Chapter 80

The third month is the time of orioles, also known as the Peach Month.

It was late spring, the weather was clear and warm, the Linhe waterway was bustling with pleasure boats, and the peach blossoms on the embankments were smiling while the willow leaves were stretching their brows, as if it were a magnificent scene in Jiangnan.

Under the Water Gate Bridge, scholars and poets took covered boats to enjoy the view along the river; there were also women on spring outings, carrying wine and food, passing by the bridge.

Besides these leisurely people enjoying the flowers and spring, the peddlers and porters coming and going on the street also had their own destinations, whether rushing for a living or toiling for worldly affairs.

In a residence with closed gates along the street, a locust tree took root in the fertile soil, striving to sprout buds.

The seeds of the "swinging bell flowers" planted in the courtyard had sprouted three-inch-tall seedlings; this flower can sense corpse Qi, condense Yin, and gather Sha—it is a flower that leans toward the Yin.

Although the swinging bell flowers hadn't bloomed yet, the seedlings were already a lush green, and every time a cold wind blew, they rippled like waves.

In front of the stone table, the antique chair with a missing leg wobbled, as if someone were taking a nap on it; under the eaves, the hanging beast-skull bones turned into wind chimes, welcoming the Sha into the courtyard.

On the roof ridge, a mysterious cat, pitch-black all over without a single stray hair, walked elegantly.

It leaped from the ridge to the wall, then landed in the courtyard.

Passing the antique chair, the mysterious cat took the opportunity to face it with its rear, and with a shake of its tail, which stood straight like a stick, it peed fresh cat urine all over the chair's leg.

After finishing with the chair, it continued to patrol the courtyard, marking its territory along the way.

When it returned to the side room where the coffin was kept, the mysterious cat tilted its head to look at the automaton sitting quietly in front of the coffin, its mouth curling into a slightly disdainful arc.

It elegantly raised a paw, wanting to cross the threshold.

"Meow—!"

The mysterious cat's head plunged downward; although the ground was solid earth, its feet inexplicably went soft, and it stepped into thin air.

Fortunately, it reacted quickly; in just an instant, it stopped its rapid fall and, during the moment it hovered in the air, performed a second jump that defied common sense.

Just as its four paws were about to land, the mysterious cat, having just puffed up its fur, found its feet stepping into thin air again.

For the next period of time, the room where the coffin was kept had an extra black figure that kept stepping into thin air, howling, and bouncing out of pits.

When the movement in the room stopped, the wild cat that had broken into the private residence finally quieted down.

It wasn't dead, but the wild cat was now hanging upside down from the rafters, swaying back and forth like a pendulum.

The cat bared its teeth, then curled its abdomen to rise, extending the sharp claws hidden under its fur to easily slice through the iron wire wrapped around its hind legs, as if the highly toxic wire with tiny blades were just fragile hair.

Having finally landed again, the mysterious cat no longer had any desire to play. It carefully raised its paw, stiff for a long time, before daring to step down again.

Probing the ground back and forth, only after confirming there were no traps or mechanisms did it breathe a sigh of relief.

For the next few days, the mysterious cat slept during the day and came out at night, occasionally stealing fishy scraps or catching mice, which it would eat and play with on the coffin lid.

The automaton responsible for guarding the coffin seemed not to see the cat that treated the coffin lid as a scratching post all day, letting it run wild in the room.

When it was tired of playing, the cat would jump onto the bed, curl into a ball, and make soft purring sounds.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, a month passed.

The Water Gate Bridge residence remained peaceful, and the coffin, which had been sitting for over a month, had no abnormalities other than many scratch marks.

Wang Lingyuan, who was on duty at the Linhe government office, would go to Well-Bottom Street every few days to ask for news of Xu Qing. The Wu brothers, who had long since returned to the paper-craft shop, also didn't know Xu Qing's whereabouts; everyone only knew that the young shopkeeper Xu of the mortuary shop had passed the Licentiate exam and gone to study elsewhere.

As for how long he would be gone or when he would return, there was no definite word.

