Chapter 133

Chapter 133

"His Majesty has tasked you with preparing the autumn hunt at Qingping Mountain?" Shen Zheng instinctively frowned.

"Mhm." Wen Zuo's fingertips relaxed, letting the remaining chess pieces clatter back into the box. "In my past life, His Majesty also intended to hold an autumn hunt. However, the one who handled the arrangements wasn't me, it was Xie Langyang. When one reaches old age, they likely always enjoy doing things that defy fate."

In the previous life, this duty fell to Xie Langyang. Firstly, because he volunteered himself, and secondly, because as a scion of a prominent family, he had the deep pockets to ensure everything was thorough and presentable.

To curry favor with the emperor, influential and wealthy families were always willing to dip into their own pockets to cover expenses, and the sovereign had always turned a blind eye. After all, to err is human, the state coffers were limited, and even the Emperor himself hoped for a more comfortable life.

"This time, it's been given to me. Probably because Xie Langyang has already been disgraced, and also... the ministers His Majesty once relied upon have either been imprisoned or retired. There's simply no one left to use." After saying this, Wen Zuo flashed a sly smile, reaching out to tug on Shen Zheng's sleeve. "It's all Your Highness's fault for completely sidelining His Majesty."

Shen Zheng took his hand, his thumb gently tracing the veins on Wen Zuo's wrist. "Should I go with you?"

Wen Zuo abruptly withdrew his hand. "Don't be ridiculous. His Majesty doesn't have much time left, only a month remains. Must Your Highness draw attention and make this known to everyone at this critical juncture?"

"Since Father Emperor is going on the autumn hunt, I'll certainly have to stay in the capital to handle state affairs. What should I do if I miss you?" Shen Zheng sighed.

"Your Highness is clingy," Wen Zuo muttered teasingly.

Shen Zheng just stood up, leaned over the chessboard, and stole a kiss on Wen Zuo's lips. "Yes, I am clingy. I wish my teacher would never leave my sight for even a moment."

Wen Zuo reached out and seized Shen Zheng's jade belt, a shrewd glint in his slightly raised eyes. "Your Highness, don't try to weasel out. We agreed: per stone you lose, you copy one volume of ancient texts. Now you've messed up the board with your robes."

Shen Zheng let out a low laugh. "Then what do we do? It's already a mess."

Wen Zuo arched an eyebrow, tilting his chin up. "It doesn't matter. Has Your Highness forgotten? I've always had a photographic memory for chess positions."

Shen Zheng tilted his head, admiring his teacher's smug little expression, his heart swelling with affection. "Teacher has gone to such pains to make me practice my handwriting. How could I bear to cheat?"

After speaking, Shen Zheng opened his palm, revealing three white stones lying there. "Look. Teacher beat me by three stones."

Wen Zuo finally looked satisfied. "Then Your Highness can start copying. Once the autumn hunt matters are settled, your teacher will check your work."

Emperor Shunyuan's decree for the autumn hunt was soon officially issued. Those accompanying him were limited to imperial relatives. Court officials were to attend to governance as usual and did not need to escort him. Shen Zheng, in his capacity as Crown Prince, remained in the capital to oversee state affairs on the emperor's behalf.

Only Wen Zuo set out first, hastening to Qingping Mountain to take full charge of preparing all matters for the autumn hunt.

Following the same regulations as previous autumn hunts, Wen Zuo first ordered a vanguard of one hundred craftsmen to depart three days early for the hunting grounds to set up the imperial and official tents, ensuring the main contingent would have shelter upon arrival.

On the thirtieth day of the ninth month of the twenty-fifth year of Shunyuan, the sky was clear and bright, with crows and magpies crying high above.

After performing the sacrificial rites to heaven, Wen Zuo boarded his carriage and set off. A procession of two hundred people departed from the capital, marching grandly towards Qingping Mountain.

Sixty scouts took the lead, securing the route section by section and driving away refugees and hunters along the way.

One hundred personnel in charge of supplies and logistics brought up the rear, escorting provisions, horses, and hunting equipment, moving slowly.

