Chapter 84 The Fierce Bird Will Shoot (Part 4) "I have the Crown Prince's fatal weakness..."
The main culprit in the treason case is still imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court, heavily guarded by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Since the case involves members of the imperial family, the emperor's early appointment of a presiding judge is a way of showing his stance to the world. As for the key aspects of the trial, they naturally remain in the emperor's hands.
Therefore, if Yan Chao wanted to see Yan Li, the safest course of action would be to first get through the emperor.
The Emperor moved back to the Forbidden City from the Western Garden this morning. Even though the Western Garden was heavily fortified after the palace coup, and the Xi'an Gate was now impregnable, it could not dispel the Emperor's doubts. However, even back in the Qianqing Palace at the heart of the Forbidden City, the Emperor still could not find peace of mind.
At midday, the Crown Prince personally went to pay his respects and serve the Emperor his meal. The Emperor had a poor appetite and looked listless. After the meal, the Crown Prince glanced at the taciturn Crown Prince and said, "It's been half a day, what do you have to say?"
The emperor gave a cold sneer.
Yan Chao shut up.
"If you had a son or daughter, you wouldn't need to rack your brains thinking about them right now." The emperor paused, then suddenly asked, "Has the remaining poison in your body been cleared?"
"Thank you for your concern, Father. Your son is now fine."
The emperor gazed at her with a deep look. He had asked this question many times, and the crown prince's answer had always remained the same. His tone was indifferent: "I suppose you must hate Li'er to death."
The emperor still called him "Li'er" at this time. A surge of anger rose in his heart, and Yan Chao felt disgusted. He gritted his teeth and finally held back, speaking in a calm and steady voice: "Father, you are wise. Your son hates him, but not more than him."
“From last night until now, he won’t confess anything, he just keeps accusing you.”
Yan Li was never one to give up easily. Last time, she abandoned the Li family to protect him, and this time, he was determined to drag her down with him even if it meant his death. Yan Chao's expression remained unchanged as he asked softly, "Based solely on that so-called warrant?"
"I told you, he didn't confess to anything."
Yan Chaoning frowned and bowed, saying, "Your subject wishes to see him."
"What, you're going to interrogate him?"
“He is the Emperor’s son, and also a serious criminal accused of treason. Only the Emperor can interrogate him. I only wish to persuade him and also extricate myself from this predicament. Please grant me permission, Your Majesty.”
The emperor stared at her silently for a moment before uttering a curt "Granted" in extreme annoyance. He then refused to look at her again and rose to enter the inner chamber. Yan Chao, too lazy to investigate the source of the emperor's mood, bowed to his retreating figure before withdrawing.
Despite receiving the imperial edict, Yan Chao still left the palace incognito. The Imperial Clan Court, usually a place of low rank and little influence, had now become the center of attention. This time, the emperor had entrusted the rebellious prince to Qiu Cong, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but when the Crown Prince arrived, it was Zhang Ji, the commissioner of the Northern Garrison, who came to greet him.
"Has torture been used?"
"Your Highness, without an imperial decree, we dare not use torture." Zhang Ji paused, then said in a low voice, "Commander Qiu has concerns."
Yan Li was locked in a room. Pushing open the door, she was greeted by complete darkness and a damp, chilly atmosphere. After a while, a candle was lit, and she could barely see inside. The room was relatively clean, except for some water stains on the floor.
The windows of the room were sealed shut, and the man was leaning against the window, squinting and trying to see who was coming.
"May I borrow your sword?" The voice was all too familiar.
"Just for self-defense."
Zhang Ji presented the sword, then retreated to wait, still unsure of what to do.
Yan Li finally opened his eyes, but didn't look at her. While pulling out half of the iron chain, he chuckled mockingly, "What, afraid I'll drag you down with me?"
"You've been hesitant to agree, simply because you want to see me. If you're planning to fight to the death, how can I not be on guard?"
"So, you've already killed the Wei family?"
"Yan Chao, you are truly treacherous! You even plot against me for the lives of your people! If I had known she was a traitor, I would have dealt with her long ago. Why would I have given her a chance to escape!"
Yan Li glared at Yan Chao, her eyes filled with undisguised resentment and venom, as if she wanted to devour her alive. She squeezed out each word through gritted teeth: "I just want to ask one question, is Yan Tang your child?"
Yan Chao was momentarily taken aback. He actually suspected Yan Tang? She frowned and said frankly, "No, I have never touched Wei Shi."
