Chapter 292: The Most Severe Punishment
As usual, Han Ruzi rose early and reviewed the large volume of memorials sent from the Capital, discovering some patterns within them.
Prince Donghai had been right—the Emperor could do as he pleased in some matters, but in others he was completely constrained.
The Emperor had made no requests, not even hints, yet from the palace to the court, officials had already begun proactively fulfilling his various needs. Here they dug a pond, there they built a summer retreat palace. Memorials suggesting the conferment of the Emperor’s birth mother as a second Empress Dowager grew increasingly numerous. The palace had even begun selecting concubines for the Emperor, and the relevant departments not only agreed but cooperated fully without the slightest evasion.
Yang Feng had endorsed the concubine selection memorial with “this matter brooks no delay.”
If Han Ruzi were content to live in the palace and indulge in various pleasures, he would be extremely comfortable. The only problem was that his throne might not be secure.
Han Ruzi sighed softly, then started in alarm. How long had it been since he reclaimed the throne, and already he felt tired?
He continued reading the remaining memorial copies. The content was even more tedious, yet it revealed how the court truly operated—mostly concerning the appointment, dismissal, promotion, and demotion of officials, along with numerous rewards. Many events had occurred recently, so merit-based rewards were indeed necessary.
The more he read, the angrier he became. The two fickle censors had actually received first-class merit! In the memorials, they were portrayed as the initiators and executors who supported the Emperor’s restoration. Future history books would likely record it the same way.
The Southern and Northern Army soldiers who had risked life and death with the Emperor received substantial rewards, mainly gold, silver, silk, and land, but very few received promotions. Chai Yue had led troops and arrived in time, but had not participated in battle—he only had the merit of pursuit, and was formally appointed as Northern Army Provost Marshal.
Chai Yue’s previous position as Provost Marshal had been unofficial; now it received formal recognition. For a young general without deep military experience, this was like reaching heaven in one step. As for Lin Kunsheng, Fang Daye, and others who led the Northern Army’s main force back to the Capital, their merits were even lower—they received less recognition than many ministers who had hidden at home, watching from both sides. The memorials said they had “responded as one upon hearing the command.”
Yang Feng had approved everything and even suggested additional rewards for the two censors.
Han Ruzi truly wanted to drag Yang Feng from the Capital and ask him what this was all about. It was supposed to be “rewarding according to merit,” so how had it become “rewarding according to official rank”? Grand Tutor Cui Hong, simply because he held the highest rank, had his crime of causing chaos in the Capital completely forgiven, while his supposed merit of supporting the Emperor before Tongxuan Hall was greatly emphasized. Not only was he himself appointed Grand General, but even his son Cui Teng was made a marquis.
Cui Teng’s merit was not insignificant, but it hardly warranted being made a marquis. Moreover, this enfeoffment had nothing to do with his own achievements—it was entirely inherited favor from his father.
Han Ruzi pushed away the memorials, his anger hard to calm. He understood Yang Feng’s intention: with the realm still unsettled, it was inadvisable to make many powerful enemies. Instead, they should appease the court ministers, ensuring they harbored no resentment or fear.
After sitting quietly for a moment, Han Ruzi became calm and peaceful. Thinking it over, Yang Feng’s approach was actually the only choice available. Since that was the case, why appear reluctant and unwilling? Better to welcome it with a smile, which would make the appeasement even more effective.
He picked up the remaining memorials. One was not a copy and had not been reviewed—it came from the accompanying Vice Minister of Revenue, Liu Zeqin. He had moved quickly, already formulating a plan for rewarding the wealthy merchants of Luoyang. After the Emperor reviewed it, an edict could be drafted and issued accordingly.
This was Han Ruzi’s first time personally reviewing a memorial, and he was very attentive. Just as he was about to read carefully, Chief Overseer Liu Jie entered to report that Wang Jianhuo had arrived.
Only then did Han Ruzi realize that noon was approaching. He had not attended the routine court assembly, which should have already ended under the direction of Cui Hong and Liu Zeqin.
