“Is this all finished?”

Li Pu sat down heavily in the pavilion on the artificial mountain, watching the flames blazing toward the sky in the direction of Jingjiang and Jinghai Gates to the north, asking himself in a daze.

“Duke, everyone from the Xinjin Marquis, Vice Minister Zhou, and your brother-in-law’s households have all fled, apparently all heading toward Jinghai Gate. But there’s no activity at the Linjin Marquis Mansion—the main gate is tightly closed,” several old servants pushed open the courtyard gate of the abandoned garden, running over to the artificial mountain drenched in sweat to report.

“I understand. Go to the Linjin Marquis Mansion again to deliver a message. Tell them that I, Li Pu, have wronged them, that the Li family is completely finished, and they should quickly pack up and flee. Whoever can help preserve a few descendants for the Li family without letting the line be severed—I, Li Pu, will kowtow to them from the underworld,” Li Pu said in a hoarse voice. With a clang, he drew the sword at his waist and brought it to his neck.

“Duke!” the two old servants cried out in alarm.

A flash of blade light passed, blood spurted forth. Though Li Pu’s breath hadn’t ceased, he still stared fixedly at Jinghai Gate engulfed in a sea of flames. Several moments later, his body fell backward with a thud, and the treasured blade that had followed him half his lifetime also slipped from his hand…

…

…

“The First Imperial Prince, though young, is intelligent. Noble Consort Wang is virtuous and of good character. Both received His Majesty’s favor. His Majesty often said that when he came of age, worthy teachers would be sought to instruct him, which would surely make the Great Chu’s rivers and mountains stable…”

In extraordinary times, the so-called “establish the legitimate heir rather than the eldest” didn’t exist. But choosing between the First Imperial Prince and Third Imperial Prince, there still needed to be a dignified explanation.

In the great hall of the Hall of State Affairs, Shen Yang took the lead, and Yang Zhitang, Yang En and many ministers successively presented honorific words. The matter of enthroning First Imperial Prince Yang Bin was thus settled.

“The most urgent matter is still to purge the traitor faction. Within the palace precincts, which have long been controlled and infiltrated by the traitor faction, there’s an even greater need for thorough investigation. This matter will require Directors Zhang and Jiang to undertake this arduous task…” Shen Yang said to Zhang Ping and Jiang Huo.

“His Majesty was assassinated and killed. We two were incompetent in protecting him—this is a capital crime. Living on in this world, we already feel ashamed before the Late Emperor and dare not continue to illicitly occupy positions in the inner court. We request Minister Shen, Prince Shou and the Empress Dowager to select other worthy and capable people. We two, with our remaining lives, only wish to tend the lamps and add oil before the Late Emperor and His Majesty’s tomb shrines…” Though Zhang Ping was only in his fifties, his temples were already frost-white. With one sleeve hanging before him, together with the somewhat hunched Jiang Huo, he stepped forward and bowed in declining gratitude.

At this moment when Zhang Ping and Jiang Huo, in their positions as Director and Deputy Director of Palace Attendants, were fully executing control over palace precinct affairs, they unexpectedly sought to depart. Everyone looked at each other in dismay. Shen Yang and Yang Zhitang were somewhat caught off guard.

Who exactly had tipped off Zhang Ping and Jiang Huo to rescue Li Yao—this remained one of the greatest suspicious points of the palace coup thus far, but it didn’t prevent these two from earning everyone’s trust.

Zhang Ping, speaking of it, was also an old subordinate of the Divine Mausoleum Bureau, but in the Battle of Xichuan, he had risked his life to block falling rocks for Yang Yuanpu.

And Jiang Huo had been entrusted by the Late Emperor to serve loyally at Yang Yuanpu’s side.

The two of them had been conscientious and dutiful, with substantial achievements over the years. Even though they had quite deep friendship with Han Qian, Shen Yang and Yang Zhitang believed they were still loyal to the Great Chu. It was hard to imagine they would at this moment only seek to guard Emperor Yanyou’s tomb, unwilling to continue participating in the rights and wrongs of the palace precincts and court?

Yang En’s brows furrowed slightly. Seeing Shen Yang and Yang Zhitang looking over inquiringly, at this moment he only shook his head slightly.

