"This son-in-law knows his mistake. From now on, in all matters, I shall follow Father-in-law's decisions."
Zhao Xian looked ashamed. Since childhood, the Emperor Hongchang had judged him to be innately dull-witted and unfit for any great responsibility.
After coming of age, Zhao Xian had constantly sought to prove himself through action, only to end up confined in the Cold Palace.
"These old bones of mine cannot hold on much longer. Once Your Highness has firmly taken the seat, I shall beg leave to retire and return home to spend my old age in peace."
Zhang Zhengyang had spent his entire life calculating gains and losses, always seeking fortune and avoiding misfortune, planning for the distant future. Yet in matters concerning his children, he had gone against his own heart before death.
In his eyes, pushing Zhao Xian to the throne was no good thing. The problem lay in the fact that Zhao Xian's eldest legitimate son carried the bloodline of the Zhang Family.
No emperor, however magnanimous, could tolerate an outsider clan holding the great power of the realm for two consecutive generations. By then, it would be hard to say whether Fengyang Kingdom bore the surname Zhao or Zhang.
Conversely, if they followed the late emperor's testament, then even if the Zhang Family declined, it would still remain a prominent local clan.
Once they involved themselves in manipulating changes of the throne, even a sweeping victory today would plant the roots of extermination for the future.
Zhao Xian noticed the uncertainty shifting across Zhang Zhengyang's face and asked, "Father-in-law, when do we act? The longer we delay, the more secure my younger brother's throne becomes."
"This matter cannot be rushed. Your Highness's greatest stain at present is that the late emperor issued an edict stripping you of rank. The late emperor's posthumous title is Xuan, and the court histories have officially decreed his reign 'The Rise of Hongchang.' Who would dare overturn a punishment he imposed during his lifetime?"
Zhang Zhengyang had to make this clear to Zhao Xian, lest he act on his own again and ruin the grand plan. "Thus, even if Your Highness were to overthrow Zhao Yuan and ascend the throne now, it would be difficult to gain the recognition of the imperial clan."
Zhao Xian asked anxiously, "What should be done, then?"
"Wait!"
Zhang Zhengyang said, "Wait for Zhao Yuan to strike first and destroy the three families of Prince Chu, Prince Han, and Prince Jing. Then we will move to overthrow him."
Zhao Xian asked doubtfully, "Then the imperial clan will acknowledge me?"
"By then, Your Highness will be the late emperor's only remaining descendant. Whether the imperial clan or the court, they will have no choice but to hold their noses and accept it."
Zhang Zhengyang said, "A sovereign who revived an age, with an eldest legitimate son still alive, yet allowing a collateral branch to inherit the great throne—history would surely condemn him for disloyalty and filial impiety!"
Zhao Xian asked, "Would Zhao Yuan truly be capable of such cruelty?"
"Of the late emperor's six sons, only Zhao Yuan is suspicious and cold by nature, always repaying even the smallest grievance with utmost vengeance. Otherwise, why would I have chosen him to ascend the throne for no reason?"
Zhang Zhengyang said, "Of course, temperament is only the prerequisite. There are further methods to ensure Zhao Yuan will kill the three princes."
Zhao Xian respectfully asked, "Please enlighten me, Father-in-law."
"Some days ago, rumors surged through the capital, and every residence began recruiting martial world experts everywhere. I was the one pushing matters behind the scenes..."
Seeing Zhao Xian's baffled expression, Zhang Zhengyang helplessly rubbed his forehead and could only continue explaining.
"The purpose was to create an illusion. First, martial world experts are scarce and difficult to recruit. Second, experts can decide victories and defeats within a limited scope. The hidden meaning is that they are advantageous in contending for the throne."
"What is wrong with that?"
Zhao Xian said, "When this son-in-law heard of it, I also sent people to recruit several experts."
Zhang Zhengyang raised a brow and named several people. "Hong Hua, Wang Yizhang, Compassionate Monk, Old Taoist Qu..."
"..."
Zhao Xian's face turned scarlet. No matter how dull-witted he was, he knew they were all Zhang Zhengyang's people.
"The others were the same as Your Highness, following the trend and recruiting experts everywhere. I heard some even promised noble titles!"
Zhang Zhengyang said slowly, "Anyone daring to make such promises must harbor lofty ambitions. Seeing this, the palace had no choice but to recruit people as well, lest experts from the various residences come and go freely through the palace grounds and endanger Zhao Yuan's safety."
Zhao Xian's eyes were full of bewilderment. What did this have to do with seizing the throne?
"Pedantic Confucians like Liang and Xie have long studied themselves into fools. Naturally, they would not lower themselves to meet with rough martial folk, so this task would certainly fall to Li Defu."
"Li Defu is merely a palace eunuch. He rarely even leaves the prince's residence—how could he recognize any martial world experts?"
Zhang Zhengyang said, "The experts under my command had already befriended Li Defu's relatives beforehand. Without arousing the slightest suspicion, they smoothly entered the palace to serve..."
