Chapter 552: The Aftermath of the Plot Within a Plot (Part 9)

Chapter 552: The Aftermath of Schemes Within Schemes (IX)

Yun Ji noted that the former Yunlang Crown Prince's wisdom should not be underestimated.

After learning the conclusion of the morning court session, it indeed seemed as Prince Yun Ji had said.

Old General Su spent half a day in the palace, and by the afternoon, another imperial decree was issued. Old General Su personally delivered it, standing atop the high tower of the palace gates and announcing it loudly so all of Langjing could hear.

"His Majesty's benevolence is boundless. The matter of the deposed crown prince's rebellion has now been investigated, and there are deeper complexities at play..."

The deposed crown prince, Yun Murui, had colluded with remnants of the former dynasty and treacherous courtiers in the court to commit acts of rebellion. However, there were hidden truths—it was actually the remnants of the former dynasty and treacherous court officials who conspired, exploiting Yun Murui's legitimate son as a pawn to incite him, attempting to plunge Langjing into chaos and bring disaster to all of Yunlang.

The deposed crown prince, clear-minded and wise, feigned cooperation while secretly enlisting the aid of his mentor, Senior Tutor Cheng, to investigate. He used himself as bait to expose those who sought to destabilize the court.

This morning, Senior Tutor Cheng brought letters written by the deposed crown prince to Luangtian Temple. The Crown Prince's virtue, for the nation and its people, sacrificed his life to avert disaster. It is hoped that His Majesty will show leniency, pardon the deposed crown prince for the charge of rebellion, and allow him to be buried in the imperial mausoleum.

Senior Tutor Cheng presented all the letters written by the deposed crown prince to him, along with evidence of the crimes committed by the remnants and treacherous officials, presenting them before the entire court. He further pleaded that while the deposed crown prince's actions were drastic, his intentions were for the safety of Yunlang and the stability of the court.

When the late emperor was poisoned and passed away, the deposed crown prince laid down his sword and willingly returned to the capital with Prince Yun Ji to investigate. Later, the joint investigation by the Dali Temple, the Ministry of Justice, and the Censorate of the Yao family uncovered no conclusive evidence directly implicating the deposed crown prince.

The deposed crown prince’s removal stemmed solely from a final edict left by the late emperor on his deathbed, stripping him of his position as Crown Prince and confining him for life, never to leave his place of confinement.

If the deposed crown prince had truly intended to rebel, he would have rebelled when the late emperor died and Prince Yun Ji carried the edict to Border State. Why would he lay down his blade then only to rebel now?

The timing then was far more opportune than now. At that time, the deposed crown prince was the rightful heir to the throne of Yunlang.

Senior Tutor Cheng's plea for the deposed crown prince was firm and principled. As a founding minister of the dynasty, he feared no wrath from the new emperor, standing only for justice, the emperor's reputation, and the stability of the court—a true loyalist.

Old General Su murmured in admiration.

Senior Tutor Cheng spoke bluntly without fear.

With that, he strode into court and also pleaded for the deposed crown prince.

The deposed crown prince's rebellion had caused chaos in Langjing. Though there were hidden circumstances, this alone could not excuse the turmoil he had incited. Otherwise, there could be no reckoning for the innocent dead or for the soldiers who had fought on the front lines—their spirits would never rest.

However, with the evidence presented by Senior Tutor Cheng clearing the deposed crown prince's name, though his actions were extreme, they were for the nation's peace. Moreover, the deposed crown prince had already been executed, and the rebellion quelled. Burying him in the imperial mausoleum would honor his loyalty.

His wife, the Deposed Crown Princess Consort, deeply devoted, chose to follow him in death. Such profound love deserved their burial together in one tomb.

Their son, saved in time by Master Hui Shan, survived. The child was blameless, and with the deposed crown prince exonerated, a royal heir could not be fostered outside the palace. Thus, the child was entrusted to the care of old Cloud King and his wife, with Senior Tutor Cheng personally overseeing his education. It was hoped that the child would uphold justice and the royal family's dedication to the nation, growing into a royal who served the people.

Old General Su's plea moved other ministers, who stepped forward to echo his words.

In no time, more than half the court officials knelt in Luangtian Temple, begging the Emperor for mercy.

The new emperor, humble and receptive, granted Senior Tutor Cheng's request. Bound by kinship and benevolence, he heeded Old General Su's counsel: the third prince had acted foolishly to expose the remnants and treacherous officials. Though guilty of rebellion, his actions were understandable. Thus, his crimes were pardoned, and he was granted burial in the imperial mausoleum, with his spirit tablet placed in the royal ancestral hall.