“These past years we two have both been troubled by illness and have requested to leave many times, but His Majesty’s great kindness was difficult to decline, so it never came to pass. This time we must request Minister Shen and Prince Shou to grant our wish,” Zhang Ping and Jiang Huo said with resolute expressions.

That Zhang Ping and Jiang Huo were determined to leave, and that Emperor Yanyou, fearing the evil reputation of being callous and ungrateful, had never consented but had instead had Chen Ruyi, An Jixiang and others marginalize Zhang and Jiang in the inner court—this was a secret known to all.

Only no one had expected Zhang Ping and Jiang Huo would seek to depart with such resolute attitude at this time.

Qing Yang also stood stunned there, unable to help but wonder: without Zhang Ping and Jiang Huo, with six or seven thousand palace eunuchs and maids in the imperial palace, lacking both sufficient qualifications and sufficient trust from everyone, who would preside over inner court palace precinct affairs? Who would be responsible for thoroughly investigating the traitors hidden among so many palace eunuchs and maids one by one?

Though she had some trustworthy old people brought from Shu by her side, counting on her toes she could understand that Shen Yang and Yang Zhitang would absolutely never allow Shu people to fully execute control over the Great Chu’s inner court.

Of course, as one of the few people present who truly grasped the inside information, Qing Yang at this moment could better guess Zhang and Jiang’s thoughts. She thought they perhaps believed the one who had tipped them off must be Tangyi’s hidden agent and spy embedded beside Lu Qingxia. Not wanting to betray the trust of the Late Emperor and His Majesty, yet also not wanting to become enemies with Tangyi, they were therefore resolutely seeking to depart at this moment, right?

Qing Yang looked again at Shen Yang and Yang Zhitang, their brows deeply furrowed as if deep in thought. Her heart tightened with worry that they might figure things out and matters would reverse again. She couldn’t help but look worriedly toward Daoist Yun Puzi.

“Directors Zhang and Jiang are determined to guard the Late Emperor and His Majesty’s tombs. With no trusted senior ministers remaining in the inner court,” Han Daoming, sitting below Yang Zhitang, said thoughtfully, “this humble one thinks that for now, the Palace Attendants Bureau could temporarily be reorganized into the Palace Attendants Office, with Marquis Liyang Yang En appointed as Palace Attendants Minister to temporarily execute inner court affairs and thoroughly investigate the palace coup bloody case. Minister Shen, Prince Shou, the two Empress Dowagers and all you ministers—what do you think?”

Everyone was startled by Han Daoming’s suggestion, which also diverted everyone’s thoughts.

Replacing eunuch ministers with imperial clan elder ministers to execute inner court palace precinct affairs—there seemed to be no historical precedent, and it didn’t conform to Great Chu regulations. But thinking carefully, it seemed there was nothing improper about it.

This was perhaps the most appropriate compromise method for dealing with the current extremely complex and chaotic inner court situation. It could even effectively prevent eunuch usurpation of power and collusion with external ministers going forward, which also showed the Han family and Tangyi had clear consciences.

On another level, besides Yang En, whom could they entrust with investigating the palace coup bloody case that everyone could feel at ease about?

Shen Yang and Yang Zhitang frowned, seeing Yang En also nod slightly and not refuse responsibility for inner court affairs, then looked toward Qing Yang.

Qing Yang glanced at Huang E and said, “Huang Empress and I are both women of the inner quarters. For such a major matter, we defer entirely to Minister Shen, Prince Shou and all you ministers’ deliberations…”

“This could serve as an expedient measure,” Shen Yang pondered for a while and also felt Han Daoming’s words were feasible. He lowered his eyes to look at the sleeves of his robe joined before the desk for a while before saying to Yang Zhitang, “The new emperor is young. If it takes ten years before he can grow to adulthood and rule personally, according to old regulations we should request the Empress Dowager to preside over government. Lady Wang is the new emperor’s legitimate mother and should rightfully be honored as Empress Dowager. And Lady Huang was His Majesty’s principal consort—she could be honored equally with Lady Wang to attend court together. Prince Shou, what do you think?”

These words truly startled Qing Yang’s heart. She held Binzi tighter in her arms, instinctively about to look toward Daoist Yun Puzi, Han Daoming and Qin Wen.

