“I am also dying soon.”
By the time news of Yu Kingdom’s fall was sent back to Lu Kingdom, the new year had already passed.
The common people were still immersed in the lively festive atmosphere. Before long, they heard that Prince Li had not returned to the Western Frontier to celebrate the new year, but had instead led troops in a sweeping assault through Shi Kingdom, advancing without resistance.
After seizing two cities, Lu Ronghuai sent Yu Kui’s severed head to the ruler of Shi Kingdom. The ruler of Shi Kingdom was frightened out of his wits and fled overnight.
At the same time, news that the Prince Consort had repelled Shi Kingdom’s great army at the Western Frontier also spread back to Ye Jing.
Throughout Ye Jing, discussion of Chu Yuan even overshadowed discussion of Lu Ronghuai.
That Prince Consort of peerless bearing was not only gifted in letters but could also lead troops in battle and decide victory a thousand li away.
Prince Li truly was blessed with good fortune.
For a time, storybooks about the two of them sprang up one after another in the capital, once again stirring a wave of fervor.
The common people did not understand the political situation and remained cheerful day after day. The officials of Ye Jing, however, were living in a state of constant anxiety.
This was especially true of the growing faction supporting the Fourth Prince. After seeing Lu Ronghuai and Chu Yuan repeatedly win military merit, they were as anxious as ants on a hot wok and could not sleep through a single night.
If the fighting continued, the troops in Lu Ronghuai’s hands would only increase, and his prestige among the people would rise with the tide. Added to this was Lu Rongze’s failing health and Prince Li’s wolfish ambition. They feared that the voices in court would simply stand up and declare that Lu Ronghuai should be Emperor.
After much discussion, they went to seek out Lu Rongze and hoped he would issue an order for Prince Li and the Prince Consort to beat the gong and withdraw their troops, then return to Ye Jing.
While there was still room to turn matters around, recalling him to Ye Jing was the safest method. Let Prince Li return first, and then they could think of a way to restrain him.
They were thinking of Lu Rongze’s interests, but even more for themselves.
These people had all offended Lu Ronghuai before. If Lu Ronghuai were allowed to ascend the throne, their official careers would be finished.
They exhausted every possible means to stop Lu Ronghuai. Who would have thought that Lu Rongze would not care in the least. No matter how they wore out their lips speaking, Lu Rongze ignored them all, and did not even allow them past the hall doors.
The crowd waited for several hours, then finally departed in disappointment.
At that very time, Emperor Hongjia, who had lain unconscious for several months, suddenly woke.
Noble Consort Xu changed out of her splendid robes and fine adornments, dressed herself plainly, and went to see him.
One shichen later, she came once more to Lu Rongze’s bedchamber.
Lu Rongze’s body had already deteriorated to the point that he could not rise from bed. Noble Consort Xu dismissed the attendants and walked with lotus steps to the bedside.
She looked at Lu Rongze lying on the bed, all skin and bone. Her two fine brows drawing together instinctively before she smoothed them out again the moment the person on the bed opened his eyes.
“Your Father Emperor has awakened.” Her face remained calm, yet the tremor of excitement at the end of her words still betrayed her mood.
Lu Rongze wearily curved his lips. He seemed to wish to smile, yet he was so weak that even the corners of his mouth could not truly lift.
Noble Consort Xu only saw his lips move. Thinking he wished to speak, she reached out and lightly patted his chest.
“Mother Consort knows what you wish to say. Do not worry. Your Father Emperor has already relented. He has promised to pass the throne to you.”
A brilliant smile spread across Noble Consort Xu’s face. “He is nearly gone. In these next two days he will write the edict passing on the throne. My efforts in personally boiling ginseng soup for him these past days were not in vain. Ze’er, at last we have waited for this day.”
Lu Rongze’s voice was faint and colorless. “I am also dying soon.”
The smile on Noble Consort Xu’s face froze for a brief moment. She soothed him, “Do not speak such inauspicious words. The imperial physicians originally said you would not live past the first month, yet have you not endured until now? Mother Consort knows you are a good child. You will certainly not leave Mother Consort behind.”
Lu Rongze remained silent.
Noble Consort Xu said, “Your Father Emperor wants you to do one thing after you ascend the throne. Stop Lu Ronghuai and seize Chu Yuan back.”
Her gaze probed him. “I have always found it strange. What secret exactly is hidden on the Prince Consort’s person, that His Majesty repeatedly insists on capturing him? Ze’er, do you know the reason?”
It was as though Lu Rongze had not heard her question at all. “Where is Second Imperial Brother?”
Noble Consort Xu curled her lip. “It has already been found out that he bribed people to bury explosives at the imperial mausoleum. He is now locked in the death cells of the Court of Judicial Review. Foolish trash. This time he will certainly die.”
