Chapter Two: The Simple-Minded Child

Empress Meng was the granddaughter of the late Commander of the Cavalry and Defender of Meizhou, posthumously honored as Grand Marshal Meng Yuan. She was dignified, virtuous, intelligent, and well-mannered. However, Empress Meng had been chosen for Zhao Xu by Grand Empress Dowager Gao, arranged entirely by her, and Meng was three years older than Zhao Xu. Thus, she was deeply disliked by him.

Meng had studied the classics from childhood, was knowledgeable and sensible, often quoting Confucius and Mencius, and praising Emperor Renzong. Zhao Xu himself had been well-educated since childhood, surrounded by tutors and ministers of similar outlook. How, then, could Empress Meng ever win Zhao Xu's favor?

Empress Meng was sturdy in build, and standing beside the frail and delicate Zhao Xu, they looked nothing like husband and wife—more like siblings, or even mother and son...

Song Jieyu Liu, petite and delicate, came from humble origins. Her speech was crude and flirtatious, yet Zhao Xu adored her.

Zhao Xu had long harbored the desire to depose Empress Meng.

Most crucially, Empress Meng was arranged by the late Empress Dowager Gao, representing the Yuanyou faction. Since ascending the throne at nine, Zhao Xu had been surrounded and monitored by Yuanyou ministers led by Sima Guang. These ministers respected only Empress Dowager Gao, treated the young emperor with indifference, and never consulted him on state affairs, always looking to Gao for direction. This had lasted seven years, and for seven years Zhao Xu had suffered in silence and resentment.

After Empress Dowager Gao's death, Zhao Xu assumed personal rule and immediately dismissed the Yuanyou ministers, such as Fan Chunren and Lü Dafang, and promoted officials from the Yuanfeng era—Zhang Dun, Zeng Bu, Cai Bian, and Cai Jing—abolishing all policies from Gao's regency, commanding a restoration and implementation of the Yuanfeng reforms.

At this moment, the case of witchcraft erupted, intensifying these tensions.

Zhao Xu ordered a thorough investigation, and Zhang Dun, Cai Bian, and others seized the maids and eunuchs around the empress, gouging eyes, cutting tongues, roasting on fire, flaying skin, subjecting them to severe torture. Many confessed under duress.

"Your Majesty, we have uncovered the truth," Zhang Dun said, presenting several confessions. "Here are the statements; we come now to request your orders."

"Outrageous!" Zhao Xu was so angered he coughed violently, pounding the armrest of his chair. "I shall not spare such wicked traitors!"

"Your Majesty, please calm yourself and preserve your health," Zeng Bu advised. "Empress Meng has always been composed and gentle; how could she be involved in such heinous rebellion? Surely it is the work of those around her. I hope Your Majesty will investigate carefully."

"Master Zeng, you are mistaken," Zhang Dun shook his head. "I have discovered the empress is in close contact with certain ministers, and corresponded with exiled officials. This witchcraft in the palace is certainly the work of treacherous factions, incited by Empress Meng. Your Majesty, they must not be spared."

"What do you propose for their punishment, Master Zhang?" Zhao Xu asked after a moment’s thought.

"I recommend deposing Empress Meng, revoking the posthumous titles and ranks of Sima Guang and Lü Gongzhu, destroying their tombs, exposing their bodies as a warning to others," Zhang Dun answered.

"Your Majesty, such actions must not be taken," Cai Bian interjected. "If the empress is at fault, remove her title, but do not publicize the matter, lest it tarnish the name of Empress Dowager Xuanren. Sima Guang and others are already dead; why disturb their graves? Such measures would lose the people's trust."

To oppose Zhang Dun, Cai Bian unwittingly aligned himself with Zeng Bu.

"Minister Cai is right," Zeng Bu added. "Empress Dowager Xuanren protected Your Majesty for nine years, her virtue immense, winning hearts throughout the empire; when she passed, the realm mourned as if losing a parent. If her reputation is damaged by slander, it would not only dishonor filial piety but surely alienate the people."

"I have no intention to defame Her Majesty," Zhao Xu replied quickly.

Although Empress Dowager Gao was gone and Zhao Xu had abolished her policies, he dared not be too blatant. The Dowager's virtuous reputation was known throughout the realm, and after all, the Song dynasty governed by filial piety.

"But if not so, under what pretext shall Meng be demoted? And after Meng, whom should be made empress?" Zhao Xu asked.

Zeng Bu sighed inwardly, then answered, "During Emperor Zhenzong's reign, Empress Liu was replaced by Consort Liu under similar circumstances. But Your Majesty must obtain edicts from both palaces; only then will the realm accept it."

The situation of Empress Liu during Emperor Zhenzong's time was much like that of Consort Liu now, providing Zhao Xu with precedent for deposing the empress and establishing a new one.

However, Dowager Xiang and Lady Zhu, Zhao Xu’s mother, were still alive, so for such a major affair, edicts from both palaces were required.

"Your words are most fitting," Zhao Xu said, delighted by the precedent.

Zeng Bu had seized the initiative regarding the new empress, leaving Zhang Dun, Cai Bian, and others resentful. Later, Zhang Dun, seeking favor with Zhao Xu, even forged the two palaces' edicts for the deposition.

