Chapter 81 of 100

Chapter 81

15 min read3,766 words

Chapter 82: Success and Retreat

It was nearly noon, the sky was overcast, and the wind whistled as it blew. Emperor Zhaogai, seated in a sedan chair, left the palace gate. A small entourage followed him onto the city wall and entered the Xuan德 Gate tower. Zhaogai moved to the window and looked out. He saw a small pavilion in front of the tower, where people were coming and going, paying their respects and receiving porridge. There were no fewer than ten thousand people, as if it were the Lantern Festival, but it was quieter and more solemn.

"Has Prince Yanzhou been here all this time?" Zhaogai asked the commander on duty while looking out. Although the distance was not far, the angle was not good, and he could only see the back of Prince Yanzhou, who was kneeling and continuously bowing to the mourners, unable to see his face.

"Your Majesty, since the seventh day, Prince Yanzhou has been guarding the memorial hall day and night, burning incense and making offerings at regular intervals, never leaving for a moment!" the commander replied respectfully.

"When does Prince Yanzhou eat?"

"Your Majesty, in the early days, no one was giving out porridge. Prince Yanzhou strictly adhered to the rites and did not eat a single grain of rice for five days. Even his guards, loyal and righteous men, did not drink a drop of water. Only a prince as benevolent and righteous as Prince Yanzhou could have such loyal followers!" the commander said with a sigh.

"Are they not cold at night?" Zhaogai rubbed his hands and asked. Yang Jian immediately handed him a hand warmer.

"It's so cold that water turns to ice. They sleep in the open, how could they not be cold? On the first night, Prince Yanzhou and his guards huddled together for warmth, but by the middle of the night, they were clearly too cold and started burning paper and candles to keep warm. They even called the patrol soldiers from the underground fire department."

"This child is really being foolish. Is there anyone who uses burning paper to keep warm?" Zhaogai could not help but laugh.

"Yes, but they had no choice. Prince Yanzhou is still a child. Those few days, he was both cold and hungry, and he could barely walk, but he still insisted on burning incense and making offerings, never stopping. The brothers couldn't bear to see him suffer," the commander wanted to say more but suddenly noticed Yang Jian's sharp gaze and quickly stopped.

Yang Jian was now in a complex state of mind. Looking at Tong Guan beside him, he felt even more frustrated. Yesterday, he had ordered someone to send a bowl of porridge laced with poison, but it had no effect. Today, seeing it with his own eyes, he realized that there was too much porridge, and the chance of Prince Yanzhou eating the poisoned bowl was very low. Now that the Emperor was involved, things were even more difficult to handle.

"Tong Guan, go and convey my imperial edict, allowing Prince Yanzhou to enter the palace and participate in tomorrow's grand memorial service!" As a father, seeing this scene, Zhaogai thought of his own past, when he would visit Empress Dowager Xiang every day, regardless of the weather, before his ascension. He felt a sense of guilt.

"Your Majesty, this is not advisable," Zhang Shangying said urgently, wanting to speak further.

"Prime Minister Zhang, this is a family matter, and I do not need your concern!" Zhaogai glanced at him and said. Zhang Shangying retreated awkwardly. Matters involving the imperial family were under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Imperial Clan, and it was not the Prime Minister's place to speak.

The palace gates, which had been closed for a long time, suddenly opened. A group of palace guards rushed out, parted the crowd, and came to the pavilion. Tong Guan walked over and shouted loudly, "Imperial edict! Prince Yanzhou, receive the edict!" The onlookers, hearing this, stepped back to make room.

"Your humble subject receives the edict!" Prince Yanzhou, feeling puzzled, quickly led Jianxi and others to kneel down.

"Prince Yanzhou is filial and benevolent. The Emperor has granted you permission to enter the palace and participate in tomorrow's grand memorial service!" Tong Guan announced.

"Your Highness, you should thank the Emperor!" Jianxi whispered anxiously when he saw that Prince Yanzhou was not moving.

"Thank the Emperor for his great kindness. Please convey to the Emperor that I cannot enter the palace due to my disobedience!" Prince Yanzhou said surprisingly. Jianxi sighed and lowered his head, knowing that the prince was up to something again. He was already immune to the prince's sudden inspirations.

"Prince Yanzhou, this is not the time for stubbornness. Can we discuss this in the palace?" Tong Guan was anxious. The child seemed to understand, but why was he acting out now? He hurriedly tried to persuade him.

"Minister Tong, this is not about stubbornness but about the law of the state. Although my disobedience is understandable, it is not allowed by law. As a prince, I should abide by the law. This has put the Emperor in a difficult position. I have already written a memorial requesting a demotion to set an example. Please present it to the Emperor on my behalf!" Prince Yanzhou said, pulling out a folded paper from his robe and handing it to Tong Guan with both hands.

"Prince Yanzhou is truly loyal and righteous!" Tong Guan praised, lifting Prince Yanzhou up with both hands. His words were echoed by the crowd. If the Song Dynasty had a 'Top Ten Most Touching People' award this year, Prince Yanzhou would surely win it, placing a trophy at home to show off.

