Chapter 248

The imprisonment of Prince Consort Zhuang Wenlin, the Crown Prince 's maternal uncle, seemed like the rallying cry for deposing the Crown Prince.

The imperial princes and dukes, along with various ambitious schemers, stirred restlessly, yet none moved immediately.

Too many chances to be deceived had passed; one must learn a lesson. What if the old emperor was luring snakes out of their holes? If I jumped out now to step on the Crown Prince, wouldn't I be playing right into his hands? Perhaps in the end, the Crown Prince won't be deposed, but I'll end up doing time in the Shao Fu prison.

Another group was also thrilled: officials who could gain nothing from the Crown Prince, who thrived on chaos and sought to profit from the turmoil.

Around the Crown Prince clustered a circle of high officials and nobles—the entrenched beneficiaries. Ordinary officials had no Zige to approach the Crown Prince and share his burdens. This meant that when the Crown Prince ascended the throne, they would gain no advantage, and might even suffer losses.

After all, once the Crown Prince became emperor, he would surely reward a cohort of meritorious subjects. Official posts are like one Luobo per hole. To reward the meritorious, some officials must vacate their positions to make room. Who can guarantee they won't be asked to step down? Who can guarantee they'll still hold their current post after the Crown Prince takes power? Who can guarantee their future will grow brighter after the Crown Prince 's succession?

Since nothing can be guaranteed, better to pluck chestnuts from the fire.

Then let's add fuel to the fire of the deposed Crown Prince!

How to stoke the flames?

What could better stir the hearts of the realm and destabilize the Crown Prince 's position than the old emperor executing Zhuang Wenlin? Zhuang Taifu was the leader of the Crown Prince 's faction, his very backbone. Without Zhuang Wenlin, the Crown Prince would lose his arm.

Suddenly, the court's wind shifted. One after another, memorials flew into the palace, landing on the old emperor's desk—all denouncing Zhuang Wenlin.

As the Crown Prince 's maternal uncle, Zhuang Wenlin must have amassed a mountain of dirt over the years, too filthy to wash clean. The officials' accusations were all substantiated, with no false slander.

The old emperor looked satisfied: there were still clear-headed minds in court, not blindly defending the Crown Prince or pleading for Zhuang Wenlin.

Yet whether pleading or denouncing, the old emperor held all petitions back, leaving no one able to guess his intentions.

Chen Guanlou had a headache.

Zhuang Wenlin, as Crown Prince 's Taifu and Grand Secretary, and the Crown Prince 's own maternal uncle, wasn't confined to the Zhao Yu prison—he was sent to the Tianlaomiao.

The Chief Warden treated this official with extreme caution. He trusted no other head officer and assigned Chen Guanlou personally.

"Care for Taifu Zhuang with utmost diligence. Let him suffer no slightest indignity. Any reasonable request must be fulfilled. If you do well, perhaps no reward. But if Taifu is injured or meets any mishap in prison, we'll all be held accountable—do you understand?"

Chen Guanlou promised repeatedly, vowing to complete the task.

For this special prisoner, the Jia-class prison cells were reopened as VIP quarters. The floor was swept clean, disinfected, and rid of annoying insects. Bed, bedding, mosquito net, desk, chair, bookshelf, books, inkstone, brush, ink, paper, bronze candlesticks—all were provided.

It was less like imprisonment, more like house arrest for reflection.

Officials from the Liùshàn Mén personally escorted Taifu Zhuang to Tianlaomiao, completed the handover, and hurried away.

Chen Guanlou took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Taifu, this way, please."

Zhuang Wenlin, over fifty, was not old. He glanced at Chen Guanlou, about to move—when a voice called out: "Taifu, wait a moment."

Sun Daoning, the Vice Minister, rushed over. "Your humble servant arrives late; I beg Taifu's pardon."

Taifu Zhuang looked at him, stern without raising his voice: "I ordered no one to come see me. Why did you disobey?"

Sun Daoning looked embarrassed, wanting to explain but not knowing how.

Chen Guanlou watched this scene and thought: Taifu Zhuang carries such authority. In court, every official must bow low before him.

No wonder, when Taifu Zhuang was suddenly thrown into prison, the world cried that half the Crown Prince 's faction had collapsed.

Just as Sun Daoning was embarrassed, carriage wheels sounded outside the gate, then slowed to a stop.

Sun Daoning didn't explain. He hurried forward and bowed before the carriage. "Your Highness, Taifu is inside."

Your Highness? Which Highness?

Chen Guanlou had no time to ponder. He signaled his jailers to quickly fetch Chief Warden Niu.

Chief Warden Niu had recently caught a cold and feared spreading illness, so he hid in the office. But now a "Your Highness" had arrived—Sun Daoning himself was bowing low. For Niu to remain hidden was inappropriate. Even if sick, he could stand far back and not approach. To not appear at all was grave disrespect.

The carriage door opened; a footstool was placed. Moments later, a slightly overweight middle-aged man stepped out.

Taifu Zhuang was stunned. "This filthy place—how could the Crown Prince come here? I told everyone not to come. Why did you ignore me?"

The Crown Prince looked apologetic. "It is I who has dragged Taifu into this. How could I not come when you suffer such misfortune? I fear nothing. If they lock me up again, so be it—I've been confined before."

The Crown Prince, who appeared gentle and refined, spoke with unexpected firmness. The contrast was striking.

All the jailers in Tianlaomiao—likely everyone present—had never seen the Crown Prince before. Each was stunned.

But Chen Guanlou reacted fastest. He stepped forward first. "Welcome, Your Highness! We pay our respects—Your Highness, may you be blessed!"

The jailers snapped back to themselves, imitating him, heads bowed, not daring to breathe.

Chief Warden Niu, hiding behind the crowd, sighed inwardly in relief. Seeing the jailers standing dumbly had nearly driven him mad. He was ill—he couldn't risk spreading his sickness to the Crown Prince, couldn't approach, couldn't lead. He nearly fainted from panic. Thank heaven Chen Guanlou reacted quickly.

"Rise."

The Crown Prince paid no mind to the jailers. His full attention was on Taifu Zhuang.

Taifu Zhuang sighed inwardly. "Your Highness, please don't oppose the Emperor. He yields to softness, not hardness. If you yield, all will be well. As for me, this Tianlaomiao is nothing—don't worry."

"How can I not worry? To imprison Taifu without cause is utterly unjust."

"Watch your tongue!" Taifu Zhuang rebuked sharply. "Mind your surroundings. Don't speak recklessly. Your Highness, don't fret over me—return at once."

"What good would it do me to return? The entire court offers me no place of my own." The Crown Prince sounded like a willful, immature youth, showing no trace of wisdom or majesty. Yet his genuine devotion to Taifu moved all who heard. To complain about the old emperor for Taifu's sake—if those words reached the old emperor's ears, he'd surely be scolded.

"You… why won't you listen? Even if only to ease my mind, please return at once. Don't delay."

Taifu Zhuang moved to physically drive him away.