"That slut stole the secret letter, ran off with the gold and jewels, and never came back. She refused to live a life of luxury with me and was even willing to abandon her son. If she hadn't been pregnant with your child, why would she have been so devoted to being your spy? Who else could it be but you!"
"I also have my doubts about the reasons behind this. If that's what you really think, there's nothing I can do. The Crown Prince's Palace is already lacking an heir. If he were truly my bloodline, I would have recognized him long ago. Besides, you spend every day with Yantang. You know better than I do who he resembles in his eyes and brows."
He bent one leg, the iron ring scraping the ground with a harsh sound. He perked up now, brazenly scrutinizing Yan Chao from head to toe, his gaze filled with scrutiny and mockery.
"You don't need to worry about that."
"You're not anxious? You must really not know why, after Crown Prince Zhaohuai passed away, Father didn't make Yan Fei the Crown Prince's grandson, but instead made you the Crown Prince?"
Yan Chao was taken aback.
"You really didn't know! Yan Fei was born into a noble family, and all those who knew about it back then were silenced, even his birth mother, Consort Sun, was kept in the dark."
Yan Li glanced at the shock on her face and couldn't help but feel a sense of pleasure. She smiled indifferently and said, "So even if Father Emperor favors him, hires the best tutors for him, and bestows upon him the highest titles, it's all useless! All of Sun's years of lying low and painstaking planning for him have been in vain!"
Yan Chao was still lost in thought. As the eldest grandson of the Empress Yuan and the second son of the Empress Dowager, given the Emperor's high regard for Crown Prince Zhaohuai, the celestial phenomena were utterly irrelevant. She had made countless guesses about this, but could not understand it at all. Even the Emperor would occasionally provoke her with this matter, making her sit in the position of Crown Prince with trepidation.
Is that really the case? Yan Chao was filled with a myriad of thoughts.
Crown Prince Yan Chao's attitude towards his young grandson Yan Fei has always been complex. She fears his birth and is jealous of his imperial favor, yet she is also proud of her status, always maintaining the demeanor befitting a crown prince and the affection an uncle should show to his young nephew. Given the Crown Prince's upbringing, this is not a pretense, nor does it require any pretense. She herself embodies this very attitude. She will care for the child, but the child will eventually grow up.
Yan Chao sat upright in the chair, her sword beside her. Her hand rested on the hilt, not gripping it, but simply holding it tightly.
Yan Li was almost delirious: "...He was taught to be so outstanding, he was also spoiled and became ambitious. If you win, you'll be impotent and childless; if you lose, I'll be the one. The victor is king, the loser is villain. I'm the loser, but Yan Chao, you might not become king. Father will find out sooner or later. It's just a pity I won't see the day you suffer unbearable pain. What a pity..."
Yan Chao's heart skipped a beat, his expression changed involuntarily, and he blurted out, "What did you say?"
"Didn't the imperial physician tell you? Yes, he probably didn't dare to tell you either. That herb in the Ganlu Tea is a good thing for depleting yin blood and causing infertility!"
Yan Li's fierce and menacing expression sent a chill down Yan Chao's spine. Yan Chao vaguely remembered this medicine, but Feng Jingmo hadn't mentioned any effect on fertility. At this moment, she was convinced that Yan Li was bluffing her.
She sat frozen, her face a mixture of shock and anger. After a long while, she calmly said, "How do you know I was completely unaware? The poisoning was merely a catalyst. Otherwise, how could I have orchestrated this scheme?"
Yan Chao then changed the subject: "If you don't acknowledge Yan Tang, fine. But you'll at least acknowledge the child in Princess Liu's womb, won't you?"
"What did you say?"
Yan Chao stood up and took two steps forward. The candlelight in the room was dim, making her figure indistinct, but her voice was clear and deep: "Liu is two months pregnant."
Yan Li's pupils constricted sharply. The image of that lonely figure by the moon gate last night flashed through his mind; she seemed to want to say something but hesitated. But even as he stepped out of the mansion, he didn't have a single thought of looking back at her.
"You...you're not trying to fool me!"
"Whether it is or not, you can decide for yourself when you see her later." Yan Chao continued to himself, "Don't worry, the Wang family members are only temporarily under house arrest and no one is making things difficult for them. However, it's hard to say what will happen later."
Yan Li gritted her teeth: "What do you want!"
"Don't you know very well what happened to Yan Ping?"
