Amidst the mountain-like cries of "Your Majesty" from the assembled ministers and Great Han Generals, the figures of the emperor and the child vanished from the Noon Gate Tower.
The ceremony had concluded, yet not a single civil or military official in the square departed. They remained gathered, eagerly seeking news and discussing the young child who had suddenly appeared before their eyes moments earlier.
On such an important occasion, not only had the child been brought by the emperor to the Noon Gate Tower, but he had also issued the "execution order" on the emperor's behalf. By all logic, this child must be the heir apparent favored by the emperor for the Great Wei.
Since ascending the throne, the emperor had only one son, who was deposed from the position of Crown Prince years ago and remained confined to the ancestral lands of Geng Province. With the emperor producing no further offspring in recent years and showing increasing signs of aging, the ministers grew ever more anxious. Lately, rumors had swirled that the emperor intended to reinstate the Crown Prince. Just as these speculations reached their peak, the Grand Tutor who had advised recalling the deposed Crown Prince was subjected to Court Bashing, dashing all such hopes.
In private discussions, the ministers had considered two possible outcomes. First, the emperor might father a child in his old age, resolving all difficulties. Second, he might eventually select a suitable candidate from the imperial clan to adopt as his successor. Never had they imagined that on this very day of the imperial birthday, the situation would take such a dramatic turn.
The ministers had finally glimpsed the likely future heir—an event that should have been cause for celebration. Yet prior to today, none had ever seen this child, nor did anyone know his origins. Thus, officials like He Gongpu, Minister of Personnel; Zhang Shiyong, Minister of Rites; Lu Xiang, Right Commander; and Liu Jiushao—all frequent visitors to the Imperial Study—found themselves besieged by inquiries.
Even as flocks of pigeons still circled above the Gate of Heavenly Succession, a rumor began spreading like wildfire.
It was no secret that the King of Liuyang had once again been summoned to the capital. But it was said that this time, his visit was not only to offer birthday congratulations but also to bring a child to the emperor.
This child was the emperor's own grandson, born to a dragon son the emperor had left behind in his youth. The father had refused to return to the imperial family, entrusting his son to the King of Liuyang, who had knowledge of the past events. Now, the King of Liuyang had been commanded to bring the imperial grandson back to the capital to acknowledge his ancestry.
The child brought by the King of Liuyang was the same one the emperor had carried up to the Noon Gate Tower that day.
This news sent shockwaves through the court. By evening, another rumor emerged.
It was said the story began thirty years ago. After the Tianxi Emperor ascended the throne, he confined the present emperor, then the King of the Clouds, to Yunnan. In his youth, the King of the Clouds had been impetuous and embittered. For over half a year, he had secretly left his fief to travel extensively. During his journey through western Hunan, where the King of Liuyang resided, he encountered a goddess (a female shaman). The two formed a bond, but the goddess, devoted to her people, refused to follow him back to Yunnan. The King of the Clouds, having been away too long, had to return hastily to his fief, reluctantly parting with her. The goddess later bore a son, who in turn fathered a grandson. Over the next two decades, as the King of the Clouds fell under increasing suspicion from the Tianxi Emperor, a series of mishaps prevented the imperial bloodline from being recognized. Now, in his old age and yearning for family, the emperor had ordered the King of Liuyang to bring his grandson to the capital, planning a ceremony at the Imperial Ancestral Temple to formally acknowledge him.
The King and Queen of Liuyang had been witnesses to these events over thirty years and were the ones who had brought the imperial grandson back to the palace.
The ministers were stunned. Some had sudden realizations, others were overcome with emotion, while many remained deeply skeptical.Suddenly, it all became clear why the obscure Prince of Liuyang had received the emperor's favor and generous rewards over the decades.
The excitement stemmed from Great Wei now having a royal grandson. No wonder the emperor was reluctant to reinstate the Crown Prince. Judging by the emperor's demeanor today, he was undoubtedly planning to establish that child as the imperial heir apparent.
Yet doubts lingered about the credibility of the "divine maiden" legend surrounding the child's origins.
