Chapter 127

The phrase "benevolent and measured, filial and loyal" made everyone hear the satisfaction in the Emperor's tone.

Prince Yan's achievements: eliminating corrupt officials, saving Jiangling, and pacifying the southern border.

Now that the decree had been issued, a great weight lifted from the hearts of the ministers supporting Prince Yan. The Lu and Yun families in the court did not raise the matter again. The Emperor's determination was unprecedented, and these old foxes knew that the Emperor had made up his mind to favor Prince Yan, so no one dared to defy the imperial will at this time.

Before the court adjourned, the edict had already reached the Ministry of Rites. The Minister of Rites, bearing the imperial decree, proceeded in full ceremonial style to Prince Yan's residence. At Prince Yan's mansion, Song An was startled to see the officials from the Ministry of Rites arriving and hurried to the study to inform the others.

By the time Ying Fusheng arrived at the main hall, the Minister of Rites had already been waiting for some time. The Minister respectfully performed the rites and read the imperial decree aloud in front of the entire Prince Yan household.

When the decree appointing the Crown Prince was announced, many in the Prince Yan mansion were teary-eyed. Weng Yanqing trembled as he bowed, and Song An beside him, listening to the decree, was already deeply moved. Years ago, His Highness had suffered greatly in the Weiyang Palace, with no one to support him at that time, until later there gradually came people who looked after him.

The decree was not short; the Minister of Rites read it for a long time, but the people of Prince Yan's mansion felt as if a lifetime had passed.

Until the final words "Thus it is decreed" fell.

Ying Fusheng solemnly accepted the decree.

Then he rose, and the officials around him all bowed in congratulations: "Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

The Dayuan Dynasty, since the time of the Deposed Crown Prince, once again appointed a Crown Prince. And this appointment was extraordinary. When the decree spread throughout the capital, the common people rejoiced. The congratulating crowds surged outside Prince Yan's mansion, and the sounds of celebration spilled over the walls and echoed inside.

The Light Garment Guards hiding in the shadows watched the situation. With the common people gathered, they feared someone might harm His Highness. They all looked at Ye Xuanqi, the taciturn leader of the Light Garment Guards, who observed the delighted expressions of the people and said, "No need."

They had long lived in the northern border, but they had ended up following Ying Fusheng in the southern border.

At first, Ye Xuanqi thought he was just a sickly prince; since the Junior General had specifically instructed them, they were cautious in everything. But after truly getting along with this man, they found him a man of supreme wisdom. Though he had no strength to wield a weapon, he could repeatedly use clever strategies to defuse dangerous situations. He could win without using troops, and he repeatedly endured great hardships for the people. The current prosperity of the capital was something this prince deserved.

The people's cheers gradually rose, and the Light Garment Guards hid among the vast crowd, gazing at this spectacle.

Not only the Light Garment Guards and the commoners of the capital, but also the court officials were deeply moved. A group of officials walked on the official road after court. Even knowing that this appointment was forced by circumstances, the Dayuan Dynasty should now have the Crown Prince properly installed. But when His Majesty truly favored Prince Yan, some people's minds could only think one thing: it should be so.

In the Cining Palace and Kunning Palace, the joyful news spread quickly through the palace and the city. The Empress Dowager, after hearing what Lady Yu said, her prayer beads grew still. She stood up, wanting to go to Prince Yan's mansion herself.

In the Kunning Palace, Empress Xu silently listened to everything.

Ying Fusheng's identity was special. Her child should have been the Crown Prince long ago, but fate had taken many twists and turns, causing multiple disruptions.

Fortunately, the Xu family had not held him back, and fortunately, she still had the chance to plan for him. In the end, she did not take a single step out of the Kunning Palace. Amid the joy spreading across the capital, she merely sent someone to deliver a gift.

The appointment of the Crown Prince required an auspicious day. After the decree reached Prince Yan's mansion, the Ministry of Rites fully prepared for the investiture ceremony. As it was a time of troubled times, the court officials placed great importance on the ceremony. The Crown Prince was nearly eighteen, and the ceremony could not be sloppy in any way. Within three days, someone came personally to take measurements for clothing, and the ceremony was set for the nearest auspicious day.

