Chapter 1314

Zhou Ruiyuan said: "Your Majesty, have you never considered appointing a crown prince?"

Long Xuan'en fell silent because of Zhou Ruiyuan's question, and after a while he sighed and said: "How could I not consider it? Zhou Aiqing, to be frank, I am old and my strength wanes day by day; my time is not far off. If I were to suddenly ride the crane westward, who would uphold Dakang's state?"

Zhou Ruiyuan hurriedly knelt and said: "Your Majesty, may you live ten thousand years; how could such a thing happen?"

Long Xuan'en shook his head, his expression turning somewhat sorrowful: "Everyone will have that day."

Zhou Ruiyuan felt a stir in his heart; no wonder Hu Xiaotian had said earlier that a rift had developed between Long Xuan'en and Hong Beimo—judging from Long Xuan'en's demeanor, he must be wavering on the art of immortality.

Long Xuan'en turned his face away, gazing blankly out the window; outside the spring light was bright, but his inner self was a murky gray.

Between ruler and minister a long silence fell; finally Long Xuan'en broke it first: "Do you think I should appoint Tingzhen as heir apparent?"

Zhou Ruiyuan said: "I dare not speak rashly."

Long Xuan'en said: "I recall you were not like this before; when I stripped you of office and reduced you to commoner, what was the reason? Do you still remember?"

Zhou Ruiyuan said: "I have offended your majesty's dignity, recklessly discussed state affairs; each time I think of it I am filled with fear and awe. Your Majesty's magnanimity bears no grudge; I am moved to tears."

Long Xuan'en shook his head and said: "You! I don't know whether it's me who changed or you who changed; since I reascended the throne, you no longer dare speak the truth in my presence."

"I am ashamed!"

Long Xuan'en said: "I recall that you once joined many officials at court to strongly advise against my investing too much in the imperial tombs. I flew into a rage, stripped you of office, and nearly cost you your life."

"I ought not to have offended your majesty's dignity."

Long Xuan'en said: "Good medicine tastes bitter but helps the illness; frank advice grates on the ear but aids conduct. Had I from the start yielded to good counsel, perhaps Dakang would not have fallen into its present state."

Zhou Ruiyuan felt a pang of curiosity, unsure whether Long Xuan'en spoke thus deliberately or from genuine feeling; serving a ruler is like serving a tiger, and he had been by Long Xuan'en's side for many years. Naturally he knew Long Xuan'en's fickle nature; though his words seemed sincere, who could know he was not merely probing him? If Zhou Ruiyuan echoed his words, he might touch a nerve. He said: "The rise and fall of the state is not solely the Majesty's responsibility; in recent years natural disasters have been unceasing. Moreover, the imperial family is rife with internal strife. Had not Your Majesty taken the field, how could the present situation have been stabilized? The state would likely have collapsed long ago. Fortunately, Your Majesty remains the Mandate of Heaven. Since this year began, the crises surrounding Dakang have begun to ease one by one—this is a time to rest and recuperate. Given time, Dakang will regain its vigor and should be able to embark on the path of revival."

Long Xuan'en said: "It appears to be easing, but in fact undercurrents are stirring; merely because the Black Hu people's southern invasion has tied down Da Yong, leaving them temporarily unable to invade our lands, yet the steady nibbling away of Dakang's territory is an undeniable fact. Li Tianheng's carving out of Xichuan has become a fait accompli, and now Hu Xiaotian seizes the opportunity to lock down the Yongjiang River, expanding along its basin; his influence already reaches Yunze, his ambition obvious. Whenever I think of this, I cannot rest or eat."

Zhou Ruiyuan said: "Hu Xiaotian has already returned to Kangdu; next month he is to marry the Yongyang Princess."

Long Xuan'en said: "He is clever and bold; training troops in Yunze is merely to display his strength to me—he is threatening me!" As he spoke, Long Xuan'en slammed his palm heavily on the tea table, making the teacup jump.

Zhou Ruiyuan was startled by the sudden commotion.

Long Xuan'en said: "Does he think I truly dare not move against him?"

Zhou Ruiyuan secretly sneered: although Long Xuan'en hated Hu Xiaotian to the bone, moving against him requires careful thought; Hu Xiaotian's Yongjiang navy is no pushover. If Long Xuan'en dared to act openly against Hu Xiaotian, he would be pushing Dakang into civil war, and the recently recovered state would surely collapse. Zhou Ruiyuan said softly: "Your Majesty, I believe Hu Xiaotian may harbor no rebellious intent."

Long Xuan'en furrowed his brows and said: "On what basis do you reach that conclusion?"

Zhou Ruiyuan said: "If he harbored rebellious intent, he would not dare return alone."

Long Xuan'en said: "Merely returning to marry hardly proves anything."

Zhou Ruiyuan said: "What if he wishes to remain in Kangdu after the marriage?"

Long Xuan'en's eyes flashed with doubt: Hu Xiaotian staying in Kangdu after marriage? How could that be? This fellow is no fool; how could he not know that keeping him in Kangdu amounts to house arrest.

Zhou Ruiyuan said: "Your Majesty, you wouldn't be letting the tiger return to the mountain, would you?"

Long Xuan'en said: "This person will always be a hidden danger while he lives."

