Chapter 179 A Power Struggle and Rebellion A few days later, Hongxi arrived at Nanyuan. Hong…
A few days later, Hongxi arrived at Nanyuan. As soon as Hongxi arrived, Yinreng focused his attention on him. The news Cheng Qianyue received was always about Yinreng and Hongxi going to the peony garden that day, or going to the lake to watch the fish the day after tomorrow. Cheng Qianyue didn't intend to disturb the father and son's relationship, so she simply asked where Yinreng and Hongxi had been each day and then avoided them.
That morning, upon hearing that Yinreng and Hongxi were going hunting in the distance, Cheng Qianyue acknowledged it. Looking outside, she saw the weather was indeed bright and sunny, a perfect time for hunting. After a moment's thought, she said, "Bring the Fifth Prince over." With such a beautiful day, she and her son could go for a stroll outside too.
Cheng Qianyue carried Hongyao for a walk nearby. As they walked, she realized how heavy the child was, and she felt tired. Unfortunately, they were in the middle of nowhere. Cheng Qianyue asked, "Where's the nearest place again?"
Ruodie quickly replied, "We'll reach Qingxi Pavilion a little further ahead."
That's good, at least we have a place to rest. Cheng Qianyue said, "Let's go and rest for a bit." Soon they arrived at the pavilion, and she readily put Hongyao on the stone platform, exclaiming, "You're really heavy, you're like a big winter melon." Hongyao probably understood that she was teasing him, so he looked at her and chuckled.
After a while, Cheng Qianyue had rested enough and said, "Alright, let's go back." But soon after she finished speaking, a group of guards came running quickly from a distance. Before long, they knelt outside the pavilion, and the one in the lead said loudly, "This servant greets Your Highness the Imperial Concubine. His Majesty has ordered us to escort the Imperial Concubine and the Fifth Prince back to the palace."
Cheng Qianyue looked at the group of people, a question mark slowly forming on her forehead. What was going on? Why was Yinreng ordering guards to escort her back? She stared at the group outside, noticing that the leaders, dressed in yellow robes, were indeed imperial guards. After a long while, she asked, "Has something happened to the Emperor?"
The leader nodded and lowered his head, saying, "This servant does not know."
Seeing that she couldn't get any answers from him, Cheng Qianyue took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, then said, "In that case, let's go."
The group quickly returned to the palace, but before long after the leader left, Lin Quan'an relayed a message that the area outside was surrounded by guards. Cheng Qianyue then summoned An Derang and asked him to inquire. An Derang had actually gone to the front to inquire when the guards arrived, but unfortunately, he hadn't found out anything. He only heard from a young eunuch that Yinreng had indeed gone hunting with Hongxi that day.
Cheng Qianyue nodded and said, "His Majesty is meticulous and resourceful. He must have his reasons for giving such an order." Anyway, this wasn't the first time she had been surrounded by guards. If she couldn't find out anything, she would just wait.
——
Yinreng looked at Hongxi from his horse. Although he was still smiling, there was hardly a smile on his lips. He asked, "Hongxi, you've been in Nanyuan for a few days now. Don't you have anything to say to me?"
Hongxi lowered his eyes and said, "Your Majesty is grateful that you invited me to enjoy the scenery with you." Yinreng's expression was initially very gentle when he heard this, but this gentleness quickly dissipated. Hongxi continued, "I have heard about the grand hunting event that Your Majesty held with the Eight Banners soldiers. I would also like to experience the fun of hunting."
Yinreng nodded and remained silent for a long while, his thoughts unreadable to anyone. Finally, he looked into the distance and said, "Then let's ride to the Deer Park." He pulled on the reins, and the horse reared up and quickly galloped away. As soon as Yinreng moved, Hongxi followed, along with a string of guards behind him.
Some of these guards were imperial bodyguards who were close to Yinreng, but there were also more than twenty guards from Hongxi's residence.