Tong Guan returned to the city tower empty-handed, recounting the events and presenting the memorial. Zhaogai sighed after reading it, handed the memorial to Zhang Shangying, and said, "Prime Minister Zhang, discuss this in the Zhongshu Province and come up with a plan!" He then led the way out of the tower and headed for the palace gate. Everyone was surprised, as the Emperor was about to leave the palace. Yang Jian quickly ordered the palace guards to set up protection and clear the area. After a flurry of activity, the entourage followed the Emperor to the palace gate.

"Second Son, you have suffered so much." Zhaogai came to the pavilion and saw Prince Yanzhou, who was pale and thin, shivering in the cold wind, with frostbite on his face. As a qualified artist, Zhaogai was emotionally rich, and tears welled up in his eyes before he could finish his sentence.

"Damn it, I've suffered so much, all because of you, and now you're putting on a show of filial piety!" Prince Yanzhou thought, but he did not dare to say it. He quickly bowed, "Your humble subject greets the Emperor. Mother has passed away, please, Father, take care of yourself!" His words were impeccable, warming the Emperor's heart, but he was clearly insincere.

"Second Son, do you not blame me for keeping you out of the palace?" Zhaogai asked, supporting him.

"Your humble subject disobeyed the edict by coming to the capital, and the Emperor did not punish me. I am already deeply grateful!" Prince Yanzhou stood up, bowed, and said respectfully, "Father, you handle the affairs of state daily, and now with Mother's passing, you must be even more burdened. I have been disobedient, causing you trouble, and I am truly unfilial!"

"Second Son, to think this way brings me great comfort. I thought you were angry and refused to enter the palace!" Zhaogai was relieved and embraced Prince Yanzhou. The second son was better than his other brothers, not only filial but also considerate, even writing a memorial to take the blame, silencing the court.

"Father, I miss you, Mother, and my siblings." Prince Yanzhou suddenly threw himself into the Emperor's arms, sobbing. Sometimes he felt he was more professional than professional actors, who only act for a few scenes, while he had to act all the time, becoming more and more convincing, even forgetting his modern identity.

"Second Son, do not cry. I will issue an edict to keep you in the capital, and we will be together, never to be separated!" Zhaogai was moved. His young son, alone in the capital, had endured so much. He wiped the tears from his son's face.

"Father, please do not. I am an inauspicious person, with deep sins. Returning to the capital would harm you. I will serve you when I have atoned for my sins!" Prince Yanzhou was startled. He had overreacted and truly moved the Emperor. If he were to return now, his 'great cause' would be ruined. He quickly reined himself in.

"Second Son, I am sorry for your suffering. Ask for anything, and I will grant it!" Zhaogai, seeing Prince Yanzhou's urgency, was even more moved and patted his head.

"Father, I want nothing. I only wish for your health and eternal happiness, long may you reign, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!" Prince Yanzhou knelt and shouted, and at that moment, it seemed the heavens were moved by his filial piety, and snow began to fall.

"Long may the Emperor reign, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years! Prince Yanzhou's filial piety moves heaven and earth, a blessing for the Emperor and the people!" Cai You, who had been hiding somewhere, suddenly appeared, knelt, and echoed Prince Yanzhou, wiping his nose and tears.

"Long may the Emperor reign, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!" Others quickly followed, and the people of the capital, separated by the palace guards, also knelt and shouted in unison. The scene was grand. Seeing the ministers and people bow, Zhaogai was delighted. His son had brought him such honor, and even the heavens were moved to tears. He looked up at the snow and then down at his son, who had taken off his cloak and put it on Prince Yanzhou, saying several times, "Good, good, good," feeling very satisfied.

"Second Son, these are your guards, I hear they have shared your hardships and joys, truly loyal servants!" After the people's homage, Zhaogai held Prince Yanzhou's hand and pointed to Jianxi and others behind him.

"Thank the Emperor for your praise. Serving our master loyally is our duty!" Jianxi, quick to seize the opportunity, signaled the others to bow.

"Good, good, good. You are loyal to your master, and I will not neglect you!" Jianxi and others were even more pleased. Their suffering had not been in vain, and the Emperor's words were golden, so they would not be forgotten.

Prince Yanzhou insisted on not entering the palace and continued to guard the small pavilion outside. However, the Emperor's inspection and approval indicated his recognition of Prince Yanzhou's actions. The pavilion, being too simple for a prince, was replaced by a grand memorial hall built by the palace craftsmen overnight. The Ministry of Rites sent a vice-minister to oversee the memorial, and the court ministers vied to send their children to participate. Everyone now saw that Prince Yanzhou was favored by the Emperor and that supporting him would be a great merit if he ascended the throne.

The grand memorial service ended in a solemn atmosphere. Prince Yanzhou did not linger, bowed three times to the palace gate, and immediately left the capital on horseback, escorted by a group of imperial guards. As the horsemen rode out of the city gate, Prince Yanzhou looked back at the towering city walls, feeling a mix of emotions. His original plan to defy the edict and come to the capital was a temporary measure, but it had evolved into this. He had become a model youth in the eyes of the people, a candidate for the crown prince in the hearts of the officials, and a beloved son of the Emperor. But who knew if this was a blessing or a curse for him?

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