Chapter 248

Chapter 248

The Xianqing Emperor fell ill, feeling weak and disoriented during the day, and either restless or plagued by nightmares at night.

The court officials came to visit him one after another. The Xianqing Emperor managed to deal with them, but whenever he saw Fan Zhao, he would avert his gaze and break out in cold sweat.

Anyone with a sharp eye could see that the Xianqing Emperor's illness was linked to Fan Zhao. After all, it was on the day Fan Zhao went to Quchi Palace that the Xianqing Emperor moved back to the Qianyuan Hall.

Wei Qi and Lu Gong took Fan Zhao aside and asked him what exactly he had done.

Fan Zhao: "Chang Gonggong misled the Emperor into lingering at Quchi Palace and neglecting his duties. I killed him and several other palace servants who were equally guilty. The Emperor might have been frightened."

Lu Gong: "...You killed them in front of the Emperor?"

Fan Zhao: "There was a door between us, the Emperor didn't see it."

Wei Qi was trembling with anger at Fan Zhao's self-righteous and defiant attitude: "You, you are so foolish! Even if they were guilty, it was the Emperor's place to pass judgment. How could you overstep your role and even carry out the execution at Quchi Palace?"

The imperial guards' swords are meant to protect the Emperor, not to scare him!

Fan Zhao snorted: "The Emperor was led astray and was on the verge of confusing loyalty with treachery. The palace servants were all taking advantage of the Emperor's youth and naivety. Only by making an example out of some can the rest be deterred from following Chang Gonggong's path. The Emperor will learn from this lesson, and hopefully reform himself, recover from his illness, and continue to diligently serve the people as a wise ruler."

Lu Gong hesitated several times.

He wanted to remind Fan Zhao that anyone treated like this by him would harbor resentment, especially the Emperor. Now that the Emperor was ill and lacked the energy to deal with Fan Zhao, once the Emperor recovered, he would likely seek retribution.

But Lu Gong had concerns. What if, by reminding Fan Zhao, he began to guard against the Emperor and even prepared to make a preemptive move...

If Fan Zhao really rebelled, wouldn't he, Lu Gong, become a traitor?

Lu Gong didn't dare to take that risk, nor did he dare to involve himself and risk implicating his family.

He looked at Wei Qi.

Wei Qi was thinking along the same lines, and as the Prime Minister, his real duty was to come up with a plan to eliminate Fan Zhao, the Commander of the Imperial Guard who dared to wield a sword before the Emperor without an edict. This man had completely slipped beyond the Xianqing Emperor's control.

But Wei Qi also knew that Fan Zhao's actions were not driven by ambition, nor were they a deliberate act of insubordination. They stemmed from loyalty to the late emperor and his son, and from a concern for the stability of the Great Yu Dynasty's throne.

Wei Qi couldn't bring himself to stab Fan Zhao in the back.

Seeing the two of them glance at each other and then fall into thoughtful silence, Fan Zhao smiled: "You two are probably blaming me for acting impulsively again, huh? Hmph, I didn't want to be impulsive either. But when gentle persuasion didn't work, I had to take more drastic measures. Otherwise, how would the Emperor realize he was being misled by dishonest people? Don't worry, it's just a scare. The Emperor will recover after a few days of rest."

The late emperor treated him like a son, and he treated the late emperor like a father, making him and the Emperor like brothers.

It was only right for an older brother to discipline his younger brother when he made a mistake.

"You chat, I'll go and coax the Emperor some more."

A stick and a carrot—Fan Zhao understood this much. He always believed that if the Xianqing Emperor understood his intentions, he wouldn't hold a grudge over this incident.

Fan Zhao strode away.

Watching his towering back, Lu Gong suddenly slammed his palm on the nearby white jade railing, closed his eyes, and sighed deeply.

To remind Fan Zhao would put the Xianqing Emperor in danger. Not to remind him would mean watching Fan Zhao bring about his own destruction.

Caught between the late emperor's only heir and a younger comrade and close friend who had fought alongside him on the battlefield, Lu Gong's heart felt like it was being torn apart.

Wei Qi was still gazing at Fan Zhao in the distance.

After a long silence, Lu Gong looked at Wei Qi helplessly and asked, "Sir, do you have any way to balance loyalty and justice?"

He used the old title from their time in Jizhou.

Wei Qi said, "After the war is over, either Liangzhou or Hezhou will have a military post for Fan Zhao to take."

Fan Zhao is a fine blade, but the Xianqing Emperor cannot control him closely, so the blade must be placed far away to intimidate enemies with its sharpness.

