Chapter 70: Lost Her Husband, and Paid with Her Son

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Kong Kejian, his face showing deep sorrow. “Seeing Master Kong in such a state pains me greatly as well. Let it be so—I'll bestow a residence upon the Kong family here, so that Master Kong may enjoy his later years in the capital. Qufu is not as suitable for living as Yingtian, nor does it have many skilled physicians… With Master Kong in Yingtian, I can send the imperial physicians to treat him whenever needed!”

What a move!

Kong Kejian and Kong Xixue felt as if struck by lightning. The Emperor Hongwu before them was truly ruthless. Kong Kejian’s lingering affection for the former dynasty was clear; not only did the emperor refuse to let him retain the title of Duke Who Continues the Sage, but he intended to keep him in the capital. Zhu Yuanzhang’s strategy was relentless, severing all retreat for the Kong family at once.

By keeping Kong Kejian in Yingtian, the emperor was effectively detaining the former Duke Who Continues the Sage as a hostage. Kong Xixue became desperate and hurriedly pleaded, “Your Majesty’s kindness is engraved in my heart, but how can I, as a son, bear to leave my father alone in the capital? I beg Your Majesty to allow me to bring my father home and fulfill my filial duty!”

This time, he was truly frightened, falling to his knees to kowtow before the emperor.

Zhu Yuanzhang remained unmoved, smiling rather than frowning. “Of all virtues, filial piety comes first. I understand your feelings. Tell me, do you have a son?”

Kong Xixue did not grasp the emperor’s intention and simply answered, “I have a son, named Kong Ne.”

“Then it’s easily settled. Just send your son to Yingtian to attend to your father. You are the Duke Who Continues the Sage, with your own responsibilities, but your son can fulfill your filial duties in your place. This is a perfect solution for all. Don’t worry about your son’s education; I will see to it he is sent to the Imperial Academy and assigned the finest teachers…”

Kong Xixue was dumbstruck. Could the emperor truly be like this? Not content with holding his father as a hostage, now he would not even let his son go?

Kong Xixue could have slapped himself. Now he had lost both his father and his son! The old and young generations of the Kong family were both to be held in the capital. It seemed the Kongs could no longer avoid being bound to the Ming dynasty’s chariot, whether they wished it or not.

Father and son of the Kong family forced a bitter smile.

They could only hope the Ming dynasty would endure to the end, because should the Mongols ever manage to defeat the Ming and march south, the legacy of the Kong family might continue, but it would have nothing to do with the branch of Kong Kejian.

“Are you dissatisfied?” Zhu Yuanzhang’s displeasure grew at Kong Xixue’s uncertainty. He pointed to Zhang Zhengchang and said, “The Daoist Master Zhang willingly left his son in the capital. Is his son not also precious? Is your Kong family more delicate than the Zhangs?”

With the emperor’s words this final, Kong Xixue had no choice but to comply. Bowing his head, he replied, “I obey, Your Majesty!”

“Good—let us drink!” Old Zhu, having completed the arrangements in his mind, was in high spirits. He raised his cup and invited all to join him.

Xu Da and Zhu Biao were thoughtful. Kong Xixue drank his wine in one gulp, but it tasted bitter, mirroring his mood. Meanwhile, Zhang Zhengchang detected a trace of sweetness in his own cup, and if he had not deliberately restrained himself, he might have laughed aloud.

If any word could express his feelings at this moment, old Zhang could only recall his own favorite phrase: delightful!

He was simply overjoyed! Witnessing another’s misfortune, it turned out, was even sweeter than receiving benefits oneself.

Everything the Kong family had suffered, Zhang Zhengchang had also endured two months earlier. The only difference was that he, unlike the Kongs, knew when to advance or retreat.

This ruler before him brooked not the slightest dissent. The Zhang family’s sense of propriety was what had saved them.

Zhang Zhengchang recalled the emperor’s letter to Mount Longhu and the timing of his own summons to the palace, and now fully understood the emperor’s intent: he had used the Zhangs to caution the Kongs, showing all under heaven that compliance would be generously rewarded, but resistance would reveal the true cunning of imperial power.

The privileges and rewards given to the Zhangs were the very blade pressed against the Kong family’s flesh.

Understanding this, Zhang Zhengchang felt no urge to grow arrogant from imperial favor. Instead, he was filled with deep awe at Emperor Hongwu’s methods.

None of this, however, diminished his secret delight. Before entering the palace, the Kong family’s disdain for him, though not openly expressed, was always palpable. Now, that former humiliation had transformed into the joy of watching a downfall.

His barely suppressed urge to laugh only heightened the Kong family’s distress.

Kong Kejian trembled uncontrollably. Fearing his father might lose composure, Kong Xixue quickly said, “Your Majesty, my father is unwell. I beg Your Majesty’s permission to withdraw.”

“Go then. I will send the imperial physicians to examine Master Kong,” Zhu Yuanzhang replied, rising personally to escort the Kong father and son from the side hall, maintaining perfect decorum. The two left the palace and boarded their carriage.

Once alone, Kong Kejian could hold back no longer and wept bitterly.

…

Meanwhile, Zhu Yuanzhang returned to the side hall.

The atmosphere settled into a brief and uneasy silence.

“Xu Da, what do you make of this?” Zhu Yuanzhang inquired, turning to the man beside him.

Xu Da took a sip of wine and replied, “I fear the Duke Who Continues the Sage’s illness is but a pretense…”

After all his observation, Xu Da had seen through Kong Kejian’s act!

“What?” Of all present, only Zhang Zhengchang had been unaware that Kong Kejian was feigning illness. Only now, after Xu Da revealed the truth, did he understand the emperor’s severity.

A traitor!

Zhang Zhengchang recalled Zhu Biao’s private remarks about the Kong family. To think that Kong Kejian, just to preserve a connection with the north, would feign madness and foolishness! No wonder Zhu Yuanzhang had alluded to treachery—he had not wronged them in the least.

Old Zhang sighed. In the end, of all those present, he alone had been blind to the truth.

Zhu Yuanzhang exposed Kong Kejian’s deception but did not pursue the matter further. Instead, his gaze fell with interest upon the youngest among them, Zhang Yuchu.

At that moment, Zhang Yuchu was still dazed.

“Why are you silent?” Old Zhu, having dealt with the Kong family, was in excellent spirits and felt like teasing the youth.

Zhang Yuchu stammered, “Y-Your Majesty, I…I don’t know what to say.”

The emperor burst out laughing, his mood radiant. Zhang Yuchu, however, had been bewildered since the moment he entered the side hall to participate in the “performance.” Only yesterday, the man drinking with his father’s close friend, Huang He, turned out to be the emperor himself!

The shock was almost too much for Zhang Yuchu’s young heart.

Fortunately, he was quick-witted. After a hint from his father, he remained quietly in the corner, and Zhu Yuanzhang noticed everything.

“You’re quite good—not like your brother, who is rather disagreeable!” Old Zhu praised Zhang Yuchu, not forgetting to take a jab at Zhang Yi.

“Since it was you who helped your father compile the treatise on variolation, you too shall be rewarded as your father is. Work hard, and perhaps Mount Longhu will reach new heights in your hands!”

“Thank you, Uncle Emperor!” Zhang Yuchu quickly bowed in gratitude.

“Zhang Zhengchang, bring your son to the palace again tomorrow. I shall discuss the matter of variolation with you in detail,” Zhu Yuanzhang said, sending the Zhang family off before turning once more to Xu Da.

“Xu Da, do you know why I insisted you return from the front lines?”

Xu Da was surprised; so it wasn’t just to escort the Duke Who Continues the Sage?

(End of chapter)