boiling
Riding high on their victory, Ling Zhan escorted the wanted criminals back to the capital, laden with gold and silver.
At the dock, the streets were deserted as people cheered deafeningly.
Wei Jin personally led all the civil and military officials to greet her. He stood at the highest point, gazing at the figure steadily descending from the warship. The sea breeze ruffled her hair, and the sunlight gilded her hair. At that moment, all imperial majesty was forgotten; his eyes held only the ecstatic joy and pride of regaining what he had lost.
He stepped forward and, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, tightly grasped Ling Zhan's hand, his grip so strong it almost crushed her finger bones.
"It's good that you're back."
A thousand words can be summed up in these four characters, heavy with the worry and lingering fear of countless days and nights. It seems that this is always the only way.
Ling Zhan looked up at him, his cold eyes reflecting his image, and nodded slightly: "Mm."
The emperor and empress walked hand in hand back to the palace in the imperial carriage.
Behind them stood the proud and spirited sons and daughters of the Shen family, along with the prison cart and gold and silver that symbolized their illustrious war exploits. This scene was deeply etched in the hearts of the people of the capital, and it also stung the eyes of some.
In the ensuing period, due to the great victory in the southeast and the downfall of the Huo family, no one in the court dared to challenge the emperor and empress.
But the undercurrents have shifted to another, more sensitive direction—the successor.
In the battle of the East Sea, the performance of the princes was evident to all:
Shen Xiao is calm and decisive, and his efforts in coordinating the army's support have been meritorious. During his time in Beijing, he assisted Wei Jin in stabilizing the defense, demonstrating the potential and demeanor to become a cardinal. He has many supporters in the military.
Shen Yu's literary reputation for achieving "triple top honors" and his outstanding administrative abilities demonstrated in coordinating logistics and formulating regulations within the navy have made him a near-perfect model for a successor in the eyes of the civil service.
While Shen Zhangwu was not as meticulous as his brothers, he was sincere, brave, and unparalleled. On the battlefield, he was an invincible blade, and his protectiveness towards his parents and brothers was undisguised. This pure and fierce nature of a "daddy's boy" unexpectedly won the favor of many nobles and some straightforward military generals, who believed that if he were to become emperor, he would certainly not mistreat his old brothers.
The atmosphere at the morning assembly that day was unusual from the very beginning.
After the official business was finished, just as the eunuch was about to announce the end of the court session, an old general known for his outspokenness, Niu Jizong, suddenly stepped forward, his voice booming like a bell:
"Your Majesty! This old minister is a rough man and doesn't understand those intricacies! But there are some things I just have to say!" He patted his chest with his large, fan-like hand. "This old minister thinks that Prince Xiao is excellent! His demeanor, his skill, leading the men to guard the northern border and expand the territory, is exactly like Your Majesty's style back then! This is the kind of great leader our Great Yong needs in the future! Not a single brother in the army disagrees!"
These words were like a spark thrown into boiling oil, and an uncontrollable murmur of agreement immediately erupted from the ranks of military officers.
Several young generals' eyes lit up, and they wished they could applaud on the spot.
Before the civil officials could object, Zhou Wenzheng, a Hanlin Academy scholar known as a "pillar of integrity," slowly stepped forward, first bowing politely to Niu Jizong—his posture elegant, but his eyes conveying a sense of "how could a brute like him understand righteousness"—then facing the throne, he loudly proclaimed:
"General Niu is right. Prince Xiao's bravery is indeed a blessing to our Great Yong. However, governing a country is not solely based on strength. Prince Yu has achieved the highest honors in the imperial examinations, demonstrating exceptional literary talent. Moreover, he is kind, compassionate, and considerate of the people's plight. During his time in the southeast, he already displayed outstanding administrative abilities. This is the foundation of our cultural heritage and the hope of all scholars in the land. It is the very basis for the long-term stability of our nation."
His words, full of classical allusions, drew nods and smiles from the ranks of civil officials, who all seemed to agree that this was the truth.
Just as the usual "civil and military contest" was about to begin, out of the blue, the old Duke of Zhenguo, who was closest to Shen Zhangwu—probably still lingering from yesterday's drinking—stood up and stepped forward from the ranks of the nobles:
"Hiccup...you...you're all right, but in my opinion..." He blushed and patted his round belly, "That kid Zhangwu is really good! Honest! Not scheming at all! He's genuinely good to His Majesty and the Empress! We old brothers like that kind of person! When he takes over the family in the future, will he ever mistreat us uncles who watched him grow up? That's what...hiccup...our own people are like!"
