Spring Remains the Same - Chapter 88

The Crown Prince of Qi had plotted a rebellion, and all his accomplices were executed. Ministers who had been on slightly better terms with the Crown Prince were charged with crimes of varying severity, suffering demotion, dismissal, exile, or even capital punishment.

The Crown Prince had been wise and brilliant, and those he associated with were all worthy and capable ministers. This upheaval dealt a great blow to the state of Qi. The court was purged of its competent officials, leaving behind only sycophantic traitors or those who passed their days in mediocrity. At the same time, the various imperial princes began to contend for the position of Crown Prince, with the Prince of Yuzhang’s claim being the strongest, giving him the air of the new heir apparent.

Puyang and Wei Xiu’s predictions had been correct; the Emperor indeed had arrangements in place. He already had a candidate for the vacant post of provincial inspector. But this candidate was someone no one had expected. He dispatched Wang Gun, commander of the Feathered Forest Guard, to take charge of the military and political affairs of a province.

There were three military forces within the capital city. The first was the Feathered Forest Guard, which garrisoned the inner palace; the second was the Tiger Warriors, who guarded the nine gates of the imperial city; the third was the Gold Guard, which was in charge of the capital’s security. In addition, there were fifty thousand elite soldiers, known as the Black Armor Army, stationed a two-day journey from the capital. This army was currently under the command of the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Wei You, but the Black Armor Army was too far away—a round trip by swift horse would take four days.

Therefore, should a sudden change occur at court, the three forces within the capital were of the utmost importance.

Originally, with Wang Gun commanding the Feathered Forest Guard, Puyang held one-third of this power, giving her an advantage. But the Emperor had suddenly sent Wang Gun away.

“Who is commanding the Feathered Forest Guard?” Puyang asked urgently.

Someone immediately replied, “After General Wang left the capital, Zhang Yi was appointed to fill the position.” The speaker was the Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. The matter had been announced by imperial edict in court an hour ago, catching everyone off guard.

“Zhang Yi…” Puyang repeated, lost in thought.

General Wei, Zhang Yi, had always been a lone wolf in the court, relying on no one. It seemed His Majesty intended to select a man of integrity to assist his grandson.

To transfer General Wang away from the Feathered Forest Guard at such a critical juncture—could it be that His Majesty had grown suspicious of the Wang clan? Everyone felt a little uneasy. Seeing all eyes on her, Puyang immediately said with composure, “I fear the capital will not be peaceful in the coming months. All of you, remain in your posts and do not make any rash moves.”

Everyone chorused their assent, bowed, and withdrew.

Wei Xiu had not spoken a word the entire time. She leaned against the back of her chair, her mind focused on something.

In half a month, it would be New Year’s Day. Another year had passed, filled with turbulent changes and surging undercurrents. The coming year would likely bring even greater storms to the court.

Puyang lifted the pot and refilled Wei Xiu’s cup with hot tea. Wei Xiu, completely unaware, stared at a spot before her, yet her gaze was distant, lost in her own thoughts.

A moment later, as if she had figured something out, she looked toward Puyang. Just as she was about to speak, she was seized by a sudden fit of coughing. Puyang hurried forward to gently pat her back and help her catch her breath.

Wei Xiu covered her mouth with a handkerchief, coughing until her voice grew hoarse. When she finally stopped, she found the energy to say to Puyang, “It’s nothing. It happens once or twice every year.”

Her face was pale, but her lips, from the painful coughing spell, appeared an unnatural, vivid red. Puyang was deeply worried. “Go and rest,” she urged. “What medicine do you need? I’ll have someone fetch it.” The residence had a large stock of medicinal herbs prepared just for Wei Xiu.

Wei Xiu was already used to it and, in turn, comforted her. “I’ll be fine in a few days, don’t worry. I’ve already had someone fetch the medicine and have taken a dose. I feel much better.”

She said she was much better, but she still seemed short of breath, weak and vulnerable, as fragile as the setting sun in winter. Puyang watched her with concern, but there was nothing she could do. In a person’s life, nothing rendered one more helpless than birth, aging, sickness, and death. Even the Emperor, who styled himself the Son of Heaven, could only submit to them.

