Chapter 46 The Truth Comes Out
As autumn turned to winter, the charcoal fire burned warmly in the lecture hall of the Liyuan Garden. Yunji was discussing the blueprints for a new waterwheel with several students from the Engineering Academy, while Yuanya was instructing her students on identifying winter-hardy herbs by the herb garden. Beneath the seemingly calm surface of dormancy, the game of strategy laid out by Huairou was finally beginning to show its effects.
News from the North spread like a pebble thrown into a lake, its ripples quickly reaching the capital.
First, there was the grassland. Within the Eagle Eye tribe, undercurrents were running high due to rumors that the imperial court intended to reorganize its 100,000-strong army. Those 100,000 able-bodied men were the foundation of the tribe; if they were incorporated, the Eagle Eye tribe's strength would plummet, and it might even be swallowed up by other tribes. Initially, Eagle Eye, driven by both love and power, didn't hesitate to collude with the Fourth Prince to frame Yunji, but when the price might be sacrificing the entire tribe's future, he wavered and panicked.
Then came even worse news. Hawkeye's younger brother, "Hawkfeather," was quietly gaining popularity within the tribe, and he publicly questioned his brother for dragging the entire tribe into danger for his own selfish desires. Some elders who had originally supported Hawkeye also began to defect, believing that it was unwise to oppose the Crown Prince of the Celestial Empire. Beset by internal and external troubles, Hawkeye knew that if he continued to persist, his tribe would disintegrate from within before the imperial court could even take action.
Even worse, in order to frame Yunji, the army's food and pay had long been cut off from their own sources... These cavalrymen are not the kind who don't eat or graze; it's been a whole year! The 100,000-strong army was filled with resentment, and the pressure could no longer be suppressed!
He finally lost his temper.
A petition of apology from the Eagle Eye tribe was delivered to the emperor's desk at the fastest speed.
The warm winter sun shone through the latticed windows, casting dappled light and shadow on the smooth, gold-brick floor of the Imperial Study. The bergamot in the incense burner had been replaced with ambergris, and wisps of smoke rose, making this hall, where the core secrets of the empire were handled, appear even more tranquil and profound.
Emperor Zhen Jiancheng stood with his hands behind his back by the window, gazing at the frost-covered pines and cypresses in the courtyard. The young emperor was upright, yet his brows already held a majesty beyond his years, along with a hint of barely perceptible weariness. Behind him, the Fourth Prince Zhen Yingqi knelt on the ground, his scarlet princely robes making his face appear even paler.
“Yingqi,” Zhen Jiancheng said without turning around, his voice steady and unreadable, “you have read Hawkeye’s letter of apology.”
It wasn't a question, but a statement. Zhen Yingqi's shoulders trembled, his head bowed even lower, his voice dry: "Your subject... has seen it. Father, that Hawkeye is spouting nonsense, first he framed my brother, and now he's framing me! Your subject..."
"Enough." The Emperor slowly turned around, his gaze falling on his son, a deep, scrutinizing look tinged with sorrow. "The Northern Shadow Guard's secret report, the Legal Department's memorial, Eagle Eye's recantation... Yingqi, will you speak for yourself, or shall I?" He walked behind his desk and sat down, his knuckles tapping heavily on the thick stack of reports. Zhen Yingqi abruptly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, filled with resentment, bitterness, and a desperate madness: "Why?! Father! I only wanted to share your burdens, to do my best for this great empire! Yunqi... what right does he have? Just because he holds the title of eldest son? Just because he has a good 'mother' that you can't forget?! This is unfair!"
"Shut up!" Zhen Jiancheng's voice suddenly turned cold, though he didn't raise his voice, it carried the thunderous power of an emperor, instantly making Zhen Yingqi's breath catch in his throat. "How dare you presume to comment on my affairs with the late Empress?!"
The air in the study seemed to freeze. Zhen Jiancheng took a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions. He looked at his son, who had been intelligent since childhood but was overly thoughtful, and his tone, though no longer calm, carried a heavier weight. Zhen Jiancheng stared at his kneeling fourth son, his gaze as unfathomable as a deep pool. He picked up the teacup on the table, its glaze reflecting his deep-set eyes: "Yingqi, do you know my identity right now? Am I a father? Or an emperor?"
