Chapter Fifty-Two: Descent into the Heavenly Prison
Cining Palace, the imperial feast had already been laid out.
Though it was called a family banquet, it was far from simple. Besides the Chongzhen Emperor, the Empress Dowager, the Empress, Noble Consort Tian, Duke Protector Zhu Guobi, the Imperial Father-in-law Zhou Kui, and the Imperial Uncle Tian Hongyu, the Grand Secretary Zhou Yanru, Minister of Rites Xie Sheng, Minister of Personnel Zheng Sanjun, and Minister of War Chen Xinjia were all present as well.
Judging by the occasion, this so-called family feast resembled more an occasion for Wang Pu to beg forgiveness.
As the time to begin drew near, the eunuch sent to deliver the imperial summons finally returned. Yet to everyone’s confusion, he returned alone—Wang Pu did not accompany him.
The Chongzhen Emperor frowned and asked, “Gao Qiqian, where is Wang Pu?”
In his shrill voice, Gao Qiqian replied, “Your Majesty, General Wang says he is very busy right now and has no time to receive the imperial summons.”
A sudden gasp swept the room; Duke Protector Zhu Guobi even spewed the tea he’d just sipped all over himself, completely forgetting his composure.
“What did you say?” The Chongzhen Emperor could scarcely believe his own ears. “Say that again.”
Expressionless, Gao Qiqian repeated, “Your Majesty, General Wang says he is very busy right now and has no time to receive the imperial summons.”
“No time to receive the summons?”
A most peculiar look crossed the Emperor’s face. Such a thing was simply unheard of; he did not know whether to be furious or to laugh. By now, Zhou Kui, Tian Hongyu, Zhou Yanru, and the others had recovered from their shock and were whispering among themselves. This Wang Pu first refused the marriage, now defies the imperial summons—it seemed he would not rest until he had brought ruin upon himself.
***
At the execution ground in Caishikou.
Before Gao Qiqian had even returned to the Forbidden City, Wang Pu had already arrived at the execution ground with fifty of his household guards.
Gong Dingnie, the censor in charge of overseeing the execution, opened the register and drew a red mark beside the name “Big Beard.” He then seized a warrant from his desk and flung it to the ground, shouting in a harsh voice, “The hour has come—execute!”
The executioner spat a mouthful of burning wine onto his broadsword.
As the condemned, known as Big Beard, was forced to the ground, he suddenly struggled upright and wailed at the sky, “General, I cannot die in peace, I cannot die in peace…”
The executioner raised his sword high, about to bring it down, when a cold flash streaked before his eyes. A searing pain shot through his wrist, and with a clang, the heavy blade dropped to the earth. The executioner clutched his wrist, shrieking—the shaft of a dart was now protruding from it.
“A disaster!”
“An assault on the execution ground! Somebody is rescuing the prisoner!”
The crowd of onlookers scattered in panic.
“Who dares?” Gong Dingnie’s face changed drastically. He leapt to his feet and shouted, “Who dares disrupt the execution ground?”
“Spare him!” came a thunderous roar from afar.
Gong Dingnie spun around. The panicked crowd had parted, and dozens of border soldiers, steel blades drawn, surged onto the field, their murderous intent palpable. At their head rode a young general clad in a commander’s battle robe. The guards responsible for order dared not interfere at all.
Big Beard, resigned to his fate, turned and saw Wang Pu standing before him. He bit his tongue, half-convinced he was dreaming, and only when pain flooded his mouth did he believe it was real. Overjoyed, he called out, “General, is it truly you?!”
“It is,” Wang Pu replied, guilt in his eyes. “Big Beard, I’ve wronged you.”
“General…” Big Beard’s voice choked with emotion. “I am not afraid to die, but I must die with my name cleared. I have never been a deserter!”
Wang Pu clapped him hard on the shoulder. “I know you are no deserter, Big Beard!”
“And who are you?” Gong Dingnie finally found his voice and demanded, “Are you aware of the crime of disrupting an execution?”
