Chapter 145

The news of Prince An being punished with a court rod and demoted to a commoner quickly spread inside and outside the court. The princes and ministers were all shocked.

Wasn’t Prince An always obedient and well-behaved?

Moreover, he was supposed to be the chief examiner at the exam venue today; how did the Emperor suddenly reprimand him?

The few high-ranking officials in the court were alarmed and hurriedly sent people to investigate. Princes like Yan Zhang were puzzled and confused. Only Prince Rong felt as if he had been struck by lightning. When he heard the news, he was stunned on the spot, his face pale as paper. He didn’t want to scare himself, but the timing of Prince An’s punishment was too coincidental. It happened right after he left Prince Rong’s residence…

Moreover, General Xie Yunjian also visited Prince Rong’s residence today, but it wasn’t a pleasant visit. Prince Rong spent half a day in his study, various suspicions surfacing in his mind, making him restless. By evening, an eunuch brought an imperial edict summoning him to the palace.

At that moment, Prince Rong’s legs nearly gave way as he felt a clear sense of impending doom. Stepping out of the study, he was met with Princess Rong’s anxious and uneasy expression, causing him to pause.

After the doctor visited in the afternoon, Princess Rong gradually returned to normal. There was no poisoning or any other symptoms, and even the imperial doctor couldn’t diagnose what had happened.

“Your Highness,” Princess Rong twisted her handkerchief, her face visibly anxious and fearful, “Why is His Majesty summoning you to the palace at this hour? Could it be something serious?”

Prince Rong tried to stay calm, “Whether it’s serious or not, we’ll find out when we get there.” He paused, “I did nothing wrong. I only invited General Xie over for a drink. His Majesty wouldn’t punish me just for that.”

Princess Rong thought for a moment and agreed. They had only had a minor disagreement with General Xie; it wasn’t a grievous crime. Moreover, General Xie was just an officer in the Qingluan Army, while Prince Rong’s residence was part of the royal family. Yan Donghuang had no reason to deal with Prince Rong’s residence unless they were involved in treason.

With that thought, Princess Rong felt slightly relieved. Prince Rong followed the eunuch to the palace and arrived at Chongming Hall. Dragging his stiff legs, he tried to ignore the cold sweat under his clothes and his rising anxiety. He crossed the threshold and respectfully saluted the person behind the imperial desk, “Your servant greets Your Majesty.”

Yan Donghuang’s cold voice rang out, “Rise, Uncle.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Yan Donghuang ordered, “Take a seat.”

“I dare not.”

“Imperial Uncle, you may sit.” Yan Donghuang’s gaze lifted slightly, her expression cold and indifferent. “I summoned you today to discuss the marriage arrangements for Zhixuan and Zhijiao.”

Prince Rong’s face turned pale. “Marriage arrangements?”

Yan Donghuang nodded. “They have reached the age for marriage. I have selected a few suitable young men from noble families for your review.”

She then instructed, “Meng Zhou.”

“Yes.” Meng Zhou stepped forward and handed Prince Rong the list he had spent half a day preparing. “Please review it, Your Highness.”

Prince Rong’s heart sank as he took the list and read it. His face turned ashen with a mix of shock and anger, and his grip tightened on the paper.

The young men Yan Donghuang had selected for Zhixuan and Zhijiao were either from families too low in status or known for their poor reputations. These men were frequent visitors to brothels, and their households were filled with scandal. They were far from being good husbands.

“Your Majesty,” Prince Rong stood and bowed, “Although Zhixuan and Zhijiao are of marriageable age, they are still somewhat immature. I would like to take more time to find suitable matches—”

“Are you defying an imperial decree, Imperial Uncle?” Yan Donghuang’s light voice instantly made Prince Rong’s face pale and stiff. He immediately knelt, “I dare not.”

“I’ll give you one day,” Yan Donghuang said coldly. “By tomorrow evening, select two people from this list for their marriages. The wedding will take place within a month. You can consult someone for an auspicious date.”

If not for Prince An being punished before, if not for him being demoted to a commoner, and if not for Yan Donghuang being so cold and ruthless, Prince Rong would have argued fiercely against Yan Donghuang’s autocratic ways. After all, he was her elder. The late Emperor was not dead yet, but she was already using her imperial status to suppress him and even overstepping her bounds by choosing unsuitable husbands for his two daughters. Prince Rong was filled with both anger and dissatisfaction.

Yet, because of Yan Ling’s precedent, he dared not confront Yan Donghuang head-on. After a long silence, he woodenly asked, “I would like to know why.”

“You know why, Imperial Uncle,” Yan Donghuang’s voice was cold. “My generals cannot be schemed against. You, who have been low-key and patient for so many years, suddenly causing trouble today, for whom?”

Prince Rong remained silent, his face devoid of color.

“No matter for whom, you should not target the generals of the Qingluan Army,” Yan Donghuang raised her hand. “You may leave now, Imperial Uncle. Submit your choices by tomorrow evening. Don’t say I didn’t respect you—I gave you the right to choose.”

