Chapter 108 Ending Outline and Ending
The section "Because of the Crown Prince" mainly tells the stories of people and events affected by the Crown Prince, including four concubines, a tea-picking girl from southern Sichuan, Cui Wenzao, Yan Fei, and others.
Princess Yongjia visited the young grandson Yantang at Consort Xie's Chenghua Palace before leaving the palace to go to the former residence of Prince Xin. She tried to persuade the former Princess Liu and Princess Shouning to join forces with her to help Zhaoyang Palace achieve its grand plan, but Liu refused. Upon learning of her pregnancy and that Prince Xin had become obsessed and refused to change his ways, Liu made plans for herself. She allowed Wei Shi to maintain contact with the outside world and later helped her escape the capital. After Prince Xin's death, she resolved not to participate in any conflicts; her priority was to protect herself and her child.
One evening, Cui Wenzao, a compiler at the Hanlin Academy, urgently requested an audience with the Crown Prince. He said that Wu Tianshi, a Taoist priest close to the Emperor, had abducted a girl from the common people to concoct elixirs for the Emperor. He also said that the girl, A-Hu, was brought back from southern Sichuan by the Imperial Censor Huang Yi and had provided testimony in the poisoned tea case. After much consideration, the Crown Prince decided to personally go to the Western Garden to rescue her. Pushing open the door to a secret room in the Qingfu Hall, he found A-Hu lying unconscious on a table. The Crown Prince held a sword to Wu Tianshi's neck, questioned him briefly, then stabbed him with a non-fatal blow. He ordered him to be sent to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and then carried A-Hu back to the Eastern Palace. A-Hu was withdrawn and unruly, and Xu Shuying volunteered to take care of her. The Emperor was indeed furious upon learning the news the next day, but the Crown Prince had already requested punishment, and court officials quickly submitted memorials urging the Emperor to punish the sorcerer. The Emperor remained unmoved and ordered Wu Tianshi to be released, but Wu Tianshi had already died from excessive blood loss. Grand Secretary Yang Ren advised the emperor that announcing Wu Tianshi's alleged treasonous intentions and subsequent execution would be the best course of action. The emperor did not object, but his anger had nowhere to vent, and his dislike for the crown prince deepened. He still accused her of acting arbitrarily. At this point, the entire court pleaded for the crown prince, even the young grandson Yan Fei. The emperor found a way out and confined the crown prince to his quarters to reflect on his actions. Everything was so similar to the events of the twentieth year of Xuan Ning's reign. A-Hu, due to her injuries, needed imperial physicians and medicine and remained temporarily in the Eastern Palace. The various concubines treated her with varying degrees of disapproval.
Without the elixir, the emperor was physically weak and had little energy to handle state affairs, which he entrusted to the cabinet and his eunuchs. Zheng Hui, the emperor's advisor, was rigid and incompetent, adhering rigidly to old practices; Sun Shan, however, was more cunning and secretly plotted to eliminate Zheng Hui and seize power. Lan Huai'en, aware of the changes, returned to the palace early and, as expected, encountered Sun Shan, who wanted to discuss a fatal blow to the crown prince during his recent fall from favor. To reassure her, Lan Huai'en reminded her that since they already had leverage over him, it was only a matter of time before things got tough. However, if Yan Fei's influence in court was weak, his future would be difficult. He suggested that Cao Shi intensify her attacks on Yang Ren and others, and not reveal her trump cards until the very last moment, lest complications arise. Sun Shan agreed.
One day, Yan Fei went to pay his respects to the Emperor and overheard a conversation between the Emperor and the imperial physician. He learned the truth about his infertility and was devastated. He returned to Zhaoyang Palace in a daze, not wanting his mother to be heartbroken, and chose to bear the pain alone, urging her to stop opposing the Crown Prince. However, Lady Sun refused to change her mind, leaving Yan Fei conflicted. Under the cover of night, he entered through a side gate of the Crown Prince's palace to see him, pleading with him to spare his mother's life. The Crown Prince, from his words, roughly guessed the reason for his actions.
