In autumn, the western expedition army returned victorious. Wei Lin, accompanied by the nearly two-year-old Emperor Xi Qi Jiao, welcomed the army. Those with merit were promoted or granted official residences. Despite objections, Wei Lin promoted General Wu Yanlü, who was from a different ethnic group, to Great General and granted him the residence of a deceased prince. This decision provoked dissatisfaction among court officials, with some submitting memorials blaming Wu Yanlü for Xi Linxuan’s death. Wei Lin neither approved nor returned these memorials but showed Wu Yanlü the document with the names hidden. Wu Yanlü, feeling wronged, became furious.
Wei Lin was aware of the tensions with Right Minister Wang Ling and General Wu, which culminated in Wu Yanlü submitting a memorial complaining that Wang Ling interfered with military affairs and destroyed his general’s residence carriages out of spite.
This memorial acted as a catalyst, leading to a flood of accusatory claims against Wei Lin. Allegations surfaced, claiming he enclosed suburban land, deprived people of their livelihoods, lent national treasury funds at high interest, eliminated rivals, and promoted noble families. In essence, he faced accusations of various misconducts.
The stack of memorials reached a foot high. Wei Lin summoned Wang Ling, closed the palace doors, and reprimanded him. The memorials were then brought to court, where Wei Lin harshly criticized Wang Ling again and stripped him of his position as Right Minister, ordering him to reflect in seclusion.
Meanwhile, a Grand Empress Dowager from the Southern Palace reported that her son, Prince Chang Ling, was ill and requested permission to visit him in his fief, citing the late Emperor’s approval. While he understood her concern, he explained that national laws prohibit concubines from visiting unless the former emperor has passed away. Granting an exception could undermine these laws. He assured her that he would send the best physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy to attend to the Crown Prince and promised to report back later.
Weilin dismissed her.
Anyone with common sense knows they cannot leave the capital; otherwise, how could she make the princes obey in the future?
The days of mutual suspicion and intrigue passed slowly. In Weilin’s consciousness, a long time seemed to have passed, but when she looked up, only a few sparse snowflakes were drifting outside the hall.