Wen Zuo was protected by forty personal guards. Among them were twenty-seven eunuch attendants, ten close bodyguards, and the remaining three were Liu Qiying, Jiang Mannv, and Liu Hou'er, who had come along for the excitement.

Having returned from the diplomatic mission to the Western Oceans with Liu Kangren, Liu Hou'er was no longer the scrawny street urchin from Mianzhou.

Weathered by sea winds and sun along the journey, his skin had gained a healthy tan, and he had shot up in height, now even a little taller than Wen Zuo. One couldn't tell at all that he was only just sixteen.

He usually hid his unruly habits extremely well, but once there were no outsiders around, his true nature immediately surfaced. Leaning on his horse's back, he chattered incessantly. One moment he would catch up to Liu Qiying and Jiang Mannv, gesticulating wildly as he recounted strange tales and oddities from the Western Oceans; the next, he would go lift the curtain of Wen Zuo's carriage, eagerly asking how many kinds of beasts were really in Qingping Mountain.

Wen Zuo held a book in his hands. Every few lines he read, he would be interrupted by Liu Hou'er's voice. After several repetitions, he finally couldn't bear it. Turning his head, he narrowed his eyes and said calmly, "Do you believe I'll send you back to the capital immediately?"

Liu Hou'er stuck out his tongue, immediately fell silent, obediently lowered the carriage curtain, reined in his horse to slow its pace, and sheepishly retreated a few steps.

Liu Qiying, watching from the side, found it amusing and mercilessly mocked him. "Serves you right for talking nonstop all day. You brought this on yourself."

Liu Hou'er wriggled on his horse's back, lacking any proper posture. "The Hanlin Academy Director finally gets a chance to leave the palace for some fresh air. Instead of enjoying this splendid autumn scenery, he's cooped up in the carriage reading those ant-sized characters. How boring."

Liu Qiying reached out to poke his forehead, but unfortunately, the two horses were too far apart. Liu Hou'er reacted extremely quickly, leaning back to nimbly dodge.

Liu Qiying withdrew her hand in disappointment. "You think everyone is as restless as you?"

Seeing this, Jiang Mannv urged her horse forward, squeezing in with great interest. "Ignore them. Quickly, tell me more. What strange fish are there in the sea?"

Jiang Mannv gasped sharply. "Too terrifying! I never want to go into the sea in my life!"

Liu Hou'er grew more and more animated as he spoke, embellishing and exaggerating. "And when great winds rise at sea, huge waves can toss the ship fifty feet high. Everything turns pitch black all around—you can't see the shore, you can't see the moon. If you light a torch, the wind blows it out immediately. If a big fish jumps onto the ship at that moment, chomp! Someone disappears, and no one even knows how they vanished!"

Even though the sky was clear and cloudless, Jiang Mannv felt chills all over listening to this. She instinctively tightened her robe. "Stop! Stop talking! I don't want to hear any more!"

Seeing her reaction, Liu Hou'er immediately clutched his stomach, laughing uproariously, rocking back and forth on his horse. "Hahaha, how can you be so timid!"

Outside the carriage curtain, the autumn scenery retreated along the road. The outline of Qingping Mountain was already faintly visible in the distance. The setting sun gently descended, dyeing the layered forests across the mountains in brilliant hues, stretching endlessly.

The wind lifted a corner of the carriage curtain. Wen Zuo also couldn't help but put down his book and look outside.

Remembering how Shen Zheng had once galloped with him on horseback at the foot of Qingping Mountain, a smile unconsciously bloomed at the corner of his lips.

However, the hunting grounds for this autumn hunt were not in the same area where Jun Dingyuan's army was stationed. The military camp was at the southern foot of the mountain, closer to the capital, while the hunting grounds were at the northern foot, nearer to Liangzhou.

The procession needed to pass by the southern mountain first, traverse a deep mountain pass, before they could reach the northern mountain, where herds of deer, mountain hares, and roe deer inhabited.

