Yan stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, please allow Duke of Chengguo to redeem himself through meritorious service. He has not yet offered his own defense and personally led the troops to pursue the Jin thieves. I implore you to give him a chance," he said, bowing deeply.
As he spoke, seven or eight officials also stood up and pleaded in unison.
The emperor's anger had not yet subsided, but he sighed deeply after looking at these officials.
"Where is Lu Yunqi?" he demanded.
Standing at the back, Lu Yunqi promptly stepped forward.
"Draft the decree," said the emperor, to which the eunuch at his side quickly bowed in response.
"If you fail to bring me Zhu Zan's head, the Jinyiwei will come for yours," the emperor added.
The eunuch swiftly wrote down the order and raised the imperial decree high.
"Decreed by His Majesty!" he declared in a shrill voice.
Lu Yunqi stepped forward to receive it.
"Your servant accepts the order," he stated.
After saying these words, the emperor's face turned pale and he was gasping for air, clearly exhausted both mentally and physically. He turned and swept out of the room.
"Court is adjourned."
All the ministers bowed and shouted long live the emperor, with Zhu Zan's voice heard amidst theirs.
"What about me, Your Majesty?" he shouted, standing and watching the departing emperor.
The emperor gave him a cold glance.
"You? Go to the Pasture Supervision in the capital to tend to the horses, lest you claim the horses were spooked again if you fail to defeat the Jin thieves," he replied, then swept away.
Zhu Zan, refusing to accept this, tried to follow, but was stopped by Ning Yan.
"Lord Heir, you must not," he said solemnly.
Zhu Zan glanced at him, gave a bow, and turned to stride out.
As the officials also began to leave the hall, Ning Yan conversed in low tones with his colleagues as they walked out.
"Lord Ning."
A hoarse and aged voice called from behind.
Ning Yan halted and turned around to see Huang Cheng sitting in a chair.
His official hat was placed on his lap, his gray hair disheveled, looking somewhat unkempt, but his eyes were chilling.
"A matter as grave as the loss of Hejian Prefecture, and you think it can be offset by contributions?" Huang Cheng slowly spoke.
Ning Yan bowed to him.
"Lord Huang, changing generals at the brink of battle is also a great taboo," he said earnestly.
A smile began to play at the corners of Huang Cheng's mouth.
"You might as well plainly say, as long as the Jin thieves are present, Duke of Chengguo must remain," he remarked.
Ning Yan maintained a grave expression.
"Lord Huang, I did not say such a thing," he responded, "but it's common knowledge how vital Duke of Chengguo is to the northern lands, and the emperor is also wise to see this."
Indeed, the emperor was wise. The fear brought by the Jin thieves' plundering of the capital had not yet faded, and hence, he was frightened. At this very moment, he dare not act against Duke of Chengguo.
Huang Cheng's gaze fell as if he was too spiritless and weak to speak.
Ning Yan glanced around at the eunuchs.
"Take good care of Lord Huang and see that he gets rest," he instructed.
The eunuchs responded affirmatively, watching Ning Yan and the others depart.
In the vast hall, only Huang Cheng remained, and just as the eunuchs wondered if they should call for the imperial physician, thinking he had either fallen asleep or fainted, Huang Cheng raised his head and stood up.
"Don't even think about it," he uttered softly.
The eunuchs were confused.
"What did you say, Lord Huang?" they asked.
Huang Cheng gave them a smile.
"Nothing, I'm just getting old and causing you all extra trouble," he said benevolently, resting his hand upon an eunuch's arm, at the same time slipping a string of turquoise from his wrist into the hand of the eunuch.
The eunuch's face broke into a smile, steadying Huang Cheng firmly.
"Elder Huang, you are really spoiling this lowly one," he said with a laugh, hurrying the other eunuchs, "Go, fetch the palanquin for the elder, as permitted by the emperor."
The eunuchs responded with affirmatives.
Supported by the eunuchs, Huang Cheng slowly made his way out.