Chapter 66: The Kong Family's Choice

The imperial palace was vast, and at that moment, they were far from the emperor’s working chambers.

Kong Xixue supported Kong Kejian, standing within the palace grounds.

Zhang Zhengchang approached and greeted Kong Kejian, “Duke Yan Sheng, it has been a long time!”

Kong Kejian’s gaze was vacant, and he gave no sign of acknowledging Zhang Zhengchang, which left the elder Zhang in a rather awkward position.

“So it is the Celestial Master Zhang… no, the Reverend Zhang…” Kong Xixue, in place of his father, performed a salute to Zhang Zhengchang.

“My apologies, Reverend. My father caught a chill yesterday, and his old illness has relapsed. He is not himself today.”

Zhang Zhengchang glanced over at Kong Kejian and saw that his “old friend” truly seemed muddled and confused, likely unable to recognize anyone.

“In such a state, how can he face the emperor?” Zhang Zhengchang frowned slightly.

Kong Xixue replied helplessly, “There’s no choice. The emperor summoned him, so my father had no choice but to come.”

As the two conversed, a palanquin appeared in the distance.

“By imperial order, as the Duke Yan Sheng is unwell, he is granted the special privilege to ride in a sedan chair.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Kong Xixue helped his father into the palanquin. Glancing at the awkward Zhang Zhengchang, he felt a subtle sense of satisfaction.

The Kong and Zhang families were both considered noble lineages, but the Kong family hardly regarded the Zhangs as equals. The difference in how the emperor treated the two households made it clear at a glance who held more sway. Still, Kong Xixue would never openly display his contempt; such behavior, in his eyes, would only diminish his own dignity.

After the palanquin set off, the group followed behind. The Celestial Master of Mount Longhu and the Duke Yan Sheng of the Kong family—one appeared as the master, the other as the servant.

At last, they reached the East Pavilion, where a eunuch announced, “Your Majesty, General Xu, Duke Yan Sheng Kong Kejian and his son Kong Xixue request an audience, as does the Reverend Zhang of Mount Longhu.”

Soon after, another eunuch emerged from the imperial study and declared, “General Xu and the Duke Yan Sheng may enter. The Reverend Zhang is to wait.”

The emperor admitted the Kong father and son but left Zhang Zhengchang outside.

Kong Xixue cast a discreet glance at Zhang Zhengchang, then supported his father into the imperial study.

Inside, the Son of Heaven of Ming sat serenely at his desk. Kong Xixue stole a cautious glance at the emperor—even a fleeting look was enough for him to sense the monarch’s imposing presence.

“Kong Xixue pays his respects to Your Majesty. Father, you must kneel as well.”

“Xu Da, paying respects to Your Majesty (or Your Highness)!”

Kong Xixue knelt, saluting the emperor, but Kong Kejian remained standing, dazed and absent-minded. Kong Xixue hurried to pull his father down, but Kong Kejian stayed lost in confusion.

“Xu Da, what’s the meaning of this?” Zhu Yuanzhang, though well aware, feigned ignorance and questioned Xu Da.

Xu Da, helpless, replied, “Last night, the Duke Yan Sheng got up in the night, caught a chill, and his old ailment flared up.”

Zhu Yuanzhang gave a half-smile, his gaze fixed on the vacant Duke. Kong Xixue hastily knelt and said, “Your Majesty, my father has long been unwell, but out of respect for the emperor’s sincerity, he insisted on coming to the capital despite his illness. The journey was arduous, and just when he was about to see Your Majesty, his old sickness relapsed. If we have neglected Your Majesty, I beg your forgiveness!”

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered coldly. Though Kong Xixue’s words apologized, the underlying message was clear—it was the emperor’s insistence, despite the Duke’s illness, that forced their attendance. Was this not an accusation of the emperor’s lack of consideration?

The Kong family indeed had the standing to reproach the ruler. As the foremost family in the land, they had seen many emperors come and go.

