Yang Guang Employs Slander To Seize The Succession; Empress Dugu's Jealousy Leads To A Palace Consort's Death

A poem says:

Men say that flesh and blood are close; I say slander can divide them.
Once suspicion breeds discord, even petty officials quarrel like snarling dogs.
Weapons arise beneath smiling faces; affection turns to hatred.
Even the loyal and filial may be left with grievances they cannot redress.
Clever tongues sound like musical reeds; woven slanders become splendid brocade.
Once deceived, a man may doubt even what he sees before his eyes.
If the heart is like a shining candle, others’ words cannot corrupt it.
The principle is the same for family and state; let gentlemen heed these words.

As the common saying goes, when wood contains decay, insects breed within it. Once affection and resentment take root in the heart, those concerned inevitably struggle against one another.

Ever since Empress Dugu had begun to dislike Crown Prince Yang Yong, the Prince of Jin had observed her feelings and deliberately contrasted himself with his brother.

Knowing she disapproved of the Crown Prince’s favored concubines, he made a show of loving his own consort, Lady Xiao, temporarily suppressing his habitual lustfulness. Knowing she favored frugality, he affected a thrifty manner and temporarily restrained his usual extravagance.

Without realizing it, Empress Dugu transferred to him all the affection she had once felt for the Crown Prince.

The palace eunuchs and attendants, seeing the empress favor one son over the other, naturally sought to please her with gossip and insinuation. They never reported the Crown Prince’s proper conduct, but whenever he committed the slightest fault, they spread the news. They concealed the Prince of Jin’s shortcomings and magnified his smallest virtues tenfold.

Moreover, the Prince of Jin and Lady Xiao treated the empress’s trusted attendants with exceptional generosity. Even ordinary palace women and eunuchs received gifts whenever they visited. Who among them would not praise him before the empress?

By now, the Prince of Jin knew his scheme was already seven or eight parts accomplished.

During the conquest of Chen, he had become acquainted with Yuwen Shu, commander of Anzhou. Because of his resourcefulness, people called Yuwen Shu the Little Chen Ping.

While stationed at Yangzhou, the Prince of Jin had recommended him as Governor of Shouzhou, enabling them to meet frequently.

One day, they discussed the matter of seizing the succession.

Yuwen Shu said:

“Your Highness has already won the empress’s favor, so there is no need to fear lacking support within the palace. Yet I see three matters still requiring attention.”

“First, although the empress dislikes the Crown Prince and favors Your Highness, neither her hatred nor her affection is yet sufficiently strong. When Your Highness next enters the capital, you must employ a stratagem of personal suffering to arouse her pity and provoke her anger, thereby fixing her resolve. This is a matter Your Highness must undertake personally.”

“Second, you must gain a trusted minister at court whose words carry weight with His Majesty. He can regularly speak against the Crown Prince and press the matter at the decisive moment. With pressure from within and without, failure will be impossible.”

“Third, replacing the heir requires a grave offense. We must bribe someone close to the Crown Prince to denounce him. This person must present nonexistent offenses as real and minor faults as serious crimes, providing such firm testimony that the Crown Prince cannot defend himself.”

“Once this is accomplished, he cannot escape deposition, and Your Highness will surely be appointed in his place, especially with the empress’s support.”

“I can attend to the latter two matters. They will, however, require tens of thousands in gold, pearls, and precious stones. I would willingly exhaust my family fortune, but fear it would still be insufficient.”

The Prince of Jin replied:

“I shall provide the money. I ask only that you carry out this plan and ensure its success. When the time comes, we shall share wealth and honor.”

That year happened to be the occasion for attending court. The two traveled together to the capital and then went about their respective tasks.

Cunning schemes would shift the clouds to obscure the sun;
Deep intrigues would turn winter back to spring.

The Prince of Jin paid his respects to the Sui ruler and the empress. He presented gifts to everyone from the highest ministers to lesser officials, and bestowed rewards upon palace eunuchs and attendants.

Among all the court officials, only Li Yuan refused his gifts. Although formerly his subordinate, Li Yuan believed that a minister should not form private attachments to an imperial prince.

Meanwhile, after visiting senior ministers and old acquaintances, Yuwen Shu called upon Yang Yue, Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

Yang Yue was the younger brother of Yang Su, Duke of Yue.

