Chapter 59: The Storm Arrives, The Great Reckoning Begins

Seven days later, after all funeral rites above and below the court were completed, the great encoffining began, followed by the procession to the grave.

Zhao Ti served as the Standard-Bearer among the Five Commissioners of the Imperial Mausoleum, holding authority over all road, bridge, and guard matters during the funeral procession.

The Great Song Imperial Mausoleum lies at the northern foot of Songshan, west of Jingcheng, on the southern bank of the Yiluo River, within Yong'an County. Yong'an County is a century-old new county split from Gong County; originally a town, it was elevated to county status in the fourth year of the Jingde era under Emperor Zhenzong.

Along the entire route, funeral music wailed mournfully, commoners withdrew, and Zhao Ti's expression remained gloomy, not uttering a single word.

Just as they were about to reach the Imperial Mausoleum at the northern foot of Songshan, an official in charge of transporting the coffin suddenly approached: "Prince Yan, the coffin of the Grand Empress Dowager shows some anomalies; please, Your Highness, come and inspect it."

Zhao Ti spurred his horse forward. The coffin-guarding attendant reported: "Your Highness, for some unknown reason, the coffin of the Grand Empress Dowager has grown cold, inconsistent with the current season."

Zhao Ti ordered the funeral procession to halt, then stepped forward and placed his hand over the coffin to test it. He felt a bone-chilling coldness. He pondered slightly: "It is nothing. Continue onward; do not delay the appointed hour."

The funeral procession resumed its journey. Zhao Ti sat on his horse, pondering: What exactly did the hand seal displayed by this grandmother of mine at the moment of her passing signify?

Although he had already guessed that this grandmother had most likely practiced the Illusion Yi Yin Zhi Cultivation Technique, he had not yet received her confirmation; only by observing the shape of her hand at her deathbed did he confirm it.

Yet, although that hand seal was instantly recognizable as the Illusion Yi Yin Zhi, upon closer examination, it differed slightly from the finger technique he had learned.

It seemed even more profound and exquisite, inviting repeated contemplation; the more one pondered it, the more one felt its boundless wonders.

Upon the funeral procession's arrival at the Imperial Mausoleum, burial proceeded according to ritual protocol. Zhao Ti guarded the site for three days, settled all arrangements, and then returned to Jingcheng.

At this time, Jingcheng seemed shrouded in gloom. The Grand Empress Dowager Gao Taotao had ruled the court for nearly a decade; her sudden death left many hearts in a daze. Especially the chief ministers and high officials, as well as the ministers of various departments, did not know how Emperor Yuanyou, now assuming personal rule, would act, or what matters he might stir up.

They did not truly understand Zhao Xu. Precisely because they did not understand him, their hearts felt weighed down by heavy stones. After all, once an emperor assumes personal rule, he must install his own set of officials and ignite three fires of reform.

But did Zhao Xu have his own set of officials? Did he have his own loyal confidants? Zhao Xu had none.

The more unknown, the more it troubled people. Officials of every court sent orders to their households: do not cause trouble, do not create disturbances, and do not, after causing mishaps outside, say "my father is so-and-so."

Zhao Ti entered the palace to report, but he did not see Zhao Xu. A eunuch relayed that the Lord of the Court was busy with state affairs and already knew of this matter.

Zhao Ti stood on the palace road, his expression complex. He could not even see the Emperor while reporting the safe burial of the Grand Empress Dowager. How displeased with this grandmother must he be, or perhaps he simply did not care at all about how her funeral was conducted, whether it conformed to timing and protocol, or whether any accidents occurred.

But this was only the beginning. Soon enough, Zhao Xu would issue an edict stripping Gao Taotao of her title as Grand Empress Dowager, depriving her of all honors, and directly demoting her to commoner status. Had the ministers not desperately blocked it at that time, it would likely have been carried out.

Zhao Ti slowly turned around. A reckoning was inevitable; his own house was also within this great reckoning, and he would certainly be the first target.

First strike at the imperial family, then move against the ministers, to establish credibility. If he does not move against me, a first-rank prince of the Jin Sect, then whom within the clan can he move against?

He smiled, flicked his robe sleeve, and left the palace, striding away with long, confident steps.

Returning to the Wang Fu, he changed into ordinary clothes. Zhou Dong came to report that a letter had arrived from the Dali Kingdom.

