Chapter Eleven: The Sun Family

Chapter Ten: Lady Sun

When Zhu Qizhen saw Lady Sun, a wave of tender affection welled up in his heart. He said, “Mother, whatever has happened, don’t be anxious. Tell me about it.”

Only after much gentle consolation from Zhu Qizhen did Lady Sun finally release him.

Though tears streamed down her face, she was still breathtakingly beautiful. Lady Sun was only in her thirties, raised in the palace from childhood and meticulously cared for. Every movement, every gesture had been shaped by the strictest etiquette of the palace. Even now, in a moment of grief, her composure remained; her tears could not mar her elegance. This grace was part of her every habit—only such a beauty could capture the heart of Emperor Xuanzong.

Yet, as lovely as she was, once she spoke, Zhu Qizhen was quickly reminded that not everyone possessed the wisdom of the Grand Empress Dowager.

“My son, the Grand Empress Dowager has sent away all the eunuchs who served me. They’ve disappeared without a trace. She means to move against me. If anything happens to me after today—if I go missing without explanation—remember to avenge me,” Lady Sun said.

Zhu Qizhen was at a loss for words. Whether what his mother said was true or not, it was not something to speak of at this moment. If it was true, it would only give the Grand Empress Dowager reason to eliminate him as well.

Having spent much time at the Grand Empress Dowager’s side, Zhu Qizhen had grown increasingly admiring of her. The noble families who held military power in the Great Ming were all her kin. Zhu Qizhen had accompanied the Grand Empress Dowager to receive prominent nobles of the Five Military Commissions. No matter how bold these men were, before her they dared not breathe too loudly—showing the utmost respect.

In Zhu Qizhen’s presence, the Grand Empress Dowager entrusted the affairs of the Five Military Commissions to Song Ying, and later explained in detail why she had chosen him.

Firstly, Song Ying was the son-in-law of Emperor Taizong and the brother-in-law of Emperor Renzong. He and his elder brother both married daughters of Emperor Taizong. Secondly, the Song family were founding contributors under Emperor Taizu, not just supporters from the Jingnan campaign.

It was true that many of Emperor Taizu’s founding heroes had been purged in the Hu Weiyong and Lan Yu cases, and the subsequent Jingnan campaign had cost nearly all their lives, but not all were gone.

Song Ying’s father, Song Sheng, was one of Emperor Taizu’s old companions from Huaiwest. Following his brother, Song Guoxing, he had joined the Red Turbans, fought in many battles, and later aligned with Zhu Yuanzhang, earning merit in southern campaigns. After Song Guoxing fell in battle, Song Sheng took command of his troops and continued to serve Zhu Yuanzhang. Most of his achievements were in the northwest, governing those regions four times and being ennobled as Marquis of Xining. During the Jingnan campaign, Song Sheng was stationed in the northwest, and to win him over, Emperor Taizong married two of his daughters into the Song family, stabilizing the region.

Since the Yongle era, however, true power in the military had shifted to those ennobled for their roles in the Jingnan campaign, and the Song family no longer belonged to that inner circle.

By appointing Song Sheng to head the Five Military Commissions, the Grand Empress Dowager intended to keep Zhang Fu in check—not because she distrusted him. Zhang Fu had served three emperors loyally, but state affairs could not be left to the loyalty of one man alone. Zhang Fu no longer held an official position there, but as a hero of the Jingnan campaign, many in the commissions were his juniors. The reason for his absence from official duties was, in itself, noteworthy: as early as the Xuande era, it was decreed that, to honor meritorious subjects, Zhang Fu would remain close to the emperor, holding a title but not engaging in daily affairs.

Zhu Qizhen quietly discerned the wisdom in this arrangement. Zhang Fu held the substance, Song Ying the title. If Zhang Fu ever attempted anything, it would never escape Song Ying’s notice. Moreover, the imperial family had not been ungrateful to the capital’s garrison. The Liu family of old could sway the armies to support their kin; surely the Zhu family could do the same. This was merely a precautionary measure.

In truth, there were others even more suited to the role—namely, the Empress Dowager’s two brothers. But she never mentioned them. Zhu Qizhen understood: Song Ying was a son-in-law of the Zhu family, not the Zhangs. He would protect the Zhu dynasty’s legacy, not serve the Zhangs.

