First came the news of Pan Youfang and Wu Dai’s deaths, then the palace gates opened at night. Duke Luguo was struck dizzy by these two pieces of news at home.
How could Pan Youfang suddenly die?!
“They say it was the Lotus Flower Sect’s Vice Hierarch Zhang Xin’en who killed him. Investigating Censor Ding Jin, Master Ding, is also dead,” the steward said trembling.
“Why would Zhang Xin’en kill him?”
Duke Luguo walked barefoot back and forth in the room. “A dignified court official could be easily killed by that rebel? Something’s wrong… His Majesty vomited blood in Tai’an Hall, and there’s been no news from the palace. Usually once the palace gates are locked, they absolutely cannot be opened unless it’s urgent. Whoever opens them must die. Tonight the gates opened—I’m afraid His Majesty is in dire straits!”
Duke Luguo’s momentary relief had already been shattered by the sudden news of Pan Youfang’s death. He had originally thought he could use General Yujie’s case to crush Jiang Xianming, but now Jiang Xianming was still in prison while Pan Youfang had died first.
“…This is madness.”
Duke Luguo guessed at something in his heart. His hair stood on end, unable to believe it. “They’re burning their boats!”
For someone who had been dead sixteen years, for the thirty thousand corpses of the Jing’an Army whose bones had turned to dust who knows where—they dared such great rebellion?!
Duke Luguo didn’t dare think deeper. The more he thought, the more his courage failed. “If His Majesty is well, their actions mean certain death. But if His Majesty he…”
Then tonight, there would certainly be upheaval in the palace!
“Quickly! Quickly dress me! I must enter the palace!” Duke Luguo’s scalp tingled as he immediately shouted.
His young and beautiful concubine hurried to fetch the robes from the wooden rack to dress the Duke. Seeing the steward about to go prepare the carriage, Duke Luguo suddenly grabbed him. “Erlang serves in the Military Records Office of the Palace Command. Quickly wake him. I have words to entrust to him!”
Nearly at the Hour of the Tiger, Liang Shenfu stood outside the hall in the cold wind, yet still his head was covered in sweat. From time to time he had to wipe it away with a handkerchief. Miao Jingzhen’s heart was also tormented, but he still comforted Liang Shenfu: “Chamberlain Liang, be at ease. We only wait for the two Prime Ministers to arrive.”
Liang Shenfu felt his mouth go bitter. Usually, though Miao Jingzhen was Vice Commander of the Palace Command, he was always respectful toward him, the Senior Administrator of the Bureau of Palace Attendants. Liang Shenfu had even accepted gifts from him. Now thinking back, he truly regretted it. If it weren’t for his godson Han Qing and his worthless god-grandson Rongsheng, he wouldn’t need to be involved in these matters.
But Liang Shenfu thought again—being beside His Majesty, this day would come sooner or later.
Even if he didn’t want to be involved, neither side would let him go, being the person closest to His Majesty. He could only choose one path. Not choosing meant death even sooner.
Sighing inwardly, Liang Shenfu suddenly heard Miao Jingzhen say “They’re here.” He perked up and raised his head. Palace lanterns illuminated the scene as the two old Prime Ministers, supporting each other, were escorted up the steps by a group of people.
“Don’t help me!”
Huang Zongyu’s face was iron-blue as he pushed away Meng Yunxian’s hand.
“I’m sprier than you, Old Huang.” Meng Yunxian didn’t take his refusal seriously and continued supporting the cane-wielding Huang Zongyu as they walked up.
“Prime Minister Meng, Prime Minister Huang.”
Miao Jingzhen immediately stepped forward and bowed.
“How is His Majesty?”
Huang Zongyu asked urgently.
“Oh, Prime Ministers, His Majesty is still unconscious. Please follow this servant inside quickly!” Liang Shenfu hastily said.
Huang Zongyu and Meng Yunxian immediately entered Qinghe Hall. Through a curtain, the Consort lay with closed eyes in a palace maid’s embrace. Other eunuchs and palace maids knelt everywhere. The guards’ swords were before their eyes. None dared raise their heads, only sobbing quietly.
“What happened to the Consort?” Meng Yunxian asked.
“The Lady cried out for a while, then fainted.”
