Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 63 Strategist (Part 1)

Empress Liu knelt before Emperor Xiaowen, weeping bitterly with tears streaming down her face.

The King of Wei also knelt, his eyes bloodshot and his voice choked with emotion: "Your subject is reluctant to leave Your Majesty and wants to stay by Your Majesty's side to fulfill your filial duties. But some people dislike your subject and are trying every means to drive you away. Last time they tried to assassinate your subject but failed, and now they are trying the same trick again."

"I beg Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate the murder of Imperial Censor Cao and clear my name."

Emperor Xiaowen, who was easily swayed by others and was muddle-headed and incompetent, immediately said upon hearing this, "Someone, summon the Crown Prince."

When the Crown Prince arrived, he was met with the familiar scene. Emperor Xiaowen, with his beloved Empress and son by his side, glared at him angrily: "Someone has secretly framed and slandered the Prince of Wei. You are the Prince of Wei's elder brother. I will give you five days to investigate the case of Imperial Censor Cao, find out the truth, and restore the Prince of Wei's reputation."

Although he had expected it, the Crown Prince still felt a chill run down his spine at this moment. Suddenly, the letter from Miss Pei flashed through his mind.

"...The Emperor has long harbored the intention to depose the Crown Prince and replace him with another heir. No matter how meticulous His Highness the Crown Prince's actions are, he cannot withstand the Emperor's scrutiny, suspicion, and suppression."

"Instead of waiting passively, we should plan ahead and lure the King of Wei into the game. We can then completely eliminate the King of Wei and extinguish any thought the emperor might have of deposing him."

"The Emperor is old and his lifespan is short. His Highness the Crown Prince is destined to become a wise and benevolent ruler."

This treasonous letter has been burned in the candlelight. Yet, every word is deeply imprinted in the Crown Prince's mind, quietly churning within him in the stillness of the night.

Apart from the King of Wei... the Emperor is old and his lifespan is short...

The King of Wei was one thing, but the Emperor was his own father! The father is the head of the family; even if the father is unkind, the son must still be filial. If the father takes up arms, the son should offer his neck for execution…

"Your Highness! Did you hear what I said clearly?"

Emperor Xiaowen's familiar cold and impatient voice quickly brought the Crown Prince back to his senses: "Yes, Your Majesty, I obey."

The King of Wei turned his head slightly, a hint of smug satisfaction in his eyes.

The Crown Prince suppressed his anger, bowed, and took his leave. King Wei saw the Crown Prince out of the palace, and said with feigned concern, "This time, it will be hard on you again, elder brother."

The Crown Prince remained calm and said, "I know your character and temperament well. If Imperial Censor Cao displeases you, you will at most vent your anger in your palace, but you would never send an assassin to kill a high-ranking official of the court."

The sarcasm in his words was clearly visible.

The impulsive King Wei was indeed enraged, his eyes blazing with fury: "Brother, are you mocking me for only taking my anger out on those around me?"

The Crown Prince twitched the corner of his mouth and reassured the King of Wei: "Fifth Brother, don't be angry. What I mean is that this murder case definitely has nothing to do with you. I will send someone to investigate the matter and clear your name, and also give Father an explanation."

The King of Wei sneered, his eyes revealing a hint of provocation: "Fortunately, I have my father backing me up."

With the muddle-headed and biased Emperor Xiaowen around, no one could touch the Prince of Wei.

What if Emperor Xiaowen suddenly passed away?
Once this terrible thought takes hold, it whispers in my mind from time to time, like a murmur from a demon in hell.

The Crown Prince glanced at the King of Wei: "I will also stand up for my fifth brother."

Five days later, the Ministry of Justice produced a completely new testimony. The assassin who killed Imperial Censor Cao was acting on the orders of his political enemies. With both physical and witness evidence in place, General Yu, one of the Twelve Imperial Guards, was swiftly imprisoned and sentenced to death.

General Yu was as renowned as Pei Zhongde, who had been beheaded a few months earlier; both were fierce generals who respected the court. Pei Zhongde defected to the Crown Prince, while General Yu secretly pledged allegiance to the King of Wei.