Two Empress Dowagers honored equally—this didn’t just mean Huang E would directly share away her authority as the new emperor’s birth mother and her power to preside over government attending court. More critically, Huang E still had one son. Once there was any disturbance, bloody cases of imperial succession changes could occur again in the palace.

Moreover, with Huang E and Third Imperial Prince Yang Ye as backups, if Shen Yang, Yang En, Yang Zhitang and others truly wanted to depose her and her son in the future to enthrone a new emperor, it would be as easy as turning over one’s hand.

Could it be that Zhang Ping and Jiang Huo’s resolute departure had truly made Shen Yang suspicious?

Thinking of this, in Qing Yang’s still-unsettled heart, resentment couldn’t help but grow, but before she could make any move, Daoist Yun Puzi shook his head slightly at her, indicating she shouldn’t act rashly.

Qing Yang suppressed the resentment in her heart, also knowing that with her position still unstable, she couldn’t directly dispute with Shen Yang.

Thinking of this, Qing Yang glanced toward Han Daoming, seeing him seemingly pondering something but also showing no intention to stand out in opposition. She could only first suppress the dissatisfaction in her heart, sitting upright in the seat of honor, putting on an appearance of respectfully listening to Minister Shen and Prince Shou command the overall situation.

Of course, outsiders could only see the interaction between her and Daoist Yun Puzi, but didn’t find anything strange about it.

Why Daoist Yun Puzi could serve as Chongfu Temple’s abbot and enter and exit the palace precincts—this was a secret known to all in the court.

That Qing Yang had a bellyful of opinions about Shen Yang’s proposal—this wasn’t strange. Who would be willing to share the power of presiding over government with another? But seeing that she could sit still at this moment without directly raising questions, in everyone’s view she was still sensible about the big picture.

Yang Zhitang, however, showed some hesitation. After all, honoring two palaces equally also had no precedent.

Seeing Yang Zhitang and quite a few others hesitate, even without mentioning some worries that couldn’t be spoken aloud, Shen Yang at this time further explained other reasons for his proposal.

Besides Huang E being Emperor Yanyou’s principal consort, Shen Yang also mainly considered that Huang Hua, as Hunan Branch Ministry of State Affairs’ Pacification Commissioner, had been utterly loyal to Emperor Yanyou these past years. And whether the Huang family or the Jiangdong aristocratic clans entrenched in Jiangdong, for a considerable period of time going forward, they should rightfully together with the Hunan Branch Ministry of State Affairs become the foundation of the Great Chu imperial dynasty.

Even though Shen Yang had been committed to promoting scholars from humble backgrounds all these years, he had to recognize clearly that only with Jiangdong, Jiangxi and Hunan—which occupied over half of the Great Chu’s territory with a population ratio exceeding three-quarters—stabilized could they speak with some confidence that the Great Chu’s overall situation was still under their control.

Apart from the Huang family and Jiangdong aristocratic clans benefiting from this matter, it didn’t harm others’ interests, so no one stood out to oppose it.

And since they were honoring Huang E equally as Empress Dowager, and Huang E had given birth to Third Imperial Prince Yang Ye, to prevent the Huang family from harboring unnecessary ambitions and launching new bloody palace coups, removing Huang Lu and Huang clan and Jiangdong aristocratic family scions from the Imperial Guard system responsible for guarding the Imperial City and capital region was a necessary measure.

Without Han Daoming or Qing Yang and others even needing to mention it, Shen Yang directly proposed incorporating the Left Martial Soaring Army into the forbidden army system, restationing it at Chizhou, with Huang Lu as Grand Commander concurrently serving as Chizhou Regional Commander, temporarily responsible for pursuing traitors and suppressing rebels first—this could be considered quite fair treatment for the Huang family.

Of course, this arrangement had another layer of intent—using the Left Martial Soaring Army to guard the capital region’s western flank and suppress any possible ambitions of the Tangyi Army—a reason that couldn’t be openly proclaimed.

Regarding this arrangement, Han Daoming only raised his eyelids slightly without showing opposition. The others wouldn’t oppose it either.

Huang Lu and several officials close to the Huang family also had no way to oppose this arrangement. After all, Huang E being honored equally to preside over government was already a gain far exceeding their expectations.