Liang Shenfu had someone lift the curtain to welcome the two Prime Ministers inside. A strong medicinal smell assaulted them. The medical officers from the Imperial Medical Bureau, upon seeing the two Prime Ministers, withdrew to the sides.
On the dragon bed, Emperor Zhengyuan lay with eyes closed, his chest rising and falling slowly. With each breath, there seemed to be turbid sounds in his chest cavity. Huang Zongyu saw Liang Shenfu wiping the drool from Emperor Zhengyuan’s lips with a handkerchief. His heart jumped and he immediately looked back at the medical officers from the Imperial Medical Bureau.
“His Majesty has indeed suffered apoplexy without doubt.”
The other medical officers didn’t even dare breathe. Only Old Physician Qin stepped forward trembling to speak.
“This is that bowl of medicinal soup.”
Liang Shenfu had a young eunuch present a jade bowl before Meng Yunxian and Huang Zongyu. “The medical officers have already examined it. There are indeed improperly ground golden elixir fragments inside.”
“Did His Majesty drink it?”
Huang Zongyu’s heart pounded.
Liang Shenfu shook his head. “It was discovered in time. This servant stopped it.”
His Majesty had not yet regained consciousness. Huang Zongyu and Meng Yunxian couldn’t linger long in the hall. The two men walked outside to stand in the cold wind. Huang Zongyu frowned. “His Majesty’s condition, I’m afraid…”
But Meng Yunxian looked toward the bottom of the long steps and said, “It’s the Hour of the Tiger.”
The Hour of the Tiger—the hundred officials must enter the palace.
“Why was Ding Jin at Pan Youfang’s residence?” Huang Zongyu felt his temples throbbing painfully from the wind.
“How would I know?”
“Then where did you get that indictment written by Ding Jin?”
“He wrote it himself. Someone delivered it to me. I don’t know who delivered it. Perhaps he delivered it himself.” Meng Yunxian said.
“…Then how am I to explain Ding Jin’s death to the hundred officials? Rely on that Zhang Xin’en’s statement? What about the specifics? Why did Ding Jin threaten Pan Youfang?”
“That depends on you, Prime Minister Huang. You’re most charitable toward others. As long as gifts are given well, sometimes you’re willing to smooth over matters for those court officials. Even if Ding Jin never sought your help, perhaps some relative of his happened to seek you out but didn’t succeed.”
“…You!”
Huang Zongyu ground his teeth.
He had always walked by the river without getting his shoes wet, but now his entire person was in this muddy water.
At the Hour of the Tiger the sky was still pitch black, snow falling from above. Court officials arrived one after another at Qinghe Hall through wind and snow. Upon learning that in one night, Commissioner Pan and Censor Ding had been killed, there was an uproar.
“Is that Zhang Xin’en truly so vicious?! He could kill Commissioner Pan and Master Ding?” Hanlin Academician-Reader Zheng Jian’s face was full of disbelief. “Prime Minister Huang, is there some hidden truth in this?!”
Why would the Lotus Flower Sect’s Zhang Xin’en kill Commissioner Pan?!
“You all should know that the Lotus Flower Sect has committed many evils in the south, gathering believers, claiming to seek protection from gods and buddhas, but actually plotting rebellion! Their believers are widespread and their roots deep. Though our court has suppressed them several times, we haven’t been able to eliminate their foundation.”
Huang Zongyu spoke and sighed. “Commissioner Pan exhausted his efforts to lure the Lotus Flower Sect’s Vice Hierarch Zhang Xin’en to Yun Jing. We originally wanted to use this person to uproot the Lotus Flower Sect entirely. Who knew he was too cunning and discovered our plan ahead of time? Knowing he couldn’t escape, he simply killed Commissioner Pan.”
“His scattered and fleeing sect members killed the Consort’s father Wu Dai to vent their anger.”
“Who can prove this?”
Zheng Jian couldn’t accept Huang Zongyu’s explanation at all.
Huang Zongyu stared at him and said coldly: “Zhang Xin’en is still alive. This is the confession he personally acknowledged.”
“I’m afraid it’s not that simple!”
This voice was full of vigor. All the civil and military officials looked down the steps to see Duke Luguo lifting his robe hem, stepping up step by step. “Last night the Attendant Guards Cavalry Command searched for Zhang Xin’en. Why did General Ge, Ge Rang, personally go?”