By now, the scouts should have already passed through the mountain pass and joined up with the craftsmen who went ahead. Their own smaller contingent could also reach the pass before night completely fell, arriving at the camp in time for the evening meal.

Thinking of this, Wen Zuo took a deep, earnest breath of the crisp air, letting the autumn wind play with his dark hair.

-

After the sacrificial rites, Emperor Shunyuan had been sitting listlessly in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

His eyes were vacant, staring straight out the window. Through the layers of palace walls, he could only see a strip of deep blue sky.

During this time, Consort Zhen sent someone with sweet soup, but he refused it.

Liu Quan stood guard nearby without moving a step, his back stiffened into a rigid arc. He had stood for so long that he had almost lost all sensation.

An unknown length of deathly silence passed before Emperor Shunyuan finally spoke slowly. "Summon Jiang Ziwei."

Liu Quan's eyes snapped up. In an instant, he understood: His Majesty intended to act today!

Forcing down the turbulent waves of shock in his heart, he slowly straightened his stiff, cold body and walked out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation at a measured pace. Facing the young eunuch attending in the corridor, he announced loudly, "Summon Imperial Guard Captain Jiang Ziwei to the hall for an audience with His Majesty immediately."

"Yes." The young eunuch bowed and turned to leave.

But Liu Quan suddenly reached out, gripping his wrist tightly. Lowering his voice, he said with utmost seriousness, "Take a detour to the Eastern Palace. Inform the Crown Prince that the Hanlin Academy Director is in danger."

The young eunuch was scared out of his wits, his face as pale as paper, his tongue tied in knots. "Godfather..."

Liu Quan gave him a forceful push, sending him staggering.

The young eunuch awoke as if from a dream. Casting a terrified glance at the half-open doors of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he fled in panic, running helter-skelter. "Yes, yes..."

Liu Quan took a deep breath, suppressed all emotion, and once again adopted a respectful, expressionless demeanor. He walked back into the hall and stood with bowed head beside Emperor Shunyuan.

Jiang Ziwei was on patrol in the palace. Before long, he arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation and knelt in salute. "Your subject pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Liu Quan withdrew to a spot outside the hall and gently closed the chamber doors.

Inside, Emperor Shunyuan spoke in a tone bordering on indifference: "I order you to immediately muster your most trusted elite troops and ride to Qingping Mountain."

"Kill Wen Zuo."

Jiang Ziwei's head snapped up in shock, in disbelief.

Some years back, he had personally traveled to Mianzhou to deliver an imperial decree and had met Wen Zuo once. He knew well that this man was a loyal minister who served the nation and its people. To hear this order now was utterly staggering.

Emperor Shunyuan gave him no time to process it: "Carry this out with utmost secrecy. Not a whisper of this must leak out. The guards and attendants by his side are to be eliminated as well, leave no one alive. Afterwards, stage it to look like a bandit ambush. I... will grant him an untarnished name in death."

Jiang Ziwei's throat tightened, his eyes wavered. He lowered his head with difficulty and clasped his hands in salute: "Your subject will obey!"

As members of the Royal Imperial Guard, they were born to be the sharpest blades in the emperor's hand, knowing only obedience, never questioning right or wrong.

"To ensure your safety in the future, I bestow upon you a secret edict." Emperor Shunyuan took the imperial decree on bright yellow silk that had been prepared in advance and personally placed it in his hands.

Jiang Ziwei raised his hands high above his head, his expression solemn: "I will not fail in this mission!"

After receiving the decree, Jiang Ziwei exited the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Just as he was about to quickly descend the steps, Liu Quan blocked his path without seeming to.

Jiang Ziwei was taken aback: "Eunuch Liu?"

Liu Quan offered a faint smile and was about to speak a warning when, from the corner of his eye, he spotted Shen Zheng in his court robes adorned with nine-dragon patterns, heading straight for the Hall of Mental Cultivation from beyond the Zunyi Gate.

Liu Quan's face instantly turned deathly pale.

By his calculation, the messenger eunuch should have just reached the Eastern Palace. There was absolutely no way the Crown Prince could have arrived this quickly!

