Homeward Journey
When the old minister said this, all the ministers in the hall were stunned and slowly looked towards the silver-gray figure. They didn't realize it until someone reminded them. They really felt that this general was very similar to Emperor Huan. When Chen Qing walked past the crowd, the crowd started to talk again, and there was a buzz of discussion. Especially the old ministers who had followed Emperor Huan to found the country were particularly touched.
When Chen Qing and Xing Zhi arrived in front of the imperial throne, the child saw someone coming and became curious, so he stopped crying. A woman came out slowly from behind the curtain. When she saw that the newcomers were very aggressive and that one of the two leaders was the Marquis of Dingyuan from their own country, she felt that the situation was not good.
The woman's face was broad at the top and narrow at the bottom, with tightly closed nostrils and thin lips that curled slightly, her eyes arching upwards. She shrilly asked, "Who are you? Without the Emperor's permission, you dare to trespass into the palace and disturb His Majesty. What is your punishment?"
"I haven't seen you for a long time. Madam Huarong has more wrinkles on her face and her memory is not as good as before. Could it be that she has contracted the dementia common among the elderly? Madam, you need to take care of yourself and seek medical treatment in time." Xingzhi said lightly.
Someone among the ministers behind him burst out laughing, and there was another commotion in the crowd.
The woman's mouth twitched. A young eunuch beside her shouted in a hoarse voice, "How dare you! You dare to address the Empress Dowager by her name? This is disobedience and rebellion. What is your punishment?"
Xingzhi smiled, "I remember that Madam was the empress of the late emperor. After the late emperor passed away, Prince Duan usurped the throne. Madam had no children and became a nameless person without status. For nearly twenty years, she has been supported in the harem and has not been displaced or homeless. I still remember Madam's name and can even respectfully address you as Madam Huarong. I believe I am being very polite. Why do the mean dogs around Madam keep barking at me?"
The young eunuch's face turned green and he dared not utter another word.
The woman's eyes were so narrow that her pupils were almost invisible. One eyebrow suddenly rose, and she spoke in a sharp voice, "So it's Marquis Dingyuan. Seeing you today actually makes me feel a little dazed. I heard that Marquis Dingyuan violated Qi's laws while on a diplomatic mission to Qi State and was imprisoned with his life in danger. Emperor Feng personally led an expedition to rescue Marquis Dingyuan, but unfortunately died on the way. I didn't expect that Marquis Dingyuan was not only safe and sound, but now he is personally leading the Qi army to force the Qing State to abdicate. Could it be that your original initiative to go to Qi State was a conspiracy, in order to collude with Qi State to seize power and usurp the throne?"
Xingzhi was amused. "Madam, you are praising me so highly. I am ashamed to accept it. Nineteen years ago, if Madam had not colluded with Prince Duan and murdered Emperor Huan's Concubine Rou, how could Prince Duan have sat on the throne for over a decade? Now, Madam, in order to control the government, supports a young child who can't even speak coherently to seize the throne. You have absurdly disregarded the people. When it comes to plotting power and usurping the throne, no one in the world can compare to Madam and Prince Duan."
The ministers who had been watching from behind suddenly became excited and started to discuss loudly. The death of Emperor Huan was suspicious in the first place. He had hastily ascended the throne without the assassin capturing Prince Duan, using the excuse that the country could not be without a ruler for a day. When he ascended the throne, he vowed to avenge Emperor Huan, but he never fulfilled his promise. His actions were not convincing to the public. Hearing Xingzhi's words, the discussion quickly turned to condemnation. Someone asked loudly, "Is what Marquis Dingyuan just said true? Do you know the truth about Emperor Huan's death?"
Xing Zhi turned around elegantly and said, "This Marquis does know."
The man pressed on, "Please, my Lord, tell us the truth as soon as possible!"
Xingzhi said solemnly, "Prince Duan is ambitious and has been plotting for the throne for many years. He colluded with Prince Yao of Qi and sent a guest from Prince Yao's palace to sneak into the palace to assassinate Emperor Huan. After the assassination, Prince Duan took the opportunity to usurp the throne. Madam Huarong had no children and was afraid that His Royal Highness would succeed to the throne. She secretly colluded with Prince Duan and strangled Concubine Rou, but told the outside world that Concubine Rou had followed Emperor Huan. How foolish and incompetent Prince Duan was during his reign is clear to all ministers and the people of Qing. He was not a member of the Zishu family. Emperor Gaozu was merciful and kept him in the palace to be raised. Who knew that he would secretly harbor evil intentions, kill his elder brother, and steal the property of our Zishu family? "The throne! He also murdered my father. Everything I say today is true, and I have proof. The evidence is currently in the prison of the Dali Temple of Qi State. It is the imperial tutor who once advised Prince Duan and tried to use me as a pretext to instigate the war between Qing and Qi. He personally confessed to Prince Duan's crimes and admitted that he was the assassin sent to Qing State to kill Emperor Huan. If there was no collusion within the palace, how could an assassin from another race have broken through the numerous guards, easily killed the emperor on the battlefield, and escaped the palace without leaving a trace? There must be someone within the palace who colluded with him, and that person is Prince Duan!"
