Chapter 44: A Storm in the Imperial Court, the Mysterious Old Man

Inevitably, the Shunhe Emperor glanced toward the spot where the Cheng brothers once stood.

But he quickly looked away, a flicker of regret passing through his eyes.

He had schemed for so many years, all for this very day.

At last, things had gone as he wished—there was nothing to feel regret about!

And certainly nothing to regret!

To achieve what he desired, how could he not pay some price?

It was merely a military disturbance—why would I, the Son of Heaven, fear it?!

But when his gaze swept over the Imperial Officials, who wished they could bury their heads in the cracks of the floor, silent as quails, the Shunhe Emperor's fury flared instantly.

"Why has everyone gone quiet?"

"Weren't you all speaking so loudly just now? Now that it's actually your turn to speak, have you all turned mute?!"

The emperor's wrath erupted, and the Civil and Military Officials dropped to their knees and kowtowed in unison.

"Your ministers are incompetent; we beg Your Majesty to pardon us."

The Minister of Rites gritted his teeth and stepped forward.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I believe the pressing matter is to first pacify the Cheng Family Army."

Impatience flickered across the Shunhe Emperor's face.

"Nonsense! As if I didn't know that?!"

The Minister of Rites, trembling, continued.

"When Your Majesty was still in the princely residence, Consort Jǐn was already your principal consort. If we now posthumously elevate Consort Jǐn to Empress, it would be defensible by ritual law, and it would also serve as a form of pacification toward the Cheng Family Army."

At these words, many Imperial Officials echoed their agreement.

"Your ministers second the motion."

"Impossible!"

The Crown Prince stepped forward, his expression hostile as he fixed the Minister of Rites with an icy glare and demanded.

"Minister Wen, those words are hardly appropriate, are they?!"

"Posthumously elevate Consort Jǐn to Empress? I wonder where you all think that leaves my mother, the Empress?!"

As he spoke, a cold smile curled at the corner of his lips, his words laced with mockery.

"Using a dead woman to quell a military revolt—wouldn't that make us the laughingstock of the entire world?!"

"Besides, the Cheng clan has already been stripped to commoner status. To now posthumously elevate her to Empress would be tantamount to admitting before all the people of the realm that Father Emperor was wrong before?!"

"Outrageous!"

The Shunhe Emperor hurled the Memorial before him heavily at the Minister of Rites, fury and killing intent churning in his eyes.

"Is this the brilliant plan you came up with?!"

He was the emperor—how could he possibly be wrong?

And how could he ever have erred?!

The Minister of Rites had already dropped to his knees the moment the Shunhe Emperor's wrath flared, and took the blow head-on.

His brow was split open instantly; crimson blood mingled with cold sweat slid down his temple and seeped into his eyes, stinging sharply. But he dared not wipe it, dared not rub it, and could only kowtow repeatedly.

"Your Majesty, please calm your wrath. This Old Minister did not dare, this Old Minister absolutely had no such intention!"

The Shunhe Emperor waved his hand impatiently, dismissing him.

The Minister of Rites felt as though granted a great reprieve. He rose carefully, returned to his place in disheveled disgrace, and stood properly—even his breathing instinctively grew lighter.

At this moment, the Imperial Physician stepped forward.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this Old Minister suggests that Your Majesty send the Imperial Prince personally, carrying military supplies and provisions to the Southern Border Camp, to comfort the soldiers in Your Majesty's stead. First, it would display the vastness of imperial grace; second, it would serve as a gesture of pacification."

Hearing this, many Imperial Officials echoed their agreement.

"Your ministers second the motion."

Even the Shunhe Emperor began quietly considering its feasibility.

The Crown Prince stepped forward without a moment's thought to refuse.

"Father Emperor!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the Crown Prince realized he had been too impulsive, but at this point could only steel himself and press on.

A look of guilt crossed his face, his words earnest and sincere.

"This son is of course willing to share Father Emperor's burdens, but the annual grand sacrificial rite is imminent, and this son truly cannot leave!"

What a joke—apart from Nanjiang, who had killed the Pingnan Marquis, the ones the Cheng Family Army hated most now were none other than the Da Yin imperial family.

If he went to Nan Jing, those red-eyed Cheng Family Army soldiers would tear him limb from limb, wouldn't they?!

The Shunhe Emperor gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable, but the fist that had been clenched moments before loosened slightly.

"The sacrificial rites truly cannot be delayed."

Besides, he was not at ease letting the Crown Prince go to the border either—after all, that was a Hundred Thousand Army. If…

The Shunhe Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly.

That Hundred Thousand Army must never slip from his control!