This could only mean the two had missed each other—Shen Zheng had not received the message at all!

"Eunuch Liu?" Jiang Ziwei asked, puzzled.

Liu Quan watched helplessly as Shen Zheng drew nearer, ascending the steps. He would be upon them in moments. Yet, with Jiang Ziwei standing right beside him, he had no conceivable reason to stop the Crown Prince and reveal the truth.

"Eunuch Liu, I have pressing business. I beg my leave." Jiang Ziwei bowed respectfully yet firmly, then retreated and quickly disappeared down the palace steps.

No sooner had Shen Zheng entered the hall than he asked, "Father Emperor summoned me after the ceremony, instructing me to come at this moment. May I ask what important matter requires my presence?"

Emperor Shunyuan smiled, his tone calm: "You and I, father and son, have not been alone together in a long time. I called you here today to keep your old father company for a game of chess."

Standing outside the door, Liu Quan let out a long, sorrowful sigh.

Was this... the will of Heaven?

Was the tragedy of the past destined to repeat itself today?

Shen Zheng lifted the hem of his robe and sat down opposite Emperor Shunyuan. His eyes unconsciously darted toward the door for a moment before he withdrew his gaze and said with a smile, "Your son has been buried in government affairs lately and has not refined his chess skills. I fear I am no match for Father Emperor."

Emperor Shunyuan flicked his sleeve and extended a thin, bony finger to pick up a chess piece: "Do not be modest, my son. I still haven't figured out your Meng School tactics to this day."

Shen Zheng remained expressionless and had no choice but to play along, placing a piece on the board.

For some reason, ever since stepping into the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he had sensed something off in the air. Yet everything appeared normal, with no crack in the facade. He thought perhaps it was due to the strain of overwork.

He asked casually, "Father Emperor summoned the Captain of the Imperial Guard earlier. Was there some important matter to command?"

Emperor Shunyuan replied with perfect nonchalance: "Naturally, it was regarding the autumn hunt arrangements."

The tone was so straightforward and matter-of-fact that Shen Zheng asked no further.

The autumn hunt was a massive undertaking involving over a dozen departments including the Ministry of Rites, Ministry of War, Imperial Household Department, Court of Imperial Entertainments, Imperial Procession Guard, Imperial Stables, and the Imperial Guard. It was not unusual for the emperor to have additional arrangements.

Liu Quan kept his eyes lowered and silently stepped forward to refill their tea.

When it was Shen Zheng's turn, his wrist suddenly trembled, spilling two drops of hot tea onto the table. He hurriedly wiped it clean with his sleeve, his composure seeming less steady than usual.

Shen Zheng noticed this from the corner of his eye, but his attention was pulled back by the sound of Emperor Shunyuan placing a piece.

He needed to concentrate fully to conceal the fact that he was not actually proficient in Meng School techniques.

Fortunately, he often played chess with Wen Zuo in daily life, and his skills had improved considerably. For a time, he and Emperor Shunyuan were locked in a fierce, evenly matched battle.

Time passed bit by bit. Dusk gradually gathered, and the temperature inside the hall dropped.

Shen Zheng narrowly won a game. Seeing the light from the translucent roof tiles dimming considerably, an inexplicable restlessness stirred in his heart.

He gathered the chess pieces and stood up: "Father Emperor, it is getting late. Your health is not at its best. You should rest early."

Emperor Shunyuan did not even look up, replying flatly: "No hurry. I am in excellent spirits today. Stay and play a few more games with me."

Shen Zheng frowned, finally sensing something amiss. He instinctively glanced at Liu Quan, but before the eunuch could meet his gaze, he heard Emperor Shunyuan say, "Why look at him? This time, I shall make the first move."

Emperor Shunyuan had already placed a piece on the board. Shen Zheng had no choice but to sit back down and pick up a black piece.

Liu Quan closed his eyes, his heart filled with sorrow.

At that moment, a young eunuch urgently announced from outside the door: "Your Majesty, Consort Liang requests an audience!"