Zhang Youcai, Ni Qiu, and four guards had remained by the Emperor’s side the entire time, but throughout the morning they had been completely silent. Except for occasionally pouring water, they might as well not have existed.
Time had simply passed. Han Ruzi had read a pile of memorials, gotten angry for a while, then calmed down, accomplishing basically nothing.
Han Ruzi felt a trace of alarm in his heart, and was even somewhat grateful for Ugly Wang’s arrival—at least this was something he could accomplish right now.
Prince Donghai had been waiting outside the tent for some time. When he heard the Emperor was free, he immediately slipped into the tent, and after paying his respects stood beside the Emperor. If any outsider had seen him, they would have thought he had been accompanying the Emperor all morning.
Wang Jianhuo entered the tent and respectfully kowtowed. “This commoner has heard that Your Majesty has already recovered the imperial seal. This is cause for celebration and congratulation.”
“Only heard?”
Wang Jianhuo did not respond.
“We have heard that all of Luoyang is spreading rumors that you made a wager with Us, to see who could find the imperial seal first. Some have even opened betting pools, and more people seem to favor you.”
“These are merely rumors spread by a few individuals, not worth mentioning. This commoner did indeed propose a wager, but Your Majesty did not accept. This is the answer this commoner gives to anyone who inquires.”
“If We were to accept the wager now, would that make Us a scoundrel?”
The normal half of Wang Jianhuo’s face smiled slightly, making him appear even more terrifying. “Whenever Your Majesty accepts, you are the winning party, and it could never be considered scoundrelly.”
“Since that is the case, We have won, which means you have lost. You not only forfeit everything, but the dozens of members of the Wang family are also at Our disposal.”
“Whether to kill or release them is entirely Your Majesty’s decision.” Wang Jianhuo was as submissive as an old dog with loose claws.
Han Ruzi looked toward Prince Donghai. “What kind of punishment do you think would be better?”
“Ah? I… I think… exile perhaps. This isn’t really such a serious crime.”
“No, this is the grave crime of overstepping one’s station. If a mere commoner in Luoyang can make Us lose face, how can We sweep across the realm?”
Prince Donghai did not care about Ugly Wang’s life or death. He had come to hear how the Emperor would deal with the Tan family, so he was now tongue-tied and did not know how to respond.
“Wang Jianhuo, you are renowned as a chivalrous hero, a man whose word is his bond, who can rally hundreds with a single call. Whether intentionally or not, you compete with the court for the people’s hearts. This alone is a capital offense. Do you confess your guilt?”
“This commoner confesses guilt. This commoner was arrogant. Though merely a commoner, I associated with pugilists from all quarters, was intoxicated with hosting and entertaining guests, took pride in my chivalrous reputation, and was of no benefit whatsoever to the state. My crime is enormous.”
Prince Donghai blinked, vaguely sensing that these two were putting on an act, though he could not understand the purpose.
“Good, it’s good that you confess. Let Us think—exile is too light, execution too quick—Wang Jianhuo, do you have a wife and children?”
“This commoner knows his appearance is ugly and has no intention of disturbing respectable women. To this day I have never married, much less had children. My father died early, but I still have two blood brothers and seven clan brothers…”
“Do you have no plans to marry and have children in the future either?”
Wang Jianhuo shook his head. “I have no such plans.”
“Very good. Then We sentence you to castration.”
Wang Jianhuo was stunned. He had considered many possibilities, but not this one.
Prince Donghai was even more shocked. “Your Majesty wants to make him a eunuch?”
“Only those who enter the palace to serve are called eunuchs. This is just castration, not becoming a eunuch.”
Prince Donghai still gaped. Ugly Wang was a famous hero throughout the realm. A blade between the legs would be the ultimate humiliation for him, worse than death.
“What about the Tan family?” Prince Donghai asked quietly.
“The Tan family has nothing to do with this matter. Great Chu does not punish the innocent. As long as the Tan family remains honest and law-abiding, they will naturally be fine. No one needs to plead for them. If they violate the law, pleading will be useless.”
