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Chapter 82 Yuan De
Li Jian Cheng had no time to think about anything else and hurried to the Duke of Chu's Residence. Yang Jishan greeted him with a grim expression, frowning, "Haven't you just been here?"
Li Jian Cheng replied with a scowl, "The Crown Prince has fainted and hasn't woken up yet!"
Yang Jishan was taken aback by this news. Li Jian Cheng didn't have time to deal with him and pushed past, but Yang Jishan quickly regained his composure and grabbed him, pleading, "My Uncle just arrived; let them talk for a bit."
Li Jian Cheng sighed at his words. "You and I are close friends, and Yang Gong has helped me a lot these past two years. It's not that I want this."
"Good deeds will protect me, but if the Crown Prince truly passes first, how many from your family will have to die to appease the Emperor's wrath?"
Yang Jishan helplessly released his grip as Li Jian Cheng rushed inside and spoke about the Crown Prince's situation in front of Yang Su and Yang Yue.
Yang Yue stood up to enter the palace but was stopped by the weak Yang Su, who slowly but firmly waved his hand, knocking over the medicine cup beside the bed with a bitter smile. "Do I need to live any longer?"
"Brother!"
Li Jian Cheng had nothing to hide from Yang Guang, so he revealed the last threat as well.
"Yang Gong, I've said all I can. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide. Jian Cheng is merely delivering a message."
"Thank you for your hard work."
As Li Jian Cheng stepped back to the door, Yang Su turned to his brother and said, "It won't matter if it's just a day or two. Remember, after I'm gone, you must restrain our relatives and take good care of Xuan Gan. Don't bring trouble to the family, and you must not seek high office or fame."
"Let it all settle slowly; decades from now, the Yang Family will still be the Yang Family. Centuries later, the Yang Family will still be the Yang Family. There’s no need to compete for temporary gains."
With tears in his eyes, Yang Yue nodded in agreement. Yang Su instructed a servant who had been with him for decades to bring the prepared poison and mix it into their drinks. He first made the servant drink a cup before following suit himself.
Some people still needed to be taken down; leaving them behind would only bring disaster.
The poison was clearly evident, as both the Servant and Yang Su spat blood and died one after the other.
"Father!"
"Brother!"
"Master!"
The entire Yang Residence was engulfed in wails of mourning. The prepared servants dared to report the deaths in various places. Li Jian Cheng rode out of the residence, heading straight for the palace to inform the emperor.
"Your Majesty, the Duke of Chu has passed away."
Yang Guang visibly sighed in relief, then issued an edict posthumously granting Yang Su the titles of Grand Minister of Ceremonies, Grand Duke, and Prefect of Hongnong, He Dong, Jiangjun, Linfen, Wencheng, Henei, Ji County, Changping, Shangdang, and Xi River, with the posthumous name "Jingwu."
Yang Su had only been dead for a short while, yet this decree seemed far from spontaneous; even the posthumous name was already decided. It was clear that Yang Guang had been eagerly anticipating Yang Su's demise.
It was hard for Li Jian Cheng to imagine what kind of feelings Yang Su must have experienced recently, knowing that a powerful emperor was wishing for his death every day. No wonder he had drunk the poison so readily earlier.
There was no need for Li Jian Cheng to convey the imperial decree; soon enough, Yang Yue would lead Yang Jishan and others to express their gratitude for the imperial favor.
Li Jian Cheng went to the Luoyang Eastern Palace to visit the Crown Prince. Yang Zhao still had not awakened, and the imperial physicians outside were frantically flipping through medical texts.
Inside the hall, strange chants and dances filled the air with smoke and mist. In front of the sleeping Crown Prince's bed, various Monastic Daoism practitioners were performing their rituals.
Li Jian Cheng frowned as he watched a Diviner dance for a while before suddenly pointing at the air and cursing. It seemed he was blaming the predecessor emperor's useless Crown Prince Yang Yong for disturbing the soul of the entranced Crown Prince.
As Yang Zhao's breath grew fainter, he clung to life only by the precious pendant. Unless something unexpected happened, he would not survive the night.