Right to choose?

He’d rather not have it if it meant picking two people from that list. Prince Rong’s face was grim. After a long silence, he finally bowed his head, “I obey.”

After leaving, he took the list and departed. As night fell, Prince Rong returned to his residence, feeling deeply depressed. Princess Rong waited anxiously in the front courtyard of the mansion. Two lanterns hung high outside the main gate, and a maid by her side held another lantern to light the way. Seeing him return, Princess Rong hurried forward, “What happened?”

Prince Rong didn’t speak and silently handed her the list. Princess Rong took the list, puzzled, “What is this?”

“It’s the list of husbands the Emperor chose for Zhixuan and Zhijiao,” Prince Rong said coldly. “By tomorrow evening, I must select two people from this list and marry them within a month.”

Princess Rong’s face turned pale, and she quickly unfolded the list. “Who are these people? The eldest grandson of the Marquis of Beiyang… Isn’t the Marquis of Beiyang the late Empress Dowager’s brother? His son caused trouble when he was young, abusing the Empress Dowager’s power, and was later stripped of his title by the Emperor. The family is now mediocre and incompetent. The eldest grandson’s title sounds impressive, but he’s actually a good-for-nothing!”

“And the son of the Earl of Yong’en… How long has it been since the Earl of Yong’en appeared? Seven years ago, he displeased the Emperor and ruined his family’s reputation. Their descendants were banned from taking the imperial examinations for three generations. Zhixuan would suffer if she married into that family. They have no military achievements, no official positions, and even the daughters of fifth-rank officials wouldn’t marry them…”

“Enough.” Prince Rong spoke coldly, “This is clearly the Emperor’s punishment for Prince Rong’s residence. What’s the point of saying this now?”

Princess Rong paused, her face pale with anger: “Are you really going to marry Zhixuan off to those wastrels?”

None of the people on the list were worth mentioning. All of them were scoundrels. Even if Prince Rong’s residence had no real power, they still looked down on those who held titles but couldn’t even be named.

Prince Rong walked back to the mansion dejectedly.

Did he want this?

Yan Donghuang’s attitude was so firm that it wasn’t even a discussion, not even a verbal warning, directly cutting off the future of his two daughters.

What could he do? Defy the order?

“Wait until tomorrow when she calms down. Then I’ll go to the palace and plead.” Prince Rong wiped his face, “Right now, only I know about this matter, and the palace hasn’t issued an edict yet, so there should still be room for maneuver.”

Although the room for maneuvering was small, he couldn’t give up, even if there was just a glimmer of hope.

Chapter 146

After Prince Rong left, Yan Donghuang quietly sat at the imperial desk, her gaze fixed on the memorials that had yet to be reviewed. She remained silent for a long time. As dusk approached, she stood up and walked outside, not using a palanquin but strolling leisurely towards Linzhi Palace.

After moving to Linzhi Palace for recuperation, although the Retired Emperor’s condition was still not very good, it had significantly improved compared to the previous year. The empress dowagers’ palaces were next door, and the older ones would occasionally come over to sit and chat with the Retired Emperor.

Without the power to command military actions, the retired Emperor had shed some of the oppressive feeling of being a tiger to the empresses, making interactions with him slightly more relaxed. However, when Noble Lady Wei came to serve, she quickly realized this was an illusion.

“I heard that Prince An offended the Emperor today, was publicly caned, and was demoted to a commoner,” Noble Lady Wei said, kneeling on the wide couch, massaging the Retired Emperor’s shoulders, her delicate brows furrowed with worry. “In the past, the bond between Prince An and the Emperor was so deep that it made others envious. How could it suddenly turn like this… Doesn’t the Retired Emperor want to call someone in to ask about it?”

Noble Lady Wei was young and beautiful and good at pleasing people, so Emperor Wu Lie liked her service.

However, Emperor Wu Lie’s expression darkened upon hearing these words, and he looked at her coldly. “You seem to be quite well-informed.”

Noble Lady Wei’s face changed. She got up from the bed and knelt on the ground, saying, “I only… only…”

“The harem is not allowed to interfere in politics, yet you received the news faster than I, the Retired Emperor.” Emperor Wu Lie slowly leaned against the bed, his gaze stern, “Who told you about Prince An’s punishment?”

The palace attendants inside the hall all shuddered and knelt with their heads bowed.

Noble Lady Wei’s face turned slightly pale: “I… I…”

“I also want to know where Noble Lady Wei got this information from?” Yan Donghuang stepped into the hall, looking at the kneeling Noble Lady Wei. “Are the concubines in the harem so well-informed?”

“Greetings, Your Majesty.” The attendants all bowed.

Noble Lady Wei’s face changed, and she hurriedly paid her respects.

“Noble Lady Wei is an elder, no need for excessive courtesy.” Yan Donghuang paid respects to the Retired Emperor, then walked to the couch beside him and sat down, “Father Emperor just asked you a question, Noble Lady Wei, why not speak the truth? Which gossiping servant was so audacious as to eavesdrop on matters of the previous dynasty and report them to you so quickly?”

