Chapter 122: Wei Wusheng Arrives in Sheng'an |
Little Wei and the Deputy Envoy of National Trust's journey from Shuofeng back to Sheng'an would take approximately a month.
Three days before their arrival, messengers from the relay stations had already reached Sheng'an ahead of them, transmitting this news back to the Emperor.
Ordinarily, after such a triumphant victory, the Emperor would personally go out to welcome them. However, the Emperor was now old and no longer moved about frequently.
To pave the way for his sons, he would typically have them lead the civil and military officials in the welcoming ceremony.
Therefore, all the officials at court were speculating—would it be the Prince of Wu or the Prince of Jin who would take the lead?
Though this couldn't definitively determine the heir apparent, the symbolic significance was immense.
After all, when Wusheng had departed for the campaign, it was the Prince of Jin who had personally seen him off.
What would the Emperor decide?
Or would he refuse to act as judge and steel himself to personally welcome Wusheng?
A moment later, Empress Hua arrived.
The palace maid naturally withdrew.
"Erlang, what are you thinking about?"
Empress Hua looked at him with concern.
"What have you heard now?"
The Emperor looked at her, his tone calm.
"The entire court is discussing it—how could I not hear?" Empress Hua said anxiously. "Why must Ziyu and Zisheng quarrel to such an extent? They're brothers!"
"That's what you think. Do they think that way?" the Emperor asked in return.
"Then you should have established the heir apparent early on and cut off one of their hopes. It's this throne that's made them like this. There must be no more conflict within the imperial clan."
"Then let's establish the Prince of Wu as heir apparent."
The Emperor glared at her and spoke bluntly.
Hearing this, Empress Hua quickly sat beside him, grasping his hand and earnestly pleading, "But Ziyu is the elder brother. If you're going to establish anyone, it should be Ziyu, with Zisheng assisting him."
"Fine," the Emperor agreed. "Go tell Zisheng to give up the position of Crown Prince and properly assist his second brother. If he agrees, I'll establish Ziyu as Crown Prince."
"..." Empress Hua frowned slightly, turning her face away, somewhat unwilling. "But wouldn't that make him resent me?"
"If I say it, won't he resent me then?"
"Usually you say the inner palace must not interfere in politics, but now when it comes to offending people, you want me to do it," Empress Hua retorted, her temper flaring. "You're the Emperor—isn't it your duty to keep the princes harmonious?"
"As Emperor, what I need is for the Great Yu Dynasty's fortune to endure."
After coldly stating this, the Emperor added, "If the Prince of Wu does well, then the Prince of Wu should do it. If the Prince of Jin is inferior to him, then the Prince of Jin must honestly withdraw. Unless he truly has no desire to compete."
"How could Ziyu possibly not want to compete?"
"Then what's with that nauseating attitude of appearing indifferent to worldly affairs—who is he trying to show that to!"
The Emperor finally grew angry, his words extremely harsh.
Hearing this, the Empress's face filled with worry and sorrow. She lifted her head, looking at the imposing Emperor before her, and said, "I mentioned this before—just give Ziyu a capable minister to assist the state. He simply lacks ideas. Isn't Song Shi'an returning? Give him to Ziyu."
"What if he doesn't want to follow Ziyu?"
"He's a subject, you're the sovereign—how could he not obey you?" Empress Hua said excitedly. "Could Song Shi'an truly be a rebellious minister who recognizes neither sovereign nor father? He went to Shuofeng seeking wealth and honor, didn't he? If you give him wealth and honor, would he refuse? What difference does it make to him which prince he follows?"
Empress Hua's words drew a cold laugh from the Emperor. Looking at his naive wife, he said, "Give him to the Prince of Jin? Even if I truly gave him to the Prince of Wu, would he obediently listen?"
"If the Prince of Jin won't take him and the Prince of Wu won't take him, what does he intend? Does he want to follow that Wusheng?" Empress Hua said angrily. "Currently, the only ones who can become the heir apparent of our Great Yu are Ziyu and Zisheng. Is he trying to disrupt the government?"
"Precisely."
The Emperor slowly turned his head, gazing forward, and said solemnly, "I must arrange Song Shi'an's position while I'm still alive."
