The Emperor's return to the palace was the top priority at the moment. No one knew if he would summon his ministers for discussions later, so who dared to complain about hunger?
Everyone could only tighten their belts and wait outside the study of the Palace of Heavenly Purity. As for the Empress and Prince Liao, the former was "attended to" by Cui Yijun and taken to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, while the latter was surrounded by the Golden Guard and "resting" in the Hall of Extensive Virtue.
The Emperor, looking as if he had aged ten years, leaned weakly against the heated brick bed by the window, his face full of exhaustion.
Wang Yuan didn’t dare make a sound. With thick cloth wrapped around his neck, he carefully served tea to the Emperor.
The Emperor waved his hand and said, "Go and rest."
Wang Yuan couldn’t help but feel his eyes moisten.
This meant the Emperor still intended to keep him in service!
It was worth standing on the same side as Song Yantang.
With tears in his eyes, he withdrew.
The room was silent, with only the Crown Prince standing respectfully before the Emperor, hands at his sides.
The Emperor smiled self-deprecatingly and said, "I calculated that he wouldn’t dare kill me, but I never expected you to think of this method to save me! However, by confining Prince Liao to his residence, aren’t you afraid of nurturing a future threat?"
He fixed his gaze on the Crown Prince, his eyes sharp.
A thin layer of sweat immediately formed on the Crown Prince’s back.
After a moment of thought, he replied earnestly, "At first, my only concern was rescuing Father. I hadn’t considered this matter. Now that you mention it, I think—Fifth Brother had every advantage in Liaodong yet still failed in his coup attempt. Now that he’s lost his support and is confined to Prince Liao’s Residence, if he can still stir up trouble, then it would be due to my lack of virtue and ability, and I could blame no one else."
The Emperor was surprised.
His feelings toward the Crown Prince had always been complex. He feared the Crown Prince might become willful and disobedient like Prince Liao, yet also worried he might be too weak and yielding to shoulder heavy responsibilities. But now, the Crown Prince appeared neither arrogant nor timid, displaying a simple and steadfast demeanor that made the Emperor see him in a new light. A weight seemed to lift from his heart.
Perhaps it was time to let go of some things.
The Emperor closed his eyes and said, "Summon Wang Yuan to attend to me. I’m tired—you may withdraw."
He hadn’t slept for two days and a night.
Not daring to disturb him further, the Crown Prince softly acknowledged and left the study. Standing in the breeze, he finally noticed the dampness on his back.
He let out a long sigh, only to look up and see the veranda crowded with nobles and officials, all staring at him wide-eyed, waiting for his instructions.
The Crown Prince inwardly groaned.
Prince Liao’s rebellion had caused such a stir that pretending nothing had happened was impossible. Yet if the Crown Prince’s crimes were publicly announced, his uncles and brothers might see Prince Liao’s failed coup as lightly punished, emboldening them to plot in the future. Could he really spend every day guarding against treachery? This time, it was only because of Ji Yong that he uncovered Prince Liao’s conspiracy, and only Song Mo’s loyalty that he escaped disaster. Would he be so lucky next time?
A splitting headache gripped him.
He decided to call Ji Yong and Song Mo aside for counsel.
Ji Yong said, "What’s so difficult about this? Just say the Emperor is ill and secretly summoned Prince Liao back to the palace to attend to him. As for whether the common folk believe it—given time, everyone will forget. Your Highness needn’t trouble yourself over it."
Is that so?
The Crown Prince looked to Song Mo.
Song Mo smiled and said, "Minister Ji’s suggestion is reasonable."
Could my idea possibly be wrong?
Ji Yong stood humbly to the side, though inwardly, he grumbled.The Crown Prince smiled and said, "Then let's proceed this way! Later, have the Court of State Ceremonial draft a proposal. Once His Majesty has rested and reviewed it, we can announce it to the public." As he spoke, a trace of gloom flickered between his brows. "However, this means we likely won’t be able to request rewards for everyone."
Who wouldn’t know how to play the long game for bigger gains?
Ji Yong quickly replied, "This was merely our duty. Your Highness’s consideration overwhelms us."
Song Mo also added, "The Golden Guard is tasked with protecting the palace, yet intruders managed to slip in. We deserve death for such negligence—how could we dare claim merit?"
The Crown Prince had been troubled by the lack of rewards for those who saved him. Hearing their words, he was deeply moved and said, "Rest assured, both of you. If the opportunity arises, I will surely petition for your honors!"
Empty promises now were useless.
Ji Yong grew impatient inwardly but smiled and said, "I’ll handle the trip to the Court of State Ceremonial. As for the Grand Secretaries, perhaps Song-daren should remain by Your Highness’s side for protection—who knows how many are eager to exploit this incident for promotions and profit!"
Let him deal with those old Grand Secretariat bureaucrats!
I can’t be bothered to accompany them.
He glanced at Song Mo.
Song Mo stood there with a faint smile, as composed as ever.
Ji Yong couldn’t help but feel exasperated.
The Crown Prince said, "Then Jianming, you go ahead."
Ji Yong acknowledged and left.
Meanwhile, Song Mo accompanied the Crown Prince to the side chamber where discussions were held before the Emperor’s return.
Upon hearing the Crown Prince’s decision to conceal Liao Wang’s rebellion, Liang Jifen’s reaction was not only firm but vehement: "How can this be allowed? Liao Wang has committed an unforgivable crime! If this spreads, where will the imperial family’s dignity lie? Where will Your Highness’s authority stand?"
Song Mo had long held a grudge against Liang Jifen. If not now, when else would he strike?
He interrupted Liang Jifen with a smile, "Liang-daren, when His Highness sought everyone’s counsel on welcoming His Majesty back to the palace, you remained silent. Now that His Majesty has returned, you suddenly find faults. This is His Majesty’s family matter—you need not interfere. His Highness has his own considerations."