This was probably the fastest investiture ceremony in history.

With the Emperor's tacit approval and the Crown Prince's instruction, everything was simplified. The coronation ceremony was set at the former Lingxiao Terrace. The Lingxiao Terrace, once supervised and managed by Ying Fusheng himself, now became the venue for his investiture as Crown Prince.

The Ministry of Rites official read the edict of appointment. Ying Fusheng rose and walked toward the high platform under the gaze of the civil and military officials.

The Emperor stood at the high place. Ying Fusheng performed the bowing ceremony, looked up to see the Emperor above, and in an instant, it felt as if he had returned to years ago. Back then, he had struggled to survive a winter night on the brink of death, and on a palace banquet occasion, he had also walked to the Emperor's side like this. Step by step, the high stairs built the pinnacle of power—

Above one person, below ten thousand.

Ying Fusheng had thought of power many times, and now it truly appeared before him.

Certain powers or expectations had faded over the years of change. But from the unwillingness and humiliation of being imprisoned in the desolate palace in his previous life, to now standing truly before the civil and military officials, he was momentarily lost and dazed. He walked up the high stairs, getting closer and closer to the Emperor. The documents and seals representing power were right in front of him.

"Your Highness," the official beside him reminded.

Ying Fusheng's eyes went still for a moment. It was then that he noticed Qi Hanzhou standing not far from the Emperor.

Qi Hanzhou was dressed in court robes. He simply stood there, lifting his head to look back. Their eyes met—one low, one high—and in that moment, Ying Fusheng felt as though the other was truly seeing him. The wind and the sounds around them slowly faded away. It seemed this was the first time they had met under such circumstances. Qi Hanzhou stood there as if dispelling countless nightmares that had haunted him, standing firm in the real world.

The lingering torment of their past entanglements, the bitter dreams that had bound him, seemed swept away in an instant. The figure before him was clear. He steadied himself, reached out, and took the investiture document from the Emperor's hand.

"Now that you are established as the Crown Prince, you must fulfill the duties of the heir," the Emperor said.

Ying Fusheng noted the gravity in the Emperor's tone. Raising his eyes, he caught sight of the gray strands at the Emperor's temples and bowed solemnly: "Your son understands."

The official from the Ministry of Rites proclaimed the completion of the ceremony, and behind him came a resounding wave of voices from the civil and military officials behind him.

Eyes fell upon him from all directions. Ying Fusheng followed the wave of sound and looked down from on high, seeing these former officials before him. The intangible weight of authority had now been placed in his hands. Among their gazes were recognition, respect... Within the ranks of these officials stood Shen Changcun, who had been by his side since childhood; Hu Buyu of the Dark Alliance; then Liu Yunshi and Meng Jinyuan, who came later... And beyond these, there were those in the shadows like Weng Yanqing and others.

Holding authority in his grasp meant more than just controlling the court—it meant he finally had the power to make a difference.

No longer would he passively watch as the common people or those close to him suffer; he now truly possessed the ability to influence outcomes.

The cries of "Your Highness the Crown Prince" echoed around him, as if fate itself was converging. The young man, dressed in the robes of the heir apparent, stood before the assembled officials.

The ambition that the young man had concealed years ago had now materialized into reality.

Qi Hanzhou stood not far from his side. He knew that had it not been for those twisted schemes, he should have been born with a robust constitution and would have been the rightful Crown Prince of Dayuan since birth. But after all these twists and turns over the years, he had walked step by step to this point—untainted by slander, standing upright and dignified in this position.

With the ceremony at Lingxiao Terrace concluded, the Crown Prince moved into the Eastern Palace and led his retinue of officials to pay respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress within the palace.

When they entered the palace, the Empress Dowager and Empress Xu were already waiting in the hall.

The Empress Dowager watched this child, now grown and now occupying the rightful position of the Eastern Palace—so different from the timid young prince who had once clung to her years ago. She observed the Crown Prince performing his obeisances before her. More than anything else, what filled her heart was a deep sense of reflection. From now on, before others, he would face far more than anticipated: the scheming of courtly factions and the weight of imperial power above.

