Unparalleled Beauty

Chapter C134 pt1

Emperor Qianwu appeared before the people once more, the streaks of white at his temples beneath the jade crown drawing the attention of his ministers.

His expression was increasingly stern, his face etched with frost.

Yet no one dared to speak, no one dared to mention it, and even less dared to utter the words "Lady Fengtian."

Keen observers had long noticed that although Lady Fengtian was dead, no funeral had been announced, nor were there any signs of mourning, as if she had vanished without a trace.

There was no formal title, no posthumous honor, and all that remained was the title of Lady Fengtian. Perhaps, in the days to come, this title would gradually be forgotten, and all that would remain in the Imperial Diary was the entry: "The Emperor seized the wife of the Zhao family, Mei shi; Mei shi died in the fifth year of Qianwu."

With the return of Emperor Qianwu, those who had been imprisoned were released one by one, and everything in the court seemed to return to normal.

During this time, the Mei family held a funeral. After the Zhao family was released, they quietly left the capital, unnoticed by anyone.

In the winter of the fifth year of Qianwu, the First Prince died prematurely, and Consort Hui was heartbroken, fainting several times.

During the palace family banquet for the New Year, Prince Duan's second son, only six years old, was summoned before the Emperor to speak, making his first appearance before the court.

From then on, Emperor Qianwu seemed to value this nephew greatly, repeatedly summoning him to the palace.

Rumor had it in the city that Emperor Qianwu had difficulty conceiving heirs, and with the First Prince's untimely death, he couldn't help but transfer his affection to his nephew. Some also said that Lady Fengtian was pregnant when she died, which was why His Majesty looked at the young son with such favor.

In any case, the legitimate son of Prince Duan, who had been previously neglected due to his mother's lack of favor, suddenly rose in prominence. Inevitably, some envied Prince Duan, making sour remarks about his second son's promising future.

In the Prince Duan's mansion, Secondary Consort Li shi was speaking with Prince Duan.

"Clearly, that child Gang'er is intelligent and quick-witted, so why can't he gain His Majesty's favor?" As she spoke, Li shi began to sob, seemingly very aggrieved on behalf of her son.

Prince Duan felt a headache coming on as soon as he saw her crying.

"Affinity is a mysterious thing. Perhaps Imperial Brother simply prefers children like Jie'er."

In truth, Prince Duan was also surprised by his Imperial Brother's special regard for his second son. Unlike the eldest son's intelligence and quick wit, the second son had never liked to talk since he was a child. Although he was still young, he was quiet and not lively.

"Gang'er has been arrogant and overly sensitive since he was a child. Now that his younger brother has gained His Majesty's favor while he hasn't, what will outsiders think?"

As Li shi spoke, she observed Prince Duan's expression: "Why doesn't Your Highness have Jie'er bring his older brother along the next time he enters the palace? The two brothers can keep each other company, which would also show brotherly love and respect, and become a beautiful story."

Although Prince Duan found it strange to have his younger brother bring along his elder brother, the eldest son was indeed clever since childhood. Since the Emperor liked children, there was no reason he would favor the second son and dislike the first. Furthermore, with Li shi constantly mentioning it in his ear, he agreed.

He agreed readily enough, but when it came time to mention it to his second son, Prince Duan felt a strange flush of shame and guilt as he looked at the son's silent gaze.

He somewhat awkwardly told his second son to bring his elder brother along next time he entered the palace.

After he finished speaking, his son did not reply.

After a long while, he finally understood.

"You are unwilling?"

Ji Jie did not speak.

"Why are you unwilling? He is your elder brother."

Ji Jie stared at him for a few moments before saying, "When Father took Eldest Brother out riding, Eldest Brother did not bring me along. When Father gifted Eldest Brother bows and arrows, Eldest Brother did not give any to me. Why must I bring him along now?"

Prince Duan stared at his son, speechless for a long time.

***

"What did your father want from you?"

Ji Jie did not hide anything and repeated what Prince Duan had said.

The woman's face was weak, but at this moment, she revealed a hint of mockery. After a moment, she trembled her lips and said, "Then how did you answer your father?"

Ji Jie told the truth.

After hearing this, the woman was stunned.

After a while, she said sorrowfully, "It was all mother's fault for misleading you."

Ji Jie did not comfort his mother, and further stated, "Imperial Uncle asked me if I was willing to be his son."

This time, the woman was truly shocked.

"What did you say?"

"I said I was willing."

The woman remained in a daze for a long while. After a moment, she beckoned her son to come before her.

She stroked her son's small face, saying with a touch of sorrow, "Actually, this is for the best. You have no future in this family."

As she spoke, she embraced her son and began to weep.

Held in his mother's arms, Ji Jie's small face was devoid of any expression. He stared fixedly at the corner of the roof, no one knew what he was thinking.

***

Song You was summoned once again.

