Chapter Twenty-One: The Case of the Red Pill

On July 22nd, the old emperor's funeral was held. On the 23rd, the imperial edict was announced, naming the eldest prince, Zhu Changluo, as emperor, granting two million taels of gold from the treasury to the generals and soldiers on the nine borders, and abolishing the mining taxes across the realm. The whole empire rejoiced.

Zhu Changluo summoned the ministers and declared his father's last wish: to confer the title of Empress upon Consort Zheng. The ministers voiced unanimous opposition, citing the lack of precedent in all dynasties; if Consort Zheng were made Empress, what position would remain for Lady Wang, Zhu Changluo's biological mother? Zhu Changluo, seizing the opportunity, agreed to postpone the matter for further discussion.

Consort Zheng, both angered and fearful, sent eight beauties to Zhu Changluo. He accepted them all without hesitation. With the shadow of his father no longer looming over him, he indulged himself completely, reveling in pleasures with the beauties each day, his joy unbridled.

On the first day of August, Zhu Changluo was formally enthroned, renaming the following year as the first year of Taichang. He promoted a great number of officials, nearly all from the Eastern Grove faction, filling all the vacancies left by his father. During these busy days, Zhu Xiaoqi, as the crown prince, was run ragged by the constant ceremonies, each requiring his participation. Daily, he was led to and fro like a puppet. Fortunately, his robust health let him endure it.

On August 3rd, he officially moved into the Eastern Palace. The imperial grandson was finally to become the crown prince, bringing immense happiness to Lady Ke, who offered incense and prayers ceaselessly. Li Jinzhong, before Lady Wang's spirit tablet, prostrated himself eighteen times, his forehead reddened from the effort.

On August 10th, just ten days into his reign, the emperor fell ill. Zhu Xiaoqi overheard Lady Li, the imperial consort, cursing bitterly, "These vixens!"—the cause of illness was likely no different. Imperial physicians were summoned, but their treatments yielded no improvement.

On August 14th, Cuī Wensheng, a trusted eunuch and secretary in the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs, presented the emperor with a "purging medicine." Cuī Wensheng, who managed the Imperial Pharmacy, offered what was essentially rhubarb—a powerful laxative. That night, the emperor suffered thirty to forty bouts of diarrhea, growing ever weaker. On August 20th, the emperor issued a decree abandoning plans to confer Empress Dowager upon Consort Zheng.

On the evening of August 21st, the emperor summoned Zhu Xiaoqi. He first dismissed all eunuchs and palace maids, then said, "I fear my body will not last." Raising his hand to silence Zhu Xiaoqi, he continued, "I know my own health; you needn't say more. What worries me is that after I'm gone, you're still young. Some will not truly obey you, and may feign loyalty. Therefore, I wish to confer Imperial Noble Consort upon Lady Li. After I'm gone, she will be Imperial Grand Consort, and thus can aid you."

Zhu Xiaoqi replied, "Father, the heavens favor the virtuous; you'll recover."

"You are filial—I know—but there's no need to discuss further. What do you think of my plan?"

"I don't understand, Father. Why not make her Empress? Wouldn't that help me more?"

"You are still too young, lacking experience. The Imperial Dowager and Imperial Grand Consort are not the same. I hope she will help you, but I don't want her to dominate you. If she were Empress Dowager, you would be obliged to obey her, or else be accused of unfilial conduct. As Imperial Grand Consort, you won't have that problem. Do you understand?"

It seemed he truly did not comprehend the intricacies of political struggle; he simply assumed the greater the support, the better, never realizing that excessive support might become a hindrance. Who could guarantee Lady Li, if made Empress Dowager, would not harbor other ambitions? His father had thought it all through.

"Lady Li has treated me as her own child, she is fit to be Imperial Noble Consort."

"That phrase is good: 'as her own,' not 'her own.' We use her to shield you from unfavorable rumors, but must also guard against her growing too powerful. If you grasp this, I can rest easy."

"I understand, Father. Please be at ease."

On August 22nd, the emperor summoned Chief Minister Fang Congzhe and others, instructing Zhu Xiaoqi to sit in on state affairs. He told the ministers he would not attend court for now, needing to focus on his health, and entrusted the nation and the crown prince to their care. He attributed his illness to Cuī Wensheng's improper medicine and expelled him from the palace, while again proposing to confer Imperial Noble Consort upon Lady Li (of the Western Li clan).

That night, several key figures of the Eastern Grove faction gathered at the residence of Zhejiang Censor Zuo Guangdou: Grand Academicians Liu Yiyi and Han Kuang, Minister of Personnel Zhou Jiamo, Minister of Revenue Li Ruhua, Minister of Rites Sun Ruyou, Left Censor of Military Affairs Yang Lian, Assistant Supervisor Gao Panlong, and Zuo Guangdou himself—eight of the most important Eastern Grove members then in the capital. With the emperor seeking to make Lady Li Imperial Noble Consort, Zuo Guangdou had convened them to strategize.