As a censor of the Ministry of War, Gong Dingnie was entitled to attend court, but he’d been on assignment in Songshan the past few days and only returned to the capital last night. Thus, he did not recognize the young general before him as Wang Pu, famed commander of Datong, who had publicly refused an imperial marriage the night before.
“I am Wang Pu, Commander of Datong.” Wang Pu leveled a cold stare at Gong Dingnie. “I have not disrupted the law. Do you know whom you are about to execute? He is the most loyal and courageous soldier of the Ming Empire. For the Empire, he would lay down his life without hesitation. Would such a man ever desert?”
Hearing that he faced the renowned Wang Pu, Gong Dingnie was taken aback, but quickly regained his composure and answered coldly, “This is a case settled by the Ministries of War and Justice. I am merely here to oversee the execution. And let me remind you—even if you are a hero of the court, you may not flaunt your merits. I advise you to stand aside and not interfere with my duty.”
“Executioners!” Gong Dingnie called out to the backup executioners behind him. “Carry out the sentence!”
Wang Pu’s fury boiled over. “Don’t you dare!”
Two blades flashed. Scarface and Little Seven had already drawn their swords, placing them against Gong Dingnie’s neck. Gong Dingnie, terrified, tried to sound stern, “Wang… Wang Pu, what are you doing?”
“Nothing,” Wang Pu replied, pointing at Big Beard. “This man—I’m taking him with me.”
He turned and shouted, “A Mu, hurry and unbind Big Beard!”
“Yes, sir!” A Mu rushed forward and quickly untied Big Beard, then grinned foolishly at him. “Big… Big Beard, you’re alive. That’s… that’s wonderful.”
“Let’s go!”
With a sweep of his arm, Wang Pu led his men away, Big Beard surrounded and protected by fifty household guards.
***
“Wang Pu!” Gong Dingnie shouted after him, “You’ll regret this!”
Wang Pu paused, but did not look back. “I have never regretted my actions.”
***
Cining Palace.
Gao Qiqian had just reported back. The Chongzhen Emperor still could not decide whether to be angry or amused.
Zhu Guobi, Zhou Yanru, and the other nobles and ministers exchanged nervous glances, not daring to utter a word. At that moment, a young eunuch hurried into the hall and whispered something into the ear of Chief Eunuch Wang Cheng’en. Wang Cheng’en trembled and his face turned ashen.
“Cheng’en?” the Emperor asked in a low voice. “What’s happened?”
Wang Cheng’en dropped to his knees, voice quivering. “This servant dares not say.”
The Emperor grew angry. “Out with it! What has happened?”
“Your Majesty,” Wang Cheng’en wiped the cold sweat from his brow, “word has just come from the authorities: General Wang Pu of Datong led his soldiers to the execution ground and rescued a condemned man sentenced to death by the joint decree of the Ministries of War and Justice.”
“What!?” The Emperor’s brow darkened, his voice thunderous. “Wang Pu led his men to assault the execution ground?”
“Assaulted the execution ground?”
“How can this be?”
“How could General Wang do something so reckless?”
Zhu Guobi, Zhou Yanru, Zheng Sanjun, and the other high officials were all nearly frightened out of their wits. Had Wang Pu lost his mind? First he refused the marriage, then defied the imperial summons, and now he had stormed the execution ground with troops. Each act was more outrageous than the last—even if he had rendered the court great service, even if he held an imperial token granting him immunity from death, he could not behave so recklessly!
“This Wang Pu!” The Emperor slapped the table and roared, “How dare he act with such blatant disregard! How can I possibly tolerate this?”
“Wang Cheng’en!”
Wang Cheng’en hurried forward and knelt, voice trembling, “This servant is here.”
Murder flashed in the Emperor’s eyes. He ordered sternly, “Convey my command: have the garrison keep strict watch on Wang Pu’s personal troops outside Guangqu Gate; the Five City Police should arrest Wang Pu at once and send him to the Imperial Prison! All others involved are to be thrown into the Justice Ministry’s jail to await judgment.”