Chapter 186 |
Yangzhou.
The Prince Yong Estate.
Qu Dubian already had an answer to Xi Zihang’s question.
Consort Yun was the source of his initial karma in this world. He had long ago promised to avenge the blood feud between her and the original owner of this body.
Unlike the framing attempt by Concubine Lan, this was a hatred he had no right to forgive.
Qu Dubian did not alert the enemy immediately. Instead, he submitted a memorial requesting permission to return to the capital to visit his Imperial Father.
A prince assigned to a fief required the Emperor's permission to return to the capital.
However, three consecutive memorials were submitted, and all vanished like stones dropped into the ocean.
*
She never again let the Fourth Prince wear the sachet containing those extra ingredients.
Because it was no longer necessary.
Since coughing up blood last time, Emperor Chongzhao’s condition had improved slightly under Imperial Physician Yang’s care. However, he could not bear to remain bedridden for long. After forcing himself to handle a batch of memorials, he went out for a short walk.
He felt he had recovered, but as soon as the cool autumn wind blew, he was never able to rise from his bed again.
The stroke that Imperial Physician Yang had tried so hard to prevent finally struck Emperor Chongzhao. A stroke—also known as wind-strike—leaves the sufferer with slurred speech and clouded consciousness; in severe cases, it causes hemiplegia.
Lying in bed, Emperor Chongzhao regretted not listening to Physician Yang’s advice, but he felt instinctively that his days were numbered.
He finished his medicine under Eunuch Yu’s care.
Because his mouth no longer obeyed him, some of the medicinal broth trickled down the corner of his lips. Emperor Chongzhao loathed this feeling to the extreme.
After taking the medicine, he gripped the Fourth Prince’s hand. “Prince… Yong… Little… Seven…”
The Fourth Prince acted as if he hadn't heard, tucking Emperor Chongzhao’s hand back under the quilt. “Imperial Father, please rest. As for Little Seven’s side, I will write to him often.”
Emperor Chongzhao: “No… no…”
Under the influence of the medicine, he slowly drifted into sleep.
Eunuch Yu asked hesitantly, “Your Highness the Crown Prince, does His Majesty… wish for Prince Yong to return?”
The Fourth Prince glanced at him. “Does he?”
Eunuch Yu’s heart jolted, and he lowered his head. “Perhaps this servant misinterpreted his meaning.”
The Fourth Prince said, “Imperial Father’s speech is unclear. It is best if Eunuch Yu does not make wild guesses.”
Eunuch Yu replied, “Yes.”
*
The Fourth Prince returned to the East Warming Pavilion.
Another stack of memorials sat on the desk.
He flipped through them and, as expected, found another memorial from Yangzhou.
He set the memorial aside, acting as if nothing had happened.
Two more days passed in this manner.
Emperor Chongzhao’s condition grew worse.
According to protocol, the Ministry of Rites had long since prepared the coffin. Prince Ming, Grand Preceptor Fang, the other two Grand Secretaries, and the civil and military officials were all prepared to welcome the ascension of a new Emperor.
*
The Prince Yong Estate.
Yi Shier said, “Currently, almost all memorials are first vetted by the Fourth Prince. Your Highness’s requests to return to the capital have likely been intercepted by him.”
The suspicions in Qu Dubian’s heart were all but confirmed.
His fourth brother likely knew some of the truth; otherwise, he would never have suppressed the memorials.
Had he chosen to stand with Consort Yi?
Xu Jin said coldly, “Why be so circuitous? Enter the capital directly, crush the imperial city, kill that woman, and avenge Yueqing! Little Seven, if you are concerned about brotherly affection, let this grandfather be the villain.”
“Those two are mother and son; they naturally stand together. If the Fourth Prince knows, how could he not help her?”
Qu Dubian frowned and rubbed his grandfather’s chest to soothe him.
“Grandfather, do not be agitated. I will avenge my mother.”
Xu Jin shook his head, his voice firm. “No. Even if I die, I am going with you this time!”
Within his aged gaze burned a faint, dark, stubborn flame that had not been extinguished for over a decade.
Qu Dubian remained silent for a moment. “Fine.”
He commanded, “Send word to the Northern Border. Muster the troops. We enter the capital to protect the Emperor!”
Xi Zihang said, “Leave it to me.”
*
Under the banner of "Protecting the Emperor," Prince Yong led his army back to the capital.