Yinreng galloped on his horse, creating some distance between himself and those behind him. However, the loud whistling of the wind was soon replaced by other sounds: the neighing of horses and the shouts of the guards. Yinreng did not turn around to look, but behind him, the guards brought by Hongxi drew their swords and attacked the horses of the imperial guards. Several imperial guards, caught off guard, tumbled from their horses to the ground.
Hearing the commotion, Yinreng, unsure of his own thoughts, took a deep breath, gripped the reins, and shouted "Giddy up!" He quickly arrived near the enclosure of the Deer Park. He dismounted, and the remaining dozen or so imperial guards drew their swords and surrounded him. But by then, Hongxi and his guards had also arrived.
Yinreng clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and looked at him with extreme disappointment, "Hongxi, do you know what you're doing!"
Hongxi met his gaze without flinching and replied firmly, "Your subject has come to protect Your Majesty."
"Protecting the Emperor?" Yinreng chuckled, then pointed at the group of people in front of him and asked, "Is this how you protect the Emperor?"
Hongxi spoke calmly: "Father Emperor fell off his horse while hunting and is now recuperating at the Deer Park." He paused and continued: "Your Majesty is grateful for my service and has appointed me as Crown Prince to handle state affairs on behalf of Father Emperor."
Yinreng closed his eyes heavily after hearing these words, and after a long while said, "Even if I make you the crown prince, or even write an abdication edict, how will you convince the people? Aren't you afraid of being ridiculed by the masses?"
"Does Father Emperor think no one is laughing at me now?" Hongxi's voice suddenly rose, his eyes revealing intense pain, but he quickly laughed again: "Your son only needs Father Emperor to write the edict establishing the Crown Prince, as for how to convince the public, you don't need to worry about that."
Yinreng asked him directly, "Who instigated you? Was it the Eighth Prince, or are there more people behind you? Do you even know what you're doing?"
"Your Majesty, I know!" Hongxi answered resolutely. "Your Majesty, I know. But all of this was caused by you. In the past, the sons of Emperor Taizong of Tang killed each other. How is today any different from that day? Your Majesty, I just want to take back everything that belongs to me."
"Hongxi!"
"Your Majesty, I beseech you to establish a Crown Prince!"
Yinreng clutched his chest and took a step back, pleading with his last hope, "Hongxi, order your men to lay down their weapons. I will pretend that what happened today never happened." But Hongxi remained silent in response.
"Very well, very well." Yinreng's heart turned completely cold. He said "very well" three times, then clapped his hands heavily. A moment later, a squad of imperial guards rushed out of the house in the Deer Garden. Yinreng said, "Arrest...the traitor...and bring him to justice."
He turned around, no longer looking at the sounds of fighting behind him.
Before long, Hongxi was brought before Yinreng. Yinreng had many questions for him, but looking at Hongxi, now a prisoner, he couldn't utter a single word. In the end, he only asked, "Hongxi, do you regret it?"
Hongxi smiled wistfully, "The victor is king, the loser is villain; I have no regrets. Father, kill me."
He had already prepared for the worst. If it succeeded, all would be well; but if it failed, then so be it. He was the emperor's son. If he couldn't be the emperor's best son, then he would be a son who died at the emperor's hands. In any case, he was already living a life worse than death.
Yinreng breathed heavily for a few moments, then couldn't resist picking up his riding whip and lashing out. A fiery welt slowly appeared on Hongxi's cheek. Yinreng couldn't bring himself to strike again, and dejectedly lowered his hand. Finally, Yinreng stood up, walked past him, and ordered the people beside him, "Detain the First Prince here temporarily. As for the others, immediately take them to the prison and subject them to severe torture."
——
It was evening, and it was already dark outside, but Yinreng still hadn't returned. Cheng Qianyue sat in the room, a growing anxiety inevitably rising within her. She picked up a basket and began needlework, hoping to calm herself. However, she didn't find peace, and instead, she was pricked several times by the flickering candlelight.
