Chapter 39

Chapter 39

After being jostled for a long time, when Ying Fusheng suddenly awoke, only Song An remained by his side. The void and darkness of the dream slowly faded, giving way to the flickering light before his eyes. Sunlight streamed in from outside the carriage, seeming to dispel that oppressive, sunless scene.

As he moved slightly, the cloak draped over him slipped off.

Ying Fusheng paused, staring fixedly at the cloak. The nightmare receded from him. He touched the cloak covering him, as if it still held the faint scent of another person, with a hint of sharpness—a very faint smell of blood.

The clash of weapons and the smell of blood—Qi Hanzhou always carried the scent of blood; he never concealed these things.

He stroked the cloak, having just, unexpectedly, dreamed of Qi Hanzhou as he once was.

"Is Your Highness awake?" Song An asked.

Ying Fusheng hummed in acknowledgment. He drew himself in slightly and noticed that the driver outside had been replaced with one of his own men: "He's gone?"

"The Deputy Commander has left. It seemed there was some urgent matter," Song An said, then noting Ying Fusheng's weary expression: "Your Highness, we are almost at the palace gate. After returning, please bathe and change clothes, and rest well."

It was still early for his return to the palace. Ying Fusheng sat up a little straighter, feeling his bones ache and his body sore as he moved. He touched his forehead lightly; he couldn't tell if it was hot, but he suspected a fever was coming on.

Before Ying Fusheng could transfer to a palanquin, a voice called from outside the carriage—"Your Highness."

Ying Fusheng lifted the carriage curtain and saw Eunuch Rong waiting at the palace gate.

Their eyes met, and Eunuch Rong said, "His Majesty guessed you'd be returning around now and ordered me, this old servant, to receive you."

Ying Fusheng nodded. He released the edge of the curtain, lowering his eyes to hide his fatigue and vigilance.

Eunuch Rong smiled, but it did not reach his eyes. Behind him, the palanquin was already prepared, as if it had been waiting for a while, just as he'd said.

"Inform the Grand Empress Dowager," Ying Fusheng said softly.

Eunuch Rong said, "His Majesty has already sent someone to Cining Palace to notify Her Highness."

Ying Fusheng's fingertips stilled, his expression darkening, but he only lowered his eyes and responded lightly: "Thank you for the trouble, Eunuch Rong."

As he spoke, he subtly pushed the cloak deeper into the carriage.

Song An immediately understood His Highness's intention. This cloak has no place in a prince's carriage. "I will go to Cining Palace and also bring the pastries His Highness prepared for Her Highness."

Ying Fusheng nodded, then dismounted and transferred to the palanquin.

Eunuch Rong bowed and led the way, the palanquin swaying gently as it entered the palace gate.

Ying Fusheng glanced slightly at this eunuch who had served his father for many years. If the Embroidered Uniform Guard had ultimately come under Qi Hanzhou's control, becoming a sword hanging over the heads of civil and military officials, then within the palace there was another key figure—this Eunuch Rong, who controlled the Directorate of Ceremonial, holding the seals and transmitting imperial edicts. He was the eyes and ears through which his father kept track of everything.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was his father's personal guard; no secret police agency had been established, and the palace eunuchs were governed by the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Eunuch Rong had been by his father's side since his youth and was deeply trusted. In his previous life, when his father fell critically ill and was on his deathbed, it seemed this Eunuch Rong was the one by his side. If the passing of the Grand Empress Dowager had affected the power of the inner palace, allowing spies to infiltrate the Qianqing Palace and be placed beside his father...

Could this trusted servant, who had long accompanied the emperor, remain untainted?

Eunuch Rong walked silently. Ying Fusheng lowered his eyes, concealing the surging coldness beneath.

In his previous life, when the new emperor staged a coup, Ying Fusheng had been confined to the cold palace, cut off from all information, completely isolated from court news. Who had been by his father's side during his final moments, and how the new emperor managed to bypass the heavily guarded palace to stage the coup—these questions went beyond the palace guards and even involved the agents Qi Hanzhou had left in the capital before departing for the northern frontier.

"Your Highness?" Eunuch Rong said.

Ying Fusheng knew this man had sharp eyes, so he feigned a troubled expression and replied, "Eunuch Rong, do you know what Father wants to see me about?"

Eunuch Rong looked at him.

"I haven't been doing well in my studies lately." Ying Fusheng appeared somewhat uneasy.

Seeing his troubled expression, Eunuch Rong smiled. "His Majesty didn't give any prior notice. You'll know when you get there, Your Highness. No need to worry."

Soon, they arrived at the Qianqing Palace.

The palace was quiet. Before entering, Ying Fusheng noticed the dried tea stains on the floor. His steps faltered slightly, but he pretended not to see them and walked in. As he stepped inside, the Emperor had already looked over at him. Seeing how nervous he looked, the Emperor said softly, "Did you have fun outside the palace?"