…

…

In view of tonight’s chaotic command of the Imperial Guard with various units each acting independently, Shen Yang discussed with everyone and decided to reorganize the Imperial Guard Bureau into the Imperial Guard Cavalry and Infantry Commander-in-Chief Office, nominating Du Chongtao as Imperial Guard Commander-in-Chief, with Guo Liang and Zhang Han as Deputy Commanders-in-Chief, and civil officials like Xue Ruogu and Qin Wen as Supervising Military Commissioners, fully executing control over palace precincts, Imperial City and capital region guard duties.

The Left and Right Martial Guard Armies wouldn’t establish Grand Commanders. With the ten deputy commanders as leaders, they would directly receive deployment from the Imperial Guard Commander-in-Chief Office. Subsequently, they would directly expand the capital region garrison troops on the foundation of the Imperial Guard’s ten commands.

This was actually something Shen Yang had wanted to do for a long time and had discussed with Yang En and Yang Zhitang. Previously there hadn’t been such conditions, with too many opposing voices, but this time presented a good opportunity for more thorough reorganization of the Imperial Guard.

Huang Lu and the Left Martial Soaring Army were being removed from the Imperial Guard system anyway. Guo Liang and Zhang Han were nominally promoted but actually demoted—their control over the Imperial Guard would be greatly restricted. But given their performance tonight, they didn’t have the confidence to stand out in opposition at this time.

Zhang Han thought it over and over. A more stable Great Chu wouldn’t harm the Zhang clan’s interests, so he didn’t voice opposition.

Only when the sky showed a fish-belly white on the horizon were all matters preliminarily concluded.

Qing Yang had let Binzi sleep in her arms. She and Huang E had remained in the Hall of State Affairs all night without returning to the palace to rest. Moreover, at this time there was nowhere else in the Imperial City that could give them more sense of security than the Hall of State Affairs.

At this time, the multiple great fires within the Imperial City were gradually being extinguished. Du Chongtao was also officially exercising the authority of Imperial Guard Commander-in-Chief, dispatching soldiers to take over defensive duties at Jingjiang and Jinghai Gates that had been breached by the rebels. Soon soldiers returned to report: “The Empress Dowager was held hostage by traitorous rebel soldiers and boarded ships from the official boat docks controlled by the Imperial Textile Bureau, fleeing eastward down the Yangtze River. At Jinghai Gate, the corpse of the Linjin Marquis was discovered, apparently killed by rebel soldiers’ blades…”

From Zhang Ping and Jiang Huo escorting Li Yao’s appearance, everyone’s hearts naturally understood that the Li Changfeng and Li Xiu brothers had from beginning to end been chess pieces kept in the dark by Lu Qingxia. Li Xiu had surrendered without resistance at the Ministry of State Affairs, and at that time Li Changfeng had been at Chongwen Hall. If he was unwilling to be held hostage by Lu Qingxia and others, or if he attempted to resist and break free from Lu Qingxia and others’ control, being separated from his head really wasn’t something hard to imagine.

Chen De, An Jixiang and a batch of inner court eunuch officers and attendants had escaped through Jinghai Gate together with Lu Qingxia and others. As for whether they were forced to agree to follow Lu Qingxia after their lives were threatened, or were temporarily still imprisoned by Lu Qingxia, or had long conspired with Lu Qingxia on the palace coup—the distinction didn’t matter much.

What truly gave people headaches was that Lu Qingxia and the others hadn’t fled upriver to Xiangbei but had gone downriver instead…

Everyone could figure out even counting on their toes where Lu Qingxia was going and what she intended to do.

Lu Qingxia holding hostage the Empress Dowager, Chen De, An Jixiang and others as well as the “Second Imperial Prince,” rushing to Huaidong at this time—one didn’t need to think to know that after meeting Prince Xin Yang Yuanyan, she would turn around and falsely accuse them of conspiring to launch the palace coup, then request Prince Xin Yang Yuanyan to deploy troops to aid the sovereign and suppress the chaos. Or Lu Qingxia might go even further, directly using the Empress Dowager’s name to transmit an edict throughout the realm establishing Prince Xin Yang Yuanyan as emperor. What would they do then?

Previously everyone had confidence in deploying troops and generals to work together with Tangyi to completely contain the Xiangbei Army, but if Xiangbei and Huaidong raised troops together, using the Empress Dowager and “Second Imperial Prince” to incite prefectures and counties unaware of the truth, who could ensure the Great Chu wouldn’t again fall into fragmented warfare?

