Chapter Twenty-Six: The Magnanimous Empress

Why did Di Ying, when she could have struck the drum herself, choose not to? Why must such a commotion be raised, her people beaten first? Was it merely to give Peng Liang a chance to accuse Zhang Jiafu before her? Peng Liang could have struck the drum himself, after all. It seems, in the end, that Xue Huaiyi and his companions stirred up Di Ying’s dissatisfaction, prompting him to add fuel to the fire.

From this, one can see that Di Ying is truly... courageous, wise, and upright—or is he simply a reckless brute? To have struck her own imperial servants is, after all, a blow to her dignity. She cannot let this matter pass lightly. Otherwise, if everyone follows suit, how would she remain emperor? Would Xue Huaiyi and the other three still be allowed to leave the palace?

As she pondered how to teach Di Ying a lesson, a clamor erupted outside the hall.

“Let go of me! I can walk on my own. What manner of decorum is it to drag an official before the emperor?” Zhang Jiafu’s voice.

Then another voice followed, mellow and deep, quite pleasing to the ear.

“Decorum? Who in the imperial court does not know you lack talent, virtue, integrity, and discipline, slippery as an eel, spending your days scheming to curry favor with the emperor? With such a wise ruler, it is only because of flatterers like you that she is misled. What decorum do you have left in your heart?”

The old emperor: "..."

Was that praise or insult?

She sat upright and looked toward the door. There she saw a young man with a broad, dignified face, thick brows, clear phoenix eyes, and an imposing presence, dragging Zhang Jiafu as he strode forward. Though the young man was slightly bent and not particularly tall, each step toward her felt like a mountain descending, filled with a sense of wild, unrestrained grandeur.

He shone like the sun.

The emperor's feet moved involuntarily; she nearly stood up to greet him.

This urge to welcome him startled her deeply. In her life, she had met and assessed countless people, yet never had anyone, upon first sight, given her such a feeling. Even as his gaze briefly met hers, she felt a touch of awkwardness, as if all her hidden thoughts had been laid bare before him.

Though his eyes met hers for only a moment.

Di Ying glanced at the empress seated upon the dragon throne, then relaxed his grip on Zhang Jiafu, knelt on one knee, and saluted with a fist: “Your humble servant, Di Ying, legal officer of the Bingzhou Governor’s Office, greets Your Majesty.”

As a legal officer attached to the Governor’s Office, his rank was military; yet he also held authority over all legal matters within his province, so his salute could be either civil or military.

“Rise,” the old emperor spoke.

Her feet stayed put, but her hand could not help but lift slightly. The urge to intimidate him had vanished, replaced by an unexpected sense of closeness. It felt almost as if... a grandmother had met her dear grandchild.

She found this notion absurd, yet instinctively did not reject it.

Seeing Di Ying rise, the emperor placed both hands upon the imperial desk and asked gently, “Are you dissatisfied with Xue Huaiyi and the others? Hmm?”

With the favor she had granted, Xue Huaiyi would act recklessly every time he left the palace—she had long known this. Now she wished to see whether Di Ying would lie to please her, whether he would admit that today’s events were his doing.

Di Ying admitted it.

He replied openly, “Your Majesty, both publicly and privately, I am dissatisfied with those who disregard the law. Even if they are Your Majesty’s people, under Heaven, who is not Your Majesty’s subject?

Your Majesty is like the head of a family; showing partiality to a few is only natural. But they do not understand gratitude; they bully and slaughter Your Majesty’s other, ordinary children with impunity. I cannot stand by.

Because my rank is low, I could not bind them with the law, so I resorted to this inferior method—letting the common folk witness, venting their anger if nothing else.

First, so Xue Huaiyi and the others know: the realm belongs to Your Majesty, not to them. Your Majesty values the law; even favoritism must have limits.

Second, so the people see that just because someone has Your Majesty’s favor, it does not mean no one dares confront them, which will bring some clarity to their hearts.

If my actions displease Your Majesty, I am willing to accept any punishment.”

The old emperor: "..."

She was left speechless. Truly speechless.

Was Di Ying confessing a crime? It sounded more like he was claiming credit.

Yet between the lines, he was also criticizing her, wasn’t he? Criticizing her for not being impartial? Blaming her for indulging Xue Huaiyi and his companions?

If she punished Di Ying, must she first punish herself? Would it wound the hearts of the people?

She could not help but rub her temples.

She felt that Lord Yan’s recommendation of this man had not been exaggerated; in just a few words, Di Ying revealed unique vision and courage, the bearing of a statesman.

Yet such statesmen and talents for governance are like porcupines.

To cast them aside? Reluctant. To touch them? One gets pricked.

Unable to answer Di Ying directly, the old emperor, after a moment’s headache, shifted the topic.

“The inner palace forbids disturbance. Why, upon first entering, did you seize the collar of a third-rank official? Such disrespect and commotion—your courage is considerable.”

“Your Majesty, just look at his face—those thin brows, narrow eyes, a flat nose and wide mouth; clearly the look of a thief or a scoundrel.

When I first entered the palace, I did not know he was a third-rank official. Judging by his appearance, I thought he could not be a good man, so I seized him.

Only after Eunuch Su informed me did I learn he was Zhang Jiafu, and then—I could not let go even more.

Your Majesty, you remain high upon your throne, rarely venturing forth, so you do not know what the people say of Zhang Jiafu. He feigns loyalty, harms the people, and slaughters entire families at whim.

Here, we have a victim present.

Your Majesty, I request: thoroughly investigate Zhang Jiafu, restore the law’s clarity and the people's trust.”

As Di Ying spoke, he saluted once more, bowing deeply.

This empress appeared to be in her forties, though whether that was her true age or simply the result of careful maintenance, Di Ying did not pursue.

He only noticed that the emperor’s magnanimity was as rumored—able to tolerate and forgive much. For him, that was enough.

As long as she did not have him dragged out and whipped or executed immediately, as long as he was permitted to speak, he had nothing to fear.

How rare it was to stand before the highest sovereign. He must seize the opportunity.

Yet he did not know that he had once again left the emperor speechless.

The empress continued to rub her temples.

This porcupine before her was indeed prickly.

To speak thus of Zhang Jiafu’s face and crimes—was that not a criticism of her own judgment as emperor?

Zhang Jiafu was a third-rank official, a full third-rank, and Minister of Civil Affairs at that—the one who assessed the performance of all officials throughout the realm.