Yan Song's underlying meaning was hidden within his seemingly praiseworthy tone towards the Jiajing Emperor.
The reason the officials felt something was amiss was primarily due to the third couplet.
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The Jiajing Emperor had previously claimed to be an immortal. Last year, Zhu Mo had emerged precisely because he had articulated the Emperor's celestial ambitions. Therefore, for Yan Song to say, "The immortal cultivator once promised the Qingci poet," diminished the grandeur, implying that Yan Song himself was stepping into that role.
This, in turn, would put the Jiajing Emperor in a most difficult position with the next line.
When he ascended to the throne at the age of fourteen as a prince of the blood, he was targeted by Yang Tinghe's faction. Though young, he possessed deep foresight and managed the situation gradually, miraculously defeating his formidable enemies. It was akin to Liu Bang, the High Ancestor of Han, who, while in distress, went from being King of Guanzhong to King of Hanzhong. Ultimately, unwilling to suffer humiliation, he subdued tyranny with righteousness and ultimately brought peace to the world.
Yan Song's use of this allusion was profoundly meaningful—
Firstly, he was demanding the Jiajing Emperor declare his stance: were he and his son truly viewed as Yang Tinghe and his son? This was akin to a confrontation.
Secondly, speaking purely on the matter at hand, when Yang Tinghe had attempted to usurp power, Yan Song, along with his fellow townsman, the Minister of War from Nanjing, Gui E, had supported Jiajing. At that time, their support had been unreserved. "Who recognizes the King of Hanzhong?" The answer was significant. Later, when Yang Tinghe's remaining followers and figures like Xia Yan repeatedly opposed Jiajing's reforms to ritual, it was Yan Song who stood at the forefront.
Thirdly, he, Yan Song, was the true embodiment of the "Qingci Chancellor." His "Ode to the Successful Completion of the Great Rites" had definitively settled the Yang Tinghe usurpation incident, resolving a crisis completely.
This, was the origin of Qingci.
In old Yan Song's view, these past events had been clearly alluded to. How could the intelligent and wise Jiajing Emperor not understand? His unspoken message was also extremely direct—
These past events,
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Have you, Emperor Jiajing, forgotten them?
Zhu Mo's current support for you, Jiajing, is much like my own back then, Yan Song.
Why the deep suspicion and accusation?
If you, Jiajing, are to probe the heart,
Then I too have something to say:
The Battle of Zhoushan, where you bypassed the imperial court and directly instructed and commanded Zhu Mo and Yu Dayou, that is one point. The incident where Oda attacked Otomo Sorin, was that not also instigated by you? This contravened the laws of the court.
This point is conveyed in the two words, "he fu" (合符). To "he fu" means to match two tiger tallies. This term itself is deeply accusatory, as you bypassed the court and the Ministry of War, using neither tiger tallies nor formal edicts. As for the reforms, that is another matter entirely; Zhu Mo's reforms are nearly turning back time to the Warring States period...
But if you, Jiajing, still remember past favors, then the two words "he fu" can also be understood as "The Yellow Emperor, in his northern campaign against the Xiongnu, combined tallies at Fushan"...
...
In the ensuing silence, after an unknown amount of time, the larger figures present also began to grasp the meaning. Xu Jie and Li Chunfang exchanged glances and immediately offered wry smiles: this old Yan Song is truly troublesome...
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Li Chunfang, with his amiable nature, had long since harbored no ambitions and was the opposite extreme to Yan Song. He whispered into Xu Jie's ear at this moment:
"They say the old grow stronger with age... It is exceedingly difficult to make this Yan Song falter..."
Xu Jie, known for his "cunning gravity," was best at yielding and then striking back suddenly. He was deeply shocked by Yan Song's direct challenge and shook his head, murmuring:
"Brother Shilou, Yan Fenyi certainly has the right to say these words..."
Li Chunfang nodded, and looking again at Yan Song's defiant expression, could not help but sigh inwardly: Yan Song, oh Yan Song, you are fierce, but is the Emperor soft? That is an Emperor who, at fourteen, had 200 officials beaten to death... Such a head-on confrontation will be difficult to resolve later...
Meanwhile, Yan Shifan and his cohort were ecstatic—
No wonder this old father refused to present his own poems; they were trump cards! The poems they had written lacked this spirit of direct challenge.
Father and son were of one mind. Although Yan Song was composed, his inherent arrogance was identical to Yan Shifan's. Upon hearing this poem, all his party members present felt greatly uplifted. Yan Shifan scanned them one by one, feeling that today might not end in humiliation.
According to court convention, as Yan Song was the first to present, his work set the tone. The Emperor or Crown Prince should then express affirmation, after which the officials would present their own poems.
However, the atmosphere had been held in a state of subtle tension for quite some time. The Prince of Yu remained silent, and Yan Song did not prompt others to present their poems...
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The situation, https:/
Got stuck just like that.
...
At this moment,
The Jiajing Emperor, who had heard everything clearly in the rear hall, but who was always the most inscrutable, remained with his eyes closed in meditation, his face devoid of any expression.
Lü Fang, attending him, also found Yan Song's poem to have a strange flavor. While it could be called a celebratory poem and did possess a grand demeanor, there was always a sense of inexplicable meaning. After listening to the sonorous recitation, images of Yan Song and Jiajing from years past surfaced in his mind. On the surface, it spoke of Jiajing and Zhu Mo, but at its core, it spoke of Yan Song himself...
The tone was both pleading and confrontational...
He knew the Jiajing Emperor was already in a bad mood, but unsure of his exact thoughts, he ventured to ask, "Your Majesty, what is old Yan Song trying to do...?"
Hmph,
The Jiajing Emperor slowly rose, tidied his Daoist robe, still holding his whisk across his chest, and strode out of the main hall. Lü Fang followed closely behind.
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At this moment,
Led by the Prince of Yu, everyone returned to their positions, bowed in unison, and followed the Prince of Yu's cry:
"Long live the Great Ming Emperor!"
The Jiajing Emperor did not take his throne, habitually viewing himself as an outsider. After the hall had been quiet for a while, he finally spoke:
"The Sage said, poetry expresses aspirations..."
"What constitutes good poetry? Melancholy without sorrow, resentment without slander, joy without licentiousness... The poetry of scholars is like the Minor Odes, that of ministers and grandees is like the Elegance. What is Elegance...?"
He deliberately paused, pacing the hall with his whisk, sweeping his gaze across the officials, and continued:
"It is to use allusions... to speak through historical references..."
"Elder Yan's poetry is well-written... You have all heard it, what allusions has he used?"
As if asking and answering himself, he let out a soft snort and said:
"Let me tell you. Elder Yan's first allusion compares me to Emperor Xuanyuan... The Yellow Emperor, with his hanging robes, brought order to the world; why? To show the world the principle of non-action..."
The officials were naturally well aware of this allusion, but they did not understand why the Emperor was speaking in this tone.
Immediately after,
The Jiajing Emperor said with a smile that was not quite a smile:
"The second allusion compares me to Emperor Gaozu of Han... Why? His poem states that my position was not originally secure, much like Emperor Gaozu of Han retreating from Guanzhong to Hanzhong, because the enemy was too powerful... But someone recognized Emperor Gaozu's extraordinary potential early on and was certain he would emerge from Hanzhong again; who was this person? It was Han Xin..."
Upon saying this,
The officials all heard the strange undertone and turned their gazes to the Yan father and son. Yan Song felt a surge of fury but showed no outward expression. Yan Shifan, however, had a look of extreme displeasure, his head lowered in annoyance.