Today was the birthday of the Prince of Zhongshan, and the Zhongshan Prince’s mansion had prepared many surprises for their guests. However, they never expected that before their planned events could even begin, shocking incidents would unfold one after another.

The Prince of Zhongshan lay on the ground, his royal robes stained with blood.

The Crown Prince, who had been far away in the capital, and the high-ranking Imperial Tutor Deng Yi suddenly appeared at the Zhongshan Prince’s mansion.

Deng Yi declared that the Crown Prince was the heir designated by the late Emperor.

This meant the Crown Prince should have been the Emperor!

Although many people were kept outside the hall, as mentioned earlier, voices could not be blocked even if sights could. Those standing outside immediately heard this, and the news spread even further.

Among them, a father and son exchanged shocked glances.

Earlier, when they were traveling into the city by carriage, they had whispered that the Prince of Zhongshan would be more suitable as Emperor than the young Emperor. But since the late Emperor had chosen the young Emperor, if the Prince of Zhongshan contested the throne, it would be against propriety and make him a treasonous rebel.

But if the late Emperor had once chosen the Prince of Zhongshan’s lineage, then the result would be completely different!

The Prince of Zhongshan would be the legitimate ruler!

The officials inside the hall understood this more clearly. In an instant, they surrounded Deng Yi, asking: “What is going on?” “Imperial Tutor, is what you’re saying true?” “My goodness.”

The Prince of Zhongshan, lying on the ground between life and death, was momentarily forgotten.

It was the Princess Consort who, with half her heart in shock and half concerned for the Prince of Zhongshan, interrupted the commotion, wiping away tears as she ordered: “First, let’s properly attend to His Highness, then please invite the Imperial Tutor inside to explain in detail.”

Everyone then busied themselves, though they had not yet recovered from their shock, but were no longer in such disarray as before. Doctors wearing protective robes and covering their hands, mouths, and noses carried the Prince of Zhongshan to a bed in the resting area behind the flower hall. The poisoned doctor was also carried away for treatment. The guests temporarily could not leave but were arranged to sit in the hall, with hot tea and refreshments being served.

Of course, this could not comfort the guests. Some sat, some stood, whispering to each other, and occasionally looking toward the back. This time, the multiple layers of rooms blocked both sight and sound, and they could no longer hear what was being said inside. But it didn’t matter anymore—the most important things had already been seen and heard.

The Prince of Zhongshan had been poisoned by the court.

Imperial Tutor Deng Yi had appeared.

Deng Yi claimed that the Crown Prince was the heir designated by the late Emperor.

The hall was filled with murmuring.

In the inner chamber, Deng Yi was once again surrounded by the Princess Consort and the mansion officials asking questions.

Deng Yi provided his answer: “Your Zhongshan lineage was once designated by the late Emperor to inherit the throne, so the current Emperor cannot allow you to exist.”

“Imperial Tutor, is this true or false?” the Princess Consort asked, wiping away tears. “But we never knew this.”

“Indeed, if the late Emperor designated the Crown Prince as heir, why did none of us know?” the officials asked.

Someone went to question Xiao Xun.

“Did the Crown Prince know?”

Everyone also recalled that Xiao Xun had been in the capital at that time.

Since inviting Deng Yi back to the hall, Xiao Xun had not spoken again. He only kept vigil beside the Prince of Zhongshan, staring at him blankly, using an oil-cloth wrapped hand to wipe the blood from the Prince’s face, as if isolated from everything around him. Only after the officials repeatedly questioned him did he look up in confusion.

“I didn’t know,” he said. “When chaos broke out in the capital, there was a message from the imperial palace telling me to stay at the postal station without moving. I had been hiding at the postal station, but suddenly it was surrounded and attacked. Tie Ying helped me escape.”

Deng Yi smiled slightly and said: “The Crown Prince didn’t know because this edict never made it out of the imperial palace.” He then looked up at everyone in the hall.

These people had various expressions—some frightened, some uneasy, some nervous, some sorrowful.

But how much of these expressions displayed for outsiders was real and how much was fake?

Truly boring.

Yet, also quite interesting. They all waited for his words; his words were like magnificent robes.

In the capital, he had the title of Imperial Tutor, holding the imperial seal and tiger tally. Many people supported and assisted him, all to borrow the splendid garment of power and authority through him.

As it was in the capital, so it was in the Prince of Zhongshan’s mansion.

They needed him, so he would grant them what they needed.

No matter who they were, he, Deng Yi, would still be the one who bestowed the robes.

“When the late Emperor was about to issue the edict,” Deng Yi said slowly, “the woman of the Chu family and the Xie family brought private troops and intercepted it.”

The room froze for a moment, then erupted in commotion.

