Yan Sikong discussed with Yan Zilian and decided to go visit the Crown Prince and Concubine Hui. Concubine Hui was brought to trial today, and if she was punished, it would be very difficult for both mother and son, so he wanted to go and comfort them.
The two were discussing this matter in secret when there was a knock on the door from behind.
Yan Zilian said, "Come in."
Shen Hexuan pushed the door open and walked in. He quickly glanced at Yan Sikong, took a few steps forward, and then knelt on the ground. He said coldly, "I have decided to die to make a remonstrance to prove the innocence of Concubine Hui and the Crown Prince. I beg you to present my memorial to the emperor."
Yan Zilian stood up and said angrily: "What did I tell you the other day? The court is already in turmoil. If your memorial is submitted to the emperor, you will be dead!"
Shen Hexuan showed no fear at all, and said loudly: "'A military official dies in battle, a civil official dies in remonstration'. From the day I entered the court as an official, I have already put life and death aside. I cannot watch Your Majesty bear the name of a tyrant who deposed the eldest son and enthroned his beloved, nor can I watch the Crown Prince and Concubine Hui suffer injustice and humiliation. The assassination case is full of loopholes, but no one in the court dared to say that Concubine Wen wanted to usurp the throne and frame Concubine Hui. Let me tell you!"
Yan Sikong looked at Shen Hexuan with mixed feelings. His young and handsome face was full of fearlessness and righteousness, making him seem to be glowing in the dim room.
Yan Zilian was so angry that he grabbed several piles of books and threw them at Shen Hexuan: "What do you think your life can buy? You will only anger His Majesty, and will only... will only..." Yan Zilian's breathing became more and more rapid, his body swayed, and he staggered backwards.
"Teacher!" Yan Sikong was quick-witted and quick-handed, and hurried forward to hold Yan Zilian who was shaking and trying to pull him away.
Shen Hexuan also stared with his eyes wide open and stood up quickly: "Teacher..."
The two of them helped Yan Zilian to sit on a chair. Yan Zilian tried hard to control his breathing. His face was pale, his eyes were roll-backed, and his lips were trembling constantly.
"...Call the imperial physician." Shen Hexuan said as he was about to rush out.
Yan Zilian suddenly stretched out his hand, and his fingers, as dry as dead branches, tightly grasped Shen Hexuan's wrist.
"Teacher..." Shen Hexuan looked at Yan Zilian nervously.
Yan Zilian shook his head, took a breath, and said softly, "Close the door."
Yan Sikong hurriedly closed the door, then turned back and said worriedly, "Teacher, your body..."
Yan Zilian took a deep breath and said, "I can't let that bastard know. I won't be able to rest in peace until I see him die before me."
Shen Hexuan felt a lump in his throat and he slowly knelt down, looking at Yan Zilian in a struggle.
Yan Zilian held Shen Hexuan's hand and said in a deep voice: "Hexuan, following the way of the saints does not necessarily make you a good official, and doing the right thing does not necessarily make you do it right. You are a rare talent who has won three first prizes in a row. You know everything about the world, but why don't you know the human heart?"
Shen Hexuan said with tears in his eyes: "Teacher, the students understand what you said, but some things have to be done by someone."
"Sikong and I have already come up with a plan in secret. It's not the point where you have to die for your advice. You should keep this passion in your heart and serve the emperor in the future."
"What countermeasures?" Shen Hexuan asked anxiously.
Yan Sikong pulled Shen Hexuan up from the ground: "Brother Shen, let the teacher rest, we will go out and talk."
The two left Wenyuan Pavilion and walked out of the palace.
Yan Sikong told Shen Hexuan about the letter. Shen Hexuan had been very worried about the prince's affairs these days, and he wrote a fierce memorial. Fortunately, Yan Zilian stopped it, otherwise he might have been used as an example by Emperor Zhaowu at this critical moment.
If Yan Sikong were to describe Shen Hexuan in one word, it would be: upright. He had won three first prizes in the imperial examinations, and was famous all over the world. He was so glorious. But now, three or four years have passed, and among the same batch of Jinshi, he is the best, and has become the head of the Ministry of Personnel and a candidate for the imperial consort. Others have also been sent to other places for training, but Shen Hexuan has remained in the Hanlin Academy and seems to be not valued. In fact, Yan Zilian had told him long ago that Shen Hexuan was also a future university scholar that he focused on cultivating, but this person had a difficult temper and must be polished well, otherwise this sharp sword might be bent before it is unsheathed.
After Shen Hexuan heard this, he finally felt relieved: "Your Majesty is filial and respectful. As long as the Queen Mother comes forward, she will definitely be able to save the Crown Prince and the Queen from danger."
"Brother Shen, don't be happy too soon." Yan Sikong sighed, "If this matter was just Concubine Wen framing Concubine Hui, then the assassination attempt would be as you said, full of loopholes and hard to convince people, and the impeachment of the censors is even more bullshit. But why did the emperor still put them and their son in jail so hard? In the final analysis, the emperor wanted to depose the prince, and now he has seized the opportunity."
Shen Hexuan said sadly: "It's just muddled. It's just muddled."
Yan Sikong pulled Shen Hexuan into a dark place and said, "Brother Shen, I talked to you about the prince's situation last time. You didn't seem to care at that time. Do you see it now? Even if the Queen Mother intervenes this time, he and his son can survive the crisis, but the Queen Mother... Once the Queen Mother passes away, who can stop Your Majesty?"
Shen Hexuan's face darkened and he said nothing.