But one thing was certain—the child was the emperor's own grandson.
Royal bloodlines, especially the emperor's descendants, were matters of state importance, leaving no room for error. If the child's origins were dubious, how could the shrewd emperor have been deceived by the Prince of Liuyang?
When questioned about the rumors, officials like He, Zhang, and Lu remained tight-lipped, awaiting the emperor's next move.
In truth, compared to the shocked or skeptical courtiers, the Prince and Princess of Liuyang—who had returned to the capital—were the ones experiencing indescribable astonishment.
Four years earlier, the prince and his wife had left the capital bearing imperial grace. The following year, Li Yuangui secretly arrived at their residence with an imperial decree ordering them to "bear" a child in their old age. The princess began padding her abdomen, gradually increasing the thickness month by month until she "gave birth" to a "son" after ten months. To maintain appearances, the prince secretly adopted a male infant from commoners, then reported it to the Imperial Clan Court for registration.
The couple understood that three years ago, the emperor had them "produce" this "son" to later use the pretext of "royal adoption" to install his true heir. Given the gravity of the matter, they kept silent, raising the adopted child discreetly in their residence with minimal exposure, preparing for the day when an imperial decree would arrive to send the true heir to the capital under the guise of their own heir apparent.
Regardless of whom the emperor intended to establish, this plan had been meticulously prepared since four years ago, leaving no stone unturned.
Never had the couple imagined that at the last moment, for reasons unknown, the emperor would abandon this foolproof scheme years in the making—one that would have aroused no suspicion from officials—in favor of the current approach.
The "divine maiden" legend wasn't necessarily flawed. If the emperor's authority was strong enough to suppress opposition, it could succeed. No official would dare question whether the emperor would recklessly acknowledge a child of dubious lineage as his grandson. Yet compared to the carefully planned "adoption," this method seemed hasty, almost impulsive, likely to invite speculation.
The prince and his wife were utterly astonished. But who could disobey the emperor's command? They proceeded with the arrangements in secret as instructed.
...
Meanwhile, Jiafu stood in Banana Garden. Through layers of palace halls, by noon, she faintly heard the thunderous cries of "Your Majesty" from the southeast direction.
Standing atop the white arched bridge by the fish pond, her heart pounded as she gazed toward the garden gate, anxiously awaiting her son's return.
This was the highest point in the garden, allowing her to see beyond the walls to the outer pathway.
At precisely 3:15 PM, she finally spotted a procession approaching from the far end of the path. Cui Yinshui carried Ci'er toward her, followed by several palace attendants.Ci'er seemed unable to wait any longer. From afar, he struggled down from Cui Yinshui's arms and ran over on his own two little legs.
Jiafu descended from the sedan chair and rushed forward.
"Mother! Mother!"
Seeing Jiafu, Ci'er ran even faster, like a little bird darting straight into her embrace, wrapping his arms around her neck.
Jiafu held her son's small body tightly, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. At first, Ci'er was overjoyed, but gradually his smile faded as he looked up at Jiafu, reaching to touch her eyelids. "Mother, are you unhappy?"
Jiafu shook her head and kissed her son's cheek firmly. "Mother isn't unhappy. I'm just so happy to see Ci'er."
She lifted her son into her arms.
Reassured, Ci'er looped his soft arms around Jiafu's neck.
"I missed you every day, but Grandfather Emperor said I had to wait until after the Trophy Presentation Ceremony before I could come back. Mother, today there were so many people standing below, and when they all shouted together, it was so loud—just like when Father mustered the troops at the training grounds last autumn! Then a very mighty general came, bringing many bad people. The general said they were the ones who harmed the people of Great Wei. Grandfather Emperor asked me to help him declare their punishment. Mother, I want to grow up quickly, to fight bad people like Father and that general..."
Chatting along with her son, Jiafu turned to go inside. Cui Yinshui followed cautiously, carrying Ci'er's clothes, stealing glances at Jiafu's expression but not daring to approach, lingering by the door instead.