In the thirteenth year of Xuan Ning, after Yan Ping was executed, his queen was also executed for being an accomplice.
Yan Li gripped the iron chains tighter, wanting to argue further, but when she looked up and saw the Crown Prince's gaze, she immediately understood: "I am already a prisoner, what does the Crown Prince want me to do?"
"Duoyan Guard".
Upon hearing those three words, Yan Li's expression shifted from confusion to shock. He seemed struck by lightning, his face turning deathly pale. Yet, he opened his mouth and let out a few laughs, his voice cracking, shrill and shrill.
That letter. He had been consumed by worry, believing he was doomed. In his desperation, he had made a desperate gamble, leading to this catastrophe. But now Yan Chao was telling him that the emperor had known nothing about that letter from beginning to end. He had needlessly lost his life for it—how ridiculous!
His mother, uncle, wife... half a lifetime of hard work! His chest tightened and he couldn't breathe. His vision blurred, and he felt a metallic taste in his throat. He spat out a mouthful of blood.
Yan Chao frowned, took two steps forward, and pinched Yan Li's philtrum. Yan Li hadn't completely lost his mind, but he was currently overwhelmed with anger and felt weak all over. He turned his head away with a cold expression.
Now that things have come to this, the Crown Prince will never let him go. He has no other choice.
Yan Li finally had no energy left to argue with her, and gave a bitter smile: "If the Crown Prince can spare them, I will give you my life."
The Crown Prince had made the decision to have Lady Liu visit the rebellious prince without her consent. Lady Liu entered the Imperial Clan Court just as the Crown Prince was leaving. She silently stepped aside and bowed her head in greeting. The Crown Prince, however, stopped before her and asked, "Has Yantang's birth mother not yet been found?"
Lady Liu replied, "Your Highness, no."
Indifferent and simple. Yan Chao glanced at her silently; her clothes were extremely plain. She didn't really have a deep impression of this fourth sister-in-law. Liu was always low-key, and because she was not particularly talented or beautiful and had a gentle and mild temperament, she was really unremarkable.
Yan Chao had never learned much about her character. Therefore, although he had wondered if Lady Wei had died in the power struggles within the inner quarters, he could not draw a conclusion.
She remained silent, staring at Liu for a few moments, before relenting and letting her in. A short while later, she could faintly hear crying.
Lan Huaien, acting on the Emperor's orders, went to Zhaoyang Palace, bringing numerous gifts and inquiring in detail about the illness of Prince Changle. The Emperor was deeply concerned and repeatedly instructed the imperial physicians to treat him carefully. Prince Changle had caught a cold and had an injury on his arm; his high fever lasted for a day and a night before subsiding. When Lan Huaien saw him, his face was flushed, his eyes were dull, and he still appeared dazed.
“Once the treacherous and vicious villains are brought to justice, nothing unexpected will happen,” Madam Sun said with resentment as she watched her son fall asleep, then got up and led Lan Huaien out. “At this point, does His Majesty still not care about his grandson? Lan, the seal bearer, how does His Majesty intend to deal with Prince Xin?”
Lan Huaien told her the emperor's decree, and added at the end: "Your Majesty, there is no need to be anxious. The rebel king has committed a heinous crime of treason this time, and he will not be let off lightly."
Madam Sun turned around silently, leading him towards the inner hall as she asked, "May I ask, Master, how is the Crown Prince?"
Lan Huaien immediately became alert, his eyes narrowing as he replied, "Isn't Consort Sun aware of the conflict between the Crown Prince and the Rebellious Prince? Naturally, she hopes to eliminate any future troubles, and therefore she has already asked His Majesty to allow her to meet with the Rebellious Prince at the Imperial Clan Court today."
"He deserves to die."
Madam Sun lifted the curtain and entered, but there was no one serving her in the hall. She poured tea herself, and Lan Huaien frowned, bowed slightly, and said repeatedly, "I dare not."
"The Grand Secretary is a favorite of the Emperor and also the Director of the Eastern Depot. He wields great power and is very influential. I am just a mere woman in the inner palace. It is not beneath me to serve tea to the Grand Secretary." She put down the tea, sat down first, and then looked at Lan Huai'en: "Grand Secretary, please sit down."
Lan Huaien sat down calmly, but the smile on his face faded slightly. When he met Sun's gaze, his eyes held a hint of inquiry. Sun was quite different from her usual indifferent and detached self; at this moment, a dark fire seemed to be about to burst forth from her eyes.
