How could Wei Wuxie possibly let Prince Mu force his way in? He immediately blocked his path and said sternly: “Your Highness is trespassing into the traveling palace—do you know what crime this constitutes?”
“How is this prince trespassing? This prince is now seeking to confirm Father Emperor’s safety. Director Wei blocks this prince like this—could it be you have a guilty conscience?”
Wei Wuxie sneered coldly: “This servant is someone who attends His Majesty’s side. His Majesty’s seclusion is a matter of utmost importance. Not to mention Your Highness—no one can disturb him. This servant blocks Your Highness now to prevent you from offending the Dragon’s countenance, thinking of Your Highness’s welfare!”
“This prince doesn’t need Director Wei to think for me. No matter what, I must see Father Emperor right now!”
“Does Your Highness intend to force entry into the traveling palace?” As soon as Wei Wuxie finished speaking, dozens of eunuchs surrounded them, glaring menacingly at Prince Mu.
Prince Mu’s momentum faltered.
“Your Highness should return. When His Majesty emerges from seclusion, he will summon those he wishes to see.”
Prince Mu looked at the eunuchs behind Wei Wuxie, then at the Jinlin Guards in the distance with their hands on their embroidered spring knives, and said through gritted teeth: “Fine, you wait and see.”
After leaving the traveling palace, Prince Mu immediately went to see the cabinet ministers and heads of the Six Ministries and Nine Courts.
Although they had come to Qingliang Mountain to escape the summer heat, these important ministers still had government affairs to handle, so this was the time when they gathered together to discuss matters.
“Esteemed ministers should know that yesterday was the day Father Emperor should emerge from seclusion, yet this prince has received news that Father Emperor already had an incident last night!”
As soon as Prince Mu said this, the ministers couldn’t help but exchange glances.
Although their emperor was somewhat willful, each time he emerged from seclusion he would indeed summon them to ask about recent court affairs. Yesterday was the day His Majesty should emerge from seclusion, yet until now His Majesty hadn’t summoned anyone.
Could it be that His Majesty truly had an incident?
“Does Your Highness have evidence for such claims?” the Minister of Rites asked.
Prince Mu said decisively: “If I had no evidence, would this prince have gone mad and confronted Director Wei?”
“Then what exactly happened to His Majesty?” the Minister of Revenue asked urgently.
A flash of grief crossed Prince Mu’s face as he raised his sleeve to cover his face and wept: “Father Emperor already passed away last night!”
“What?” Upon hearing this, the ministers were in uproar, each face changing dramatically.
Prince Mu wept: “This prince received exactly this news, which is why I didn’t hesitate to rush to the traveling palace seeking audience with Father Emperor, yet Director Wei blocked this prince from seeing him. Esteemed ministers, Wei Wuxie conceals news of Father Emperor’s death—his heart deserves punishment!”
Speaking to this point, Prince Mu bowed deeply to the ministers: “Please, esteemed ministers, accompany me to seek audience with His Majesty. We cannot let treacherous people deceive and mislead us!”
The ministers showed hesitation.
Prince Mu bowed again: “This prince can guarantee to all ministers that if the Father Emperor is well, this prince will bear all consequences alone. You ministers are acting purely from loyalty to the sovereign and love of country—Father Emperor certainly won’t blame you. But if Father Emperor truly has had an incident, would you ministers allow sycophants to conceal the news and abuse power to create chaos?”
Prince Mu turned to the newly appointed Grand Secretary Xu Mingda: “Grand Secretary Xu, the Father Emperor entrusted you with important responsibilities. Now this prince earnestly requests you do what a Grand Secretary should do!”
Xu Mingda found himself cornered by Prince Mu and remained silent for a moment.
“Grand Secretary Xu, why don’t we just accompany His Highness to take a look?” the ministers said one after another.
Though Xu Mingda sided with Prince Rui, it was precisely because of this that he couldn’t refuse in such reasonable circumstances. After hesitating briefly, he nodded: “Very well, let’s do as Your Highness suggests.”
