147 Extra 3
◎The Rhinoceros Candle Light (II)◎
Extra 3: The Rhinoceros Candle Light (Part 2)
"If I believed your words just because of a letter, I would be extremely foolish." Emperor Zhanghe was about to enter his forties. The turmoil in the court these days had caused a few more wrinkles in the corners of his eyes.
Emperor Zhanghe said calmly: "I know the characters of the Empress and Prince Yongjiang very well. I trust them."
"If I rashly go ahead to investigate, the only person who will be truly satisfied in the end will be you, right?" Emperor Zhang He's eyes were unfathomable, like the sun and the moon that could see through everything.
If the emperor questioned the empress's infidelity and the prince's bloodline because of a letter, no matter what the final conclusion of the matter would be, the prince would be criticized for "coming to power illegitimately" throughout his life.
Three people can make a tiger. The power of rumors is far more terrifying than you can imagine.
Emperor Zhanghe had been experienced in political tactics for many years and had a deep understanding of people's hearts, so he would not question or investigate. If this matter was investigated further, it would only cause a blow to Zhao Youze. Moreover, this kind of "investigation" would be a deep insult to the late Empress Pei.
Zhao Youze's eyes met Zhang Hedi's, his eyes were bright and he was deeply moved.
Zhao Youze called out in a hoarse voice: "Father..."
Emperor Zhang He raised his hand slightly, signaling him not to speak for the time being. Emperor Zhang He took out a small medicine bottle from his arms and threw it in front of Princess Qin.
"Back then, my mother was confused for a moment and believed what you said, so she mistakenly gave the empress a bowl of safflower. As a result, Yuan Kangsheng became blind and the empress died of depression." The hatred in Emperor Zhanghe's eyes flashed, and he stood up with a solemn expression, "If I don't kill you, you will be imprisoned in this cell forever."
"Give him a taste of his own medicine," said Emperor Zhang He. "I only want your eyes."
Princess Qin shook her head repeatedly. Despair and fear suddenly appeared on her usually gentle face. She shouted in a horrifying voice, "No!"
However, Emperor Zhang He had already stood up and left the cell with Zhao Youze.
Afterwards, Chu Xi, who was waiting outside the cell, pushed the door open and walked in. From the corner of Zhao Youze's eye, he seemed to see Chu Xi picking up the medicine bottle on the ground and walking towards Princess Qin.
Then there were several consecutive "no's".
After a while, Chu Xi came out of the cell. He straightened his clothes, kowtowed to Emperor Zhanghe and Zhao Youze and said, "I wonder how Your Majesty plans to deal with this letter?"
Emperor Zhang He said nothing, just looked at Zhao Youze.
Zhao Youze understood what he meant, and he lowered his head to gaze at Chu Xi's kneeling figure and the piece of letter paper covered with handwriting in his hand.
After a few moments of hesitation, he did not reach out for the paper, but directly said, "Lord Chu."
Chu Xi said, "I am here."
"I order you to conduct a thorough investigation. If anyone in any bookstore or teahouse has anything related to this letter or anything that slanders the late queen, arrest them immediately and privately. I don't want any word of this letter to be leaked outside." Zhao Youze's eyes flashed with the lonely light of an autumn night, and he gave the order loudly.
Chu Xi said, "Yes, I will obey your order."
The father and son walked out of the imperial prison. After returning to the palace, Zhao Youze followed Emperor Zhanghe to the Yangxin Palace. When they were alone, he asked Emperor Zhanghe softly, "Father, was my arrangement just now appropriate?"
"All right." Emperor Zhanghe was generous in praising him. "Yuankang has grown up. He is worthy of the title of Crown Prince."
Zhao Youze choked up with sobs, suddenly lifted up his robe, and bowed deeply and respectfully to Emperor Zhanghe.
"I am the son who should be grateful for your protection, father." His hands were trembling slightly as he lay on the ground.
Although there was no swordplay in the imperial prison tonight, Zhao Youze experienced a scene far more dangerous than the night Zhao Youcheng forced the emperor to abdicate.
Throughout the dynasties, many princes died due to the emperor's suspicion.
The balance of power between the emperor and the crown prince has always been difficult to reconcile. Even wise emperors like Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Taizong of Tang had to go through situations where the father and son fought against each other and changed their ways.