Zhou Ruiyuan said: "But if something were to happen to him, the Yongjiang navy would likely lose control; once the north falls into chaos, it would be tantamount to flinging wide the doors to Da Yong."

Long Xuan'en said: "Zhou Aiqing, why not lay out what you have in mind?"

Zhou Ruiyuan said: "I believe the best way to deal with Hu Xiaotian is to use the two words 'stabilize' and 'delay'."

Long Xuan'en said: "I married Qiqi to him precisely to stabilize him, but this fellow's ambition is huge; a mere prince consort would hardly satisfy him."

Zhou Ruiyuan said: "The more so, the more Your Majesty ought to favor him; you might as well bestow generous honors and entrust him with important duties."

"What?" Long Xuan'en shouted loudly.

Having prepared beforehand, Zhou Ruiyuan respectfully said: "Your Majesty, please allow me to speak slowly; regarding Hu Xiaotian's marriage, the matter has long been noised abroad throughout court and countryside, and most people believe he would not dare return—I too thought so."

Long Xuan'en nodded; he too could not be certain whether Hu Xiaotian would return.

Zhou Ruiyuan said: "Hu Xiaotian harbors considerable ambition; since his departure for Dongliang Jun he has steadily expanded his power, a fact known to all. By arranging his marriage, Your Majesty is displaying your favor before the world; if he does not come, it would be tantamount to publicly tearing up the marriage pact, betraying the princess and the court alike. Given his present strength, he indeed has the confidence to do so. His return this time is meant to show he harbors no treasonous intent toward the court. I believe Your Majesty should bestow lavish rewards: first, to keep him in check; second, to quiet those rumors at home and abroad." From his conversation with Long Xuan'en, Zhou Ruiyuan could discern that Long Xuan'en harbored murderous intent toward Hu Xiaotian, yet he feared the Yongjiang navy—truly a case of 'setting a rat to guard the grain'—so even if Long Xuan'en were utterly foolish he would not gamble Dakang's fate lightly. Hence Zhou Ruiyuan proposed a pacification strategy, ostensibly for the state's sake but actually to aid Hu Xiaotian, causing Long Xuan'en to temporarily set aside his desire to kill him.

Long Xuan'en said: "These past two days I have been pondering the heir apparent; what do you think of Tingzhen?"

Zhou Ruiyuan said: "I have not yet had the chance to meet him, but I have heard he was found by Mr. Hong."

Long Xuan'en said: "Quite right; I had long thought he had met with misfortune, never imagining he still lives in this world."

Zhou Ruiyuan said: "For so long there has been no word at all; does Your Majesty know what actually transpired during that period?"

Long Xuan'en said: "It is said he was captured and imprisoned by Ji Feihua."

Zhou Ruiyuan said: "Ji Feihua has been dead for some time; when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. How could his followers be so loyal, even if they are devoted, why would they continue to detain the third imperial prince?"

Long Xuan'en in fact had long harbored doubts about Tingzhen's affair; he thought Hong Beimo had not been frank with him on this matter—perhaps Tingzhen had already been found by him, merely withheld until needed, then disclosed. Hong Beimo wanted Long Xuan'en to name Tingzhen heir apparent; he must have seen that Long Xuan'en had lost patience, or perhaps he simply could not concoct an elixir of immortality, and thus hit upon the idea of propping up Tingzhen to take his place.

Long Xuan'en said softly: "You still haven't answered my question."

Zhou Ruiyuan pursed his lips and said: "I dare not speak on such matters; I merely think the choice of heir must be made cautiously—Your Majesty might do well to observe a while longer, then one's character will become clear."

Long Xuan'en caught the implication in Zhou Ruiyuan's words—was he saying Tingzhen's character is lacking? He sighed: "It's a pity that Qiqi is merely a woman; in talent and vision, Tingzhen falls far short of her."

Zhou Ruiyuan's heart pounded; could Long Xuan'en be contemplating passing the throne to Qiqi? To bequeath the throne to a princess would truly be unprecedented and shocking; fortunately Long Xuan'en did not press further on his meaning.

Just as Zhou Ruiyuan had left the palace, the Yongyang Princess Qiqi, together with her fiancé Hu Xiaotian, came to pay respects to the Emperor. Yet they did not expect the old emperor to give them the cold shoulder, saying he was unwell and asking them to come another day.

Unlike the previous two days when he entered the palace in disguise, Hu Xiaotian came today openly and aboveboard, naturally without any taboo, and smiling at Qiqi said: "It seems the Emperor does not wish to see me."

Qiqi said: "He's been like this lately—moody and unpredictable; if he won't see you, just go back."

Hu Xiaotian said: "You're not coming with me?"

Qiqi shook her head and said: "I am going to reside in the Storage Excellence Palace; today I still have many state affairs unattended, so I cannot accompany you."

Hu Xiaotian's face showed disappointment; he sighed softly: "I had thought that, now reunited after a long separation, we could talk by candlelight tonight."

Qiqi's cheeks flushed; she said: "We are not yet married; you may not fear gossip, but I dread others' idle chatter."

Hu Xiaotian had meant to tease her a bit, but seeing three figures approaching in the distance, his keen eyesight instantly recognized them as Long Tingzhen—toward this fellow Hu Xiaotian had never felt any fondness.

Long Tingzhen also saw them, paused his steps for a moment, then strode over toward them.

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