…

…

Outside Zhongshan Commandery, there were thirty thousand troops stationed from various commanderies and prefectures. They had been summoned from different regions, and their mission was to strictly guard Zhongshan Commandery.

Standing on the first watchtower fortress, one could see the military camp across.

Since the battle a year ago, Zhongshan Commandery had not concealed their military strength; the Prince of Zhongshan was now openly maintaining private troops.

“There haven’t been many carriages on the road today,” a military officer said in a low voice. “Goodness, celebrating the Prince of Zhongshan’s birthday seems even grander than the new Emperor’s coronation.”

“When the new Emperor ascended the throne, Zhongshan Commandery was still in mourning, without sending a single gift,” another officer whispered.

The colonel cleared his throat, interrupting them: “It doesn’t matter how many people enter Zhongshan Commandery to offer congratulations. As long as countless people don’t suddenly rush out of Zhongshan Commandery to go to the capital bearing gifts, it’s fine.”

Both generals understood what this meant. They no longer believed the Prince of Zhongshan would send gifts to the court. He had sent them once before, and what happened? The Emperor personally led troops to confront him. If the Empress hadn’t arrived in time from the border commandery to trap the Prince of Zhongshan, who knows what state the Great Xia would be in now.

There would probably be internal fighting everywhere.

“But—” one officer couldn’t help saying softly, “sooner or later—”

He stopped there, but the other two understood his meaning. The standoff between the court and the Prince of Zhongshan couldn’t last forever.

Now that the court had achieved a great victory in Yunzhong Commandery, resolving the Western Liang issue, they would have the resources to deal with the Prince of Zhongshan.

At the very least, they wouldn’t allow the Prince of Zhongshan to control one hundred thousand troops or let Zhongshan Commandery function like an independent territory.

The three men stood on the fortress, gazing into the distance, each with their thoughts. Suddenly, a group of horsemen appeared in their view.

This was a force of about thirty men, clearly coming from the Zhongshan Commandery camp, getting closer and closer—

Until they were stopped by the guards: “This is imperial military territory, approach forbidden.”

The thirty horsemen halted, their horses pawing the ground, creating clamorous sounds that made the officers watching from nearby slightly tense.

“We carry the Emperor’s decree and have come to match credentials,” the lead soldier shouted, raising an imperial edict.

An imperial decree from the court? The colonel in the fortress was stunned.

“The court’s delegation bearing birthday gifts for the Prince of Zhongshan just entered,” an officer said quietly.

Perhaps they had brought it.

The colonel nodded, signaling to the guards. A guard had already taken the edict and raced forward. The colonel examined it and saw it contained orders for troop movements. Although the order was somewhat confusing, the imperial seal was authentic.

Besides the imperial seal, there was also half of a tiger tally.

The tiger tally was also genuine.

Whether Zhongshan Commandery troops obeyed the court’s orders was not their concern, but they had to obey.

The colonel signaled to let the thirty men through, returning the edict and tiger tally.

“General An Dong is at the main camp,” he said, pointing to the rear.

The lead officer raised his hand in salute, saying nothing more, and led his men through the fortress.

…

…

At the same time, the tightly closed gates of Zhongshan Commandery city opened.

Although not as crowded as when people entered the city, there were still many carriages and horses going out.

There were officials, noble families, military officers, and scholars, some on horseback, some in carriages, all heading in different directions.

…

…

Many postal stations in prefectures and commanderies outside Zhongshan also received new dispatches.

“Is this going to Jiang Prefecture?” the postal supervisor at one station asked, examining the dispatch and looking at the group of postal soldiers. “Where are you from? Do you have official documentation, tokens, or command letters?”

Naturally, postal stations needed to verify identities before transmitting dispatches.

This group of postal soldiers did not identify themselves or produce official documentation or tokens, only presenting a command letter.

“We carry the Emperor’s secret decree,” the lead postal soldier said. “It bears the Son of Heaven’s imperial seal.”

The supervisor looked at the command letter. He certainly recognized that the seal on it was indeed the Son of Heaven’s imperial seal. Those carrying such command letters could all be called imperial envoys.

But he didn’t show the usual respect and deference by bowing and stepping aside. Instead, he hesitated and produced an edict of his own.

“The court has an edict from the Empress,” he said. “It says to strictly verify Son of Heaven’s decrees, so please show your official documents and tokens.”

The postal soldiers exchanged glances, then suddenly drew their swords—

“Someone—” the supervisor, having anticipated this, shouted as he retreated.

With his shout, soldiers who had been hiding nearby rushed out.

“Arrest the criminals—”

“There are spies—”

…

…

Even some postal soldiers who had successfully passed through postal stations, carrying edicts into cities, did not all proceed without obstacles.

The prefect looked at the edict handed to him, took it, but did not open it or indicate that he would obey it. Instead, he also produced an edict.