Before long, the Emperor arrived with others. Yang Yue and Yang Jishan both showed sorrow on their faces, but in the demeanor of Your Majesty, there was a sincere respect that left no room for resentment.
Seeing that Yang Zhao still showed no signs of waking, Yang Guang thought that this great mourning had not yet concluded. He issued another decree: "Bestow upon Yang Su a mourning carriage, with forty attendants carrying ceremonial swords. There shall be a procession of guards and musicians before and after the carriage. Additionally, grant five thousand stones of millet and wheat, along with five thousand bolts of cloth, and assign the Minister of Rites to oversee the funeral arrangements."
Yang Yue could only lead his nephews to kneel and say, "We thank Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"
Yet Yang Guang still felt uneasy. He issued another decree to have all the offspring of Prince Fangling, Yang Yong, executed.
Now he finally felt much safer; with so many lives at stake, it should ensure that no harm would come to him. He returned to the palace happily to continue his feasting.
Since the Crown Prince had come alone and Li Jian Cheng was a member of the royal guard who did not leave at night, the Crown Prince managed to endure through the night due to his strong constitution. However, just as dawn broke, he began to cough up blood uncontrollably and then lost his breath.
Li Jian Cheng sighed and arranged for everything needed while sending someone to inform His Majesty.
Before long, the eunuch returned with a report about how His Majesty reacted and what orders he had given.
The eunuch whispered, "The Emperor wept briefly before stopping. He then summoned musicians as if nothing were amiss."
Those who heard this were chilled to the bone. This was the legitimate eldest son raised for twenty years—always respectful and dutiful—yet His Majesty remained so indifferent.
Li Jian Cheng could only send for the Queen and many officials including the Grand Historian and Grand Minister of Ceremonies from the Ministry of Rites. Soon after, Empress Xiao rushed in crying, nearly fainting.
After the title of Crown Prince Yuan De was established, the Emperor no longer intervened in matters concerning the Crown Prince, leaving most of the funeral arrangements to Gao Shan.
The Emperor did not immediately respond to the court officials' proposal to establish a Crown Prince, but with only one son, he seemed to have little choice in the matter.
He issued an edict transferring more than twenty thousand officials under Crown Prince Yuan De to King Qi Yang Liang's name. Although Yang Liang's position had not been officially confirmed, he was already the de facto Crown Prince, though he could not yet reside in the Eastern Palace.
Yang Guangqian had his flaws, but one commendable trait was his disbelief in longevity elixirs and pills. Therefore, he took the time to select a qualified teacher to serve as Chief Minister of the Prince's Residence for King Qi, hoping that he would be able to inherit the Nation well.
Undoubtedly, Gao Shan would have been the best choice; however, Yang Guang did not favor him and had to settle for Liu Jianzhi instead. Liu stood at seven feet five inches tall, with a handsome appearance and a bright demeanor, always behaving appropriately.
Alongside Changsun Sheng, he was known as one of the prominent figures of the Sui Dynasty. Whenever there were receptions for foreign guests or diplomatic missions, one of them would invariably take the lead, showcasing their exceptional talents.
When King Qi arrived at the Eastern Capital, the Emperor met him in the Western Garden. He ordered King Qi to stand before the western hall facing north and commanded Minister of Personnel Niu Hong, Duke of Xu Yuwen Shu, and Liu Jianzhi to stand beside King Qi facing west.
Li Jian Cheng was tasked with delivering an edict to King Qi: "I was favored by Predecessor Emperor and granted a title in Jinyang. I was only twelve years old when I left my home. Predecessor Emperor appointed Prince Xiang as Chief of the Jin Prince's Office for me."
"Predecessor Emperor warned me that due to your youth and inexperience, he now sends Prince Xiang to assist you. You may delegate all matters, big or small, to him; do not grow too close to Rascal and distance yourself from Prince Xiang.
If you heed my advice, it will benefit the State and help you achieve your ambitions. If you disregard my words, both the nation and yourself will face ruin soon.
After receiving Predecessor Emperor's command, I dared not deviate from it. Without Prince Xiang's support, I would not have reached this day. You must also treat Liu Jianzhi similarly!"
(End of Chapter)
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