"You—!" Liang Jifen’s face flushed crimson with anger.
A Successful Candidate in the highest imperial examinations, a scholar of great repute, and later a Grand Secretary, he hadn’t been openly mocked like this in years. Despite knowing he should endure the slight—given the adage that a new reign brings new ministers—the thought of Song Mo, a mere youth not yet of age, daring to reprimand him before the Crown Prince made him retort, "What nonsense is Song-daren speaking? How is this His Majesty’s family matter? Liao Wang’s rebellion shakes the nation’s foundation—he must be executed as a warning…"
Yao Zhongshi lowered his head, the corners of his lips curling slightly.
This Song Yantang—known only as a scion of a military family—never hesitated to stir trouble when needed.
With the Crown Prince newly in power and eager to assert his authority, Liang Jifen’s stubbornness was unlikely to be well-received.
He stole a glance at the Crown Prince.
Indeed, the Crown Prince’s expression had darkened.A hint of amusement flickered in his eyes as he smoothed his sleeves, about to speak up in support. Unexpectedly, Dou Shishu, who had been silent beside him, suddenly said, "Minister Liang, regarding Liao Wang's rebellion, no one is more grieved than His Highness. Yet His Highness, kind-hearted and filial to the core, prioritized the Emperor's safety above all else, disregarding personal gains to successfully escort His Majesty back to the palace. What purpose does it serve to debate right and wrong after the fact?" He then cupped his hands toward the Crown Prince. "People are naturally fickle. Given the unusual events in the capital, it's only natural for commoners to gossip. The less attention we pay, the quicker they'll forget. The more seriously we treat it, the more curious they become. I believe His Highness's idea is excellent!"
The Crown Prince's expression softened.
Yao Zhongshi, regretting his missed opportunity, quickly added, "I also think His Highness's idea is sound." He continued, "His Majesty has been exhausted these past few days, and it would be inappropriate for us to disturb him. However, this matter should not be delayed. I suggest His Highness both dispatch people to spread the news and, once His Majesty awakens, issue a public proclamation. This way, neither task will be neglected."
Zeng Jian was filled with regret, wishing he could shrink into invisibility like a needle dropped on the floor, and kept his shoulders hunched in silence.
Mu Chuan and the others voiced their agreement one after another.
The Crown Prince was extremely pleased and entrusted the task of spreading the news to Song Mo.
For several days, Song Mo either stayed at the yamen or in the palace.
Since Liao Wang had come to the capital to attend to the Emperor's illness, not only was he denied any rewards, but he was also assigned all the unsavory tasks—arranging for the wounded and deceased Golden Guards, securing compensation funds from the Ministry of Revenue, and overseeing repairs to the damaged palace gates. Song Mo wished he had three heads and six arms to handle everything.
Dou Zhao had no choice but to send him fresh clothes and food from time to time.
Madam Changxing and others frequently visited her, hoping to glean some information about the palace.
Dou Zhao excused herself on account of her pregnancy, claiming she shouldn't overexert herself, and turned them all away.
By the time the autumn winds rose, Song Mo's workload had lightened somewhat. An imperial decree was issued: due to the Emperor's poor health, the Crown Prince would oversee state affairs, and the Emperor would move to the Western Garden Palace on the second day of September.
Dou Zhao was stunned and asked Song Mo, "Did you know about this beforehand?"
"I only just heard," Song Mo mused. "It must have been a last-minute decision by His Majesty."
Dou Zhao asked, "Does this mean Liao Wang will return to his residence?"
Liao Wang had remained in the palace all this time, while the Empress stayed in the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility. Third Princess had once sought an audience with the Empress but was reprimanded by the Empress Dowager, who ordered her to stop wandering about and assigned palace matrons to supervise her as she copied the Admonitions for Women a hundred times.
Humiliated and furious, Third Princess, along with other female members of the imperial clan, secluded themselves and dared not go anywhere.
"That depends on His Majesty's mood," Song Mo said. "Though Liao Wang has been staying in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Emperor has ignored him entirely. The palace eunuchs dared not serve him food, tea, or even assist with his grooming. It's said he's even developed lice."
"Surely not?" Dou Zhao widened her eyes in disbelief.
"It's true," Song Mo confirmed. "A fallen phoenix is less than a chicken." Sometimes, they fare worse than commoners."
"Serves him right!" Dou Zhao retorted, her disdain for him unwavering, whether in this life or the last.Song Mo went to see Jiang Bosun: "I mentioned your situation to His Highness the Crown Prince the other day, explaining that without your warning, we would never have known about Liao Wang's arrival in the capital. The Crown Prince asked me to inquire about your plans. If you wish to restore your family's reputation, you might have to wait a few days. But if you simply want to return to Haozhou, he's willing to plead your case before the Emperor."
Jiang Bosun's external injuries had mostly healed, but his internal injuries would take at least a year to recover fully.
"I'd rather return to Liaodong!" he said with a smile. "With Liao Wang gone, Liaodong must be in complete disarray. The Prince Liao's Heir is only five years old and knows nothing. The Koreans won't miss this opportunity. Instead of waiting for the Crown Prince to intercede for me, I'd rather lead the Jiang Family's men into battle. No member of our Jiang Family has ever feared death—only on the battlefield can we truly restore our family's honor! That's a glory neither the Emperor nor the Crown Prince can erase!"
Song Mo's expression shifted slightly. "You should discuss this with Maternal Aunt first!"
All the able-bodied men of the Jiang Family were in Liaodong.
Going to war inevitably meant casualties.
If anything were to happen, what would become of the Jiang Family?
Besides, Jiang Bosun had never set foot on a battlefield before.
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