Yang Su held the office of Left Pushe of the Department of State Affairs, and his influence rivaled that of the emperor himself. But his exalted position kept him apart from ordinary visitors. Moreover, since the conquest of Chen, many of the beauties of the Chen palace had entered his household, and he had become absorbed in sensual pleasures, seldom receiving callers.

Consequently, anyone seeking favors from him approached Yang Yue instead. Visitors crowded Yang Yue’s residence like customers at a marketplace.

As an official serving outside the capital, Yuwen Shu waited a long time before obtaining an audience. He presented a generous gift worth more than a hundred pieces of gold, took tea, and departed.

But Yuwen Shu and Yang Yue were old and intimate friends, so Yang Yue soon returned the visit.

Yuwen Shu was already waiting at his residence and invited him into the reception room.

Arrayed along the walls were ancient Zhou ritual vessels, Shang tripods, and exquisitely fashioned curiosities, all dazzling to the eye.

Yang Yue examined them with evident admiration.

“These were all gifts from the Prince of Jin,” Yuwen Shu said. “You are a connoisseur. I would be grateful for your judgment.”

Yang Yue replied:

“My household possesses considerable gold and treasure, but few objects of this kind. I have seen some at my elder brother’s residence, yet yours appear even finer.”

He noticed a white jade chessboard and green jade chess pieces displayed at the head of the collection.

“It has been a long time since we played against each other. With whom do you play chess here?”

“With a young concubine who accompanied me.”

“You must have married her in Yangzhou. Women from Yangzhou are accomplished in many arts.”

“The board is here. Why not play a game?”

Yuwen Shu then offered the Shang tripods on the table as stakes.

He deliberately lost several games in succession, surrendering more than half his precious objects.

When wine was served, the banquet table was furnished with ancient vessels from the Three Dynasties, interspersed with gold cups and jade utensils.

Yang Yue remarked:

“These golden drinking vessels must also have come from Yangzhou. We have nothing so finely worked in the north.”

“If you admire them, I shall give them to you,” Yuwen Shu replied.

He ordered another table of food and wine prepared for Lord Yang and had all the curiosities sent to his residence.

His servants had already packed them and carried them away.

Yang Yue repeatedly protested:

“I absolutely cannot accept these. It would be coveting another man’s possessions. How could I receive rewards without rendering any service?”

Yuwen Shu said:

“Brother Yang, when I was a military commander, my income barely sufficed for gifts to my superiors. After my transfer to Shouzhou, I had little beyond the water I drank. How could I afford such gifts for you? These are from the Prince of Jin, who wishes to ask a favor of you and has entrusted me with delivering them.”

Yang Yue replied:

“Even if they were your gifts, I would scarcely dare accept them. How much less can I accept gifts from the Prince of Jin?”

“These are mere trifles, hardly worth mentioning. I also wish to bestow upon you and your worthy elder brother wealth and honor that will endure forever.”

Yang Yue said:

“As for myself, I can hardly speak of wealth and honor. But my elder brother has already reached their highest degree. What need has he of anyone’s gifts?”

Yuwen Shu laughed.

“Your family’s prosperity may be called great, but it cannot yet be called secure.”

“Do you know that the Crown Prince, frustrated in his wishes, bears a bitter grudge against your elder brother?”

“Once he succeeds to the throne, he will have relatives such as Yun Dingxing and officials such as Tang Lingze at his disposal. Will he continue to depend exclusively upon your brother?”

“Besides, power invites jealousy, and influence invites schemes. How can you know that those who bow before you brothers today will not threaten you tomorrow and seek to rise above you?”

“Fortunately, the Crown Prince has lost his virtue, the Prince of Jin has long enjoyed the empress’s affection, and His Majesty himself is inclined to change the heir.”

“If you brothers help bring this about, the Prince of Jin will remember the service of placing him in power to his very bones.”

“Only then will your wealth and honor truly endure. You will exchange the danger of balancing eggs for the security of Mount Tai.”

“What do you think?”

Yang Yue nodded.

“What you say is quite right. Yet deposing and appointing an heir is a momentous matter, and I cannot lightly promise anything. Allow me to discuss it with my elder brother.”

The two drank heartily and parted only at nightfall.

Two and five now form their pair;
Within the palace there is a Li Ji.
All favor gathers upon one branch;
The Crown Prince’s palace suddenly faces danger.