This, however, is a tale for another time.

The following year, Empress Meng was deposed and sent to the Cold Palace, while Consort Liu was elevated to Empress. Zhang Dun, Cai Bian, and Zeng Bu seized this opportunity to further strike at the Yuanyou faction, repeatedly demoting Fan Chunren, Lü Dafang, Su Shi, and Su Che. Su Shi was first sent to Yingzhou, then to Dingzhou, then to Huizhou in Guangnan, and finally, at sixty-two, Su Shi drifted alone to the remote and desolate Qiongtai, Danzhou.

This was second only to execution of an entire clan...

Su Shi’s family was torn apart; his wife and children scattered, his life almost utterly ruined.

...

Qiongtai, Danzhou

Qiongtai lay at the southernmost tip of the Song realm, under the administration of Guangnan West Circuit, isolated far out at sea. The climate was humid and hot; though it was winter, there was no trace of cold on the island, and even a thin garment felt warm.

To the north lay the Hu, to the south the Yue; Lingnan, Qiongtai and such places had always been the exile lands of successive dynasties. Qiongtai, in particular, was where criminals of grave offenses were sent, or rather, those whom the court deeply despised were banished to Qiongtai, the place for demoted officials.

Qiongtai was far from the court, supplies scarce, with venomous creatures and wild beasts everywhere. The climate was humid and hot, with constant wind and rain.

The Song’s administrative setup in Qiongtai changed over time, but there were about four prefectures and eleven counties.

The people of Qiongtai were mainly of the Li ethnic group, with some Han people and Han merchants—a mixed Li and Han population—including many officials banished there by the Song court.

The Li people were concentrated around Limo Mountain, scattered throughout Qiongtai.

“Keen, you’re awake?” In a fishing village by the sea in Heqing Town, Danzhou, a woman in her late twenties watched her son, Li Sanjian, slowly open his eyes, and burst into tears of joy.

Li Sanjian, only thirteen, blinked awake, glanced around, then at the young woman crying softly at his bedside, and asked, “Where am I? Who are you?”

“Keen, I am your mother.” The young woman sobbed, “Have you forgotten again?”

Mother? Mother is just mother, why add ‘dear’ to it? Li Sanjian wondered, “Mother means mother, right? You’re my mother? That can’t be.”

“You’re definitely not my mother,” he insisted, shaking his head.

“Why do you speak so differently from before? Mother can hardly understand you. Is your illness coming back?” the young woman asked anxiously.

This young woman’s surname was Fu, a Li native. Ten years ago, at fifteen, she married a Han man from Qiongtai—Li Sanjian’s father, Li Qing.

Li Qing was an official exiled by the Song court to Danzhou in the eighth year of Yuanfeng. He settled there, married, and had children. Whether the court forgot him or would never pardon him, he never returned to his homeland, Shaowu Commandery in Fujian.

Fu was the second child in her family, thus called Second Lady Fu.

Li Qing and Second Lady Fu had three sons. Due to pestilence and hardship, Sanjian’s two older brothers died young, and Li Qing himself passed away from illness.

Only Li Sanjian remained, living in bitter poverty. Most crucially, for reasons unknown, perhaps caused by illness in the womb, Sanjian was born with mental impairment, not speaking until five years old, adding to Second Lady Fu’s woes.

Li Sanjian was usually dazed and foolish, often staring at the sea and smiling vacantly. One day, playing by the shore, he fell into the sea.

Fortunately, Second Lady Fu’s family were ‘boat people,’ specializing in pearl diving. When Sanjian fell into the water, her brother Fu Ting was nearby and rescued him.

Li Sanjian remained unconscious for three days after nearly drowning. When he woke, Second Lady Fu was overjoyed, but Sanjian’s speech was completely different from before, making her unable to understand him. Yet, Sanjian had always been a simpleton, speaking incoherently, so Second Lady Fu was not overly surprised.

Second Lady Fu sat by the bed, helped the frail Sanjian sit up, and gently said, “Keen, don’t worry. We’ll treat your illness. I truly am your mother—carried you for ten months and gave birth to you. Could that be wrong? Are you hungry? Here, have some porridge.”

Her natural tenderness left Sanjian even more bewildered, but he was indeed extremely hungry, so he grabbed the porcelain bowl she handed him and gulped it down, coughing violently from drinking too fast.

“Oh, you child! Still like when you were little. Drink slowly, no one’s going to snatch it from you,” she smiled.

Sanjian could eat porridge, which meant his health was improving. Though his speech was still confused, Second Lady Fu cared little—having her only son was enough. If Sanjian had another mishap, she could not go on living.

“Oh...” Sanjian muttered as he ate, “You really are my mother?”

“Of course. If you don’t believe me, ask your uncle,” she said, glancing at her brother Fu Ting.

Fu Ting sighed, “Sister, it seems Keen is still... still impaired, not even recognizing his own mother.”

“You’re the impaired one, old... I’m perfectly fine, my mind is clear!” Sanjian protested angrily, glaring at Fu Ting.

“Alright, alright. My child is perfectly normal, not impaired at all,” Second Lady Fu quickly soothed him.

Fu Ting smiled wryly and shook his head. Before Sanjian’s accident, it was the same—anyone who called him impaired would provoke his anger.