Chapter 22 The Emperor's Decree
In the height of summer, the capital, both inside and outside, felt like a steaming hot steamer. The majestic imperial palace and the palace complex with its red walls and golden tiles were all hazy in the summer heat.
It was already noon when Emperor Yongde's dragon chariot left the Golden Throne Hall.
During the morning court session, Emperor Yongde's expression was filled with gloom, which lasted until the court was dismissed.
Returning to the imperial study in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he lifted up his dragon robe and sat on the vermilion lacquered carved nine-dragon chair behind the imperial desk, looking gloomily at the guard commander kneeling on the ground.
The guard commander Wu Mingzi knelt upright with his forehead touching the ground, cold sweat streaming down his cheeks.
This time, he followed the secret order of Emperor Yongde and personally led two hundred imperial guards to intercept and kill the exiled deposed crown prince Xiao Zhuo and his entourage. He killed everyone except the most important ones, Xiao Zhuo and Shen Yuexi.
Even he himself felt that he could not escape the death penalty.
The longer Emperor Yongde remained silent, the more frightened he became. This fear weighed on his heart like a mountain, growing heavier and heavier.
"Give me a reason not to kill you."
Emperor Yongde's voice was filled with suppressed anger, and he spoke each word with great emphasis. Under the deliberate suppression, it almost sounded like he was gritting his teeth.
Wu Mingzi knocked his forehead against the ground and said in a trembling voice:
"Your Majesty, I know I deserve death. I hope Your Majesty will consider my past contributions and give me another chance. If I cannot kill the Crown Prince..."
"Bring your head to me." Before he could finish, Emperor Yongde interrupted him in a deep voice.
"I obey the order."
After Wu Mingzi finished kowtowing, he didn't know whether to laugh, cry or feel sad.
The smile was that His Majesty had finally spared his life, the tears were that if he let the prince escape again, his head would surely be chopped off. The sadness was that even though he knew his head was going to fall off, he couldn't escape.
"Get up." The anger in Emperor Yongde's words faded a little.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Wu Mingzi stood up, wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, and looked up at Emperor Yongde behind the imperial desk.
Although Emperor Yongde was nearly fifty years old, his face still showed some of his former handsomeness. There were few ugly people in the imperial family. In his youth, Emperor Yongde was the most handsome man in the capital besides the Prince of Qi.
Although people often compared him with the then King of Qi, the King of Qi was both civil and military, and he was always superior to the Yongde Emperor, who was still a prince. Even the late Emperor treated the King of Qi differently.
At that time, everyone vaguely suspected that the throne would inevitably belong to the Prince of Qi. However, as fate would have it, the late emperor suddenly passed away without warning. The Prince of Qi was far away in the south, dealing with floods. By the time he learned the news, he had galloped back to the capital, but Emperor Yongde had already ascended the throne, surrounded by the crowd.
Even though the throne came to him in an unpredictable way, the King of Qi still put the world first and pledged his loyalty to the new emperor.
Soon after Emperor Yongde ascended the throne, he appointed Pei Jingyun, the daughter of Duke Pei, as empress.
Thinking of the gentle and virtuous queen, Wu Mingzi shook his head and sighed in his heart.
Soon after the empress entered the palace, she became pregnant. After ten months of pregnancy, she gave birth to a son, whom she named Xiao Zhuo. Emperor Yongde was overjoyed and held a three-day imperial banquet. He also issued a general amnesty and celebrated throughout the country.
Everyone could see the joy on Emperor Yongde's face at that time; it was a happiness that came from the heart.
When Xiao Zhuo was only one month old, Emperor Yongde had already issued an edict to appoint him as the Crown Prince.
The other concubines were all old ladies who had followed Emperor Yongde since he was young. Although they also had princes by their side, they could not surpass Xiao Zhuo.
But now, it was surprising. Why would the emperor suddenly abolish the crown prince based on a fabricated accusation of witchcraft? No one's persuasion was effective. Now, he was determined to kill the crown prince.
Xiao Zhuo had been faultless for twenty years, guarding the border and making numerous military achievements. Even if all that wasn't considered, there would still be some father-son affection, so how could he not even give him this little bit of face?
