The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 855 Can I reach the other side?

Princess Xining, as the second generation princess of the empire, was the eldest daughter of Liu Kan and the Han queen. She was the apple of her eye since childhood.

Every winter, Liu Kan would take the princess to climb Mount Taiyue. In front of Taizipo, the father and daughter would wear sable hats and watch the snow and appreciate the plum blossoms.

The green bamboos in Wudang Mountain, covered with frost and snow but not withering in the cold, left a deep impression on Princess Xining. Perhaps this was the beginning of Liu Ruolan's later devotion to Taoism.

At that time, Liu Kan's new policy had just begun to be implemented. He looked at the Han River at the foot of the mountain, which was covered with ice and winding like a ribbon, and said meaningfully:

"Lan'er, do you think I can reach the other side?"

"Walk across on the ice?"

"Correct."

"The Emperor is not the Grandfather. The Grandfather can fly with a sword, and you will drown."

"Oh."

Emperor Guangde was speechless.

This Princess of Da Qi looks very similar to her aunt Liu Yufei.

They all have plump bodies, broad faces and chins, and are graceful and elegant. It is said that Princess Xining has the appearance of an emperor.

Fifteen years after the Guangde Emperor's death, the old emperor's health deteriorated, until Western doctors and the Imperial Hospital doctors were helpless. In desperation, the palace had to seek help from the gods.

Princess Xining, who was in her teens at the time, went to Taiyue Mountain to pray for blessings many times in order to cure her father's illness and exorcise evil spirits, and frequently traveled between Tianxin City and Taiyue Mountain.

Perhaps influenced by her royal grandfather, the Emperor Taizu of the Great Qi Dynasty who was devoted to immortality, Liu Ruolan, in addition to chanting scriptures and making wishes, gradually followed the Taoist priests to study elixirs and medicine, and eventually became obsessed with Taoism.

In the eighteenth year of Guangde, after taking two elixirs from Taoist Master Zhang of Yuxu Palace, Emperor Guangde's condition improved slightly. This miracle further strengthened Princess Xining's determination to seek immortality.

Despite her father's opposition, she became a nun at Yuxu Palace on Taihe Mountain in March of the following year, and was given the Taoist name Yuyin.

In the early summer of the 22nd year of Guangde, Master Yu Yin sent a eunuch down the mountain to the Tianxin City Palace.

The eunuch presented the Emperor Guangde, who was not long to live, with the Langmei fairy fruit and a green Taoist robe inlaid with the "Tao Te Ching".

In those days, Emperor Taizu Liu Zhaosun spent half his life and the country's strength in searching for immortals and medicines everywhere, but in the end he failed and was laughed at by the world.

After Liu Kan succeeded to the throne, he fully learned the lessons of his father and was quite disgusted with supernatural powers. He ordered the Taoist priests in the palace to be dismissed and stopped searching for magical fruits and elixirs.

Now Liu Kan is dying and is no longer able to take care of things.

Liu Wuji and Princess Xining were fifteen years apart in age. Because they were born to different mothers and rarely interacted with each other, the relationship between the siblings was cold.

The prince's impression of the princess was still stuck on the scene of presenting her with the immortal fruit in the 22nd year of Guangde.

That year, Taoist Yu Yin, wearing a Taoist robe, with a Buddhist whisk tucked into his belt, held a wooden tray in his hand, and said to Liu Kan, who was sitting on the dragon throne:
"Your Majesty, the langmei tree has finally grown. Master Zhang watered it with snow from the Golden Summit for five years, and unexpectedly, it has been completed this year. This is an auspicious sign from heaven."

Prince Liu Wuji, who was kneeling beside him, sneered, "You call this a good omen?"

The old emperor did not hear his son's complaints. He looked at his daughter who had become a nun and was very emotional. He struggled to sit up, his thin body leaning forward slightly.

Eunuch Li took the wooden tray and presented it to Emperor Guangde.

The old father looked at his daughter who looked like an immortal, grabbed the Langmei fairy fruit and started chewing it in big mouthfuls. Eunuch Li was stunned.

"Give one to the prince."

Eunuch Li came up to Liu Wuji holding a wooden tray.

The prince took a glance and saw that the fruits on the plate were small and thin, with a dull color and skin as shriveled as an old woman's face.

I don't know where Liu Ruolan got this fruit from, but she insists on saying it's a good omen! She's totally trying to fool Father!

Liu Wuji suppressed his anger and picked up a date and swallowed it whole. He thought to himself:
"Playing tricks to fool Father!"

This was the only impression this half-sister left on the prince.

