The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Jia Lian was somewhat uneasy.

According to the original plan, he was supposed to go to Tianjin.

However, the emperor's condition did not improve and even worsened day by day.

Under such circumstances, how could he dare to leave Beijing with peace of mind?

Inside his study, he had just signed two requests from Tianjin when a black shadow suddenly swept through the air and landed steadily on the windowsill.

It glanced at the man and woman inside the room, then flapped its left wing and tilted its head to peck.

It seems to be reminding humans that there are things they need under its wings.

Without Jia Lian giving any instructions, Hu Yuanyao, who was massaging his shoulders, went over.

The black pigeon looked up warily, but immediately recognized its former owner.

Despite being very uncomfortable with the foreign object under its wing, it did not avoid Hu Yuanyao's approach. Instead, it cooperated by letting Hu Yuanyao remove the object from its armpit.

"Master."

Hu Yuanyao handed the secret letter to Jia Lian.

Instead of rushing to look, she turned around, took out a few birdseeds from her pocket, and fed them to the messenger.

Jia Lian had already unfolded the secret letter, which contained three lines of small characters—Yuan Chun's handwriting:

“Prince Yun has plotted a rebellion and has led several hundred armored soldiers to storm Chonghua Palace. We must respond immediately.”

Seeing Jia Lian suddenly stand up, Hu Yuanyao walked back and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Prince Yun is plotting a rebellion... no, he wants to use the retired emperor to control the court!"

"What should I do?"

Hu Yuanyao was, after all, the daughter of a military officer, and had served as a liaison between the princess and Jia Lian for so long, that she had long since developed basic political literacy.

She knew immediately that causing trouble was a serious matter.

The voice inevitably sounds tense and uneasy.

Jia Lian, on the other hand, appeared relatively calm.

He thought for a moment, then immediately sat down again and said to Hu Yuanyao, "Bring the carrier pigeons from the pigeon house."

Jia Lian didn't specify which one to take, but he knew Hu Yuanyao knew which one to take first.

Just after he had written two secret letters in a manner similar to Yuan Chun's, Hu Yuan Yao had already retrieved the carrier pigeon from the princess's residence and brought back another secret letter.

"This message was just sent by the princess via carrier pigeon."

Jia Lian nodded, unfolded the princess's secret letter, and read it. Sure enough, it was about the same thing that Yuan Chun had mentioned.

After thinking for a moment, he made some minor modifications to the secret letter he had just written to the princess, then tied it to a carrier pigeon kept in the princess's residence and had Hu Yuanyao release the pigeon.

The reason for using exotic black pigeons for Yuan Chun was simply because Yuan Chun was in the complex inner palace.

If one openly raises homing pigeons, people will inevitably become suspicious.

However, there was naturally nothing for him and the princess's residence to hide.

When it comes to transmitting information, nothing in this era can match the performance of carrier pigeons.

After sending out the necessary information by carrier pigeon and fast horse, Jia Lian ordered the entire mansion to be on alert and led half of his personal guards to the capital at top speed.

……

Just as Jia Lian was urgently devising a countermeasure for his subordinates, inside the palace...

The Third Prince was also relentlessly carrying out his plan.

He first arranged for General Shenlie, who was also his maternal grandfather Wu Tianyou, to divide his troops into half to surround the Hall of Supreme Harmony and control the officials.

Then, Geng Qiuming, the captain of the Imperial Guards Infantry Battalion and the actual commander of this operation, was sent to Daming Palace to "protect" Emperor Ningkang.

Geng Qiuming was about to say that they didn't have many capable men at their disposal, so why were they sending troops to Daming Palace at this time?

Then the Third Prince said in a low voice, "Now that the Emperor Emeritus has been rescued by us, in order to prevent the tragedy of the two saints fighting at Iron Net Mountain from happening again and shaking the foundation of the dynasty, do you know what to do?"

Upon hearing this, Geng Qiuming's expression changed drastically, and he stammered, "This...no, I dare not...Your Highness, please send someone else..."

Geng Qiuming's face turned pale.

He only wanted to achieve great merit by supporting the emperor, and never thought he would bear the crime of regicide.

The Third Prince frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "Those who achieve great things must have the courage that ordinary people do not possess."