“The court has just sent an edict from the Empress, saying that it concerns confidential matters, and that an erroneous imperial edict has been issued,” he said, looking at the men before him.

The soldiers’ faces darkened as they shouted: “How dare you! You disregard the Son of Heaven’s edict! How do you know the Empress isn’t forging an edict?”

The prefect, a scholar, remained calm without anxiety or fear, saying: “It’s not disregard; we don’t know which is genuine, and we dare not disobey either.”

His eyes scanned the group as he spoke.

What did an imperial edict matter? The Emperor was still a small child, not even as big as the Empress.

Who knew who had issued this edict—Imperial Tutor Deng Yi? The imperial in-law Xie clan? If it were them who had higher authority between their edict and the Empress’s?

“Therefore, we will send both edicts and all of you to the capital. After determining which is genuine—”

Before the prefect could finish, the soldiers drew their swords.

“The Prefect of Wu Prefecture is rebelling—” they shouted. “We are ordered to—”

With these shouts, they slashed at the prefect.

However, the scholarly prefect showed unexpected agility they hadn’t anticipated. He stepped back and moved behind a screen.

Earlier, when they claimed to bring a secret edict and asked the prefect to dismiss all unnecessary personnel, the officials and servants of the prefecture had withdrawn. But they hadn’t noticed the screen in the hall.

The screen was somewhat conspicuous, but government offices often reflected officials’ tastes in decoration, so the soldiers hadn’t paid it any mind.

Missing their first strike, with the prefect hidden behind the screen, the soldiers advanced again. As they were about to cut down the screen, it suddenly fell, revealing a row of crossbowmen behind it, some standing, some kneeling—

“Seize the traitors—” the prefect shouted.

With his cry, a volley of arrows flew. The five soldiers couldn’t even take a step forward before they all fell to the ground, dead.

Officials and servants from outside the hall rushed in at this moment, looking at the corpses on the ground with expressions that were both alarmed and shifting.

“Sir, that was close,” an official said softly. “Fortunately, we were prepared.”

Another official, still shaken, said: “Fortunately, sir acted decisively and trusted the Empress’s edict. Those carrying the imperial edict indeed came to kill.”

The prefect looked at the two edicts in his hand. He hadn’t trusted the Empress’s edict; he didn’t trust anyone. Since the late Emperor’s passing, with over three years of court turmoil, he had long suspected that the Great Xia would eventually descend into chaos—

Now it finally had.

…

…

When morning light once again enveloped the Prince of Zhongshan’s mansion, Xiao Xun, sitting by the bed, suddenly awoke.

He first looked at the patient. After two days, the Prince of Zhongshan’s nose and mouth no longer bled. His breathing was weak, but his eyes remained open.

“Father,” Xiao Xun adjusted his sitting position, propping his head with his hand as he looked into the Prince’s eyes. “Are you unable to sleep, or is it that you can’t sleep?”

The Prince of Zhongshan couldn’t answer, of course. His rigid eyes couldn’t move. If not for his faint breathing, he would be a dead man.

“Don’t be afraid,” Xiao Xun said softly. “Soon you’ll be able to sleep soundly, never to wake up again.”

He held the Prince’s hand against his cheek, gently caressing it, just like when he was a child.

Father always liked to caress him this way, and he enjoyed nestling against his father. Only he received such affection from his father.

“When I ascend the throne as Emperor, I will posthumously bestow the title of Emperor upon you. Your wish will finally be fulfilled.”

He gazed at the Prince of Zhongshan, his dimples filled with smiles.

“Father, are you happy?”

The Prince of Zhongshan could not express whether he was happy or not. He could only lie there rigidly, his eyes fixed open.

Xiao Xun gently stroked his hand, his face smiling, his voice as cold as frozen water.

“I am very happy.”

“Although I always said before that I wanted to fulfill Father’s wish, I didn’t know if achieving this wish would make me happy.”

“In my heart, as long as Father was happy, I was happy.”

“But now, I’ve realized that besides Father’s happiness, there are other things that can make me happy.”

“It turns out that being happy for myself feels like this.”

As he spoke, he smiled.

A silent smile.

Footsteps sounded outside the door, and someone entered.

“How dare you?” Xiao Xun’s smile vanished abruptly. Regardless, with his father in this state, a son shouldn’t be laughing broadly, especially if seen by others— “Entering without permission, I said—”

He turned his head, saw who had come, and the rest of his words ceased.

Deng Yi looked at him with a wooden expression, showing no intention of apologizing or leaving.

A smile reappeared on Xiao Xun’s face: “So it’s the Imperial Tutor. What brings you here?”

Deng Yi ignored his smile and barely glanced at the ailing Prince of Zhongshan, saying: “The edicts have been received throughout Zhongshan Commandery and in eight prefectures and twelve cities beyond. The thirty thousand troops stationed outside Zhongshan Commandery have also relaxed their defenses and are following redeployment orders.”

