The Blood Crown - Chapter 104

Yan Sikong and Yan Zilian discussed and decided to visit the Crown Prince and Consort Hui. Since Consort Hui was being interrogated today, if she were tortured, the mother and son would suffer greatly. Yan Sikong intended to comfort them.

As they were deep in discussion, there was a sudden knock on the door behind them.

Yan Zilian said, “Enter.”

Shen Hexuan pushed the door open, glanced hurriedly at Yan Sikong, then rushed forward and knelt down with a thud. He said resolutely, “I have decided to die to remonstrate and prove the innocence of Consort Hui and the Crown Prince. I beg you, teacher, to present my memorial.”

Yan Zilian stood up abruptly and angrily said, “What did I tell you the other day? The court is already in turmoil. If your memorial reaches the emperor, your life will be forfeited!”

Shen Hexuan showed no fear and said loudly, “‘A warrior dies in battle, a scholar dies in remonstration.’ From the day I entered the court, I had already put life and death aside. I cannot watch His Majesty bear the name of an incompetent ruler who deposes the legitimate heir, nor can I watch the Crown Prince and Consort Hui suffer injustice. The assassination case is full of flaws, yet not a single official dares to speak out against Consort Wen’s plot to usurp the Crown Prince’s position by framing Consort Hui. So I will speak!”

Yan Sikong looked at Shen Hexuan with mixed feelings. The young and handsome face was full of fearless righteousness, making him seem to glow in the dim room.

Yan Zilian, furious, grabbed a few stacks of books and threw them at Shen Hexuan: “Do you think your one life can change anything? You will only anger His Majesty, you will only… you will only…” Yan Zilian’s breathing became increasingly labored, and he staggered backward.

“Teacher!” Yan Sikong, quick-eyed and quick-handed, rushed to support the staggering Yan Zilian.

Shen Hexuan also widened his eyes in alarm and quickly stood up: “Teacher…”

The two helped Yan Zilian into a chair. Yan Zilian struggled to catch his breath, his face pale, his eyes unfocused, and his lips trembling incessantly.

“…Call the imperial physician,” Shen Hexuan said as he was about to rush out.

Yan Zilian suddenly reached out, his fingers like dry branches, tightly grasping Shen Hexuan’s wrist.

“Teacher…” Shen Hexuan looked at Yan Zilian nervously.

Yan Zilian shook his head, rested for a while, and finally caught his breath. He said softly, “Close the door.”

Yan Sikong quickly closed the door and then returned, looking worried: “Teacher, your health…”

Yan Zilian took a deep breath: “I can’t let that eunuch traitor know. I won’t be at peace until I see him dead before me.”

Shen Hexuan’s nose twitched, and he slowly knelt down, struggling to look at Yan Zilian.

Yan Zilian held Shen Hexuan’s hand and said in a deep voice, “Hexuan, following the way of the sages doesn’t necessarily make you a good official. Doing the right thing doesn’t necessarily make the matter right. You are a rare talent, excelling in all areas, but how can you not understand people’s hearts?”

Shen Hexuan, with tears in his eyes, said, “Teacher, I understand what you’re saying, but some things must be done by someone.”

“I and Sikong have already devised a plan in secret. It’s not yet time for you to die to remonstrate. Save this passion of yours to serve the emperor in the future.”

“What plan?” Shen Hexuan asked urgently.

Yan Sikong pulled Shen Hexuan up from the floor: “Brother Shen, let the teacher rest. We can talk outside.”

The two left the study and walked outside the palace.

Yan Sikong told Shen Hexuan about the letter. Shen Hexuan had also been anxious about the Crown Prince’s situation and had written a strongly worded memorial, which fortunately had been stopped by Yan Zilian. Otherwise, at this critical juncture, he might have been made an example by Emperor Zhao Wu.

Shen Hexuan, if described by Yan Sikong in one word, would be: unyielding. Back then, he achieved top honors in the imperial examinations, becoming the highest-ranking scholar in the country, his name resounding throughout the land. Yet now, three or four years have passed. Among the same cohort of scholars, the one who has fared the best is himself, now an official in the Ministry of Personnel and the prospective imperial son-in-law. Others have been gradually sent to various regions for experience. Only Shen Hexuan has remained in the Hanlin Academy, seemingly not valued. In fact, Yan Zilian had long told him that Shen Hexuan was also being groomed as a future Grand Secretary, but his difficult temperament needed thorough refinement. Otherwise, this sharp sword might dull its edge before being unsheathed.

After hearing Yan Sikong’s explanation, Shen Hexuan finally felt somewhat relieved: “His Majesty is filial and brotherly. As long as the Empress Dowager intervenes, she can surely resolve the crisis for the Crown Prince and Consort Hui.”

“Brother Shen, don’t rejoice too soon,” Yan Sikong sighed. “If this were merely about Consort Wen framing Consort Hui, then as you said, the assassination case is full of holes and not convincing. The officials’ impeachment is nonsense. So why is the Emperor so adamant about imprisoning them? Ultimately, it’s because the Emperor wants to depose the Crown Prince and is seizing this opportunity.”

Shen Hexuan said bitterly, “Foolish, utterly foolish.”

Yan Sikong pulled Shen Hexuan aside: “Brother Shen, I discussed the Crown Prince’s situation with you before, and you didn’t seem to take it seriously then. Do you see it now? Even if the Empress Dowager intervenes this time and they survive the crisis, once the Empress Dowager passes away, who can stop the Emperor?”

Shen Hexuan’s expression darkened, and he said nothing.