By the time the news reached the capital, Prince Yong was only thirty li away.
The imperial court erupted in chaos.
“What is the meaning of Prince Yong’s actions?”
“Protecting the Emperor? From what threat, and at what location?”
“Indeed. Furthermore, without an imperial edict, a prince cannot return to the capital. This is the law.”
At the head of the hall.
Beside the empty dragon throne stood the ministers and Prince Ming.
Prince Ming said, “During a transition of power, it is an ironclad rule that a prince may not return to the capital without His Majesty’s permission, let alone bringing an army.”
Lin Zongping was a staunch supporter of imperial legitimacy. He frowned and said, “Prince Yong’s move is likely to cause trouble.”
He was being diplomatic. It was only because it was Prince Yong that they didn't immediately label it an act of usurpation.
Grand Preceptor Fang said, “Prince Yong stabilized the Northern Border; he is not a man of reckless action. Why not send someone to inquire? Ask Prince Yong exactly why he has come.”
*
Fu'an Palace.
Consort Yi also heard the news.
Leng Yue said, “Prince Yong shouldn't know the truth. Could His Highness have leaked it? You never stopped him from associating with Prince Ning, and the two have a good relationship.”
Consort Yi replied, “No. If he sent word to Yangzhou, I would certainly know.”
Her son hadn't betrayed her, yet Prince Yong might still know. She seemed to think of something, but said nothing more.
Consort Yi said, “I will go to the Zichen Palace in a moment.”
Leng Yue said, “There are secret guards protecting the Emperor inside Zichen Palace. Their regulations should be the same as in my dynasty.”
Without the Emperor’s command, the secret guards were like the dead. They would only follow the final rule of the Shadow Code: forbid anyone not permitted from approaching the Emperor.
However, Emperor Chongzhao could no longer speak.
One did not need to enter Zichen Palace to control it from the outside.
Consort Yi said, “You should go quickly as well.”
Leng Yue was silent for a few seconds before asking, “What if… we fail?”
Consort Yi said calmly, “From the moment one steps onto this path, one should be prepared for failure.”
*
The Capital.
Five li outside the southern city gate.
Xia Fuyang sat atop his horse beside Qu Dubian, looking very dissatisfied. “You still let Ye Lianyang come. Do you look down on me?”
Qu Dubian: “…You are a General Who Stabilizes the North. If you show up here, people who don’t know better will truly think we are rebelling.”
Xia Fuyang: “I don’t care. I knocked Ye Lianyang unconscious; he’d better stay in the Northern Border.”
Xi Zihang watched the two of them chatting idly and sighed inwardly.
Less than a year after leaving, they were back. Did the person beside him realize that by returning this time, he might never be able to leave again?
The capital ahead drew closer and closer.
The grey city walls stood lofty and solemn.
Xu Jin gazed at them.
Perhaps he was thinking that the mastermind was finally surfacing, and the death of his daughter could be avenged.
Qu Dubian was also looking.
He was thinking of a sentence Grand Preceptor Fang had said to him when he was fourteen.
It happened before the Xiang River flood. Grand Preceptor Fang told him: […Sometimes, one appears to be an outsider, but is actually already deep within the game, unable to escape. It is a matter of character, a matter of destiny.]
Every step since then seemed to validate those words.
He had left this city, thinking it was the end.
But he didn't realize that from the moment he took on the karma of this body’s original owner, it was destined that he would return once more.
Three thousand soldiers of the "Emperor's Guard" arrived at the city gates.
Soldiers stood in dense rows atop the western city walls.
The defending commander stood upon the wall and shouted, “Prince Yong!”
He looked at the three thousand soldiers behind Qu Dubian, his gaze sweeping over Xu Jin, his expression extremely grave. "May I ask why His Highness, Prince Yong, has come without an imperial decree?"
Qu Dubian looked up. "I come to the capital today for one purpose only: to kill a single person and clear the Emperor’s side of treachery."
The commander of the city guard asked, "Which traitorous official resides by His Majesty's side?"
Qu Dubian spoke slowly. "Consort Yi is a descendant of the former dynasty's royal family. Tang Yisu is also one of her subordinates. Her crimes are too numerous to count. Today, I enter the capital to purge the court. Whoever dares to stop me, this Prince shall kill them as well!"
The commander's pupils constricted. "What? Consort Yi is from the former dynasty?"