Lord Geng helped me rescue the Emperor Emeritus. You should know very well what will happen to you if my father wakes up.

Moreover, if you handle this matter well, I promise that in addition to making you the commander of the infantry camp, I will also grant you the title of marquis.

In the future, even a Duke, Lord Geng might not be able to reach that level…

Upon hearing this, Geng Qiuming's ambition was instantly ignited.

His lifelong dream was to become the commander of the three main battalions of the Imperial Guard.

Moreover, the title of marquis was the ultimate dream of every military officer and general.

He couldn't possibly not want it.

However, the price to pay is inevitable...

After hesitating for a moment, he shook his head: "This humble servant is incompetent and cannot handle this matter. If it delays Your Highness's important affairs, this humble servant will be guilty of a capital offense. I beg Your Highness to appoint someone else."

Causing the emperor to die of illness sounds simple, but very few people actually dare to do it.

Seeing that this fellow could refuse such a huge offer, a hint of surprise and anger flashed in the Third Prince's eyes.

However, this time he was able to arrange for people to enter the palace, and half of his eight hundred warriors were even Geng Qiuming's confidants.

At this moment, he certainly couldn't afford to fall out with Geng Qiuming, so he just kept a gloomy face and remained silent.

Wu Tianyou, who was standing by and had just finished mustering his troops and preparing to leave, noticed the Third Prince's predicament. He hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Otherwise, I'll go."

"Send Lord Geng to the Hall of Supreme Harmony."

Wu Tianyou understood.

His beloved grandson has lost Emperor Ningkang's trust because of the Crown Prince's affair.

If he fails again this time, he will be completely out of the running for the top position.

As the biological father of the Imperial Concubine, he was naturally a follower of the Third Prince, and this time, he and his daughter were directly involved in the coup.

Once Emperor Ningkang comes back to life, the Wu family will have no chance of survival.

Therefore, he was willing to do anything for the Third Prince if necessary.

The Third Prince took a deep breath, and without feigning hesitation, bowed directly to Wu Tianyou and said:

"In that case, I'll have to trouble you, Grandpa."

Wu Tianyou waved his hand, said nothing more, and led his men directly to the Daming Palace.

Watching his maternal grandfather's strong figure disappear into the distance, the Third Prince withdrew his gaze and glanced at Geng Qiuming.

That look in his eyes made Geng Qiuming smile bitterly.

He knew perfectly well that he had displeased the Third Prince and that this would certainly affect his future.

However, compared to the eternal infamy of regicide, he himself couldn't tell whether it was a loss or a gain.

……

The Hall of Supreme Harmony served as a symbol of the imperial court.

Since its establishment, it has never been besieged by troops.

But today, of all days, it happened!

Before the officials could understand what was happening, a eunuch's shout suddenly came from the rear hall:
"The Emperor Emeritus has arrived!"

The courtiers were once again stunned, and for a moment they did not even know how to react.

But when they saw with their own eyes that aged yet noble figure, sitting in a wheelchair, being pushed out of the rear hall by the Third Prince, many ministers instinctively knelt down:
"Your subjects pay their respects to the Emperor Emeritus. Long live the Emperor Emeritus!"

Upon seeing this, the remaining people also prostrated themselves and paid their respects to the Emperor Emeritus.

Although the sounds inside the hall were scattered and disorganized, when his eyes swept down, he still saw the officials kneeling.

This brought a long-lost smile to the Emperor Emeritus's face.

At this moment, he seemed to have returned to the state he once was, where he felt he had the world at his fingertips and could rule it at will.

The gloom of being tricked by an unfilial son was swept away.

"Let us all live our lives together."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After the officials stood up, they looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

Although Emperor Ningkang had carried out numerous purges of the court.

That would simply mean either killing or removing from the court those who were stubborn or had a history of wrongdoing.

After all, as long as Emperor Ningkang wasn't brain-dead, he wouldn't think of abandoning all the former officials of the previous dynasty.

He had only been on the throne for eight years.

In terms of the imperial examination system, it was only held three times during his tenure.

Therefore, from the court officials to local officials, all nine or above had been protégés of the retired emperor.

Therefore, these people naturally felt guilty and awkward when they saw the retired emperor suddenly appear in front of them.

The fact that they can still stand here now indicates that they have already accepted Emperor Ningkang's "amnesty".