At that, Ying Fusheng's face went pale.

Seeing this, the Emperor let out a soft laugh. "I haven't even said anything to you yet. Why that scared look?"

"I have been negligent in my studies these past few days and indulged in pleasure outside the palace." Ying Fusheng lowered his head, recounting his recent actions in detail, as if afraid that he might miss something and be punished.

The Emperor's gaze calmly swept over his slightly trembling shoulders. "When you spoke at the Imperial Academy, didn't you speak quite well?"

Ying Fusheng looked up, meeting a flicker of scrutiny in the Emperor's eyes. His throat tightened. "That was Lord Chen's idea. I didn't speak well."

"Your two elder brothers are busy with their own matters, yet you dared to bring up investigating corruption in front of so many people." The Emperor approached him. "You were bold then. Why are you so timid before me now?"

Ying Fusheng curled his fingers slightly and lowered his eyes. "At that time... I had selfish motives. Many students at the Imperial Academy were discussing the matter. I was thinking about the assignment you gave me, but I didn't understand tax policy. Coincidentally, Yunfei was discussing governance with other students, and I listened for quite a while. Lord Chen did not dare to go into detail. I wondered why such a small thing as corruption couldn't be discussed openly. So many officials were present—why couldn't we all brainstorm and solve it together?"

The Emperor nodded slightly, then changed the subject. "Putting heads together? You've turned the Imperial Academy into a discussion hall."

He paused, his gaze sharp as a blade. "But do you know that Chen Yuanli has already taken his own life in the Imperial Prison?"

Ying Fusheng's back stiffened, and he immediately knelt.

His mind raced. Chen Yuanli had taken his own life...?

Qi Hanzhou had not mentioned this in the carriage, which meant it happened this morning.

The Imperial Prison was not a place just anyone could get into. Once inside, it was essentially under the control of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Chen Yuanli was awaiting trial for the examination fraud case. Few people could have visited him there, and taking his own life would not have been easy. Who had given him the means to do so?!

As he pondered, he dug his nails into his palms, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

Seeing his panicked appearance, the Emperor judged his initial shock at hearing of Chen Yuanli's suicide to be genuine. "What are you flustered about? I didn't blame you."

Ying Fusheng kept up his feigned composure, not daring to look up. "I thought he was a good man."

The Emperor knew full well the forces and hidden agents that had driven Chen Yuanli to this point. While everyone else was busy distancing themselves from Chen Yuanli, only his son was still defending him, saying he had once been a good man. He did not press further. A few months ago, this child had knelt before him in the same manner to plead for his mother. Now, he seemed to have gained a bit more courage.

Mixing with those dissolute youths had sharpened his tongue somewhat. That was not necessarily a bad thing.

"The news of Chen Yuanli's suicide has not yet spread. The students at the Imperial Academy are agitated, and there are also some matters to handle there." The Emperor's gaze swept over the child before him, his expression ambiguous, as if speaking casually. "Only the Imperial family can calm the students down. Your two elder brothers are currently occupied. This matter might well be entrusted to you..."

"I accept the task." Ying Fusheng said.

He agreed so quickly that a flicker of surprise crossed the Emperor's eyes.

After agreeing, Ying Fusheng seemed somewhat flustered. But he quickly steadied himself and cautiously looked at the Emperor. "I can handle it."

He suppressed his urge to observe further and, after a moment's hesitation, said, "Father, you should make sure to rest more these days."

The Emperor's eyes deepened as he looked at the child before him. He had accepted the assignment without hesitation, but now that he had, he seemed panicked by his own perceived inadequacy.

He had indeed been sleeping poorly lately due to the factional strife in the court. This child, usually timid, had still accepted the task at this moment. The Emperor concealed the deeper meaning in his eyes. "Rise."

"Come, play a few games of chess with your father."

Ying Fusheng froze. Chess?

The attendants set up the chessboard, but Ying Fusheng remained standing there, looking utterly at a loss.

"Elder Chen says you don't even know the basics of chess. When discussing chess theory in class, you were playing Chinese checkers with Shen Yunfei?" The Emperor looked at him, seeing the child hang his head in silence. "It's not too late to learn now."

"Sit."

Ying Fusheng had no choice but to sit down obediently, wondering why his father had suddenly kept him for chess. He pondered how to perform in a way that would match the Emperor's expectations. He settled his mind to play while pondering his father's intentions—was he testing him? Testing whether he was hiding his talents, or suspicious that his involvement with the Imperial Academy and the exam scandal was too coincidental? It had to be the latter; otherwise, the Emperor wouldn't have specifically brought up Chen Yuanli's matter to probe.

Lost in thought, Ying Fusheng had already placed several stones.

As he placed his stones, the Emperor's gaze flickered to his hand movements and positioning. "Don't let your mind wander."