Yan Sikong calculated: "The Second Prince is twelve years old this year. There are still more than two years before he turns fifteen and leaves the palace to be established as a fief. During these nearly a thousand days and nights, your Highness's position as the heir to the throne may be in jeopardy at any time. Even if he leaves the palace to be established as a fief, recalling him would only require an imperial decree."
Shen Hexuan said in a deep voice: "What do you want to say, Brother Xian?"
"Brother Shen, what do you think is the reason why Concubine Wen is so arrogant?"
"Minister Wen." Shen Hexuan answered without hesitation.
“Yes.”
No matter how favored Concubine Wen was, she was just a concubine. Her son was neither the legitimate wife nor the eldest, and was not legitimate. If it was just favor, it would not be enough to make the indecisive and pleasure-indulgent Emperor Zhaowu go to such great lengths to depose the prince. Minister Wen and Xie Zhongren should be the real masterminds behind the scenes.
"What do you want to say?"
Yan Sikong thought to himself, "Brother Shen, if we can get through this crisis, the court will soon face a bigger storm, that is the imperial examination. The teacher tried his best to push me into the Ministry of Personnel and find this royal relative for me, all in order to shake up the court and deal a heavy blow to the eunuch party. The imperial examination is held every six years, and the teacher is old. I am afraid that he will not be able to wait for the next six years. I know you feel wronged and think that you are not valued. Even if you die, you are unwilling to be mediocre. But the teacher has high hopes for you and sees you as his future successor. How can he watch you fail here?"
Shen Hexuan said sternly: "I have no complaints about how the teacher arranges my career. I want to make suggestions only for the sake of the crown prince and the queen."
"Of course it is so, of course it is so." Yan Sikong patted Shen Hexuan's shoulder, "But Brother Shen is unwilling, so there is no need to hide it, right?"
Shen Hexuan pursed his lips, which was considered as his agreement.
It's not that Shen Hexuan is ambitious. He is a man of extraordinary talent, but he is unable to display his talents. Especially with Yan Sikong standing by to compare with him, he naturally feels upset. This is understandable.
Yan Sikong became increasingly aware of Shen Hexuan's importance, and Yan Zilian had already realized that at the critical moment, he would turn into a sharp sword and become a pillar of support, so he had to keep an eye on him and not let him ruin himself.
Yan Sikong advised: "Brother Shen, please understand the teacher's painstaking efforts. We must do our best to rescue the prince and the queen. I will go to visit them now. Brother Shen must be patient. Just as the teacher said, hold on to your passion, and sooner or later you will be able to show it to the world."
Shen Hexuan sighed and held Yan Sikong's hand: "Please."
——
According to the laws of this dynasty, relatives of prisoners can visit. Although Yan Sikong is not a relative, he is the prince's lecturer, so it is acceptable. With Meng Duo's tacit consent, he was able to enter the cell smoothly.
The Crown Prince and Concubine Hui were imprisoned separately, and Yan Sikong went to visit Concubine Hui first.
As expected, Concubine Hui did not dodge the ten whips. She lay on the simple couch, curled up with her thin and frail body, her face was pale, and bloodstains were faintly visible on her lapels, which made people feel heartbroken.
Yan Sikong walked to the cage, knelt on the ground, and called softly: "Madam, Madam."
Concubine Hui opened her eyes and saw that it was Yan Sikong. She felt like she had found a life-saving straw: "Yan, Lord Yan." She struggled to get up, staggered to the iron railing, sat down weakly, and tears streamed down her face. "How is Yan'er? How is my Yan'er?"
Yan Sikong sighed in his heart. This was his mother, and the first thing he thought of must be his child. He comforted her with his physical body, "Don't worry, Madam. The prince is safe."
Concubine Hui said sadly, "I did not send anyone to assassinate the Second Prince. It was Concubine Wen Gui who invited me to come over for tea that day."
"I know that Your Majesty is innocent. We all know this." Yan Sikong said, "What did they ask during the interrogation today?"
"Ask about the assassin."
"It's fine as long as the queen doesn't admit it."
"How can I admit it?" Concubine Hui suddenly widened her eyes, changing her usual timidity and shouting angrily, "I am innocent, I will never admit it even if you kill me!"
Yan Sikong was stunned. He didn't expect that this woman who usually spoke softly and had no opinion could have such a tough side.
"I regret not listening to Lord Yan's advice. In fact, I have long distanced myself from Concubine Wen, but she invited me, how could I refuse? Now she has implicated my Yan'er..." She cried and looked at Yan Sikong, "I never asked Yan'er to be the crown prince. I only asked for the safety of mother and son. It doesn't matter if she doesn't become the crown prince. Why is she so vicious?"
"Your Majesty, you must not think like that." Yan Sikong stared at her eyes sharply and whispered, "Your Majesty, His Highness is the eldest prince, and the legitimate crown prince of Dasheng. If he cannot become the emperor, then he cannot become Prince Xiansan either. After the new emperor ascends the throne, you and your son will have only one way to go, and that is death."
Concubine Hui took a breath.
Yan Sikong emphasized his tone: "Your Highness, for His Highness' sake, you must be strong. The Queen Mother already knows about this matter and will not sit idly by. No matter what, you must never admit it, otherwise His Highness will be doomed."
"Empress Dowager, will you save us?" A glimmer of hope ignited in Concubine Hui's eyes.
Yan Sikong thought that the Queen Mother would save the Prince, but she... He naturally would not show his guess, but said with a firm voice: "She will definitely save him, but now, I have to inconvenience you, Her Majesty."
Concubine Hui's eyes flashed with shocking determination: "For Mi'er, I am not afraid of anything."