Shen Zheng's fingers paused. He immediately turned to look.

Emperor Shunyuan narrowed his eyes: "What does she want?"

A commotion arose outside. The young eunuch urgently tried to block her: "Your Highness, Your Highness! His Majesty is playing chess with the Crown Prince! Allow this servant to announce you!"

"Step aside!"

Jun Mulan, with her bold and decisive nature, would tolerate no delay. She waved away the eunuchs blocking her path, perfunctorily knocked on the hall door, and said, "Your Majesty, this concubine has urgent business with the Crown Prince. I beg Your Majesty to allow the Crown Prince to come out and see me!"

Shen Zheng sprang to his feet, his brow furrowed tightly.

Emperor Shunyuan slowly turned his head and fixed a heavy gaze on Liu Quan. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke coldly to the door: "The Crown Prince is currently playing chess with me. Whatever the matter is, it can be discussed another day. The Consort may return to her palace."

Jun Mulan steeled her heart and directly pushed open the hall door. Her sharp eyes fixed on Emperor Shunyuan: "Your Majesty, my father has suddenly suffered a relapse of his old illness and wishes to see Zheng'er. The matter is urgent. I beg Your Majesty to forgive this concubine's rudeness!"

Shen Zheng's eyes met his mother's. In an instant, he understood the warning and anxiety in her gaze.

He immediately turned and bowed to Emperor Shunyuan: "Father Emperor, my grandfather is ill. Your son is frantic with worry. I must accompany my mother. I can only play chess with Father Emperor another day."

With that, he prepared to leave with Jun Mulan.

"Audacious!"

Emperor Shunyuan roared in a low voice, his face terrifyingly dark. Clutching his chest, he coughed violently. "I see who dares to take half a step out of this door today! Guards, seal the doors!"

Outside the hall, the Imperial Guards in their clinking armor instantly surrounded the Hall of Mental Cultivation, cutting off all exits.

Shen Zheng slowly turned around. His cold gaze swept over the stern Imperial Guards before finally settling on Emperor Shunyuan: "Father Emperor traps your son here, deliberately stalling for time. What exactly are you hiding?"

Emperor Shunyuan closed his eyes in silence, sitting upright on the couch like a wooden statue.

Jun Mulan glanced at Liu Quan. She had never intended to implicate others, but by now, His Majesty must have already understood the situation.

She spoke each word deliberately: "Master Wen is in peril."

These four words struck Shen Zheng like a thunderbolt.

His blood froze in his veins, his pupils contracted violently, and his knuckles clenched until they creaked.

Without a word, he shot a deep look with crimson eyes at Emperor Shunyuan before turning to rush out the door.

"How dare you!" Emperor Shunyuan suddenly opened his eyes and roared.

Shen Zheng paused but did not turn back.

Clutching his painfully throbbing chest, Emperor Shunyuan angrily rebuked, "Did you think your affairs were well hidden? I could overlook how he aided you and the underhanded schemes committed during the struggle for succession, but he must never use that to threaten the Heir Apparent, nor dare to aspire to regency or meddling in state affairs!"

Shen Zheng's voice was cold as ice and sharp as a blade: "Since Father says this, you must believe Shen Chen's words. It seems that no matter how many achievements I make as Crown Prince, I can never escape Your Majesty's suspicion."

"Can you say you have a clear conscience? Look at your own anxious, furious state now!" Emperor Shunyuan slammed the table, scattering chess pieces across the floor.

Shen Zheng slowly turned his head. In his peripheral vision, Emperor Shunyuan appeared both aged and ruthless. He laid it out plainly: "He never threatened me, nor did he aspire to regency. It is I who am devoted to him, who cannot live without him. Does that satisfy Your Majesty?"

"You vile rebel!"

"After experiencing the death of Imperial Consort Chen, can Your Majesty utter such words without burden?" Shen Zheng did not yield an inch.

