No Return
The events that occurred in Danzhi back then almost replicated themselves in Daliang. Currently, the most likely candidates for the Crown Prince—or the next Emperor—are Prince Su, Han Mingli, and Prince Ji, Han Mingcheng. The matter of deposing the Crown Prince for treason has become a headache for the Emperor, who has been delaying the establishment of the heir for years.
Now that the Emperor has fainted, most courtiers are unaware of whether he is alive or dead. Prince Su took the initiative to control the palace, and Prince Ji consequently besieged Nandu. The situation is on the verge of erupting into bloody conflict. Fratricide and patricide within the royal family are nothing new.
Duan Xu interlocked his hands and placed them under his lips, asking, “How’s Xianye doing?”
“The news from Nandu has been sealed off and can’t get out,” Chenying replied, looking at the note.
He looked up at Duan Xu and said, “Sister Luoxian also mentioned that before Prince Ji surrounded Nandu, the Emperor issued an edict commanding you to immediately lead the troops back to Nandu and protect the royal city from traitors. The messenger is already on the way, riding fast. It’s estimated that he’ll arrive here in about ten days.”
Duan Xu chuckled lightly and said, “Eliminate traitors? It’s vague. I don’t want to get involved in this struggle for the throne. If his messenger rides several horses to death to reach my camp, it’ll take at least half a month to organize the troops and return. What can I catch up to by then?”
He spread out a piece of paper, picked up a pen, and started drawing. “Here is Nandu, and the troops from Daizhou, Shunzhou, and Yizhou have all been dispatched to besiege Nandu. These three provinces have no available troops. However, in Qianzhou, there’s Li Ze’s Changming Army stationed, and in Xizhou, there’s also a Fengnan Army. These two armies haven’t been in battle for years and are approximately the same distance from Nandu as us. Who gave the idea to recall me but not them?”
Chenying leaned over to look. These two armies hadn’t seen combat for many years and probably had a lot of slackers. He said, “The combat effectiveness of these two armies is probably…”
“How much better can Prince Ji’s and Prince Su’s armies be? These two armies, when properly organized, are sufficient,” Duan Xu interrupted, putting down the pen. “Now, the granaries in Qizhou are in our hands, we have the cavalry from Yuzhou, and the weapons from Luozhou. With my troops stationed outside, neither Prince Ji nor Prince Su dares to move against the Duan Family. So what concern is Nandu’s chaos of mine? If I withdraw my troops now, it’s like handing over all the achievements of the past six months. I’m not going back.”
“…,”
Chenying had never seen anyone speak as brazenly against the prevailing order as his third brother did. The implication of Duan Xu’s words was clear: whether the Emperor lives or dies, I couldn’t care less. Even if someone else takes his place, I’ll still fight my battles.
This kind of talk might just be something Duan Xu could say with conviction.
“But the Emperor has already issued the edict, and the messenger is on the way. Third Brother, are you really going to defy the decree?”
Duan Xu crossed his arms and looked at the hastily drawn map for a moment before saying, “The journey from Nandu to Youzhou is long. It’s inevitable for the messenger to encounter accidents along the way. If, unfortunately, he’s robbed and loses the edict and the seal, it’s also possible, isn’t it?”
Chenying couldn’t help but shiver under Duan Xu’s gaze full of playful intent, then heard him say, “Tell that to Luoxian and let her arrange it properly.”
Chenying agreed with a sweaty forehead. He often felt that no matter when his third brother raised his banner and declared rebellion, he wouldn’t be surprised and would follow along. His third brother respected no one except perhaps the Ghost King.
As Chenying left the tent, Duan Xu lowered his head to look at the map, smiling faintly.
“The world is bustling for profit, and people are bustling for gain. This struggle for power has played out twice in the last ten years. She’s probably seen too much of it, and it’s all become tiresome.”
Tiresome.
This possibility rolled through his mind, and he quickly pushed down the sinking feeling, neatly folding the sketch and picking up a new battle report.
These were all good distractions, allowing him to temporarily forget many things.