After he finished speaking, there was an uproar among the ministers.
Madam Hua Rong's face turned stern as she rebuked him, "Zi Shuxing! You're a traitor, calling a horse a zebra and confusing right and wrong! You're spouting nonsense and slandering me and Emperor Feng, but in reality, you're harboring ulterior motives and plotting to seize the throne, isn't that right?"
Xingzhi turned around abruptly and sneered, "It's clearly you thieves who are plotting against the throne! The boy sitting on the throne isn't from the Zishu clan to begin with, yet he's sitting on it with you today. Who do you think is plotting against the throne?"
Madam Hua Rong shuddered, took a step back and said, "What nonsense are you talking about!"
Xingzhi sneered again, his expression stern: "Everyone knows that members of my Zishu family must bear the family mark. I have already explained that Prince Duan was not the son of the Zishu family. It was out of kindness that our great-grandfather allowed him to stay in the palace. It is really a farmer and a snake! Now this foolish child is the son of Prince Duan, but the blood flowing in his body is not that of my Zishu family. Do you dare to take off his clothes and verify in front of everyone whether he has the mark?"
Madam Hua Rong had no choice but to retreat, yet she hadn't given up yet. She raised her brow and said to Xing Zhi, "If he's not from the Zishu family, then who is? Who is qualified to sit on the throne?" She burst into laughter, her sharp, piercing voice echoing through the hall, as ferocious as a yaksha. "Is it you? If you sit, you're plotting to usurp the throne. How is that any different from Prince Duan?! If you don't sit, who else in the world is from the Zishu family?"
She thought she won.
Unexpectedly, a voice came out in a deep, resounding voice, cold and powerful, "I!"
Madam Hua Rong's laughter was suppressed. Without catching her breath, she staggered on the steps. She looked in the direction of the sound. Everyone in the hall had the same gaze as hers, gathered together and focused on Chen Qing who was standing next to Marquis Dingyuan.
Marquis Dingyuan looked around at everyone in the hall and said loudly, "Yes! He is Emperor Huan's son, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's son, Chen Qing!" Xingzhi suddenly pointed at the throne on the steps and said loudly, "Nineteen years ago, he should have sat on this throne!"
Everyone in the hall exclaimed in surprise and communicated with each other enthusiastically without any concealment.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince! Is he really the Crown Prince?!!!"
"His Royal Highness is still alive!!!"
"I was saying that the first time I saw him I felt he looked so much like Emperor Huan. He is truly the Crown Prince!"
Some old ministers were so excited that they even lost their voices and shed tears.
One of the old ministers suddenly fell to his knees with a thud. "Your Highness, Crown Prince, when you suddenly disappeared that day, leaving us hanging in the balance, we hoped you were still alive and could return to Daqing someday. I never thought that in my lifetime, your wish would come true. May God bless you! May the late Emperor bless you!!!"
Countless old ministers followed suit, wiping the tears from the wrinkles on their cheeks with their wide sleeves.
Madam Hua Rong's voice was no longer as confident as before, and she trembled as she asked, "You...how are you still alive? Aren't you dead?"
Chen Qing snorted, "If I had followed Mother back then as you wished, wouldn't Daqing be squandered by a bunch of scum like you? I will return to protect the great cause established by my father, even at the cost of my life!"
Mrs. Huarong knew she had no way out, so she slumped down in her chair, her eyes glazed over, her figure drooping. Her child, petrified, ran over and cowered behind her, not daring to show himself.
Chen Qing slowly ascended the jade steps, turned abruptly before the throne, and surveyed the hall with a solemn gaze. His dignity was evident, and the imperial aura between his brows and eyes intimidated everyone. He spoke in a clear voice, "Zishu Chen Qing has returned to the Qing Kingdom today. If you are willing to submit to me, I will lead you all to restore the prosperity of the Qing Kingdom and achieve together the great cause that the late emperor dedicated his life to."
Everyone in the hall was filled with emotion and passion, shouting in unison: "Welcome His Royal Highness the Crown Prince back to the palace! We swear to support the new emperor to the death! Long live our emperor!"
Xingzhi gazed deeply.
Amidst the cheers of his ministers, Chen Qing solemnly sat on the throne. At that moment, he could see the borders of Daqing outside the palace, the vast territory conquered by his father, and the entire China that was about to be complete.