………
In the Prince of Jin's estate, the Prince of Zhongping and the Prince of Jin stood together, dressed in splendid robes trimmed with white tiger fur, watching the snow in the courtyard.
"That day, before His Majesty summoned Fourth Brother and Second Brother, he first summoned Sima Yu. After Sima Yu returned to his estate, he didn't leave for an entire month, refusing all visitors behind closed doors—he wouldn't see anyone," Wei Yiyuan said.
"He must have had some discussion with His Majesty," the Prince of Jin speculated.
"And so," Wei Yiyuan glanced at him sideways, "I went there myself."
"..." The Prince of Jin's eyes widened, completely shocked by this unauthorized action.
He stared at him stiffly with some panic. But there was no anger—instead, his tone was tense as he asked, "What happened?"
Ordinarily, he would have certainly scolded this presumptuous Prince of Zhongping.
But now, he only wanted to know what responsibility Sima Yu had been given.
Because the current situation was truly critical.
"When a prince came in person, I thought he would show at least some courtesy, but he still refused to receive visitors, claiming illness," Wei Yiyuan said coldly.
"What illness?" the Prince of Jin asked.
"In my view, it's the heart-sickness of being involved in the succession struggle," Wei Yiyuan said seriously.
"How could a mere Director of the Imperial Observatory get mixed up in the succession struggle?" The Prince of Jin found it unbelievable. "No matter what, it shouldn't have anything to do with him."
"Indeed—someone who plays with turtle shells is now meddling in our Wei family's affairs."
After venting, Wei Yiyuan speculated, "At least this shows that His Majesty hasn't determined his successor. Between you and Fourth Brother, neither has a decisive advantage. So His Majesty wants to use auspicious signs, good omens, and divination to choose."
"Would the succession be decided so carelessly?"
The Prince of Jin thought it impossible.
"Then isn't it possible that His Majesty saw some strange phenomenon or had some dream related to the heir apparent?" Wei Yiyuan asked again.
"What do you want to do?"
The Prince of Jin asked with great vigilance.
"Why meet with this turtle-shell player at any other time—why specifically before meeting with the two noble princes?" Wei Yiyuan's eyes were sharp. "I have a premonition that the key to the succession struggle might very well be this Sima Yu."
"Don't do anything rash."
"I'm going to have people watch him. He'll have to come out of his shell eventually. Once we catch him, I'll meet with him privately."
"And then what will you say after meeting him?"
"If he doesn't participate in the succession struggle, he'll certainly have his life. But if he truly gets drawn in, there's only one way he can survive." Wei Yiyuan stared at the Prince of Jin.
The Prince of Jin understood his meaning and murmured, "Choose the right person."
"Once he's involved, he'll have no choice but to choose," Wei Yiyuan said with a ruthless glint in his eyes. "After success, promise to make him Grand Preceptor, honored as one of the Three Excellencies, enjoying wealth and honor forever."
"Is he really that important?" the Prince of Jin asked.
"Absolutely," the Prince of Zhongping's tone was unyielding. "Only after meeting him can one meet the prince."
If the Prince of Zhongping's words were true, then this would be done openly...
That day, when the Emperor summoned the Prince of Jin, he spoke of hoping he and the Prince of Wu could work together to protect the realm.
But how could they truly be of one heart and mind?
If he didn't oppose the Prince of Wu, he would have to oppose the civil and military officials.
If he truly opposed the officials and stood with the Prince of Wu, who would be superior?
That day, the Prince of Jin seemed to detect an underlying message—if you cannot ease your father's worries, then give the Crown Prince position to your younger brother.
As he pondered, the Emperor's instructions arrived.
"Your Highness, Eunuch Xi has come."
"Please show him in quickly."
After the estate's eunuch announced this, the Prince of Jin regained his composure.
A moment later, Eunuch Xi entered the courtyard with several eunuchs and bowed to the two princes. "This servant pays respects to the Prince of Jin, pays respects to the Prince of Zhongping."
"There's no need for such courtesy, gonggong," the Prince of Jin smiled. "Is there an imperial edict from His Majesty?"
"It's neither an edict nor an oral decree," Eunuch Xi explained. "His Majesty says that in these coming days, preparations for the metropolitan examination must be accelerated. Therefore, he hopes the Prince of Jin and the Grand Secretaries will work a bit harder."