Lu Gong replied, "Fan Zhao's temperament might lead to mistakes if he commands a military division alone."

Wei Qi answered, "I know, but only these two places would not make Fan Zhao feel undervalued. It would be fitting for him to serve as a deputy to Marquis Feng, but would he accept such a position?"

There are vacancies in Liangzhou and Hezhou, and it makes sense to dispatch a general there, but sending Fan Zhao to Jizhou, where there is no ongoing war, would invite his scrutiny. Wouldn't he start asking questions?

Lu Gong asked, "Then who should take over as the Commander of the Imperial Guard?"

Wei Qi said, "Luo Xiao. He is an old companion from Jizhou. The emperor trusts him, and Luo Xiao is reserved and steady. He would not easily offend the emperor."

Lu Gong deeply agreed.

——

On the 29th of June, at dusk, Sun Wei came to the Marquis’s residence to take his son and nephew home for rest.

In the past, it was always Sun Dian who came, but now that Sun Dian had followed Xiao Zhen to fight Lü Sheng, it was Sun Wei's turn.

Every time Sun Wei came, Tong Sui would chat with him for a while.

Sun Wei was quite versatile in both literature and martial arts, but when he was in Lingshui Village, he often helped his father, the Village Headman, with village affairs. He had less time to practice martial arts than Sun Dian, so among the young men in Weixian County, Sun Wei's skills were at the bottom. Therefore, when the old man arranged military positions for his sons, he prioritized those who were more skilled, while Sun Wei and Xiao Gufu continued to handle civil duties.

After the late emperor ascended the throne, both Xiao Gufu and Sun Wei, who did not have a Jinshi degree, were exceptionally appointed to work in the Ministry of Revenue. Four or five years have passed, and now Xiao Gufu has been promoted to the position of Director of the Ministry of Revenue, a fifth-rank official, while Sun Wei, who is the same age as Xiao Yan, has already become a sixth-rank official in the Ministry of Revenue at a young age, with a promising future.

Tong Shan and Zhang Chao, the two young men, rode horses and left first. Sun Wei let the eldest son and Er Lang play in the courtyard while he went into the hall to talk with Tong Sui.

In her fifth month of pregnancy, Tong Sui’s belly had begun to show, but it wasn’t noticeable when she sat down.

Sun Wei lowered his eyes awkwardly.

When they were in the Right Army, they saw each other almost every day, but after entering the capital, opportunities to meet Tong Sui became scarce. Each time they met, the gentle yet authoritative presence of Tong Sui had grown more pronounced, blending with her innate beauty, making it difficult for Sun Wei, an outsider, to face her calmly.

In the hall, there was only one maid, A Fu, who poured tea for Sun Wei and stood behind Tong Sui.

Tong Sui looked at Sun Wei and said, "I heard that the emperor is ill?"

She had informants monitoring the activities of influential noble families in the capital, but she did not plant spies in the palace. Firstly, Tong Sui did not have such sophisticated means, and secondly, as a subject, it would be disloyal to place spies in the palace. Moreover, the previous emperor was respected by the whole family.

Being a government official, Sun Wei had access to many rumors that rarely made it outside the palace. He said in a low voice, "Yes, the emperor moved to Quchi previously. Two days ago, Marquis Fan went to advise him, and the emperor moved back to the Qianyuan Hall that day and summoned the imperial physician at night."

The events that transpired in Quchi were kept under tight wraps by both the emperor and Marquis Fan. Officials only knew that several eunuchs and maids were executed on the spot by Marquis Fan for treason.

The new emperor’s weak constitution was known to all officials and was never a secret.

Tong Sui naturally linked the emperor's illness to Fan Zhao's actions, and there was no need for further speculation.

"Has the emperor's condition improved these past two days?"

Sun Wei replied, "I’m not sure. We’ll have to wait and see if the emperor can attend court on the first day of the new month."

"Yes, Marquis and his brothers are not around, so I'll keep a close watch on official matters."

Sun Wei replied, "Madam Fan, please rest assured, I understand completely."

Ever since the old master took over Wei County, our group has been tightly bound together, sharing both glory and ruin.

Marquis Fan's residence.

Pan Yuerou had also heard about the Emperor's illness and reported it to Madam Fan. When Marquis Fan returned to the residence, Pan Yuerou sat by her mother-in-law's side, listening as Madam Fan asked about the details.

Marquis Fan, displeased, said, "You should not concern yourselves with palace affairs, and don't fret over nothing, scaring yourselves."