“Duke, I ordered Ge Rang to go.”
Huang Zongyu said.
“You ordered him to go?” Duke Luguo walked up and let his robe hem drop. “Everyone knows that at this time, the old case of Xu Hexue is causing a great stir. General Ge just argued with people over Xu Hexue in Tai’an Hall yesterday. At night, he personally led the Attendant Guards Cavalry Command to search for Zhang Xin’en. And right at this moment, Commissioner Pan, Master Ding, and Her Ladyship’s father Wu Dai all died.”
“What is the Duke implying?”
“Who doesn’t know that within the Attendant Guards Cavalry Command are the old subordinates of General Ge’s Dingqian Army!” Duke Luguo met Huang Zongyu’s gaze. “Prime Minister Huang, you are originally pure and innocent. Don’t let anyone deceive you.”
Huang Zongyu’s beard fluttered in the wind. His lips moved slightly but he didn’t speak. Meng Yunxian stepped forward. “Listening to the Duke, you mean Ge Rang deliberately led his old subordinates, using the opportunity of searching for Zhang Xin’en, to kill two court officials in succession, plus Her Ladyship’s father?”
Duke Luguo said coldly: “Zhang Xin’en is merely a rebel. How could he have such ability?”
The howling of wind and snow covered much of the court officials’ discussion. Zheng Jian and others showed various expressions. At this moment, Secretariat Drafter Pei Zhiyuan arrived. The cold wind choked his throat so he couldn’t speak. He could only cough while bowing to the Duke and the two Prime Ministers.
“Then I must ask the Duke,”
Meng Yunxian walked forward two steps and met Duke Luguo’s gaze. “If it’s truly as you suspect, then in your opinion, why would Ge Rang kill Wu Dai? He believed the words of Jiang Xianming and others and was determined to avenge Xu Hexue’s private grudge. But tell me, why would he kill Commissioner Pan?”
Duke Luguo’s pupils contracted.
“In the indictment about Tan Guangwen that Censor Jiang submitted, there was Wu Dai, but there doesn’t seem to be Commissioner Pan. So why did Ge Rang kill Commissioner Pan?”
Meng Yunxian’s words seemed light but actually pressed forward relentlessly. “Or is the Duke saying you know why?”
“I don’t know!”
Duke Luguo was almost forced into a cold sweat by Meng Yunxian’s few words. He instinctively refuted.
“If so, then how can the Duke be so certain that the deaths of Commissioner Pan, Master Ding, and Wu Dai were Ge Rang’s doing to avenge Xu Hexue?”
Meng Yunxian’s eyes swept over the court officials before Qinghe Hall. “What connection did Master Ding have with Xu Hexue? What connection did Commissioner Pan have with Xu Hexue? Why would Ge Rang dare not want his official position, not even his life, disregarding the law, all to avenge a private grudge for someone who’s been dead sixteen years?”
“I, Meng Yunxian, want to ask everyone—who would dare do this for Xu Hexue?”
Would anyone?
The court officials looked at each other and whispered among themselves.
Their expressions varied. This was precisely a time when every rustle seemed threatening. Who dared respond to Meng Yunxian’s words? Who wasn’t afraid of being like Jiang Xianming and others, thrown into prison to await death?
Did they not want their official positions anymore?
Had they lived long enough?
Who dared at this moment to cry injustice for that nineteen-year-old traitorous general who had nearly been forgotten in sixteen years?
They didn’t dare.
Because recent events had already shattered their courage.
Meng Yunxian laughed once. “Duke, look—who dares?”
Duke Luguo’s scalp tingled. He naturally knew the sharp blade hidden beneath Meng Yunxian’s words. He and Pan Youfang had personally created the current situation, making court officials fear to say even one word about Xu Hexue’s old case, even if they had doubts in their hearts.
But at this moment, the court officials’ fear instead became favorable evidence for Meng Yunxian to refute him.
Meng Yunxian spoke slowly: “Duke, with the law above us, on what basis do you believe Ge Rang would dare?”
Huang Zongyu standing nearby relaxed his brow slightly. He couldn’t help but silently sigh inwardly—what a Meng Zhuo.