Xiao Xun laughed heartily: “Thank you, Imperial Tutor. With you here, our Zhongshan Prince’s mansion is like a tiger given wings.”

Deng Yi replied coolly: “The Crown Prince is too kind. It is the Prince who has been planning for decades, winning people’s hearts. What was lacking was merely a single command.”

Xiao Xun smiled broadly: “Without a source for the command, my father couldn’t issue it for decades. Without the Imperial Tutor, it still wouldn’t be possible today.”

Deng Yi looked toward the Prince of Zhongshan: “Then the Prince should thank the Crown Prince. It is the Crown Prince who, for the sake of this empire, was willing to sacrifice the Prince’s life to gain that single command.”

Xiao Xun knew that since Deng Yi had entered, Ning Kun must have already cleared away everyone outside, so there was no fear of being overheard. As for the Prince of Zhongshan, he also glanced at his ailing father, smiling slightly.

“This is my father’s wish,” he said. “To fulfill this wish, my father would sacrifice me, and naturally would sacrifice himself as well. Even if he dies, he would be happy.”

Whether the Prince of Zhongshan was happy or not, Deng Yi didn’t know and didn’t care to investigate. He smiled and looked at the Prince, saying: “However, I think the Prince can probably now understand Emperor Jingyang’s feelings.”

Emperor Jingyang was the father of both the Prince of Zhongshan and the late Emperor. In those years, to ensure the Crown Prince position wouldn’t be threatened, he ignored how his young son, the Prince of Zhongshan, was crippled by the Empress Dowager.

Everything was for the position of Emperor.

The Prince of Zhongshan had hated his father his entire life. Now, he and his son—how were they any different from back then?

Father abandons son, son hates father, father and son harm each other.

Xiao Xun naturally heard Deng Yi’s mockery but maintained his expression, smiling as he said: “My father hasn’t become Emperor yet, so it’s too early to understand an Emperor’s feelings.”

Deng Yi stopped the pointless conversation, withdrawing his gaze. Speaking of becoming Emperor—he smiled: “I hadn’t finished speaking. The officials and troops within Zhongshan Commandery and nearby have been handled, but further toward the capital hasn’t gone as smoothly. Postal stations and local prefectural offices have all received the Empress’s edict, so many of our edicts have been intercepted.”

Xiao Xun glanced at Deng Yi, smiling: “I never expected the Empress’s edict would be more powerful than the Son of Heaven’s edict.”

Deng Yi nodded and said: “The Empress’s prestige is indeed formidable now.” He looked at Xiao Xun and smiled again, “Crown Prince, in today’s empire, if you want to sit on the throne, you’re not just seizing the Son of Heaven’s position, but the Empress’s position as well.”

Xiao Xun laughed heartily: “I’m only seizing the Son of Heaven’s position. Once I become Emperor, the Empress’s position will still belong to Lady A Zhao. Wouldn’t that be fine?”

As Deng Yi was about to speak, Ning Kun’s voice came from outside.

“Crown Prince, everyone is ready,” Ning Kun entered, bowing to both Xiao Xun and Deng Yi. “Please, Crown Prince and Imperial Tutor, proceed to the hall to make the announcement.”

Deng Yi said no more and walked out. Xiao Xun was about to step forward but stopped, turning to look at the ailing Prince of Zhongshan.

The room was bright with daylight, but he found it difficult to see his father’s face. Not just now—even in his memories, his father’s face had become blurred.

There wasn’t much to remember from before. From the moment he was escorted to the capital, only humiliation and resentment remained in his life.

He had to wash away this humiliation and resentment.

Xiao Xun turned away and walked out.

“Let the Princess Consort and the young masters come to bid farewell to Father,” he said.

Ning Kun bowed, responding: “Yes.”

…

…

In the third year of Xingping, on the twenty-seventh day of the eighth month, the Prince of Zhongshan passed away. Imperial Tutor Deng Yi rushed to Zhongshan Commandery, bearing the late Emperor’s final edict, informing the officials and generals of Zhongshan Commandery that the court lacked loyal ministers and harbored traitors. The Guard General Chu Yi and his daughter Chu Zhao, taking advantage of the chaos during the Yongning years, had colluded with the imperial in-law Xie Yanfang. Using private troops, they had coerced the late Emperor, seizing the throne and empire, and poisoning the Prince of Zhongshan.

In the third year of Xingping, in the ninth month, the Crown Prince of Zhongshan, Xiao Xun, following the late Emperor’s final edict, declared war against the treacherous Empress Chu Zhao and the traitorous minister Xie Yanfang. He vowed to rectify the chaos and led his troops to battle.