Madam Fan said, "Tell me, is the Emperor sick because you frightened him?"

Marquis Fan replied, "No."

With her son taking this attitude, what could Madam Fan say?

That night, after much thought, Pan Yuerou embraced Marquis Fan from behind and whispered softly, "You treat the Emperor like your own younger brother, and everything you do is for his sake. But since rumors are spreading outside, it means many people are suspicious of you. If these people start spreading rumors to the Emperor and he begins to doubt your intentions..."

Marquis Fan remained silent.

Pan Yuerou held him tighter. "You are the pillar of our family, so for the sake of your mother and the children, please be cautious in your actions."

Marquis Fan gazed at the silhouette of the screen outside the bed and patted his wife's hand. "I know, let's get some sleep."

——

On the first day of the seventh lunar month, the Xianqing Emperor was still bedridden and unable to attend court.

Empress Wang remained by the Emperor's side, never leaving his side.

The imperial physicians prescribed a calming potion that made the Emperor drowsy.

After inspecting the city camp, Marquis Fan went to the market and picked a honeydew melon that smelled perfectly ripe. He brought it back to the palace.

He arrived at just the right time, as the Xianqing Emperor had just woken up, and Empress Wang was coaxing him to eat.

Hearing that Marquis Fan requested an audience, the Xianqing Emperor instinctively frowned.

Empress Wang advised, "Marquis Fan is concerned about Your Majesty's health and comes to check two or three times a day. Please, just see him."

The Xianqing Emperor finally agreed.

Marquis Fan entered, holding a melon the size of a man's head in one hand.

The Xianqing Emperor's pupils shrank.

Marquis Fan, seeing that his complexion was better than the day before, happily said, "I told you, Your Majesty's illness would get better after a few more sleeps, but some people just like to make a fuss. Here, smell this melon, it's definitely sweet."

The Xianqing Emperor turned his head away. "I have no appetite."

Marquis Fan said, "That's exactly why you should eat some melon to stimulate your appetite. Come, take it away to be washed and cut."

He looked at a young eunuch, who immediately walked over, took the melon with both hands, and went out. After a while, he returned with a plate of sliced melon.

Just as Marquis Fan was about to pick up a slice, Empress Wang quickly interjected, "Let me serve His Majesty."

Saying that, she used a silver stick to pick up a slice of melon and fed it to the Xianqing Emperor's mouth.

Fan Zhao looked at him with anticipation, his gaze resembling that of parents watching their child.

A honey-like sweetness spread in the Xianqing Emperor's mouth. It tasted good, but the sight of Fan Zhao's face so close to him made him feel sick.

"Too greasy, I need water."

Empress Wang hurriedly served him water.

The Xianqing Emperor disliked honeydew melons and had little to say to Fan Zhao. After sitting for a while, Fan Zhao withdrew.

The Xianqing Emperor glanced at the eager eunuch waiting for Fan Zhao's orders and felt even more hatred in his heart. He sent all the palace servants away and asked Empress Wang in a low voice, "I remember your elder brother works in the Ministry of Revenue, and your second brother followed the path of military officers?"

Empress Wang nodded and replied with shame, "My second brother was originally a commanding officer in Hanzhou. Last autumn, he injured his leg by accident. The physician said he would need at least half a year to recover, and fearing that he would delay military affairs, my brother submitted his resignation and returned to the capital to recover."

The Xianqing Emperor asked, "Has he recovered yet?"

Empress Wang replied, "He recovered in May, but then my second uncle made a mistake. My father couldn’t bring himself to ask Your Majesty for a position for my brother."

The Xianqing Emperor said, "If I remember correctly, your second brother is not yet thirty. It’s not fitting for a young man like him to remain idle at home. The Imperial Guard has long needed a deputy commander. Give this position to your second brother."

Empress Wang immediately knelt beside the bed and pleaded, "Your Majesty, the position of deputy commander of the Imperial Guard is a first-rank military position. Those currently holding such positions, like Luo Xiao and Zhao Jin, are seasoned generals who have earned their ranks through countless battles. My second brother has contributed nothing to the Great Yu Dynasty. Even if he were to receive Your Majesty’s favor and take on this important role, he would struggle to earn the respect of others. I beg Your Majesty to reconsider."

The Xianqing Emperor sneered coldly, "The Imperial Guard protects the capital and my safety. As long as he is loyal to me, I will use whomever I wish. Attendants, draft the edict."