"Very well," the Prince of Jin nodded, then asked, "When the Sixth Prince returns to the capital in a few days for the welcoming ceremony, the Grand Secretaries don't need to participate?"
"Your Highness, they need not."
"Understood."
And so, the exchange concluded quite amicably.
The people from the palace also left the prince's estate.
"The one leading the officials to welcome him is Fourth Brother, not me, Second Brother of the Prince of Jin."
Wei Yiyuan's tone was already quite dejected and dissatisfied.
"Could His Majesty be going to welcome him personally?"
"If he's welcoming him personally, why lock you, Second Brother, in the Imperial Academy?"
Wei Yiyuan truly couldn't understand how such a great advantage had come to this, and couldn't help but demand, "Second Brother, are you going to keep retreating? If you retreat any further, where else can you go?"
Closing his eyes, the Prince of Jin held his breath.
Then, slowly opening his eyes, he said, "Zishang, I won't retreat anymore. I will not retreat again."
………
In the Prince of Wu's carriage, he and Ye Changqing sat together.
"Your Highness, that His Majesty has you leading the officials already says a great deal," Ye Changqing said.
"I understand, I understand," the Prince of Wu nodded.
"From now on, there's no need to keep a low profile, no need to remain a hidden dragon in the depths," Ye Changqing said in one breath. "Any matter involving regency that His Majesty gives you, accept it. Once you accept it, do it with all your might!"
"Good." Speaking of this, the Prince of Wu felt some regret. "But the imperial examinations are still in the Prince of Jin's hands. Will Father Emperor transfer them to me?"
Ye Changqing placed his hand on the Prince of Wu's, calmly saying, "One step at a time."
"Understood, no rush, no rush."
Right now, the most important thing for the Prince of Wu was to restrain his excitement.
He couldn't help it—he so desperately wanted to be Emperor.
The carriage left Sheng'an.
He disembarked, with Ye Changqing accompanying him. Zhao Yi, who had come on horseback, also dismounted and stood at his other side.
The two were like the Prince of Wu's left and right guardians.
Outside the city, all officials of the fourth rank and above had already assembled.
However, elderly nobles like the Duke of Li and Minister Sun had informed them in advance and hadn't come.
In this heavy snowfall, they could easily freeze the old fellows to death.
The Prince of Wu walked through the middle of the officials, who were divided into civil and military ranks.
He took his position at the front.
Zhao Yi and Ye Changqing, flanking him left and right, followed him through the officials and then stood in the first row of the military and civil officials respectively.
"Sir, you are one of the Nine Ministers—how can someone as humble as Changqing dare to stand in the same row?" Ye Changqing politely demurred.
Others quickly offered compliments, laughingly urging him to take the center position, and some even voluntarily yielded their spots in the first row.
He merely smiled faintly, and after taking his position, slowly turned his head.
Those behind him—civil officials who had cursed him before—even if they were several ranks higher than him, quickly lowered their heads one by one, not daring to meet his gaze.
And so, all the nobles under heaven waited for Wusheng's return.
Gradually, a mounted procession arrived.
At its head was Wei Wusheng.
Fifty paces before the officials, he dismounted, removed his hood, and walked toward the Prince of Wu.
Having experienced the great battle in Northern Liang and returning through wind and snow, his entire being radiated resilience—he had been completely transformed.
"Wusheng, you've finally..."
With a smile, the Prince of Wu went forward to greet him.
But before he could finish speaking, Wei Wusheng knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in salute, and bowed his head respectfully. "Wei Wusheng pays respects to Your Highness!"
This Sixth Prince who had achieved heaven-shaking merit knelt before him without a second thought.
The Prince of Wu's pupils were instantly coated with a layer of radiance.
The slight upward curve at the corners of his mouth couldn't be suppressed or concealed.
Grasping Wei Wusheng's arm, he felt as though he could see the imperial throne right before his eyes.
Within reach!
Heat surged through his chest.
One of his hands came to rest on Wei Wusheng's cheek.
Wei Wusheng slowly raised his head.
Gazing at him, the Prince of Wu said with heartache, "Little brother, you've grown thin."