Pei Zhongde died unjustly, and General Yu was imprisoned awaiting execution. The military generals of Jingchao did not die on the battlefield, but perished in the vortex of the power struggle within the imperial court.

This case completely ushered in the chaotic period of the court and palace at the end of the Jing Dynasty.

The guillotine hung overhead, ready to fall at any moment. This fear instilled unease among the civil and military officials, who hastily chose sides. The Crown Prince, with his humble, gentle, and magnanimous political image, won over a large number of officials. The Prince of Wei, backed by Emperor Xiaowen and with the Grand General of the Ministry of Works standing behind him, was equally powerful. Factional strife is notoriously brutal; the struggle between the Crown Prince's faction and the Prince of Wei's faction was fierce, with officials frequently beheaded and their property confiscated—a bloodbath pervaded the capital.

News from the capital first reached the Beiping army, and then General Meng sent someone to deliver it to Peijia Village.

Pei Qinghe's letters were also delivered to the Eastern Palace and presented to the Crown Prince through General Meng, one after another.

"His Majesty loves beautiful women and enjoys alchemy. The Prince of Wei and his mother cater to his tastes and have won his favor. Your Highness may seek out skilled alchemists and beauties from all over the country and present them to His Majesty."

Lust is like a steel knife that scrapes the bone; the potency of elixirs is even greater than that of beautiful women.

Emperor Xiaowen was quite old and had difficulty getting out of bed and walking, yet he still insisted on taking elixirs and indulging in beautiful women. The Crown Prince had often tried to dissuade him, which greatly displeased Emperor Xiaowen.

Now, the Crown Prince has changed his ways and has taken the initiative to seek out alchemists, even building several new alchemy furnaces for Emperor Xiaowen.

The newly concocted elixir was personally tested by the Crown Prince to ensure its safety before being presented to Emperor Xiaowen's bedside.

Emperor Xiaowen was greatly pleased and softened his attitude towards the crown prince.

King Wei was both shocked and furious. He gritted his teeth and said, "Who exactly is secretly advising the Crown Prince?"

Empress Liu frowned and sighed softly: "The power of the Eastern Palace has grown so great. I don't know where they got such strategists. One move after another, they are truly formidable."

The Crown Prince's actions were an open and aboveboard scheme. As a son, he had to fulfill his filial duty, and no one could say anything against it.

In the past, it was always the King of Wei who would try to curry favor like this. Now that even the Crown Prince is shamelessly vying for the King's favor, the King of Wei suddenly feels a sense of crisis.

“This can’t go on,” King Wei said with a sinister look on his face. “I can’t wait any longer; we have to make a move sooner rather than later.”

Empress Liu was startled and quickly grabbed the Prince of Wei's sleeve: "What are you doing?"

The King of Wei gave a cold laugh: "Mother, you don't need to worry about this. Mother, just stay by Father's side and occasionally whisper in his ear to point out the Crown Prince's faults. That's enough."

……

"Your Highness," Commander He reported in a low voice, "Those spies have all been acting strangely today. They must have received a message and are about to take action." The sky was dark, but the study in the East Palace was brightly lit with candles.

The crown prince curled his lips into a cold smile: "Keep an eye on them. When they make a move, take them down in time, then send some false information to lure their master into a trap."

Commander He responded in a low voice.

After Commander He withdrew, the Crown Prince stood up and took out a letter from a hidden compartment in the bookshelf.

The handwriting on the letter was as sharp as gold and silver strokes. The handwriting reflected the person; this Miss Pei was ruthless, meticulous, and bold, and her words exuded a murderous aura.

"The King of Wei is impatient, impulsive and easily angered."

"By pressing him step by step, Your Highness has unsettled the King of Wei, causing him to make his move. Your Highness has turned the tables on him, drawing the King of Wei into the trap and seizing the opportunity to eliminate his supporters."

"As one side rises and the other falls, the King of Wei's power is waning while Your Highness's is rising. All the officials in the court are discerning and will naturally side with Your Highness."

"With the hearts of the people in the Eastern Palace, great things can be accomplished."

(End of this chapter)