Soon, a large group of ministers marched majestically toward the traveling palace where Emperor Mingkang resided.
A young eunuch, seeing that the situation was wrong, rushed inside to report: “Director Wei, this is bad! Led by Prince Mu, many ministers have come, apparently to seek audience with His Majesty.”
Wei Wuxie naturally knew Prince Mu wouldn’t give up easily. Though he wondered how the news had leaked, this wasn’t the time to investigate such matters. He waved his hand: “Call the boys and follow me!”
Wei Wuxie had just reached the palace gates leading a group of eunuchs when Prince Mu arrived with the ministers.
Scanning the ministers, Wei Wuxie took the initiative to ask: “What does Your Highness mean by bringing these ministers here? Could it be an attempt to force the palace?”
Upon hearing the words “force the palace,” the ministers’ faces immediately changed as they all stepped back.
This was a crime they couldn’t bear.
“Director Wei shouldn’t casually put such labels on this prince. This prince learned Father Emperor had an incident—as a son coming to confirm his father’s safety, what wrong is there in that? Taking ten thousand steps back, even if this prince acted wrongly in this matter, when the Father Emperor blames me later, this prince will admit fault. It’s not Director Wei’s place to criticize.”
“Your Highness repeatedly claims His Majesty had an incident—dare I ask what evidence you have?”
“Evidence naturally exists.”
“Then can Your Highness produce it?”
Prince Mu sneered: “Why should this prince produce it just because Director Wei demands it? When it’s time to produce it, this prince naturally will. Right now, I only want to see Father Emperor!”
A calm voice came: “Right now His Majesty has reached the crucial stage of seclusion. If his tranquility is disturbed, it’s not something Your Highness can resolve by saying you’ll bear full responsibility.”
Master Zhang strode out and stood shoulder to shoulder with Wei Wuxie.
Master Zhang’s appearance couldn’t help but make the ministers waver.
“Master Zhang’s words might deceive others, but they cannot deceive this prince! Father Emperor is most particular—whether the time for entering or emerging from seclusion, he always calculates in advance. Now you say emergence is delayed—what reason could there be? In my view, Father Emperor has clearly had an incident, and Master Zhang and Director Wei fear taking responsibility, so they desperately conceal the news, hoping to escape while they can!”
Wei Wuxie’s expression changed slightly.
How exactly had Prince Mu obtained this information? Every word hit the mark…
Prince Mu glanced sideways at Jiang Yuanchao, who had appeared at some unknown time, and said loudly: “Commander Jiang, this prince now suspects these two are concealing news of Father Emperor’s incident. I wish to seek an audience with Father Emperor to confirm his safety. You are the Jinlin Guards Commander and must also protect His Majesty. At this time, would you stand by and watch the Eastern Depot cover the sky with one hand?”
Wei Wuxie met Jiang Yuanchao’s calm eyes and couldn’t help but feel his heart sink.
He hadn’t expected Prince Mu to make such a scene. If Jiang Yuanchao interfered at this moment, they couldn’t hold out—but His Majesty wouldn’t wake up for another two days.
Thinking this, Wei Wuxie grew anxious.
Jiang Yuanchao maintained his inscrutable demeanor, giving Wei Wuxie a faint smile: “His Majesty’s seclusion is indeed a major matter, but Your Highness’s concerns are not unreasonable. As Jinlin Guards Commander, I dare not be careless about His Majesty’s safety. Director Wei had better step aside and let everyone see His Majesty to put their minds at ease.”
“If you wish to see His Majesty, you can wait patiently until His Majesty emerges from seclusion in two days. At that time, His Majesty will naturally see everyone.”
Hearing Wei Wuxie say this, the ministers began to develop thoughts of retreat.
Since they could see His Majesty in two days, it seemed there wasn’t much difference between earlier and later.
“Two days later?” Prince Mu sneered. “By then, you’ll probably have successfully deceived everyone and escaped! Aren’t you all curious what evidence this prince has?”
Prince Mu raised the object in his hand high: “The evidence is here!”