Chapter 197

Several days later, in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the atmosphere was solemn and dignified. As the council was drawing to a close, Xiao Qiyun steadily stepped forward, walked to the front of the imperial steps, knelt down with a composed and solemn demeanor. He held a scroll of bright yellow memorial in his hands, and his clear voice pierced the silent hall:

"Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present." He raised his voice slightly to ensure that every courtier could hear him clearly. "Your Majesty, I am of limited talent and virtue, and I deeply feel that the position of Crown Prince carries a heavy responsibility that is beyond my ability to fulfill. For the sake of the country and the people, I humbly request Your Majesty to grant me permission to relinquish the position of Crown Prince and allow a more virtuous and capable person to take over."

These words caused an uproar throughout the hall! Although rumors had circulated, hearing the Crown Prince publicly resign in such a formal setting was still like a boulder dropped into water, creating ripples everywhere. The officials whispered among themselves, their gazes filled with surprise, suspicion, and confusion as they turned to the figure kneeling in the hall.

On the throne, the emperor's face was ashen, revealing neither joy nor anger. He remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, his voice carrying imperial majesty and a deliberate hint of "heartache": "Why does the Crown Prince say such a thing? You have been the heir apparent for many years, and I and all the officials have placed high hopes on you. The position of heir is a matter of national importance; how can you give it up so easily? This matter... will be discussed later."

This was the first "feigned attempt to retain him," and the gesture had to be convincing.

Xiao Qiyun kowtowed again, his words more earnest and resolute, reiterating his personal aspirations and reasons for choosing virtuous men for the country, showing that his mind was made up and that it was not a momentary impulse.

At that very moment, the highly respected prime minister, who had already received instructions, stepped forward, holding his jade tablet, and loudly echoed, "Your Majesty! In my opinion, what His Highness the Crown Prince said was truly out of public interest and a profound understanding of righteousness! His Highness the Crown Prince is humble and benevolent, and his efforts to recommend virtuous officials for the country are commendable! His Highness the Second Prince, Longji, is skilled in both literature and military affairs, diligent in his duties, and his contributions to the nation are evident to all. I second the Crown Prince's request!"

As soon as the prime minister finished speaking, several other powerful officials, including the Privy Councilor and the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, stepped forward and spoke in unison:

"We second that proposal!"

"His Highness the Crown Prince is of noble character and integrity, a true blessing to the nation!"

"His Highness Longji is virtuous and talented, and is fully capable of undertaking great responsibilities!"

These voices came together to form a powerful force of public opinion, as if the abdication of the crown prince and the succession of the second prince were the will of the people.

The emperor sat high on the imperial platform, his gaze sweeping over the "uproarious" ministers below, before landing on the kneeling crown prince, who remained unmoved and resolute. At the opportune moment, a complex and unspeakable expression appeared on his face, which ultimately turned into a helpless compromise.

He let out a long sigh, a sigh that contained multiple meanings, including "being unable to control one's own destiny," "following public opinion," and "ultimately respecting his son's choice."

"Alas... Since the Crown Prince has made up his mind, and all the ministers agree that it is appropriate..." The Emperor's voice carried a hint of weariness, but also a resolute determination. "Although I am reluctant, I cannot go against the will of the people, nor can I let down the Crown Prince's sincere heart in recommending worthy men for the country."

He turned to the Hanlin Academician standing beside him and solemnly issued an edict: "Draft an edict. Crown Prince Xiao Qiyun is humble and self-disciplined, recommends virtuous men for the country, and is deeply righteous. I am very pleased with him. Grant his request to relinquish his position as Crown Prince and instead be enfeoffed as a King. The Second Prince is virtuous and talented, has made great contributions to the country, and is deeply loved by me. He shall be immediately established as Crown Prince and placed in the Eastern Palace to consolidate the foundation of the nation. Proclamate this to the whole world so that all may know."

The edict was read aloud, and inside the golden hall, officials knelt and shouted "Long live the Emperor!" A grand drama concerning the transfer of imperial power came to a close amidst this seemingly perfect performance of "filial piety," "brotherly love," and "unity between ruler and subject."

