Chapter 703: A Fine Imperial Grandson

The childish voice was clear and pleasant.

Grandfather and grandson were both smiling.

Behind them stood Wei Zhonghe and Lu Bing, the heads of Great Yan's two great intelligence organs, neither daring to breathe too loudly.

To a certain extent, Lu Bing's "betrayal" originated with his mother, and his mother, in turn, stood on the Emperor of Yan's side.

His mother had once told him that even if one of the imperial princes rebelled, failed, escaped, and came knocking on the Lu family's door, the Lu family still had to open that door and let him inside.

Because he was an imperial prince.

His Majesty's son.

His Majesty could punish him.

His Majesty could even kill him.

But no one else had that right.

And the Lu family, born from the household slaves of the Son of Heaven, had even less right than anyone.

That was precisely why Mr. Zhu of the Eastern Palace had actually been correct.

In Yanjing, no one could scheme against the Emperor of Yan unless the Emperor himself was willing to walk into the scheme.

The Lu family.

Wei Zhonghe.

After understanding His Majesty's state of mind, both had, to a certain degree, opened a convenient door for what was happening.

They were the sovereign's genuine confidants.

Admittedly, that made the victory look somewhat unfair.

After all, the Emperor of Yan had walked into the situation himself.

But one could also say that Ji Old Sixth had accurately calculated his father's pride.

Accurately calculated his father's thoughts.

The best conspiracy... was an open plot.

Since ancient times, countless matters had ultimately come down to victor as king, loser as bandit. If one insisted on dissecting the process afterward, that was usually nothing more than the victor chewing over his triumph while the loser desperately searched for excuses.

The Emperor of Yan extended one hand.

Wei Zhonghe, who had served beside His Majesty for decades, immediately wrung out the towel in the basin nearby and placed it in the Emperor's hand.

The Emperor took the towel and gently wiped the cold sweat from his grandson's face.

Very carefully.

Very tenderly.

In Wei Zhonghe's memory, His Majesty had never treated anyone like this before.

Not even... his own family.

A few years earlier, when the youngest Seventh Prince Ji Chengsu had fallen into the water, His Majesty had only gone over to look at him.

He had never made any intimate, elder-like gesture.

Apparently... a grandfather looking at a grandson truly was different from a father looking at a son.

"Tell Imperial Grandfather the truth. Do you hate your father? He made you drink medicine, and now you feel this miserable."

Ji Chuanye shook his head.

"Grandson doesn't hate him."

"Why not?" the Emperor asked.

"Grandson knows Father did it for my own good. There isn't any father in the world who would deliberately want to hurt his child."

Wei Zhonghe and Lu Bing happened to exchange glances.

This was the sort of answer one might normally expect from a child like him.

Strictly speaking, there was nothing extraordinary about it.

Children of the imperial household enjoyed the finest education, but they also had to bear the most elaborate rituals and expectations.

Naturally, they matured early.

Yet when such words came from such a childish voice... the effect was extraordinarily good.

For the situation before them... almost too good.

Had someone taught him to say this?

Or had the child simply spoken without thinking?

And if there was a third possibility... how old was he?

Thunder and rain were both the sovereign's grace.

The sovereign's favor was vast as the sea.

A father's love was heavy as a mountain.

Perhaps... at this particular moment... what His Majesty needed most was exactly this kind of affirmation.

He had already done enough to face the histories without shame.

Now... what remained before him... was his own son.

"Father teaches me arithmetic at home. I'm stupid and learn slowly, so Father hits me... and I cry. Then Father hugs me and says, 'Jade without... without being angry...' Imperial Grandfather, Grandson forgot how the saying goes."

"Jade must be carved before it can become a vessel."

"Yes! Imperial Grandfather, that's what Father tells me. He also says when he was little, he was always slow at learning and stupid too, so Imperial Grandfather used to beat him all the time. He says Imperial Grandfather beat him really hard and it hurt a lot, with a leather whip. He says after getting beaten a few times, he started learning things faster, and once you get beaten enough, your brain becomes smarter."

The Emperor of Yan shook his head.

"Imperial Grandfather never hit your father when he was little. Your father was extremely clever from childhood and learned everything quickly. Sometimes, because your father was too clever, your uncles looked far too stupid by comparison. That was why Imperial Grandfather ended up beating them quite a few times instead."

That was the truth.

Back when the Emperor of Yan examined the princes' studies, he had always been extremely satisfied with Sixth Son's answers.

Then he would look at the five older boys... and somehow find every last one of them increasingly displeasing to the eye.

"Father actually lied to me..."

"Chuanye. Who taught you to say these things?"

"Imperial Grandfather, no one taught me. Great-Grandmother only told Chuanye that Father wanted me to drink the medicine, so Chuanye drank it."

"Mm."