These words were so blunt and down-to-earth that several nobles who were on good terms with him couldn't help but chuckle and nod repeatedly. The civil officials looked disdainful, while the military generals were somewhat amused and exasperated—how could the selection of an heir be based on who was more "one of their own"?
The imperial court suddenly resembled a marketplace:
"General Niu, you are mistaken! Governing a country requires..."
"Scholar Zhou is so pedantic! Haven't you heard..."
"How can the Duke of Zhenguo's drunken words be taken seriously? Establishing an heir is the foundation of the nation..."
"Why can't we take it seriously? That's just the heart of a child!"
The three sides' supporters argued vehemently, some with reason, some with frank expression, and some with unreasonable arguments, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere. The originally solemn and dignified Golden Palace suddenly became as lively as a vegetable market.
Wei Jin, seated on the dragon throne, rested his chin on one hand while tapping the armrest with the fingers of the other. As he watched his ministers below arguing heatedly over his sons, the ambiguous smile on his lips grew more and more pronounced.
He neither stopped it nor expressed his opinion; he simply observed quietly.
Finally, during a lull in the argument, he coughed softly.
The sound wasn't loud, but it was like a spell that immobilized everything, instantly silencing all other sounds.
Everyone looked at him expectantly, awaiting his divine judgment.
Wei Jin glanced around, his gaze lingering briefly on the faces of Niu Jizong, Zhou Wenzheng, and the old Duke of Zhenguo, before lazily speaking:
"Does Minister Niu think Xiao'er resembles me and has the bearing of a great ruler?"
Niu Jizong stood tall and proud: "Exactly!"
"Does Minister Zhou think Yu'er is virtuous and intelligent, and suitable to inherit the literary tradition?"
Zhou Wenzheng bowed deeply: "Your Majesty is wise!"
"Does the old Duke think Zhang Wu is a true man, one of his own?"
The old Duke Zhenguo, half-sober, chuckled and said, "This old minister...this old minister just thinks so."
Wei Jin nodded, seemingly agreeing with their views.
Just when everyone thought he was about to make a decision, he suddenly changed the subject, looking puzzled:
"Why do I hear... all the people you're praising sound pretty good?"
The ministers: "..." Your Majesty, isn't that obvious?
Wei Jin leaned forward slightly, a seemingly innocent smile on his face, but his words sent a chill down the spines of everyone below:
"Are you all in such a hurry to divide my sons into factions and rank them... Do you think I'm old and blind, unable to tell who's good and who's bad, and need your reminders? Or do you think I've been sitting in this position for too long, getting in the way of you taking sides and favoring the weak?"
His tone was still smiling, but the coldness in his eyes sent chills down the spines of those who had been arguing the loudest.
"I will look after and teach my own sons!" Wei Jin's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority. "The brothers have their own way of getting along, and it is not for outsiders to divide them into factions or sow discord between them!"
His gaze swept across the entire hall like lightning: "I will take your words today as a sign of your concern for the princes. From now on, in the court, whoever dares to openly discuss the succession, form cliques, or engage in favoritism..."
He paused, his unspoken words creating an invisible pressure that made everyone shrink back.
"Court adjourned!"
Wei Jin stood up, flicked his sleeves and left, leaving behind a hall full of officials with different thoughts and lingering fear.
As he reached the palace gate, he seemed to remember something, turned back to the still-stunned old Duke Zhenguo, and added jokingly:
"Old Duke, next time you drink with Zhang Wu, remember to invite me. I also want to know how that kid managed to fool all of you old foxes into becoming 'one of us'."
The old Duke of Zhenguo: "..." (Inner monologue: Your Majesty, I'm not being fooled, I genuinely think the young prince is wonderful! Besides... drinking with you is too much pressure!)
This seemingly farcical court assembly ended with Wei Jin issuing a series of warnings that were both scathing and forceful.
The cracks were forcibly mended, but the undercurrents beneath the surface surged even more violently.
Everyone understands that the struggle for succession has only just begun. And His Majesty clearly has no intention of letting anyone have their way easily.
The matter of establishing an heir apparent was temporarily put to rest, but just a few days later, someone else stepped forward.
On the morning of that day, in the imperial court, an old uncle who had remained silent and had not even vehemently opposed the previous storm—Prince Rui (the younger brother of the late Prince Rui, and by seniority, Wei Jin's uncle)—slowly stepped forward from the ranks of the imperial relatives.