At the end of the eighth month last year, a heaven-shaking explosion had come from the imperial mausoleum. A breach four men wide had actually been blasted open at the southwest corner. For a time, both court and common folk were full of discussion. Among the people, there were even rumors that Emperor Hongjia had enraged the heavens, and that this was a warning specially sent down.
The rumors spread through Ye Jing like drifting snow. After Emperor Hongjia learned of them, he nearly failed to draw another breath.
He truly believed Heaven was punishing him. Fearing that after his death the imperial ancestors would blame him, and fearing that the people would criticize him, he hurriedly had Lu Rongze go deal with the aftermath.
Yet misfortunes do not come singly. After several more days passed, the candle that the ruler of Chu Kingdom had presented to him was gone from his bedchamber.
Even after digging three chi into the ground, that candle could not be found again.
Now that Emperor Hongjia could not obtain Chu Yuan’s blood, all his hopes rested on that candle. Once it disappeared, he completely lost his reason and became like one possessed, putting every eunuch and maid in his bedchamber to death. Even Yuan Sheng had very nearly been implicated.
Throughout the entire palace, everyone was silent as cicadas in winter. All lived in fear for their lives.
From then on, Emperor Hongjia fell gravely ill and spent his days sunk in sleep.
News of Lu Rongze’s ascension to the throne reached the Western Frontier in the beginning of the second month.
At that time, Chu Yuan was holding Lu Duoyu in his arms and reading aloud. Fourteen-month-old Lu Duoyu sat obediently in his embrace. For every line Chu Yuan read, he followed with one of his own, his voice soft and milky, while his plump little hand still held a small sugar figurine.
“All right, that is enough reading for today. You read very well. Go and find your uncle to play with.” Chu Yuan closed the book and lifted him down from his lap.
Lu Duoyu’s bright, gleaming eyes looked at his Ah-Die, his smiling eyes curving. With a manner that looked entirely proper, his little body bent down and he gave Chu Yuan a bow, then turned and ran out with cheerful little steps.
Xian Yu immediately followed after him.
“Ai-yo, little treasure, run slower. That threshold is high.”
Ever since Lu Duoyu learned to walk at nine months old, he had wanted to run out and play every day. Xian Yu had therefore become his personal guard. Wherever Lu Duoyu went, he followed. Because of this, Xian Feng and the others had mocked him, saying that he now looked like an old nursemaid.
Xian Shuang watched the one large and one small run out through the courtyard gate, and the corners of his eyes unconsciously took on a faint smile.
“Has the injury on Xian Yu’s body healed?” Chu Yuan asked.
Xian Shuang withdrew his gaze and nodded. “Mm. The medicine Madam Nie gave was very good. It is no longer much of a problem.”
Hearing this, Chu Yuan felt relieved.
When Liu Mingyue led troops to attack the Western Frontier, the forces stationed there had been too few. In Chu Yuan’s hands were the Xuan command token and the Snow Wolf seal, items that allowed him to deploy Lu Ronghuai’s personal troops. Those personal troops, however, were still in Xiang Cheng at the time, and would still need four or five days to arrive.
Liu Mingyue’s offensive had been fierce. Chu Yuan and Bai Yi commanded properly and adapted to changing circumstances, beating the other side back several times. What they had not expected was that Liu Mingyue had helpers in the Western Frontier as well. The two sides worked together from within and without, burned their grain depot, and then sent men to encircle Lu Cheng.
Bai Yi’s rheumatism flared up so badly that he could not leave his bed. He worried over the course of the battle day and night and could not sleep in peace. Chu Yuan therefore used wine to coax Bai Yi into drunkenness, sent men to escort him back to Sang Cheng, and himself remained in Lu Cheng with Xian Yu and Xian Shuang.
The personal troops arrived quickly. Not only that, Nie Siran and Su Ruhe came as well.
The two brought a large quantity of grain and supplies to support them. In the several battles that followed, Chu Yuan directed them all by himself. At first, some of the soldiers still harbored doubts, but after repeated victories, that doubt turned into admiration. One night, he sent Xian Shuang and Xian Yu as the vanguard to launch a surprise attack on Liu Mingyue’s military tent.
Liu Mingyue had spent a long time in flight and was no longer the pampered noble young master he had once been. His vigilance was extremely strong, and he had clearly also left himself a way out. He fled in a grievously wounded state.
The two killed the enemy army’s commanding general and three deputy generals. The enemy soldiers scattered in all directions. Amid the chaos, Xian Yu saw a dagger flying toward Xian Shuang and rushed forward himself to take that blow in his place.
Footsteps sounded from outside the door. Chu Yuan raised his head and saw Nie Siran walking in with Lu Duoyu in his arms.
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Next week I will have a bit more time, so I will strive to write more.
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