Ci'er had woken early that morning and experienced the grand ceremony—though he didn't fully grasp its significance—before finally returning to his mother's side. Nestled in Jiafu's arms, he gradually grew drowsy, his words trailing off as he fell asleep.
...
After the Trophy Presentation Ceremony, the emperor returned to his private quarters in the palace.
The morning's ceremony seemed to have drained him. Upon returning, he changed out of his ceremonial robes and lay down. The imperial physician examined him, and after taking medicine, the emperor rested briefly with closed eyes before sitting up again, calling for Li Yuangui to bring memorials to the Dragon Bed. Seeing the emperor still listless and weary, Li Yuangui hesitated, urging him to rest further. Just then, a palace attendant rushed in, reporting that Pei You'an had returned to the capital without summons and was attempting to force his way through the palace gates. He had been stopped at the second gate, and the guards were urgently seeking instructions on how to proceed.
Li Yuangui's heart skipped a beat.
Though he had expected Pei You'an's return, he hadn't anticipated it would be so soon. He glanced at the emperor, unable to hide his concern.
Only moments ago, the emperor had appeared ashen and exhausted. But upon hearing the news, he suddenly perked up, vitality surging through him. He threw off the covers and rose from the Dragon Bed, declaring, "Let him in—no one is to stop him!" He then hurried Li Yuangui to help him comb his hair and dress.The palace attendant hurried off to carry out the order. Li Yuangui had no choice but to quickly summon others inside to assist the emperor in combing his hair and changing clothes. Soon, properly attired, the emperor personally selected a five-colored jade belt to fasten around his waist. He then stood before the mirror, took a beard comb, and meticulously groomed his mustache, examining himself from all angles. Stroking the graying hair at his temples, he turned to Li Yuangui with piercing eyes and said in a deep voice, "I've been waiting for him! I know you—not a single word about my illness is to be mentioned in his presence!"
Li Yuangui knew the emperor had always been proud and unwilling to admit weakness. Seeing him still refusing to show any sign of vulnerability even now, he withdrew with growing concern.
...
Pei You'an stood before the second gate of the imperial palace, facing a row of guards poised with drawn swords, their eyes fixed on him menacingly. The Great Han General leading them recognized him and knew of his current position as Military Commissioner of Longyou. Not daring to offend him excessively yet unable to let him pass, the general stepped forward and bowed. "Lord Pei, please do not make things difficult for us. We have already sent someone to report your arrival. If there is a response, we will not hinder you."
Pei You'an closed his eyes, silently struggling to suppress the fury rising in his chest.
The barbarians had never abandoned their covetous designs on the Hetao region. Several years ago, the royal court had changed hands, and according to the intelligence Pei You'an had gathered over the years, the enemy had been secretly preparing for action.
He had a premonition that a great war, like the one decades ago, would inevitably come again—perhaps today, perhaps tomorrow. Thus, as soon as the early spring brought slightly warmer weather, he had intensified his vigilance and personally gone to patrol the borders.
Half a month ago, upon completing his patrol and returning to Suyeh City, he discovered that Jiafu and Ci'er, mother and child, had both been taken to the capital. Yang Yun had been restrained by the emperor's men, preventing him from sending word.
Pei You'an had left the capital for Suyeh City in the autumn of the second year of Manifest Peace. Nearly five years had passed since then. The moment he learned that Jiafu and their child had been "summoned" to the capital in his absence, a foreboding had taken root in his heart.
In his nearly thirty years of life, the few short years of peace he had enjoyed—the most tranquil of his existence—were now likely to be shattered, never to return.
After giving his instructions, he set out that very night and finally arrived today.
Yet, he was still too late.
Outside the Gate of Heavenly Succession, he encountered former colleagues emerging one after another from the ceremony. Amidst their looks of surprise and astonishment, Liu Jiushao rushed toward him.
Liu Jiushao assumed Pei You'an had been summoned to the capital for the imperial birthday celebrations and expressed deep regret that he had arrived a step too late. He told Pei You'an that moments ago, the emperor had appeared on the Noon Gate Tower holding a child of three or four years old—said to be the grandson of a prince the emperor had fathered during his youth in Yunnan. Clearly, the emperor intended to designate the child as his heir.