Sun Ruyou spoke first: "If Lady Li becomes Imperial Noble Consort, and later, perhaps Imperial Grand Consort, having raised the crown prince for many years, she will surely wield great influence over the new emperor. Even if she is not the emperor, she may as well be."

Liu Yiyi said, "We, the Eastern Grove, have long fought for His Majesty's ascension, and so now, with our efforts, the Eastern Grove dominates the court. With the crown prince's succession, our merit is undeniable. If Lady Li becomes Imperial Noble Consort, she will become an obstacle to us." As all were of the same faction, their words were frank.

Yang Lian frowned at Liu Yiyi but said nothing.

Zhou Jiamo said, "For now, we should delay. If we stall until His Majesty passes, she will have no choice but to accept our terms."

Yang Lian frowned again and said, "Lady Li has always enjoyed exclusive imperial favor. If made Imperial Noble Consort, her arrogance will only grow, her desires insatiable—what actions she might take are unpredictable. We must not let her succeed! Find excuses to delay, coordinate with Wang An, and ensure the inner palace reports any developments to us immediately."

All agreed with him, and Zuo Guangdou added, "If she is made Noble Consort, the precedent of Empress Wu is not far off."

They resolved that, since neither the late emperor's consorts nor the current emperor's lawful wife nor the crown prince's mother had yet been made empress, Lady Li's elevation could not precede theirs. This response left the emperor no grounds for objection. Delay, then, and see what happens when delay is no longer possible.

On August 24th, the emperor again pressed for Lady Li's elevation. Minister of Rites Sun Ruyou replied that only after conferring Empress Dowager upon the late emperor's wife and Empress upon the current emperor's lawful wife and the crown prince's mother could they consider Noble Consort for Lady Li.

On August 29th, the Assistant Supervisor of the Court of State Ceremonies, Li Kezhuo, claimed to possess an immortal elixir for the emperor. The eunuchs dared not decide, and reported to Chief Minister Fang Congzhe, who said, "He claims it's an immortal elixir; I dare not believe it," and refused to grant an audience. At this time, the emperor summoned the ministers again, insisting Lady Li be made Imperial Noble Consort immediately. The ministers were astonished at such urgency. Zhu Xiaoqi, standing aside, forced a bitter smile; Lady Li had just told him that being Noble Consort would not suffice. As he pondered, Lady Li burst into the hall, directly addressing him: "Child, step outside for a moment," then turned and left, never so much as glancing at the emperor or ministers.

Zhu Xiaoqi looked to the emperor, who nodded helplessly. He had no choice but to follow her outside. Lady Li said, "Child, didn't I tell you? Why don't you tell the emperor directly I want to be Empress?" Zhu Xiaoqi whispered, "Your Grace, such matters must be approached slowly. Isn't there a saying, 'haste makes waste'? One step at a time, there's no need to rush."

Lady Li grew angry, raising her voice: "Child, you know how I have treated you. Is it too much to ask for your help with this? Go, go on, just say it plainly." Zhu Xiaoqi, resigned, returned to the hall.

Everyone watched him. He approached the emperor and whispered, "Her Grace says she wishes to become Empress." Though spoken softly, in the silent hall, all heard it. The ministers stared, exchanging incredulous glances.

Minister of Rites Sun Ruyou hurriedly knelt, saying, "Regarding the matter of conferring Noble Consort, I shall see to it at once." The emperor understood and said, "Good, good, handle it quickly. You may all withdraw." Zhu Xiaoqi thought to himself, "I can't be blamed for this; I tried to advise her against such haste. Wouldn't securing the Noble Consort title first have been better? Now things look precarious."

The emperor then heard of someone offering an immortal elixir and ordered it brought forth. Li Kezhuo prepared a red pill at noon and presented it. After taking it, the emperor felt much improved, even regained his appetite. After dining, he instructed Li Kezhuo to prepare another for the evening. Zhu Xiaoqi felt uneasy about the medicine and consulted the imperial physicians, who likewise doubted its efficacy but had no better remedy. They advised the crown prince to suggest only one pill per day, not two.

Zhu Xiaoqi went to his father with this advice, but the emperor, finally feeling relief after more than twenty days of illness, refused and took another pill that evening. Zhu Xiaoqi stayed vigil until the third watch (eleven o’clock at night), and, seeing nothing amiss, went to sleep.

He had barely rested when he was awakened. Wang An quietly said from outside, "His Majesty has passed away."