Qin Wen was also secretly anxious, thinking Lu Qingxia was truly an extremely formidable opponent. Sending the Empress Dowager and Second Imperial Prince into Huaidong—even if Yang Yuanpu held his troops and didn’t move, it could still pin down the Imperial Guard, Right Dragon Martial Army and considerable Tangyi forces on the eastern flank, not daring to act rashly. Naturally, the court subsequently couldn’t assemble sufficient troops to suppress Xiangbei, and then Li Zhigao, occupying Xiang and Liang provinces, would still have room to maneuver.

Previously when the Imperial Guard had sealed the Imperial City, Yang Zhitang couldn’t transmit orders in advance for the Right Dragon Martial Army to seal the Yangtze River waterway downstream of Aoshan Island. At this time, transmitting orders to deploy the Right Dragon Martial Army’s naval warships, they couldn’t possibly catch up to intercept them before Lu Qingxia and the others entered the Han Canal. He didn’t know whether Tangyi had anticipated this scene occurring in advance.

Yang Zhitang didn’t know what Qin Wen was thinking and looked toward Shen Yang, asking hesitantly:

“Send a high minister to Chuzhou to see Prince Xin?”

The truth of the palace coup no longer mattered. They hadn’t previously guessed Lu Qingxia would flee to Huaidong, mainly because the Right Dragon Martial Army in the south occupied Runzhou controlling the lower Yangtze waterway, while the Tangyi Army occupied Chu and Chao with even stronger troops and horses. Prince Xin Yang Yuanyan shouldn’t dare act rashly. But Lu Qingxia had exceeded their expectations, holding hostage the Empress Dowager and “Second Imperial Prince” and heading to Huaidong. Could they be certain Yang Yuanyan wouldn’t be bewitched into taking a big gamble?

“Transmit an edict ordering the Right Dragon Martial Army and Tangyi Army to guard Runzhou and Chuzhou tightly. Afterward send an envoy to Chuzhou to see Prince Xin. I believe Prince Xin won’t fail to distinguish right from wrong…” Han Daoming said leisurely.

Though Han Qian had repeatedly emphasized doing everything possible to avoid the Great Chu falling into internal chaos and repeatedly emphasized not delaying the opportunity for Tangyi to deploy troops to the Huai River region, even if Han Daoming didn’t advocate Tangyi deploying troops to the Huai River region at this time, he wouldn’t oppose Han Qian.

However, if circumstances destined Tangyi to first pacify the chaos in Huaidong and Xiangbei, this might not be a bad thing for Tangyi and the Han family.

“I’ll go to Chuzhou,” Yang En said somewhat exhausted.

“I’ll write a letter to be sent to Chuzhou, hoping Prince Xin can distinguish right from wrong…” Shen Yang said with a grave expression.

In his heart, he had once entertained thoughts of enthroning Prince Xin, but with the situation within the Imperial City finally stabilized with great difficulty, they couldn’t possibly have other choices, and he wouldn’t allow Yang En to easily venture into danger.

If Prince Xin had no异动 (unusual movements), that would be fine, but if he got ideas and detained Yang En, then in Jinling he would truly be left without support.

At this time Xue Ruogu came in to report that under his and several civil officials’ supervision, troops to arrest traitor faction accomplices throughout the city were ready and prepared, just waiting for the lords’ order before they could spread out from the Imperial City to catch in one net the traitor faction’s accomplices still remaining in the city who hadn’t escaped in time.

Of course, at this time they could only first confiscate and search the residences in Jinling city of Chen De, Zhou Yuan, Xu Jing, Xinjin Marquis Li Zhigao, Linjin Marquis Li Changfeng, Duke Changguo and others.

Even though everyone clearly knew the Li Changfeng and Li Xiu brothers had been used as weapons, at this time no one was willing to give up the opportunity to thoroughly eliminate Li Changfeng, Li Xiu and Duke Changguo Li Pu and others’ influence in the military. As for Deposed Empress Li Yao, they could just find some place to imprison her later, or have her spend the rest of her life guarding Emperor Yanyou’s tomb.