By strict standards, they were all people who had betrayed the retired emperor.

After the officials stood up, the retired emperor remained silent, while the officials dared not speak.

The atmosphere inside the hall was unusually quiet. As the Grand Secretary, Zhao Dongsheng was the head of all officials before the position of Prime Minister was established.

At this moment, only he could break the silence.

"I wonder what business the Emperor Emeritus has with you today?"

As Emperor Ningkang's most loyal subject, Zhao Dongsheng served as his strategist during the Iron Net Mountain Coup.

Therefore, he was one of the most nervous people when he saw the retired emperor appear.

But some things you can't avoid.

Now all he wants to do is figure out the purpose of the Emperor Emeritus and the Third Prince's commotion today.

The retired emperor looked at Zhao Dongsheng, the Minister of Revenue whom he had appointed in his old age.

I never imagined that he would become the Grand Secretary.

"I have heard that the court is in chaos because no one is in charge."

I am deeply disappointed in you.

"We are incompetent, please forgive us, Your Majesty."

King Chungsun took the lead in apologizing, and the other ministers could only reluctantly follow suit.

The retired emperor raised his hand and said to the assembled officials, "The emperor is critically ill and is no longer able to govern."

For the sake of the empire left by our ancestors, and for the sake of the people, I have decided to restore the throne. What do you, my esteemed ministers, think?

To be honest, the Emperor Emeritus's voice is no longer as loud as it used to be.

However, because the atmosphere inside the hall was very quiet, almost everyone heard what the retired emperor said.

And that's why everyone's expressions became quite interesting.

The retired emperor, who was over eighty years old and had been enjoying a life of leisure for many years, suddenly announced that he wanted to be restored to the throne.

I'm asking you how you feel.

Without giving anyone time to think, King Chungsun, standing on the middle step, immediately led the way in bowing down:
"Your subject respectfully welcomes Your Majesty's restoration to the throne! Long live Your Majesty!"

Seeing King Chungshun's stance, some who had been "subdued" by King Chungshun or those who wanted to take advantage of the situation also quickly knelt down and respectfully asked the retired emperor to be restored to the throne.

However, there weren't many people.

More than 80% of the officials were still standing.

The ministers who could stand in the imperial court all naturally had some status and position.

To them, the imperial court belonged to the emperor, but also to them.

Often, what the emperor says is not always the truth; they also have the right and the authority to object.

If we kneel down at this moment, wouldn't that mean we agree to the restoration of the Emperor Emeritus?
What have they become?

Emperor Ningkang is still alive.

Moreover, even if Emperor Ningkang dies, a new emperor should be selected from among his sons.

What's the point of restoring the retired emperor to his post? Does it mean history is moving forward?

Besides, don't you realize how old you are? Even if you get reinstated, how many more years can you hold that position?

What if you kick the bucket in a few days? Wouldn't that be a waste of time?
Therefore, many people, including the original supporters of the Third Prince, did not understand the Third Prince's behavior.

As the son of the current emperor, and especially the eldest prince, why would you go and invite the retired emperor out of the palace?
No one said they definitely wouldn't support you.

What good would it do you to betray your father?
It used to be you and the fourth prince vying for power, but now the retired emperor is really going to be restored to the throne.

When the throne was passed back to the retired emperor, there were many more people qualified to compete for the position.

"No!"

Kong Si, the Minister of Rites and the newly appointed Grand Secretary, stepped forward.

"The retired emperor has abdicated many years ago, and the throne has been passed on to His Majesty the present."

This signifies that imperial power has been passed down to His Majesty's lineage.

Even if His Majesty were still alive, and even if His Majesty were truly powerless to reverse the decline of the dynasty and passed away, a virtuous person should be chosen from among His Majesty's sons to inherit the throne.

Only in this way can the stability of the court be ensured and the imperial authority be prevented from being lost.

For the sake of the stability of the nation and the peace of the people, I humbly request the Emperor Emeritus to rescind his decree!

As Kong Si delivered his righteous and eloquent statement, many ministers nodded secretly.

Seeing him kneel down, they all followed suit, echoing, "Please, Your Majesty, rescind your decree!"

Seeing so many people daring to openly oppose him, the retired emperor's eyes darkened.

