Chapter 123: Wusheng Becomes a Prince |
Directly, he knelt and bowed before the Prince of Wu.
This scene was witnessed by all the officials.
Both were imperial princes. Although Wusheng had not been enfeoffed as a prince, this wasn't a matter of merit. Even nine-year-old Wei Yixun could be enfeoffed as the Prince of Changsha—Wusheng simply wasn't favored by the Emperor, and thus remained untitled.
But favoritism was not the standard.
Now, he was the only one among all the princes who had achieved such heavenly merit. With his accomplishments and popular support, he was fully qualified to compete for the throne—he didn't need to subordinate himself under the Prince of Wu.
Even if the probability of winning such a competition was extremely small, it didn't affect his eligibility.
Yet who would have thought he harbored no ambition whatsoever?
And now, he had directly subordinated himself under the Prince of Wu.
This meant the Prince of Wu's chances had suddenly surpassed those of the Prince of Jin!
Among the civil officials' ranks, Ye Changqing was also smiling, but as he observed the Prince of Wu and Wei Wusheng across from him, a hidden worry emerged.
The Prince of Wu should be gaining actively, but he seemed unable to restrain himself somewhat.
The Sixth Prince's submission was also too straightforward. The more someone didn't compete, the more worrying they became.
Of course, they hadn't yet reached the point of leisure where they could consider how to reduce feudal power after succession.
Regardless, the current Prince of Wu had gained powerful support and edged slightly ahead of the Prince of Jin.
"Let's go."
After helping Wei Wusheng to his feet, the Prince of Wu grasped his hand and walked toward the city gate.
An accompanying eunuch held up a ceremonial canopy—its surface made of red silk, decorated with python patterns and adorned with hanging jeweled tassels—to shield them from the snow.
The Prince of Wu waved it away directly.
The two of them simply endured the wind and snow, walking between the assembled officials.
Civil and military officials on both sides clasped their hands together and bowed: "Congratulations to the Sixth Prince on your triumphant return!"
Nearly all of Sheng'an's important figures were present.
Among them were members of the Wu Prince faction and the Jin Prince faction.
But even more numerous were those protecting their own aristocratic family interests.
Sun Heng was there, watching the Sixth Prince and the Prince of Wu walk toward Sheng'an amid the acclaim.
That day, Father had guessed correctly—the good news of Shuofeng's defeat was a rumor personally spread by the Emperor, all for the subsequent arrests to vent Song Shi'an's anger.
Fortunately, he had warned those people in advance not to act rashly or speak carelessly.
The members of the gentry faction had been preserved, though some lower-ranking officials were still forcibly arrested.
In fact, after the Jinyiwei finished arresting people at the Imperial Academy, they headed straight for the Court of Judicial Review.
The former Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Chen Ling, was allied with the Jiangnan gentry, and he himself held an important position at the Court. Many people in the Court could be called Minister Sun's people.
The Emperor is coming for our Sun clan of Yangzhou!
While following the Prince of Wu back into the city, several officials moved close to Sun Heng's side. He forced a strained expression and waved them off, signaling them not to speak.
At least at this critical juncture, they should avoid the sharp edge.
The hearts of people in Sheng'an were uneasy.
Of course, by "people," he meant the important figures.
As soon as Wei Wusheng entered the barbican and passed through the inner city gate, he saw countless commoners braving the heavy snow, waiting along the roadside.
Along the central Imperial Avenue, as far as the eye could see, masses of common people lined both sides, stretching endlessly.
Everyone gazed toward Wei Wusheng.
Then, one after another, they knelt in the snow and kowtowed to him.
Wusheng stopped in his tracks, completely stunned as the hearts and will of ten thousand common people swept over and enveloped him.
And he brought them to tears as well.
The blood staining his armor, his tattered heavy cloth cloak, his gaunt face—he looked like someone who had just crawled out from a pile of corpses.
Their prince, like their own sons, had personally gone to the battlefield to kill the enemy!
"They're all bowing to you," the Prince of Wu said with a smile, gripping Little Wei's hand.
Wei Wusheng came to his senses from his daze and looked at the Prince of Wu. Rather than responding to this sensitive statement with high emotional intelligence, he said calmly, "They're bowing to this victory built on piles of corpses."
This response made the Prince of Wu even more reassured. "This time, for all the fallen and wounded soldiers, I will do my utmost to ensure every person's compensation is delivered. I will also petition His Majesty to exempt their families from up to five years of taxes—not a single wen will be collected."
Hearing this, Wei Wusheng clenched his fists and expressed his gratitude: "On behalf of those brothers, I thank the Prince of Wu."
"Why be so formal with Fourth Brother?" he smiled.
After a brief pause to collect himself, Wei Wusheng adjusted his address: "Fourth Brother, I'll listen to whatever you say."
This address of "Fourth Brother" warmed the Prince of Wu's heart.
Among all these princes, the one most closely related to him by blood was the Prince of Jin.
They were born of the same mother.
Before the original Crown Prince died, the two had been brotherly and harmonious.
But after the Crown Prince and the Prince of Ning both perished, their relationship immediately changed.
Because they both now had a chance at the heir apparent position.
And because of this change, the other brothers also shifted their allegiances.
The Prince of Zhongping directly bound himself to the Prince of Jin, the two inseparable like true blood brothers.
On his own side, no prince had come to pledge allegiance.
Of course, the conditions for it hadn't existed.
The Prince of Su was sickly, the Prince of Changsha too young, the Prince of Jiangling stationed elsewhere.
Now, his side had gained Wusheng.
He himself was stronger than the Prince of Jin.
Wusheng's merit was greater than the Prince of Zhongping's.
