Chapter 25: Night of Vigil

After Jiǔ Qiānsuì was taken away under guard by the Longyang Army, the Mei faction ministers saw that the tide had turned against them.

Before Mei Xiang could react, they all knelt automatically, bowing their heads in unison, shouting: “Long live His Majesty, long live His Majesty, may His Majesty live ten thousand years!” to show their loyalty to the Crown Prince.

The Mei faction ministers understood that Mei Xiang’s plot had been exposed; if they did not swiftly submit and align themselves with the rightful side, they would be ruined in reputation and life.

The Crown Prince knew his succession was now certain, and immediately issued four edicts of regency:

Proclaiming that the Minister of Rites, “Yù Tāo,” shall have full authority to oversee all funeral arrangements for the late Emperor.

The Crown Prince understood that his foremost task was to arrange the late Emperor’s funeral to stabilize public sentiment.

Proclaiming that the Minister of Justice, “Yú Diǎn,” shall investigate the cause of the late Emperor’s death; the autopsy must be completed before burial.

The Crown Prince still harbored doubts about the sudden passing of the former Emperor and needed to uncover the truth.

Order the Ministry of War to deploy the Left Guard Metropolitan Guard into the palace for joint defense; the former Crown Prince’s personal guard shall be reassigned to the Left Guard Metropolitan Guard.

The Crown Prince knew that until his succession was formalized, palace security was paramount.

Appoint “Xiǎo Chéngzi” as Director of the Imperial Court Office, overseeing all twelve imperial bureaus.

Xiǎo Chéngzi was his trusted confidant, worthy of great responsibility.

After receiving the order, Yú Diǎn immediately launched his investigation.

Within less than half a day, he uncovered that the late Emperor had consumed “Seven Times in One Night Pills,” and from the testimonies of Consort Li and Consort Xiang, learned that the Emperor had ingested two pills in succession!

Following the trail, he traced the pills back to Mei Xiang, who had presented them; Míng Gōng had overseen the poison; Túkèsuò had tested them; and Jiǔ Qiānsuì had personally delivered them.

After the autopsy of the late Emperor was completed, he was immediately entombed.

After entombment, the coffin was moved to the Taihe Hall; the Crown Prince, per protocol, must guard the coffin day and night until the funeral procession.

After completing his preliminary investigation, Yú Diǎn arrived at the Taihe Hall before the coffin with his Ministry of Justice officials and case files to report progress to the mourning Crown Prince.

The sequence of events, causes and effects, were clear and thorough; all persons, places, times, and objects aligned—except the autopsy results, which were deeply puzzling.

The Ministry of Justice’s autopsy report stated: no signs of poison. In other words, the late Emperor had not died of poisoning.

“This is strange…” the Crown Prince rubbed his goatee, muttering in confusion: “If he wasn’t poisoned, why did blood flow from all seven orifices when Father passed?”

Yú Diǎn: “Your humble servant believes… it may have been an overdose, causing blood vessels to rupture and the Emperor’s body to collapse under the strain.”

The Crown Prince looked at Yú Diǎn, then at the documents in his hand, offering no further reply.

At that moment, a name came to his mind: Jiang Mingyu. He remembered how, earlier this year, Jiang Mingyu had uncovered the true cost of the newly carved imperial seal in less than half a month—his efficiency was astonishing!

“I understand. You may withdraw.” After dismissing Yú Diǎn and the Ministry of Justice officials, the Crown Prince immediately summoned Jiang Mingyu into the hall.

The Crown Prince trusted Jiang Mingyu’s abilities and believed he could uncover the truth.

Deep into the night, Jiang Mingyu, dressed in a plain white mourning robe, arrived before the coffin in the Taihe Hall.

He first knelt and paid respects to the late Emperor’s spirit tablet, then bowed to the Crown Prince, who was guarding the coffin beside him.

Jiang Mingyu’s heart was filled with mixed emotions—he deeply mourned the late Emperor’s passing, yet felt immense relief at the Crown Prince’s ascension. As he knelt before the spirit tablet, his eyes grew moist, tears nearly falling. As he bowed to the Crown Prince, he looked at him with gratitude; the Crown Prince returned his gaze with a soothing look.

