Jiajing sighed helplessly and said,
"Send Zhu Qi to have a look..."
"Mm-hmm,"
Lü Fang wiped his tears and asked again,
"And those few?"
"Let's not worry about them for now..."
The thought of these matters made Jiajing's heart ache, but the situation was such that he could only go along with it. He said sternly, "Tell them to release the father and son... and release all the others..."
"..."
Lü Fang hesitated several times before finally holding back.
However, Jiajing was unusually agitated this time. He turned and stared at Lü Fang.
Lü Fang finally asked,
"But what if the father and son refuse? What if they fight to the death..."
"Hmph,"
"Then let them fight..."
With a sweep of his sleeve, he said,
"Go, go personally. Later, go see Xu Jie. You know what to do..."
Lü Fang was taken aback for a moment, then understood. Thinking that the time was about right, he walked out of the West Garden. Midway, he saw Feng Bao hurrying in and about to kneel upon seeing Lü Fang.
"Never mind, hurry along. The Emperor is waiting..."
Feng Bao still knelt once before rising and leaving.
Lü Fang shook his head, thinking that no one these days was simple...
He muttered to himself as he strode towards the entrance of the West Garden.
At this moment,
Outside the West Garden, Xu Jie and Li Chunfang had already exchanged greetings. The two thousand or so people, while making a grand show, were very orderly and did not shout as they had on previous occasions. Instead, they stood quietly.
Huang Jin and Chen Hong had been speaking with Xu Jie and Li Chunfang for some time. Both sides were very polite, but Xu Jie, having not received a definitive answer, kept engaging in desultory conversation.
Lü Fang listened for a while from behind and, after a moment of reflection, approached with a smile and said,
"Elder Scholar Xu is in good health, and Elder Scholar Li, it has been some time since we last met..."
The two men stepped forward with hearty laughter, engaging in pleasantries and showing no haste.
Lü Fang knew well that these two, bringing hundreds of officials with them, were not overtly criticizing the Crown Prince or the Yan family. They were merely engaging in idle chatter, but if they didn't get what they wanted, this quiet orderliness was merely another form of a palace coup.
He understood Jiajing's intentions and did not want to waste any more time. After exchanging pleasantries, he spoke directly:
"Elder Scholar Xu, the situation on the Liaodong front is critical. Do you few elder statesmen know about it?"
Xu Jie's face was full of worry,
"That's why we are here... Uh, at present, the matter is urgent... As the saying goes, a snake cannot move without its head. What can we two old men do?"
"Oh,"
Lü Fang nodded but said nothing.
Li Chunfang thought that since they were discussing the military situation, it was time to get to the point. He said,
"Eunuch Lü, does the Emperor have any decree?"
"Mm-hmm,"
Lü Fang then said gently,
"Your Excellencies, the Emperor has retired to the Taoist Palace, so how could there be a decree? Some of this is merely my own conjecture... I don't know if it's correct, uh, Your Excellencies, please listen and see?"
"Oh, oh,"
The two immediately lent their ears.
Lü Fang recounted,
"Currently, the Crown Prince is overseeing the state... Uh, Minister Chen has requested to resign... Elder Scholar Xu just said that a snake cannot move without its head, so I feel that Elder Scholar Xu should bear the important responsibility and take up the position in the Privy Council... This military situation is critical, and we cannot be without a leader..."
"Mm-hmm,"
The two nodded repeatedly, but with different sentiments in their hearts.
The Yan family wished for the restoration of the Grand Secretariat. They did too, but if it meant paving the way for Yan Song, they were naturally unwilling. In that case, it was better to join the Privy Council. If one could become a minister of the Privy Council, with the Crown Prince's reputation currently in tatters, it would be tantamount to wielding sole power. But would the Yan family agree to this?
Li Chunfang said with a serious expression,
"I think Eunuch Lü's suggestion is good..."
Xu Jie was not so easily convinced. He thought that since the Yan family was not eliminated, they would surely cause more trouble. The most important thing at the moment was to appease the Yan faction. Only when the Yan family ceased their troubles could the Crown Prince be safe, and only when the Crown Prince was safe would the Emperor not be criticized by the world. Ultimately, arresting Mu Zhaobi, Wu Jijue, or that young one would be considered a resolution. As for the Yan family, having already lost three imperial censors, that would be a reasonable compensation. This way, both sides could reach a reconciliation...
And for himself, this was a windfall. The position of minister in the Privy Council was now firmly secured. After all, the numerous dangerous incidents that had occurred were ultimately due to the Yan family's arrogance and might, which had also led to the beating and intimidation of many officials. To allow the father and son to govern again would naturally be met with dissatisfaction from the officials. However, the current Liaodong military situation was likely instigated by the Yan family. If the father and son were not given some position, other problems would arise.
Lü Fang felt a sense of resignation—
The Emperor's sons were each more formidable than the last, and each more secretive... Everyone said Prince Yu was simple and meek, but when it came to action, he was more ruthless than anyone. No one would have expected him to arrest Yan Song... And Prince Jing, was he perhaps feigning madness? And for seven or eight years?
Finally, there was Zhu Mo,
He was even more unfathomable...