“This matter should be decided by His Majesty!”
Zheng Jian suddenly spoke.
“Yes! Commissioner Pan, such an important minister, suddenly met with disaster. We as colleagues all feel grief in our hearts. This matter should be submitted to His Majesty for judgment!”
“Request His Majesty’s judgment!”
“Request His Majesty’s judgment!”
The crowd of officials bowed toward the hall doors of Qinghe Hall and called out loudly.
“His Majesty was exposed to wind in Tai’an Hall and vomited blood. His illness suddenly became severe,” Huang Zongyu’s face showed worry, his tone solemn. “The Consort also took this opportunity to harm His Majesty! His Majesty is still unconscious!”
“The Consort? How could the Consort harm His Majesty?!”
These words exploded like thunder among the hundred officials.
Duke Luguo also widened his eyes.
“The medicine His Majesty was taking previously conflicted with the golden elixir. For several months, His Majesty hadn’t taken the golden elixir even once. Today, the Consort forced her way into Qinghe Hall, ordering Chamberlain Liang and others to withdraw outside the curtain, and put golden elixir powder into His Majesty’s medicinal soup. These matters have both medical officers from the Imperial Medical Bureau as witnesses and Chamberlain Liang as witness.”
Huang Zongyu raised his voice. “There’s another matter I didn’t mention to everyone yesterday, fearing the investigation wasn’t clear. But now I’ve investigated the full story. Two months ago, a palace maid in the Consort’s palace was privately disposed of. From that time, a medical officer surnamed Wang from the Imperial Medical Bureau frequently entered the Consort’s palace, claiming to diagnose the Consort’s father Wu Dai’s illness. The Consort, worried about her father’s condition, sought him out to ask questions.”
“But just yesterday, that missing palace maid’s corpse was discovered by someone in the flower bushes of the Imperial Garden. She has a younger sister in the Bureau of Palace Wardrobe. She personally identified that the palace maid’s corpse was definitely her elder sister. Overcome with grief, she took the opportunity of delivering new clothes to the Consort to assassinate her. When this failed, she fled while shouting that her elder sister died because she witnessed the Consort having an affair with Medical Officer Wang.”
Zheng Jian couldn’t help saying: “Prime Minister Huang! The imperial bloodline—how could, how could…”
“Academician Zheng, I know the gravity of this matter better than you. If I hadn’t investigated and found physical evidence, how would I dare discuss this matter with all of you? The Consort’s personal items were all searched out from that Medical Officer Wang’s home.”
“Moreover, if the Consort had a clear conscience, why would she put golden elixir powder in the medicinal soup while His Majesty was ill and unconscious?”
Huang Zongyu pressed both hands on his cane. “Fortunately Chamberlain Liang and Palace Command Vice Commander Miao Jingzhen, Commander Miao, discovered it in time and restrained the Consort. Otherwise, the consequences would be unthinkable!”
His Majesty was gravely ill and had been unconscious for two days. Only now did the court officials finally realize the severity of the problem.
“Where is that Medical Officer Wang?”
Zheng Jian asked. “Has Prime Minister Huang questioned him?”
“He’s already dead. Not long ago, he examined the Consort’s pulse and prescribed the wrong medicine. His Majesty sentenced him to death.” Huang Zongyu said.
The person was already dead—how could they investigate further?
Duke Luguo’s face was cold. “When did you two Prime Ministers become so united?”
But Meng Yunxian countered: “Following His Majesty’s edict, Prime Minister Huang and I are promoting new policies, working for His Majesty. Why shouldn’t we be united?”
“His Majesty is gravely ill, and right at this time the Consort has problems. Prime Minister Meng, Prime Minister Huang, do you two truly have no selfish motives?!” Duke Luguo raised his voice in question.
“We are all here, listening to the one-sided words of the two Prime Ministers. How do we know whether there are any discrepancies?” Zheng Jian followed closely.
“Could it be that the two Prime Ministers want to take this opportunity to do something?!”
“How dare you slander the two Prime Ministers?”
“Can you even say such words? The two Prime Ministers are trusted by His Majesty. How could they have selfish motives?”
The two sides argued again, quarreling endlessly.