The landlady of the incense and candle shop was a bit gossipy, telling everyone her own theory: that Brother Xu was young and capable, and having passed the Licentiate exam at such an age, he surely wouldn't want to continue doing business with the dead. Who knew, he might have already married the daughter of some wealthy family and was living a life as happy as an immortal.

Why would he still be thinking about the little shop in front of him?

Wang Lingyuan believed most of this after hearing it, and from then on, he rarely came to Well-Bottom Street to ask about Xu Qing's whereabouts.

Hu Baosong of the coffin shop at the end of the street was unhappy, always feeling that his plans had fallen through once again.

Only the Wu brothers remained unconvinced; they always felt that Brother Xu was not that kind of person!

Besides the changes on Well-Bottom Street, quite a few things had happened in Linhe Ward over the past month.

For instance, the most famous flower house, "Book Phoenix Pavilion," was sealed and rectified by the government, and the newly arrived Jinmen Gang at the Linhe wharf had a big fight with the horse market, with quite a few people dying in the middle.

Also, Zhao Zhonghe, the constable of the patrol office, was blessed with a son. On the day he held the full-month banquet, he sent invitations to many people he knew.

This included Xu Qing, whom he had always disliked.

It was just as well that Xu Qing wasn't there; otherwise, he would definitely have thrown the invitation into the stove.

Who was Zhao Zhonghe? Never heard of him!

A stranger wanted him to pay a gift fee? He must have drunk too much fake wine.

During Xu Qing's seclusion, there were many trivial matters in Linhe Ward, but when it came to major changes, one had to look at the imperial court.

In these two months, the already unstable Great Yong Dynasty became turbulent once again.

In the imperial city of Luojing, inside the Yangxin Hall, Emperor Longping opened his cloudy eyes and looked at the Third Imperial Prince, who was like a frightened bird before him.

"I am asking you a question. Your imperial brother treated you well; why would you do such an unfilial and rebellious thing?"

An emperor loves his eldest son, and the common people love their youngest.

Ever since hearing the bad news of Zhao You's assassination, Emperor Longping seemed to have aged a few more years. He looked at the Third Imperial Prince, Zhao Rong, like an old dragon that had been sleeping for a long time, opening its eyes once again.

Zhao Rong prostrated himself on the ground, his clothes already soaked with cold sweat.

"Why would Father Emperor say such a thing? Your son has always admired my elder brother. Except for Father Emperor and my elder brother, there is no one else who could make your son willingly submit. How could your son do anything disrespectful to my imperial brother?"

Emperor Longping leaned forward. After staring at Zhao Rong for a while, he suddenly threw the teacup in his hand to the ground!

"When things have come to this, you still dare to deceive me with false pretenses? Do you really think I am already old and dim-sighted?"

"Your son dares not. Please, Father Emperor, calm your anger and do not harm your dragon body because of this." Zhao Rong's body trembled, but he remained tight-lipped.

"I have only five sons. Your fifth brother was born with the dragon appearance but died unexpectedly at the age of three. And Yan'er, he was always generous, but ten years ago, his soul was damaged by witchcraft, and he became a fool."

"Now, my eldest son, the heir to the country, has also failed to meet a good end!" Because Emperor Longping was angry, he couldn't help but cough violently. The eunuch nearby wanted to come and serve him, but he stopped him with a wave of his hand.

The old emperor's face was cold and blue, his eyes filled with cold Sha as he said: "Zhao Rong! Do you really think your actions can be hidden from my eyes?"

"Father Emperor, you are wrongly accusing me! Even if your son were to be cut into a thousand pieces or burned by heavenly fire, I would never have the slightest evil intention toward my brothers!" Zhao Rong's body shook like chaff, but at this moment, he actually raised his head and looked directly at the old dragon before him.

"If Father Emperor does not believe me, your son is willing to take an oath: if your son has done even half a thing to damage the brotherhood, let your son die by a thousand arrows piercing my heart, and even after death, let me become a beast, never to be reincarnated!"