Every step Ying Fusheng took would become even harder.

The Empress Dowager turned slightly, glancing at Empress Xu, who stood silent beside her.

Ying Fusheng walked before her and bowed.

Empress Xu maintained a composed expression, but in the shadows unseen by others, her hands hidden within her sleeves trembled uncontrollably. Yet she did not reveal this before anyone. She knew that everything she had done seemed trivial in the eyes of this child, yet still, she was moved deeply when he knelt before her.

Before Ying Fusheng had lifted his head, she spoke: "As the Crown Prince, now enthroned in the Eastern Palace, from now on you must cultivate virtue and uphold your character, taking the great Dayuan as your succession."

These were words she should have spoken to him in his childhood, long, long ago. But now, as she spoke them again, times had changed, positions were different, identities were different... By the end of her speech, her voice carried an uncontrollable tremor, which she finally suppressed.

"Your son understands," Ying Fusheng replied.

When the rites were finished, Empress Xu stumbled slightly as she stepped forward, catching her foot on the threshold.

In that moment, a hand reached out beside her.

"Mother Empress, do be careful," Ying Fusheng said, steadying her.

Empress Xu felt the light strength from Ying Fusheng's support. Even though it was merely his hand steadying hers, and she knew this was just the customary propriety between Empress and Crown Prince, yet to have a child by her side, to have him support her like this—it was a comfort she had longed for in countless dreams during many sleepless nights.

After paying respects to the Empress Dowager and Empress Xu, an announcement was made to the empire, and the Crown Prince formally took residence in the Eastern Palace.

Days had passed, and it felt as if Ying Fusheng had only just left the palace yesterday; now he had returned.

The Eastern Palace was newly established. Its officials and various institutions still required discussion between the Emperor and the Cabinet, but for the court's senior ministers, this was the simplest of matters. During his time at court, Ying Fusheng had no clearly defined faction; almost everyone had only a superficial relationship with him, yet many were won over by his abilities. Matters such as these would be handled well by Meng Jinyuan, Hu Buyu, and the others.

By the time Ying Fusheng returned to the Crown Prince's bedchamber in the Eastern Palace, the fatigue of the day's ceremonies had already overwhelmed him. The spacious chamber lacked the lively warmth of the Prince Yan's residence. But just as he stepped inside, he caught sight of a familiar figure.

Ye Xuanqi argued with a wooden expression with Ye Xuanjiu, while Weng Yanqing and Song An were taking over the affairs of the Eastern Palace with the help of the palace attendants. Even Shen Yunfei had specially taken leave to come. Further off, Wu Lao was chattering incessantly, and Chen Xuqiu was arranging medicinal herbs. The two had been granted the title of medical officers, and a medical pavilion had been specially built within the Eastern Palace to tend to the Crown Prince's health.

The lively scene left Ying Fusheng momentarily stunned.

Standing apart from the crowd, he spotted Qi Hanzhou in the bedchamber.

Almost without hesitation, he walked toward Qi Hanzhou.

Qi Hanzhou had just finished inspecting the bedchamber. Before he could step out, he saw Ying Fusheng.

"His Majesty has ordered the Imperial Guard to form the Eastern Palace Guard," Qi Hanzhou said.

Ying Fusheng looked at him. The fatigue of the day seemed to dissipate as he gradually drew closer. When he was near, he suddenly went limp. Just as he was about to stumble, Qi Hanzhou reached out more quickly, steadying him unobtrusively—just as he had countless times before. This person always sensed his distress in an instant.

As Qi Hanzhou held him, Ying Fusheng leaned in.

He still wore his ceremonial Crown Prince robes. The usual scent of herbs had been replaced by the fragrance of sandalwood. As he leaned gently against him, his imposing aura largely faded, though the brilliant robes starkly reminded them of their difference in status. Yet the person in his arms seemed utterly unconcerned, leaning on him as always.

Qi Hanzhou noticed people still coming and going outside the bedchamber. He was about to remind him, but Ying Fusheng spoke first, softly—

"This is my Eastern Palace now."

