The Blood Crown - Chapter 105

Leaving behind the medicine for healing and clean clothes, Yan Sikong bid farewell to Consort Hui and went to visit Chen Mu.

Chen Mu was dressed neatly and maintained a dignified posture. Even though he was in prison, he did not show any signs of defeat. However, upon seeing Yan Sikong, the momentary excitement and grievance in his expression betrayed him. After all, he was just a child in his early teens.

“Teacher!”

Yan Sikong knelt down and bowed deeply, “I am guilty.”

“What crime could you have committed, teacher? Stand up!” Chen Mu extended his hand futilely through the iron bars.

“I couldn’t share your burdens or take your punishment, and I could only watch as you suffered injustice and humiliation. I… I am guilty.” Yan Sikong’s voice choked with emotion.

Chen Mu’s eyes reddened, “Teacher, come closer to me.”

Yan Sikong raised his head, crawled forward, and as soon as he approached the cage, Chen Mu reached out and hugged him, his arms trembling.

Tears streamed down Yan Sikong’s face as he gently wiped them with his sleeve. “Is Your Highness alright? Are you cold? Are you hungry?”

“I’m fine. How is my mother?” Chen Mu looked at Yan Sikong with a mix of eagerness and fear.

Yan Sikong lowered his eyes, “The Empress…”

“What happened to my mother?”

“The Empress has suffered some injuries.”

“They dared to torture my mother!” Chen Mu’s eyes widened with fury. “Do they not see me as the Crown Prince?”

Yan Sikong said, “The Empress was given ten lashes of the terrorizing whip. It’s just superficial wounds. I know Your Highness feels wronged, but the situation is dire, and you must not let anger cloud your judgment.”

Chen Mu’s teeth nearly shattered from clenching them, “They dared to torture my mother…” His eyes were bloodshot. “When I was young, my mother and I were neglected and bullied in the palace. Now, even as the Crown Prince, I still can’t protect my mother. Teacher, I… How useless I am.”

Yan Sikong tightly held Chen Mu’s hand, “Your Highness must not belittle yourself. You are the eldest prince and the rightful future emperor of the Da Sheng. It is precisely because you are impeccable that villains seek to frame you. My teacher, Brother Shen, the young prince, and many loyal officials are all striving for your and the Empress’s innocence and safety. Do not lose faith. When you ascend the throne, you will restore justice and correct the wrongs.” He whispered fiercely, “And punish those despicable villains.”

Chen Mu gritted his teeth, “But now, I am imprisoned, wronged. My father… He has always wanted to depose me, hasn’t he?” He bit his lip softly, his voice hoarse, “He never wanted to make me the Crown Prince. Now that he has the chance, he will definitely depose me.”

“Deposing the Crown Prince is a matter of national stability and cannot be taken lightly. As long as you and the Empress are innocent, His Majesty will consider the bigger picture.”

Chen Mu sneered, “Even you don’t believe that, do you, teacher?”

Yan Sikong held Chen Mu’s hand, “No matter what, Your Highness must remain resilient. The path to kingship is not smooth, but you must never give up. No matter what happens, we are all behind you, ready to face any danger for you.”

Chen Mu said, “I will not give up. If I do, my mother and I will have nowhere to go.”

Yan Sikong nodded heavily, whispering, “Tomorrow morning, the Empress Dowager will learn of this, and His Majesty will release you under pressure. You have endured for so many years, just endure one more night.”

Chen Mu smiled bitterly, “This night is just the beginning. There are still more than two years until I leave the capital for my fief. They will use all means to persecute me.”

“Your Highness is not alone.” Yan Sikong looked at him sincerely, “We will not sit idly by.”

Chen Mu gripped Yan Sikong’s hand tightly, his eyes determined, “Rest assured, teacher. I will not retreat.”

Yan Sikong said with relief, “With Your Highness’s words, we will give our all.”

Chen Mu, moved, said, “Teacher, you are truly devoted to me. I hope you will be my teacher for life. Even if I become emperor, I want you to help me govern the country.”

Yan Sikong bowed, “I will do so without hesitation.”

—

After leaving the prison, Yan Sikong pondered his next steps.

Even if Chen Mu and his mother could survive this crisis, given the Empress Dowager’s condition, they wouldn’t be protected a second time. To ensure Chen Mu ascends the throne, more obstacles needed to be removed, such as Minister Wen and the second prince.

Yan Zilian must have thought of this too. Although they hadn’t had time to discuss it, they must find a way to target Minister Wen in next year’s capital inspection. However, given Minister Wen’s high reputation, it would be difficult to shake him. So, what about the second prince?

Yan Sikong calculated the days and thought that She Zhun should have returned to the capital by now. If they could kill the second prince, it would eliminate a threat at its root. But the palace was heavily guarded, and even She Zhun might not succeed. Moreover, if the second prince were assassinated, Emperor Zhao Wu would first suspect Chen Mu, and Zhu Lanting would not survive either.

What could be done to pave the way for Chen Mu completely…

Yan Sikong thought deeply all the way home.

As soon as he entered the house, he saw the look in Ali’s eyes and knew that Feng Ye was here. He instructed, “Prepare some wine and food.”

Ali gestured, having already prepared everything.

Yan Sikong nodded, motioning for him to return to his room, and then headed straight to the main house.

Pushing the door open, a rush of warmth dispelled the chill he had brought in from outside. He saw Feng Ye sitting by the stove, warming his hands. On the table were some warm wine and still-steaming dishes, a scene reminiscent of many ordinary evenings from the past, warming his heart.

