Chapter 27: Wang Xin

In the imperial palace of the Qi state, the gathered officials were performing with desperate fervor, their speeches dedicated solely to praising the greatness of Emperor Gao Yang and the inevitable destruction of the Zhou clan.

Gao Yang, bored to the point of numbness, sipped his wine with a listless air. The Xianbei generals, aware of their own lack of eloquence, focused intently on eating and drinking to avoid saying anything that might invite disaster. Those with more experience barely touched their chopsticks, fearing that the inevitable turn of events would leave them unable to keep their food down.

"His Highness the Crown Prince arrives!"

The announcement by the young eunuch shocked everyone present; the Crown Prince rarely appeared when the Emperor intended to execute his ministers. Gao Yin entered the hall with quick, measured steps and bowed to pay his respects to Gao Yang.

"Hmm."

Gao Yang merely grunted. It was only after a close attendant whispered in his ear that he showed a flicker of interest. "Bring him in."

E-Yongle brought a middle-aged Han man with a broad face into the hall. When the ministers recognized him as Wang Xin, the Minister of the Ministry of Ancestral Rites, a ripple of uneasy suspicion spread through them.

Gao Yang began to laugh the moment he saw Wang Xin. As the man reached him, the Emperor’s grin grew wider and more intense. "Wang Yuanjing, has your illness recovered?"

His voice was full of dramatic modulations, dripping with an indescribable, sinister mockery and triumph.

Presumably knowing that death was unavoidable, Wang Xin spoke with composure. "I had recovered, but upon arriving here, the ailment returned."

Seeing his forced calm, Gao Yang scoffed and turned to E-Yongle. "What was he doing when you went to summon him?"

E-Yongle knelt on the floor, his expression humble. "Minister Wang was sitting by the window, swinging his legs and reciting poetry."

Gao Yang was even more amused. "Splendid, simply splendid... My banquet for the Emperor of Great Qi is not good enough for you, so you prefer to drink and amuse yourself at home? That is your illness!"

He suddenly stood up and smashed his wine cup against the ground, the sharp sound serving as the overture to murder.

"Wang Yuanjing, your illness is of the heart! For a heart-sickness, one must cut the heart out to see how it can be cured!"

Gao Yang drew his sword and, laughing loudly, stepped toward Wang Xin. At the same time, he scanned the faces of his ministers; if anyone failed to look sufficiently terrified, he would be marked as the next target.

Suddenly, from behind Gao Yang, came the sound of repeated kowtowing.

Gao Yang turned to see Gao Yin bowing his head heavily against the floor, again and again.

Gao Yin began with a whimper, then a sob, and finally, he was weeping uncontrollably. The sight emanated an inexplicable sense of sorrow, and the ministers could not help but burst into tears as well. Before long, the hall was filled with the sound of weeping, resembling a vast funeral chamber.

Gao Yang frowned, strode back to Gao Yin, grabbed him by the hair, and demanded loudly, "What are you crying for?!"

"The Emperor—the Emperor’s decisions are always correct!" Gao Yin sobbed. "Our Qi state is on the right path, and I am... I am crying out of sheer joy!"

The irony was heavy. Gao Yang felt both furious and pained by the bloodstain forming on his son's forehead.

"I kill Wang Yuanjing as easily as I would a slave; why are you acting like this?"

Gao Yin sobbed, "Guan Longpang and Bi Gan offered honest remonstrance and are still remembered as legends today, while Jie of Xia and Zhou of Shang are forever branded as tyrants. If Your Majesty kills Wang Yuanjing, he gains fame, but if you spare him, Your Majesty gains the reputation of a wise ruler. I do not begrudge Wang Yuanjing his life; I weep for Your Majesty’s reputation. He prides himself on being untethered and free, but in truth, he does not cherish his life. He chases hollow fame only to invite real disaster, cutting himself off from the world. How can I not be saddened that Your Majesty would be tainted by the infamy of killing such a madman!"

Gao Yang looked at Wang Xin. "Is that so? Are you such a fool?"

Wang Xin remained silent, eyes closed and neck stiff, as if he disdained to speak and was determined to die.

Gao Yang was left speechless. He sat back down in silence for a long time before finally speaking. "If not for the Crown Prince, you would have truly gotten the better of me today. Gao Dezheng!"

A minister of refined bearing stepped forward; his very appearance suggested sharp intelligence. He listened to Gao Yang’s orders.

"Strip Wang Xin of his position as Minister of the Ministry of Ancestral Rites. Zheng Yi shall take the post. Wang Xin is to reflect on his mistakes at home; he is not to leave without an order."