It was a light boast, almost childlike and proud.

"Qi Hanzhou, from now on you must address me as the Crown Prince." Ying Fusheng looked up at him, his eyes sparkling with light.

Qi Hanzhou's voice was slightly rough: "I know."

Both knew this was a rare moment of peace amidst the chaos.

Seeing him unchanged, Ying Fusheng's weariness turned into a soft murmur, and finally, he pressed firmly against his chest.

"But I allow you to call me by name."

Outside the bedchamber, Song An quietly closed the doors. The clamor of the Eastern Palace was sealed off beyond the walls.

Throughout the court and among the people of the capital, joy over the Crown Prince's investiture spread. The six Ministers of State departed from the Qianqing Palace, the Emperor's final words still hanging in the air. They all knew that establishing the Crown Prince meant not only that Dayuan had a Crown Prince, but more importantly, that the court now had another decision-maker.

"Lord Meng, the time has come," Hu Buyu said.

Meng Jinyuan nodded. With such a swift investiture and the suppression of the rebel faction, the Emperor had had enough.

Whether it was the Secret Faction lurking within the court or the restless Western Shu.

When the news of the investiture was proclaimed to the world, the Dayuan Dynasty's court had to stabilize.

This was no longer like the Deposed Crown Prince, who had never wielded real authority. Although Prince Yan had no overt faction, there were many in the court willing to work for him. He could keep the civil and military officials in check, and that allowed the Emperor to act with a free hand.

To target Western Shu.

The news of Prince Yan's appointment as Crown Prince quickly spread across the land. The officials in Jiangnan hastened to send congratulations. Liu Tongzhi and Wang Guanzhi of Jiangling Prefecture sent letters to the capital city. But before the congratulatory letters arrived, Western Shu made its move.

Deep in the mountains of Western Shu, the news of the Crown Prince's investiture spread like a flood. Hidden within the mountainous hinterland, countless rebel soldiers were hidden. Lately, the court's repeated provocations had left them with no escape. The Second Prince had been sentenced to death by decapitation by the Emperor. The rebels' ambitions grew restless.

"Your Highness."

The Prince of Qin looked at the fleeing Concubine Xian. Her face bore traces of age. She wore simple clothes, with none of a palace consort's bearing. Yet it was precisely this appearance that had allowed her to escape the court's pursuit several times. "I am deeply sorry for the Second Prince's matter."

Concubine Xian calmly met his gaze, concealing the depth in her eyes. Then she said softly, "My son has long planned for Your Highness. I trust Your Highness has not forgotten."

The Prince of Qin smiled. He waved his hand to have the guards escort her, putting on a show of protecting her. But once he turned to leave, his expression darkened. His military advisor spoke quietly: "What does this princess of the former dynasty want?"

"She pretended to pass messages for me, using the Fei family to plot with me. She lurked in the shadows for so long, and I thought someone else was behind the Fei family. But it turns out she was secretly scheming to put her son on the throne. Now that the plan has failed—my good nephew turned the tables and cost her her son." The Prince of Qin had previously collaborated with this group, unaware of the Second Prince's involvement. They had been using each other, and he was unsurprised that these Former Dynasty Remnants had their own designs. "She fled the capital to come here, still hoping to use me."

The advisor was startled: "Then Your Highness…"

"I was worried they had no schemes, but now I see their intentions laid bare." The Prince of Qin watched coldly as Concubine Xian was escorted into the deep mountains by others. "Since they have ambition, they can be used."

She came here alone, but the Second Prince's Consort was missing.

This woman, who had managed to lie low in the deep palace, wanted to use his Western Shu to restore the former dynasty. Now that her plan had failed, she turned to him for shelter and to avenge her son. That put her in his grasp.

"Secretly find the Second Prince's Consort and bring her under control."

The Prince of Qin ordered coldly. "Since we're using each other, we need to have leverage over her weakness."

The Former Dynasty Remnants still had their uses. In just a few years, they had helped his Prince of Qin's Army expand to such a scale.

"A frail, unskilled Crown Prince. Let's see what he can do!"