The surrounding soldiers broke into a flurry of whispers. "If Consort Yi is from the former dynasty, wouldn't that mean the Crown Prince is too?"
"Is this true or false?"
Xia Fuyang shouted, "How could it be false? The evidence is conclusive. If you do not believe us, we shall wait here for the ministers of the court to come and verify it themselves."
The commander said, "General Xia, you are the Great General of the North. To leave your post at the border and come to the capital without orders is a capital offense!"
Xia Fuyang replied, "If coming to the Emperor's aid is considered a capital offense, then let it be judged by the likes of you!"
The commander suddenly took a step back and raised his hand.
"Open the city gates!"
Xu Jin narrowed his eyes slightly.
As the gates groaned open, the commander descended and approached Qu Dubian’s side, whispering, "I am a confidant of the First Prince. Before His Highness left for Lingbei, he instructed us that if the Seventh Prince ever had need of us, we must obey."
Qu Dubian remarked, "Opening the city gates privately is a crime that costs one's head."
The commander replied, "If the mission to execute the traitors succeeds, we shall be heroes." He reached out a hand in a gesture of invitation. "This humble general trusts you."
Qu Dubian said, "I will not let your trust be in vain. Move out."
He led his troops into the city.
Inside the capital, the streets and alleys were deserted; the only sound was the rhythmic clanking of the armored ranks marching behind them.
The commoners had long since gone into hiding.
News of their entry into the capital spread like wildfire.
Discerning officials didn't even bother going to their offices after the morning court session, instead retreating early to their estates to play dead behind closed doors.
Although the three Grand Ministers and Prince Ming had appeared relatively calm during the morning session—
Heaven help them, who was it that was leading an army into the city?
It was the former "Stone Tablet of the Northern Border," the Sword-Bearing Marquis Xu Jin; the current Great General of the North, Xia Fuyang; and the illustrious Prince Yong, the first of his generation to be granted a princedom for his military merits.
The words spoken before the West Gate regarding the "remnants of the former dynasty" had also spread. To think the current Crown Prince was actually entangled with the former dynasty?
With such a tangled web of relations, which of these minor officials dared to get involved? One wrong move could lead to the execution of nine generations of their kin.
It was better to hide.
At the Xia Estate.
Xia Hong stood in the small courtyard of his home, his brow furrowed with worry.
A sword lay on the stone table behind him.
When Madam Wang walked over, she saw it immediately. "What? Are you planning to kill your own son?"
Xia Hong snorted. "Shouting slogans about protecting the Emperor—who knows what he's really doing following Prince Yong! Deserting one's post is a crime in itself."
Madam Wang said, "Prince Yong is not a man who acts recklessly."
Xia Hong replied, "I only obey the Emperor’s sacred command to protect the Imperial City."
Having finished speaking, he grabbed his sword and prepared to head out, limping as he went. Madam Wang’s eyebrows shot up in anger. "Xia Hong, if you dare walk out that door today, don't you ever come home!"
Xia Hong didn't pause. "Quelling chaos in the Imperial City is my responsibility. Even if it means father and son facing each other with blades drawn, I will not hesitate."
Then, his eyes fixed on the steps ahead, he deliberately twisted his foot and fell to the ground with an exaggerated thud.
"Ow—!"
Madam Wang rushed forward in a panic. "Husband!"
She ran over quickly, helping Xia Hong up, and let out a cry. "Oh! This leg is crippled too!"
Madam Wang waved her hands, calling out to the stunned servants. "Hurry up! Someone come and help me carry the Marquis inside."
"Oh, yes, yes, we're coming, Madam."
As Madam Wang propped Xia Hong up, the latter winked at her.
Madam Wang: "..."
Xia Hong shouted, "Let me go! Even if both my legs are broken, I must go and ask that rebellious son of mine exactly what he thinks he's doing!!"
While he shouted, he thought to himself:
He absolutely trusted that boy, Prince Yong, and the matter of the former dynasty's remnants was likely true. Since that was the case, why should he go there and get in the way? He wasn't crazy; he had no desire to fight his own son—he couldn't beat him anymore anyway, and losing would be too embarrassing.
In the worst-case scenario, even if it turned out not to be the former dynasty's remnants and it was all a misunderstanding, putting on this performance would at least preserve the roots of the Xia family.
Comments 1