Emperor Longping was silent for a long time, then finally waved his hand to dismiss the Third Imperial Prince.

The old eunuch Li Mingde watched his nose and heart, pretending nothing had happened.

But the old emperor clearly didn't want to let him off so easily.

"Mingde, what do you think?"

The old eunuch Li Mingde's eyelids twitched. In just a split second, he thought of countless answers, and finally, he said: "The Third Imperial Prince has always been clever and smart; this servant really cannot tell."

At the end of the third month of the same year, the Third Imperial Prince often wandered in the Empress's palace and occasionally went to find the Imperial Uncle to discuss matters.

At this time, both Zhao You and Zhao Cong had died, the position of Crown Prince was vacant, and the only bloodline the Crown Prince left in the palace was not the true Imperial Grandson.

Instead, it was a substitute pretending to be the Imperial Grandson's offspring.

A lie that eventually required three generations to cover up.

The Empress and the Imperial Uncle knew the truth, but they didn't know that the Third Imperial Prince, Zhao Rong, also knew the inside story.

During the Crown Prince's funeral, when Emperor Longping saw the "Imperial Grandson," who had remained the same small size after many years, he didn't show any abnormal expression.

The other court officials and concubines also did not question the Imperial Grandson's identity.

In their eyes, this Imperial Grandson lived in seclusion all year round, and even during festivals or important occasions, he always refused to see people on the grounds of poor health. Except for those close to him, who would know what he really looked like?

Emperor Longping had naturally seen the Imperial Grandson. Crown Prince Zhao Rong was a little panicked at first, but seeing his father's expression remained as usual, he was completely relieved.

During the funeral, Zhao Rong supported his nephew Zhao Cong's coffin, while crying tears and snot, calling out for his imperial brother. He looked as if his brother had truly died, as sad as could be.

When the coffin was sealed, Zhao Rong took out many sugar cakes and honeyed preserves and placed them in the Crown Prince's coffin.

Then he ordered someone to present a jade-carved horse as a burial item.

Zhao Rong could not hide his sorrow, saying only that his imperial brother loved sweets most in life and liked fine horses the most.

The surrounding officials and nobles all sighed at the Third Imperial Prince's kindness and filial piety. Emperor Longping watched in silence.

After that, Zhao Rong often used the name of mourning his imperial brother to interact with the Imperial Uncle and the Empress. During this time, he sold his filial piety to the extreme, treating the Empress as his own mother in every word and action, saying that since his imperial brother was gone, he would be the Empress's own flesh and blood from now on.

The Imperial Uncle and the Empress did not know the true culprit behind the assassination of the Crown Prince. After the Third Imperial Prince gained their trust, he always intentionally or unintentionally sowed discord, pointing the finger at the foreign-surnamed Prince in Jinmen.

Time and again, the Empress already believed it eight or nine parts.

Later, after learning the news that the Changting Prince's heir had recovered from his idiocy, the Empress already believed it ten parts.

She met the Emperor several times, saying how the Changting Prince was feigning madness and stupidity, and how he was deceiving the Emperor.

She even said that she dreamed of the Imperial Prince at night, who told her he died unjustly. When the Empress asked where the injustice came from, the Imperial Prince told her it came from the Changting Prince's Mansion.

Wood cannot withstand a hundred axes; a person cannot withstand a hundred words.

Emperor Longping was naturally suspicious. Now that he had heard too many groundless slanders, even if he was skeptical in his heart, he still had to vent his anger on others.

If you have no fault, you are still at fault.

If you have no fault, why would so many people say you do?

In early April, Emperor Longping summoned the cabinet ministers and the elders of the court to begin discussing the establishment of a Crown Prince.

At the end of April, the Changting Prince was summoned back to the capital, but he could not see the Emperor's face immediately.

The imperial eunuch Li Mingde took out the imperial poisoned wine to entertain the Changting Prince.

However, Zhu Cheng, who was a martial arts grandmaster, had a body that had long since transcended the mortal realm. With his innate power protecting him, he was like nothing after drinking the poisoned wine!