The weight he had painstakingly gained after his marriage was now gone, as if he had returned to the days when he ran around everywhere and liked to tinker around in the middle of the night, his hair a tangled mess, dark circles under his eyes.

"How far have you progressed?"

Song You hesitated, "Your Majesty, although that formation is said to have the effect of changing fate and altering destiny, it is only a legend. No one has ever successfully set it up. Although this subject has gathered eminent monks and Taoists to replicate it, we have only replicated a little more than half."

Emperor Qianwu looked at him, "I can wait, but he cannot."

As Emperor Qianwu's personal imperial physician, how could Song You not know his condition? That he could endure until now was entirely due to His Majesty's self-restraint. He must be enduring boundless pain at every moment.

Seeing the gradually whitening hair of Emperor Qianwu, he felt a pang of sorrow and quickly lowered his head, saying, "Your Majesty, please grant this subject two more months."

"Very well, you may go."

In the second month of the sixth year of the Qianwu reign, the Emperor adopted the second son of Prince Duan as his heir, bestowing upon him the title of Crown Prince.

For a time, the court and the public were in an uproar.

To have His Majesty decide on an heir had always been a persistent endeavor of the many officials. Now that their wish had been fulfilled, it was tinged with an ominous premonition.

At the Crown Prince's investiture ceremony, Emperor Qianwu, whom they had not seen for many days, appeared before the people once more. Only then did the assembled officials realize that His Majesty's hair had turned white.

Perhaps Lady Fengtian's death had never truly passed, only they had thought it had.

After the ceremony, within Rouyi Hall, a man whispered, "Wait a little longer, wait a little longer..."

***

In the third month, the Emperor's dragon body suffered an ailment, and he attended to affairs of state from his sickbed in Zichen Hall.

Emperor Qianwu summoned the Empress.

The two hadn't met in a long time. Ever since that incident, the Empress had been confined to Fengqi Palace. Even after Emperor Qianwu lifted her confinement, she remained indoors, seemingly fading from sight overnight.

At this moment, seeing Emperor Qianwu's drastically changed appearance, the Empress was shocked and couldn't help but feel her eyes redden.

"Do you know why this Emperor hasn't abolished you?"

The Empress lowered her head and said, "This concubine does not know."

"You are a clever person, far more clever than her. Once, this Emperor considered whether to send you down to accompany her. If you and your family hadn't interfered, perhaps this Emperor and she wouldn't have missed each other, and now would be surrounded by children."

As Emperor Qianwu spoke, the Empress's body gradually hunched over until she was prostrate on the ground.

"Later, this Emperor thought about it, and perhaps keeping you around might still be useful."

The hall was frighteningly silent, with only the Empress's soft sobbing audible.

"The Crown Prince is entrusted to you to raise. You are a clever person and know what to do to benefit yourself. I hope you will not disappoint this Emperor's expectations."

The Empress raised her head in surprise: "Your Majesty."

"Withdraw."

The Empress glanced at him and silently withdrew.

[Why not kill her?]

[Have you forgotten Father Emperor's dying words?]

"Great Liang is entrusted to your hands; you must be worthy of this Emperor's trust."

He had been holding on for so long, precisely for this.

[The Crown Prince is young. If he has no one to raise him, relying only on Fusheng and Fulai will not be enough to restrain those ministers with their diverse intentions. In the end, it is feared that the ruler will be weak and the ministers strong, throwing Great Liang into chaos. Only by using her identity as Empress Dowager can they be balanced.]

[Hurry, I can't wait any longer…]

Emperor Qianwu's voice sounded again.

"Summon the Crown Prince."

Before long, the young Crown Prince was led in.

"You are a clever child, discerning your own heart at such a young age. I hope your intelligence will always be maintained. I have chosen four regents for you, and Fusheng and Fulai are also left to you. The Empress is a clever person; the two of you can rely on each other. You can use Fusheng and Fulai to control her, or you can unite with her and Fusheng and Fulai to control those four regents. In this way, the situation can be maintained until you grow up and take over the court."

"The Empress will raise you, giving her the title of an elder to you. I will leave an imperial edict for you. After you come of age, you can abolish her. I do not want her to be buried in the imperial mausoleum with the title of Empress. As for your father, I will let him go to his fief, never to enter the capital again. All I can do for you is this."

The Crown Prince's face was blank. He was still too young to understand that Emperor Qianwu was delivering his last words.

Fusheng and Fulai, who were at his side, could not help but wipe away their tears.

"I hope you will not fail my expectations of you."

"Imperial Father..."

"Go, I am tired."

After the Crown Prince left, Fulai was alright, forcefully suppressing his sorrow, but Fusheng looked at Emperor Qianwu with tearful eyes.

"Your Majesty..."

"Why are you crying? I am worried about those people. You and Fulai must help me keep an eye on them."

"Your Majesty!"

The two could no longer restrain themselves and threw themselves on the ground, wailing loudly.