Despite his advanced age, his steps were steady. He first bowed respectfully to Wei Jin and Ling Zhan, then his gaze swept over Shen Yu, his voice carrying a strange mix of emotion and solemnity:
"Your Majesty, this old minister has something to say that concerns the royal bloodline and must be heard."
The entire hall fell silent instantly, and all eyes were focused on the highly respected old prince.
Prince Rui took a deep breath and pointed at Shen Yu: "This old minister observes Prince Yu's appearance, demeanor, talent, and character, and often thinks of him, unable to sleep at night. Because his appearance and demeanor are so similar to my deceased elder brother—the late Prince Rui!"
"Whoosh—!"
The entire court was in an uproar! Countless shocked, puzzled, and inquisitive gazes were directed at Shen Yu!
Shen Yu himself was also slightly taken aback, and looked up at the old prince, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.
Prince Rui continued, his voice trembling with emotion: "I remember that before my brother's tragic death, his concubine was indeed pregnant. She disappeared during the turmoil… I searched for her for many years without success, a regret I carry for the rest of my life. Seeing Prince Yu today is like seeing my brother reborn! I dare to guarantee with my life that Prince Yu is very likely the only surviving bloodline of my unfortunate brother! He is the most legitimate direct grandson of the Great Yong royal family!"
His words were like a bucket of cold water poured into a boiling oil pan, causing it to explode completely!
The civil officials were initially shocked, but then many of them brightened up!
If Shen Yu is a direct descendant of the Wei family, wouldn't all the previous obstacles of etiquette and law be easily resolved?
Literary talent, lineage, status... perfect! This is simply a crown prince bestowed upon the Great Yong by heaven!
The military officers and Shen Zhangwu's supporters looked grim. In terms of bloodline legitimacy, Shen Yu had immediately surpassed his brothers.
Shen Xiao remained expressionless, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
Shen Zhangwu stared wide-eyed at Shen Yu, then at his father and mother, his face filled with confusion and anxiety.
In the imperial court, the court was instantly divided into several factions, and the debate erupted more fiercely than ever before! Some people excitedly demanded a blood test to prove kinship, some questioned the veracity of Prince Rui's words, and some had already begun to shout "It is the mandate of heaven!"
In the chaos, Wei Jin, who had been observing coldly, suddenly grabbed the paperweight from the imperial desk and slammed it to the ground!
With a loud crash, the jade shattered!
All sounds ceased abruptly.
Wei Jin slowly stood up, his face showing no anger, but rather an extremely impatient and unruly smirk. His gaze swept over the ministers who were arguing heatedly, finally settling on the agitated Prince Rui.
"Uncle, recognizing relatives is a good thing." His tone was light, but it carried a chilling coldness. "Yu'er has another grandfather to love him, and I am happy for him."
His tone shifted abruptly, his voice rising sharply, carrying the force of thunder, resounding throughout the entire hall:
"but!"
"I'm not dead yet! Or are you all hoping for my death right now?!"
He pointed at the silent ministers below and scolded, "One by one, you're all in such a hurry to choose an heir apparent and form factions. What are you trying to do? Force me to abdicate? Or do you think my sitting on this throne is getting in your way?"
"Let me tell you! I will teach and supervise my own sons! Whoever is capable will take the position. I have my own judgment! It's not your place to worry about what will happen after me!"
"As for Yu'er's bloodline..." Wei Jin snorted coldly, his gaze sharp as a knife, "He was raised by me and the Empress! He calls me Father! He calls the Empress Mother! That's enough! Whose blood flows in his veins cannot change the fact that he is my son! Anyone who brings this up again, trying to sow discord between the brothers, don't blame me for turning my back on them!"
His barbed and arrogant rebuke extinguished the newly ignited flames of bloodline conflict in the most domineering way.
The imperial court fell silent once again.
Prince Rui opened his mouth, but under Wei Jin's icy gaze, he finally lowered his head in dejection.
Wei Jin let out a heavy breath, as if he had vented his anger, and resumed his lazy demeanor, tossing out a sentence:
"Disperse, everyone! Go do what you were doing! If I hear anyone spouting nonsense about establishing an heir again, I'll send them to the border to endure the wind and sand for the rest of their lives!"
After saying that, she grabbed Ling Zhan and left the main hall without looking back.
He left behind a court full of officials with differing thoughts, and a succession storm that was forcibly suppressed but was destined to be even more turbulent.
Shen Yu stood still, feeling the complex gazes cast from all sides, and took a soft breath.
He knew that some paths, once begun, cannot be reversed.
His brothers, too, fell into deep thought.
There is never true peace under the throne.
------
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