The Emperor of Yan looked at his grandson very carefully.

Perhaps... even now... he was not without other suspicions.

An Emperor's heart was always suspicious.

But here, that suspicion was not fear that things might become worse.

It was suspicion that perhaps... they might become even better.

Children of the imperial household... one did not fear them having thoughts of their own.

One feared them being genuinely stupid and simple.

"Imperial Grandfather... Grandson wants to ask you for one thing. Mother said that when you're sick, you should think about what you want most. That way you get better faster."

"Speak. Whatever Chuanye wants, Grandfather can give you."

In Great Yan... the Emperor of Yan had the qualification to say those words.

And among all grandfathers beneath Heaven, no one had greater confidence that he could make them true.

"Imperial Grandfather, Grandson wants to ride a Pixiu. Chuanshi showed off to me and said his family has a Pixiu. Eldest Uncle has one, but my father doesn't."

At last... the request sounded like something a child would actually say.

Jealousy toward a cousin.

Competing with the child of his eldest uncle's household.

"If Chuanshi has one, then Chuanye will certainly have one too. Whatever Chuanye has... will only ever be more than what Chuanshi has."

They were both his grandsons.

But Ji Chuanye was the eldest imperial grandson.

And Ji Chuanshi's mother... was a Barbarian.

It was only natural for the Emperor of Yan to favor one over the other.

If he did not... that would be the truly strange thing.

In truth, one reason Ji Chuanye had been raised at Lady Fengxin's residence was precisely because it made it easier for the Emperor to come see his eldest grandson.

If the boy lived inside Sixth Prince's residence, such visits would be much less convenient.

"When Grandson gets better, will Imperial Grandfather take me riding on a Pixiu?"

"All right."

"Imperial Grandfather is the Emperor..."

"Naturally, the sovereign does not speak in jest."

"Long live Imperial Grandfather, cough, cough..."

The instant Ji Chuanye began coughing, the Emperor of Yan called:

"Imperial Physician."

The two physicians hurried inside.

After examining the child, one reported:

"To reply to Your Majesty, His Highness the imperial grandson has only just broken into a sweat. After another medicinal bath later, his body should feel much more comfortable."

"Go prepare it immediately."

"This minister obeys."

The Emperor turned back toward Ji Chuanye lying on the bed.

A trace of anger appeared in his eyes.

Not toward the grandson.

Toward the son.

The dose of medicine... had been a little too heavy.

"How can a father be this ruthless toward his own son?"

Wei Zhonghe said nothing.

Lu Bing said nothing.

The two great intelligence chiefs did not dare answer.

Did not dare agree.

"Chuanye, recover properly. Once your body is strong again, you'll be able to ride a Pixiu without getting thrown off."

"Mm. Chuanshi is a little younger than Grandson, but he's stronger."

"Nonsense. The bodies of Great Yan's sons are inferior to no one. You're still young. You'll grow stronger slowly."

The separation inside those words appeared naturally.

Not toward the grandson in front of him.

Toward Ji Chuanshi.

The First Prince had been excluded from inheriting the supreme position through a tacit consensus from top to bottom.

No one had deliberately targeted him.

It was simply the natural conclusion.

The Emperor of Yan extended his hand again.

Wei Zhonghe immediately offered another freshly washed and wrung-out towel.

As the Emperor wiped the sweat from his grandson, he asked:

"Chuanye, do you want to become a general when you grow up?"

"A general like Uncle Zheng?"

"Mm."

Among children playing war games these days, pretending to be Marquis Pingxi was by far the most popular choice.

Very few tried to play the Prince of Jingnan.

It was not that no brave young boys had ever attempted it.

But after their fathers beat them several times with the soles of their shoes... the attempts became rarer.

"I do. Father says Uncle Zheng is extremely good at war. Imperial Grandfather, at home Father is always talking about Uncle Zheng this and Uncle Zheng that. One moment he laughs and says how amazing Uncle Zheng is, and the next he curses Uncle Zheng for being a complete bastard. But Grandson wants to be a general without going outside to fight wars."

"Why?"

"Because Father is so tired. Every night he spends forever in the study doing accounts. Grandson has to practice calligraphy and study arithmetic properly. When I grow up, I can help Father."

"Your father... gets tired?"

When it came to laziness... this particular son ranked first.

While everyone else trembled and worked with exhausting diligence... he... always seemed calm and leisurely.

"Mm. Mother also says Father's waist isn't as good as it used to be. She keeps urging Father to go plow the fields."

"Heh-heh."

The Emperor shook his head.

That sort of remark... really did sound exactly like something the butcher's daughter would say.

At that moment, an imperial physician came over and reported:

"Your Majesty, the medicinal bath is ready."

In truth... a medicinal bath had one extremely clear and obvious effect.

Detoxification.

The physicians simply did not dare say it openly.

