“Roll in here!”
With a thunderous roar from the Son of Heaven, the Crown Prince nearly tumbled in, terrified out of his wits.
Kaiyao Emperor’s eyes bulged like copper bells, filled with murderous rage.
“I heard you went to mourn a minister?”
The Crown Prince stammered, trembling, “Yes! Xie aiqing met with an untimely end. Remembering his years of loyal service, erchen went to pay respects.”
Kaiyao Emperor gave a cold snort. “How benevolent you are.”
The Crown Prince shook all over with fear.
Slap!
He dropped straight to his knees. “Erchen knows his guilt!”
The Emperor’s tone was icy. “And what guilt do you bear?”
The Crown Prince froze. “Erchen, erchen…”
The rest stuck in his throat. In his heart, he truly felt there was no fault in paying respects to Xie Mao. To now be forced to find his own guilt, it was too much.
It was the Thirteenth Prince who stepped in, offering a reminder: “Crown Prince gege, the Eastern Palace lies closest to the Imperial Palace, yet you were the last to arrive. That was truly improper.”
The Crown Prince seized on this at once. “Thirteenth Brother speaks true. Erchen came late. I beg fuhuang’s punishment.”
Kaiyao Emperor’s gaze swept across the Thirteenth Prince’s face, then fell back on the Crown Prince. “So, you brothers are quite close.”
The Crown Prince had just sighed in relief when the storm broke.
“Worthless scum!”
The Emperor jabbed a finger at him and cursed, “You commit mistakes, and it takes old thirteenth to remind you. Clearly, in your heart, you never take zhen seriously. Zhen’s words mean nothing to you! You dismiss them carelessly. You cur-dog, worse than swine!”
Kaiyao Emperor stormed down from the dragon throne in a few strides and kicked the Crown Prince squarely in the body.
The Crown Prince was knocked sprawling but dared not cry out. Scrambling up to kneel again, he kowtowed repeatedly. “Erchen is guilty, guilty! Every word fuhuang has spoken, erchen has engraved in his heart. Not dared to forget for even a day. Never would erchen treat fuhuang’s commands lightly. May fuhuang see clearly!”
Kaiyao Emperor sneered, a sharp laugh. “Nonsense!”
The Crown Prince’s face turned deathly pale.
The Emperor thundered: “You claim you take zhen’s every word to heart? Do you take zhen for a three-year-old, easily fooled? Zhen told you to keep away from those rotten scholars. Did you obey? Zhen told you to show concern for the frontier troops. Have you done so?
“For years, zhen has drilled you countless times. Tell me, which one have you ever heeded? Were it not for your mother shielding you, I’d have discarded you long ago!”
The Crown Prince’s heart clenched with terror. So, it has come. The day I feared is finally here. Three years… and I couldn’t endure.
All the other princes and wangye looked on, aghast. Father had laid his true feelings bare! Was this a test? A slip of the tongue? Or… was he really going to depose the Crown Prince?
Some secretly rejoiced, but none dared show it.
Who knew what madness would seize the old man next? In the blink of an eye, his storm could strike any one of them.
The Crown Prince banged his head on the floor again and again. “Erchen is guilty, guilty…”
“Enough!”
Kaiyao Emperor stared at him in disgust. “Look at yourself. Not a trace of the bearing a crown prince ought to have. So weak, so spineless, how can zhen entrust the empire to you?”
The Crown Prince kept his head bowed, grief etched into his face. His cowardice, after all, was fuhuang’s doing.
But such thoughts he dared only to keep buried, never spoken aloud.
The Emperor’s fury only mounted. He seized a teacup from the table and hurled it.
Tea splashed everywhere. The Crown Prince got the worst of it, but none of the princes or wangye nearby escaped unscathed.
Kaiyao Emperor jabbed a finger at his sons. “You all – are you waiting for zhen to die?”
“Fuhuang, please quell your anger! Erchen prays you live ten thousand years!”