Prince Donghai understood. The Emperor was directing all his resentment toward Ugly Wang, humiliating him with castration while sparing the Tan family, proving to the world that Ugly Wang’s intercession was meaningless.
Prince Donghai breathed a sigh of relief. At least the Tan family would be safe for a while. As for how long that would last, that was another matter. Thinking of this, he began to feel that the Emperor’s move was vicious , ruthless, and clever. He smiled and said, “Right, right, it has nothing to do with the Tan family. It’s Ugly Wang who overestimated himself and insisted on challenging Your Majesty’s authority.”
Han Ruzi kept staring at Wang Jianhuo. That extremely ugly face showed a brief moment of terror, the growths trembling slightly, but he quickly returned to normal, his gaze as calm as before.
“This commoner thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness and virtue.”
Han Ruzi did not speak. Prince Donghai said, “Wang Jianhuo, His Majesty wants to castrate you, and you still give thanks? Surely you don’t mean what you say.”
Ugly Wang shook his head gently. “Before imposing punishment, Your Majesty specifically asked whether this commoner intended to marry and have children. This commoner answered ‘no,’ which fully demonstrates Your Majesty’s benevolent heart. Since this commoner’s manhood is useless, taking a blade to it matters not. I hear there is a Little Knife Liu in the Marquis’s mansion in Luoyang whose skill is exquisite and whose cuts are extremely small. Those who undergo his procedure can get out of bed in three days and move freely in half a month. To experience this man’s blade work, this commoner has no regrets.”
Prince Donghai could hardly believe his own ears.
Han Ruzi also secretly admired this Ugly Wang in his heart, and said to the others in the tent: “Withdraw. We wish to speak with Wang Jianhuo alone.”
No one moved. Wang Jianhuo was tall and powerfully built, with long, strong arms. Even if his martial skills were ordinary, he could easily overpower the Emperor. Having just received the sentence of castration, he was even more likely to resort to violence. Everyone dared not leave the two men alone.
“Withdraw,” Han Ruzi repeated.
Zhang Youcai stepped forward, about to speak, but was forced back by the Emperor’s gaze. He dared not utter a single word and led the way out of the tent. The four guards withdrew most slowly, still looking back frequently even when they reached the tent entrance.
“Rise,” Han Ruzi said.
Wang Jianhuo, who had been kneeling on the ground all along, stood up and looked calmly at the Emperor.
“Where did the imperial seal come from?”
“Someone entrusted it to me, but I don’t know who this person was. This commoner only saw the imperial seal and a slip of paper with ‘returning the item to its rightful owner’ written on it. This commoner is not the rightful owner – Your Majesty is.” Wang Jianhuo paused. “So Your Majesty had already won the wager from the beginning. This commoner was bold and presumptuous, delaying several days before returning the imperial seal and deliberately creating trouble. I deserve my crimes and willingly accept punishment.”
Meng E must have had compelling reasons to travel eastward with the imperial seal and had finally entrust it to Ugly Wang in Luoyang.
Han Ruzi became even more puzzled.
“How did you manage to deliver the imperial seal to the guards’ tent?”
“This commoner knows my crimes are grave and willingly accept any punishment, but I dare not betray my friends.”
Han Ruzi laughed once. “Your crimes are indeed grave – so grave that even castration is insufficient to atone for them. Do you want to become an official?”
Wang Jianhuo was stunned.
“There is a kind of official position more painful than castration and more ruthless than execution – that of an official who breaks the rules and dares to act.” Han Ruzi looked at Wang Jianhuo, uncertain in his heart whether he was doing the right thing. “You pride yourself on your chivalrous reputation. When an unknown person entrusted you with the imperial seal, you made sure to return it to its rightful owner. When a former enemy sought help, you risked your own life to assist them. Now the realm is in chaos, the people cannot make a living, and the common folk hope for a capable official as parched earth begs for timely rain. Do you dare shoulder this heavy responsibility?”
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