Working in the Imperial Medical Bureau meant touching far too many secrets belonging to the powerful.

So one had to learn what should be asked and what should not.

Always remember... you were only a physician treating illness.

"Come, Chuanye. Time for the medicinal bath."

"All right."

Wei Zhonghe prepared to step forward.

Instead, the Emperor of Yan began undressing Chuanye himself.

He removed the boy's upper garment.

Then, when he reached the trousers, Ji Chuanye instinctively twisted a little.

"Mother says a boy's little bird can't just be shown to people."

"Hahahahahaha..."

The Emperor of Yan tried to lift the child.

One could clearly see that it took effort.

But the Emperor still forced himself to pick Ji Chuanye up and slowly lower him into the bathing tub.

After doing so, the Emperor swayed slightly.

Fortunately, one hand caught the rim of the tub and steadied him.

Behind him...

Wei Zhonghe and Lu Bing were both ready to reach out at any moment.

Then both stopped themselves.

His Majesty was standing before his grandson.

Any man standing before his direct descendant wanted to appear strong.

At that moment, the Emperor of Yan suddenly asked:

"Chuanye, tell Imperial Grandfather. Are you afraid of dying?"

Ji Chuanye nodded without hesitation.

"Grandson is afraid."

"Why?"

"Mother says if people die, they can't eat delicious food anymore. Can't play fun games. Can't ride Pixiu together with Chuanshi. Can't see Father and Mother or my younger brother and sisters anymore. And I couldn't see Imperial Grandfather anymore either."

"Chuanye. Do you think Imperial Grandfather is afraid of death?"

Ji Chuanye turned his head and looked at the Emperor standing outside the bathing tub.

The child visibly began thinking.

"Speak," the Emperor urged.

"Father says Imperial Grandfather will always live on the blue stone slabs. You'll live for a very, very long time. A thousand years. Ten thousand years."

The historical record, to the child, had become literal blue stone slabs.

"Then does Chuanye want to be like Imperial Grandfather and live on those blue stone slabs too?"

At the side, Wei Zhonghe and Lu Bing both held their breath.

No one could guess the present Emperor's true intent.

Not even his closest confidants.

But without question... this exchange would influence His Majesty's decision.

Ji Chuanye smiled.

"We have to add Father too. Imperial Grandfather, Father, and Grandson. The three of us together."

"Hahahahahaha!"

The Emperor laughed and slapped the side of the bathing tub.

Then... he reached out and rubbed the head of his grandson soaking inside.

And said those three words:

"What a fine imperial grandson."

...

After the medicinal bath, Wei Zhonghe dried Ji Chuanye and tucked him back beneath the blankets.

The child's body was weak now, and he had spoken for so long.

Toward the end of the medicinal bath, he had already begun nodding off.

Not long after being returned to bed, he fell asleep again.

The Emperor of Yan sat in a chair.

Simply watching his grandson sleep.

Then...

Old Madam Lu slowly approached, leaning on her cane.

"Wet Nurse. When We were little, did We sleep like this too?"

"Yes. Children can be as troublesome as they like while awake, but once they're asleep, they always look obedient, lovable, and sweet."

"Heh-heh."

The Emperor pointed toward the sleeping Ji Chuanye.

"Right now We almost wish We could wake the child and have him keep talking to Us."

Because...

Our time... is already running short.

"When the previous Emperor was alive, he once said the same thing Your Majesty just did."

The previous Emperor.

The previous Emperor...

The Emperor of Yan nodded.

Just then, a report broke the quiet.

Lu Bing received the message at the entrance to the Buddhist hall and returned.

"Your Majesty. His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived with the Eastern Palace Guard and requests audience."

The Emperor of Yan's brows drew together slightly.

The atmosphere had been quite pleasant.

Then an outsider came along and disturbed it.

"We only just told him that doing nothing is the correct move. He appears capable of enduring and enduring, but the moment something critical happens, he still cannot help himself. If so, all that earlier endurance becomes a joke."

The Emperor shook his head.

"Fine. Let him come in too."

...

The Eastern Palace Guard wore excellent armor and had been trained rigorously.

They were absolutely not some ceremonial shell.

The Crown Prince rode at the front on a white horse.

Behind him was the Commandant of the Eastern Palace Guard.

His surname was Wu.

His name was Liang.

Years ago, Wen Yin had recruited jianghu experts for the Crown Prince and filled out the Eastern Palace's strength, becoming one of the Crown Prince's most useful arms.

Then Wen Yin's problematic background had been discovered, and he was swiftly cut away.

The man who discovered him and carried out that purge... was Wu Liang.

Afterward, Wu Liang rose rapidly.

He not only inherited Wen Yin's former position, but also became Commandant of the Eastern Palace Guard.