Princess Xining had many guests and staff in her mansion. In her early years, the crown prince sent people to impeach the princess for interfering in government affairs and instigated the Imperial Astronomical Observatory to warn Emperor Guangde with abnormal astronomical phenomena.

However, Liu Kan always ignored it and reprimanded his ministers many times.

The past is like smoke. Now that Liu Kan's long life is coming to an end, Liu Wuji, thousands of miles away, is feeling uneasy. This filial son of the Great Qi Dynasty is quite worried about his father's health.

The staff of the Eastern Palace all advised the prince to go south as soon as possible to prevent any accidents.

"The Emperor is seriously ill and has been unable to recover. I heard he vomited several liters of blood last month, and even the European doctors were at a loss. Now Your Highness is far away in Yanzhao, and the Emperor is bedridden. We are separated by mountains and rivers. If something happens in the palace, it will be detrimental to Your Highness."

"Your Highness, are you unaware of the situation regarding Princess Liu Yufei?"

"If you hesitate when you should make a decision, you will suffer the consequences! Kill Princess Xining Liu Ruolan first, then kill the old villain Kang Guangxu!"

Liu Wuji once suspected that there were spies of Emperor Guangde around him. Based on his understanding of the Suoyi Guard, such a thing was not impossible.

Therefore, the prince was quite indifferent to the advice of his staff, at least on the surface he pretended to be indifferent to fame and fortune and not to compete with the world.

In Liu Wuji's view, his father had fought against gods and killed them all the way to seize the throne, and no conspiracy could escape his eyes.

The prince said with a pious look:

"I am the Crown Prince of Da Qi, the heir apparent to the throne. I have no reason to worry."

In order to express his feelings, Liu Wuji continued to explain:
"My father sent me to Tianjin to eradicate the remnants of Liu Yufei and implement new policies. Now that the rebels have been eliminated and the new policies are showing some signs of improvement, there is so much to be done. How can I leave so easily?"

The staff refused to listen to his nagging and continued to persuade him to take the throne.

The Crown Prince wept bitterly, "Since ancient times, it has been difficult to be both loyal and filial. As the Crown Prince, all I have in mind is the country and its people. My father is only slightly ill and will be fully recovered soon. As a subject, how can I think of anything else at this time?"

~~~~~~~~~~~
At the Tianjin Governor's Office, the prince summoned his staff to discuss matters. Zhang Wei, Sima Bei, Lu Guang and other confidants were all by his side.

Emperor Guangde Liu Kan is critically ill and will not live long.

Everyone then persuaded the prince to return to the capital and take charge of the situation.

"No need to say more, everyone."

Liu Wuji easily rejected the suggestions of his staff.

Based on his understanding of his father, Liu Kan was not on his deathbed at all.

In the past ten years, Emperor Guangde fell ill more than once, and each time he was said to be on his deathbed.

As a result, he was cured by the imperial physician every time.

Before Liu Kan ascended the throne, he often fainted due to illness, so Taizu was very dissatisfied with his son.

Obviously, this was another test from his father.

The emperor was quite dissatisfied with himself for killing Liu Yufei and the remaining rebels.

If he led his troops south without authorization at this time, he would fall into a trap and give Emperor Guangde an excuse to depose him.

Just as everyone was about to persuade the prince, Grand Tutor Zhang Wei finally spoke.

"Our dynasty governs the world with filial piety. In the face of filial piety, new policies can also be considered in the long term."

As the nephew of the former nobleman Qiao Yiqi, Zhang Wei still has some weight in Da Qi.

The Crown Prince said worriedly, "There are some treacherous people in the court now, using the name of the New Deal to sell out the country. They are planning to abandon Annan and Japan and reduce farmers' taxes to win the hearts of the people. This is truly despicable!"

Zhang Wei said meaningfully, "No matter how big a matter is, it is not more important than the emperor's health. His Majesty's health cannot be delayed. If God blesses the Great Qi and Emperor Guangde is healthy, the Crown Prince's return to the capital at this time is a great gesture of kindness, and His Majesty will be pleased. As for the treacherous villains, they are nothing to worry about!"

Everyone agreed.

"Your Highness, please return to the capital without worry. The new policy for Tianjin can be handed over to this old minister."

Liu Wuji was silent for a long time:
"Master Qiao assisted Taizu in establishing this country and made great contributions. Now I need your help again. If you can inherit the throne in the future, Master Zhang should share more of the state affairs."

Zhang Wei kowtowed and said, "Your Highness is mindful of me, an old minister. I will devote myself to your service until my death."

The staff urged: "Princess Xining has been obsessed with the new policy for a long time. She has the style of an eldest princess. We must be on guard."

(End of this chapter)