When the time came to pay homage at Ningling (the imperial tomb of the late emperor and empress), the emperor could not bear the grand ceremony and had to send the crown prince instead. The crown prince was assassinated on his return journey but was unharmed. She ordered an investigation, and just as the investigation was about to reach the Cao family, Lan Huaien intervened and smoothed things over for the Cao family, which made Sun trust him even more.
When the first snow of the year fell, Yan Chao appeared at the Lan residence. As evening approached, a light snow began to fall. She chatted with Lan Huai'en, who mentioned the past when she had been mistakenly discovered to be a woman. After a cup of warm tea, Yan Chao offered to help her change. That night, they naturally consummated their relationship. Lan Huai'en told her that the emperor might only live until early next year, or perhaps not even survive the winter, and asked when she planned to reveal her true gender. Yan Chao replied that the time was not yet ripe, and if the emperor died of anger over this, she would bear another crime. Lan Huai'en said that if someone wanted to find fault, they could always find a reason; why should her lord care? (However, since Yan Chao intended to legitimately ascend the throne, she couldn't possibly be indifferent to the meticulous writing of history.)
The Crown Prince felt an instant connection to Cui Wenzao upon first sight that night and secretly ordered an investigation. One day, he unexpectedly visited the Cui residence, asking Cui Wenzao about his connection to Cui Jinglan, a member of the Jinling Cui family, despite Cui Wenzao's claim of being from Luoyang. Cui Wenzao confessed that he and Cui Jinglan were brothers, and that due to an imperial decree forbidding the Cui family from entering the capital, he had been adopted by a branch of the Luoyang Cui family. He also pledged his loyalty to the Crown Prince, emphasizing that his lineage was a weakness and only the Crown Prince could guarantee his future. Zhou Shaoyun noticed the unusual relationship between Cui Wenzao and the Crown Prince and began to frequently contact Cui Wenzao.
As winter approached, reports arrived from the border that northern barbarians had invaded, plundering the local people's food and resources. This invasion differed from previous ones; it wasn't spontaneous looting by barbarian civilians, but rather an army attacking and seizing territory. The border troops were caught off guard. The harsh weather, shortages of pay, and the death of the veteran general Han Jinzhang, who had defended the border for many years, severely damaged morale, leading to a series of defeats. The enemy had broken through Dushikou and was fiercely attacking the Xuanfu defense line, putting the capital in grave danger. Some ministers submitted memorials stating that in this critical moment, urgently dispatching troops was insufficient; the court needed to send generals. Some suggested sending the Crown Prince, believing it would be more effective. The Sun family even arranged for the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to secretly push for this. Yan Fei vehemently opposed it, but failed.
Forced by circumstances and pressure from all sides, the Crown Prince finally accepted the imperial decree to lead the expedition. With the Crown Prince in command, issues such as military supplies and pay were quickly resolved. She also utilized the strength of the Doyan Guard, and after the first battle, morale rebounded, and the situation turned around.
Meanwhile, in the capital, Lady Sun told Yan Fei the truth: the Crown Prince was actually a girl. Yan Fei was shocked. He was about to tell his mother when he was interrupted by some trivial matters. Yan Fei continued his studies at the Wenhua Hall, but he had more frequent contact with Grand Secretary Cao, who would occasionally offer him guidance. Yan Fei had no opportunity to engage in politics, but he occasionally displayed some talent. He noticed a mixture of pity and regret in the Emperor's appreciative gaze when he praised him.
Yan Fei had a nightmare in which Yan Chao returned from the battlefield, covered in blood, and appeared at his window, laughing as he called out, "Truly a good son of Crown Prince Zhaohuai. Is His Highness the Crown Prince worthy of the title?" Yan Fei, as if possessed, replied, "My sixth uncle has deceived the emperor and is even less worthy of the position of Crown Prince." A sword pierced him, and he woke up. Yan Fei became increasingly preoccupied.
On a whim, Yan Fei secretly went to see Xu Shuying. He noticed the unfamiliar child beside her and her attitude towards A-Hu, which made Yan Fei feel nostalgic, dreamy, and somewhat jealous. He couldn't help but imagine Xu Shuying's life over the past few years, and during their conversation, he inadvertently revealed that Yan Chao was a woman. Xu Shuying was also very shocked.