After Jiang Mingyu completed his rites, the Crown Prince dismissed the eunuchs and palace maids attending him.

In that moment, the vast Taihe Hall held only the Crown Prince and Jiang Mingyu.

The Crown Prince took Jiang Mingyu’s hand and pulled him onto his own cushion. “Have you eaten? Are you hungry?” Without waiting for an answer, he pulled two thin wheat cakes (a type of military ration) and a pouch of wine from his sleeve.

“Your Highness… the late Emperor has only just passed. How can one have an appetite?”

Jiang Mingyu, though starving, asked in confusion.

“Of course I’m hungry! My stomach is growling!”

The Crown Prince continued: “You’ve come at the perfect time. Just now, the eunuchs and maids were here—I couldn’t be myself. Now, with only you and me, my loyal minister, let’s drop the formalities.”

The Crown Prince’s informality relaxed Jiang Mingyu. “Your Highness… are you truly not heartbroken?” he asked cautiously.

The Crown Prince swallowed a wheat cake, took a sip of wine, hesitated a long while, then said: “You weren’t born into an imperial family—you don’t understand imperial affairs. I was made Crown Prince because Chancellor Hè insisted on primogeniture. Otherwise… I never would have been chosen!”

The Crown Prince’s words revealed his feelings for the late Emperor were not as deep as they appeared.

Jiang Mingyu understood…

Then the Crown Prince reached behind him into the pile of Ministry of Justice documents, pulled out one piece of evidence, and handed it to Jiang Mingyu: a copied version of the forged secret edict Jiǔ Qiānsuì had drafted three days prior.

Jiang Mingyu opened the forged edict, read it, and gasped: “Prince Liang!”

“Hmph… isn’t that interesting?”

The Crown Prince smiled dismissively and added: “Prince Liang is only seven years old. Father wanted to depose me and name him heir? Even Zhao Gao never dared such treason!”

“Indeed, it’s unbelievable,” Jiang Mingyu agreed.

“Jiǔ Gōnggong is finished—no god or Buddha can save him now,” the Crown Prince said coldly.

“But I won’t kill him yet. I must first uncover the true cause of Father’s death.”

As he spoke, the Crown Prince casually draped his arm around Jiang Mingyu’s shoulder.

Jiang Mingyu felt confused, even afraid, yet did not resist. Finally, the Crown Prince pressed his face close to Jiang Mingyu’s left ear and whispered: “After the mourning period ends, I shall be ‘I.’ Then… you will be my most trusted, most indispensable minister.”

“Eh—!” Jiang Mingyu let out a startled cry, his shoulder trembling slightly.

The Crown Prince’s gesture filled him with both honor and tension.

He urged: “Thank you, Your Highness, for your great favor—but… we must maintain propriety.”

The Crown Prince smiled playfully and suddenly said: “I know you’re Chancellor Hè’s man!”

At those words, Jiang Mingyu froze. His heart leapt to his throat—he feared the Crown Prince had uncovered his true background.

“Relax. I also know you’re not Chancellor Hè’s servant,” the Crown Prince added.

Jiang Mingyu finally exhaled in relief.

“Chancellor Hè placed many spies as my study companions. But a study companion as blunt and awkward as you? I’ve never seen the like—you’re quite endearing.”

Hearing the word “endearing,” Jiang Mingyu relaxed completely. He silently breathed out, thinking he had narrowly escaped exposure.

Jiang Mingyu: “Though Chancellor Hè has shown me much favor, in truth… we rarely interact and are not close.”

“No matter!” the Crown Prince nodded, puckering his lips. “I still need you to leverage Chancellor Hè’s influence to investigate Father’s death!”

Jiang Mingyu’s eyes widened; he stared at the Crown Prince, speechless for a long moment.

The Crown Prince’s demand stunned him—he had no idea how to respond.

The Crown Prince: “You may withdraw now. After the mourning period ends and the coronation is complete, I’ll have my plans ready.”

Jiang Mingyu hesitated a moment, then bowed deeply and withdrew from the Taihe Hall. His heart was a storm of emotions—joy at the Crown Prince’s trust, yet burdened by the task entrusted to him. He knew that after the coronation, his responsibilities would grow heavier still.