Chapter 118: Tactics

"One, two, three, four, five, six... The six of you couldn't stop the Empress Dowager? Was it that you couldn't, you dared not, you didn't want to, or simply refused to, all so that I, the Emperor, would be humiliated in public?" Zhu Qizhen said with an air of indifference.

A heart-piercing rebuke!

"Your Majesty, have mercy!"
"Your Majesty, have mercy!"

Zhu Qizhen’s words were so absolute that the six eunuchs dared not respond, only kowtowing frantically, begging for their lives.

"Get up. You acted out of good intentions, not wanting to see an old woman like me forced to spend my remaining years in lonely seclusion within the palace. It is my fortune to have servants as loyal as you..." The Empress Dowager did not wait for Zhu Qizhen to speak, cutting in immediately and skillfully pinning the label of unfilial conduct upon him.

Zhu Qizhen remained composed, showing not a hint of panic. He drew a pistol from his waist and held it high, ensuring that both the Empress Dowager Zhang and the civil and military officials could see it clearly.

"The M1911 Browning pistol, standard issue for the American military during World War II. It has a seven-round magazine, a .45 caliber, and an effective range of fifty meters. It was a gift from Master Yang of the Xianyue Sect," Zhu Qizhen said, his tone resembling someone speaking to a kindergartner.

Upon hearing the name "Master Yang of the Xianyue Sect," the Empress Dowager and the officials were struck with a sudden shock. Yesterday’s events were still vivid in their minds, yet today, Yang Xin was nowhere to be seen. A sense of unease rippled through the crowd; an ominous feeling began to take hold.

Indeed, something ominous occurred. Zhu Qizhen disengaged the safety, pulled the slide, and fired six consecutive shots—"bang, bang, bang"—killing the six eunuchs on the spot.

The Empress Dowager and the officials were horrified. To execute someone during a Grand Court session was something that had only occurred during the reigns of the Hongwu or Yongle Emperors. Looking at Zhu Qizhen upon the Dragon Throne, they felt a chilling resemblance to the Yongle Emperor himself.

"Drag them out and throw them into the well!" Zhu Qizhen ordered coldly. Guards immediately stepped forward to cast the six bodies into the well, where they would serve as fertilizer for the Divine Tree.

"To kill in the throne room before the Empress Dowager and all the officials—does Your Majesty intend to be a tyrant like Jie or Zhou?" Yang Shiqi asked, trembling with rage. This was a slap in the face—an open, brazen insult to the entire civil and military administration.

"Do not judge others without having walked in their shoes. Master Yang, I advise you to be kind," Zhu Qizhen replied coldly.

Yang Shiqi, in his fury, paused at this novel phrasing. He quickly grasped the meaning—it was akin to "do not do unto others what you would not have done to you"—and felt that the Emperor was attacking his moral character. As the leader of the literati and the head of the civil officials, the Senior Grand Secretary was even more incensed. Scholars were known for their vanity and obsession with reputation; Yang Shiqi was no exception. How could he tolerate the Emperor, of all people, questioning his morality?

"Fine! Fine! Fine! Since Your Majesty claims I lack virtue, my head is right here. Does Your Majesty dare to take it?" Yang Shiqi roared.

Zhu Qizhen ignored him entirely. He did not argue, simply polishing his pistol with meticulous care, treating Yang Shiqi as if he were nothing. This dismissive attitude drove Yang Shiqi into a frenzy. Having lost all reason, he shrieked, "Tyrant! Traitorous sycophants rule the court, and the nation is on the brink of ruin! I shall use my own blood to show the world the true face of this tyrant!"

With that, Yang Shiqi charged toward a pillar.

Just as he was about to collide with it, a ghostly figure flashed by, pulling him to the ground before he could strike the stone.

"Hahaha!" Yang Shiqi laughed toward the heavens. In his heart, he believed he had won—that he had once again forced the Emperor to yield. The Emperor had not dared to let him take his own life in such a manner. From this day on, the story of Yang Shiqi denouncing the tyrant would spread far and wide. His reputation for integrity was not only secure but elevated. How could he not laugh?

"Have you laughed enough?" Zhu Qizhen asked coldly.

"Though I am the Emperor, I conduct myself according to the Great Ming Code. Did I violate the law in dealing with my own servants? Where is the Minister of Justice?"

"I am here, Minister of Justice Lu Yu," the official replied from the crowd.

"Did I violate the Great Ming Code by handling my servants in this manner?" Zhu Qizhen asked coldly.

"No!" Lu Yu replied. It wasn't just six eunuchs; even if it were sixty or six hundred, it would not violate the Code, as no such law existed regarding the Emperor’s private household staff.

"And does the Senior Grand Secretary, Yang Shiqi, violate the Great Ming Code by threatening me in such a manner?"

"He does not," Lu Yu said after a long silence.

"He does not? To threaten me so brazenly—one might as well say he’s defecating on my head—and he is innocent? There is no need to wait for tomorrow. I suspect that once court is dismissed today, the tale of Master Yang denouncing the 'tyrant' will spread across the Ming. His reputation will be cemented for ages to come, all while trampling on my face to build his own pedestal, and he is innocent?!" Zhu Qizhen declared coldly.

Zhu Qizhen had once again overturned the table, exposing the hypocritical machinations of the literati for all to see.

"He is indeed innocent! The Senior Grand Secretary has the duty to remonstrate with the Emperor," Lu Yu said stubbornly, refusing to yield on Yang Shiqi’s behalf.

"Very well. People say that officials protect one another. I thought it was merely a folk rumor, but I see it playing out before my very eyes. Where are the Jinyiwei?"

"Commander Liu Mian of the Northern Administrative Office is here!" Liu Mian walked into the Golden Throne Hall.

Seeing the Jinyiwei, Yang Shiqi was not afraid but delighted; it only proved he had won. This was a sign that the Emperor was at his wit's end. Though he might suffer some physical pain, it was nothing compared to the glory of his reputation. He believed he would only be taken to the Jinyiwei’s prison for show; the pressure from the officials, combined with the Empress Dowager’s support, would ensure his safety.

However, the scene the officials expected—Zhu Qizhen flying into a rage—never came. There were no orders to "drag him out and beat him to death" or "toss him in prison."

Instead, Zhu Qizhen asked, in a measured tone, "Does the Northern Administrative Office have any results from the investigation into the alleged crimes and corruption of Senior Grand Secretary Yang Shiqi?"

Yang Shiqi was puzzled by this maneuver. He was confident in his integrity; he had committed no crimes against the Code. He feared only that the Jinyiwei would fabricate evidence, as the saying goes, "If you want to incriminate someone, you will always find a pretext."

But Zhu Qizhen’s next move defied all expectations.

Commander Liu Mian of the Northern Administrative Office spoke with an air of absolute righteousness: "After a thorough investigation by our office, we have found that the Senior Grand Secretary, Yang Shiqi, is completely free of any wrongdoing. Master Yang is devoted to the nation, incorruptible, loves the people, possesses profound wisdom, maintains harmonious relations with his colleagues, understands the greater good, and has a keen eye for talent. He has recommended pillars of the state without bias, embodying the virtues of the gentlemen of old. He is truly a model for all scholars in the world. While he may not rival Confucius, he is not far behind..."

Zhu Qizhen’s face remained expressionless as he asked flatly, "Is that really so?"