The Emperor was badly hurt and needed rest. Yan Huisheng knew very well that he couldn’t leave the Capital City.
After all, the faction of the second Prince had not been dealt with yet, and he didn’t know if Zhang Ping’s forces were lurking within Yan Lin’s faction, waiting to cause chaos at a critical moment. As soon as he left the city, someone might release Yan Lin from the sky prison, and since Yan Lin is aware of his fate, he might dare to make a desperate attempt to seize power once he is freed from the prison.
Unless, he killed Yan Lin before he left.
But even if he killed Yan Lin, Zhang Ping’s people would still wreak havoc. It would take time to uproot this problem completely.
For now, the most pressing matter was to send troops out of the city to block Zhang Ping’s forces.
Yan Huisheng said to the Emperor, "Zhou Wei will certainly go, but Zhang Ping is very cunning. He has both the ability to generate military power like a general and the tactics of a civil servant. Also, he has many military strategists under him. I’m afraid Zhou Wei is no match for Zhang Ping."
Zhou Wei was still too young after all.
"Then send two military strategists with deep calculation to aide Zhou Wei." The Emperor, after all, was the Emperor.
Yan Huisheng asked, "Does Father have any candidates in mind?"
The Emperor pondered for a moment and realized that, apart from the people of the Zhou family from the Duke Residence, he couldn’t think of anyone else who could deal with Zhang Ping. He certainly couldn’t let the old Duke fight on the battlefield at his age.
Over the years, he had suppressed the Eastern Palace and the Duke Residence, trusted Zhang Ping and Marquis Nanping, supported Yan Li and Yan Lin. Now that Zhang Ping has rebelled, Nanping is also in crisis, and he has no one he trusts left to use. He couldn’t think of anyone else who could unite with the Zhou family to resist the enemy collectively.
The Emperor’s expression turned somewhat white, and after a long while, he still couldn’t decide on a candidate.
At that moment, someone reported, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince and the old Duke seek an audience!"
The Emperor glanced at Yan Huisheng. "Let them in quickly."
The old Duke entered the chamber and was stunned when he saw the Emperor’s appearance. The Emperor was in the prime of his life and looked robust just a few months ago, but after several blows, he had turned into this state.
It was clear to see – whatever cause was sown, the same fruit would be reaped. The bitter consequences of what the Emperor had sowed earlier had caught up to him now.
What a calamity!
The old Duke paid his respects, and the Emperor struggled to sit up. "Old Duke, there’s no need for the formalities. Do you have urgent business at this hour?"
The old Duke bowed, "Old minister requests permission to lead the troops to Longxi County, to extinguish that mongrel, Zhang Ping."
The Emperor looked at the old Duke’s white hair and hastily said, "This won’t do."
"It would." The old Duke said, "Your Majesty, do not belittle me. Although I’m old, it doesn’t mean I’m useless. I can still ride a horse and kill the enemy."
The Emperor looked at the old Duke, his white hair notwithstanding, the old Duke was indeed bright-eyed. He was uncertain and looked at Yan Huisheng.
Yan Huisheng remained silent.
The old Duke turned to Yan Huisheng, "Crown Prince, do you also belittle me like His Majesty? Do you think I’m useless because I’m old?"
"Not at all." Yan Huisheng quickly shook his head, "But it is winter now, and the temperature is dropping. I’m afraid your body may not withstand the harsh conditions of a forced march."
"Rest assured, my old bones are quite strong. I practice with my blade for an hour every day, regardless of the cold. Even the harshest winter cannot deter me." The old Duke said, "Zhang Ping is no match for me. I was on the battlefield killing the enemy when he was still a suckling baby."
Yan Huisheng was silent for a moment, then he said to the old Duke, "Even if I agree to let you lead the troops, the lack of food and fodder would be a significant problem. Allow me one day to arrange for food and fodder supplies, and then make a decision."
The old Duke thought that this was reasonable, and moreover, delaying for a day was not a big deal. Zhang Ping couldn’t reach the Capital City in one day, so he nodded, "Fine, I’ll wait."
After the old Duke left, the Emperor looked at Yan Huisheng, "Do you really agree to let the old Duke lead the troops?"
Yan Huisheng replied, "Even though the old Duke’s body is old, in terms of tactics, indeed no one can match him."
The Emperor also understood this, but he still said, "However, if we send the old Duke to lead the troops, in the future, even the Jinglu Troops held by you will be under the command of the Duke Residence. If the military power is too concentrated in one family..."
Yan Huisheng gently replied, "But now we are desperate for aid, shouldn’t Father worry more about if Zhang Ping storms the Capital City, and how we would defend Dawei’s territory, rather than who holds the military power?"
The Emperor was taken aback and fell silent.
Indeed, why would he worry about the Duke Residence holding all the military power? What he should genuinely be worried about was whether Zhang Ping would attack the Capital City and if he could stop Zhang Ping and clean up the aftermath.
The Emperor found it hard to swallow and began to cough, and no matter how much he regretted in his heart, it was of no use. He could only lay back in bed, close his eyes in despair, "How did it come to this? How did I..."
Why did Zhang Ping just rebel as he said? 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢
Yan Huisheng didn’t respond.
The Emperor was in despair for a while. Suddenly he opened his eyes, "Where is Yan Lin now?"
"After Father passed out, I had him thrown into the sky prison." Yan Huisheng replied.
The Emperor was filled with resentment, "You go, send him a cup of poisoned wine. Also, send one to Yan Li who is hiding in the second Prince’s residence."
At this moment, he realized these two could not be spared any longer, even if they were his own sons. If he showed any sympathy at this point, it would be disrespectful to the legacy of Dawei and the ancestors.
Yan Huisheng pressed his lips together, "Father, are you sure about this?"
The Emperor nodded weakly, "I’ve made up my mind. They cannot be spared any longer. Confiscate the property of the second Prince’s Residence, and sentence him to death. As for Zhang Wan... she is Zhang Ping’s daughter, you deal with her as you see fit. You can handle the rest."
Yan Huisheng nodded, "I obey your command."
He looked at the Emperor, "Father, get some rest. Your health is important. The Imperial Doctor said you need careful recuperation, otherwise it might shorten your life. I don’t want to take your position prematurely. Dawei is eyeing us greedily. Once they find out about our internal struggles, they will initiate a war. I will have to go to the frontline. In that case, having Father preside over the court will put my heart at ease."
The Emperor wanted to be angry at these words, but he couldn’t muster the energy to do so. He waved his hand weakly, "I understand. You may leave."
Yan Huisheng nodded and left the chamber.
After he left, the Emperor lay on his bed, staring at the golden canopy above him. His two sons; he truly didn’t expect to end up like his predecessor, beheading his own sons in his old age to maintain the stability of the government.
He was wrong. He should have sent his sons to their governed lands as soon as they reached adulthood. This would have prevented their ambitions from growing, and he wouldn’t be in a position where he had to send them poisoned wine, leaving them no way out.
As Yan Huisheng left the chamber, he looked at the tiger talisman in his hand. Over the years, he was suppressed repeatedly, and resentment grew in his heart. He thought he would not be able to reconcile with his father until he ascended the throne. To his surprise, he had reconciled with the power of the emperor first, which also led to his reconciliation with his father.
His father had given him the tiger talisman today, sentenced Yan Lin and Yan Li to death. His father ruling it personally was much better than if he had to do it himself, as it preserved his reputation.
His father, who had been muddled for many years, had truly considered him today, acting like a sovereign, and also like a father for the first time.
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