Thus, the arrangement also protected the Zhangs from growing too powerful; the Grand Empress Dowager feared that if they were too deeply involved, once she was gone, the emperor would show them no mercy.

If she handled such critical matters of military power so carefully, it was no surprise she was just as strict with palace affairs.

Zhu Qizhen was aware of the Grand Empress Dowager’s actions in the palace, but could not object. In a sense, she was merely enforcing the old prohibitions from Emperor Taizu’s time, when palace regulations were most severe and the inner court was almost completely cut off from the outer world. Since the reigns of Yongle, Hongxi, and Xuande, these restrictions had relaxed considerably. Many people, Lady Sun among them, had means to pass messages in and out of the palace. So, without any overt display, the Grand Empress Dowager quietly removed all those responsible for such communications.

Zhu Qizhen approved—after all, with a young emperor on the throne and doubts swirling around the court, a bit of severity was for the best.

Yet, Lady Sun believed the Grand Empress Dowager meant to kill her. She failed to consider that, however much she might be disliked, the Grand Empress Dowager would not move against her—not for her own sake, but for Zhu Qizhen’s. If the Grand Empress Dowager had any intention of deposing him, both Zhu Qizhen and Lady Sun would be doomed. Since she harbored no such intent, she would spare Lady Sun for Zhu Qizhen’s sake; otherwise, the Zhang family would not remain idle.

Zhu Qizhen hurried to reassure her, saying, “Mother, you need not worry. The Grand Empress Dowager has no such intentions.”

Meanwhile, Wang Zhen had quietly placed all the surrounding eunuchs and palace maids under watch. At Zhu Qizhen’s command, there would be several more deaths in the palace—mysterious and unexplained.

After much effort, Zhu Qizhen finally calmed Lady Sun’s fears.

She asked, “The Grand Empress Dowager truly won’t make me follow the late emperor to the grave?”

Zhu Qizhen frowned slightly. “Follow to the grave?”

Seeing his confusion, Wang Zhen quickly stepped forward. “Please rest assured, Your Grace,” he said. “According to ancestral law, only childless concubines and palace women are to be buried with the emperor. Not only has Your Grace borne the young master, you were the late emperor’s principal wife. All his offspring honor you as their mother. There is no question of you being forced to follow him in death.”

Zhu Qizhen was momentarily lost in thought at the mention of funerary sacrifices and paid little heed to Wang Zhen’s words.

Even with Wang Zhen’s comfort, Lady Sun was not at ease. She said, “My son, I still worry. Perhaps you could have your uncles enter the palace as your guards?”

“No,” Zhu Qizhen replied at once, not even considering the possibility.

Firstly, he did not trust the Sun family’s abilities. If what Lord Huichang had said was true, he was but an empty title. Bringing the Huichang family into the palace, with its tight security, would only lead to disaster; the lord and his sons would not be able to gain a foothold. If they did have that ability, Zhu Qizhen would be even more uneasy—if they were useless in a crisis yet somehow powerful once things settled, that would be more dangerous still.

Moreover, the Grand Empress Dowager had not given the Zhang family high office or favor, intentionally keeping her brothers idle. Zhu Qizhen would never bring the powerless Huichang family in. It would not help them, but rather harm them.

Besides, the words of Jian Yi still echoed in his ears; Zhu Qizhen could not act so recklessly.

Yet Lady Sun paid him no heed. In her eyes, Zhu Qizhen was still a child. She persisted, “My son, you don’t understand. In the palace, only our own family can be trusted. Now that your father is gone and the Grand Empress Dowager watches like a tiger, only your grandfather and uncles are true kin.”

Zhu Qizhen thought to himself, “If I put my grandfather and uncles above all, I’d be making my grandmother an outsider. With kin like my grandfather, I’d end up in trouble even if none existed to begin with.” But he dared not say this aloud, and instead signaled to Wang Zhen.

Wang Zhen immediately understood and spoke up. “Your Grace, there is no need to act in haste. Now that the young master’s position is newly established, the most important thing is to maintain calm. For now, it is best not to do anything; there will be time for other matters in the future.”

“Quite right,” Lady Sun replied, taking Wang Zhen for Zhu Qizhen’s advisor and valuing his words more than her son’s. “Well said, Chief Eunuch Wang. I’ll leave this matter to you.”

Wang Zhen bowed and said, “Your servant obeys.”