Emperor Kang Le and his minister Jiang Yuanjun rose and stepped back, facing Emperor Kang Le...
She rose heavily, holding a lamp in one hand, and by the light of the candle, walked towards a painting of an orchid bonsai hanging on the central wall. She then unfurled the scroll, revealing lines of steady, weighty characters before her eyes.
She brought the oil lamp closer, and a cold, indifferent look suddenly appeared on her fair face.
Gao Jian, Li Yuanda, Liang Shuwen, Liang Xu. Then she shifted her gaze to the lower left corner, where she saw Li Mou, Lu Shi, and a trace of ink that looked like it had been left over from writing. She took out a wolf-hair brush from the pen holder and wrote the name A Wan after Lu Shi. She then drew a black line over the names of Gao Jian and Li Yuanda, followed by a circle on the ink stain, and then a heavier stroke, causing the ink on the brush to spread instantly.
"Imperial power—supreme." She gazed at the wall and murmured softly.
And this ink mark undoubtedly represents the sage of today.
Then came Zhuang Shijun's name.
The flickering lamplight illuminated her fair, snow-white face. Suddenly, a tear slid down from the corner of her eye and fell to the ground with a soft thud.
"Use stillness to control movement? Then let's turn this Forbidden City into a bloodbath."
As dawn broke, Emperor Kang Le finished reviewing memorials in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, took a sip of tea, and Chen Guiyi led Liang Shuwen in.
Liang Shuwen bowed and said, "Your Majesty."
Emperor Kang Le, without looking up, stared at the foam floating in his tea: "My dear minister, how many years have you served me?"
Liang Shuwen respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, it has been exactly thirty years since then."
Emperor Kang Le seemed to be in a daze, lost in memories: "That was when I was nineteen years old, before I had even come of age." A trace of sorrow flashed in his eyes: "Forty-nine years have passed. I don't know how many more years I will be able to see this great empire. The things and people around me have changed again and again, and it is not like it was back then."
Upon hearing this, Liang Shuwen solemnly replied, "Your Majesty, you should still take care of your health. Even if things change, my heart for Your Majesty will not change."
Emperor Kang Le nodded, then casually remarked, "The Crown Prince is my favorite son." He then coughed lightly, pressing his fist to his lips. Looking at Liang Shuwen, he asked, "Minister Liang, how old is your youngest son this year?"
For some reason, Liang Shuwen felt uneasy. Just like this time before early spring, His Majesty summoned him to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, with no other court officials present. At that time, Luo Songyue's youngest daughter had just returned to the capital and asked if his youngest son was betrothed. He was initially puzzled, then anxious. He knew His Majesty had always wanted Luo Songyue to return to the capital, and immediately felt that His Majesty wanted to marry Luo's daughter into his Liang family, subtly and overtly pulling his old friend Luo Songyue back to the capital step by step. But what about the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace?
General Chu Lanze is buried in the yellow earth, and the entire Qin family was slaughtered, not a single one survived, not even a breath of life remained. If the Luo family, one of those three great families, were to suffer the same fate of being slaughtered for a single crime, then the Liang family would also face an uncertain future.
For the past few months, he had been keeping an eye on what was happening in the palace while asking his wife to keep an eye out for eligible young women from noble families. However, after several banquets, she was either dissatisfied with them because she thought they were not obedient enough and would not listen to her after marriage, or she was afraid that one day she would marry a new woman who could bewitch her mind and whisper in her ear, making her youngest son infatuated with her. The two of them would be inseparable and stick together, which she found enviable.
He suddenly remembered his youngest son, recalling how he had once tried to run away from home and had given him a severe beating.
If only Hanyu could marry the princess!
Who would have thought that His Majesty didn't mean it that way at all. The implication in his words that day was that he wanted to come up with a plan on how to bring his old friend Yun Chuan back to the capital. His Majesty was in tears that day, and said tremblingly, "Minister Liang, I don't know if I will be able to see Yun Chuan again in my lifetime."
The implication was that she wanted Luo Songyue's youngest daughter to enter the Eastern Palace as the Crown Princess.
But why are you asking about his youngest son's age today?
Liang Shuwen answered truthfully: "Your Majesty, my son has just turned twenty."
Emperor Kang Le seemed to suddenly realize something: "I remember now, he just had his coming-of-age ceremony in early spring, and Yun Chuan's youngest daughter had just returned to the capital at that time."
"I've lost my mind."
His lips twitched, his forehead was covered in cold sweat, and he knelt down with a flick of his robe.
