Chapter 133

 

Late at night, several strong palace eunuchs carried a heated sedan chair through the unending halls and courtyards of the imperial palace, making their way toward the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Prince Ning was still in a side hall, a chamber used by the imperial family for daily offerings and prayers. He was burning incense, devoutly making his supplications, pleading for the ancestors’ divine protection to help them weather this crisis. Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned and saw a cloaked figure standing just outside the hall. Recognizing the visitor, he hastily stepped forward to greet them.

Xuyu called out “Imperial Uncle” and saluted.

In just one or two days, the old prince, who had always been leisurely, now looked haggard and exhausted.

“Princess, are you awake? How is your injury? Why are you here so late at night?”

Prince Ning looked at her and saw that except for her pale face and lack of blood, her spirit seemed to be almost the same as before, and he finally showed some joy.

Xuyu nodded with a smile, explained a few words, went inside, picked up incense and worshiped the gods in the hall one by one, and finally inserted the incense into the furnace.

Prince Ning was waiting for her to finish her worship. Worried that her body might not endure the strain, he was just about to personally escort her out of the temple when he heard her speak, “Imperial Uncle, you should know the true story behind the Battle of Beiyuan back then.”

Prince Ning was startled.

Xuyu continued, “Prince Consort broke into the forbidden palace at night. In front of him, my father said that he was the one who orchestrated it all…”

She suppressed the uncontrollable sadness that welled up in her heart, paused briefly to steady her emotions, and then continued, “To be honest, when I first learned that Prince Consort was investigating what happened back then, I refused to believe my father could have done such a thing. No other reason than I am his daughter, and by instinct alone, I felt that though he is fierce and ruthless, he has his own sense of restraint. He shouldn’t be that kind of person. But as more and more signs and testimonies pointed toward my father, not to mention Prince Consort, even I began to doubt. But after what happened the other night, I have started to feel something different.

“I asked Zhao Bandang to tell me about the meeting between my father and Prince Consort, and every word they said. I always felt that my father seemed to be hiding something.

“Imperial Uncle, you know my father’s character. If he doesn’t want to talk about something, no matter how many questions you ask, he won’t tell you. He was always vague about this matter in front of me before, and never said a word more. Now that he has admitted it, even if I ask him again, even if there’s really something else hidden, he will definitely not change his words.

“Imperial Uncle, you are my father’s trusted brother. When he was still Prince Ding, you collected food and grass for him. You are my father’s strongest support and his right-hand man. You should know the inside story.

“My father was closely related to the death of General Shenhu. I know this, but what else did he hide? Who is he protecting?”

Prince Ning furrowed his brows, his expression troubled, his gaze evasive. “It’s really late. The Princess’ health is most important. Come, let me escort you back to your palace—”

As he spoke, he turned swiftly and strode out.

Xuyu hurried after him. Out in the corridor beyond the hall, she suddenly dropped to her knees, kneeling directly on the cold ground.

“Imperial Uncle! You must know! Please tell me!”

Prince Ning looked back and hurriedly came back to help her up, “Princess, get up quickly! The ground is cold and wet, be mindful of your body!”

“Imperial Uncle, this matter is extremely important to me, I beg you!” Xuyu couldn’t get up.

Prince Ning met her watery eyes and finally, he let out a long sigh.

“Well, please get up first.”

He helped Xuyu to stand up, pondered for a moment, and finally, slowly said: “That was the last year of the Jingsheng Dynasty, and the turmoil caused by the rebellion was coming to an end. As the war slowed down, it was inevitable that the fight for the throne became the new battlefield.

“At that time, Crown Prince Jingsheng had escorted the old emperor back to Chang’an in advance, while His Majesty remained in Hedong, reclaiming lost territory. The campaign was progressing smoothly—he crushed the rebel forces, reclaimed Taiyuan Prefecture, and, in one swift push, drove the rebels completely out of Hedong. Taiyuan Prefecture was known as the Northern Capital, and the significance of this battle was self-evident. His Majesty’s reputation reached an unprecedented level. Soon, however, His Majesty received a secret report that the old emperor had fallen gravely ill and could no longer act of his own will. Crown Prince Jingsheng, fearing that His Majesty’s return to the capital would threaten his position—and wary that if His Majesty consolidated his power in Hedong, he might become an even greater force to reckon with—issued a falsified imperial edict. He sent his own men to assume the position of Military Commissioner of Hedong, while bestowing on His Majesty the title of Prince of Lulong and appointing him as the Military Commissioner of Andong. Along with this appointment came a command—he was to immediately march eastward and continue the campaign against the foreign tribes that had previously participated in the rebellion.

