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墨書 Inktalez
Li Jian Cheng hurried to the inner palace, where the plain-looking Chen and Cai had received the news and came to receive the imperial decree, showing no signs of wanting to take a step forward.
However, Li Jian Cheng couldn't shake the feeling that these two were likely still connected to Liu Shu, just hesitant to fully choose sides.
But this was of no concern to Li Jian Cheng. He conveyed the decree and was about to leave when Chen called out, "General, please wait. May I ask if we can accompany His Majesty?"
Li Jian Cheng replied, "The Imperial Physician says His Majesty's Dragon Body is not yet well enough for visitors. You two ladies might as well wait a while."
He then hurried back to the palace. After he left, Chen and Cai exchanged glances before retreating to the bedroom and dismissing the servant. Cai's tears fell as she said, "Li Jian Cheng came, and I've heard Liu Shu has already been captured. What are we going to do?"
Chen, being from the fallen Duke's household, managed to remain strong: "We haven't done anything wrong; why should we panic?"
Cai lowered her head and sobbed, "Those two palace maids—everyone knows they are our people."
"That was their own choice to be bribed by Liu Shu; we had no knowledge of it!" Chen gripped Cai's arm tightly and said through clenched teeth, "Do you remember this?"
Cai still felt desperate enough to wish for death, seeking a quick end. Chen could only comfort her: "Since we haven't been sentenced to death, it means the Crown Prince doesn't want to pursue this matter. With His Majesty here at Ren Shou Palace, we are the only ones accompanying him from start to finish. If anything were to happen to His Majesty, the Crown Prince will still need us to speak on his behalf."
Cai finally calmed down a bit. After a moment of silence, she said, "If His Majesty is gone... if the Crown Prince still..."
Chen sighed deeply: "Then we will accept it. We are just women; what can we do? We can only strive to survive."
...
Back outside the royal chamber, the Crown Prince led Yang Su out: "Jian Cheng, you stay here personally."
Li Jian Cheng accepted the order. Yang Guang then instructed Yang Su to hurry back to the capital, but these matters no longer concerned Li Jian Cheng as he stepped into the hall and saw the Emperor.
Yang Jian was in a state of disarray, with the medicine bowl shattered beneath the bed, alongside sheets of letter paper and pieces of ginseng that had been spat out, all left untouched.
Li Jian Cheng slowly stepped forward, the emperor weakly instructed, "Send a message to He Chou. Since he has buried the Queen, we must ensure her remains are properly laid to rest."
"Understood."
The emperor chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Though I know this is of little significance, I still find it hard to let go. Qialo, if there truly are souls, we should meet again in the afterlife. You were wrong, but I was even more so."
Li Jian Cheng quietly watched as the emperor spoke to himself, laughing and crying at times, his breath growing weaker until it became difficult to discern what he was saying.
As half a day passed, during dusk he sent someone to notify the Crown Prince. Moments later, a palace maid came to tidy up the emperor, and then the Crown Prince along with Right Chancellor Suwei entered with a group from the Eastern Palace, beginning to wail and mourn.
Seeing so many officials arrive, the emperor clearly wanted to say something. His mouth opened and closed repeatedly, but amidst the chaos, apart from Yang Guang who was bowed over his hands, the other ministers were crying out from ten paces away, showing no interest in hearing him speak.
Eventually, the emperor completely relinquished his hold on life. Li Jian Cheng stood at a distance watching quietly as Sui Emperor Yang Jian—a ruler with great accomplishments—could not escape the desolate fate that followed the loss of power.
"Father!"
"Your Majesty!"
Ren Shou Palace was methodically handling the emperor's funeral arrangements. Left Chancellor Yang Su also led court officials to arrive. The sounds of mourning filled Ren Shou Palace, but a nation cannot be without a ruler for even a day; the ministers had already gathered before the predecessor emperor's bed to formally pay their respects to the new emperor.
Yang Guang appeared numb on the surface, yet inside he felt as if his heart would leap out of his chest. After years of restraint, just thinking about being free from anyone pressing down on him brought forth an overwhelming sense of joy and liberation.
