The Blood Crown - Chapter 107

With the death of Consort Hui, many people secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Now that there was no evidence, they couldn’t very well put a deceased person on trial.

Emperor Zhaowu “graciously permitted” Consort Hui to be buried in the imperial tomb. He executed two jailers on duty, demoted Zhu Lanting and several guards, docked Meng Duo’s salary, and sentenced the assassin to death by dismemberment. Thus, the sensational case of the attempted assassination in the harem concluded anticlimactically.

The ministers were relieved that the Crown Prince had temporarily retained his position, but no one cared that a fourteen-year-old boy had lost his mother, the person he depended on most.

Yan Sikong was reluctant to visit Chen Mu at this time. He knew he would see his younger self in Chen Mu’s face, feeling guilty because of empathy, a useless emotion he didn’t need. 

But he had to go. Chen Mu was now motherless, and this was the best time to deepen Chen Mu’s trust and reliance on him.

When Yan Sikong arrived at the Eastern Palace, he saw a large group of eunuchs and female officials kneeling outside, and the place was in disarray.

Yan Sikong walked over. Chen Mu’s personal eunuch, Man Fu, saw him like a savior, tearfully looking at him with hesitation.

Yan Sikong waved his hand, signaling everyone to leave, and then quietly walked inside.

The ground was littered with broken flower pots, decorations, furniture, and fabrics. The entire palace looked ransacked, leaving almost no place to step.

Yan Sikong walked through the mess into the inner chamber, where he saw a boy in disheveled clothes and hair, curled up in a corner, unmoving. When he approached, the boy let out a hoarse and fierce shout, “Get out!”

Yan Sikong stopped and softly called, “Your Highness, it’s me.”

Chen Mu slowly raised his face, revealing swollen eyes under his messy hair. His dark pupils were bloodshot, like two bottomless pits ready to devour everything. He stared at Yan Sikong but seemed to see nothing.

Yan Sikong was stunned. He saw in Chen Mu’s eyes a deep, unrelenting pain and hatred. This boy, usually mindful of maintaining his princely demeanor, now resembled a desperate, wounded animal, ready to attack any enemy.

Yan Sikong’s heart ached. Was he like this when he watched Yuan Mao wrongfully killed?

Chen Mu’s lips, bitten until they bled, moved slightly, and he whispered, “Sir… knowledgeable and wise, tell me, why did my mother have to die? She did nothing wrong… why did she have to die?”

Yan Sikong took a deep breath and said slowly, “Because Your Highness is not yet the emperor.”

Chen Mu glared fiercely at Yan Sikong.

Yan Sikong stood still, his face full of compassion.

Chen Mu stiffened, then muttered, “You’re right, you’re right.”

Yan Sikong slowly approached, carefully kneeling in front of Chen Mu, and said softly, “The most important thing for Your Highness now is to take care of yourself.”

Chen Mu blinked and mumbled, “Call me Mu’er.”

“…”

“Call me.”

“Mu’er.”

Chen Mu stared blankly at Yan Sikong for a while, then suddenly threw himself into Yan Sikong’s arms.

Yan Sikong held him tightly.

Chen Mu buried his face in Yan Sikong’s chest and wept bitterly.

Yan Sikong hugged the frail body, gently stroking his hair, sighing silently, his eyes growing increasingly inscrutable.

When Chen Mu cried himself hoarse and weak, Yan Sikong carried him to the bed and covered him with a blanket. Chen Mu still clung to his hand.

Yan Sikong coaxed, “Mu’er, eat something.”

Chen Mu shook his head.

Yan Sikong grasped his hand and looked at him without blinking, “If you ruin your health, how will you avenge your mother?”

Hearing the word “avenge,” a spark finally lit in Chen Mu’s hollow, desolate eyes. He showed unmasked hatred, “Avenge, yes, I will avenge my mother!”

Yan Sikong quickly instructed Man Fu to bring in the food. It had been kept warm, and Man Fu brought it in promptly. Yan Sikong helped Chen Mu sit up and fed him bite by bite.

After a few reluctant bites, Chen Mu lamented, “My mother never fought for anything, but they forced her to death. One day, when I become emperor, I will ensure that those who harmed her meet a terrible end!”

Yan Sikong said softly, “A mother’s death must be avenged, but until the right time comes, you must not show it. Mu’er, you have not yet secured your position as the Crown Prince, and your life is equally at risk.”

Chen Mu clenched his fist in frustration, “I know, I will endure.”

Taking advantage of the moment, Yan Sikong fed him another bite and solemnly said, “The Consort’s spirit in heaven will surely bless you to ascend the throne and rule the world.”