“Andong is a land of bitter cold all year round. It was the end of Tenth Month and the winter was about to begin. Going to war without providing warm clothes and no food or fodder was tantamount to seeking death. Before this, there was a tragedy in which five thousand expeditionary troops encountered a snowstorm and were frozen into ice overnight.

“How could His Majesty not know what the Crown Prince is planning? His trusted aides have been advising His Majesty to take the opportunity to ascend the throne. Otherwise, given the Crown Prince’s narrow-mindedness, if he is allowed to become emperor smoothly, afraid that in the future, everyone from His Majesty to his subordinates will not have a good ending. His Majesty was originally hesitant, but after receiving the news, he knew that there was no way out, so he immediately decided to lead his troops to Chang’an under the pretext of visiting the old emperor, and Liu Ceye volunteered to go to the vicinity of Beiyuan to try to restrain Pei Gu.

“Crown Prince Jingsheng would, of course, not sit idly by and await his downfall. This was why he urgently summoned Grand General Pei back to the capital. However, fearing that General Pei was too far away and that his army’s march would not be swift enough to intercept His Majesty, he resorted to another scheme—he secretly colluded with the rebel forces that had previously been expelled from Hedong, promising them that if they eliminated His Majesty, they would be allowed to reclaim Hedong as their domain. Familiar with the terrain, the rebels gathered their remaining forces and set an ambush. His Majesty, caught off guard, was struck by a poisoned arrow. It was only through the desperate protection of Han Kerang and his loyal guards that he managed to break through the encirclement. Soon after, he reorganized his troops and launched a counteroffensive, wiping out the rebel leaders entirely. Despite his wounds not yet fully healed, he pressed on with his journey. However, the residual poison had not been completely purged from his system. By the time he reached the region of Jinzhou, the poison took effect once more, rendering him unconscious. Left with no choice, he was forced to seek temporary refuge at the estate of Prince Chen to recover.

“That very night, a messenger sent by Liu Ceye from Yuanzhou arrived. He was Wei Juren’s father. He brought bad news from Liu Ceye, saying that Pei Gu had led his troops back to Chang’an. In addition, he also brought a method to prevent him from returning to the court. According to him, based on his understanding of Pei Gu, it must be foolproof. However, before executing it, he must obtain His Majesty’s approval.

“His Majesty was unconscious, time was running out, waiting any longer was no longer an option. There were about ten people following His Majesty, headed by Han Kerang, who was the general of Wuwei at the time. Next in standing were the brothers Lu Jingchen and Lu Jinghu, both from a distinguished noble lineage. The remaining eight to nine men were all battle-hardened and fiercely loyal generals who had fought alongside His Majesty to carve a bloody path forward. At that time, it was Lu Jingchen who first spoke up, asserting that their course of action was necessary. Great endeavors required bold measures, to not bother about trifles, and given the circumstances, there was no alternative. If Pei Gu successfully led his troops back to the capital, his military prowess and towering reputation would make the outcome of the struggle unpredictable.

“Once he spoke, the others agreed. Yet, they all understood the gravity of their decision. Meanwhile, Wei Juren’s father was incessantly urging them from outside, pressing the urgency of the situation. Among them, Han Kerang held the highest rank, and since he had yet to state his stance, the group turned to him for a final decision. In the end, it was Han Kerang who made the call—

“Thus, Lu Jingchen sent a reply to the messenger, and Wei’s father departed on a fast horse.

“It was three days later that your father woke up. He was furious when he learned about this and ordered a fast horse to chase after the messenger. Yet those around him pleaded, insisting that it was a necessary measure. They begged His Majesty to reconsider, and so, no one acted upon his command at once. He was furious. Disregarded his injuries, he pushed past them, and attempted to summon people himself. However, the moment he stepped out of the room…”

Prince Ning suddenly stopped, and Xuyu, who had been listening silently, looked at him.