"Your Majesty...my son..." He was thinking about how to answer smoothly so as not to anger the emperor when the eunuch in charge of announcing the news outside the door called out, "Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Liang Shuwen's old eyes suddenly lit up.
Emperor Kang Le frowned on his throne. Chen Guiyi approached and whispered, "Your Majesty, yesterday His Highness went to the Qin Family Tomb Complex in the outskirts of the capital."
Emperor Kang Le was taken aback.
Chen Guiyi continued, "With Her Highness the Princess, the Luo siblings, and the young grandson of the Earl of Chengyi." This time he lowered his voice, but Liang Shuwen, who was listening intently, still heard it clearly.
Emperor Kang Le's gaze was deep, as if he were lost in memories: "Very well, it would be good if A-Ling could take me to see it."
Chen Guiyi said after careful consideration, "This servant has noticed that Chamberlain Luo goes to the Qin family cemetery to pay his respects every year, and it must be hard for him."
Emperor Kang Le waved his hand, his voice heavy: "The Li family's matter is settled, and it's almost A-Shuo's birthday. They used to play together when they were young, so it's unreasonable to say that I've completely ignored them all these years. It shows that this child has a pure heart." He paused, then asked: "Ye Ning was summoned to the palace yesterday. I noticed that he has become quite thin in the Northwest over the years. Go to the Imperial Kitchen or the Imperial Food Bureau and find someone skilled in cooking to bring over so I can see if they are suitable. Grand Eunuch, you should also send this person to the Marquis of Jingning's residence. I feel very sorry for Ye Ning."
Chen Guiyi hurriedly agreed, then bowed and retreated to the bottom of the steps.
Emperor Kang Le casually picked up a teacup from the table, took a sip, and said without looking up, "Minister Liang, I still remember the incident on the Lantern Festival when your son stood up for Zhenhui. The princess is now nineteen years old, and your son is also in the prime of his life. Do you think these two are suitable to be together?"
Outside the palace gate, an eunuch was eavesdropping. Liang Shuwen's eyes lit up as he pondered how to respond. Suddenly, Emperor Kang Le put down his cup, looked at him, and sighed softly: "Minister Liang, the Gao Jian incident has caused quite a stir in the city. Your eldest son should lay low for a while."
Liang Shuwen was startled and was about to speak when Emperor Kang Le suddenly said, "Minister Liang, you may leave now."
Jiang Yuanjun stepped into the hall at that moment.
Filled with fear and doubt, Liang Shuwen hurriedly and respectfully replied, then turned to Jiang Yuanjun and greeted him as "Your Highness the Crown Prince." Jiang Yuanjun nodded, maintaining the demeanor of a crown prince, though his gaze was somewhat cold. He then saw the Crown Prince bow upwards.
He felt his inner robe was soaked with sweat, caught between two enemies: above him, the current emperor was watching him intently; below him, the crown prince, the future emperor, gazed at him with a chilling look.
Emperor Kangxi's benevolent smile completely lacked the majesty that an emperor should possess.
"My son. Your father was just about to tell you that yesterday I summoned Ye Ning to the palace and appointed him as the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard immediately."
Liang Shuwen, who had already stepped out of the palace gate, stumbled and nearly fell. A quick-witted young eunuch rushed forward to support him.
Liang Shuwen felt a sudden rush of light to his head. He gripped the eunuch's outstretched arm tightly, his eyes wide. After a long while, he regained his composure and stepped down the stone steps.
Jiang Yuanjun also seemed somewhat incredulous: "Father, is it really true?"
Emperor Kang Le nodded, but did not mention the matter again.
Jiang Yuanjun suppressed his doubts and recalled the purpose of his visit today. The Dragon Boat Festival was approaching, coinciding with the Empress Dowager's birthday. In previous years, the festival gifts had already been sent to Xiaguang Peak by the Imperial Household Department, or he had taken them himself. But this year, the Imperial Household Department had not accepted the order, and his father had not expressed any opinion to him.
He noticed his father's face was somewhat pale, while his father looked back at him with a kind and benevolent expression, a stark contrast to his earlier attitude towards his subjects. He then said, "Crown Prince, your father has something to ask you."
Emperor Kang Le chuckled: "Crown Prince, have you gone to see Zhenhui?"
Jiang Yuanjun nodded.
Emperor Kangxi continued, "Crown Prince, you are also related to the youngest son of the Liang family. Liang Lang has known him since childhood. What do you think of him? I'm thinking that Yun Chuan's youngest daughter is not yet betrothed, and Zhen Hui's husband is also unavailable. The Liang family's son is of marriageable age, so why not act as a matchmaker..."