Wei Xiu took her hand and held it, comforting her as she spoke slowly, “His Majesty sending your uncle out of the capital is surely not due to suspicion. If he were suspicious, he would not have sent him to such a crucial post at this juncture. I suspect His Majesty wants to train troops. The Wang clan’s prestige is known throughout the land, and they have influence in the army. In a day or two, someone from the Chancellor’s manor will surely come to invite Your Highness over to discuss this matter. Your Highness might as well listen to the Chancellor’s opinion.” Their most important concern was still the capital. The regions were a mix of different powers and not easy to control. Now that the country was prosperous and the people content, it would not be easy for unrest to stir in the provinces, so that could be set aside for now.

“I understand,” Puyang said.

Wei Xiu slowly let out a breath, as if she had recovered. She patted the back of Puyang’s hand and smiled faintly. “I’ll have to trouble my lady to see me back to my room.”

Puyang couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh, but she did as requested, rising to fetch a blanket and wrap her up tightly. Then she began to push the wheelchair out of the main hall.

They had only taken two steps when Wei Xiu asked, as if casually, “Does Your Highness have any dealings with the Capital Commandant?”

Puyang thought for a moment, then said as she walked, “No. The Capital Commandant, Jiao Yong, is even more of a loner than Zhang Yi. While Zhang Yi doesn’t form factions, he at least knows how to be perfunctory with the princes. Jiao Yong, however, doesn’t even give a pleasant look to anyone. All the princes are afraid of him, and I have no easy way to befriend him.”

Wei Xiu shook her head. “Don’t make any rash moves. The Feathered Forest Guard, the Tiger Warriors, and the Gold Guard—these three are what His Majesty is watching most closely.” This was not the time to give anyone a handle against them.

Puyang thought so as well. It was better to remain still than to make a move. A storm was coming, and it was best for them to stay steady.

But… “Why did A Xiu suddenly think of the Capital Commandant?” Puyang asked, puzzled. She had never mentioned Jiao Yong before. And if they were talking about winning someone over, the current commander of the Tiger Warriors, Cai Li, was much more pliable than Jiao Yong.

Just then, a cold wind swept past. Wei Xiu covered her lips and coughed. Puyang could no longer spare a thought for anything else, quickly ordering someone to block the wind while she helped Wei Xiu catch her breath.

Due to this series of official transfers by the Emperor, coupled with the favor he showed Xiao Dewen, even the festive atmosphere of the New Year in the capital seemed to have faded.

Among the nearly one thousand civil and military officials of some rank in the capital, not a single one was optimistic about the imperial grandson. For no other reason than that he was too young. Furthermore, most of them already had a prince they favored. For a new candidate to suddenly appear, didn’t that mean their years of allegiance and support would all be for naught?

The capital was filled with anxiety and speculation, yet His Majesty never relented. Xiao Dewen was under an unprecedented amount of scrutiny. He was both proud and terrified, holding fast to Wei Xiu’s words, forcing himself to stand tall and appear neither arrogant nor discouraged, neither hasty nor impatient. In this way, a small number of ministers gradually began to change their views, thinking that perhaps he was a promising talent.

It was not until the New Year’s Grand Ceremony, when the Prince of Donghai Commandery appeared before the court officials in his court robes, standing beside the Emperor, that the ministers felt both shocked and a sense of final confirmation. The princes were so angry their eyes turned red. After fighting for so many years, the prize had gone to this little whelp! Among the princes, who could accept this?

By what virtue or ability could Xiao Dewen occupy the Eastern Palace? Not only the princes, but many ministers thought so as well. The state relied on a mature ruler, and the imperial grandson was far too young—he would be only eleven after the New Year. But his uncles were all in the prime of their lives, with years of accumulated power and stable factions. They had formed alliances with many ministers through interests, marriage, and various other means. How could Xiao Dewen possibly compare?

The court was thrown into chaos. There were those who were angry, those who were suspicious, those who were opposed, and also those who wished to seize the opportunity to pledge their allegiance early.