Pei You'an wore a faint smile as he exchanged brief pleasantries with Liu Jiushao and the other former colleagues who approached him. Excusing himself, he turned and stormed into the palace, only to be stopped by guards at this second gate.
From the distant corridor, a eunuch came running, gasping for breath. Before he even reached them, he shouted, "Your Majesty summons Lord Pei for an audience—"
Pei You'an abruptly opened his eyes, pushed aside the Great Han General still blocking his path, and strode forward into the palace.Jiafu settled her son and lay down beside him, closing her eyes as thoughts of Pei You'an filled her mind.
Counting the days, he should have already returned to Suyeh City by now. He must have received news about her and Ci'er, but she didn't know when he would arrive in the capital.
The emperor, stubborn as ever, had thrust their son into the public eye. When Pei You'an arrived and learned what had happened, she couldn't imagine what kind of conflict would erupt between them.
As Jiafu imagined Pei You'an's likely fury, the scene from last night—the emperor fainting and spitting blood—flashed before her eyes again. Her mind was in turmoil; how could she possibly sleep? Just as she was tossing and turning, she heard Cui Yinshui's voice cautiously calling for her from outside. She got out of bed and stepped out.
"Madam, my foster father asked me to inform you that Lord Pei has just arrived. He entered the palace and is now heading to see Your Majesty..."
Cui Yinshui bowed slightly, his face anxious yet cautious, his words hesitant.
Jiafu was stunned. She hadn't expected Pei You'an to arrive so quickly!
She understood the purpose behind Li Yuangui sending Cui Yinshui to relay this message.
The old eunuch, ever loyal to the emperor, must also be worried that the father and son would clash again. Still shaken by last night's events, he had likely sent for her in hopes that seeing her might temper Pei You'an's rage and prevent him from offending the emperor too severely.
Jiafu resented the emperor's obstinacy and struggled to comprehend it.
If the issue was the lack of an heir to the throne, he could have taken concubines to bear children after deposing Xiao Yintang. Yet, over the years, none of the imperial consorts had shown any signs of pregnancy—an inexplicable situation.
Even if there were no heirs, he could have adopted a royal clansman as crown prince, a solution both reasonable and acceptable.
But knowing full well Pei You'an's opposition, he had still gone ahead with this course of action!
Now that it had happened, she didn't want to see Pei You'an and the emperor clash as they had before. Even disregarding the emperor's current health, such a confrontation would serve no purpose.
Jiafu instructed Cui Yinshui to watch over Ci'er and hurried off, guided by a palace attendant.
Pei You'an strode into the palace he had left years ago, stopping motionless before the throne.
Xiao Lie sat upright, scrutinizing Pei You'an before slowly raising his gaze to meet his piercing stare. "Years away from court, and you've forgotten even the basic courtesies due to your sovereign. Shall I have the Ministry of Rites send someone to reteach you?"
Pei You'an slowly knelt and kowtowed to the emperor before him. "Pei You'an pays homage to Your Imperial Majesty." Each word seemed dredged from the depths of his soul.
Xiao Lie said coolly, "Rise."
Pei You'an stood. "I've come to the capital for one purpose—to take my wife and son home. Please summon them, Your Majesty. Once I've escorted them from the palace, I shall return beyond the pass immediately."
The emperor replied, "Your wife, you may take. Pei Yiyuan stays with me."
Pei You'an stared at the indifferent emperor, suppressed fury gradually hardening in his eyes. Through gritted teeth, he said, "He bears the name Pei, not Xiao. I am his father; he is my son! When Your Majesty took a three-year-old child up to the Noon Gate Tower, did you ever consider my wishes?"
"Righteous Peace," the emperor retorted coldly, "when you secretly released Xiao Yu, did you ever consider mine?""If you refuse to acknowledge me as your father, so be it. I shall no longer force you. Leave Ci'er with me, and from this day forth, we shall be nothing more than sovereign and subject."
"Zhen is in the Banana Garden of the West Garden. Take her back with you."
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