Zhao Youze didn't know on which day Emperor Zhanghe received the letters from his mother and Prince Yongjiang, nor did he know when he knew the inside story of his own eye murder, but his father's "never doubting, always believing" really moved him deeply.
Emperor Zhanghe walked over to help him up, sighed and said, "I have taught you before that the way of an emperor is to be alone and not to be alone. Today I will teach you again. Since you are the Son of Heaven and hold supreme power, you must have the ability to see through people's hearts and be able to see through others' minds."
"Otherwise, it will lead to countless unjust and wrong cases, just like the Yongding Marquis Mansion in the past."
Zhao Youze nodded heavily and said, "Father, I will remember your teachings in my heart."
"I am old, and the country will be yours in the future," Emperor Zhanghe patted Zhao Youze's shoulder gently, "You are my son, I believe you can do well."
Zhao Youze's cheeks were full of smiles, and he said in a clear and melodious voice: "I will never let my father down."
Emperor Zhang He gently stroked the small gold crown on his head that was used to hold his hair together and said, "It's late, go and get some rest."
"Yes," Zhao Youze did not forget to remind Emperor Zhang He, "Father, go to bed early too."
Emperor Zhanghe waved his hand and Zhao Youze took his leave.
A few days later, Zhao Youze went out of the palace to visit the princess's residence. When he went there, he did not come empty-handed, but brought a whole troupe of actors with him.
Jiashan looked at it curiously and said, "I have to take a good look at what kind of play it is that is worth Yuankang specially inviting a troupe to perform in my house."
"It's a new play that hasn't been officially performed yet. It's called 'The Cat Substitutes for the Prince,'" Zhao Youze said softly. "Sister, have you heard of it?"
Jiashan read it over and over again: "The Cat Substitutes for the Prince, it's an interesting name."
"But if it doesn't look good, I won't give you any reward!" Jiashan teased.
Zhao Youze said: "This play is full of twists and turns, I guarantee that Sister will applaud."
Since Zhao Youze said so, Jiashan started watching with great interest.
Later, when Emperor Renzong of Song Dynasty welcomed the blind Empress Dowager Li back to the court, Jiashan wiped his tears with a handkerchief.
Zhao Youze smiled and asked, "What do you think, sister?"
"It's really wonderful." Jiashan gestured to his servants to give out the reward money, and said, "But it's just a play after all."
"According to history books, Emperor Zhenzong of Song was a wise ruler who promoted the Xianping Governance and formed the 'Chanyuan Alliance' with Liao. How could he be so foolish as to have someone replace the crown prince with a cat right under his nose?" When Jiashan was young, Empress Pei taught her to read history books, so she enjoyed talking about classics and history.
"Ordinary people would just listen to it for fun," Jiashan said. "If this play is passed down, it will only be a pity for Empress Liu. She was clearly a woman who made outstanding contributions to the 'Renzong's prosperous era', but she was mocked in this way."
Zhao Youze smiled and said, "Sister, you are worrying too much. It is just a play. Who would treat it as a true history book?"
"It is because of this kind of dramas and stories that they are so widely spread," Jiashan shook his head disapprovingly. "Don't the common people now think that Romance of the Three Kingdoms is much more interesting than Records of the Three Kingdoms?"
Even Xuan Ge'er has recently become obsessed with "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and even had the idea of changing the name of his beloved "Zhu Rong" to "Red Hare".
Zhao Youze said: "Sister is right."
He asked casually, "What do you think, sister, of the comparison between father and Emperor Zhenzong of Song?"
Jiashan immediately said, "What are you talking about, Yuankang? Father was diligent in governing the country, was self-disciplined and virtuous, and was very perceptive. During his reign, he also bravely defeated the Turks. In the future, history books will record his achievements. Father will certainly be an emperor no less than Emperor Zhenzong of Song."
"Well," Zhao Youze said, "In that case, do you think the story of 'Cat Substituting for Prince' will happen in this dynasty?"
Jiashan stopped laughing and looked at Zhao Youze quietly for a while. Zhao Youze's cheeks were white and his expression was normal, so Jiashan calmed down and said with a burning gaze, "Of course not."
"What's this about 'The Cat Substitutes for the Prince'? It's all just a play." Jiashan said, "But this play is not good. Don't let them continue to perform it in the future."
Zhao Youze said, "Yes. I also think it is too absurd. It has been banned from performances in Beijing. I will only perform the last show for my sister at your house today."