The Emperor, however, seemed completely unaware, arranging matters one by one with unhurried composure. How could he not have thought of what the ministers were thinking? He was preparing to do two things next: bolster the imperial grandson’s prestige while simultaneously weakening the princes. Due to the changes in Qi, a third task had to be added to the original two: stockpiling troops.

Training an army was not something that could be accomplished in a matter of days, nor was war something that could be started on a whim. Provisions, corvée labor, soldiers, weaponry, and a commander capable of leading thousands of troops were all indispensable. The Emperor gave this task to Wang Gun. Wang Gun’s father was the Chancellor; with Chancellor Wang providing support in court, many things would be much more convenient.

The capital was in a state of disarray. By the end of the second month, some were already preparing to submit memorials to the throne, requesting the establishment of the Eastern Palace.

The imperial clan was the most anxious. To put it simply, this was fundamentally their Xiao family’s affair. They thought of Puyang and rushed over, wanting her to take the lead and ask His Majesty what he was truly thinking.

The Prince of Jin was extremely resentful. For three years, he had not dared to set foot in Puyang’s residence, but this time he came, thick-skinned, and sat in the hall, listening to the Prince of Zhao’s righteous indignation. “If His Majesty establishes his grandson, how will he place us? We are all of His Majesty’s flesh and bl00d, of the Xiao lineage. Are we to stand by and watch ourselves be humiliated by a mere child?”

The several princes clamored on, their point being nothing more than to ask Puyang to take the lead. In the past, you were not close to your elder brothers, and we don’t blame you. But at this critical juncture, you are still our sister. You must speak a word for us.

Puyang was in a terrible mood. Her beloved A Xiu’s condition had not improved after the New Year but had instead worsened daily. She had been staying at home, shutting her doors to care for her consort, yet these people had all come rushing over in a chaotic throng.

The princes were acting out of desperation. The Emperor’s authority was immense, and no one dared to defy him, but none of them were willing to so easily give up the position of heir they had fought over for more than a decade.

The Prince of Jin watched them clamor with a cold eye, then suddenly spoke, “Seventh Lady is so calm and composed. Could it be you already knew he was going to establish the imperial grandson?”

The hall fell abruptly silent. All eyes turned to Puyang.

Puyang’s expression turned frigid. She looked at the Prince of Jin and spoke icily, “What does my royal brother of Jin mean by this? The matter of establishing an heir concerns the foundation of the state. His Majesty wouldn’t even speak plainly to the Chancellor, so why would he tell me? My royal brother of Jin overestimates me!”

“Then why don’t you, Seventh Lady, submit a memorial requesting that Dewen be enfeoffed as a prince and sent to govern a region?” the Prince of Jin said again.

A cold smile appeared on Puyang’s lips. The Prince of Dai’s heart leaped; he knew this meant his seventh sister was angry. He quickly shrank back, yet he also hoped Puyang would agree and get Xiao Dewen out of the capital.

“My royal brother of Jin has calculated well. His Majesty’s sacred will is his own; who would dare defy it? The Prince of Jin doesn’t dare to anger His Majesty himself, yet he expects me to pull the chestnuts out of the fire for all of you royal brothers,” Puyang’s tone grew hard.

The Prince of Dai was on the verge of tears. He shrank back again but couldn’t help saying, “Seventh Lady, you know Father dotes on you. Even if he doesn’t agree, he won’t blame you.”

The Prince of Jing said the same.

The Prince of Zhao said, “If that boy gains power, none of us will have a way to live! Seventh Lady, this is the only thing your elder brother asks of you. If His Majesty gets angry, the four of us will join forces to protect you. In the future, no matter which of us is fortunate enough… we will not forget today’s favor!”

As soon as he said this, the other three immediately voiced their agreement.

The four of them had never been so united. They knew that even if Puyang went, the effect would be minimal. But in the past two months, they had tried every method they could. Two of the Prince of Zhao’s censors had been demoted, the Prince of Jin had been reprimanded, several officials from the Prince of Dai’s faction had suffered setbacks, and the Prince of Jing had been under house arrest until just the day before. The Emperor seemed to have made up his mind, and more and more ministers were beginning to waver. If this continued, there would be no place for them in the court!