Chapter 125: Five Deaths!

After the Xin replaced the Han, the Huanghuang Chamber Mistress Wang Yan, like Boyi and Shuqi holding to Mount Shouyang, rarely set foot outside the Ding'an Lodge, and often wore plain mourning clothes, as if keeping vigil for the Han house. In her solitude, she would at most have a palace maid fly a kite, standing on the ground and tilting her head to watch it climb higher and higher, yet never able to break free of that thin string.

But the second month of the second year of Dihuang was exceptional — she was forced time and again to leave her quarters, reconnecting frequently with the world outside.

First her mother the Empress fell gravely ill and passed away, then the deposed Crown Prince Wang Lin also died; one piece of ill tidings after another struck like thunderbolts from a clear sky, piercing her already chilled heart until it was riddled with holes.

Now, having barely waited out the funeral rites for her mother and elder brother, one person once again filled Wang Yan with aching concern.

Wang Yan had learned that her sole surviving full brother, the Prince of Xinqian, Wang An, seemed to be in a dire state as well.

"What has befallen my elder brother?" Wang Yan asked the young minor eunuch leading the way, her steps frantic.

"Reporting to the Chamber Mistress, ever since the Prince of Xinqian returned from the Empress's funeral rites, he has been in constant terror and unease."

Wang An had always been simple-minded and had been personally cared for by the Empress all along. An old Empress who had long since wept herself blind, a harmless prince who knew only how to grin foolishly all day — the two had clung to each other for survival. After all, the Emperor Wang Mang was perpetually busy with his grand affairs and would rarely set foot in the Pepper Chamber.

Now that the Empress was gone, Wang An seemed to have lost his soul, rolling wildly on the ground and throwing tantrums like a child, crying for his mother, and it was with great difficulty that the ritual officials and eunuchs managed to soothe him. At the funeral rites for the Filial and Harmonious Empress, Wang An once again made a complete spectacle of himself: before the assembled civil and military officials and the various grandees, he lost control, wailing and sobbing, and after the Emperor rebuked him sternly with a grim face, he was so terrified that he lost control of his bowels and bladder.

Today, when Wang Yan came to visit Wang An, she heard his signature high-pitched voice before she even entered the door.

"Don't kill me, don't kill me!"

Once she stepped inside, she saw the tall, broad-framed Wang An, his hair disheveled and wild, dressed in a short jacket and trousers, running frantically around the room. His wet nurse, palace maids, and eunuchs, clutching porridge bowls and medicine, chased after him, and as Wang An fled, he hurled everything within reach at them, swinging a lamp stand wildly and beating the servants until their faces were bruised and swollen. If anyone dared call the guards outside to help, it only made Wang An shriek in greater terror, even collapsing to the ground in convulsions.

The attendants then scrambled to lift Wang An onto the couch and urgently summoned physicians to examine him, but they all shook their heads, saying the Prince of Xinqian did not have much time left.

And when Wang An awoke, he merely curled up under the bedding, trembling, repeating the words "Don't kill me."

The Emperor would not come to show concern for this foolish son; only Wang Yan sat by the couch and called out, "Elder Brother, it's me."

Wang An turned his head, and upon seeing Wang Yan, his tears immediately gave way to a smile.

"Mother."

Wang Yan's features resembled those of her mother, the Filial and Harmonious Empress Wang, but Wang An had mistaken her.

"Elder Brother, I am Yan."

"Mother!" Wang An paid no heed, however, and opened his arms, embracing Wang Yan directly, then broke into loud, heaving sobs, like a child who had been lost for a very long time.

As a child, Wang Yan had detested this foolish elder brother intensely, disgusted by his stupidity and ugliness, by the way he always reeked. A person in his teens, yet he would plop down on the ground and wail at the slightest provocation, and their mother had favored him, punishing Wang Yan and the others regardless of who was right or wrong.

But now, she could not bring herself to feel any dislike at all; she only held her elder brother close, her eyes brimming with tears.

Wang An's was a natural madness, but as Wang Yan grew older, she had witnessed imbecility that was man-made.

After her husband Emperor Ping of Han passed away, Wang Mang became the "Acting Emperor" and fetched the imperial clan child Ying, the Ruzi, yet did not enthrone him, merely installing him as Crown Prince and having him recognize Wang Yan as his mother. But Wang Yan was not very old herself at the time and simply treated him as a younger brother to play with.

Three years later, when the Xin replaced the Han, the Ruzi Ying was of no further use. At just four years old, he was placed under house arrest, confined within the former residence of the Grand Herald, guarded year-round by soldiers, and the slaves and maids were forbidden to speak to him; Wang Yan was even more strictly barred from seeing him.

Wang Yan had only heard that the Ruzi Ying was now sixteen, yet could not tell the six domestic animals apart and could not even speak clearly, having become a fool much like Wang An.