When he left Dali, he had left his Jingcheng address with Duan Zhengming and Duan Yu for correspondence at any time. To prevent trouble from arising, letters were to be received in Zhou Dong's name.

Zhao Ti unfolded the letter sheet; it was written by Duan Yu. Inside, spanning a thousand or two words, the opening stated that when Zhao Ti was in Dali previously, Duan Yu himself had been under strict guard, and one urgent matter had not been spoken, weighing heavily on his heart. Now, he attached it within the letter: his father actually had a secret lover outside, and he had unexpectedly gained two younger sisters.

Next, it stated that his uncle and father had forced him to practice martial arts, training him in the most powerful martial arts of the Duan family. Even though he did not wish to learn martial arts, this time he could not escape, because the events at Tianlong Temple had been too perilous; as the heir apparent, he had no choice but to train.

Finally, it said that once his Wu Gong was accomplished, he would surely come to Great Song to travel, and at that time, he hoped to see Zhao Ti and travel together.

After reading the letter, Zhao Ti immediately burned it. This letter could not be seen by anyone. Although Dali was not an enemy state, as a member of the imperial clan, associating with court officials was already a crime; let alone secretly corresponding with a foreign crown prince.

Then he pondered for a long while, called for Zheng Fu to prepare a memorial booklet, and began writing a memorial.

The memorial took a long time to write, from while the sky was still bright until the first lamps were lit. Every one of the several hundred words was carefully weighed. Finally, after finishing and letting it dry, he summoned Tong Guan and ordered: "Prepare the carriage and enter the palace."

At this moment, the night sky outside was gloomy. Before he had even entered the carriage compartment after leaving the Wang Fu gate, a flash of lightning tore across the sky, followed by a muffled rumble of thunder, and a torrential downpour began.

Inside the carriage, Zhao Ti slightly closed his eyes, his face showing neither sorrow nor joy. Outside, rain lashed Jingcheng, as if washing away old matters; the days of yesterday cannot be retained...

The Imperial City, Wende Hall.

In the vast hall, only Zhao Xu remained, sitting behind the dragon desk and personally drafting an edict.

His expression was focused, revealing a rare quality of deep affection on his face. After finishing one decree, he gently set down the brush and murmured to himself: "Since we were close, then go and guard the mausoleum for a lifetime. I... have already been lenient."

Just then, a eunuch entered quietly from outside, walking carefully to the front: "Your Majesty, Prince Yan has arrived."

Zhao Xu's gaze pierced through the hall door; outside was a torrential downpour, with lightning flashing and thunder roaring. His voice was empty and calm as he asked: "What is the matter?"

The eunuch took a memorial booklet from his robes: "Your Majesty, Prince Yan has submitted a memorial. This humble servant knows it violates protocol, but Prince Yan said he would not go through the Menxia and Zhongshu offices, nor pass through the hands of the chief ministers."

"Oh?" Zhao Xu's gaze fell upon the memorial. After a moment of silence, he said: "Present it."

The eunuch cautiously stepped forward, holding the booklet with both hands and offering it. Zhao Ti gently picked it up, then opened it.

Upon the memorial, seeing only the first sentence, his complexion changed slightly. His fist, pale as white jade, clenched tightly.

"Your subject Zhao Ti respectfully requests Your Majesty to abolish the old laws and restore the new laws!"

"Crack!" A massive thunderclap roared, as if striking the roof of the hall; the candles inside the hall swayed.

Zhao Xu read the memorial word by word. The several-hundred-character memorial he read three times, then sat upon the dragon throne, silent.

Time passed bit by bit. For over an entire hour, he finally slowly spoke: "Summon Prince Yan for an audience."

Moments later, Zhao Ti walked into Wende Hall, rain dripping from his clothes, yet his body stood straight, his expression calm, his steps firm.

He looked at Zhao Xu behind the dragon throne: eyes bearing great ambition for a long time, a focused gaze full of deep affection, an aura that kept others at a thousand li distance, and a figure filled with loneliness and desolation.

He bowed and said: "Lord of the Court."

Zhao Xu looked at him: "What is the meaning of this memorial from Prince Yan?"

Zhao Ti narrowed his long eyes slightly: "Your subject respectfully requests Your Majesty to abolish the old laws and restore the new laws!"