Chapter 157

Chapter 157

In his lifetime, Emperor Ren Shou had eight sons.

His eldest legitimate son died at the beginning of his reign, the second prince was sent far away to Lingnan, the third prince was assassinated in court, the fourth prince died of heatstroke, the sixth prince was punished to kneel at the royal mausoleum, the seventh prince was cowardly and useless, and the eighth prince was too naive and innocent.

What seemed like a glorious and enviable life was in reality filled with estranged blood relations and treacherous subjects. In the end, turning around, he found that in the vast imperial palace, only Sheng Chengli, whom he had abandoned in the cold palace since childhood, was barely useful.

Throughout his life, Emperor Ren Shou was adored in his youth, indulged in his prime, seized power by fratricide, and now in middle age, finally began to look around bewildered, unable to discern what he had truly achieved in his lifetime.

Inside the room, the fragrance of sandalwood lingered, and the low, clear chanting of a monk sounded like ancient hymns, each word resonating deeply.

After a long time, the emperor stood up and said slowly, "Thank you for your hard work, Master."

He left the Wentian Tower and walked towards the palace gate again, surrounded by countless eunuchs and attendants, yet in essence, he was alone.

After finishing the scripture, Hui Mian rose from the mat, stood by the window looking at the majestic imperial city for a while, and then gazed at the distant sky, "It's going to snow."

The clouds churned and accumulated, as if heralding auspicious snow for a prosperous year.

-

Due to the case of rebellion by Sheng Chengxing and Xia Jingyi, the atmosphere of this year's New Year's Eve was vastly different from previous years.

The palace cancelled its traditional banquet, and the high-ranking families refrained from visiting each other. Even ordinary citizens could sense the restlessness in the air of Yu Jing City, as if a careless spark might ignite and explode into a spectacular firework.

With Wang Xiuyu leaving the capital, Rong Tang’s status at the Ning Xuan Wang residence became awkward.

He could have gone back for a New Year's Eve dinner without any reservations, but that would have been more awkward for Rong Tang himself than for Rong Mingyu.

So they didn’t go. Instead, Rong Tang and Su Huaijing joined the Princess in the suburbs for a reunion dinner, spending the night at a guest house. They watched fireworks set off by landlords far from the capital, peacefully disconnected from worldly affairs.

Then they returned to the capital, stepping once again into the vortex of power.

Sheng Chengxing's rebellion resulted in only Sheng Chengli being the usable prince left in court.

This might have been the scenario Sheng Chengli wanted, but the path to it was different from what he had expected, hence his confrontation with Su Huaijing on the twenty-ninth of the twelfth month.

He didn't hope for Sheng Chengxing's successful rebellion, but at least expected a prolonged battle, after which he could intervene to save his father and gain the most advantage.

But now, almost at the moment of Xia Jingyi's troops entering the capital, they were already encircled.

Shen Feiyi had been pre-arranged by Su Huaijing to coordinate the Jinwu Guards throughout the capital and secretly report to the emperor his findings while patrolling the suburbs, staying constantly by the emperor's side.

The so-called poisoning from alchemy was just a ruse released by Emperor Ren Shou to see who would be restless enough to take his place.

The experiment yielded expected results, easily exposing Sheng Chengxing and Xia Jingyi as the cunning ones.

Empress Huigui, seeking leniency for her father and brother, was banished to the cold palace by the emperor.

The destiny of the Sixth Prince Sheng Chengyun, manipulated by a wandering sorcerer at birth, would have been revealed by Sheng Chengli in the original story, showing Emperor Ren Shou how he had been fooled by a ludicrous and fabricated destiny for years.

This was a satisfying moment in the original story, but now with Sheng Chengxing dead, Marshal Xia's family executed, Empress Huigui fallen from grace, and the supposed auspicious destiny of the Sixth Prince Sheng Chengyun rendered worthless.

"Sheng Xuyan also consulted Hui Mian, asking how he viewed the child bearing the imperial aura."

"Hui Mian spoke softly and composedly, 'Under the heavens, if it's not a transition of dynasties, the old and the new overlapping, how could there be two simultaneously bearing the emperor's destiny?'"

"Emperor Renshou sat in contemplation for a long time, finally realizing that the prophecy was never a sign to aid his cause, but rather a foreboding omen."

"If the imperial aura belonged to his son, then what did his years of conquest amount to, merely wedding clothes for his son?"

"So, he became exceedingly annoyed with Sheng Chengyun, and not two months after the new year, the decree for a half-year of guarding the imperial tomb turned into a lifetime commitment."

"In such circumstances, even if Sheng Chengli was foolish, he wouldn't dare claim the destiny that was meant to be his."

"Sheng Xuyan aged considerably overnight, becoming intensely wary of his sons in their prime years, the fifth and seventh princes."

"Yet, he strangely yearned for father-son affection. Within three months, he personally wrote twice to Sheng Chengming in Lingnan, inquiring about the local administration of his fiefdom, asking if he wished to return to the capital to mourn his mother and suggesting marriage, as numerous suitable ladies awaited in the capital. Did he have someone in mind..."

"Earnest and persuasive, like any father in the world who cares deeply for his son."