Jiashan said "hmm", gently smoothed the wrinkles on his sleeves with his left hand, and lowered his head in thought.
At sunset, Zhan Yue came back from the Ministry of War after leaving the government office. Seeing Jia Shan smiling happily, he went over to ask, "What good news is there that makes the princess so happy?"
Jiashan smiled brightly and cheerfully: "I'll tell you at night."
"Go check on Xuan first. He's really mad at you."
Eh, my son is actually angry?
Zhan Yue walked into his eldest son's room curiously. Xuan Ge'er was holding Shuang Xi in his arms and talking to him in a low voice -
"Big liar!"
"Hey, brother, let me tell you, Dad is a liar."
"He clearly promised me that he would take me to Tianjin Port to see the big ships, but it's been almost two years and he still hasn't given me a definite answer! My mother told me that my father is very busy, but other students in the Imperial College have traveled far away, at least to northern Zhili, and some have even been to Suzhou and Hangzhou!"
Xuan Ge'er rubbed Shuangxi's little face unhappily and said angrily: "When you grow up, I will ride Zhurong and you will ride your jade lion. I will take you to play and not take our father with me!"
"He doesn't keep his word at all!"
Xuan Ge'er pouted and said gloomily.
After hearing what his son said, Zhan Yue's arrogant steps suddenly became tiptoeing. He quietly left the room, found Jiashan and said, "I'm going back to the Ministry of War. I won't go back home to sleep tonight. Don't leave the door open for me."
"Hmm?" Jiashan asked as he put his coat on him, "What's the emergency?"
Zhan Yue said solemnly: "It is indeed very important."
His son calls him a big liar!
Zhan Yue said, "Pack your things for your trip tonight. Tomorrow I will ask my father for leave, and I will also go to the Imperial College to ask for leave for Xuan Ge'er."
"We will set out for Tianjin Port early the day after tomorrow, then go downstream from Beizhili, passing Shandong and Yuzhou..."
In a short period of time, Zhan Yue had already outlined the travel route in his mind.
Jiashan's eyes widened as he asked, "Can you get away?"
"The left and right assistant ministers are not just for show," Zhan Yue said, "We still have Lord Dou Ge and Lord An. I'll take a month off to accompany you, it's okay."
"I'll go to the Ministry of War to report later." Zhan Yue thought long-term, tied his belt, and set off.
Jiashan happily packed his luggage with Dancui, and sent someone to tell Xuange'er the good news.
On the morning of the third day, Zhan Yue and his family set out from the capital, officially starting their journey around Daliang.
【Author’s words】
This is the last present life extra, followed by the previous life extra, which will be updated following the previous chapter 65.
Then there is the matter of Yuankang's identity. Although I think it should be written very clearly, I am afraid that some readers may not fully understand it, so I will sort it out again from the beginning.
The cause was that Empress Pei and Prince Xiaohuai had exchanged a letter, which fell into the hands of Princess Qin. Princess Qin showed the letter to the Queen Mother at the time. The Queen Mother did not like the Fu family and Empress Pei (mentioned above), and she also believed that the bloodline of the king must remain absolutely pure, so she wanted to abort the Queen's fetus while the emperor was away, which led to Yuankang's blindness.
As for why Empress Pei didn't dare to tell the truth to the Emperor, and why Madam Zheng committed suicide, it was because they didn't dare to take the risk. After all, there was the Empress Dowager's precedent, and Empress Pei and Prince Xiaohuai had an engagement and they had really communicated. This chapter also said that if Emperor Zhanghe had any doubts about Yuankang's identity, as long as he had the slightest intention of investigating, Yuankang might be doomed. Even if the Empress was proven innocent and Yuankang was the Emperor's son in the end, the rumors in the palace and among the people would still kill Yuankang.
All they can say is that they did not expect that Emperor Zhanghe's trust in the character of the Empress and Prince Xiaohuai would far exceed the suspicion that an emperor should have.
Finally, Zhao Youze asked Jiashan to watch the story of "The Cat Substituted for the Prince" because he knew that his elder sister might know something about what happened back then and was afraid that she would be suspicious, so he hinted to her, "I am the emperor's son. My father is wise and powerful. How could he allow the story of "The Cat Substituted for the Prince" to happen?" Jiashan also understood the hint, so she was very happy at the end.