Hearing the Crown Prince's words, the Imperial Physician drew a deep breath, shot him a look of frustrated disappointment, and squeezed his eyes shut.

Foolish!

He only saw the danger—why could he not see the opportunity?

The Cheng Family Army is now leaderless. So what if they remain loyal to the Pingnan Marquis Residence?

The Cheng family has already been wiped out—won't those soldiers have to think about their own futures?

If the Imperial Prince could seize the chance to win them over to his side, what a tremendous boost it would be—both for the Crown Prince himself and for Da Yin?

Only want the benefits, but not pay the price?

Where in this world does such a good thing exist?!

This father and son pair — one is cowardly and afraid of trouble, and the other… really is…

Out of his mind!

The Shunhe Emperor's gaze swept across the Imperial Officials one by one.

"Where is the Minister of Personnel?"

Someone replied.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Minister Sun has suddenly fallen gravely ill and has taken leave for several days."

The Shunhe Emperor's brows furrowed slightly, the pressure around him dropped, and he asked again.

"Where is Vice Minister of War Meng Can?"

Another person replied in a low voice.

"Vice Minister Meng has also fallen ill and taken leave."

The Shunhe Emperor gripped the armrest of his chair tightly, his teeth clenched tight.

"Is that so?"

Not allowed to resign, so they claim illness, do they?

"Your Majesty! This Old Minister is willing to go to the Southern Border Camp!"

An old man with grizzled hair and beard walked into the great hall. The newcomer was none other than Zhou Old General, who had just returned to the capital three days ago from the Southern Border Camp to report.

"Cough, cough, cough."

"Your Majesty, this Old Minister requests an Imperial Decree, willing to go in place of Your Majesty and the Crown Prince to the Southern Border Camp to stabilize the Cheng Family Army."

The Shunhe Emperor's eyes flickered, and a look of worry appeared on his face as he looked at Zhou Old General.

"Has Zhou Old General's health improved?"

Zhou Old General covered his mouth and coughed twice more, his complexion still pale.

"Many thanks for Your Majesty's concern, this Old Minister is in no serious condition."

The Shunhe Emperor let out a rather helpless sigh.

"Zhou Old General is advanced in years, and has only just returned to the capital after the fatigue of travel. I truly cannot bear to let Old Zhou suffer the hardship of the road again. But at present, only Zhou Old General is most suited to handle this matter."

Zhou Old General knelt on the ground.

"Sharing Your Majesty's burdens, this Old Minister would face ten thousand deaths without complaint!"

Hearing this, the Shunhe Emperor nodded in satisfaction.

"Issue the decree! Appoint Grand General Zhou Huai as the Grand Marshal of Nan Jing's forces, to take up his post immediately!"

Zhou Old General kowtowed to accept the decree.

"This Old Minister accepts the decree and gives thanks for the grace."

Though the Imperial Physician felt regret in his heart, he could do nothing about it.

Never mind, the good thing is that Zhou Old General does not belong to any faction.

If the Cheng Family Army falls into his hands, although it will not become the Crown Prince's support, it absolutely cannot be used by other Princes either.

In this way, it can also be considered good news.

The Crown Prince felt even more relieved in his heart.

For a moment, it seemed as though the entire Imperial Court was satisfied with this outcome.

But who could have imagined that all of this was within someone's plan?

……

A thousand miles away, in Beihuang City.

"Yi Jiang, let's go back, I'm a little scared."

Suddenly arriving in an unfamiliar environment, Yu'an's big eyes were full of unease.

Chen Yijiang turned and pulled him forward as they continued walking.

"Don't be afraid, I'll protect you!"

Borrowing Zaituan's perspective, An Luo saw the scene within Beihuang City clearly for the first time.

The streets were full of people in tattered clothes, looking utterly wretched.

These people's expressions were numb, their eyes dead and vacant, as if they were walking corpses.

Seeing these, An Luo's mood grew inexplicably heavy.

There may be sinners with deep crimes and vicious villains here, but how many are loyal and upright people who, like the Cheng Family, were framed and trapped in the north?

"Little child, this is not a place you should be."

Yu'an followed the sound and looked over, seeing an old grandfather in coarse linen clothes with snow-white hair, smiling warmly at him.

Yu'an tilted his little head and asked him.

"Who are you?"

The old man smiled and shook his head.

"Who I am is not important. What matters is, who are you?"

Then he squatted down and looked at Yu'an, speaking softly in a voice only the three of them could hear.

"Little child of the Cheng Family, you shouldn't have snuck out."

Yu'an fearfully widened his big eyes, instinctively stepping back several paces, his little mouth hanging wide open.

"How did you know?!"