Prince Ning cast his gaze towards the vague shadows of the majestic palaces and towers in the night ahead. He was silent for a moment, then spoke again with a hoarse voice.

“His Majesty stepped out and saw that the courtyard was filled with dozens of people, all kneeling in unison. They spoke with one voice, pleading for him to abide by the decision. Just as your father’s fury reached its peak, a centuriona military officer who commanded a group of 100 soldiers standing at the very end of the row drew his blade and was the first to slit his own throat. Next was the halberd captain beside him, followed by the adjutant officer, then the master of arms—

“These were men who had fought alongside His Majesty, staking their lives in battle, while the Crown Prince merely reaped the rewards. To surrender everything—their power, their families’ fates, even their own lives—for him, who could willingly accept it? Knowing His Majesty’s temperament, upon waking up, he may refuse to lead the enemies to siege the city. Thus, they had already made their decision: to step forward in death as an appeal, securing the promise that their children and descendants would be given high ranks and honors, so that they would have no cause for regret.”

Xuyu was struck with horror and emotion.

Prince Ning slowly turned to her, his eyes filled with dread, his voice trembling slightly.

“Princess, can you imagine such a scene? Starting from the lowest-ranking officer, one after another, each drawing their blade and resolutely slitting their own throat—pleading with their deaths for him to accept their request…

“Imperial Uncle was not there in person, but the sheer tragedy of that moment is beyond words. Those men were your father’s most loyal warriors, his trusted comrades in arms. In battle, they would charge with him into the fray, braving steel without hesitation. And yet, there they were, cutting their own throats one by one, their eyes wide open as they collapsed before him…”

Prince Ning’s voice stopped.

Xuyu felt a stuffy feeling in her chest, and she seemed to smell a nauseating smell of blood in her nostrils, making her almost vomited.

“My father succumbed.”

She held onto a nearby giant golden nanmu wood pillar and spoke.

“Yes. When the tenth person committed suicide, your father gave in.

“Now Prince Consort has determined that it was His Majesty’s fault. Was Prince Consort wrong? He’s not wrong. Was His Majesty right? No. But what could he do given the situation at the time?”

Prince Ning’s voice was filled with desolation.

“The struggle against the Crown Prince had already reached the point of no return—an arrow set to the bowstring, a battle of life and death. There was no room for retreat. What had to be done was done, and what should never have been done… was done all the same. Pei Gu had repeatedly refused your father’s attempts to win him over, unwilling to pledge allegiance. He became an obstacle, and more than that, an enemy to everyone on your father’s side. No matter how much your father may have been unwilling… in the end, Pei Gu had to be sacrificed.

“This secret from those years—aside from those directly involved, even Prince Chen, the house owner, was kept in the dark. Afterward, not a single word was spoken of it again. I corresponded with Pei Ji a few times in later years. He once probed me about it, but I feigned ignorance, and he never asked again. But I suspect… with his understanding of the political landscape at the time and his keen intellect, he may have already pieced together some of the truth on his own.”

Xuyu held onto the thick temple pillars that were cold and piercing her skin, and remained silent.

“At the Grand Archery Ceremony, I was the chief ceremonial officer. Prince Consort won the first prize, and after the official announcement, His Majesty summoned me in private. Even then, he remained hesitant and undecided. He admitted that while he deeply admired the son of the Pei family, after summoning him to the capital and secretly observing him up close, he had come to believe that this young man harbored a rebellious streak and would not be easily controlled. Marrying the Princess to him… His Majesty truly did not know if it was the right choice or a mistake. It was the only decision he had ever made without confidence. At the time, he held onto a sliver of hope—that the princess and the Prince Consort would…”

“Uncle Emperor!” Xuyu interrupted him.

“Back then, Feng Zhenping received the message from General Pei asking for help, but he delayed sending troops to rescue. Was this also my father’s instruction?”

“No!” Prince Ning said immediately.