Chen Mu held back his tears, looking deeply at Yan Sikong. “Sir, you are the only one in this world who will call me Mu’er. Will you stay by my side forever?”

“I will,” Yan Sikong affirmed.

Chen Mu paused, then asked, “Are you good to me only because I am the Crown Prince?”

Yan Sikong smiled slightly. “Even if you weren’t the Crown Prince, I would still admire your talent and virtue, and we would become close friends. We would then discuss poetry and enjoy wine together, living happily.”

Chen Mu’s eyes sparkled, and he gripped Yan Sikong’s hand even tighter, placing it over his heart. He whispered, “Sir, you must stay by my side forever.”

—

After leaving the Eastern Palace that day, Yan Sikong felt inexplicably uneasy.

This storm seemed to have passed, but everyone in the court sensed that a bloody conflict was brewing ahead.

Consort Wen had caused the death of the Crown Prince’s mother. If the Crown Prince successfully ascended the throne, he would not spare her. She, of course, wouldn’t sit idly by. It was no longer just a struggle for the position of heir; it was a matter of life and death. Whoever won the throne would be the last one standing.

Wen Youchi and Xie Zhongren had just made a move, forcing Consort Hui to death and nearly shaking Chen Mu’s position as Crown Prince. Most importantly, the ministers had seen Emperor Zhaowu’s favoritism. If it weren’t for the Empress Dowager, the Crown Prince might really have been deposed. But who dared to rely on a dying old lady? After this incident, some wavering people would surely lean towards the second prince’s faction, making the Crown Prince’s situation increasingly difficult.

There were less than three years left until the second prince would leave the capital to take up his post. Consort Wen would undoubtedly make more moves. To protect the Crown Prince, they had to weaken the second prince’s faction. This year’s Grand Court Assessment was crucial.

Thinking of this, Yan Sikong suddenly lifted the curtain of the carriage. From here, he could just see the distant Prince Jingyuan’s mansion. Even just a glimpse of those flying eaves and elaborate arches gave him a slight sense of reassurance.

He could only hope that Feng Ye could provide some incriminating evidence against Wen Youchi. In this battle, if they couldn’t take down some of Xie Zhongren’s major allies and eliminate a batch of minor enemies, there would be no such opportunity in the future.

The so-called Grand Court Assessment was a court-led evaluation of officials, conducted every six years. The evaluation of capital officials was called “Court Assessment,” and the evaluation of local officials was called “Major Assessment,” collectively known as the “Grand Court Assessment.”

For officials below the third rank, the Ministry of Personnel conducted the primary evaluation, with the Censorate overseeing. For officials of the second rank and above, the assessment was different. The Ministry of Personnel provided performance evaluations, officials had to self-report their achievements and failures, and the final decision was made by the emperor after a review by the cabinet.

For officials below the third rank, the primary evaluation method was “joint evaluation,” where superiors evaluated subordinates, focusing on their performance and integrity, with the final review by the Ministry of Personnel.

For officials of the second rank and above, including provincial governors, grand secretaries, ministers, and other high-ranking officials, the evaluation methods were “topic listing” and “audience.” The Ministry of Personnel would propose topics, and high-ranking officials would explain their achievements and major state affairs, self-reporting their merits and faults. Every word was recorded, and the Ministry of Personnel would combine their evaluation results with these reports for an audience with the cabinet and the emperor. The cabinet would draft the final evaluation for the emperor’s decision.

Besides these key evaluation criteria, factors such as talent, diligence, reputation, and even health and age were also considered.

The results of the assessment directly determined promotions and dismissals. Typically, if not promoted, officials would be replaced, making each Grand Court Assessment a time of great anxiety, often breeding corruption, abuse of power, and bribery. In the last Grand Court Assessment, Wang Shengsheng used the evaluation to demote Cai Zhongfan, who then bore a grudge. This led to Yan Sikong’s scheme with the new history compilation.

This year’s Grand Court Assessment, entangled with last year’s rebellion, the reduction of feudal lords, this year’s assassination case, and the inevitable future struggle for the throne, was bound to stir up a storm. Yan Sikong didn’t even know if he could protect himself in this turmoil, yet his goal was to eliminate enemies much more powerful than himself.

Only when Prince Jingyuan’s mansion disappeared from sight did Yan Sikong lower the curtain.

He longed to see Feng Ye at this moment. Chen Mu’s tears still stained his clothes, and he could still feel the boy’s pain and trembling in his arms. He couldn’t help but recall his own experience eleven years ago. Back then, if someone had held him and offered him comfort, he would have remembered it for life. He deeply wished Feng Ye were by his side, whether in the past, present, or future.

Yet everything he did only pushed Feng Ye further away.