Not to mention that they are father and son, it would not be an exaggeration to say that they are enemies.
He was just lost in thought when Emperor Yongde said, "Mr. Wu, where is the deposed crown prince now?"
Wu Mingzi quickly replied, "Your Majesty, the deposed Crown Prince and the deposed Crown Princess sailed down the river and should have entered the territory of Liangzhou."
"should?"
Emperor Yongde held the edge of the imperial desk with both hands, stood up and stared at Wu Mingzi, like a beast choosing its prey.
Wu Mingzi knew he was speechless, and the cold sweat he had just wiped off broke out again. He quickly replied:
"I am absolutely certain. The deposed Crown Prince must be in Liang Province. If he doesn't land in Liang Province, his ship will drift into the sea. Therefore, I have already ordered all counties and prefectures in Liang Province to post arrest notices, claiming the deposed Crown Prince is a bandit."
"With the ability to depose the Crown Prince, those ordinary yamen runners are no match for him." Emperor Yongde, hands behind his back, slowly walked around the imperial desk and came before him. "Who is the governor of Liangzhou now?"
"Your Majesty, the current governor of Liang Province is Liu Yi."
"Is this person capable of great use?"
Wu Mingzi's heart trembled. Your Majesty's question was very meaningful.
The matter of deposing the crown prince had far-reaching implications. The fact that Governor Liu was able to remain unscathed must have shown that he was a shrewd man.
At present, no one knows what attitude Liu Taishou has towards the Crown Prince, nor whether he is his confidant. Although Emperor Yongde has purged a number of the deposed Crown Prince's subordinates, executing some and exiling others, who knows if there are more hidden people within the court.
He didn't dare to keep Emperor Yongde waiting, so he carefully considered his words before respectfully replying, "If Your Majesty is uneasy, you can give this task to him and see how he handles it."
You will know whether he is loyal or treacherous by just testing him a few times.
He spoke cautiously, and Emperor Yongde seemed to understand the meaning behind his words, and his expression relaxed a little.
"You will immediately depart for Liangzhou and convey my decree. I order the Liangzhou Governor, Liu Yi, to dispatch 10,000 troops to block all roads and checkpoints and apprehend the deposed Crown Prince Xiao Zhuo. After this, I do not wish to hear of the deposed Crown Prince being alive again."
"Your humble servant obeys your order."
Wu Mingzi was about to step out of the imperial study when Emperor Yongde called him back:
"How many days will this take?"
Wu Mingzi paused, turned around, and bowed in reply, "I will travel to Liang Province day and night. It should only take three days to seal off all the important roads in Liang Province, and I will not allow the deposed crown prince another chance to escape. Within half a month, I will bring the deposed crown prince's head to Your Majesty."
He had gotten away with it last time, but that might not be the case this time. He simply didn't believe that even with an army of 10,000, they couldn't capture the deposed crown prince.
Unless the deposed prince can fly into the sky and into the earth.
Emperor Yongde nodded slowly and said in a deep voice, "Remember, within half a month, I will see him alive or dead."
After sending Wu Mingzi away, Emperor Yongde left the Yangxin Palace and arrived outside Fengqi Palace. He gazed at the palace for a moment, motioned for the palace attendants and others to wait outside, and then slowly walked in.
Fengqi Palace was desolate, no longer as lively as it was when Empress Pei was still alive.
Emperor Yongde walked up to a portrait and looked up at the woman in it. The beauty was as gentle as water, with a faint smile on her eyes, like the warm sun in the evening.
He stared at the person in the portrait, his body trembling slightly. Suddenly he raised his hand, tore the portrait off and tore it into pieces.
The scraps of paper fluttered everywhere, like white petals scattered on the ground in a desolate and lonely palace.
Without looking at the scene behind him, Emperor Yongde walked out of the palace quickly.
At this time, a eunuch who had been waiting cautiously walked up to Emperor Yongde and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I have just received news that the Prince of Qi has also arrived in Liangzhou."
"Oh?" Emperor Yongde was stunned for a moment, then a strange smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"He really couldn't help it. Could this be God's will?"
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