Chapter Ninety-Five: How Many Will Survive?

Do not be deceived by the fact that an Assistant Censor had the power to investigate and recommend officials and to enter the inner court to receive imperial edicts. The Grand Censor was one of the Wu clan, and Di Ying had become Wu Yongchang’s deputy. What a promotion that was...

Was this not the emperor sending him over to be used as a punching bag for the Wu family? Was it, or was it not?

So it was said: the more the emperor praised someone on the surface, the more mercilessly that person would be dealt with behind closed doors.

Just look at that line—if you people were truly useful, would I still prize him so highly? How much enmity did that heap onto Di Ying?

Those people saw through it all clearly enough.

As for Yao Cong and Zhang Jian, word had it that both had been recommended by Di Ying.

Now things were fine: Yao Cong had been kicked straight from civil service into the military.

And who was the governor-general of Mao Prefecture? Wu Yizong.

Zhang Jian had fared a little better. Though he had gone from a seventh-rank county magistrate to a lower eighth-rank post, seeming to have been demoted, he was no longer allowed to use the main gate of the court and could enter and leave only by the side gate; without a petition to submit, he was not permitted to approach the palace hall.

But a Supervisory Censor wielded considerable authority: overseeing the hundred officials, touring the prefectures and counties, correcting criminal cases, and keeping court ritual in order, among other duties.

By rights, this ought to count as a promotion for Zhang Jian.

But in truth?

Who was the Grand Censor of the Censorate? Li Guo’er’s husband: Wu Chongxun.

Now that was interesting, wasn’t it?

Better keep some distance from those three after all. If you got too close, perhaps even a mountain would be dropped on your head.

Feeling as though he had instantly become something plague-ridden, Yao Cong curled his lip inwardly.

He caught up to Di Ying, hooked an arm around his shoulder, and gritted out, “You really did kick me into the army after all. But why Mao Prefecture? Are you trying to deal with Wu Yizong again?”

Di Ying gave him a sidelong glance. “...You’re thinking too much. The army was short on commanders, so I merely recommended you at the proper time. Sending you to Mao Prefecture was the emperor’s own decision.

Maybe because Wu Yizong had just returned to the capital to report on his duties and had shown his face before the emperor? Perhaps that caught his attention.”

At that, Yao Cong’s mouth twisted high to one side.

He sized Di Ying up from head to toe with a suspicious stare, then shook his head and clicked his tongue. “You, of all people—if your motives were ever plain and straightforward, I’d believe the sun could rise from the west tomorrow.”

Di Ying: “...”

He had no way to explain himself.

Yao Cong did not wait for an explanation. Seeing that no one was around, he lowered his voice and asked, “Is Wu Yongchang about to be in trouble? Since I’ve been kicked away, if you want to move against him, do you still have enough men to use? That Zhang Jian—can he help you?”

Such a blunt question left Di Ying utterly speechless.

He peeled Yao Cong’s arm from his shoulder, shot him a helpless glare, and kept walking, lacking even the strength to reply.

After taking only a couple of steps, and before Yao Cong could continue spouting nonsense, he still stopped him. “Yao Cong, from now on, use your head a little. Don’t go blurting out every thought that comes into it. You need to learn how to protect yourself.”

“Got it, got it.”

Yao Cong hurried after him, saying carelessly, “I’m only this straightforward with you. I’m not like this with anyone else. With you, if I don’t ask directly, you’ll probably suffocate me to death.”

After a moment’s thought, he added, “Come to think of it, even if I ask directly, you can still suffocate me to death.”

Di Ying’s expression could no longer hold. “...I strongly suspect you’re trying to comfort me by making me laugh on purpose.”

“No, no, no.”

Yao Cong waved both hands vigorously.

“You still need comforting? If I had that talent, I’d have gone to find Wu Yongchang instead.”

“Then go on, then.”

Di Ying suddenly let the smile vanish from his face and answered gravely.

That left Yao Cong completely at a loss.