At the very least, the Ruzi Ying believed that the tiny patch of heaven and earth confining him was the whole world, and was still free of worry and care — he was already most fortunate. Not like Wang An, who knew only his mother and elder brother, and as the people he knew departed abruptly one after another, was left in terror and despair.

In the end, Wang Yan still could not soothe her elder brother; after several days and nights of panic and fright, the Prince of Xinqian passed away, only clutching his full sister's hand just before death, which was his sole small comfort.

The Emperor, upon learning the news, merely came to take one look, stroked Wang An's face, and sighed; no one knew what he was thinking.

The Filial and Harmonious Empress had raised one brood of five chicks — four sons and one daughter — and now all four sons were dead, leaving Wang Yan alone and forsaken in the world.

The physicians said it was madness and illnesses accumulated over many years that had killed Wang An, and the court's official declaration to the outside world was the same.

But Wang Yan knew full well who the true murderer was that had frightened Wang An to death.

On the road back to the Ding'an Lodge, the Huanghuang Chamber Mistress's gaze drifted toward the Wanglu Hall atop Mount Longshou. Even though he had lost yet another son, the Emperor was still handling government affairs through the night and into the dawn; he would not stop, nor did he dare stop. The deaths of the Empress, the deposed Crown Prince, and the Prince of Xinqian — none could shake Wang Mang's resolve.

"It was you who killed him, just as you killed Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Youngest Brother, and Wang Zong."

In the past, Wang Yan had only resented her father — resented him for pushing her into the whirlpool of the palace, for making her status so unbearably awkward.

But now, she both feared and hated him!

She feared with all her heart that she would be the next to suffer his venomous hand, and she hated him for being a tiger that devours its own cubs.

Wang Yan began to understand, dimly, what her mother had meant with those two muddled sentences she spoke on the verge of death.

"He is no longer my good husband Wang Jujun; Jujun would never be so utterly heartless."

"And you are no longer his children."

Yes — in the memories of her youth, that kindly and gentle father who spoke in a soft, measured voice and always cherished his family had changed. From the time Emperor Ai of Han ascended the throne and he tumbled from the pinnacle for the first time, slinking back in disgrace to his fief at Xindu; from the moment he regained supreme power and his ambition began to swell.

His children had become mere tools, just like the millions upon millions of common folk under heaven — nothing more than sacrificial offerings on the road to his ideal, their lives as worthless as blades of grass, discarded like worn-out shoes.

Wang Yan thought to herself, "The power he clutches and will never release — that is his wife and concubine."

"That long-shattered dream of the Three Dynasties — that is his child!"

Within a single month, the Empress and two princes had died in succession; the black-and-white mourning cloths on the Azure Dragon Gate were barely taken down before they were hung up again, one funeral procession followed another, and the civil and military officials were all deeply shaken — some even felt this was an omen that Heaven was cutting off the Xin line.

After all, with Wang An gone, the Emperor had no surviving sons born of his principal wife. Fortunately, he still had many grandsons — five in total still living.

All were the progeny of Wang Yu, brothers of Wang Zong, and whenever Wang Mang saw them, he would recall the matter of his rebellious son and grandson.

Yet the court, after all, had to have an imperial heir; even if a Crown Prince was not formally installed, merely keeping them in the capital could set people's minds at ease. For the primary reason the Former Han had declined and perished lay largely in the broken lines of succession under Emperors Cheng, Ai, and Ping — the warning of the overturned cart ahead could not be ignored.

This was the main substance of the memorial that the Master of Fates of the Five Majesties, Chen Chong, had Kong Ren draft. Kong Ren mentioned that in distant Qiandui and Xindu, Wang Mang actually still had several other children, all born to concubines during the years he had retired to his fief as Marquis of Xindu — two baseborn sons and two baseborn daughters, all now grown.

At Chen Chong's instigation, Kong Ren petitioned that, since Qiandui and Xindu bordered Greenwood Mountain and Jingzhou's Greenwood bandits were now roaming the region, it was unsafe for the imperial princes and princesses to remain away from the capital for so long, and someone should be dispatched to bring them to Chang'an and settle them nearby.

This was the grand scheme Chen Chong had been plotting for years. The Emperor could not possibly rule for thirty-six thousand years; sooner or later, the mountain peak would crumble. When that day came, whether a Crown Prince or Wang Zong succeeded to the throne, they would each have their own faction and would not get along well with a "solitary minister" like himself. Once a new sovereign ascended, a new reign meant new ministers, and he would likely be unable to escape the fate of the harsh officials Zhi Du and Ning Cheng from the early Han.

After pondering the matter, Chen Chong concluded that, since that was the case, he might as well invest in someone who seemed impossible!

For instance, the two baseborn sons left behind in Xindu. Chen Chong was himself a man of Nanyang, naturally close to them; if he could help one of them rise to power, he could turn peril into safety and even vault to the pinnacle of authority in one bound.

"What does one stand to gain by installing the master of a state? The answer: incalculably much."

Chen Chong wanted to become the Great Xin's Lü Buwei, to taste the power of commanding the realm. If he could achieve that, even the risk of being boiled alive in a fivefold cauldron would be worth it.