Before he could answer, he lightly tapped the bottom of his cup on the rosewood table, producing a clear, resonant sound. A moment later, the young emperor's voice echoed through the warm chamber: "As your father, I must secure your livelihood; as emperor, I must choose a wise ruler for the world." He paused to catch his breath and continued, "My decision to appoint Yunji as crown prince is not out of favoritism, nor is it based on romantic feelings. Rather, it is to uphold the proper order of seniority, like carving different pieces of jade into the most fitting positions."
Zhen Yingqi suddenly looked up, his Adam's apple bobbing: "But the order of seniority is inherently..."
"A cliché? I knew you'd think that." Zhen Jiancheng interrupted him, his fingertips slowly tracing the cover of the "Imperial Ancestral Instructions of the Ming Dynasty." "You're wrong. The order of seniority is not a cliché, but rather a law for protecting the country, written in blood by the late emperor to prevent brothers from fighting each other." He suddenly leaned forward, the hem of his dragon robe sweeping across the memorial. "What you perceive as a constraint is actually a protective talisman for many princes."
The warm chamber was so quiet that one could hear the soft crackling of charcoal. The emperor's voice was as clear as if it had been poured through snow:
“The elder has weathered many storms and should naturally protect the entire clan. He bears the weight of the nation on his shoulders and must also bring blessings to the people—including his siblings. Without the proper order of seniority, brothers will divide the family's power, plunging into endless factional strife, giving outsiders an opportunity to exploit the situation, leading to either fratricide or bloodshed within the royal family.” His gaze seemed to pierce through the palace walls, encompassing the vast territory. Yingqi, unwilling to give up, continued, “But what if the elder's virtue is unworthy of his position and his skills inferior to others?”
The emperor turned abruptly, his purple robes shimmering with gold in the candlelight: "Then it will be like rotten wood bearing a heavy burden, ultimately devoured by its own weaknesses. Then a successor will take its place." "But what if the successor is still unfit for the task?" He lowered his gaze to his son's panicked eyes, each word carrying immense weight: "Then we'll replace him again! But not by burying family ties. This system may seem harsh, but it respects human relationships, thus ensuring perpetuity through replacement."
The fourth prince's fingertips dug deeply into his palms. He saw in his father's eyes not only the sternness of a father, but also the clarity of a wise ruler.
“Yingqi, you have always asked me why I made Yunji the crown prince. Today, it is only the two of us, father and son, here, so I will speak frankly with you.” He leaned forward slightly, his gaze piercing. “Do you know that the world is vast, and one cannot realize one’s ambitions and enjoy honor only by sitting on the dragon throne? You are quick-witted, decisive, and shrewd. If you were to use your abilities in the court or in assisting the country, you could have become Yunji’s right-hand man and a pillar of our great town.”
His words carried a hint of regret: "However, you and your second brother are both too ruthless in nature, valuing power and strategy over morality, accustomed to forming cliques and eliminating dissidents, and acting by any means necessary. Such a temperament may give you an advantage in individual struggles, but when applied to governing a country, it means placing personal desires above the law and the people. If this continues, you will make countless enemies, your foundation will be shaken, and even if you take office, it will be difficult to last long, let alone have a good end."
Zhen Jiancheng's tone gradually turned earnest, filled with the heartache of a father: "I am the emperor, and I am also your father. What I hope to see is that you brothers each use your strengths, find your place, and live peaceful and prosperous lives, rather than exhausting yourselves in endless infighting, or even... following in the footsteps of my brothers." A deep sorrow flashed in his eyes, "But if I were to give you, or your second brother, power, could you tolerate each other? Could you tolerate Yunji? My brothers... are all gone now. I don't want to see you brothers also reach that point, devoured by power, and ultimately become lonely figures."
He stood up, walked around the imperial desk, and stood before Zhen Yingqi, looking down at him with a rare sense of closeness: "Yunji is the eldest son of the legitimate wife, and it is only right and proper for him to take on the responsibility of this country first. This is the most likely way to win over the people. More importantly, he is kind and benevolent, has a sense of justice, and acts with moderation. I believe that if he takes charge of the country, he will be able to accommodate you brothers and give you the honor and security you deserve."