"Sheng Chengming, unsure if it was due to fatigue from imperial family strife or someone's prior advice, replied thrice as much to Emperor Renshou's letters, first expressing gratitude for his father's kindness, then discussing the complex affairs of his fiefdom. He confessed to having lived carefree under his father’s protection, never truly experiencing the hardship of governing and seeking the welfare of the people. Now, although in a remote area, he was still serving the great Duyu territory. As long as his father sat securely in the capital, he would alleviate his father’s worries from Lingnan, contributing his modest efforts and urging his father to take great care of his health."

"He also mentioned his mother, who was a criminal in the eyes of the law. His father's kindness allowed her a dignified death. As a scion of the imperial family, it was inappropriate for him to mourn her personally. Yet, as her son, he couldn’t ignore the deep maternal bond. Though he couldn’t go to the capital for mourning, he followed ancestral customs and observed three years of mourning for his late mother, during which it was inappropriate to discuss marriage or indulge in personal affections."

"Perhaps it was the distance, but as Emperor Renshou read these letters over and over, he began to see his once reckless second son as a mature and stable adult."

"Compared to him, the treacherous Sheng Chengxing, the covetous Sheng Chengli, and the foolish seventh son all seemed detestable."

"In court, he frequently praised the tangible achievements from Lingnan, and repeatedly sent envoys with rewards to the Prince of Rui's territory."

"But with Sheng Chengming not in the capital, it was impossible for him to see his son."

"On one hand, he longed for his distant, legitimate eldest son, while on the other, his mood was erratic and ever-changing. The words spoken by Sheng Chengxing before his death made Emperor Renshou suspicious of everyone in court, believing they sought to spread rumors about his illegitimate ascension and deserved death."

The court was in a state of self-preservation, with the Censorate and the Dali Temple confiscating more properties in half a year than in the past three years combined. The officials, filled with silent resentment, were replaced daily with new faces in the court.

The emperor's unpredictable mood and frequent changes of trusted officials left only the Censor-in-Chief, the former Right General of the Jinwu Guards now promoted to Chief of the Imperial Guard, and a few other officials who had shown their worth after the flood disaster.

Those who once dared to challenge the capital's authority, following him to the north in their youth, were now gone. Elder Zhang retired to his hometown, Xia Jingyi was sentenced to death by his own hand, and old friends scattered, most becoming but dust in the earth. In the end, only Rong Mingyu remained by his side.

Amidst the ever-changing court, Rong Mingyu remained the unshakable adopted royal prince, envied and admired by many.

One day, Emperor Ren Shou, longing for familial affection, decided to visit the Eighth Prince in the Fengqi Palace. He was told by the servants that the Empress and the Eighth Prince had gone to the Dowager Empress’s palace, but this only piqued his interest more, and he proceeded to the Shoukang Palace.

He didn't ask to be announced, intending to surprise them.

Approaching the door, he heard laughter inside. The Eighth Prince had learned to walk and talk, amusing both his mother and grandmother.

A smile appeared on Emperor Ren Shou's face, the weariness of court matters fading. Just as he was about to enter, he overheard the old nanny say, "It is often said that a child who spends time with someone starts to resemble them, and the Eighth Prince is increasingly resembling the Empress."

Queen Wang covered her lips with a laugh but scolded gently, "Why speak of such things in front of the child?"

"Yes, my mistake," the nanny replied with a chuckle, the room filled with joy. She added casually, "I was just thinking how the Eighth Prince's eyes and brows don't quite resemble the Second Prince, but rather look more like the Ning Xuan Prince when he was young. I wonder why that is. Perhaps because you and the former queen were sisters, and the Eighth Prince was originally meant to be born to you, hence the resemblance."

The Dowager Empress furrowed her brows at these words, her loving gaze on the Eighth Prince shifting to contemplation.

Emperor Ren Shou’s motion to push the door halted, and the servants in the courtyard dared not make a sound.

After a long pause, he lowered his hand and left the Shoukang Palace with an inscrutable expression.

Later that day, a secret imperial edict was sent out of the palace, summoning Su Huaijing to the palace.

By late spring and early summer, Sheng Chengxing had died, the Breaking Flower Club had dissolved, but Yu Jing City remained bustling as ever.

Rong Tang sat in the courtyard, watching layers of clouds drift across the distant sky, white and ethereal like cotton, filling the broken gaps in the heavens.

He gazed at the sky for a long time, the lotus pedestal of the Buddha statue in his study nearly in full bloom, and the system's space in his mind revealing countless vivid creatures.

The Great Yu Kingdom remained prosperous, with hidden termites beneath the surface, yet the common people continued to live in peace and contentment.

Under the emperor's cleansing of the court, wave after wave of officials were purged, yet some astute observers noticed that those who replaced them were genuinely talented and capable ministers.

After the dismissals of ministers who had merely been warming their seats, their replacements were all fresh blood, full of ambition and dedication.

The Great Yu experienced both turmoil and flourishing prosperity.

The darkest and deepest part of the night, just before dawn, hides behind the clouds.

Rong Tang chuckled softly to himself, whispering, "When will you come to find me?"

Given the current situation, if he is not sought out, what incredible opportunities must the heavens, or the mastermind, provide to their protagonist to surpass what they consider the 'orthodox' path?

Rong Tang was very curious.