A sudden fire broke out in the Qianqing Palace of the Imperial Palace in the capital. Yan Fei desperately carried the Emperor out, but was seriously injured himself. On his deathbed, he told Lady Sun that he had no chance of inheriting the throne and that she should stop plotting for him. Lady Sun wept, saying that she had known this all along, but there were many ways to resolve the issue of succession, and that Crown Prince Zhaohuai and her son were undoubtedly the most outstanding.
The emperor knew of Yan Fei's infertility but kept it a secret from others, intending to ensure his grandson's life of wealth and honor. Lady Sun also knew but kept it a secret from others, planning to have an heir for her son. Yan Chao knew, assuming Lady Sun was unaware, and intended to use this to his advantage. Yan Fei ultimately died, finding release from his own unbearable grief.
Xu Shuying told Liang Lu that she wanted to leave the palace. Liang Lu replied that the Crown Prince had given instructions before his departure that she could leave whenever she wanted. The four concubines and A-Hu were smuggled out of the palace. At their parting, Jiang Tiaohua suddenly changed her mind, saying she wanted to go back and wait for the Crown Prince to return. She admired the Crown Prince's courage in disguising herself as a man and wanted to stay in the Eastern Palace to assist him, believing in a brighter future. Ultimately, she and A-Hu returned to the palace.
At the border, the enemy's main force had been annihilated, and a great victory seemed imminent. At this critical moment, a Taiji (prince) within the enemy ranks, in a gamble, ambushed the Crown Prince, trapping her in Shenjing Fort. The Crown Prince decisively broke out, but was pursued. She eventually divided her forces, utilizing the terrain to launch a counterattack, and ultimately triumphed in a one-on-one duel with the Taiji, beheading the enemy general.
On their way back to the city, they passed through a village and encountered a woman by the roadside who had fallen behind the main group due to exhaustion. The woman was on the verge of death and begged him to save the infant in her arms. The prince took the swaddling clothes, but the woman was already dead. In the freezing cold, they returned to safety, and the baby girl, after being diagnosed as dead, miraculously cried.
After their victory and triumphant return to the capital, the Crown Prince's prestige reached its zenith. However, rumors spread throughout the capital that the Crown Prince had died in battle and that the current Crown Prince was a woman in disguise. The Crown Prince investigated swiftly and decisively, but failed to dispel the rumors. The generals who had accompanied the Crown Prince back testified that it was impossible for him to be an imposter.
Before the Emperor, the Crown Prince admitted, "It wasn't an imposter, but I am indeed a woman." The Emperor was furious, and the court was thrown into turmoil. Naturally, many began to discuss who should be chosen as the heir apparent. Surprisingly, the first to give the Crown Prince a positive affirmation was Zhou Shaoyun. Upon hearing the news, he was shocked and excited, immediately pledging his loyalty to the Crown Prince, saying that regardless of gender, he would always be a supporter. Cui Wenzao followed suit.
There was also a faction in the court that still chose to support the Crown Prince, because the factional struggles had left the Crown Prince's faction with no way out.
The Emperor met with the Crown Prince, and the two were on the verge of exchanging blows. The Emperor had known she was a woman before she went to war and had assumed she wouldn't return alive. From initially deciding to kill her, to using her to stabilize the situation before discarding her, he now had to acknowledge her influence. But he had no outstanding sons, and his most promising grandson was already dead. The Emperor hated her, refused to back down, and the decree to depose the Crown Prince had already been drafted.
The Crown Prince instructed Lan Huai'en to keep a close eye on the Emperor, while she retained control of the court. She promptly rewarded those who had contributed to the campaign, and at the same time, removed Grand Secretary Cao from the cabinet on charges of colluding with enemy states and corruption. As for those who opposed the campaign and submitted memorials, they were only severely punished for matters involving principles such as strikes and dereliction of duty… This series of actions temporarily stabilized the situation.
The emperor's decree to depose the crown prince was burned by the crown prince. The emperor, helpless, then considered making her the regent princess to support either Prince Su or Yan Tang. Yan Chao disagreed and placed the emperor under house arrest.
Princess Yongjia also wanted to join in the fun, but she lacked the ability. The opportunistic prince consort promptly pledged allegiance to the crown prince, and with his family at the forefront, the nobles also began to side with the crown prince.