Both of them seemed to have changed into a different mask.
"Knowing that the Grand Secretary has served His Majesty for many years, it is normal for him to be very cautious and wary. Grand Secretary, you can rest assured. I have no need to and dare not scheme against you. My son and I may need your help in the future."
The doors and windows were tightly shut, and no one was around. Lan Huaien held his breath slightly, as no one nearby was eavesdropping. He didn't respond to Madam Sun's words, but went straight to the point: "If Madam Sun has any instructions, please speak freely."
"If Prince Xin has no chance of turning things around, the position of the Crown Prince will be further consolidated, with the support of the ministers, making him powerful yet secure. If the Crown Prince successfully ascends the throne, a new emperor will bring a new court. How will the current Crown Prince then position himself? The current Crown Prince is young and promising, which inevitably attracts jealousy. I imagine many ministers would like to get rid of him. Has the current Crown Prince not considered his own future?"
Lan Huaien listened to her earnest yet tactful explanation and couldn't help but click his tongue and chuckle: "Your Majesty is joking. What future can a mere eunuch like me talk about? As for the future, if the new emperor really wants to punish me, would I dare to disobey his decree?"
Undeterred by his pessimistic words, Madam Sun calmly replied, "Having served in the imperial court for so many years, your talent and magnanimity are beyond the reach of ordinary people. How could you so easily believe in fate? I only ask you, what if I could guarantee you a life of glory and wealth for the rest of your days?"
"Your Highness, you have quite the arrogance." At this point, Madam Sun's intentions were crystal clear. Lan Huai'en sensed something amiss and was no longer in a hurry to leave.
"Let's not beat around the bush. According to the order of seniority, Yan Fei should inherit the throne, and only he is qualified to compete with the Crown Prince."
“The Prince of Chang Le is of noble status and deeply favored by His Majesty, yet His Majesty has shown no intention of changing the heir apparent over the years. Moreover, the current Crown Prince is no longer the empty shell he once was. If Your Majesty’s confidence is only this much, your chances of winning are really not high.”
“Since I have specially invited the Grand Secretary here today for a chat, I naturally have enough leverage.” Looking at Lan Huai’en’s still calm and composed demeanor, Madam Sun couldn’t help but feel a little disgusted. She hated those eyes that seemed to be smiling but not smiling, appearing seductive and cunning.
Sun remained expressionless: "I just wonder if the Master is interested in joining forces with me?"
Lan Huaien did not answer, but instead changed the subject: "Serving before the Emperor, I have seen too many bold and clever people. Just take the eunuchs, Ji Weixian, Hu Zuoming... none of them had a good ending. I am not clever, and I am also timid. I cannot guess what Consort Sun is trying to say, and it is not worth it to gamble my life." He showed some impatience and made a move to get up.
Madam Sun knew that he was forcing her to show her "sincerity" first, and she desperately needed this opportunity. So, after only a moment's hesitation, Madam Sun decisively said in a deep voice, "I have a fatal weakness of the Crown Prince."
The atmosphere suddenly froze.
Seeing that Lan Huaien remained unmoved, Madam Sun added, "The head of the Imperial Household Department should know that the concubine in the Eastern Palace came from my Zhaoyang Palace."
In reality, Madam Sun and Xu Shuying had no contact for a long time. She only brought up their relationship now in a moment of desperation to gain Lan Huaien's trust. As soon as she said this, Lan Huaien cast a stern look at her.
Years passed, and Xu Shuying forced herself to forget the people of Zhaoyang Palace. When she saw Prince Chang Le again, she only treated him with courtesy. She was still unaware of the situation outside. After seeing Xiao Jiu, she was heartbroken and, before the Crown Prince could summon her, she had already apologized. However, the Crown Prince interrogated her extensively but found nothing.
"I have always turned a blind eye to your relationship with Xiao Jiu. But you shouldn't have made your private affair public."
Shu Ying lowered her eyes, tears welling up: "I know I'm guilty."
During the interrogation, she clearly knew nothing about what Xiao Jiu had done, yet she insisted that she had colluded with him and admitted to the crime of covering up and deceiving him. Yan Chao was furious and coldly said, "Are you so eager to die that you want to die for him?"
Shu Ying burst into tears, her pent-up anger surging to her head, and she said indignantly, "Yes! If I die, the Eastern Palace will be free of a hidden danger, and Your Highness will be spared from constant suspicion."