Xiao Qiyun slowly rose, bowed his head, and retreated back into the ranks of princes. His face was calm and expressionless, as if he had just relinquished not the right to inherit a vast empire, but merely an ordinary outer robe. Only beneath his lowered eyelashes did a barely perceptible hint of relief and resolve flicker across his face.

The Second Prince Longji, standing at the head of the officials, bowed in gratitude amidst the congratulations. His face displayed just the right amount of humility and excitement, but the burning light deep in his eyes could no longer be concealed.

After the court session ended, the news spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the capital and, it will surely spread throughout the world at an even faster pace.

Officials filed out, many still bearing the shock of not having fully processed the situation and the speculation about the new circumstances. Xiao Qiyun, now the Prince of Chen, dressed in his princely robes, walked steadily through the crowd, his expression calm, as if he had just relinquished a routine post.

Sheng Xuan, who had been waiting outside, quickly approached. He was dressed in the light armor of an Imperial Guard commander, clearly having just finished his shift. He circled Xiao Qiyun, a mocking and mischievous smile on his face, deliberately drawing out his words:

"Oh! Look who this is! We can't call him Your Highness the Crown Prince anymore. We should respectfully call him 'Prince Chen'!" He clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, making an exaggerated movement, but his eyes flashed with genuine smiles and a hint of barely perceptible relief.

Xiao Qiyun glanced at him indifferently, too lazy to pay attention to the obvious teasing. The exhaustion of the past few days and the tension from the court just now hadn't completely subsided. He just wanted to finish up the remaining trivial matters as soon as possible, and then... go see the person for whom he was willing to give up everything. He didn't stop walking, heading straight for his carriage, only leaving behind the words: "Stop talking nonsense. Things aren't over yet. I have to go to the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs and the Ministry of Rites."

Seeing that he was walking hurriedly and his mind was obviously already far away, Sheng Xuan also stopped joking and quickly followed him, lowering her voice and saying, "I know you're anxious, but right now we're in the eye of the storm, how many eyes are watching? Be more restrained, don't let all your efforts go to waste." Her tone was unusually serious.

“I know what I’m doing,” Xiao Qiyun replied, his voice low but firm. He boarded the carriage, and before the curtain fell, he said to Sheng Xuan, “Go see him tonight, but don’t say anything.”

Sheng Xuan understood and nodded: "I understand."

Su Zhelan stared blankly at an unfinished game of chess, a white jade chess piece dangling from her fingertips, untouched for a long time. Outside the window, bamboo shadows swayed, and the room was quiet, yet strangely empty.

Xiao Qiyun hadn't shown up for several days. At first, Su Zhelan assumed he was preoccupied with official duties, but as time went on, she couldn't help but feel uneasy, and even a little... disappointed.

Su Zhelan thought that the person had been trying to find every opportunity to come to her place, but now there was no news of him at all, which was really abnormal.

Just as she was pondering, familiar footsteps came from outside the courtyard, steady and powerful. Su Zhelan's eyes brightened slightly, and when she looked up, it was Sheng Xuan who entered.

Sheng Xuan was still as carefree as ever, carrying a bag of freshly steamed osmanthus cakes: "Hey! Daydreaming? Come and try some, it's a time-honored brand in the West Market, we've been queuing for ages!"

The light in Su Zhelan's eyes dimmed slightly. She took the pastry and casually asked, "He... has he been very busy lately?" She tried to sound nonchalant.

Sheng Xuan paused for a moment, then casually broke off a piece of pastry and stuffed it into his mouth, mumbling, "Ah? Oh, him... he's been busy with something, he's been running around like crazy, you know all those troublesome rules."

He quickly changed the subject, starting to joke around, telling funny stories from the military camp or jokes he'd heard in the streets. As usual, he snuggled up to Su Zhelan, feeding him snacks and telling him trivial things, as if nothing had changed.

Su Zhelan smiled slightly as he teased her, but Sheng Xuan's overly "normal" behavior only deepened her suspicions.

Although Sheng Xuan was usually quite playful, his eyes never showed the same intensity as today, occasionally flashing with a complex expression, as if he were hiding some secret. Moreover, his complete avoidance of mentioning Xiao Qiyun was quite strange in itself.

After lingering for about an hour, Sheng Xuan got up to say goodbye, as usual, patted his bottom and left, telling Su Zhelan to get some rest.

