The Blood Crown - Chapter 34

Yan Zilian ultimately chose Shen Hexuan and Yan Sikong as the Crown Prince’s tutors, which was quite unexpected to many.

The Crown Prince, named Murui (read as “Mu”), had just turned thirteen, and his formal education was actually delayed by a few years due to his recent enfeoffment. Although Murui was the eldest son of the emperor, his mother, a mere palace maid, didn’t enjoy much favor, and mother and son had been neglected in the palace for many years. The Empress had no children of her own, and the emperor had been trying to establish his favored concubine’s son as the heir, leading to several years of conflicts between the emperor and his ministers. Thanks to Xie Zhongren’s interference and Yan Zilian’s willingness to stake his life, the succession dispute had set the entire court on fire, costing many people their careers and even their lives, ultimately preserving the tradition of “having a legitimate heir from a legitimate wife, and in her absence, the eldest son.”

All of this occurred before Yan Sikong’s entrance into the court, so he never had the chance to witness the heated succession battle.

However, becoming the Crown Prince didn’t ensure a smooth path to the throne. The current emperor was relatively young and had not reached the age of wisdom. The road ahead was long and far from straightforward, and there were still many obstacles to overcome. Not all young Crown Princes had a smooth journey.

Currently, Crown Prince Murui had five tutors. Yan Zilian was the head, and Wang Shengsheng, the secondary tutor, was part of Xie Zhongren’s faction, placed there to monitor the Crown Prince. In practice, only Huo Li and Shen Hexuan were the primary tutors, with Yan Sikong.

This was common knowledge among the court officials.

Before joining the court, Yan Sikong spent two or three years investigating the backgrounds, hometowns, and political affiliations of officials in the court and those assigned to regional positions. He looked into not only officials in the capital but also provincial governors, circuit intendants, and important officials in various prefectures and counties. While he didn’t have a complete picture, he had gained a fair understanding of the court’s political landscape. Once he joined the Hanlin Academy, he dedicated a significant amount of time to reviewing historical documents, and he spent over a year observing court proceedings firsthand. As a result, he had developed a relatively clear understanding of the bureaucratic situation. His ability to gain the favor of Yan Zilian in such a short time was a result of his knowledge about Yan Zilian’s preferences, expectations, and concerns. Being allowed to stand in front of the Eastern Palace today was just the first step in his plan, and he felt entirely in control.

After a brief pause, they heard the palace eunuch summoning them.

Yan Zilian led the two men into the Eastern Palace and prostrated himself, saying, “Your servants pay respects to the Crown Prince.”

“Your servants pay respects to the Crown Prince.”

A clear, melodious voice came from above: “Teachers, please rise.” He paused and added, “You two can also stand up.”

Yan Sikong then stood up and looked up. Seated in the central position was a handsome young prince with porcelain-white skin and jet-black eyes. Even when he received court officials in his own palace, he held himself with a perfectly straight posture. Despite his young age, he exuded the demeanor of a future ruler.

“Please take your seats, teachers,” Crown Prince Murui said.

Two palace attendants quickly placed stools in front of Yan Zilian. After he took his seat, the Crown Prince turned his attention to Yan Sikong.

“I’ve heard of you. They say you achieved a rare accomplishment by winning three top scholar titles in one go. Now that I’ve met you in person, your presence truly is extraordinary.”

Shen Hexuan bowed and said, “I am humble and unworthy. Thank you, Your Highness.”

“This is Yan Sikong, who is known for his deep and interesting lectures.”

The Crown Prince’s gaze landed on Yan Sikong, and he looked him up and down with some curiosity. “I also heard that you like to tell stories of history’s oddities.”

Yan Sikong smiled. “I hope Your Highness wasn’t bored by my tales.”

Yan Zilian intervened, “I selected these two individuals because they are both genuinely talented and accomplished. Moreover, they are young, which may make Your Highness’s studies more enjoyable.” Although Yan Zilian didn’t say it explicitly, both he and the Crown Prince understood the unspoken implications. The Crown Prince needed to build his own power base, as his position was currently fragile. The two young scholars, Shen Hexuan and Yan Sikong, with clean backgrounds and bright futures, were the perfect candidates to help the Crown Prince achieve this.

Crown Prince Murui nodded. “In the future, I will rely on both of you.”

The two men bowed and said, “Your servants will not disappoint Your Highness’s expectations.”

Yan Zilian smiled as he stroked his beard.

Yan Sikong noticed that the Crown Prince, Murui, occasionally stole glances at him but remained calm and composed. He had been accustomed to excessive attention from others due to his striking appearance since childhood. He was also observing the Crown Prince, as he saw this opportunity as potentially his most significant asset.

The emperor’s birthday was approaching, and the compilation work was nearing completion. Yan Sikong finally had a half-day off to rest. However, instead of going home, he purchased two jugs of fine wine and headed straight to the Fu residence.

The gatekeeper was unaware of Yan Sikong’s identity and, following protocol, denied entry, saying, “Sir, I apologize, but our young master is currently unwell and cannot receive visitors. We appreciate your understanding.”

Yan Sikong smiled and replied, “I’m not here to request an audience.” He raised the wine jugs in his hand. “I just happened to pass by and remembered that the young master once treated me to a great wine. It’s customary to reciprocate such kindness. Please give these two jugs of wine to the young master.”

The gatekeeper hesitated and said, “Our young master declines gifts.”

“Two jugs of wine hardly qualify as gifts,” Yan Sikong laughed. “No worries, I’ll leave them at the entrance. If the young master doesn’t fancy them, feel free to dispose of them.” With that, he left gracefully.

The gatekeeper watched Yan Sikong, still unsure, and then looked at the wine jugs left at the entrance, unable to make up his mind.

Yan Sikong returned home, where a man of about forty, with a terrifyingly ugly and grotesque appearance, came out to greet him. Yan Sikong said, “Ally, prepare a table of food for tonight.”

Ally, who couldn’t speak and gestured with his hands, nodded in response.

Yan Sikong smiled lightly and said confidently, “Yes, we have a guest coming.”

He had made up his mind.

Dealing with Feng Ye required a delicate balance. He couldn’t appear too eager to please, nor could he be too distant. Both of them were no longer naive young men, and if Feng Ye sensed that Yan Sikong had ulterior motives, their already weathered old friendship would quickly crumble.