He stared, eyes wide, and said in surprise, “Really go?”

“Mm.”

Di Ying nodded and explained with blunt patience, “Go on. Wu Yongchang is Wu Yizong’s father. If you’re going to mix with Wu Yizong, how could you not bring a generous gift to call on his father, Wu Yongchang, before heading to Mao Prefecture?

And if someone has entrusted you with things to deliver to Wu Yizong, you should take those too. Even if he only just returned to Mao Prefecture, you still need to bring them.

Of course, whether or not Wu Yongchang asked you to carry anything, you must bring something. Don’t try to save a few coins. Be generous. Do not let anyone infer from the gifts that you harbor even the slightest private scheme, understand?

And one more thing: do not forget that you are a wastrel. Make a good show of following Wu Yizong!”

Yao Cong clutched at his own scalp with both hands. “...You being this direct all of a sudden, I’m not used to it.”

Di Ying rolled his eyes at him and kept walking with his head down.

Yao Cong, meanwhile, stood there in a daze. He stared until Di Ying’s shadow was almost out of sight, then finally dashed after him.

...

After court adjourned and the old emperor returned to the imperial study, he sat behind the dragon desk, picked up his brush, had not even written two characters, and broke into laughter.

“That brat Di Ying must be feeling terribly stifled by now, eh?”

At the words, Eunuch Su, who was arranging tea for the emperor, immediately let a smile bloom across his fair face as well.

“Indeed he must. This old servant stole a glance at him when court dispersed, and he looked thoroughly stricken, as though life held no more meaning.”

“Hahaha!”

The old emperor laughed aloud.

“So even Di Huaijie has a day like this!”

After laughing, he still sighed with feeling. “So many people have impeached him. I cannot simply pretend I heard nothing. But if I am to punish him, how am I to punish him?

He truly is too capable.

In just over a year, he has handled so many cases. Those are accomplishments. If I don’t promote him, am I to punish him instead? That simply does not make sense.

But if I do promote him, am I to make him the head of the Court of Judicial Review? That would be disastrous.

Setting aside whether those who impeach him would be willing, how many of my Wu clan people would still survive?

I truly feel that boy is a thorn in the flesh, and yet I cannot bear not to use him.

So I shall throw him to Wu Yongchang to keep in hand.

Wu Yongchang is capable; the Censorate’s men are too fierce, their tongues too sharp, but he has disciplined them into complete obedience, leaving my ears much quieter for it.

I believe he can restrain Di Huaijie as well.”

After a brief pause, the old emperor added, “Take the chance to beat some sense into those misbehaving Wu clan members too. Do not let them rely on my power and dare to do anything they please.

That brat Di Ying has far too stubborn a temperament. If he really falls into his hands, those people will certainly come to no good end.

By then, even Wu Yongchang may not be able to hold him down. After all, even I...”

No more need be said.

Thinking of the past made the old emperor’s chest feel a little tight.

He only hoped Di Ying, under Wu Yongchang’s restraint, could rein himself in a little and make his emperor feel a little more at ease.

At the thought of ease, the old emperor set down his brush and had Su Hong summon Xue Huaiyi.

...

And after only a single day.

The memorial denouncing Xue Huaiyi for his crimes had been sorted by Di Ying and placed on Wu Yongchang’s desk in the duty room.

Wu Yongchang cast it a glance without opening it. After that one glance, he looked at Di Ying, who stood respectfully below.

“Assign another official to oversee this,” Wu Yongchang said evenly.

Seeing the puzzled look Di Ying gave him, he kindly explained, “As for Magistrate Xue’s affairs, the emperor knows far more than you do.

These memorials you have sorted out were piled in your predecessor’s cabinet before you arrived.

Your reputation for being stubborn as an ox in the Court of Judicial Review has spread everywhere, but things are different in our Censorate. We do not force the emperor to do things.

Right now, you are only my deputy. Without my orders, you can go tend flowers and raise birds for all I care.”