At dawn, as the sky began to brighten, court officials dragged their weary selves into the grand hall. Their sleepy eyes immediately widened with shock at the sight of Sui Tingheng standing in the foremost position.
No mistake—it’s indeed His Imperial Highness the Prince! Everyone blinked in disbelief. His Imperial Highness had never participated in court affairs before and, by protocol, shouldn’t be attending the morning court. None of the officials present could figure out why he was there, but neither did anyone dare to be the first to bring out the matter. Thus, an awkward balance was maintained in the hall.
This balance was soon disrupted by the emperor. “My dear ministers,” the emperor sighed, “last night, Zhen dreamt of the late emperor. It was such a serious matter that Zhen couldn’t make up my mind, so Zhen needed your opinion.”
The officials: “…”
Give us a break! The late emperor hated to spare you a glance when he was alive. Why would he come to you in a dream now?
A military officer stepped forward. “What message did the late emperor convey in Your Majesty’s dream?”
“Last night, the late emperor scolded Zhen in the dream for half the night.”
The civil officials perked up. If the late emperor was scolding His Majesty, then it might actually be plausible!
“The late emperor chastised Zhen for being overly bound by outdated traditions and neglecting the greater legacy of our ancestors,” the emperor said, sweeping his gaze over the officials. “He rebuked Zhen for having been on the throne for two years, with only one son, and questioned why Zhen has yet to establish a crown prince.”
“My dear ministers, does it seem to you that the late emperor is urging Zhen to appoint a crown prince sooner rather than later?” The emperor sighed. “Zhen has every intention of following the late emperor’s wishes as conveyed in my dream, but Tingheng insists on adhering to protocol. Zhen implores that you all help persuade him not to let the late emperor’s spirit remain unsettled.”
The officials: Huh? We haven’t even discussed whether it’s appropriate to appoint a crown prince early, and now you’re skipping that step and asking us to persuade His Imperial Highness to accept the position?
Seeing no response from the officials, the emperor pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve and began to weep dramatically. “Zhen truly does not know what to do!”
‘Don’t worry, son, your dad will cry his way to securing your position as crown prince!’
Seeing the emperor crying again, the officials hurriedly attempted to console him, with some offering advice and others pleading. Somehow, amidst the confusion, the prince ended up kneeling on the ground to apologize to the emperor and agreed to become the crown prince, which finally stopped the emperor’s tears.
As the court was dismissed, the officials, their heads still spinning from the emperor’s cries, exchanged bewildered looks.
“Lord Yun,” one official who was on friendly terms with Yun Wanggui approached him. “What do you make of His Majesty’s intentions?”
“Perhaps His Majesty is simply being filial to the late emperor and wishes to honor his spirit,” Yun Wanggui replied, bowing respectfully toward the heavens. “With His Majesty ruling the realm through filial piety, how can we, his subjects, make things difficult for him?”
The officials had barely left the palace when the imperial edict officially establishing the crown prince was already announced to the entire court, leaving them no opportunity to voice opposition.
The officials: …
Well… seems like His Majesty is exceedingly eager to fulfill his filial duties to the late emperor!
Half an hour later, another decree was issued from the palace. To celebrate the appointment of the crown prince, a special imperial examination would be held next year.
The Ministry of Rites, who was suddenly overwhelmed with work: …
Unlike the stunned officials, scholars were overjoyed. The crown prince was bound to be appointed sooner or later. What difference does it make if it happens a little earlier? Sure, the three-year mourning period for the late emperor isn’t over yet, but His Majesty had a dream visitation, after all. He’s just following the late emperor’s wishes. Besides, he’s adding an imperial examination—how could he possibly be wrong?
…
“The crown prince has been appointed?” Fuyi, upon hearing the news, broke into a laugh. “Now that is truly a joyous event.”
His Majesty had been on the throne for two years, and the crown prince’s position was finally settled. Ning Wang’s hopes of seizing the throne were now exceedingly slim. Seeing Ning Wang facing more setbacks only improved her mood. Such a wonderful gift for her eighteenth birthday!
…
The day after the announcement of the crown prince’s appointment was Fuyi’s birthday. “Your Imperial Highness,” Mo Wen approached Sui Tingheng to deliver his report, but immediately noticed that the personnel from the Weaving Bureau were measuring His Imperial Highness for ceremonial attire. With outsiders present, he refrained from mentioning the Yun family.
The investiture ceremony was set for half a month from now, and everyone was incredibly busy. Yet His Imperial Highness still remembered Miss Yun’s birthday, Mo Wen thought, showing just how much he valued the Yun family.
“Did Miss Yun like the gift I sent?” After dismissing the Weaving Bureau personnel, Sui Tingheng questioned the head eunuch. “And how is her leg?”
“Miss Yun greatly appreciated the gifts Your Imperial Highness sent. She even said… Your Imperial Highness has already given her the best gift,” Mo Wen hesitated to guess the crown prince’s thoughts. “This servant observed that she walks normally, so it seems there are no issues.”
“The best gift…” Sui Tingheng’s gaze fell on the embroidered pouch with a cuju pattern hanging on the wall. Needless to say, the most significant event of the past two days was his formal appointment as crown prince.
…
In his manor, Ning Wang stared at the chaotic chessboard in front of him and swept all the pieces aside.
“So what if he’s been appointed crown prince?” He picked up a chess piece and threw it into his teacup. “Sui Tingheng is the emperor’s only son. If he dies, will my affectionate and dutiful elder brother remarry to have another child, or will he allow the throne to fall into someone else’s hands after his death?”
“Wangye, the crown prince is heavily guarded—”
“This wang cannot stand the sight of him still alive.” Ning Wang recalled the scene from that day—the memory of intertwined sleeves beneath the peach blossom tree surfaced in his mind, worsening his already gloomy mood. “Sui Tingheng must die.”
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Author’s Note:
The emperor: “Who says the old trick of first crying, second throwing a tantrum, and third hanging oneself is outdated? Look how effective it is!”
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