He leaned slightly forward, lowering his voice even further, yet every word struck Zhen Yingqi's heart: "If you insist on vying for the throne, even if you succeed by chance, then blood will turn against your own flesh and blood, staining the palace. Even if you sit on this throne, can you sleep peacefully every night? Can't the vast land of the nation accommodate a few law-abiding, wealthy, and leisurely princes?"
Zhen Yingqi listened blankly. His father's words were like ice water poured over his head, gradually extinguishing the resentment and anger in his heart, leaving only a chilling cold and... a sense of blank emptiness. He realized that he had never thought about these issues from his father's perspective, from the perspective of the long-term stability of the empire. He had always thought that in his father's heart, there was only Yunji.
"The path I have laid out for you, for your second brother, and for all members of the imperial family is a broad and secure one." The emperor rose, his voice regaining its coldness and decisiveness. "In the end, you are all members of the imperial family. You must work together to protect the interests of your family and maintain the stability of the country in order to accumulate wealth and bring blessings to your descendants. Do not do anything that would disrupt the court. As for the distribution of benefits within the family, the imperial family has its own rules. As long as you do not interfere in politics, do not harbor any wild thoughts, and abide by the rules and laws, this vast town is more than enough to support a few princes who enjoy wealth and luxury."
He glanced one last time at his son kneeling on the ground, his tone carrying a final verdict and a hint of barely perceptible weariness: "Yingqi, to the outside world, you have committed the heinous crime of framing the Crown Prince, a crime that cannot be tolerated under the law. But out of consideration for our father-son bond, I will spare your life, strip you of your princely title, and send you to the southern border to reflect on your actions immediately. You are not to return to the capital without an imperial edict. This is the last thing I, as the emperor and as your father, can do for you... to protect you."
Zhen Yingqi collapsed completely, his forehead pressed against the cold floor tiles, tears silently streaming down his face. This time, it wasn't out of anger and resentment, but mixed with regret, understanding, and a heavy sense of relief. He kowtowed deeply, his voice hoarse and broken: "Your subject... was foolish. Your subject will remember your father's teachings. Your subject thanks your father... for sparing your life. Your subject... obeys the decree."
Silence returned to the imperial study, save for the lingering incense. Zhen Jiancheng stood alone by the window, his figure appearing somewhat lonely in the winter light. Decisive measures, compassionate heart—this was the path of an emperor. He had eliminated a son who threatened the stability of the empire, yet he had also personally pushed a father-son bond to the distant southern frontier. Only he knew the bitterness of this situation.
Inside the garden, when the imperial edict lifting his house arrest arrived, Yunji was rolling up his sleeves, transplanting new seedlings in the herb garden with Yuan Ya. He calmly accepted the edict, expressed his gratitude, and his face showed no wild joy at regaining his freedom, but rather a calmness that came after weathering a storm.
Having survived this ordeal, he saw clearly the bottom line of fratricide and the heavy destiny that came with the position of crown prince. The man who once held a somewhat naive and passive acceptance of power had been transformed.
Returning to the Eastern Palace and reasserting the throne, Yunji's state of mind was vastly different. The crown of the crown prince no longer merely signified honor and power, but also shackles and responsibilities. He was no longer overjoyed or attached to it. Instead, the knowledge he encountered during his seemingly confined time in the Imperial Garden—knowledge so different from the classics—the laws of economic operation, the precision of mathematics, and the wisdom of various craftsmen, made him realize that governing a country and bringing peace to the world was not just about power politics and benevolent governance, but also about practical knowledge concerning the people's livelihood and the economy.
A new sense of responsibility began to grow and strengthen within him. Perhaps only by truly taking control of the country one day could he utilize this knowledge and power to promote changes that would genuinely benefit the people and guide the dynasty towards greater prosperity and order. This became the sole and unwavering driving force that supported him on the arduous path of becoming crown prince.
He stood on the high platform of the East Palace, gazing towards the distant, faintly visible direction of the fenced garden, which had once been his refuge and was now one of the sources of his spiritual strength. The road ahead was still full of thorns, but his gaze was firm and his heart was at peace.
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