However, when Feng Ye turned his face, his expression was exceptionally cold, bringing Yan Sikong back to reality.

Feng Ye stood up and sat on the floor cushion, looking at the food on the low table. “Have you eaten?”

Yan Sikong shook his head. “Did you just arrive?”

“Yes, let’s eat.” Feng Ye poured two cups of light wine.

Yan Sikong removed his shoes and sat cross-legged across from Feng Ye. “I just went to visit the Crown Prince and the Empress.”

“How are they?”

“The Empress received ten lashes; she’s not doing well. The Crown Prince is okay, but he’s still just a child.”

“Whether he can get through this depends on his fate.” Feng Ye glanced at him, emphasizing, “Eat.”

It was as if Yan Sikong just realized he was there. He first took a sip of wine to warm his stomach, then started eating.

“I don’t think I’ve ever said this before, but Ali’s cooking is quite good,” Feng Ye remarked.

“I think you mentioned it before.” Yan Sikong thought for a moment. “I asked if it was good, and you agreed.”

The unfamiliar and awkward atmosphere made Yan Sikong uncomfortable. In the past, Feng Ye’s joy at seeing him was always evident, even if they had only been apart for a day. He knew that the gap between them was growing, and they couldn’t go back to the way things were.

“When Xiyi gets married, Ali won’t be cooking anymore.” Feng Ye said expressionlessly. “The Emperor will grant you a large mansion and many servants. You won’t have to live in this cold and dilapidated house anymore.”

Yan Sikong remained silent, not knowing how to respond.

Feng Ye continued, “Then, your residence will be full of people. I won’t be able to climb over the wall unnoticed to see you. In the cold of winter, I won’t be able to hold you for warmth because someone else will be lying beside you.”

“Stop it.” Yan Sikong couldn’t hold back and blurted out.

“Why can’t I say it?” Feng Ye said softly. “You’re about to do it soon, so why are you afraid of me mentioning it?”

Yan Sikong looked up, his voice trembling. “What do you want me to do?”

Feng Ye’s face twitched, clearly holding back something. The deep emotions in his eyes were hard to describe. He clenched and unclenched his fists, finally picking up the wine cup and drinking it in one gulp, without saying another word.

A heavy silence fell between them. Yan Sikong ate bite by bite, the food tasteless. Suddenly, he understood what it meant to be worlds apart even when so close.

After a while, Feng Ye put down his bowl and chopsticks and spoke in a more usual tone, “Even if they get through this, they won’t be able to rest easy. Wen Youchi and Xie Zhongren won’t let it go.”

Yan Sikong suppressed his discomfort and forced himself to concentrate. “Yes.”

“Unless Wen Youchi is eliminated, Consort Wen, without support, won’t be able to stir up trouble no matter how favored she is.”

“My teacher and I also want to remove this poison. The capital inspection next year is an opportunity, but Minister Wen is cautious and highly respected, making it hard to catch him.”

Feng Ye said, “As Minister of War, Wen Youchi has long dealt with my father. He manages military expenditures, and while he doesn’t dare to openly cut my father’s military supplies, he has often misused his power. During the wars, this was already the case. Now, in times of peace, my father’s military budget will certainly be reduced. Having the Ministry of War under someone else’s control is not a long-term solution. If we can replace him with our own people, it would kill two birds with one stone.”

Yan Sikong’s eyes lit up. “Exactly. Now that there’s peace, the Ministry of War will definitely cut the military budget. If Wen Youchi isn’t removed, Prince Jingyuan will be at a great disadvantage.”

To counterbalance Prince Jingyuan, Emperor Zhao Wu will certainly make significant cuts to the Datong military budget this year. However, the extent and specifics of these cuts will depend on personnel and border defense conditions. If the cuts are too minimal, they won’t suppress Prince Jingyuan effectively; if too severe, they might provoke rebellion. The emperor himself won’t know the proper balance, so the Ministry of War will conduct investigations, calculations, and discussions. The final decision rests with the Ministry of War. Such an important position in the hands of an outsider is like having a knife to one’s throat.

He hadn’t considered this point, but luckily, Feng Ye had. This way, they could unite in their efforts, and he could gain the support of Prince Jingyuan. Perhaps they could indeed eliminate Wen Youchi.

“I have already sent a secret letter to my father about this. Once he replies, we’ll have leverage against Wen Youchi, as they’ve dealt with each other for many years. However, Wen Youchi also holds leverage over my father, so we need to plan carefully and ensure he doesn’t know it’s connected to my father.”

“Of course,” Yan Sikong said, looking at Feng Ye, hesitating for a moment. “Thank you.”

Feng Ye averted his gaze. “I’m not doing this for you. It’s for my Feng family and the Crown Prince. There’s no need for your thanks.”

Yan Sikong smiled, filled with helplessness.

Feng Ye stood up. “I came to see you just for this matter. I’m leaving now.”

“Feng…” Yan Sikong instinctively began to speak, but the words of retention stuck in his throat and almost didn’t come out.

Feng Ye paused, seemingly waiting for something.

“… The night is dark and the wind is strong. Be careful on the road.”

Feng Ye’s eyes turned cold, and he left without looking back.

Yan Sikong sat for a long time in the quiet, suffocating room, staring at the empty cushion across from him and the pair of bowls and chopsticks.