Chapter 425: Prince Shun's Safety
The next day at court.
Another new development emerged.
After the internal strife in Eastern Tomb Kingdom, the young new emperor ascended the throne and quickly allied with two neighboring countries, borrowing 150,000 troops. This created a stalemate with Great Jin's forces that had landed in Eastern Tomb, causing the war situation to reach a deadlock.
Meanwhile, various rumors were spreading rampantly among the common people.
"We thoroughly defeated Eastern Tomb Kingdom in the last battle and should have stopped there. Why did we have to land in their territory? Once you enter someone else's domain, how can you expect to withdraw unscathed?"
"Our Great Jin is already vast enough. Why covet that tiny Eastern Tomb Kingdom? Even if we incorporate it into our territory, it can never compensate for the lives of so many soldiers!"
"Who made this decision? It's utterly ridiculous!"
"Have you forgotten? When we lacked provisions during the war, it was the Empress Dowager and the Yun family who gathered supplies. They only contributed some silver, while our soldiers paid with their lives!"
"The current Emperor and Empress Dowager don't value common people's lives at all!"
"In contrast, Prince Cheng is bringing the Heavenly Maiden to the capital to help drive away illnesses for the common people, and he's continuously bestowing Sweet Dew along the way!"
"Ah, the Heavenly Maiden is a gift from heaven and should reside in our capital, beside the current Emperor. Why is she with Prince Cheng?"
"That goes without saying—Prince Cheng must be the legitimate heir..."
"Shh! How dare you say such things? Do you value your life so little?"
"But it's true! Prince Cheng is the late Emperor's own son, inherently qualified to inherit the throne. If the Empress Dowager hadn't seized control of the court, how could the Crown Prince's son have ascended..."
"Stop talking! Enough!"
"..."
Rumors spread through every street and alley.
With internal troubles and external threats pressing from both sides, the court ministers wore worried expressions.
Yun Chu coldly stated, "Prince Cheng is using the Heavenly Maiden and Sweet Dew to deceive people, inciting them to question the imperial authority. His intentions are condemnable!"
"Empress Dowager, we must deploy troops. Otherwise, Prince Cheng's followers will reach the capital within three days!"
"Yes, Empress Dowager. We can't wait any longer. Quickly send people to disperse the commoners and make them return to where they belong!"
Chief Li stepped forward: "Those commoners have been deluded. They cannot be dispersed so easily. What if they refuse to leave?"
"Then we'll have to resort to weapons."
"Indeed, we must use force to suppress and drive them away. We can't let this mob come to the capital."
"Now the capital is truly in a state of panic..."
"Let them come," Yun Chu said calmly. "How can we expose this enormous deception if everyone doesn't gather?"
Countless commoners had been deceived, and even those not following Prince Cheng wanted to join them. Without exposing this fraud, these people would forever believe in their hearts that the current Emperor and Empress Dowager killed their Heavenly Maiden...
What worried her more now was the safety of the Seventh Prince, Prince Shun.
After court adjourned, Yun Chu asked her elder brother Yun Ze to stay for a private conversation: "Elder brother, I'd like you to personally go and exchange Consort Yuan for Prince Shun and Lord Xiang."
When Prince Shun first went to Ningzhou, he could still send letters back. But now he's lost contact, most likely because he obtained crucial evidence and has been detained.
Yun Ze knew this matter couldn't be delayed.
He immediately took people to Zimeng Palace and brought Consort Yuan out.Consort Yuan had been confined under house arrest in this place. After a whole day of anxiety, she finally saw someone other than the Imperial Guards and hurriedly asked, "Lord Yun, what is the current situation with Cheng Wang? Where are you taking me?"
Yun Ze directly ushered Consort Yuan into a carriage, exited through a side gate of the palace, and sped off on horseback toward Ningzhou.
Cheng Wang was advancing from the direction of Ningzhou with a force of two hundred thousand. Due to the large number of people, their progress was slow—marching for a while, stopping for a while. After three days of travel, they had only covered half the distance and would need approximately three more days to reach the outskirts of the capital.
Yun Ze, riding swiftly, covered the distance in half a day and encountered Cheng Wang's procession. He instructed his guards to first hide Consort Yuan before proceeding toward the camp.
It was just evening. Cheng Wang's group had found a spot near a river to settle for the night, setting up numerous tents. Thousands of commoners sat on the ground—adults, children, the elderly... as far as the eye could see, there were masses of people.
As soon as Yun Ze dismounted, soldiers stationed at the periphery of the crowd stopped him: "Who goes there? This is Cheng Wang's territory. Do not trespass without permission!"
"I am Yun Ze of the Yun family in the capital, a third-rank official in the court," Yun Ze stated. "I have urgent matters to discuss with His Highness Cheng Wang."
The guard went in to report and returned after a long while: "Lord Yun, please come in."
Yun Ze, accompanied by only one attendant, followed the guard through the throngs of commoners toward the innermost tent.
He carefully observed the expressions of the commoners and noticed their gazes were somewhat vacant, staring blankly in one direction. Despite the large crowd, it was unusually quiet—clearly something was amiss.
Upon reaching the tent, the guard said, "Lord Yun, our prince is inside. Please."
Yun Ze looked up and saw that behind this tent stood one last large tent, guarded by two maids at its entrance.
He surmised that the largest tent likely housed the so-called Heavenly Maiden.
Without lingering his gaze, he entered.
He looked up and saw a youth seated at the very center—the sixteen-year-old Sixth Prince, Cheng Wang.
Flanking Cheng Wang on both sides stood over ten Counselors, and the first among them was an old acquaintance: Xie Shi'an.
As Chu'er had guessed, Xie Shi'an had indeed pledged allegiance to Cheng Wang.
"Greetings, Your Highness Cheng Wang."
Yun Ze bowed with cupped hands.
Cheng Wang, sitting leisurely in his chair, spoke unhurriedly: "Lord Yun, it has been a long time. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit from such a distance?"
"During the plague in Ningzhou, the court dispatched Lord Xiang and Shun Wang to assist, but they have since lost contact," Yun Ze got straight to the point. "Does Your Highness Cheng Wang know the whereabouts of Lord Xiang and Shun Wang?"
Just as Cheng Wang was about to speak, Xie Shi'an, standing below him, said indifferently, "Shun Wang did indeed come to Ningzhou. After delivering the court's silver, he left. We do not know his whereabouts."
"Indeed, the Seventh Prince came and then departed," Cheng Wang nodded. "He has always been fond of amusement—he must have gone off to play somewhere."
Yun Ze raised his head: "Let us speak plainly. If Your Highness Cheng Wang wishes for Consort Yuan to live, then hand over Lord Xiang and Shun Wang."
"What do you mean!" Cheng Wang sprang to his feet, enraged. "How dare you lay a hand on my mother! Who gave you the audacity!"
Beside him, Xie Shi'an frowned."I've taught him so many times, yet Cheng Wang still can't conceal his thoughts. Every emotion shows on his face, making him easy to manipulate."
"Consort Yuan was an imperial consort of the late emperor. Naturally, I wouldn't lay a finger on her," Yun Ze said calmly. "But that's on the condition that Lord Xiang and Prince Shun remain completely unharmed."
Cheng Wang gritted his teeth in anger.
He had thought Yun Ze came as an imperial envoy to persuade him to redirect his two hundred thousand troops.
He never expected Yun Ze would try to exchange his mother's safety for Old Seventh's life.
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