Outside the window, the wind howled in waves, and tree shadows reflected on the window paper. Together with the wind’s sound, it made one’s mind perfectly clear. To prevent eavesdropping, all four windows were wide open. Through these windows, one could see the lake surface rippling under the moonlight outside.
Prince Gong pulled his lips into a playful smile. Of course he wanted Emperor Jianzhang dead. Yes, even though that was his father. Although his father had given him countless special privileges and favor, his father had equally indulged the Eastern Palace’s growing power, equally watched as his mother showed favoritism to the Eastern Palace while neglecting him. In the end, for the sake of the Crown Prince and Zhou Weizhao, his father had even thrown an ink stone at him, attempting to make him lose face before all under heaven and have his reputation ruined. He couldn’t forget the constant fear and humiliation of being a fugitive.
“How do we do it?” He casually swept his gaze across Zou Yanzheng, Wu Feng, and Wu Qianli, forgetting to look at the side where Chief Clerk Ling had been sitting quietly in an almost excessive manner all along: “How do we move this great mountain aside?”
He seemed to understand now what Han Zhengqing meant by chaos both within and without. How truly interesting this was.
Han Yang scratched his head. Being watched with such burning eyes by Prince Gong made his face feel somewhat hot. He had fought the Tartars for so many years, yet now his father and Prince Gong wanted to let the Tartars enter the pass to slaughter the common people he had once vowed to protect. His heart still felt somewhat distressed.
But he had no choice. After all, his surname was Han, and Han Zhengqing was after all his father.
“There’s a trusted confidant by the Grand Prince’s side who is one of our people.” Han Yang unconsciously lowered his voice, feeling as if he were committing theft. After coughing a few times, he continued: “Someone who has his deep trust. And by Empress’s side…”
Prince Gong looked at him meaningfully. Seeing him fall silent and just staring at him wide-eyed, he hummed and asked: “What about by Empress’s side?” Could it be that Han Zhengqing also had people by Empress’s side? Then he really would be reaching the heavens.
Han Yang shook his head, looking at Prince Gong: “My father doesn’t, but Your Highness should have someone, shouldn’t you?”
Prince Gong froze. He lowered his head without speaking, seeming to ponder whether he had someone or not.
But Han Yang knew this meant he did have someone. Deeply convinced that his father’s words had solid basis, he paused and reminded him: “Your Highness, my father says that his power alone cannot accomplish this. At this point, what is there left to hide between you and him? Hurry up, there’s no time left.”
Prince Gong finally raised his head. He glanced at Han Yang, pulled his lips into a smile, and nodded: “I do.”
He was Empress Lu’s own son, raised by Empress Lu from childhood when the Crown Prince hadn’t yet gone mad. His nightmare began on the day he came of age, but before that, in Qingning Hall, he had always had more say than the Crown Prince.
Since he had someone, everything fell into place naturally. Han Yang’s expression became somewhat grave, hesitation flashing in his eyes. Ultimately, under the urging of Prince Gong and Zou Yanzheng, he said: “Actually, speaking of it, it’s extremely simple. Both Empress and His Majesty will meet with misfortune.”
Prince Gong frowned with some dissatisfaction. He understood Han Zhengqing’s meaning, but Han Zhengqing was thinking too simply: “I do have someone in Empress’s palace, but as for my Imperial Father, it would definitely not be easy to make a move on him.”
Emperor Jianzhang was a cautious person. After the matter of Prince Tai’s rebellion, he had become even more cautious in his actions.
Han Yang himself had no particular insight. The Emperor was far too distant from him, and he didn’t know exactly how tight the security around the Emperor was. He merely dutifully repeated his father’s words: “You only need to make your move on Empress. As for His Majesty, once Empress has met with misfortune, how much longer can he hold on?”
Yes, how much longer could he hold on? His father’s health had never been particularly good since childhood. The matter with Prince Tai and Empress Dowager Rongxian had already stimulated him into falling ill once. All these years he had exhausted his mind and energy, cautious in every way, like a bowstring—pulled too taut, it would snap.
So many matters all stirred together—even if he were made of iron, wouldn’t he be unable to hold on?
Prince Gong finally laughed heartily: “I understand.”
Chief Clerk Ling never said a word throughout. As he stepped out the study door, he was blown backward several steps by the oncoming wind. Something like phlegm blocked his throat, and he very much wanted to bend over and retch.
He originally hadn’t wanted to help Prince Gong seize that position through rebellion, feeling it would be bad for his reputation later and wasn’t the great path indicated by the sages. But later he truly was forced into a corner with no way out, and so he thought, if we rebel, we rebel. At that time, they could treat Emperor Jianzhang and Empress Lu well and let it be at that.
He hadn’t expected that Prince Gong would not only invite the wolf into the house, not only wanted to use the Tartars’ power to harm his own people, but actually even wanted to commit patricide. This was truly daring to think—this person truly had the heart of a wolf and lungs of a dog.
He had truly misjudged him at the start. The left sleeve of his robe was blown up by the wind. He covered his severed arm, turned through the covered corridor, and descended the steps.
He disdained to associate with this kind of person. Although he had never done anything particularly good in his life, this kind of evil deed that would bring disaster to the nation and people, leaving a stench for millennia, he absolutely refused to do.
Zou Yanzheng and the others followed Prince Gong in lockstep. Now that they had already torn off their masks and decided how to throw the court into chaos, they naturally had to busy themselves with dealing with the Prince of Zhennan. No one had the spare time to pay attention to Chief Clerk Ling who had quietly walked away.
Only Han Yang watched as Chief Clerk Ling’s figure disappeared around the corner, scratching his head in some puzzlement.
Wasn’t it said that this Chief Clerk Ling was Prince Gong’s chief strategist? Why had this Chief Clerk Ling been keeping such a stern face recently?
Unable to figure it out, he stopped thinking about it. Rubbing his frozen hands, he plunged headfirst into the wind and snow. He still needed to go out and check on the few brothers he had brought along. They were all people he’d met in the military camp. His father looked down on them, but he considered them friends.
He himself lived in Prince Gong’s manor, but those brothers couldn’t very well move in. Even if they moved in, they would live in the area where servants stayed, which was uncomfortable and constraining. He simply arranged for them to stay outside.
He hadn’t walked far before reaching the place. Extending his hand to knock on the door, he was welcomed inside. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he smelled the fragrance wafting from inside. He couldn’t help but laugh and curse: “You certainly know how to enjoy yourselves! Eating mutton hotpot on a day like this—perfect!”
“It is perfect!” Someone stepped out from the door and stood under the eaves looking at him, eyes containing laughter: “We were just saying how you love mutton hotpot the most, and by coincidence you’ve arrived.”
Han Yang stood rooted to the spot in some astonishment, looking at Han Yu before him for quite a while without reacting—how had his elder brother come too? This was truly a strange matter. His father never wasted people on the same task. If he could do something, his father shouldn’t have sent his elder brother here.
Could there have been some new change? He was startled by the cold wind and came to his senses, taking several steps forward and darting into the room, while turning back to ask Han Yu: “Why did you come?”