“Father, you mustn’t.” Jiang Yuanjun blurted out, interrupting Emperor Kang Le before he could say anything more. He turned around and looked indifferently at Liang Shuwen’s departing figure.
The hall fell silent, and Emperor Kang Le remained silent. After a short while, Jiang Yuanjun bowed again and said, "Father, have you forgotten? One year during the Lantern Festival, Liang Lang frightened Eighth Sister, and afterwards, Mother even sent someone to deliver a basket of rabbits. Eighth Sister returned to the capital to visit her brother, but one day she still had to return to Jiangnan. Moreover, in my opinion, these two are not very familiar with each other, and this is not a good thing. It is better to resolve enmity than to create it. Father, in my opinion, we should not let the Liang family and the Luo family become enemies in the end."
"And Zhenhui. Father, I implore you to allow Zhenhui to find a husband according to her own heart."
Emperor Kang Le, sitting atop the throne, picked up his teacup and then put it down, letting out a heavy sigh: "Crown Prince, I have longed for Yun Chuan for many years. Back then, he left the capital in a fit of anger without looking back. I know he resented and hated me, but I must give the world an explanation. I am not an ordinary citizen, nor a subject of the Great Xia. I am the Son of Heaven, and I desire peace and prosperity for my country. Sitting in this position, with your grandfather's expectations of me, I must do what I should do every day. If I were not the emperor, I could have stood shoulder to shoulder with Xu Zhi to protect Ashu, even if it meant fighting to the death! I only wanted Yun Chuan to come back, to see my old friend at this age of nearly fifty, and that was all I wanted. I no longer have Xu Zhi and Cheng Ji by my side."
Chen Guiyi stood beside Emperor Kang Le, holding a whisk in his hand. He gently raised his eyelids to look at Jiang Yuanjun below, but quickly looked away.
Emperor Kang Le suddenly started coughing intermittently, his voice hoarse. Chen Guiyi brought a handkerchief and patted him on the back to help him catch his breath. The coughing stopped, and Emperor Kang Le waved his hand to signal him to calm down. He then handed the handkerchief to Chen Guiyi.
This time, it was Chen Guiyi who exclaimed in surprise: "Your Majesty!"
Chen Guiyi hurriedly knelt down. Jiang Yuanjun, sitting below, raised her head and saw that the white handkerchief was stained with a layer of bright red.
"Father." Jiang Yuanjun was startled and quickly stepped forward.
Emperor Kang Le gave Chen Guiyi a look, and Chen Guiyi immediately understood and withdrew.
Only the emperor and his minister, father and son, remained in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Emperor Kang Le smiled kindly: "Crown Prince, have you considered your responsibilities as the heir apparent? As long as the Luo family doesn't return to the capital, the Chu and Qin families will be embroiled in trouble and gossip. As long as your father is alive, he can protect you and support you. But if your father returns, the court will be turbulent and unpredictable. Civil officials have their reasons, and military officials have theirs. If they fight each other, where will the Luo family be then? Yun Chuan may no longer be in the capital, but A Ling is still here, and the eldest son of the Luo family clan is still here."
Emperor Kang Le's eyes were filled with tears: "Crown Prince! Xu Zhi was also one of my confidants. How could I have been so cold-blooded and heartless as I watched those events unfold? Back then, the evidence was irrefutable. I hesitated for a long time before summoning him to the palace, hoping to avoid those officials and protect him there so I could come up with a solution. But what I received the next morning was his permanent absence."
He looked at Jiang Yuanjun with loving eyes: "Crown Prince, you are my favorite son, my most cherished son. What you two discussed that day with Gao Jian, I will not pursue. Nor will I pursue what happened afterward. Today, I only want to ask you, if you can let go..."
"Father, do you want me to?" Jiang Yuanjun had been listening to him silently, but suddenly asked. He stopped there, though he already knew the answer.
Emperor Kang Le nodded with satisfaction: "If the daughter of Yun Chuan can be protected by you throughout your life, and A Ling can accompany you, then I will have done the right thing and have the face to face your imperial grandfather, the heroic spirit of my Jiang clan ancestor."
Jiang Yuanjun rose and stepped back, bowed to Emperor Kang Le, her eyes red, and said with a sharp voice, "Father, my heart already belongs to another."
"My child, I cannot comply!"
This time, he left resolutely. Emperor Kang Le was stunned for a moment, then casually picked up an inkstone from the dragon table and threw it at him.
"Crown Prince!"
The inkstone rolled to Jiang Yuanjun's feet and shattered in two. However, he walked forward without looking back.
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