At this moment, a palace guard came forward to report: “Prime Minister Meng, Prime Minister Huang, Palace Command Chief Commander Wang Gong, Commander Wang, has arrived with the Imperial Guards and is now confronting the Attendant Guards Cavalry Command outside Yongding Gate!”
Wang Gong?
Hearing this, Huang Zongyu’s heart jumped. He quietly inquired: “What exactly happened?”
The palace guard’s head was covered in sweat. Before the two Prime Ministers he answered: “Among the Imperial Guards, there’s a rumor saying…”
“Saying what?”
“Saying Prince Jia intends to stage a rebellion!”
Huang Zongyu nearly couldn’t stand. Meng Yunxian immediately supported him and raised his head. He saw armored Imperial Guards divided into two columns, marching uniformly with weapons toward Qinghe Hall.
Leading them were Palace Command Chief Commander Wang Gong, Vice Military Commissioner Ge Rang, and Attendant Guards Cavalry Command Chief Commander Yang Rulie beside him.
The two sides came up from the bottom of the long steps, still holding weapons in confrontation.
Wang Gong bowed with cupped fists to Meng Yunxian, Huang Zongyu, and Duke Luguo. Before being promoted to Palace Command Chief Commander, he had been severely injured while suppressing rebels in a regional post and lost his voice, unable to speak a word. A young palace guard beside him called out: “Prime Minister Meng, Prime Minister Huang, Duke.”
“What is Commander Wang doing?”
Meng Yunxian raised his chin slightly.
“Hearing of irregularities in the palace, Commander specially came to protect His Majesty.”
The young palace guard answered on Wang Gong’s behalf, then called out loudly: “Palace Command Vice Commander Miao Jingzhen, Commander Miao, where are you?!”
Miao Jingzhen immediately stepped forward and bowed to Wang Gong. “Miao Jingzhen, greeting Chief Commander.”
“Miao Jingzhen, how is His Majesty?”
The young palace guard asked.
“His Majesty is still unconscious and has not awakened.”
Miao Jingzhen answered truthfully.
“Commander Wang, the two Prime Ministers keep saying the Consort had an affair with someone and plotted to harm His Majesty. But I think this matter is very suspicious. If the Consort truly acted improperly, could harming His Majesty at this time clear the suspicions against her?”
Duke Luguo spoke from the side. “Commander Wang, you were personally promoted by His Majesty to Palace Command Chief Commander. The three divisions of Imperial Guards are all in your hands. Even though you cannot speak, His Majesty still let you occupy this position. Such heavenly grace—you must not disappoint His Majesty!”
Wang Gong couldn’t speak. Over the years he had developed a set of gestures. The young palace guard beside him observed and asked: “Where is Prince Jia?”
“Prince Jia was attacked on the way to receive Miss Wu. After being frightened, he returned to the palace and went to wash up first. Shortly he will come to see His Majesty.”
Meng Yunxian said.
Wang Gong frowned slightly. Ge Rang could no longer restrain himself and spoke: “Which minister wishes to interrogate me? I can remove this official robe. While His Majesty is absent, throw me into prison if you wish!”
Ge Rang spoke and laughed coldly. “Anyway, all of you are determined to put the capital crime of treason on my head, Ge Rang!”
“Ge Rang! You know your own intentions clearly!”
Duke Luguo’s eyes bulged with fury. “His Majesty is gravely ill, and you want to plot for Prince Jia, don’t you!”
“The Duke must not speak thus! No one in my Attendant Guards Cavalry Command can bear such a grave crime!” Attendant Guards Cavalry Command Chief Commander Yang Rulie said in a deep voice.
Heavy snow and bitter cold—the two Imperial Guard forces confronted each other before Qinghe Hall. Goose-feather snowflakes brushed their cold armor. The hundred officials surrounded between them couldn’t help but feel anxious.
“Prince Jia is already His Majesty’s adopted son. Why would we need to plot for Prince Jia?”
Meng Yunxian smiled slightly. “Moreover, His Majesty is still present. Duke, then I must say—you acting thus, could it be you intend to plot for the Consort?”
“Prime Minister Meng, speak carefully!”
Zheng Jian broke into a cold sweat.
Meng Yunxian said sternly: “If not for the Consort, then in all your hearts, for whom do you wish to plot?”