Compared to the Emperor Emeritus's gloomy expression, the Third Prince had a deep frown.

They originally thought that by inviting the retired emperor out and letting him meet with the ministers, they could establish legitimacy.

After all, the authority of the retired emperor, who had reigned for over fifty years, could not be completely erased by Emperor Ningkang's schemes alone.

Of course, he anticipated that some people would object.

Otherwise, why would he surround the main hall? Wasn't he just waiting for someone to jump out and object so he could make an example of them and resolve the problem as soon as possible?

He hadn't forgotten that he still had enemies.

Although the Fourth Prince himself posed no threat, he never underestimated the adulterous couple behind him.

Therefore, as long as the retired emperor successfully restores the throne, and as long as my maternal grandfather succeeds in his scheme...

Then they are the legitimate rulers, and no matter what Jia Lian and others do, they are nothing but traitors and rebels, and it won't be difficult to deal with them later.

But why was it Kong Si who jumped out of nowhere...?

This old Minister of Rites, though pedantic, was a typical conservative, or rather, a staunch defender of rites and ancestral rules.

Therefore, although the other party was loyal to Emperor Ningkang, he clearly supported him more than the Fourth Prince.

Indeed, compared to the fourth prince who neglects his duties, the third prince, who is both virtuous and talented and the eldest son, is clearly more suitable to inherit the throne.

Thinking of this, the Third Prince's hatred deepened.

Even the Minister of Rites understands this, so why can't his father, the Emperor, see it?

So what if he killed the eldest prince?
He was just a person who deserved to die!

When your eldest brother was alive, you didn't seem to love him much. You threatened and exploited him in every way, which made him distrust you. At the most crucial moment, he abandoned you.

Now that the person is dead, they're putting on a show of fatherly love; it's truly laughable.

Therefore, everything I am doing today is because you, Father Emperor, forced me to do it.

The Third Prince took a deep breath.

Kong Si did not want to kill him.

The person he most wanted to make an example of was the newly appointed cabinet minister, Wang Ziteng.

Although Zhao Dongsheng was more effective, the old man was, after all, the Grand Secretary, and killing him would have a slightly greater impact.

His foundation, after all, lay in the literati and among civil officials.

Wang Ziteng, a civil and military official who frequently switched positions and was an elder of Jia Lian, was a perfect candidate.

However, he glanced at Wang Ziteng, who was in the first row of civil officials. That scoundrel seemed to sense danger, standing there with his eyes downcast and not moving an inch.

He neither supported King Chungshun nor echoed Kong Si.

It's not advisable to touch him right now.

"Grand Secretary Kong, the Emperor Emeritus made this decision for the sake of the court and the country. As his subject, you should not contradict him like this."

Besides, I just went to see my father, and he is truly terminally ill.

The imperial physicians all said that something big might happen in the next two days.

Therefore, at this time, it is the Emperor Emeritus who should step forward to take charge of the overall situation.

However, you don't need to worry about the loss of imperial authority.

My grandfather has just agreed to make me the Crown Prince.

Therefore, the legitimate lineage still lies with my father, the emperor, so it cannot be considered a loss of imperial authority.

Kong Si and the others who supported the Third Prince were taken aback.

Emperor Ningkang was still alive, and even though the Third Prince had pledged allegiance to the Retired Emperor, he dared not act openly. Naturally, the fewer people who knew about his actions, the better.

Therefore, upon hearing the Third Prince say this, his followers finally realized what was happening and were immediately overjoyed.

Kong Si was also taken aback.

He felt that there was nothing wrong with that, but then he thought of something and said directly, "In that case, why doesn't the Emperor Emeritus just appoint you as the new emperor?"

A wave of waves has risen again.

Many neutral people, or those who genuinely care about the stability of the court, thought so too.

Rather than letting the retired emperor, who is already buried at the neck, interfere, why not skip this step and let the third prince ascend the throne directly?

This way, a lot of trouble can be avoided.

After all, once the retired emperor is restored to the throne, it is hard to guarantee that his other sons, such as Prince Zhongshun, will not have any ideas.

At that time, there might be another bloody battle for the throne.

Upon seeing this, the Third Prince truly adored Kong Si.

However, on the surface, he pretended to be troubled, but in reality, he looked at the retired emperor with a questioning gaze.

...(End of chapter)