Though Zhu Yuanzhang was displeased, he kept his temper in check. He laughed, saying, “That must have been quite difficult! I had thought the Duke Yan Sheng did not wish to see me…”

Kong Xixue’s heart skipped a beat. He quickly replied, “Your Majesty overstates it. How could the Kong family ever be remiss toward the Son of Heaven?”

“Does the Kong family align themselves with me, their emperor, or with the one in the north?” Zhu Yuanzhang’s question made Kong Xixue break out in a cold sweat. He immediately knelt down and declared, “Naturally, my family stands with Your Majesty!”

He was profoundly grateful that his father feigned illness; had the emperor posed the question to Kong Kejian, the answer would likely have been difficult.

Thankfully, his father was shrewd—whatever he might say now would not matter, as he was not the official head of the Kong family.

Zhu Yuanzhang seemed satisfied with Kong Xixue’s answer. “Then help your father rest for now. Later, I shall summon an imperial physician to attend to him. Xu Da, you have labored much.”

The emperor then set the Kong father and son aside, turning his attention to his trusted general, Xu Da. “I summoned you back to the capital—has it delayed affairs at the front?”

“Your Majesty, Old Chang is overseeing matters. There’s no issue.”

“How long do you estimate before you can take the north?”

Xu Da, discerning the emperor’s intentions, replied loudly, “Shandong has been secured. This year, we will surely capture the capital for Your Majesty!”

The sovereign and his minister performed their duet, while a faint twitch crossed Kong Kejian’s face.

Meanwhile, Zhu Biao, who had remained silent, observed quietly from the side. In this room, aside from himself, not a soul was not feigning madness or stupidity. Each harbored secret intentions; to him, watching these machinations was itself a form of cultivation.

Xu Da began to report on the situation at the front.

The Kong father and son listened with mounting alarm. In Xu Da’s account, though the Ming had not yet pacified the north, the strategy and deployments he described made victory seem all but assured.

Kong Kejian, still pretending to be dazed, nearly failed to maintain his composure.

They fell silent, listening intently as Xu Da and Zhu Yuanzhang spoke.

The more Kong Kejian listened, the more he sensed that this emperor was nothing like he had imagined.

The Kong family looked down on Zhu Yuanzhang, partly because of his origins—once a leader of rebel refugees, and even as emperor, what did it matter? Before him, there had been another Red Turban leader, Mao Gui, who had nearly forced the Yuan emperor to relocate the capital, yet the Yuan dynasty had eventually suppressed the rebellion.

No one in history had ever marched from the south to conquer the north and unify the realm; that was why the Kong family doubted Zhu Yuanzhang would be the final victor.

Yet, having once served the Mongols, Kong Kejian now felt the difference—Zhu Yuanzhang was not merely a lucky peasant. Xu Da’s military ability was unquestionable, but in his discussions with Xu Da, Zhu Yuanzhang’s strategic insight clearly surpassed even his trusted general.

“Father, this man before us has the bearing of a true sovereign,” Kong Xixue whispered softly in his father’s ear as he pretended to care for him.

Kong Kejian’s pupils contracted, but he hesitated.

The emperor before him truly possessed the qualities of a wise ruler—proud, unafraid to discuss military matters openly in their presence, confident that no secrets would be revealed. Such confidence reflected his mastery of the nation’s fate, but it also wounded Kong Kejian’s pride.

This touched upon the second reason the Kong family looked down upon Zhu Yuanzhang—their deep entanglement with the Northern Yuan. In distant Qufu, the Kong family had produced ninety officials serving the Yuan, some attaining the ranks of Minister or Deputy Minister of the Central Secretariat. No other dynasty had ever bestowed such favor upon them.

Kong Kejian hesitated for a long while, unable to let go of his hopes for the previous dynasty.

He withdrew into himself, but these subtle movements did not escape the notice of those with keen eyes.

“It seems I must let you keep your dignity,” thought Zhu Yuanzhang, now fully resigned to Kong Kejian’s choice.

“Let Zhang Zhengchang enter,” Zhu Yuanzhang commanded.