"You... what exactly do you know?" Emperor Shunyuan's expression changed abruptly. He rose from the couch and shot a glare at Liu Quan. "Was it you—"

Liu Quan hastily knelt, kowtowing with tears in his eyes. "Even if this lowly one were cut into a thousand pieces, I would never dare to reveal even a fraction of Your Majesty's private affairs!"

Shen Zheng looked toward the heavily guarded palace doors and sneered, "It was not Liu Quan. Your Majesty, with a guilty conscience, dared not allow anyone to inquire about the edict concerning Lin Yingniang. Did you think others could not guess the truth?"

Emperor Shunyuan began to tremble, staring fixedly at this high-spirited son before him as if seeing his own younger self.

His throat grew hoarse, his voice sorrowful: "Since you know, you should understand that today's arrangements are the greatest mercy I can show you!"

"Let all sins be borne by me! Let all hatred be shouldered by me! You may ascend the throne without guilt or hesitation, free from the daily torment and agony that I endure!"

After speaking, Emperor Shunyuan swayed, barely steadying himself by leaning on the table. As Liu Quan moved to support him, he was shoved away.

Back then, Emperor Kangzhen had bluntly revealed Ying Xingluo's fate. Powerless to resist, he had shouldered all the guilt, forced to watch as the great fire consumed everything.

His father had taught him in the cruelest way that an emperor must be heartless, with the state as the paramount concern.

That bone-deep, soul-devouring pain—he could not bear for Shen Zheng to experience it. Thus, he resolved to quietly eliminate Wen Zuo. Once the news of death arrived, Shen Zheng would only need to accept reality, unencumbered, and become a carefree emperor for the ages.

Yet his paternal devotion had been disrupted.

Shen Zheng retorted with grief and anger, "Preposterous! To execute an innocent man and still find such a high-sounding excuse! Since when has the fate of the realm, the survival of Da Qian, rested upon a single unarmed individual?"

"As an emperor, indulging in male affections, defying moral principles—how will you answer to ancestral rites and laws? How will you answer to the statutes of Da Qian? Can you bear the resentment of all those who suffered injustice across dynasties because of this? As a scion of the imperial family, how dare you break precedent and act recklessly? Public opinion will surely drown you! Where does that leave our ancestors? If you are right, does that mean they were all wrong? How dare you be so audacious!"

Emperor Shunyuan's sharp, hoarse roar echoed. In that moment, he was no longer himself; he seemed to transform into the father he had once feared. His soul returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation of that day, standing alongside his father to subdue this deviant 'self.'

According to the trajectory of his life, this 'self' should have been shattered, collapsing to his knees, weeping bitterly, and submitting to fate.

And he, like the late emperor back then, would coldly watch this heartbroken 'self' until he wept his soul out and yielded to heaven's will.

This mountain called imperial power was boundless in its weight, offering no escape. Generation after generation, it would inevitably crush every emperor into a heartless being.

Yet Shen Zheng did not collapse and yield as he once had.

Shen Zheng merely let out a cold scoff and strode toward the palace doors.

He pressed his hand against the leading imperial guard's saber, his gaze fierce and imposing, his words icy and stern: "Step aside!"

Emperor Shunyuan, shocked and enraged, shouted furiously, "Crown Prince!"

Shen Zheng did not look back. He merely swept his eyes over the imperial guards before the hall: "I dare anyone to stop me!"

Emperor Shunyuan trembled all over, unable to believe that Shen Zheng cared nothing for the ancestral institutions, rites, laws, or public censure he had invoked—that he would rather abandon everything to save Wen Zuo.

"I have more than one son!" Emperor Shunyuan cried out hoarsely, unleashing his final trump card. "If you step out that door today, you will no longer be the Crown Prince of Da Qian! Think carefully!"

With a disdainful gaze, Shen Zheng shouldered past the impediment and charged straight out. Jun Mulan followed closely, protecting her son every step of the way.

In the end, the imperial guards dared not lay hands on the Crown Prince and could only watch as he left.

Emperor Shunyuan stared blankly at that resolute retreating figure, suddenly losing all strength as he collapsed heavily onto the imperial couch.