After this memorial was submitted, although Wang Mang's feelings toward his children were somewhat unusual, the political implications also had to be considered, so he gladly adopted the suggestion and had someone draft a testamentary petition on behalf of the deceased Wang An.

"Your servant Wang An, Prince of Xinqian, kowtows and kowtows again. Though the mothers of the baseborn sons Wang Xing, Wang Kuang, and the others are of lowly and humble station, they are still, by lineage, imperial princes and must not be abandoned."

Wang Mang then had this memorial passed around for the assembled dukes to inspect at court. Even though the Three Dukes and Four Generals knew full well that the fool Wang An could never have spoken such words, they still declared insincerely, "The Prince of Xinqian was fraternal toward his brothers, and even on the verge of death did not forget the bond of brotherhood. We should honor his request, summon the imperial princes to the capital, and it would be fitting to confer noble titles upon them by spring or summer!"

But with the realm now in turmoil — even court officials were frequently waylaid — having the two imperial baseborn princes enter the capital was far too dangerous; envoys would still have to be dispatched with troops to escort them.

Chen Chong himself said nothing, only letting Kong Ren eagerly volunteer, making it clear that the Master of Fates of the Five Majesties was very willing to undertake this task.

But after a moment's thought, Wang Mang handed the assignment to someone neither Chen Chong nor Kong Ren would ever have expected.

"Dispatch the Cavalier Attendant and Grand Palace Grandee Diwu Lun, bearing the imperial tally, to the Forward Detachment — Nanyang — and Xindu, to escort the imperial sons Xing and Kuang into court!"

…

Hello everyone, our official account gives out cash and coin red packets every day — just follow us to claim them. This is the year-end final bonus, so please seize the chance. Official account 【Book Friends Base Camp】

"Why me?"

After entering the palace and receiving the edict, Diwu Lun was not the least bit happy — wasn't this just delaying his marriage?

What was more, having witnessed the horror of Old Wang's quadra-kill and penta-kill, Diwu Lun, while sympathizing with old Liu Xin, wanted to keep his distance from this blood-soaked imperial clan struggle.

Yet the more Diwu Lun tried to avoid it, the more assignments landed squarely on his head. He went at once to find Huan Tan and ask his advice: "Junshan, tell me — is it still not too late for me to resign office on grounds of grave illness?"

"Office may be resigned, but an imperial commission may not be refused."

Huan Tan only gave a cold laugh. "Boyu, do you believe that if you dared show any intent to decline, the Son of Heaven would not protect you, but would let the Master of Fates of the Five Majesties fabricate charges and throw you into prison?"

"But why me?" Diwu Lun still could not figure it out. For something like this, wouldn't it be more reliable to choose one of the Emperor's trusted confidants, someone like Chen Chong, to handle it?

At this, before Huan Tan could remind him, Diwu Lun figured it out on his own.

"It is precisely because I have a rift with Chen Chong that the Emperor is sending me as envoy."

"The deposed Crown Prince's death is riddled with doubts. I do not believe the Master of Fates of the Five Majesties has clean hands in this matter."

Recently, rumors had been circulating in the capital that some personnel from the Office of the Master of Fates, after entering the palace, had inexplicably vanished, never to emerge again, their fates unknown. Perhaps they had learned things they should not have and were silenced.

Even Diwu Lun could discern some traces of it. Wang Mang was mad, but not a fool. His trust in the Master of Fates of the Five Majesties had likely already been discounted, and he wanted to foster a newcomer who could stir up dissent against Chen Chong.

"And ever since Yan Erudite was dismissed and the State Preceptor shut his doors, I have had no patron at court."

"I am the 'isolated minister' the Emperor has newly taken a fancy to!"

Diwu Lun had guessed Wang Mang's little scheme, and found it only laughable. Who knew — this newly risen "Barbarian-Subduing Count" of his might even be the core team Wang Mang was saving for the future new Crown Prince…

Since he was here, he might as well settle in. It couldn't be that difficult an assignment, he figured. Diwu Lun opened the map Yang Xiong had left him and consulted the "Jingzhou Admonition."

The present-day Forward Detachment commandery, the Nanyang of old, lay at the northernmost edge of Jingzhou.

"Let me see, where is Xindu?"

Diwu Lun's eyes searched the not-very-accurate map. He first located the commandery seat, Wancheng, and using it as a landmark, traced his index finger south from Wancheng all the way to the position of Xinye County. Wasn't this the place in the romances where they set Xinye on fire?

Next, his glance fell on Greenwood Mountain at the southernmost end of the Forward Detachment. North of Greenwood's foothills lay Caiyang County.

And Xindu lay right between Xinye and Caiyang.

Diwu Lun tapped it with his finger. It occurred to him that he had never been to these places, and the weather in the third month of spring was quite fine, so he smiled and said, "Well then, let's just treat it as a trip south — a bit of travel!"