Zhou Weizhao had just emerged from the washing chamber and saw her sitting by the glass window, head lowered as she read the letter. The dim yellow light cast a halo around her. A smile couldn’t help but appear on his face first. He stepped forward and sat beside her. Seeing the signature was from Cui Yingshu, he said, “Earlier you asked why Imperial Grandfather suddenly changed his mind. Now I don’t need to explain.”
Indeed. Song Chuyi’s gaze was somewhat complex. With Prince Gong pulling such a move, whatever reservations Emperor Jianzhang had harbored before had surely long since flown beyond the heavens—compared to Prince Gong and the Crown Prince, Zhou Weizhao was truly the most perfect and loyal heir apparent imaginable.
Though she had anticipated Prince Gong’s audacity, she hadn’t expected it to reach this extent—that he would actually ally with Han Zhengqing to stage a rebellion. Naturally, this was already within expectations and nothing to be surprised about, but the situation with Prince Zhennan was truly worrying. Song Chuyi remained silent for a long while before finally letting out a cold laugh. “Didn’t Xibei just send back an eight-hundred-li urgent report yesterday saying the border was somewhat unstable and the Tartars were repeatedly violating the passes and causing trouble? It seems Han Zhengqing intends to employ a delaying tactic.”
And his reason for delaying was naturally because he was concerned about Prince Dongping. In his plan, the moment Prince Dongping left Hubei and reached Jin Province, he would immediately help Prince Gong raise the banner of rebellion.
“The second imperial edict has already been dispatched. If he refuses to obey, immediate execution.” A cold glint appeared between Zhou Weizhao’s brows, and his usually handsome face carried a trace of mocking smile. “Let him choose for himself.”
Han Zhengqing would naturally never obey the edict. Upon receiving the imperial decree, he immediately threw it furiously to the ground, his entire person like an enraged lion. With another kick, he overturned the wooden table beside him.
His trusted aide knew what he was angry about. His anger wasn’t really about the imperial edict itself—he was angry that even now there was still no news from Prince Dongping’s side. If Han Cheng had succeeded, he should already be on the return journey with Prince Dongping by now—all along this route, Han Zhengqing had arranged reliable people to provide support, yet until now, none of the personnel he had deployed showed any movement.
“Send someone again!” After venting his temper, Han Zhengqing still didn’t forget the matter at hand. Enduring his headache, he ordered, “Send someone to Hubei again. It’s already been over two months—how can there still be no news?!”
Han Cheng was usually not such an unreliable person when handling affairs. How could this assignment have no movement whatsoever?
The trusted aide hesitated for a moment but couldn’t help asking the doubt in his heart. “My lord, perhaps it’s not necessarily that Second Master is incompetent in handling matters…” Seeing Han Zhengqing suddenly look toward him, he couldn’t help but shudder, yet still mustered his courage to say, “His Highness the Prince perhaps cannot accept this all at once—that’s also possible…”
He was still being rather tactful. Actually, in his view, Prince Dongping had after all been raised hand-by-hand by the Crown Prince. With their father-son bond there, the Crown Prince had even been willing to harm the Grand Prince for Prince Dongping’s sake. Setting aside being human, even if he were a stone, being warmed like that should have heated through by now. Comparatively, Han Zhengqing, this suddenly emerging ‘father,’ how could he be so easily accepted by Prince Dongping?
Han Zhengqing forcefully snapped the brush in his hand. When it came to matters involving Grand Consort Fan, he always found it difficult to maintain absolute rationality. Especially matters concerning his and Grand Consort Fan’s bloodline—these made him somewhat incensed. He scoffed, his face carrying a cold smile. “Cannot accept? What is there not to accept?! He is my son!”
What was good about that fool the Crown Prince? Aside from his high status, how was he superior in any way? Back then, Grand Consort Fan desperately wanted to become Crown Princess for the Crown Prince’s status and power. Now Prince Dongping didn’t want to acknowledge him, his birth father, because of the Crown Prince!
The trusted aide lowered his head and dared not speak further. After a long while, he exhaled heavily. “My lord, we have no more time.”
Yes, no more time. Prince Gong’s side—that excuse about legitimacy and standing probably wouldn’t work anymore. Recently, he kept sending people to urge them. And the court needless to say—this was the second imperial edict. If they didn’t obey tomorrow…
Han Zhengqing himself knew this, which made him even more irritable. “But Hubei still has no news…” As he spoke, he stood up and paced back and forth in the room several times, feeling terribly vexed.
But vexed as he was, no matter how vexed, he couldn’t bear to give up on Prince Dongping. That was his son! The son he had staked everything on, exchanging a lifetime of prospects to obtain!
Now he only had this one legitimate son left—in his heart, Consort Fan would forever be his wife.
“Why must my lord deceive himself? Second Master is not an incompetent person. If matters had gone smoothly, Prince Dongping would be standing before you right now. Since there’s been no news for so long, something must have gone wrong.” The trusted aide steeled himself. “If we don’t make a decision, I’m afraid our own lives will be difficult to preserve, much less talk of securing prospects for the Prince. My lord, once we truly gain power, are we still afraid of…”
Han Zhengqing abruptly waved his hand to cut off his words. “No need to say more!”
He looked at his trusted aide’s hesitant expression. After a moment, he made up his mind. “Go to Hubei yourself and investigate the news. Now that the court already suspects me, and with that fox Cui Yingshu there in Hubei, news definitely cannot reach me. Go yourself. Whether Dongping is willing or unwilling, ensure his safety as much as possible. If the court wants to move against him…” He fell silent for a moment before raising his head. “Tell him his father is the one who can truly give him everything he wants. Persuade him to return.”
At this critical juncture, the trusted aide was extremely unwilling, but looking up to see Han Zhengqing’s eyes, he knew this matter absolutely had no room for negotiation. Though he felt vaguely uneasy about Prince Dongping’s existence in his heart, after thinking it over, he could only agree—since Prince Dongping was so important to Han Zhengqing, keeping him at court was indeed a hidden danger. Better to retrieve him.
Having agreed, he advised again, “This subordinate will naturally go through fire and water, but you on your end should also make a decision. You cannot drag this out.”
Han Zhengqing had no intention of dragging it out at all. If not for his concern over Prince Dongping’s safety, he would have already made his move. His expression dark, he nodded. “I have my own plans.”
Yes, he had his own plans. That very night, he secretly met with the Fan family. The next day, Tartar forces arrived at the city gates and captured over three hundred civilians.
Facing the Marquis of Dingyuan and the eunuch who came urging him to depart, Han Zhengqing sneered coldly. “If this marquis leaves, what will happen to these common people? What about the captured civilians?! Should we just allow the Tartars to ravage them?!”
The Datong censorial inspector, the deputy commander, and others all pleaded on Han Zhengqing’s behalf. The eunuch bearing the edict and the Marquis of Dingyuan found themselves powerless.
In the end, the Marquis of Dingyuan could bear it no longer. “This marquis will take full responsibility! If the Marquis is dissatisfied, feel free to submit a memorial impeaching me upon returning to the capital! You may also request the Supreme Commander of the Three Borders to adjudicate!”