Without consulting the two prime ministers, an imperial edict was issued, appointing Wang Ke, the Empress’s younger brother, as a first-rank deputy commander of the Imperial Guard.

Wang Ke received the imperial order and went to the palace to thank the emperor.

The Xianqing Emperor noted that Wang Ke was tall and imposing, clearly skilled in martial arts, which pleased him and lifted his spirits. On the fifth day of the month, the Xianqing Emperor summoned all the off-duty Imperial Guard troops and personally established Wang Ke’s authority, saying, "I regard Fan Zhao and Wang Ke as my left and right arms. From now on, you must obey Wang Ke just as you obey Fan Zhao. Understood?"

Nearly 20,000 Imperial Guard troops looked to Fan Zhao.

A noble scion who rose through family connections, how could he possibly be on equal footing with Commander Fan?

Fan Zhao despised the Wang family the most, but for the sake of the Xianqing Emperor's recently recovered health, he did not oppose this decision. He also believed that Wang Ke would not cause much trouble in the Imperial Guard.

"Are you all deaf? Didn't you hear the Emperor's question?"

The Imperial Guard troops then responded loudly.

The Xianqing Emperor was already angry. After returning to the palace, he spoke to Wang Ke alone, "Now do you understand why I transferred you into the Imperial Guard?"

Wang Ke said indignantly, "It must be because Fan Zhao does not hold Your Majesty in high regard, which is why the troops followed his lead and disrespected Your Majesty!"

The Xianqing Emperor said, "I want you to take power from Fan Zhao. Once the Imperial Guard is willing to follow your commands, I will promote you to the full commander position."

Wang Ke replied, "I accept the order!"

To command soldiers, a general must first establish authority to make the soldiers fear him. Only then would they obey properly.

The Xianqing Emperor gave Wang Ke a list, which included the names of several imperial guards who had failed to "protect" him at Qu Chi, as well as the names of several eunuchs and palace servants in the Qianyuan Hall who were obsequious to Fan Zhao.

The commanders of the Imperial Guard took turns being on duty in the palace. On the twentieth day of the seventh month, while Fan Zhao was resting at home, Wang Ke made his move. He called a team of guards to arrest these people on charges of treason and had their heads cut off. He then sent the guards to several city camps as a warning.

When the news reached Fan Zhao, he slammed his fist on a table and smashed it!

Good, he hadn't gone looking for trouble with the Wang family, but they came to provoke him first!

The next day, Wang Ke went to inspect the city camps just as Fan Zhao did. When he reached the northern camp, Fan Zhao blocked him at the training ground.

Fan Zhao wanted to spar with Wang Ke.

Wang Ke glanced at Fan Zhao's broad and muscular shoulders and smiled, saying, "The bravery of Marquis Fan is renowned throughout the world; I’m happy to concede."

Fan Zhao said, "Sparring helps us grow stronger. If you back down, you’ll look like a coward. How would you justify the emperor’s trust in you?"

As he spoke, Fan Zhao had already taken off his outer robe and tossed it to a guard.

The 3,000 troops of the Northern City Camp cheered loudly.

Under the gaze of 3,000 pairs of eyes, Wang Ke felt cornered and had no choice but to bow and say, "Since this is a sparring match, let’s keep it light so we don’t hurt our friendship."

Fan Zhao laughed, "Of course."

Though he agreed readily with his words, when they actually fought, Fan Zhao became like a fierce tiger, attacking Wang Ke's vital points relentlessly.

Wang Ke, who had been confident in his martial skills since childhood, believed he could hold his ground for a few dozen rounds before making a move. After all, he also wanted to earn the respect of the Imperial Guard.

However, once they started fighting, Wang Ke realized he had underestimated his opponent. He defended himself cautiously, looking for a chance to end the match gracefully.

But Fan Zhao wouldn't give him the chance. Every time Wang Ke tried to call it off, Fan Zhao would roar in response.

The 3,000 Imperial Guard joined in with a roar and pushed Wang Ke's two attendants to the outer circle.

After about half an hour, Wang Ke was knocked to the ground by Fan Zhao and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Seeing this, Fan Zhao clapped his hands and scoffed, "Is this all you’ve got? I shouldn’t have wasted my time on you."

After Fan Zhao left, the 3,000 Imperial Guard dispersed. Wang Ke’s two long-serving attendants finally reached their nearly incapacitated master and hurriedly carried him back to the Wang residence.

The imperial physician examined him and said that Wang Ke's ribs were broken and that he would need to rest in bed to recover. The injuries to his internal organs would also require time to heal. For now, Wang Ke was out of commission.