After seeing Sheng Xuan off, Su Zhelan stood alone under the eaves, gazing at the sparse stars in the night sky, his brows slightly furrowed. A cool evening breeze swept by, and he pulled his clothes tighter, the uneasy premonition in his heart tightening like a quietly spreading vine.

Two days later, it was lunchtime.

Su Zhelan dined with Su Yan and his family in the flower hall. The rules at Su Yan's residence were not strict, and the atmosphere at the dinner table was quite relaxed. Su Yan's parents were kind, and his older siblings were used to Su Zhelan's frequent stays, often sharing anecdotes and stories.

Su Zhelan sat quietly to the left of Su Yan, eating her food in small bites, but her mind was wandering, still thinking about Xiao Qiyun whom she hadn't seen for many days.

During the meal, Su Yan's eldest sister, who was married and happened to be visiting the mansion that day, was a straightforward woman who loved to inquire about the latest happenings in the capital. Remembering the rumors she had heard that morning, she put down her spoon and, with barely suppressed surprise, said to everyone at the table, "Father, Mother, have you heard about the big event that was being talked about in the market this morning? It's truly earth-shattering!"

Su Yan's mother asked with a smile, "What important event has made you look like this?"

The older sister lowered her voice, but couldn't hide her excitement at sharing the secret: "It's something from the palace! His Highness the Crown Prince... that is, the Second Prince, a few days ago in court, in front of all the civil and military officials, asked the Emperor to let him relinquish the position of Crown Prince! He said... that he lacked the talent and virtue, and wanted to give it to the Second Prince!"

"Clang!"

The ivory chopsticks slipped from Su Zhelan's hand and fell onto the porcelain plate with a crisp clatter. He seemed frozen, his pupils contracting sharply in disbelief and horror. Then, a mouthful of food choked him, triggering a violent coughing fit. He bent over, coughing so hard it was excruciating, even bringing tears to his eyes.

"Oh dear! What's wrong with Young Master Su?" The older sister was startled and quickly asked.

Su Yan's parents looked over with concern: "Child, are you alright? Quick, have some water to soothe your nerves!"

All eyes at the table were fixed on the distraught Su Zhelan. Only Gu Linzhao, sitting opposite Su Zhelan, glanced at him with a complex expression, then silently handed him a glass of warm water, saying in a steady voice:

"Don't rush, drink slowly, take a break." His gaze was reassuring, urging Su Zhelan to calm down.

Su Zhelan took the water glass, his fingers trembling slightly. He suppressed his cough and the churning shock in his heart, and managed to drink a few sips of water. He finally managed to calm his breathing, but his face was still frighteningly pale.

He lowered his head, not daring to look at anyone, afraid of revealing the turbulent emotions in his eyes. He could only say in a hoarse voice, "N-nothing... I accidentally choked... I'm sorry for disturbing everyone."

Su Yan's mother lovingly gestured to the maid to add more soup for him: "This child, he's so careless when he eats. Quickly drink some hot soup to calm him down." She didn't think much of it, assuming that Su Zhelan was just surprised by the earth-shattering news.

Su Yan's sister, still in high spirits, continued, "Right? Amazing, isn't it! I heard the Emperor was initially very angry, but His Highness the Crown Prince was adamant, and later many ministers agreed, so the Emperor had no choice but to agree. Now the Crown Prince has been changed to the Second Prince, and the former Crown Prince has been given a title... Prince Chen? I really didn't expect that!"

Every word struck Su Zhelan's heart like a hammer blow. Abdication... Prince Chen... for what reason?

He lost his appetite, was restless, and wanted nothing more than to rush out and get to the bottom of things. Gu Linzhao gently nudged his foot under the table, giving him a reassuring look, signaling him to calm down.

Su Zhelan could only clench her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms, using the pain to force herself to maintain a calm exterior, while her heart was already churning with turbulent waves.

The lunch ended with difficulty, amidst Su Zhelan's absent-mindedness and Su Yan's family's sighs and discussions about the matter.

Su Zhelan almost immediately found an excuse and fled back to her Zhufeng Pavilion. She closed the door, leaned against it, her heart still pounding, and the news kept echoing in her mind.