Hot flashes

Zhou Heng stood up, walked to the window, and opened it. Sunlight streamed in and shone on his face.

"When Zheng Mingyi killed people, did he follow any rules? When he ordered people to set fire to Zheng Liu's house and burn her to death, did he follow any rules? Do those who lend money at exorbitant interest rates, exploit the people, and drive them to ruin and death follow any rules?"

He turned around and looked at Shen Yu.

"Prime Minister Shen, you've been in court for decades and have seen far more than I have. Tell me, who do those rules protect? Are they for peasants like Zheng Liu's family, or for officials like Zheng Mingyi?"

Shen Yu remained silent.

Zhou Heng walked back and sat down on the edge of the couch.

"Prime Minister Shen," he said, "before I came to Jiangling, His Majesty said something to me."

Shen Yu looked at him.

Zhou Heng said, "He said, 'Do whatever you want. And if anything happens after you do it, I will take responsibility.'"

Shen Yu's expression changed.

Zhou Heng looked at him.

"You just said that this trust will frighten many people. I know. But do you know what this trust has made me do?"

He paused.

"Let me dare to kill. Let me dare to build canals. Let me dare to open pawnshops. Let me dare to let those farmers who have lived half their lives without ever seeing water finally see water flowing into their fields."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was like a hammer, striking Shen Yu's heart again and again.

"Prime Minister Shen, you come from a powerful family. Your foundation lies in land, money, and people. The new policies are going to touch these things, and you are afraid, you are dissatisfied, and you want to stop them. I understand."

He stood up and looked at Shen Yu.

"But have you ever thought that in this world, there are not only noble families, but also farmers, artisans, and people who have lived their whole lives without even knowing what sugar tastes like?"

He turned and walked out.

He stopped at the door without turning around.

"Prime Minister Shen, please take good care of yourself. Once you've recovered, we'll meet again in court."

He pushed open the door and went out.

Shen Yu sat on the couch, staring at the closed door for a long time.

After that day, Shen Yu's illness was "cured".

On the fourth day, he went to court.

Standing at the head of the civil officials' procession, holding his official tablet, his expression remained unchanged. It was as if his three days of illness had never happened.

In early May, a petition impeaching the new policies of Gangneung was submitted.

The person who wrote the memorial was an official in the Censorate named Lin, a native of Jiangnan. The memorial stated that the new policies in Jiangling "disrupted the local area and aroused public resentment," and demanded that the court "thoroughly investigate the matter, hold those responsible accountable, and stop its implementation."

Xiao Jue glanced at the memorial and wrote three words: "Understood."

There was no thorough investigation, no accountability, and no cessation of the investigation.

Imperial Censor Lin was met with a rebuff.

In mid-May, the second petition was presented.

This time it was a joint petition. More than a dozen officials signed it, demanding that the court "thoroughly investigate the new policies in Jiangling and hold Zhou Heng accountable." The wording was much stronger than last time, directly labeling Zhou Heng as a "traitor who brought disaster to the country and the people."

Xiao Jue looked at the memorial and wrote four words: "Keep it in the middle, don't issue it."

There was no response, no statement, it was just left unresolved.

At the end of May, the third petition was presented.

This time it wasn't the censors, but the cabinet. Several cabinet ministers jointly submitted a memorial, saying that the new policies in Jiangling "shake the foundation of the country" and demanding that they be "suspended and discussed again."

The wording is very strong. The phrase "shaking the foundation of the nation" is not something that can be used casually.

Xiao Jue read the memorial and wrote six words: "My mind is made up. Do not discuss further."

The court remained quiet for three days.

Three days later, an even bigger storm arrived.

On the third day of the sixth lunar month, the morning court session was held.

Zhou Heng stood in the line of civil officials, watching those familiar faces step forward one by one and speak one by one.

They impeached him. They impeached the new policies. They impeached the local officials of Jiangling. They impeached Chen Shen—saying that he "abused his power and oppressed the people" in Jiangling.

One by one, item by item, they came in like a tide.

Zhou Heng stood there, motionless.

Xiao Jue sat on the throne, his face expressionless.

After everyone had finished speaking, he spoke.

"Are you done talking?"

The hall fell silent.

Xiao Jue's gaze swept across the faces of those people one by one.

"You impeached Zhou Heng, accusing him of bringing disaster to the country and its people. I ask you, in the three months since the Jiangling New Policies were implemented, have any people starved to death? Have any people sold their children? Have any families been destroyed?"

No one answered.

Xiao Jue waited for a while, then nodded.

"If you won't answer, I will," he said. "In the three months since the new policies were implemented in Jiangling, twelve irrigation canals have been repaired, benefiting more than three hundred farming households. Three government-run pawnshops have been opened, and those who borrow money receive interest at half the rate of pawnshops. The poll tax has been abolished and merged with the land tax, saving landless or small-land farmers a hundred or so coins a year."

He paused.

"Did you know these things?"

Still, no one answered.

"You don't understand," Xiao Jue said. "All you know is that the new policies have affected your interests. They've affected your land, your money, and your people. That's why you oppose them, want to impeach them, want to get rid of Zhou Heng, and want to stop the new policies."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was like a nail, driven into everyone's heart.

"But I tell you—"

He stood up, walked down the steps, and stepped by step, walked to those who were impeaching Zhou Heng.

"The new policies will not stop. Zhou Heng, I've got your back. Anyone with objections, come find me."

He turned around, walked back to the throne, and sat down.

"Dismiss the court."

The hall was deathly silent.

No one dared to move.

Xiao Jue sat on the throne, looking at those people.

"Aren't you leaving yet?"

The crowd receded like the tide.

Zhou Heng stood still.

Xiao Jue's gaze fell on him.

"come over."

Zhou Heng walked over.

Xiao Jue reached out, grabbed him, and pulled him into his arms.

Zhou Heng pressed his face against his chest, hearing the steady, powerful heartbeat there.

Xiao Jue's hand landed on his back, stroking it gently.

"Don't be afraid," he said. "I'm here."

Zhou Heng remained silent.

He nestled in his arms, listening to his heartbeat and feeling his warmth, slowly calming himself down.