The Blood Crown - Chapter 154

After Yan Zilian’s death, his successor as the head of the Cabinet, Huo Li, found it unbearable to endure the various difficulties imposed by the eunuchs. He resigned from his position in less than a month, under immense pressure.

In the Cabinet, promotions were based on seniority. When Yan Zilian was in office, he had driven away Wang Shengsheng and consolidated power, making all five Cabinet ministers his own. Now that he was gone, Huo Li struggled to manage the situation, and with the remaining ministers unwilling to assume the position of the head, the Cabinet fell into complete chaos.

This situation was precisely what Xie Zhongren had hoped for. He attempted to insert his own eunuchs into the Cabinet, but Emperor Zhao Wu, unusually, did not appoint the people Xie Zhongren recommended.

Yan Sikong keenly sensed that despite Emperor Zhao Wu’s incompetence, he had not lost all sense of reason. The art of ruling, after all, lies in balance. Even if the emperor neglected state affairs and ignored the people, he was still very protective of his throne and would not allow Xie Zhongren to monopolize power.

Thus, despite repeated refusals from the original Three Assistants—Wang Wenyu, who had formerly served as the Minister of Works—the position of the head of the Cabinet was appointed under Emperor Zhao Wu’s directive.

Having witnessed enough of Xie Zhongren’s destruction of officials and framing of loyal subjects, Yan Sikong finally saw a glimmer of hope in endless despair. This situation indicated that Emperor Zhao Wu did not fully trust Xie Zhongren and was unwilling to let eunuchs interfere with the power of the Chancellor. The more Xie Zhongren flaunted his power, the more he would lose the emperor’s favor.

Of course, Xie Zhongren, having served Emperor Zhao Wu for half his life, knew his temperament well and understood that the appointment of Wang Wenyu as the head of the Cabinet was a signal for him to retreat. With nearly a hundred gentry officials implicated, even if Yan Zilian were resurrected, there would be no turning back for the gentry faction. The next steps were to win the favor of Emperor Zhao Wu in three major areas—Jiangnan maritime taxes, the Dazhong military power, and the position of Crown Prince. Everything they did revolved around these three matters.

Many years later, Yan Sikong could still clearly recall everything from that time. During the late summer and early autumn, the weather was unbearably hot, but he never felt the heat. Everything around him made him feel an icy chill, as if an invisible blade was pressed against his neck, ready to draw his blood at any moment.

With no one daring to voice opposition, the Ministry of Revenue proposed a new maritime tax plan, almost doubling the Jiangnan maritime taxes.

The Feng family’s rebellion case, which had been shelved for over a month, was investigated chaotically. Yet, with a sudden imperial decree, regardless of whether the two defendants confessed or not, the Feng family, who had served the Dazheng Dynasty for thirty years and contributed greatly, was condemned to public execution, forfeiture of titles, and confiscation of property. Perhaps out of concern for the virtuous concubine and Princess Wanyang, or fearing public criticism, Emperor Zhao Wu, considering Feng Jianping’s contributions in repelling enemies, “mercifully” did not execute the entire family.

However, the two hundred members of the Feng family had no escape and would be executed after the autumn—after the Empress Dowager’s memorial service and Princess Wanyang’s wedding.

Even though Yan Sikong had anticipated this, hearing the death sentence for the Feng family still left him feeling suffocatingly cold.

There was nothing in this world more corrupt than human hearts.

Soon after, as expected, it was Chen Mu’s turn. Emperor Zhao Wu, too lazy to find an excuse, knowing that no one else could challenge him for the position of Crown Prince, deposed Chen Mu simply on the grounds of his lack of wisdom and virtue. He easily and dismissively removed Chen Mu and appointed the favored concubine’s son, Chen Chun, as the new Crown Prince. The act was so effortless, so trivial, lacking any semblance of the solemnity expected of an emperor.

After Chen Mu’s deposition, Emperor Zhao Wu granted him a fief in Luzhou and bestowed upon him the title of “Prince of Chu.” Located at the border of Shu and Qianzhou, it was a land of rugged mountains and treacherous waters, unsuitable for farming and historically impoverished. Moreover, as a prince was not allowed to stay in the capital after coming of age, Chen Mu was forced to leave the capital within two days.

Thus, the once-great Prince of the Dazheng Dynasty, the former Crown Prince, departed the capital with a heart full of resentment and disgrace.

Yan Sikong’s prophecy had come true; the day in the Eastern Palace was indeed their farewell.

He watched as everyone he cared about met their end—whether through death, imprisonment, disgrace, or exile—while he had to fawn and flatter his enemies. Every day, every moment, was more painful than death. He wondered how much more the heavens would torment him. If wrongdoing should be punished, why were the most heinous villains always rewarded?

Where was their retribution?

Yan Sikong had no tears left, no emotions. The disdainful gazes and scornful words of those around him no longer stirred any waves in his heart. He carved the face he wanted Xie Zhongren to see into his flesh, transforming it into a mask and armor, hiding his true self deep within his soul.

For the names spoken with blood and tears, he endured humiliation and lived a precarious life.

After months of planning and preparation with She Zhun, they had formulated the complete plan for the prison break. Every checkpoint and crucial person had been thoroughly examined and confirmed. Any mistake could lead to the complete annihilation of their plans.

With only about fifty days left before the sentence was carried out, the only decision left was when to act. They both independently decided on the same day—the day of Yan Sikong’s wedding to Princess Wanyang.

On that day, the entire city would be in turmoil, the defenses would be lax, and it would be the best opportunity to seize. If they missed this day, there would be no other chance.

Yan Sikong and She Zhun exchanged glances and suddenly burst into laughter, nearly to the point of tears.

On the day when he would be sending Feng Ye far away, possibly for a lifetime farewell, he would be marrying Feng Ye’s cousin. How ridiculous, how laughable!

She Zhun watched him silently.

“She Zhun… hahahaha… She Zhun…” Yan Sikong, with a smile more sorrowful than tears, said, “I must have been a great demon in my past life to deserve such suffering in this one. I said I was a disaster; you didn’t believe it. Look now…”

“Nanyu…” She Zhun said softly, “You can go with him.”

Yan Sikong’s tragic smile froze on his face.

She Zhun spoke gently, “Go with him. There’s no need to torment yourself for revenge. It’s still not too late to let go…”

“It’s too late.” Yan Sikong gazed vacantly at She Zhun, but his eyes showed nothing, no one. “I cannot rest until my great revenge is achieved. In this life, only the blood of those eunuchs can break my curse.”

She Zhun closed his eyes, heartbroken. 

(End of Chapter)

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