At this moment, one place floated up in everyone’s hearts—Yaoxian.
Just thinking this, they immediately lowered their heads, not daring to speak further on this matter. Yaoxian… wasn’t that the Taizu branch?
Who would dare?
Yet someone did dare.
Duke Luguo’s face turned green and white, momentarily speechless.
Wang Gong made no move. The young palace guard beside him was also quiet. But at this moment, Meng Yunxian smiled slightly at Wang Gong. “Commander Wang, come here.”
Wang Gong raised his eyes, silently inquiring.
“Prime Minister Huang has words for you.”
Meng Yunxian said lightly.
“…?”
Huang Zongyu glared at him.
“Is there something we cannot hear? Prime Minister Meng, Prime Minister Huang, what are you two trying to do?” Zheng Jian and others pressed with their words.
Wang Gong indeed didn’t move.
Not until Prince Jia appeared did he break the deathly silence before the hall. Zheng Jian watched that Prince Jia in thin clothing, carrying a wooden box, walk up. He immediately spoke: “Without His Majesty’s decree, Prince Jia cannot enter the hall at this time!”
“Prince Jia cannot enter the hall!”
Voices rose one after another.
Wang Gong turned around. Standing on the steps, he watched that Prince Jia lift his robe hem to ascend. Again he was barefoot, without shoes or socks.
“As an adopted son, I only wish to see my ailing father.”
Prince Jia released his robe hem and stood still before Wang Gong.
“His Majesty has not yet regained consciousness. Prince Jia, please return.” Wang Gong gestured. The young palace guard beside him spoke.
Prince Jia stared at him calmly. “Wang Gong, by what right do you stop me?”
Wang Gong didn’t speak. His hands didn’t gesture either.
Prince Jia went around him. He had only taken two steps forward when the sound of blades leaving sheaths erupted simultaneously. He stopped and turned his head. He saw the Palace Command and Attendant Guards Cavalry Command had reached a standoff, swords drawn and arrows nocked.
Wang Gong raised his hand. The young palace guard watched and called out: “Miao Jingzhen, Chief Commander orders you—do not allow anyone to enter the hall!”
Miao Jingzhen at the hall entrance gripped his sword hilt tightly, pressed his lips together, and bowed.
Huang Zongyu, seeing this posture, couldn’t help but feel anxious. But seeing Meng Yunxian at his side saying nothing, he too didn’t speak.
Prince Jia shifted his gaze to the officials on this terrace. Finally, his eyes fell on Duke Luguo’s face. His pale lips suddenly curved.
Duke Luguo knew what kind of weak and mild temperament this Prince Jia had. But at this moment, seeing him suddenly smile, for some reason Duke Luguo felt a chill.
But Prince Jia said not a word to him. He seemed to pay no mind to Wang Gong’s words. He walked forward, and the hundred officials could only make way.
They watched this Prince Jia, watched him walk step by step to the hall entrance.
Miao Jingzhen and the palace guards all bowed, not daring to draw swords but also not daring to yield. They were all Palace Command people. Under the gaze of all, with Palace Command Chief Commander Wang Gong’s order before them, even Miao Jingzhen couldn’t yield one step.
“Wang Gong, if I go forward, will you kill me?”
Prince Jia didn’t turn around. He only stared at the vermillion hall doors.
“Your Highness, please do not make things difficult for us at this time.” The young palace guard spoke for Wang Gong.
“What concern is your difficulty to me?”
Prince Jia’s voice carried on the cold wind to everyone’s ears. “Whoever wants to kill me, just come. Anyway, whatever I do today, I will certainly be criticized.”
“For my father’s sake, I will accept it all.”
He moved forward. Miao Jingzhen could only retreat.
Retreat again and again.
“Chief Commander…” Miao Jingzhen raised his head, looking toward Wang Gong, wanting to speak but stopping.
Would they truly dare lay hands on Prince Jia? No, Wang Gong didn’t dare. He could only order Miao Jingzhen not to retreat further, and had the young palace guard beside him go before Prince Jia to admonish: “Your Highness, please go back.”
“If His Majesty wishes to see you, naturally he will.”