“Silence! Do you think zhen doesn’t know your thoughts? You dare extend your claws into the palace, stirring up storms, do you think zhen is too old, too feeble to rein you in? Zhen tells you now, even old, zhen can still crush you. Whoever dares reach into zhen’s palace, zhen will chop off his hand. And if that’s not enough, zhen will take his life.”
The hall fell silent as death.
Clearly, the old man was truly enraged.
In recent days, the palace had undergone a bloody purge. No fewer than a thousand had died.
The Four Directorates, the Six Bureaus, the Twenty-Four Offices, none were spared.
Countless figures who once ruled the palace corridors with unchecked power were all struck down.
Even the spies and agents planted by the princes had been rooted out in this sweeping purge.
Everyone understood: the old man was afraid. Afraid of plots against him. Afraid his own sons might usurp him. So he killed chickens to scare the monkeys, spilt blood as a warning to every restless schemer.
Stay in line, or your whole clan will be wiped out. Exterminate nine generations.
Several princes exchanged furtive glances. The old man was on the verge of madness. They would all need to tread carefully in the days ahead.
Kaiyao Emperor stormed about the great hall, pacing furiously.
Any son he caught his eye on, he lashed out with a savage kick.
Most bore it in silence.
Not Ning wang. When kicked, he collapsed to the floor, clutching his chest, moaning pitifully.
“Fuhuang, you’ll kill erchen with that kick! Erchen has not yet held my grandson. If erchen dies now, I’ll never rest easy!”
“Shut your mouth, laosan!” the Emperor barked.
Ning wang was the third-born prince.
But instead of quieting, he only wailed louder.
“Aiyo, aiyo, I can’t take it anymore. Old man, your son is about to die. That kick of yours was like a dragon’s strength and a tiger’s might. My bones are all broken. Once your son dies, hurry up and sire a few more brats.”
The Kaiyao Emperor was so infuriated that he laughed, scolding, “You insolent wretch, lazy and shameless! You’re clearly in need of discipline. Why don’t you go to the Imperial Mausoleum and reflect there?”
The Imperial Mausoleum was at Mount Beimang, two hundred li from the capital. The entire mountain was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance.
For the Kaiyao Emperor to order Ning wang to reflect at the Imperial Mausoleum, such an arrangement was full of deeper meaning.
Ning wang let out a wail first. “Fuhuang, are you abandoning your son?”
“Roll out for zhen!”
Ning wang promptly scrambled up from the floor and decisively rolled away.
As he left the main hall, he even winked at his brothers, as if to say: Brothers, your elder brother’s withdrawing first, you all keep suffering here.
Zhao wang and the others gritted their teeth and frowned. That despicable Ning wang, using such a method to slip away, truly treacherous.
Ning wang left Xingqing Palace and went straight to Changchun Palace to meet Shu fei.
Shu fei frowned slightly upon seeing the footprint on his chest. “Did you anger your father again?”
Ning wang laughed it off. “Tomorrow I’ll be sent to guard the Imperial Mausoleum. Mufei, don’t miss me too much.”
At this, Shu fei’s face changed drastically.
“What happened? How could your father punish you by sending you to guard the Imperial Mausoleum? Th-this…”
“Stop with the ‘this.’ Guarding the mausoleum is no big deal. After a while, your son will be back.”
Ning wang spoke with an air of nonchalance.
But how could Shu fei be at ease?
“Calling it no big deal? Are you too bold or just too foolish? This is basically exile! What did you do to deserve being sent to the mausoleum?”
Ning wang said, “Don’t worry, mufei. At a time like this, leaving the capital is the best move. The old man’s gone mad. If I stay, I might get chopped down any day, and that’d be too pointless. I’ll go hide at the mausoleum for now. Once the capital calms down, I’ll find a way back. Don’t worry.”
Shu fei wavered between belief and doubt. “You’re really just going to lie low? You can truly come back?”
Ning wang laughed heartily. “Of course! I’ll definitely come back. It’s suffocating in the palace anyway. I’ll take my leave now.”
Ning wang returned to his manor at ease and ordered his men to pack up. At dawn tomorrow, he would depart for the mausoleum.
Ning wangfei, Pei shi, was nearly frantic when she heard the news.
