According to Daqing's rites and laws, the emperor would be buried twenty-seven days after his passing. If the imperial mausoleum was not yet completed, the coffin would temporarily rest in the Fengxian Hall. However, the previous emperor's mausoleum had already been constructed, so there was no need for a delay.
"Court officials have decided on 'Xiaocheng' as Father Emperor's posthumous title. What does the Grand Tutor think?" Before the lesson began, the Crown Prince suddenly asked.
Observing the increasingly spirited Crown Prince, Hua Zhi closed her lesson plan. "How could such a matter be for this humble official to comment on? But since Your Highness mentions it... could it be that this posthumous title was chosen by you?"
The Crown Prince laughed happily—as expected, the Grand Tutor understood him best. "The titles they proposed were all too disparaging toward Father Emperor. Even if certain events occurred, a son should never disgrace his father's reputation. Of course, there's another possibility: they were setting a trap for me, and I didn't take the bait."
Xiaocheng—filial piety and maintaining achievements—was indeed fitting. Although the late emperor had accomplished no great merits for the country during his lifetime, he had diligently protected Daqing's sovereignty, making the title somewhat appropriate. Hua Zhi looked at his overly delighted face and abruptly said, "The thirty-second chapter of Zhongyong."
Such sudden questioning was not unfamiliar to the Crown Prince. During his time at the Hua residence, the Grand Tutor often conducted impromptu tests. Instinctively, he began reciting: "Only the utmost sincerity under heaven can govern the great principles of the world, establish the great foundation of the world..."
As he continued, the Crown Prince's voice gradually softened. He had indeed been somewhat carried away recently.
After he finished reciting, Hua Zhi said nothing more and nodded to begin the day's lesson.
The Crown Prince and Berlin exchanged glances and simultaneously shrank their necks. An angered Grand Tutor was not to be provoked.
The Empress Dowager, who had been listening outside the door for a while, smiled. The Crown Prince possessed a youthful temperament. Had he been facing an elderly minister or any other Grand Tutor, he likely wouldn't have heeded any advice. Yet Hua Zhi had restrained him simply by making him recite a passage. This was a case of one thing subduing another. While being subdued was generally not beneficial for a Crown Prince, if the person was Hua Zhi, she could tolerate it.
"Calculate the timing and send some pastries and nourishing soup during their break. The Grand Tutor has worked hard."
"Yes."
Despite the late emperor's passing and the young Crown Prince assuming governance, Daqing seemed unaffected, operating in an orderly manner. In fact, court officials appeared more united than ever. Aside from Hua Zhi, others who had rendered meritorious service for supporting the emperor held minimal influence, creating a fair competitive environment. Everyone strived to catch the Crown Prince's eye, fostering a sense of positive momentum throughout the court.
Yet, the crisis had never truly passed.
On the day the Spring Examination concluded, urgent hoofbeats echoed from outside the eastern city gate. The rider carried the Shou'ai Pass banner on his back, holding his token high as he galloped furiously, his hoarse shouts cracking with strain: "Urgent report from Shou'ai Pass!"
It was a messenger!
The city gates swung open immediately, with all pedestrians clearing the way. The messenger charged into the city without slowing, followed closely by two other riders who shouted exhaustedly: "Urgent report! Make way!"
The combined shouts and hoofbeats abruptly tightened the capital's relaxed post-examination atmosphere. Many stopped to watch the riders gallop into the distance, exchanging uneasy glances filled with apprehension. The east... was Shou'ai Pass, Daqing's primary frontier fortress!
The messenger entered the palace at top speed, practically tumbling from his horse. His legs trembled so violently he couldn't stand.Two imperial guards took turns carrying him into the main hall. He fell to his knees with a thud, his lips cracked and bloodied, hair disheveled, his voice so hoarse it seemed torn from the depths of his soul. "The Chao Li Tribe has attacked Shou'ai Pass! General Sun... has fallen in battle!"
The completely unexpected news caught the Crown Prince off guard. He shot to his feet, then forced himself back into his seat with immense self-control. "Summon the Regent, Duke Dingguo, and the six ministers to the palace at once."
Lai Fu acknowledged the order and hurried to make arrangements. Before leaving, he cast a discreet glance at Hua Bolin, who understood and subtly moved closer to the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince closed his eyes briefly. When he reopened them, his expression had hardened considerably. "Get him some water."
The messenger bowed in gratitude and drained the cup in one gulp, his throat finally relieved from the agony.
"Report in detail."
"Yes, Your Highness. Before this humble officer was dispatched to the capital, we still hadn't determined the full strength of the Chao Li Tribe's forces. They didn't attack from their island stronghold but came downstream from the north, catching us completely unprepared..."
Recalling the horrific scene, the messenger prostrated himself, voice choked with emotion. "They targeted General Sun specifically and knew his tactics intimately. Aware that he always led the left vanguard personally, they concentrated most of their forces there. Our other camps were pinned down and unable to reinforce. General Sun... his final order was for us to retreat and defend Shou'ai Pass. The entire left vanguard... was annihilated!"
The Crown Prince clenched his fists. He had met his maternal grandfather only a handful of times, but in his heart, the old general had been a mountain—steadfastly guarding Shou'ai Pass, keeping malevolent forces at bay, securing peace for the Great Qing. To him, his grandfather was an invincible hero.
But now, the mountain had crumbled.
The mountain had crumbled!
"Unfold the topographic map."
Hua Bolin swiftly brought the map and spread it open. The Crown Prince's gaze fixed on Shou'ai Pass.
He had never been there, but during his studies in the Upper Study, he had heard the old tutors speak of Shou'ai Pass and the Chao Li Tribe driven to the eastern islands. Their tones had been so proud, yet they never mentioned the generations of generals who had defended the pass.
Those men—their loyalty to the nation came at the cost of neglecting their families. His grandmother alone had held the Sun family together, impervious to hardship. From childhood to adulthood, he had seen his grandfather only three times. The general couldn't return when his wife fell ill, couldn't return when his daughter passed away, and by the time he learned his grandson had been bullied, the incident was long past. Family matters, big or small, seemed irrelevant to him. His home was in the capital, yet the most ordinary domestic moments became his most treasured memories. Day after day, he guarded the frontier; day after day, he trained troops. He exhausted himself in service to this nation, and now he had given his last full measure.
Who still remembered the sacrifices he made all those years?
Who remembered the dashing young nobleman he once was?
Everyone had taken General Sun's defense of Shou'ai Pass for granted. No one relieved him, no one replaced him. For twenty years he stood guard—from youthful vigor to temples streaked with white—until finally dying in a foreign land.
This was his life. General Sun's life. His maternal grandfather's life.He could even imagine that at tomorrow's court assembly, the officials would eagerly condemn his faults before acknowledging his merits—because he had lost. History only remembers the victors, and those who read history only know of them. Yet among a hundred or a thousand generals, perhaps only one becomes renowned. What of the others? What of the remaining nine hundred and ninety-nine? They too trained their troops diligently, they too harbored lofty ambitions, they too endured years guarding desolate outposts—they too were loyal to their sovereign and loved their country.
Perhaps, like his maternal grandfather, they fell prey to preemptive strikes because they were too feared.
P.S.: Writing this with tearful eyes on New Year's Eve—if it moves you to tears, don't blame Kongkong, for Kongkong is here with you! Happy Lunar New Year's Eve.
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