In a broad sense, the Eastern Palace Guard was itself one branch of the Imperial Guards.

The old Imperial Guards had once been enormous.

After the framework of their main force was dismantled and transferred elsewhere, the remaining garrison units in the capital became fragmented exactly like this.

One household took a little.

One yamen took a little.

The old structure was divided into separate establishments.

Now... the Crown Prince sat on horseback outside the gates of the Lu Residence.

Several Lu household servants stood at the entrance.

In truth, they were Lu Bing's men.

They had already gone inside to report the Crown Prince's arrival.

But until they received explicit permission, they refused to yield even half a step.

The quality of Lu Bing's subordinates was obvious.

Under Wu Liang's orders, the Eastern Palace Guard spread out in formation.

They did not attempt to surround the entire Lu Residence.

But along one side, they clearly formed into a posture suited for launching an assault.

Neither side had drawn sabers.

No bows had been strung.

Then...

Lu Bing walked out.

He saluted the Crown Prince.

"This minister greets Your Highness the Crown Prince. May Your Highness enjoy health and peace."

"Uncle Lu. This Palace heard our eldest nephew had fallen ill, so we came specifically to visit him."

Lu Bing nodded.

"Your Highness is benevolent and cares deeply for the younger generation. Truly a blessing for Great Yan."

The Crown Prince dismounted and stepped forward.

Lu Bing shifted aside to invite him in.

At that moment, Wu Liang waved his hand.

The armored soldiers of the Eastern Palace Guard immediately moved as though they intended to follow.

Lu Bing suddenly raised one hand to stop them.

Behind him... stood the Crown Prince.

Before him... a crowd of armored soldiers pressing forward.

"Your Highness. His Majesty is inside. As subjects, we cannot frighten the imperial carriage with drawn steel."

"Oh? Imperial Father is at Uncle Lu's residence too? Of course. Imperial Father loves his eldest imperial grandson most dearly. This Palace should have guessed."

The Eastern Palace Guard stopped.

But did not retreat.

Wu Liang thrust one arm forward.

At that moment... he did not even wait for the Crown Prince to issue an order.

He made the decision himself.

Because right now... it was not appropriate for the Crown Prince to personally speak the command aloud.

"Impudent!"

"Audacious!"

Several of Lu Bing's men shouted angrily at the soldiers attempting to force their way inside.

In truth, there were at least a group of masked agents from Lu Bing's yamen inside the residence.

But they had not appeared yet.

"Your Highness, do not make things difficult for this minister," Lu Bing said. "And do not force this minister's hand."

At last, the Crown Prince raised one hand.

"Withdraw."

Wu Liang immediately ordered:

"Withdraw!"

The soldiers stepped backward.

But what followed was the drawing of sabers.

Bows were strung.

Arrows nocked.

The situation became even more tense than before.

"Have Sixth Brother come out and see this Palace," the Crown Prince said.

"Your Highness, Sixth Highness is not inside the residence."

"Oh? He's not here?"

That genuinely surprised the Crown Prince.

"How strange. His son is sick and he doesn't even come to look?"

Then... at the other end of the lane... a carriage appeared.

Eunuch Zhang held the reins.

A single lonely carriage slowly rolled toward them.

The curtain lifted.

Revealing Ji Chengjue's face.

In the next instant... part of the Eastern Palace Guard turned toward the carriage and assumed full battle readiness.

One eunuch companion.

One imperial prince.

Standing atop the steps, the Crown Prince lowered his gaze slightly and looked toward his Sixth Brother seated inside the carriage.

"Sixth Brother. Where are your people?"

By all rights, this Sixth Brother of his should have brought men.

The trusted men and hidden strength he had cultivated in the capital.

Ji Chengjue clapped his hands.

Wu Liang immediately shouted:

"Cut them down!"

In an instant... officers stabbed officers beside them.

Squad leaders drove blades into men standing shoulder to shoulder.

Soldiers suddenly plunged steel into the chests of their own comrades.

In the blink of an eye, no fewer than two hundred officers and soldiers of the Eastern Palace Guard dropped dead.

Without warning.

Killed by the companions standing beside them.

The stench of blood and slaughter flooded the lane at once.

The Crown Prince took half a step backward.

Lu Bing remained standing where he was.

And the Eastern Palace Guard soldiers who had previously aimed their blades and arrows at the carriage... turned as well.

Now their sabers and crossbows pointed toward the Crown Prince standing on the steps.

The reversal... was too strange.

Too shocking.

Wu Liang dismounted.

He knelt before Ji Chengjue.

Kowtowed.

"May Master enjoy health and peace!"

Ji Chengjue nodded.

Then stepped down from the carriage.

He raised his head.

Looked toward the Crown Prince standing atop the steps.

And gave his slightly delayed answer.

"They're right here."

[End of Chapter 703]