She went to the outer study, and upon seeing Ning wang, tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Allow me to accompany you in guarding the mausoleum.”
“You’ll only make trouble,” Ning wang said with disdain.
Pei shi cried, “Wangye is going to guard the mausoleum. As your wife, how can I not accompany you? True, you’ve filled the rear court with woman after woman, but at a time like this, if I don’t stand by you, should I let those sluts keep you company instead?”
Ning wang felt a headache coming on. “You, always jealous. So what if it’s just a few women? Is that worth all this fuss? This time I’m only going to guard the mausoleum temporarily, so stop worrying needlessly.”
“Temporarily?”
Pei shi’s expression was full of suspicion.
Ning wang nodded. “Yes, just temporarily. The old man’s temper is fierce, so I’ll step aside for now. Guarding the mausoleum isn’t bad. It’s close to the capital. If anything happens, a fast horse can go and return the same day.”
Just then, a servant reported that the eldest and fourth young masters had arrived.
Ning wang said, “Let them in. I have some words for them.”
The brothers Liu Zhao and Liu Yi entered the study.
“Your sons pay respects to fuwang and mufei.”
“No need for formality. You’ve heard that I’m going to guard the mausoleum, haven’t you?”
“Your sons just learned the news.”
Ning wang leaned back comfortably in his chair. “I’ll leave at dawn tomorrow. As for court affairs, Laoda, you keep an eye on things for me.”
Liu Zhao replied with no change in expression, “Your son obeys. But guarding the mausoleum is easy; returning will be hard. Fuwang, this step you’re taking is rather risky.”
“Risk and reward go hand in hand. Without risk, how could I escape?” Ning wang chuckled.
Liu Zhao thought for a moment, then said, “The Construction Office, under the Ministry of Finance, is right at Mount Beimang. Fuwang should pay them a visit. Also, the Imperial Guards train at Mount Beimang. Since you have acquaintances there, it would be wise to stay connected.”
Ning wang laughed heartily. “Good, good, you’ve thought it through well. I already have these matters in mind, so don’t fret.
“I’ll head to the mausoleum tomorrow at dawn. Once the turmoil in the capital dies down, laoda, whether I can return smoothly will depend entirely on you.”
Liu Zhao replied, “Your son will do his utmost.”
Liu Yi quickly added, “Your son also wishes to share fuwang’s burden.”
Ning wang looked at him, hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded. “Yi’er, you’ve grown too. Then follow your elder brother and learn. Laoda, guide your lao si more. When brothers are united, they can cut through metal.”
Liu Zhao responded without expression, glancing at Liu Yi out of the corner of his eye.
Liu Yi, on the other hand, looked eager and full of excitement.
Pei shi secretly nodded. Wangye was not muddle-headed; he was right to give Yi’er more opportunities.
A man should not be confined within the residence. He ought to go out into the world to temper himself.
The next morning, Ning wang set out with full ceremonial pomp, bringing along all manner of household goods, beds, chamber pots, everything. On top of that, he brought dozens of singing girls and musicians. The grand procession, numbering in the hundreds, departed the princely residence in great splendour for the imperial mausoleum.
Pei shi complained bitterly: “And this is supposed to be exile? He’s practically going off on holiday. Even going to guard the mausoleum, he doesn’t forget to bring along those gaudy hussies. No wonder he forbade me from accompanying him; he just wanted to indulge himself without me there to restrain him.”
Pei shi was so furious she almost choked on her own sourness.
Liu Zhao was not surprised. If Ning wang did not cause a scene, that would be truly unusual.
The Xiuyiwei immediately reported the situation to the palace.
When the Emperor learned that Ning wang had left the capital with a grand ceremony, he cursed with a laugh: “That worthless scoundrel, all he knows is pleasure-seeking. I sent him to guard the mausoleum, and he treats it as a countryside excursion, taking my words as nothing but wind in his ears.”
Chen Dachang said, “Ning wang must know that the deeper Your Majesty’s love, the stricter your discipline…”
“Enough! Stop making excuses for that wastrel. Of all people, I know lao san’s nature best. He cannot endure hardship, cannot suffer the slightest grievance, and wherever he goes, he insists on having the best of everything. Pass down my decree: Ning wang is to sweep the imperial mausoleum every single day, without negligence.”