Inside the Ganxian Hall, the imperial desk was spotless, memorials were neatly placed in the left row, brushes were hung upside down on the document rack on the right in order of size, and the inkstone was placed at the end of the rack. Glancing sideways, on the small desk under the opposite window lattice, a carved incense burner was emitting curls of green smoke. The fragrance was so familiar, just like the taste in memory. Chen Qing's hand gently stroked the imperial desk, and finally he sat down on the chair behind the center of the desk. A picture with watery light came to his mind. When he was a child, he was always held by his father and sat on this bench. His father's big hand held his small hand, teaching him to write, read documents, and review memorials... He ordered people to decorate the hall as it should have been when Emperor Huan was in power. Eunuch An's instructions were very well arranged.
The guards led the way with a canopy, and the sedan chair behind stopped in front of a palace. Eunuch An stretched out his arm, and the sedan chair tilted forward. The sleeve of the black dragon robe was placed on Eunuch An's arm, and Chen Qing slowly got out of the sedan chair.
He turned and looked up. The palace wall before him was covered in vines. In this season of decline, the vines had dried up into dry branches, like an old man's hands, clinging to the wall, draining away all vitality, leaving only a desolate and desolate state. The red lacquer on the plaque above the palace gate had fallen off, and it hung at an angle, about to fall. The mottled gilded characters could still make out the three characters "Rouyi Palace".
Eunuch An stepped forward and ordered the palace gate to be opened. In an instant, the old dust on the palace gate flew up, choking the eunuchs and palace maids and making them cough uncontrollably. Eunuch An stood in front of Chen Qing, covering his mouth and nose and said to him, "Your Majesty, please step back and wait until the dust settles before entering to avoid soiling your clothes."
Chen Qing whispered, "It's okay." Then he walked into the palace gate.
There was only a piece of dry and cracked wasteland in the courtyard, without even a single weed. The stone slabs were covered with moss, making it slippery to step on them. The dead tree trunk was still standing in its original place, retaining its original appearance when it was alive, and no one cared whether it was dead or alive.
Chen Qing closed his eyes slightly, and his mother's voice and appearance were right in front of him. She loved flowers and trees the most. There were many green plants in the courtyard, and the flowers were fragrant. Every summer, she would pick petals of various varieties in the courtyard, order the palace maids to dry them, and make sachets. Therefore, in his memory, his mother's body was always filled with the fragrance of flowers.
Chen Qing's face darkened and he turned around and walked back into the hall. The door was wide open. He stepped over the threshold and saw that the beams were covered with silk webs with spiders hanging on them with their threads. The dust on the soft couch was almost thicker than the scarlet cotton pad. Dust particles filled the entire hall and the air was hazy and dim, as if filled with fog, which was a bit choking.
His gaze moved to the center of the hall. Nineteen years ago, his aunt dragged him away from here. The last time he saw his mother, she was lying here with the marks of strangulation on her neck clearly visible. When he hugged his mother, her body was still warm, but she was no longer breathing. When his aunt dragged him away, he clearly remembered that his mother's body was already cold.
He was half asleep when he heard a guard enter the palace behind him to report. His thoughts were pulled back from the past and he turned his head to look at the guard kneeling beside him. He heard the guard say, "Your Majesty, Madam Hua Rong has hanged herself in Ronghua Palace. What should be done with her body?"
Chen Qing asked in a deep voice, "Didn't resist?"
The guard bowed and said, "Your Majesty, he initially disobeyed the order and spoke wildly, but was ultimately executed by hanging himself from the beams of Ronghua Palace. We have examined him and he is dead."
Chen Qing looked down at him and asked, "Madam Huarong hanged herself in Ronghua Palace out of fear of punishment?"
The guard paused for a moment, then said sternly, "Yes, the guilty woman, Li Huarong, hanged herself in Ronghua Palace this morning."
Chen Qing bowed slightly and said, "Flog the corpse five hundred times, drag it out of the palace, abandon it in the wilderness and feed it to wild dogs." He flicked the sleeves of his black robe with a dragon pattern on it and strode out of the palace.
The guard behind him shouted loudly: "Your Majesty, I obey your order!"
The black dragon robe suddenly paused in front of the tilted sedan chair. Eunuch An stepped forward and leaned against his side. Chen Qing said slowly, "Repair the Rouyi Palace inside and out, renovate the adobe courtyard, and have the palace staff plant flowers and trees throughout." He paused for a moment, then said, "Restore it to the way it was when my mother was alive." Eunuch An bowed and accepted the order. "Yes."
The man in the black dragon robe sat firmly in the sedan chair. The guards were about to lift it when they heard a deep male voice from inside the sedan chair: "Wait a minute."
Eunuch An stepped forward again, leaned forward in front of the sedan chair, and asked, "Your Majesty, what else do you want?"
Chen Qing said sternly, "Level the Ronghua Palace and convert it into a back garden."
Eunuch An raised his voice: "Yes!"
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