Yan Sikong continued: “The Second Prince is twelve years old now. He will leave the palace to establish his own fiefdom in a little over two years. During these nearly thousand days and nights, the Crown Prince’s position is constantly at risk. Even if he survives until the Second Prince leaves the palace, recalling him would only take an imperial decree.”

Shen Hexuan asked in a low voice, “What are you trying to say?”

“Brother Shen, why do you think Consort Wen can be so brazen?”

“Minister Wen,” Shen Hexuan replied without hesitation.

“Exactly.”

No matter how favored Consort Wen is, she is still just a consort. Her son is neither the legitimate heir nor the eldest. Simple favoritism is not enough for the indecisive and pleasure-seeking Emperor Zhao Wu to go to such lengths to depose the Crown Prince. Minister Wen and Xie Zhongren are likely the true masterminds.

“What are you really trying to say?”

Yan Sikong said seriously, “Brother Shen, if we survive this crisis, the court will soon face an even greater storm—the grand examination of officials. The teacher has been pushing me into the Ministry of Personnel and arranging this marriage for me to shake up the court and strike a blow against the eunuch faction. The examination occurs every six years. The teacher is getting old and may not see another cycle. I know you feel aggrieved, thinking you are underutilized and even willing to die to remonstrate rather than remain idle. But the teacher has high hopes for you, sees you as his successor. How can he watch you fall here?”

Shen Hexuan said solemnly, “I have no complaints about how the teacher arranges my career. I want to remonstrate only for the Crown Prince and Consort Hui.”

“Of course, of course,” Yan Sikong said, patting Shen Hexuan’s shoulder. “But you also feel dissatisfied in your heart, don’t you?”

Shen Hexuan pressed his lips together, implicitly acknowledging.

It wasn’t that Shen Hexuan sought fame. He possessed extraordinary talent but couldn’t exercise it, especially with Yan Sikong’s achievements beside him. Naturally, he felt uneasy, which was understandable.

Yan Sikong became increasingly aware of Shen Hexuan’s importance, while Yan Zilian had long realized that in critical moments, Shen Hexuan would undoubtedly become a sharp sword, a pillar of strength. Therefore, he must ensure Shen Hexuan does not ruin himself.

Yan Sikong advised, “Brother Shen, please understand the teacher’s good intentions. We must do everything in our power to save the Crown Prince and Consort Hui. I am about to visit them now. Brother Shen, you must remain calm. As the teacher said, keep your fervor contained, and you will one day make a great impact.”

Shen Hexuan sighed, gripping Yan Sikong’s hand, “I leave it to you.”

—–

According to the laws of this dynasty, the relatives of prisoners are allowed to visit them. Although Yan Sikong was not a relative, as the Crown Prince’s tutor, he barely qualified. With Meng Duo’s tacit approval, he was able to enter the prison smoothly.

The Crown Prince and Consort Hui were held separately. Yan Sikong first went to see Consort Hui.

Consort Hui had not escaped the ten lashes. She lay curled up on a simple bed, her frail body pale, with bloodstains still visible on her collar, evoking pity in anyone who saw her.

Yan Sikong walked up to the cell, knelt down, and softly called, “Your Highness, Your Highness.”

Consort Hui opened her eyes. Seeing Yan Sikong, she looked like she had found a lifeline, “Lord Yan.” She struggled to get up, stumbled to the iron bars, and weakly collapsed, tears streaming down her face, “How is my son? How is my son?”

Yan Sikong felt a surge of emotion. This was a mother; the first thing she thought of was her child. He comforted her, “Your Highness, please rest assured, the Crown Prince is safe.”

Consort Hui said sorrowfully, “I did not order the assassination of the Second Prince. That day, Consort Wen invited me over for tea.”

“I know, Your Highness is innocent. We all know.” Yan Sikong said, “What did they ask you during the interrogation today?”

“They asked about the assassin.”

“Your Highness did not confess, correct?”

“How could I confess?” Consort Hui’s eyes suddenly widened, a stark contrast to her usual timidity, and she shouted angrily, “I am innocent. They can beat me to death, but I will not confess!”

Yan Sikong was momentarily stunned. He hadn’t expected that this usually soft-spoken and indecisive woman could also show such resilience.

“I regret not heeding your advice, Lord Yan. I had already distanced myself from Consort Wen, but how could I refuse her invitation? Now, I have implicated my son…” She cried, looking at Yan Sikong, “I never asked for my son to be Crown Prince. I only wish for our safety. It doesn’t matter if he isn’t Crown Prince. Why is she so vicious?”

“Your Highness must not think that way.” Yan Sikong fixed his sharp gaze on her eyes and said in a low voice, “Your Highness, the Crown Prince is the eldest son, the legitimate heir to the throne of our dynasty. If he cannot be Emperor, he cannot live as a leisure prince either. Once a new Emperor ascends, the only path for you both is death.”

Consort Hui gasped.

Yan Sikong intensified his tone, “Your Highness, for the sake of the Crown Prince, you must be strong. The Empress Dowager is aware of this and will not stand idly by. No matter what, you must not admit anything, or the Crown Prince will be doomed.”

“The Empress Dowager, will she save us?” A glimmer of hope lit up in Consort Hui’s eyes.

Yan Sikong thought, the Empress Dowager will save the Crown Prince, but her… He naturally would not reveal his thoughts, instead, he said with apparent certainty, “She definitely will, but for now, Your Highness must endure.”

Consort Hui’s eyes shone with a shocking determination, “For my son, I am not afraid of anything.”