Seeing this, Miao Jingzhen couldn’t help but stride to Wang Gong’s side and lower his voice: “Commander, His Majesty has already suffered apoplexy. The Consort also nearly poisoned His Majesty. You…”
Wang Gong suddenly drew his sword and pressed it against Miao Jingzhen’s neck.
Miao Jingzhen’s words stopped abruptly. He raised his head and met Wang Gong’s scrutinizing gaze.
Duke Luguo and others, seeing this, couldn’t help showing some satisfaction. But at this moment, Meng Yunxian stepped forward and grasped Wang Gong’s blade with bare hands. The sharp blade cut his palm, bright red blood flowing down.
Wang Gong’s face showed shock. He didn’t dare move the sword in his hand. He raised his head and met Meng Yunxian’s cold gaze.
“Commander Wang, Prince Jia is the adopted son personally acknowledged by His Majesty. At a young age he was granted the title of Prince of First Rank. Now, he only wishes to attend his father’s bedside during illness. How dare you all presume to question his filial heart?”
These words spoke of Prince Jia’s filial heart, yet also did not.
Wang Gong looked at the blood staining the blade and heard Meng Yunxian’s words. He understood everything in his heart.
Huang Zongyu came over with his cane. “Commander Wang, didn’t the Duke also say that even though you contracted aphasia before taking office, His Majesty still let you occupy this position? Even for His Majesty’s sake, you absolutely must not insult Prince Jia today.”
These words made Wang Gong’s heart tremble even more. His eyelids nearly quivered.
He could be certain—
Huang Zongyu knew the reason behind his aphasia.
Just as Wang Gong was stunned by this, a cry of alarm came from the hall entrance: “Your Highness!”
Wang Gong raised his head and saw Prince Jia gripping a palace guard’s hand. The sword in that guard’s hand had already pierced Prince Jia’s shoulder.
Wang Gong’s heart jumped with alarm. His lips moved slightly as he grabbed the guard beside him. The guard immediately shouted: “Stop! Stop at once!”
Bright red blood dyed Prince Jia’s robes. He hurt so much his back was covered in cold sweat, yet he only half-opened his eyes, gazing at the panicked guard before him. He released his grip and the guard immediately lost strength, falling to the ground.
“Commander Wang!”
Duke Luguo, seeing the vermillion hall doors swing wide open, hastily called to Wang Gong.
Everyone was watching Wang Gong.
Wang Gong stood in place, watching Prince Jia walk into Qinghe Hall. He closed his eyes and withdrew the blade from Miao Jingzhen’s neck.
The cold wind howled. Duke Luguo and others could only watch helplessly as those hall doors closed.
“What is His Highness carrying?”
In the narrow corridor inside the hall doors, Liang Shenfu bowed and inquired.
“For the Consort.”
Prince Jia said softly.
The partition was pushed open from inside. Several more palace guards holding swords stood before the Consort. She slowly awakened, first seeing the cold gleam of blade edges reflecting the lamplight.
She startled and raised her face, just seeing Prince Jia walk in.
The Consort immediately cried out: “Your Highness, Your Highness, where is Ru’er? Quickly let her come, quickly…”
“She’s gone.”
“Gone?”
The Consort’s voice became somewhat shrill. “Where did she go?!”
At this moment, she seemed to finally come to her senses. “Zhao Yi! Was it you! Was all this your doing!”
Prince Jia walked before her and placed the wooden box he carried on the ground. He scrutinized her crazed appearance. After a while, he raised his leg and kicked over the box.
The lid flipped open. A bloody head immediately rolled to the hem of the Consort’s skirt. Cold blood soaked her clothing. Palace maids shrieked in alarm. Eunuchs trembled.
The Consort looked closely. That head beneath graying disheveled hair was her father Wu Dai’s face.
“Ah!”
She screamed loudly.
“Softly, Your Ladyship. Don’t startle my father.” Prince Jia laughed once.
“Zhao Yi! Zhao Yi!”
The Consort shrieked hoarsely, as if crazed, trying to lunge at him.
The palace guards hastily pressed her down, stuffing her mouth with her own shawl.
The curtain was lifted by bowing eunuchs. Prince Jia turned and walked into the inner hall. Perhaps the Consort’s shrill cry just now had startled Emperor Zhengyuan on the bed.