She didn't know how much time had passed when there was a sudden commotion outside. Cheng Qianyue stood up abruptly, and then saw Yinreng stride in. Cheng Qianyue immediately breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly went to greet him, but the smile on her lips vanished completely when she saw Yinreng's face. His expression was truly terrible, giving the impression of thunderbolts striking from dark clouds. For a moment, Cheng Qianyue didn't dare to speak.
After entering the room, Yinreng gestured to dismiss everyone and then sat down. Cheng Qianyue followed suit, carefully observing him before softly asking, "Your Highness, what's wrong?" As she asked, she reached out and stroked his back to comfort him.
Yinreng shook his head without saying a word.
Cheng Qianyue changed the subject and asked, "Has the master eaten dinner? Why don't we ask them to bring some food?"
Yinreng continued to shake his head, it was unclear whether he had eaten or not.
Since he was so uncooperative, Cheng Qianyue had no choice but to let out a barely audible sigh. After a long while, she said again, "Master, would you like some water to wash up and go to bed?" Seeing that Yinreng did not object, she quickly called someone in. After a while, Cheng Qianyue personally took a handkerchief and helped him wash up and undress. On the bed, she turned to her side and gently wrapped her arms around his back, patting him softly, and whispered, "Master, I don't know what happened outside, but I hope you won't keep anything to yourself."
Yinreng kept his eyes closed as she patted him for a long time before he slowly exhaled.
Cheng Qianyue heard him inhale and exhale, and her tense nerves slowly relaxed. She thought to herself: That's right, no matter what happens, there's nothing you can't get over. But soon Yinreng's words startled her. He said in a deep voice, "Someone is plotting a rebellion today."
Cheng Qianyue's mind went blank for a moment: "Wh...what?!" Then she asked in surprise, "Who is it?"
Yinreng sat up abruptly, gritting his teeth, "Eighth Prince..."
It seems that the Eighth Prince hasn't given up his wicked intentions all these years. He secretly infiltrated the Li family long ago, and through them, he got involved with Hongxi. The clues lie with the clerk recommended by the Li family after Hongxi established his own residence. If it weren't for the recent decline in the Li family and Hongxi's residence, this person wouldn't have come to light. That clerk is ostensibly a failed scholar, but in reality, he's a student of the Eighth Prince's companion, He Zhuoyuan's uncle in Jiangnan. Ever since he learned of this person's problems, he's ordered the Imperial Guard to keep a close eye on the First Prince's residence. As a result, a secret report recently arrived, saying that Hongxi had secretly purchased a batch of weapons for his residence.
Yinreng did not believe his son intended to rebel against him, so he waited for Hongxi to report that someone was instigating him and his son, and sowing discord between Hongxi and his brothers. However, Hongxi disappointed him; he was actually being misled into rebelling against his father and the emperor.
Thinking of this, Yinreng felt as if his heart was being torn apart. He had previously considered which of his sons was capable of becoming the crown prince, and he had determined that Hongxi was not suited for the position, which was why he had neglected him. However, he could say with a clear conscience that he had always been a loving father to each of his sons. But now, this tragic incident of father and son killing each other had shattered all his tenderness.
Ah, Eighth Master?
Cheng Qianyue was stunned when she heard Yinreng's words. Her first reaction was that the Eighth Prince had gone mad. Where did he get the audacity to plot a rebellion? Cheng Qianyue didn't know what to say for a moment, but seeing that Yinreng was silent, she quickly comforted him, saying, "Your Majesty's foundation has been solid over the years. How could he possibly shake it? If you are angry that the Eighth Prince is plotting a rebellion, then we will follow the law. Don't keep your anger inside."
Upon hearing her words, Yinreng gave a cold laugh, his anger finding an outlet: "Since he dared to do such a thing, I will never let him off easily!"
Sure enough, after Cheng Qianyue returned to the Forbidden City, she heard that the Eighth Prince had been imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court, and it was estimated that a bloody storm was about to break out in the outer court.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com