Just as Shen Yang was about to request the two Empress Dowagers to issue an edict, several deputy commander generals who had left the Imperial City early at dawn with edicts to take over defensive duties at key points in the main city and outer city sent people rushing over to report that the families of Li Zhigao, Zhou Yuan, Xu Jing, Zhou Shu, Zhong Yanhu, Chen De, Chai Jian and others had long since left through Jinghai Gate, rendezvousing with the traitor faction led by Lu Qingxia and leaving the city.

These people had either prepared in advance for the palace coup’s failure, or Lu Qingxia had sent people to notify them the moment the situation reversed. Fearing bloody purges afterward, they ultimately chose to flee Jinling city together with Lu Qingxia.

Regardless of their original intentions, from the moment they fled Jinling city, they became equated with the traitor faction.

Only the families of Li Changfeng, Li Xiu, Li Qi and others remained in the city.

Perhaps because Li Xiu had surrendered and been captured, or perhaps because Li Changfeng hadn’t yielded even unto death, the family members and household soldiers in their mansions hadn’t seen their handwritten letters, hesitated indecisively, and missed the opportunity to escape Jinling city in time.

Or perhaps Li Yu had governed his family strictly during his lifetime, causing these people, even facing the test of life-and-death catastrophe, to still not choose to betray the Great Chu.

The Imperial Guard generals who had left the Imperial City first sent people rushing to Duke Changguo’s mansion, discovering Duke Changguo Li Pu had already committed suicide by cutting his throat in the abandoned garden. However, Linjin Marquis Mansion’s household soldiers had seized the corpse one step ahead of them. When the two sides met in the lanes, they fought a great battle. The Imperial Guard suffered over a dozen killed and wounded, and requested orders to besiege and suppress Linjin Marquis Mansion.

“This humble one is willing to lead troops to suppress them!” Huang Lu stood up and asked.

Li Changfeng had been separated from his head, and dozens of officers in the Imperial Guard who came from the Prince’s Mansion had been arrested together with Li Xiu. Even if Linjin Marquis Mansion combined with Li Xiu, Li Qi and Duke Changguo’s mansion still had one or two hundred elite household soldiers, truly deploying Imperial Guard elites to purge them would be a matter of moments.

Though the Great Chu’s current situation was stable and after Emperor Yanyou’s hundred years the imperial throne might not necessarily fall to his Huang family descendants, the circumstances would in any case look better than now. At the end of the day, Huang Lu’s heart also resented Li Xiu for helping a tyrant do evil last night.

And his command of the Left Martial Soaring Army had been greatly constrained by Li Xiu. Even the military achievements of seizing Liangzhou—under Li Changfeng, Li Zhigao and others’ control, he hadn’t been able to get a share of the spoils. How could he not have resentment in his heart?

Furthermore, if he didn’t nail Li Changfeng and Li Xiu dead to the pillar of traitor accomplices at this time, how could he thoroughly and satisfyingly uproot the Prince’s Mansion’s remaining influence from the Left Martial Soaring Army afterward?

Shen Yang shook his head and said, “Zhedong Prince Li Yu was loyal to the Great Chu. Even if his sons have the suspicion of helping a tyrant do evil, the crime doesn’t warrant exterminating the entire clan…”

At this time Li Changfeng had already been separated from his head, Li Xiu had already been detained. Even though Shen Yang also wanted to completely eliminate the Li family’s influence and power in the military afterward, he ultimately couldn’t bear to kill everyone in Linjin Marquis Mansion without leaving a single one.

Yang En’s attitude went without saying. Yang Zhitang, Du Chongtao, Zhou Bingwu and others, even if they wanted to settle accounts with Zhedong Prince’s Mansion’s remaining influence, at this time no one was willing to directly use ruthless methods and leave an evil reputation.

But the problem was that Linjin Marquis Li Changfeng had been separated from his head, Li Pu had committed suicide, the mansion’s household soldiers had seized Li Pu’s corpse, and after killing and wounding over a dozen Imperial Guard soldiers, had closed the gates in resistance. If they didn’t resolutely dispatch troops to forcibly attack and purge them now, would they obediently lay down their weapons and surrender without resistance?

However, at this time Lu Qingxia was holding the Empress Dowager and “Second Imperial Prince” hostage rushing to Huaidong. To avoid sudden changes arising in Jinling city and breeding more chaos, they absolutely couldn’t tolerate Linjin Marquis Mansion’s stubborn resistance and confrontation dragging on. They had to handle it decisively and cleanly…