Ying Fusheng paused slightly.

Unconsciously, he relaxed his posture and immersed himself in the game.

The match, which should have been a landslide victory, was deliberately prolonged by the Emperor until dusk.

The Emperor kept Ying Fusheng for dinner before finally letting the child leave.

Eunuch Rong remarked, "The Sixth Prince is clever; he will surely handle the task Your Majesty assigned well."

"He has some cleverness. Chen Yuanli was not acting on my orders. He was always evasive in court; some things he can't pull off." The Emperor's expression grew flat. The memorials overturned on his desk were those impeaching his princes. The exam scandal had dragged out his two good sons, who had been locked in a fierce struggle at court. "At the time, Chen Yuanli might have guided him, but some of it was likely that boy's own idea."

"And those two good sons of mine, currying favor with the powerful and befriending the common scholars—I'm still on the throne, but they're already thinking far ahead."

The Emperor had no heart to read those memorials any longer. Sometimes, when a force grew too strong, it needed a check. "Xiao Liu has a reputation among the Imperial Academy students for being forthright and sincere. This matter should be handled by him, to make those two come to their senses."

Eunuch Rong understood: His Majesty intended to use the Sixth Prince to knock some sense into the other two...

The Emperor turned back, his gaze swept over the chessboard. Observing the game was like observing the man. Ying Fusheng's moves were chaotic but structured; he truly knew nothing of chess, yet occasionally made an unexpected move.

"But this child has surprised me a bit."

Though his abilities were still shallow, he had a pure heart.

While the Crown Prince and the First Prince were busy currying favor with courtiers, only this child had worried about his health.

Regarding Ying Fusheng, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had thoroughly investigated the full story from last year. To speak up for his mother at the Wangyue Pavilion and help her out required more than just a sincere heart. The Emperor had taken notice of him long ago, but unfortunately, he had been raised by Ning Wan to be that kind of personality. If he had been cultivated earlier, he might have taken on other duties.

The Emperor asked casually, "How are those old fogies at the Imperial Academy these days? If they're free, summon them into the palace."

Eunuch Rong's eyes flickered with surprise—His Majesty was about to select a tutor for the Sixth Prince.

...

That night, when Ying Fusheng came out, a palace attendant from the Qianqing Palace hurried over, saying the palanquin was ready.

The attendant had prepared an outer robe and a warm soup. Ying Fusheng expressed his gratitude for the imperial favor, and glancing at the well-prepared palanquin, he understood its purpose.

He rode a palanquin to the outer area of the Cining Palace, then dismounted. Song An was already there to greet him.

Seeing that the others were far off, Ying Fusheng asked quietly, "Before I arrived, had someone from the Qianqing Palace been here?"

Song An had already gathered information: "Yes. His Majesty summoned the two princes and was furious. The Crown Prince has shut himself in his residence; the First Prince left the palace with a dark expression."

Ying Fusheng fell into thought.

"The Empress Dowager is waiting for you, Your Highness. She said the palace had made some sweets today."

Song An added, "I heard you were coming, so she had them warmed up."

At the mention of the Empress Dowager, Ying Fusheng quickened his pace. "I'll go now."

As he walked inside, he pondered another matter.

Qi Hanzhou's hurried departure was likely related to Chen Yuanli's suicide. Such haste meant it wasn't by imperial decree—someone had overstepped their authority, bribed a jailer in the Imperial Prison. His father would assume it was related to his two older brothers, since Chen Yuanli had been shoved forward as a scapegoat by those old foxes. The sooner he died, the less chance of reopening the case.

Those people would be eager... But he knew Chen Yuanli had someone else behind him.

Such a hidden hand, daring to act before the Emperor, couldn't be the Xu or Yun family. It had to be that person.

The incident at the Spring Examination nearly made that person's efforts come to nothing—a heavy blow, and the loss of Chen Yuanli.

What would that person do next? Strike again at the Crown Prince Faction's pawns? Who would it be?

Lost in thought, he entered the Cining Palace.

Just then, a sudden commotion broke out in the palace. The sudden noise jolted Ying Fusheng from his thoughts. Several female attendants serving the Empress Dowager ran out, shouting for the imperial physician. Song An paused, about to inquire, but the prince beside him had already dashed forward.

Inside the hall, prayer beads were scattered everywhere, with the scent of sandalwood lingering in the air.

The Empress Dowager sat with closed eyes, her face pale, supported by several attendants as she sat on the couch. Lady Yu stood beside her with a grave expression. On the floor lay the remains of a shattered medicine bowl. Ying Fusheng hurried forward, his eyes sweeping over the kneeling female attendants serving the Empress Dowager, trembling and not daring to lift their heads.

At this scene, Ying Fusheng's fingertips pressed into his palms and his face grew dark.