“Pei Gu’s death was unexpected, at least as far as your father was concerned. Your father only allowed Liu Ceye to restrain him. In truth, by that point, the objective had already been achieved. Pei Gu defended the city for more than ten days, which was enough time for your father to reach Chang’an. According to the original plan, reinforcements from nearby troops would then break the siege. Afterward, even if Pei Gu rushed to Chang’an, it would be too late to alter the grand scheme of things. It was Liu Ceye who, knowing how much your father admired Pei Gu, harbored his own agenda. Fearing that if Pei Gu ever changed his allegiance, it would diminish his own power, Liu secretly colluded with Feng Zhenping to delay reinforcements.

“No one could have predicted that, in order to defend the territory and cover the retreat of more of his men, Pei Gu would make such a decision—leading eight hundred death-defying warriors beyond the border. Of all those involved, he was the only one who truly embodied the spirit of a noble patriot, placing his country above his own life and legacy. Compared to him…”

Prince Ning paused, probably because of his emotions. After a moment, he continued, “When your father learned the news, I happened to be beside him. He was extremely shocked and didn’t say anything for a long time. Then he burst into tears and knelt down towards Beiyuan, kowtowed and worshiped for a long time. Maybe at that time, he made up his mind to get rid of Liu Ceye, but due to circumstances, after he ascended the throne, the state affairs were complicated and there were so many things to deal with that he had to continue to rely on those people. The Princess yourself knows what happened later. But Prince Consort has always been a hidden worry in His Majesty’s heart.

“His Majesty really feels guilty towards Pei Gu. If I had to guess, the reason he finally agreed to marry you to Pei Erlang and was quite tolerant towards him, probably out of a desire to make amends. Originally, I believe he had hoped that after Liu Ceye’s faction was eradicated, the matter of Beiyuan would be settled as well. It would serve as a form of closure for Prince Consort, and he would let it rest—then, everyone could move forward in peace. Who knew he would not give up.

“Prince Consort stormed into the palace that night, already convinced that His Majesty was the mastermind behind it all. And indeed, it was His Majesty—but it was also the entirety of Qiande Dynasty’s loyal ministers and meritorious officials. To satisfy him would mean shaking half the court. If it were you, Princess, what would you do?”

Xuyu looked at the faint shadow of the Ziyun Palace in the distance, then turned to Prince Ning and saluted him: “Thank you, Imperial Uncle, for answering my questions tonight. You are advanced in age—please, return and rest.”

Prince Ning did not leave immediately. Instead, he continued: “The events of that year did not only alter the fate of the Pei family—it shook me greatly as well. What is the use of unmatched glory? High rank often brings nothing but misfortune. In the end, prosperity is no more than an empty dream. His Majesty is a man of grand ambition, not one of common temperament. He can endure what the rest of the world cannot. But I… I lost all heart for court affairs. After His Majesty ascended the throne, I only want to retire. Out of his grace, he did not cast me aside, allowing me these past years of idle leisure. And yet, when I reflect upon my empty title and unearned privileges, I cannot help but feel ashamed. Prince Consort is someone I deeply admire—more than that, he is also Hui’er’s teacher. For the past two days, with no word from his mentor, Hui’er has been restless. His Majesty would never allow me to speak a word of this matter. But if you, Princess, give your consent, I will go now and explain the truth of those past events to Prince Consort, lest he remain troubled and, in doing so, bring further distress on you.”

Xuyu shook her head slowly: “There’s no need. At this point, what difference does it make whether my father was the sole mastermind or if there were other hidden hands? The outcome is already set. General Pei died because of my father’s deeds, while my father became emperor—he was the one who gained the most from it. If you were to explain things now, not only would it be meaningless to Prince Consort, but it would also seem as if you were trying to whitewash my father’s actions.”

She spoke in a calm tone.

“Besides, Li Yan has already gone to the southwest, and Yuwen Shouren could rise in rebellion at any moment under the banner of supporting him. The northern borders are also teetering on the edge of unrest. The court faces threats on three sides—let this matter rest. The other night, my father admitted to it in front of the Prince Consort. Beyond mere pride and defiance, he must have had his own considerations. Let it be as he intended. No one needs to speak further. First, we must stabilize the situation and work together to overcome the crisis at hand.”

Prince Ning stared at her for a moment and bowed respectfully: “Yes. I will follow the Princess’s instructions.”

 

TN: Wow this chapter is really difficult!

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