Noble Lady Wei knelt on the ground, her body trembling slightly: “I… I…”

“Speak,” Emperor Wu Lie shouted sternly.

“Your Majesty, I know I was wrong!” Noble Lady Wei suddenly clung to the Retired Emperor’s feet, crying and begging for mercy, “I shouldn’t have been fixated on the previous dynasty. I was just… just so bored being alone. I couldn’t help but want to know what was happening in the palace. After Consort De was sent to the Cold Palace, I was all alone…”

Before she could finish her sentence, a flash of cold light suddenly appeared before her eyes.

Noble Lady Wei stood up and rushed towards Yan Donghuang, her eyes fierce and filled with murderous intent: “Die—ah!”

A shadow darted out, kicking her in the chest.

With a scream, Noble Lady Wei’s body flew out like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground.

Pfft!

She spat out a mouthful of blood, her face pale, her whole body lifeless as she lay on the ground. The already unsheathed dagger fell to the side, glinting coldly.

From beginning to end, Yan Donghuang merely sat quietly on the couch, showing no reaction to Noble Lady Wei’s attack, remaining calm and composed as if the person who had just been assassinated was not himself.

The Retired Emperor’s face was icy.

Noble Lady Wei is one of the concubines in his harem. Not only does she monitor the movements of the previous court, but she also dares to assassinate the new Emperor right in front of him. It’s simply audacious.

“Someone! Drag this vile woman out and execute her with the staff!” Emperor Wu Lie was shocked and angry, adding, “Noble Lady Wei’s assassination of the Emperor is a crime that cannot be forgiven. The Wei family will be exterminated, leaving no survivors!”

“Father, please calm down.” Yan Donghuang spoke calmly, instructing the guards who had just entered, “Take Noble Lady Wei to the Ministry of Justice’s prison. Rong Ying, you will interrogate her together with the Ministry of Justice. Make sure she reveals other chess pieces in the palace.”

“Yes.” Rong Ying complied and left.

Yuan Ziying peeked in from outside the hall and said softly, “Your Majesty, I can help too.”

The Retired Emperor’s face turned cold: “Presumptuous.”

Yuan Ziying knelt on the ground with a thud: “This humble girl knows her crime.”

Yan Donghuang glanced at her: “You go with Rong Ying.”

“Yes, thank you, Your Majesty.”

The Grand Emperor frowned and turned to Yan Donghuang: “Who is she? Why does she seem to have no manners at all?”

“A little girl who knows medicine.” Yan Donghuang’s expression was indifferent, “Father, how has your health been lately?”

The Retired Emperor’s expression softened slightly: “It’s getting better. I can occasionally go out to bask in the sun when the weather is warm.”

“That’s good. Later, let Ziying check your pulse to see if she can help with your condition.”

The Retired Emperor remained silent, looking at Yan Donghuang: “What happened to Yan Ling?”

Yan Donghuang did not answer but asked in return: “Father, do you think Noble Lady Wei’s concern for Prince An is normal?”

Emperor Wu Lie frowned: “Of course not.”

“She is a chess piece planted in the palace by Prince An.” Yan Donghuang’s expression was indifferent, “There is also an Imperial Physician Feng in the Imperial Medical Office, who is an accomplice of Noble Lady Wei.”

“A chess piece?” The Retired Emperor’s expression changed slightly, and then he angrily asked, “What does Yan Ling want to do?”

Planting chess pieces in the palace, does he want to rebel?

“He must have his own plans for doing this.” Yan Donghuang smiled, “Father, I have something to ask.”

The Retired Emperor paused, sensing the unusual tone in her voice, “What is it?”

“Is my mother a palace maid?” Yan Donghuang looked up at Emperor Wu Lie, her gaze calm as if he were merely inquiring about an inconsequential matter. “When Yan Ling was punished, he said my mother wasn’t a palace maid, that your love for me was fake, and that I wasn’t qualified to be emperor.”

The Retired Emperor furrowed his brows. “Do you believe his words?”

“Not really. After all, he is best at sowing discord and spreading rumors,” Yan Donghuang replied lightly. “But since he mentioned it, I should verify it and clear my doubts.”

The Retired Emperor hummed. “So you still trust me as your father.”

Yan Donghuang spoke calmly. “I always thought that being born into the royal family meant that ability was the most important thing. Those capable should take on the great responsibilities of the country, but when it comes to passing on the throne, it’s not just about ability; there’s also an emotional aspect.”

If an Emperor despises his own children, no matter how capable the prince is, he will not willingly pass the throne to him. Unless the prince seizes power for himself, the Emperor would never entrust the responsibility of the entire nation to someone he dislikes.

“You are not wrong,” the Retired Emperor nodded, his expression one of satisfaction. “Not being easily swayed by others is indeed the attitude a ruler should have. Being soft-hearted makes one susceptible to deceitful people, so one must have their own judgment.”

Yan Donghuang said calmly, “Then may I ask, Father, what is my mother’s identity?”