"Hiss!"
Zhao Xian sucked in a cold breath. He was both shocked and delighted—shocked that officials could be so sinister, delighted that the most sinister one was on his side.
"Not only that, among the experts in the three princes' residences, my people have also become Attendants."
Zhang Zhengyang said, "In a few days, experts from Prince Chu's Residence will sneak into Shangyang Palace to carry out an assassination. Tell me, once Zhao Yuan is wounded, will he strike ruthlessly at the three princes?"
Zhao Xian nodded repeatedly and asked in delighted surprise, "Where did Father-in-law find so many experts willing to risk their lives?"
Those of the martial world were unruly and untamed by nature. No one could have imagined that Zhang Zhengyang had subdued so many experts as deathsworn men.
"That is a long story. Back then, after the Azure Sky King was captured, the Brocade Guard failed to interrogate his cultivation art from him. Everyone believed its inheritance had been severed."
Zhang Zhengyang said, "Yet I had always kept people secretly watching this matter. At last, I found the Cang Family in Jiangnan. Then, under the pretext of Buddhism and Daoism joining hands to eradicate evil and uphold righteousness, I finally seized the Heaven Devouring Demon Art!"
Zhao Xian asked in delighted surprise, "This cultivation art can create experts in batches?"
"What they learned were only incomplete scrolls. Not only do they shorten one's lifespan, they also lack the method for fusing inner force."
Zhang Zhengyang said, "The complete art will be handed to Your Highness later. You may have the eunuchs around you cultivate it, ensuring that the Royal Family never lacks Innate Grandmasters from generation to generation."
"Father-in-law's great kindness, this son-in-law shall never forget for all eternity!"
Zhao Xian pointed to the heavens and swore, "In the future, the heir to the throne shall certainly be my eldest son, Rong'er. The Zhang Family shall enjoy glory and wealth for generations, sharing the kingdom's fate. If the Zhao clan ever betrays this promise, may the realm collapse and our bloodline be severed!"
Zhang Zhengyang nodded slightly. "There is no need for such a grave oath. Having this intention is enough."
After drifting through the treacherous sea of officialdom for so long, he no longer believed in oaths.
The foundation upon which promises and vows endured was simply that the stakes were not yet great enough.
Having heard Zhang Zhengyang's plan, Zhao Xian felt the throne was already within arm's reach. "Why not simply assassinate Zhao Yuan and the others?"
"That would not fool the world. Whether there is evidence or not, you would bear the infamy of killing your younger brother and usurping the throne."
Zhang Zhengyang said, "But if you overthrow the tyrant Zhao Yuan, you will be setting things right at their source. Ascending the throne with the people's hopes behind you will be of great use when you govern the court in the future!"
Zhao Xian's eyes reddened slightly at those words. It sounded as though Zhang Zhengyang were arranging matters for after his death.
Zhang Zhengyang coughed twice. "Do not worry. I can still hold on for two or three years—at least long enough to find you a Chief Minister capable of taking charge of the larger situation."
Zhao Xian bowed until he was nearly touching the ground, tears filling his eyes.
"Thank you, my minister-father!"
Early July.
Emperor Yongxing was assassinated and suffered grave injuries.
The assassin swallowed poison and committed suicide on the spot. After the Brocade Guard conducted a thorough investigation, they identified him as an Attendant of Prince Chu's Residence.
Once the news spread, the hundred officials were in an uproar!
The Ministry of War deployed the Imperial Guards to surround Prince Chu's Residence. The Brocade Guard searched meticulously and found dragon robes and an imperial seal.
Emperor Yongxing flew into a rage and ordered the complete extermination of Prince Chu's line.
The Court of the Imperial Clan came forward to plead for mercy, saying that in the empire's several-hundred-year history, no imperial prince had ever been sentenced to death. In the end, the punishment was changed to stripping him of his princely title, exiling him to the northern frontier, and reducing him to a commoner.
Heavenly Prison.
Cell Block C was crammed full of prisoners, all implicated in Prince Chu's assassination case.
Relatives, maternal relatives, officials of the prince's residence, and the rest had all been thrown into prison. Even the three clans of the residence steward's household had been arrested. This was enough to show the fury of Emperor Yongxing.
Rumor had it that if the assassin's dagger had shifted another two or three inches, today would have been a day of national mourning!
"Old Zhou, thank goodness you refused that day!"
Captain Lu wore a terrified expression. "The one who asked me to recruit you was the steward of Prince Chu's Residence—that old fellow in Cell Seven. Later, I need to go vent some of my pent-up anger on him!"
After failing to recruit Zhou Yi that day, Captain Lu had gone back and carefully thought it over. He had also rejected the prince's residence steward's offer, thereby narrowly escaping disaster.
Zhou Yi shrugged and said in a low voice.
"Old Lu, we'll have plenty to do in the coming days. This is only the beginning!"
Before you continue