Yan Chao frowned, surprised that Shu Ying's feelings for Xiao Jiu had deepened to this extent. Even knowing that Xiao Jiu had schemed against and hurt her, she was willing to die to follow him. Yan Chao felt pity, but also anger at her lack of self-control: "Is it worth it for a little eunuch? A few days ago you told me you wanted to leave the palace, and I didn't investigate whether you had conspired with him beforehand, planning to elope afterward. Now that he's reaping what he sowed, my promise to you still stands. Are you still willing to leave the palace?"
She was willing to give Shuying a way out. But Shuying shook her head: "I have failed Your Highness's deep kindness. I do not wish to leave the palace again."
"Is it because without him, you don't even want the freedom you cherish so much anymore?"
Shuying shook her head again: "No. I yearn for freedom, but I no longer know how to find hope. I can no longer serve Your Highness."
"I don't quite understand what you're saying."
What she described in words was far less than the long, endless, and visceral pain she had endured for years or even decades. Yan Chao was a prince and the crown prince, and although she was a woman beneath her fine clothes, she had never been in his shoes, so no matter how much she empathized, she could not fully understand.
Looking at Shu Ying, Yan Chao could only sigh with sorrow: "Indeed, I cannot empathize with you."
"I'm sorry, Shuying, from the very beginning, I've been the one who wronged you."
Yan Chao bent down to help Shu Ying up, but she flinched as if startled, nearly falling. Yan Chao then withdrew his hand and was about to help her up when she spoke first: "I am no longer a virgin and am unfit to serve Your Highness."
Yan Chao was somewhat incoherent at that moment: "I didn't mean for you... Xiao Jiu, isn't he a eunuch?"
Shuying was stunned, not expecting the Crown Prince to ask this so suddenly, and didn't know how to explain. Besides, this wasn't the time to explain. After a moment of silence, the Crown Prince still didn't speak. She felt her face burning, biting her lip and stammering, "Is...is there another way? I...I..."
Yan Chao finally came to his senses and coughed lightly.
Shuying took a deep breath and stammered to herself, "This concubine does not wish to leave the palace. Your Highness is right. I am a weak woman, and I am afraid it will be difficult for me to survive outside the palace. It is because I cannot find a place for myself. If you truly pity me, please grant me an end. I am willing to go and accompany Your Highness."
Seeing her so dejected, Yan Chao was at a loss for words to offer comfort. Just as he was hesitating, Liang Lu's voice suddenly came from outside the door. He called out "Your Highness," but did not specify what it was about.
"Go back now. I won't blame you, and don't tell anyone about this," she instructed Liang Lu to come in, then gestured for her to get up, adding with concern, "Take care of yourself, and don't commit suicide."
Seeing that Consort Xu's face was streaked with tears, Liang Lu quickly called her personal maid in to help her up. The room fell silent, and Liang Lu immediately stepped forward and whispered, "Eunuch Lan sent a message through the side door, saying that he has an extremely urgent matter to discuss with Your Highness."
"Let him in."
Yan Chao wasn't good at dealing with sensitive young girls, and talking to Xu Shuying was quite mentally taxing. He was also worried about how to settle her down. After letting her leave the palace, whether she got married or was given a house, estate, or shop, the Eastern Palace could ensure she would have enough to eat and wear. But Shuying clearly had her own ideas; according to her previous thoughts, once she left the palace, she didn't want to have any further involvement with the Eastern Palace. Now that she had thoughts of suicide, these matters needed to be considered carefully.
Yan Chao felt a pang of disappointment. But she didn't really know Consort Ning very well either.
Soon, Lan Huaien was brought in. Yan Chao was standing with his hands behind his back when a soft, high-pitched voice was heard: "This servant greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."
How awkward! Yan Chao glanced at him and saw that the man was dressed as a palace maid, his burly figure making him look even more comical. Yan Chao exclaimed, "Lan Huai'en, what are you up to now!"
"I told you it was urgent! We need to keep it a secret so as not to arouse suspicion."
Yan Chao pinched the bridge of his nose and instructed him to follow him to the inner chamber of the palace to discuss the matter in detail. Unexpectedly, they had only taken a few steps out of the door when Fifteen came panting and reported: "Your Highness, Physician Qi from the Imperial Hospital requests an audience, saying that he has been ordered to examine Your Highness's pulse."
Yan Chao's expression stiffened. Why did the emperor suddenly decide to take her pulse at this moment?
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