The day the Crown Prince returned to the capital was already August 12th.
Along with the army that quelled the rebellion, one leader of the displaced people, two military advisors, and two generals also returned. The more than 20,000 displaced people who surrendered were settled locally, and the garrison troops that had been mobilized were returned to their respective localities. Only the 5,000 imperial guards that the crown prince had selected when he went on the expedition returned to the capital.
Although the number of people was not large, their imposing presence was still evident when they stopped outside the city gate.
Emperor Cheng'an stood atop the city wall, raising a cup to reward the victorious soldiers.
The crown prince leaped down from his horse and knelt on one knee: "Your subject has fortunately fulfilled his mission!"
He had just returned from the battlefield, wearing fish-scale armor, and even kneeling on one knee, he still appeared tall and imposing.
Emperor Cheng'an lowered his head and looked at his son with a complicated expression.
Everyone in the court and the inner palace knew that he disliked the Crown Prince and favored Prince Chen. They thought he suppressed the Crown Prince because of the power of the Li faction, but that was not the case.
The Crown Prince was his first child. When he married Empress Li, the Great Wei Dynasty had only recently been established, and the country was still in turmoil. With his elder brother, who was outstanding in both literature and military strategy, looming over him, he knew he had no hope of becoming emperor. He married Li not for the power of the Li family, but because he genuinely loved her.
Lady Li was gentle and understanding. After their marriage, the two enjoyed several years of loving marriage. It was during the height of their affection that Lady Li gave birth to their eldest son, Xue Heng.
He had three sons and one daughter, but he actually only personally took care of and taught the crown prince.
The prince was intelligent from a young age. He could read faster and more thoroughly than others, and he was also stronger and more resilient than others. Even at a young age, he could train hard in the coldest and hottest winters.
At that time, he also placed high hopes on the crown prince, thinking that he himself would probably never be able to compare with his elder brother, but his son might have the opportunity to surpass him.
And just as he had imagined, the Crown Prince grew up year by year, and whether in his studies or martial arts, he was no less accomplished than Xue Shen, who was known for his virtue.
Unfortunately, such an outstanding child was not taught by him personally.
Lady Li suffered a difficult childbirth when she gave birth to the crown prince, which damaged her health, and she remained bedridden ever since. Meanwhile, he was busy fighting alongside his father and brothers in various campaigns, and had no time to care for the prince. Therefore, he entrusted the young crown prince to his elder sister-in-law, Lady Zhu.
Zhu raised her children very well. Xue Shen and Xue Heng, these two cousins, grew up together since childhood. Although they were not blood brothers, their relationship was closer than that of blood brothers.
Even their abilities and temperament are equally outstanding.
If he hadn't become emperor, that would have been wonderful, as gaining the trust of a future monarch is something many people would have dreamed of.
His mistake was becoming emperor.
When he first ascended the throne, he had considered making his eldest son the crown prince, but Xue Heng came to question him because of those rumors.
It was at that time that he realized that his elder sister-in-law had indeed raised this son very well; he was upright, kind, and had the heart of a child.
His personality was like that of an elder brother or elder sister-in-law, but unlike his own.
Sometimes, when he looked at his son, he wondered if, if he were to hand over the throne to him, after his death, this overly upright son might turn against him and seek revenge.
The identity of Emperor Cheng'an cannot be determined.
Therefore, over the years, he favored Consort De and later made her Empress, which also brought Prince Chen's status up.
He used Prince Chen to restrain the Crown Prince, but a dragon is not meant to stay in a pond. Once he received the message of wind and thunder, he soared to great heights.
Emperor Cheng'an recalled the rumors that came from the south—the Crown Prince had pacified the rebels without firing a single shot and properly resettled the refugees. He was called a "living bodhisattva" by the people of Liangzhe, and many people even built a shrine for him and made daily offerings to him in hopes of his protection.
On the day the Crown Prince returned to the capital, the people of Zhejiang and Jiangsu lined the roads to see him off, forming a procession that stretched for more than ten miles and numbered in the tens of thousands. Even the animals in the mountains seemed to sense the crowd and, unafraid of the throng, came out of the forest to call out in farewell.
Some common people even said that the crown prince was "the one everyone hoped for".
What a well-deserved outcome!
Emperor Cheng'an asked Qi Zhong, who was attending him, "What do you think of the Crown Prince?"
Qi Zhong, trying to discern his thoughts, cautiously replied, "His Highness the Crown Prince is both brave and resourceful, much like His Majesty."
Emperor Cheng'an chuckled and said slowly, "You're wrong. The Crown Prince doesn't resemble me; he resembles Emperor Taizong."
He looked down at the city below from his high vantage point and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, rise. All soldiers, enter the city and begin the banquet!"
.
After the rebellion in Zhejiang was quelled, the Crown Prince enjoyed immense popularity among the people and quickly consolidated his power base upon returning to the capital.
Officials who had previously been observing the situation began to eagerly choose sides, using the Mid-Autumn Festival as an excuse to send gifts and invitations to the Crown Prince's Palace. However, the Crown Prince's Palace remained closed, and the next day, good news arrived—the Crown Princess was pregnant.
Because the Crown Princess was not in good health, the news was not announced until later in her pregnancy when it was more stable.
When the news spread to the common people, someone started saying that one night, a golden dragon-fish was seen circling above the Eastern Palace, and that the child in the Crown Princess's belly must be a child with great fortune and blessings!
A fish that leaps over the Dragon Gate can transform into a dragon.
A golden dragonfish is naturally a very auspicious omen.
For a time, the East Palace was bustling with activity, like oil being poured on a raging fire.
When the news reached Emperor Cheng'an's ears, he paced back and forth in the hall a few times: "Tell me, what are the chances that the Crown Prince leaked this news?"
Although he did not get angry, his expression was very subtle. Qi Zhong had served him for many years and guessed that he had some grudges. He said cautiously, "Your subject dares not speak presumptuously. However, the Crown Prince thinks that he is not the kind of person who pretends to be a ghost."
Emperor Cheng'an nodded upon hearing this: "You're right, the Crown Prince is indeed not that kind of person."
He walked to the window with his hands behind his back, looking at two birds, one big and one small, preening each other on a branch. His voice was deep and hoarse: "But now his status has risen, and he has countless retainers. He doesn't need to lift a finger; others will create momentum for him."
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