He opened his eyes and suddenly saw Prince Jia covered in blood, walking toward him. The noise in his chest grew heavier. His lips moved with difficulty. “Liang Shenfu…”
Liang Shenfu heard this hoarse voice. His heart jumped in alarm. He hastily came to the bedside, his eyelids soaked with tears, kneeling down. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this servant is here…”
Emperor Zhengyuan saw him kneel down. His eyes immediately filled with more bloodshot veins. “Even you, even you too…”
Liang Shenfu prostrated on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
“Father, drink your medicine.”
Prince Jia surveyed his surroundings and picked up the bowl of medicinal soup that had been placed on the desk, gone cold, examined again and again by the medical officers from the Imperial Medical Bureau. He completely disregarded that his own wound was still bleeding, sitting down on the edge of the bed of his own accord.
“Your Highness, that medicine is forbidden!”
Liang Shenfu’s whole body trembled.
But Prince Jia turned a deaf ear. He scooped up a spoonful of medicinal soup. “Father, even though you are the Son of Heaven, when you fall ill, how can you not take medicine? Your son Yonggeng has come to attend you.”
He raised his eyes and saw Emperor Zhengyuan glaring at him as if he were a complete stranger. He pressed the spoon against Emperor Zhengyuan’s lips. “Father, why do you look at me thus? Do you think I’m no longer like the adopted son in your memory who didn’t dare speak before you?”
Prince Jia smiled bitterly. “Yonggeng has come to this today, all bestowed by Father.”
“Do you know how afraid I was every time you looked at me? I feared that if you were displeased, I would lose my life. I feared that when you looked at this scar on my forehead, you would remember that I had twice defied you.”
“The more I feared you, the more you forced me,”
Prince Jia laughed miserably. “Forcing me until now, even I no longer recognize myself.”
“I, should have killed you, earlier.”
Emperor Zhengyuan spoke with difficulty.
But Prince Jia seized this opportunity to pour the medicinal soup into his mouth. The spoon pressed against Emperor Zhengyuan’s lips and teeth. Prince Jia’s face was covered in tears, yet he gazed coldly at this sovereign father who had given him half a lifetime of fear. “Father, you’re very good at making those people in court fight for you, struggle for you. When they do right, it’s your wisdom. When they do wrong, it’s their foolishness. But you don’t seem to realize—you also grow old.”
These words stabbed like needle points at an emperor’s heart. Emperor Zhengyuan’s lips trembled with shock and fury.
“When you’re in good health, an imperial edict brooks no disobedience. But when you lie on this bed, your speech unclear, they will think—if you weren’t here, where would their retreat be?”
Prince Jia said mockingly: “Once they start considering their retreat, you are no longer important.”
An emperor’s dignity was shattered to pieces at this moment.
Emperor Zhengyuan’s neck veins bulged, his breathing rapid.
Prince Jia pressed another spoonful of medicinal soup into his mouth. The bitter medicinal taste permeated. His fingers gripping the spoon turned white at the knuckles. “I hear this golden elixir won’t kill you immediately, only make your illness more severe.”
He raised his hand. The medicine bowl fell to the ground with a “crash.”
Liang Shenfu prostrated on the ground, his body constantly trembling, not daring to raise his head at all.
Prince Jia leaned down. Blood from his body dripped onto the brocade quilt. His eye sockets reddened from holding back tears. He leaned close to Emperor Zhengyuan’s ear and said softly: “This is good too, Father.”
“I want you to see with your own eyes how I tear away your dignity, how I tell the world—you were wrong. Building Daoist palaces was wrong. As sovereign and father, not keeping your subjects and people in your heart was wrong. Executing my teacher was even more wrong. In your twenty-some years on the throne, you were wrong in everything.”
“The most important thing,”
Tears fell from Prince Jia’s eyes. “I want to tell the world that the Jade Commander General Xu Hexue who died sixteen years ago was wronged.”
“He didn’t betray the nation. He didn’t wrong any person of Great Qi. You wronged him. Great Qi wronged him…”
“I, Zhao Yi, will never insult him with a single word again.”
“I will vindicate him. The justice you were unwilling to return to him, I will definitely return to him.”
“I want you to watch with your own eyes as I return this justice to him.”