Grand Secretary Yang Ren's attitude remained ambiguous; he requested an audience with the Emperor several times, but was always stopped. He submitted his resignation, but the Crown Prince refused.
Chen Xiu wavered, but was quickly persuaded by his students, and the Crown Prince also personally visited him to have a heart-to-heart talk.
Censor Xu Zhen was the most vehement opponent. He was imprisoned for his harsh criticism, but was released after the new emperor ascended the throne.
During this turmoil, Zhang Ji seized power from the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Because of his deal with the Crown Prince, Yang He, the governor of Liaodong, decided to support the Crown Prince after much consideration.
The emperor discovered that Lan Huaien was colluding with the crown prince. Without the crown prince's knowledge, he ordered Lan Huaien to be severely beaten and executed. One morning, the crown prince found Lan Huaien kneeling in the snow in the square, barely alive. The court officials unanimously agreed that such a treacherous eunuch should have been eliminated long ago, and thus submitted a memorial impeaching and punishing him.
The Crown Prince had no grounds or reason to protect her, and she could not possibly make her relationship with Lan Huaien public.
"Is he one of your men?" "He is one of His Majesty's men."
The emperor ordered the imperial physician to examine the crown prince's pulse. "Why did you have to choose him? I wouldn't have had any objections to the former Chen Wei. Why are you ruining yourself like this?" "Even if you are pregnant, what does it matter who it is, as long as it is my blood."
The prince pleaded with the emperor to spare Lan Huaien's life out of consideration for their past relationship. The emperor refused, realizing that the relationship between the crown prince and Lan Huaien was unusual. The crown prince was disgusted by having someone like Lan Huaien around him, and he also wanted to oppose the crown prince. The emperor resolved to execute Lan Huaien.
Lan Huaien's body was still thrown into the mass grave, buried by the heavy snow, and looked clean.
Not long after the New Year, the emperor fell seriously ill and could no longer speak. Before his death, he met with his ministers, and Yang Ren finally had the opportunity to see the emperor alone. He burst into tears, and the emperor desperately hid a secret edict in Yang Ren's sleeve. Late that night, the emperor breathed his last.
During the mourning period, the madwoman Sun, who had been imprisoned in Zhaoyang Palace for a long time, escaped, went to the East Palace, burned the "Ten Thousand Pines in the Wind" painting, and then attempted to assassinate the new emperor. Yan Chao, whose right arm was severely injured in the war, was unable to resist and was stabbed again. Sun died.
Even after Empress Dowager Yan ascended the throne, some still claimed she had usurped the throne by holding the emperor hostage, but her power was unstoppable. After becoming emperor, she dealt with some minor matters.
In the first year of the imperial examinations, the new emperor had his first batch of imperial disciples. This concludes the main text.
Regarding the late emperor's will, the emperor told Yang Ren that if the crown prince was not virtuous in the future, he could use the will to depose the emperor and establish a new one; regarding the crown prince's future succession, he must remove the father and keep the son; and he hoped that Yang Ren would take good care of himself.
Zhou Shaoyun presented a handsome man who resembled Shen Wei, but the new emperor immediately noticed the mismatch in demeanor and banished him from the palace, also reprimanding Zhou Shaoyun. Later, someone else presented a man who bore an eight-tenths resemblance to the treacherous eunuch Lan Huaien and a five-tenths resemblance to the current censor Xu Zhen. The emperor, bewildered, asked who this person was.
"Liu Yue".
Author's Note: This is the outline and ending for the sequel. The plot continues from Chapter 87, roughly outlining the main storyline. Details are still being revised.
Honestly, when the author finds that even after numerous revisions, including countless rewrites, they are still dissatisfied, it's incredibly frustrating. Perhaps their expectations were too high, or perhaps they simply believe that no matter how much they revise, they will never be truly satisfied, often falling into a state of guilt and helplessness… So, the author has decided to leave it as is for now, marking it as completed. The parts of the main text awaiting revision will still be revised, and the revised parts may also be revised further. However, the existing chapter count will ultimately only be increased without increasing the price, meaning the revision process might be very slow… If new ideas emerge, the final main text may still differ slightly from the outline.
This can be considered a temporary conclusion.
I'm so sorry [resting chin on hand]
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