Victory was assured!
"It's not about listening to me," the Prince of Wu showed Wei Wusheng an affectionate smile. "It's about us two brothers supporting each other."
"Alright."
The two men, who had previously had little interaction, walked hand in hand through the wind and snow toward the center of power.
………
After entering the imperial palace, in the anteroom, eunuchs removed their cloaks and brushed away the snow.
Wei Wusheng was left wearing only his golden scale armor.
"Quickly bring a brazier to warm the Sixth Prince," Eunuch Chen directed a nearby eunuch.
"No need, Eunuch Chen." Tough-guy Little Wei directly refused.
After defending the city in Shuofeng for so many days, his body and spirit had been tempered to the ultimate degree.
He even felt Sheng'an's wind and snow was too mild.
《Wei Wusheng Returns from Freljord》
"Then Your Highness, please."
Eunuch Chen smiled politely and extended his hand.
"Mm." Before leaving, Wei Wusheng turned back to nod at the Prince of Wu.
"Speak well with Father Emperor," the Prince of Wu instructed.
Both needed to see the Emperor, but due to certain matters involving the "Liang Prefecture case" that could implicate nine generations, Wusheng needed to explain to the Emperor alone first.
This segment was actually quite critical.
The Prince of Wu was somewhat worried whether Wei Wusheng, who had never been involved in politics and only fought one battle, could withstand it.
But Song Shi'an should have instructed him, right?
Just like how Ye Changqing did for himself each time before entering the palace.
He was a bit eager to meet the person at Wusheng's side.
"Your Highness, please sit." A eunuch brought a chair for the Prince of Wu.
"Mm, good."
The Prince of Wu sat down, his calm expression concealing inner turbulence.
……
This audience was in the palace's Taiyuan Hall, the most important place for court assemblies.
Clad in armor, Wei Wusheng walked into the hall and prostrated himself in a bow.
"Rise," the Emperor on the dragon throne said. The aging man appeared increasingly majestic.
Wei Wusheng stood up, positioned in the center of the great hall.
At this moment, only three people were in the hall.
The Emperor, Wei Wusheng, and Eunuch Chen.
Though the palace doors were open, what was said here could be shielded from the entire world.
"You met Ji Yuan?"
The first words of their meeting came from the Emperor's curious inquiry.
"In response to Your Majesty, yes." Wei Wusheng answered directly.
"How did he seem?" The Emperor's tone was full of interest.
After silent contemplation, Wei Wusheng replied, "A great hero of his generation."
"Oh?" This answer surprised the Emperor. "You fear him?"
"When we met, this subject's mount was restless throughout," Wei Wusheng reported truthfully.
"But you defeated him."
"This subject was able to repel the enemy because Your Majesty mobilized troops, tying down a large amount of their forces, making Ji Yuan constantly concerned and not daring to maintain the siege." Wei Wusheng answered.
"You are very modest and know when to advance and retreat."
They were both concealing themselves, but compared to the Prince of Jin, his concealment made the Emperor far more comfortable. Leaning back on the dragon throne, he said quite amicably, "But no one can diminish the merit of defending Shuofeng—not even Zhen. This battle was your victory. It was the victory of those thousands of soldiers."
"This subject is grateful for the Imperial grace and feels deeply honored."
Wei Wusheng bowed once, then rose again.
"However, victory is victory. Some matters require you to explain to the world."
The Emperor's tone gradually grew serious. "The seizure of military power in Langya—whose doing was it?"
"In response to Your Majesty," Wei Wusheng answered without the slightest disorder, "it was conceived and decided by this son."
"Then why did Song Shi'an enter Langya with you, and then command the Forbidden Army to take control of the troops?"
"This subject needed to mobilize troops and required manpower, so I ordered him to execute it on this son's behalf."
"What of the joint impeachment by the Shuofeng aristocratic families, directly accusing Song Shi'an of seizing control? Did this happen?"
"The joint impeachment was coerced by Zhang Wen, head of the Shuofeng aristocratic families. Those people have already confessed and wish to come to Sheng'an to clarify. Moreover, Zhang Wen's entire family colluded secretly with the Qi bandits—the evidence is conclusive, and they have all been imprisoned." Wei Wusheng continued solemnly, "After Song Shi'an entered the city, he managed our army's logistics and never controlled military authority. He always fulfilled the duties of County Magistrate."
"And what of arbitrarily bestowing official appointments and promises upon the Forbidden Army?"
"It was this subject's decision."
Wei Wusheng took responsibility for everything.
"Wei Wusheng."
Suddenly, the Emperor called out his name directly.
"This subject is here." Wei Wusheng raised his head.
"Tongmen Pass was defeated. Zhao Xiang was defeated. Wuwei was defeated. Only you defeated Ji Yuan. And only you could defeat Ji Yuan."
Since everything was his doing, all the merit naturally belonged to him. The Emperor said sternly, "Zhen will enfeoff you as the Prince of Qin, Inspector of Si Prefecture, Grand General."
With these three titles announced, even Eunuch Chen paused.
This honor exceeded that of all other princes.
This was the true Crown Prince.
Moreover, the Emperor's word was law—it was absolute legal authority and could not be false!
Yet Wei Wusheng remained calm.
"All this merit is yours. But the fault requires someone to bear." The Emperor extended his hand. "Song Shi'an dies, and all this becomes yours."
This was not a test.
The Emperor truly gave him a choice.
Even those who concealed themselves most deeply had to reveal themselves, because the purpose of concealment was to obtain all this!
And once again, Wei Wusheng slowly knelt and bowed to the Emperor: "This subject wants nothing. This subject only wants Song Shi'an to live."
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