After three rounds of wine, Zhu Cheng revealed his loyalty to Li Mingde.

At this time, the protector sword saint Zhou Qifeng, who was also a grandmaster, was guarding outside the hall. Zhu Cheng talked about how high-spirited he was when he and the Emperor were in harmony as monarch and subject.

"How many years has the world been at peace? Now there is a mutiny in the Beizhao government, and the southern barbarians have repeatedly violated the prestige of our Great Yong... Although I have the heart to put on armor again, the Emperor can no longer ride the waves with me."

Zhu Cheng sighed: "You were born before I was, and I was born when you were already old. Although I was fortunate to be in the same boat as the Emperor, the time was too short. I am afraid there will be no chance to repeat the situation of those years."

Li Mingde used his power to drive away the drunkenness, sitting uneasily.

While anxiously waiting for the poison to take effect, he apologized with a smile: "The Prince is no longer young either. If I may say so, future matters should be left to the young. If you force yourself to get involved, it will not be beautiful in the end."

At this time, Zhu Cheng was full of food and wine, so he laughed and said: "This wine is truly rich. Eunuch Li must have tasted it too. Then I will trouble you to report again, so that I, as a subject, can see the Emperor's face once more."

Inside the Yangxin Hall, Emperor Longping lay on the dragon bed like gold paper, with the ministers of the mandate listening intently, fearing they would miss a single word of the holy decree.

Zhao Rong, who had become the new Crown Prince, knelt by the bed. Emperor Longping opened his sleepy eyes, showing an expression of both love and hate.

"You are just like me; although you can know your mistakes and correct them, you never admit them."

"Father Emperor..." Zhao Rong's face showed sorrow.

Emperor Longping frowned: "You are already the Crown Prince of a country, an emperor who will inherit the throne in the future. Why are you still acting like a coward?"

Seeing Zhao Rong restrain himself a little, Emperor Longping then handed over the major matters of the country to him.

"Prime Minister Yan can be a minister of assistance. If there are difficult matters, you can consult the two cabinet elders, Pan and Shi..."

Emperor Longping had already drafted the will in advance. At this time, he just wanted to explain some family matters concerning the future of the Zhao family in front of Zhao Rong.

"Rong'er, you now have only two brothers left. They are not as clever as you. You must treat them well in the future, and also give more care to your elder brother's offspring."

Zhao Rong promised with tears in his eyes. Finally, Emperor Longping sighed and waved for him to leave.

However, before Zhao Rong left, Emperor Longping added one more sentence.

He said he would give him a stable country so that he would have no worries.

Zhao Rong didn't understand at first, but when he saw his father summoning the Changting Prince for an audience, he immediately understood the intention behind his father's words.

Inside the Yangxin Hall, the Changting Prince looked at the old emperor, who was as weak as a thread, and although he had a hundred feelings in his heart, it finally turned into a sigh.

The two did not need too many words; just a few glances and a few sentences were enough to understand each other's intentions.

Emperor Longping promised Zhu Cheng that Zhu's descendants would share the same fate as the imperial family, and the Zhu heir could also be a carefree prince in the future.

After Zhu Cheng thanked the Emperor for his grace, he left the imperial city with a sense of relief.

In early May, Emperor Longping passed away, the funeral bells of Luojing rang, and the whole country was in mourning.

In the same month, the Changting Prince, loyal to the monarch and the country, missing the grace of the late emperor, committed suicide at Hekou on his way back to Jinmen, his blood staining the Baijiang River, following the late emperor.

The people of the country all mourned and pitied the foreign-surnamed Prince.

As for Emperor Longping's passing... if there was such a happy event to relieve the mood in addition to the sorrow, it seemed quite good.

The situation outside was changing, and in the weather of May, the peach blossoms had fallen, and only the green leaves were more lush.

In a residence at Water Gate Bridge, the long-sealed coffin suddenly trembled slightly, and the black Yin ghost jade embedded on the lid had turned into ordinary white jade at some point.

The moment the coffin trembled, the white jade shattered in response.

(End of chapter)