Hmph. Let’s see if this won’t cure Ning wang’s laziness and love of luxury.
While Ning wang went off happily to “guard” the mausoleum, the Eastern Palace was steeped in sorrow.
The previous day, because he had knelt for too long, the Crown Prince injured his knee and was now in terrible pain.
It was an old ailment. In his youth, he had once knelt in the rain for four or five hours straight, and the injury had never healed.
Ever since then, whenever he knelt for too long, his knees would ache for days.
The unending, needle-like pain made the Crown Prince feel he could not go on living.
Sun shi herself bound the medicine pouch to his knees. “Your Highness, this way the pain won’t be as bad.”
The Crown Prince sighed. “I’ve worried you again.”
The Crown Princess said softly: “Your Highness, those words are too distant. We are husband and wife, one body. Taking care of you is my duty.”
The Crown Prince’s face was wan. “Fuhuang… has little patience left. But rest assured, I will protect you and the children.”
The Crown Princess’s hand paused, but then she continued as if nothing had happened. “That time has not yet come. Your Highness should ease your mind.”
The Crown Prince shook his head. “You didn’t see it with your own eyes, you don’t know. Fuhuang has no hope for me anymore.
“Yesterday, Ning wang spoke outrageously before him, yet fuhuang merely gave him a light punishment, sending him to guard the mausoleum.
“This morning, Ning wang left the capital in great pomp, taking with him dozens of singing girls and even concubines. And yet fuhuang merely ordered him to sweep the mausoleum.
“With Ning wang’s temperament, he certainly won’t do it himself. Even if someone complained to fuhuang, he would at most scold him, nothing more.
“But gu? If gu is late by even a moment, fuhuang scolds harshly. If gu behaved as outrageously as Ning wang, going to guard the mausoleum with singers and dancers, fuhuang would have already deposed gu and thrown gu into the imperial prison.
“We are both sons of the Emperor, yet our fates are utterly different. Before fuhuang, gu has no dignity at all. In front of my brothers, fuhuang has never given gu even half a shred of face. He despises me as weak, yet does he not realise that it is he who made me this way?”
“Your Highness, careful with your words.”
The Crown Princess grew tense, signalling a trusted eunuch to guard the entrance and allow no one near.
The Crown Prince laughed bitterly. “Even in the Eastern Palace, gu cannot speak as I wish. All my life, gu has never had freedom, never lived for myself.”
The Crown Princess frowned. “Your Highness, lie down while your knees hurt. Bear with it, a few days and it will pass.”
“You all tell me to endure. I have endured for forty years. How much longer must I endure?”
His gaze grew complicated as he looked at the Crown Princess, his eyes full of pain, anger, struggle, hesitation, and weakness.
The Crown Princess sighed and whispered into his ear: “When His Majesty passes away, that will be Your Highness’s rebirth.”
The Crown Prince’s pupils dilated. “You… don’t do anything rash. If fuhuang truly deposes me, gu would rather end my own life.”
“If Your Highness dies, then what meaning is there in qieshen living? When that time comes, qieshen will follow you in death.” Her words were firm and resolute.
The Crown Prince cupped her face solemnly. “You must not die. The lives of hundreds in the Eastern Palace, the lives of our children, they all depend on you. If anything happened to you, then my death would be in vain.”
The Crown Princess gazed at him, tears spilling down her cheeks.
“Qieshen cannot bear to lose Your Highness. You must take care of yourself.”
The Crown Prince smiled, pulling her into his embrace. “Gu cannot bear to lose you all either. Gu will try my best to live. Only, when that day truly comes, don’t grieve too much.”
“No. Your Highness, we still have hope.”
The Crown Prince slowly shook his head. “Don’t say such foolish things. Gu is truly not a worthy heir. Being deposed is only a matter of time.”
“No… no…”
The Crown Princess shook her head repeatedly. She would never allow the Emperor the chance to depose the Crown Prince.
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