"Watch him closely—do not let him die!"

Gao Yang said the last sentence through gritted teeth.

"As you command."

Gao Dezheng walked up to Wang Xin. "Minister Wang... or rather, Wang Xin, come with me."

He signaled to the guards, who led Wang Xin away. Among the officials, Zheng Yi rose to thank Gao Yang.

"Tomorrow, I will issue the formal decree for your appointment. Are you satisfied?"

Zheng Yi nodded repeatedly. "I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s favor; I will serve with all my heart!"

"See that you do." Gao Yang gave a contemptuous smile, then his expression shifted abruptly. "Now, get out, all of you! The sight of you bores me!"

He waved his hand impatiently. The officials felt as if they had been granted a pardon and left the banquet in an orderly fashion. Even E-Yongle was sent outside, leaving only the most noble father and son of the Qi state in the hall.

"What do you think you are, daring to shout in here!"

Gao Yang suddenly exploded, kicking Gao Yin and sending him sprawling. Gao Yin quickly checked his ribs, relieved they were not broken.

"Hahahaha..."

Gao Yin struggled to his feet, and seeing Gao Yang watching him with a cold expression, he could not help but laugh. Gao Yang, who had intended to keep a straight face, found himself unable to suppress a smile. "What are you laughing at?"

"I... *hiss*... I think your performance was excellent, Father."

Gao Yin gasped softly, speaking slowly. When he had visited Hulü Guang, a servant had happened to bring mutton soup, and someone had happened to mention Wang Xin’s situation, allowing him to arrive just in time to save him.

If all of this were mere coincidence, then his ability to protect Wang Xin in the end was certainly no accident. Gao Yin’s weeping had been a calculated move to earn favor; he had tried his best, but he never truly expected to save Wang Xin.

Gao Yang scoffed. "Do you know who this Wang Yuanjing is? He is the Prime Minister of the Qin state and the sixth-generation descendant of Wang Meng."

Gao Yin was slightly stunned, feeling a sense of temporal disorientation.

"He is also the older brother of Wang Shulang."

Wang Shulang, known as Wang Xi, had been recruited by Gao Huan years ago. He had followed Gao Huan to Jinyang to serve as an advisor and had become a close associate of Gao Yan, the Prince of Changshan. After the Qi state was established, he remained by Gao Yan’s side, a trusted aide of over a decade.

Gao Yan had repeatedly submitted memorials to remonstrate with Gao Yang, but Gao Yan was not particularly gifted with words. Gao Yang suspected that the eloquent and flowery memorials were all written by Wang Xi, so he wanted to kill him. Gao Yan had staged a drama, personally giving Wang Xi twenty lashes as a 'punishment,' so Gao Yang spared his life and sent him to the armor-making workshop instead. Three years later, when Gao Yan went on a hunger strike, Gao Yang sent Wang Xi back to the manor to persuade his brother, which worked.

In short, Wang Xi was Gao Yan’s right-hand man—if Gao Yan were compared to Yinzhen, Wang Xi would be his Wu Sidao.

Gao Yang was deeply wary of his two younger brothers. He knew their characters and knew they would never play the role of the loyal Duke of Zhou, so he sought to weaken their power. Since he could not move against Gao Yan himself, he had tried to clip his wings by removing Wang Xi. Since he couldn't kill Wang Xi, he had intended to kill his brother, Wang Xin, to strike at Gao Yan’s influence indirectly.

Of course, Gao Yang would never have imagined that if he had truly killed Wang Xin, Wang Xi would have sought revenge by inciting Gao Yan to launch a coup to seize power from Gao Yin, or even to usurp the throne.

However, the result today left Gao Yang quite satisfied.

"You handled yourself quite well today."

Gao Yang had not originally intended for Gao Yin to be involved; killing Wang Xin had been his plan—when an Emperor wants to punish someone, he will always find a reason. But hearing that Gao Yin had visited the six workshops and called upon Hulü Guang had moved him, making him want to test the boy's mettle. He had not expected him to rise to the occasion so well.

Perhaps the plan could be reversed: by having Wang Xin owe a debt of gratitude to Gao Yin, Wang Xin could then influence Wang Xi.

A scholar with a temperament like Wang Xin's would never yield to Gao Yang’s intimidation. They cherished their reputation, and their families were prestigious; they did not need to bow for five pecks of rice—reputation was the very foundation of their existence. Yet, such a life-saving grace was a debt they would have to acknowledge and eventually repay. Otherwise, no matter how much they claimed to be aloof, if they failed to help the Crown Prince in a future time of need, they would be mocked by others.

And that, to them, would be far more painful than death.