Regarding the upbringing of his royal nephew, the emperor further stated: the son of the former Crown Prince of Yunlang, the eldest legitimate grandson of the royal family, was innocent and blameless. He should inherit his father's aspirations and bear his father's responsibilities.

The emperor’s words held deeper meaning—innocent and blameless, inheriting his father's will, bearing his father's duties. To some, it hinted at the possibility of naming this nephew as Crown Prince.

But the emperor's thoughts remained speculative. The new emperor had just ascended the throne and was not yet of age. In the future, he would have his own sons—why would he ever name the deposed crown prince’s son as heir? That would be absurd. Moreover, even with his name cleared, the emperor would never be so lenient as to name the deposed crown prince's son as the next heir.

The ministers were stirred but dared not voice their thoughts, lest they invite disaster. Regardless of the emperor's current intentions, his acceptance of Senior Tutor Cheng and Old General Su's pleas, along with keeping the deposed crown prince's son within the royal family under the care of Prince Yun Ji's grandparents, old Cloud King and his wife, had already won the court's reverence.

His Majesty's grace, his magnanimity and benevolence, heralded a prosperous era for Yunlang under his rule.

After this matter, the court was left in unanimous reverence.

The decision made during the morning court was announced from the high towers of the imperial palace. Su Rao and Yun Ji learned of it from Yun Feng, who had returned from gathering news. When they heard the final verdict on the deposed crown prince and his son’s fate, Su Rao realized that Yun Ji's words had indeed been true.

"The deposed crown prince's legitimate son, if left to live incognito outside the royal city, might one day be discovered by those with ill intentions who could exploit his identity to stir chaos. To keep him within the royal city, free from confinement, and without the new emperor's suspicion or intent to kill him, the only way is to make the new emperor feel indebted—only then can this child be protected and live in peace."

This line of reasoning became perfectly clear to Su Rao.

Yun Murui had used the rebellion as a chess move, positioning it as a sacrifice for the nation and its people. He played this grand game in Langjing, concluding it with his own death, which moved Yun Mujing's heart. In the end, he used the loyalty of the court officials who had once been loyal to him to corner Yun Mujing, securing a future path for his child.

He began with rebellion and ended with sacrifice for the nation, paying the price with his own life, guided by the emperor's heart. Both husband and wife perished, leaving only this child behind. How could they entrust him to another family? Even if Mu Mingjin was Yun Mujing's man, handing the child over to the Mu family—his maternal grandfather's household—was risky. People’s loyalties are fickle; who could guarantee the Mu family wouldn't harbor ulterior motives in the future?

"Yun Murui's scheme was indeed carefully orchestrated—he exploited the Seventh Prince's affection and manipulated the emperor's will. An emperor’s mind is ever-suspicious. Without Yun Murui and his wife, Yun Mujing would never have handed his royal nephew over to the Mu family. Thus, the child’s fate was sealed within the royal family."

As she spoke these words, another thought arose in Su Rao's mind.

Yun Murui had staked everything on the affection Yun Mujing, the Seventh Prince, held in his heart. Given that Yun Mujing shared a deep bond with Yun Ji, it was clear he valued sentiment.

He had also accounted for the emperor's will. Now enthroned, Yun Mujing's heart held not only sentiment but also the thoughts befitting an emperor. By discerning these two points, Yun Murui ensured his plan would succeed even after his death.

But Yun Mujing's imperial mindset was not what the deposed crown prince had perceived. Emperors are inherently suspicious—more likely, Yun Mujing's true intentions aligned with the words she had spoken during the morning court.

With this in mind, Su Rao turned to Yun Ji and asked,

"Yun Ji, do you think Yun Mujing kept the deposed crown prince's son and entrusted him to your grandparents because she truly intends to make him the Crown Prince? If so, in the future, Yun Lang would not face turmoil due to a lack of a royal heir. Even if she never bears a child, the court would remain stable. And if she doesn't bear children, her identity as a woman would never be exposed—a solution that serves two purposes."

"Rao Rao, you’ve grasped nearly all of Jing’s intentions."

Yun Ji nodded.

The deposed crown prince and his wife had schemed to cleanse the stain left by Empress Yao and the Yao family's poisoning of the late emperor, as well as the deposed crown prince's own influence on his child, ensuring a smooth path for their son's future. Jing, seizing the opportunity within the deposed crown prince's scheme, acted accordingly, eradicating any future threats to her reign.