Li Jian Cheng lowered his head, unable to suppress thoughts about how joyous Yang Guang must feel at that moment. As he pondered this, a smile crept onto his lips—fortunately, no one could see it.
The new emperor announced the edict left by the Predecessor Emperor, sentencing the deposed Crown Prince Yang Yong to death. The Right Chancellor Suwei received the order and departed.
Next, he commanded Han Wang to travel to the capital and dispatched General Cheqi Yan Pi and Qutu Tong to accompany him.
After finishing the official business, while other officials returned to the capital to prepare for the coronation ceremony, he himself ordered the eunuchs to find several heart knots, placing them in a brocade box to send to Madam Xuanhua and Consort Rong before bathing and changing clothes.
Others may not have known, but Li Jian Cheng, responsible for guarding Ren Shou Palace, was aware that the new emperor had spent the night in Madam Xuanhua's chamber.
...
Suwei and Yang Yue went to the deposed Crown Prince's residence to read the edict from the Predecessor Emperor. Yang Yong was taken aback, repeatedly begging for mercy and refusing to face death. Consequently, Yang Yue ordered him to be strangled. The children of the deposed prince were also imprisoned.
On Dingmao of August in the fourth year of Ren Shou, the Predecessor Emperor's coffin was transported from Ren Shou Palace to the Capital City. His temple name was set as High Ancestor, and his posthumous title was Wen Emperor. The funeral procession began from the front hall of Daxing Palace and he was buried at Tai Ling. An edict was issued for courtiers and commoners alike to mourn for Emperor Gaozu of the Wen Dynasty.
Subsequently, Crown Prince Yang Guang ascended to the throne. He did not have time to reward his loyal subjects; instead, he initiated a sweeping purge, executing some and exiling others.
Unexpectedly, Liu Shu, whom everyone thought would be sentenced to death, was instead exiled to Longchuan. An edict was issued ordering Lanling Princess to sever ties with him. The princess refused to submit a petition for joint exile and was imprisoned in her residence.
Grand Historian Yuan Chong remarked, "The emperor ascended the throne in a year that coincides with Yao's mandate."
The emperor gladly bestowed rewards; however, Minister of Rites Xu Shanxin cautioned, "The nation is still in mourning; it is inappropriate to celebrate."
He was then punished with a beating and demoted. The emperor's drastic behavior astonished many court officials.
Li Jian Cheng was not surprised at all; Yang Guang remained the same Yang Guang. After suppressing his nature for over a decade or two, now that he had finally reached the pinnacle of power, he could no longer tolerate even a slight grievance.
General Cheqi Yan Pi, carrying the Edict, rushed day and night to Han Wangfu in Jinyang before the news of the Predecessor Emperor's passing could spread, summoning Han Wang Yang Liang back to court.
As long as he left the fief, it would be considered a success. After proclaiming the edict, Qutu Tong said, "Your Highness Han Wang, the Emperor's Dragon Body is unwell; we should set off quickly."
Han Wang Yang Liang ordered people to prepare the horses and carriages. After taking the edict and reading it for a moment, he suddenly asked, "Is this truly my father's command?"
"Of course, how could I have such boldness otherwise?"
"Then did my father not give you anything else before he departed?"
Qutu Tong sensed trouble but forced himself to remain calm and replied, "The Emperor has been in a daze for a long time and did not give me anything else."
Han Wang Yang Liang silently shed tears and said, "You are deceiving me. Father... Father Emperor... is he... tell me!"
"What are you saying, Your Highness? As a subject, how can one curse the Sovereign Father? If you are unwilling to respond to the summons, I will return to report to Your Majesty."
Yang Liang ordered his attendants to seize Qutu Tong, his eyes reddened as he said, "Before I returned to my fief, my father made a secret pact with me. If the imperial edict summons you and there is an additional mark beside the command that matches with the Jade Unicorn, then it must be enforced."
"Now that neither condition is met, something must have gone terribly wrong in the Court. Are you trying to deceive me into entering the court and awaiting death?"
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