Meanwhile, over Nandu, dark clouds loomed, and the hearts of the people were filled with anxiety. The usually lively streets were deserted. People whispered quietly, occasionally glancing towards the palace, anticipating the impending disaster.
Fang Xianye walked out of the main hall of Jin’an Temple and headed west towards the secluded wing behind the palace. That area was usually reserved for visiting believers to practice and contemplate. Since the Emperor fainted and hadn’t attended court, and with the palace under tight security, he had taken leave from his nominal position at the Ministry of Rites and sought refuge in Jin’an Temple.
This seemed quite normal, and no one found it amiss. Under the ominous clouds, everyone was focused on self-preservation.
It wasn’t long after the Lunar New Year, and the weather was still cold. As Fang Xianye passed under the eaves, his breath turned into white mist. But faint hints of green were already appearing on the ground and in the treetops, signalling the approach of spring.
He reached a quiet, unoccupied building and gently knocked on the door.
“Who is it?” came a thin voice from inside.
“Fang Xianye.”
Someone came over and opened the door, revealing a middle-aged eunuch nearly fifty years old, short and slightly overweight, walking with measured steps and speaking in a thin voice. He was a eunuch who had long served in the palace.
Fang Xianye glanced at the man lying on the bed and whispered, “Master Zhao, has the Emperor fallen asleep again?”
Master Zhao also lowered his voice, his brows furrowed in worry. “The Emperor can only wake for two or three moments a day. We’re so worried; he can hardly eat.”
The room in this Buddhist temple was very simple, with only a bed and two tables. The man lying on the bed appeared to be around forty years old, tall and imposing, with a pale and weary face yet still exuding a hint of dignity. He was none other than the current Emperor.
Both the civil and military officials, including Prince Su and Prince Ji, had never imagined that the Emperor, whose life hung in the balance, was hiding in Jin’an Temple.
Fang Xianye’s involvement in this matter was purely accidental. Previously stationed at the Yunluo border, he had returned and was demoted due to an incident at a poetry gathering, thus not being involved in the struggle for the throne. After the Emperor fainted in the court, Prince Su sealed off the palace, leaving everyone unaware of the Emperor’s true condition. But a few days ago, when he went to Jin’an Temple to pay his respects as usual, he was stopped by Master Songyun, who calmly asked for his help.
Little did he know that this “help” involved secretly bringing the Emperor, who had regained consciousness after fainting, into Jin’an Temple.
Master Songyun had once served in the palace when he was young and had a good relationship with the Emperor at that time. With the recent upheaval in the palace, unable to trust either Prince Su or Prince Ji, the Emperor secretly contacted Master Songyun and escaped from the palace to Jin’an Temple.
However, even the Emperor hadn’t expected Master Songyun to call Fang Xianye for help.
At that time, Master Songyun was chanting Buddhist scriptures, praising Fang Xianye for his humility, intelligence, and quick wit, rare qualities in a young man. He said that Fang Xianye was an extraordinary person who could discuss even the most important matters calmly.
At that moment, as the Emperor watched Fang Xianye kneeling on the ground, he didn’t know what to say and had to let Master Songyun speak.
Now, the Emperor slowly opened his eyes on the bed, and Master Zhao exclaimed, “The Emperor is awake!”
The Emperor’s hazy eyes turned and fell on Fang Xianye, gradually becoming clear. He said lightly, “Minister Fang, you’re here.”
Fang Xianye bowed and said, “Reporting to Your Majesty, I’ve brought some medicinal herbs and tonics.”
The Emperor reached out his hand, and Master Zhao immediately went to support him, helping him sit up against the bed frame and handing him a hand warmer, taking good care of him.
With narrowed eyes, the Emperor looked Fang Xianye up and down and said, “I remember, you’re Yao Jianhe’s student.”
Yao Jianhe, the Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was referred to as the Duke of Pei, a title of honour among court officials.
“I lost my parents at a young age and faced many hardships on my journey to take the imperial examination in Nandu. Fortunately, Minister Yao appreciated me and sheltered me for a few days. I have only learned a fraction of Minister Yao’s knowledge and feel unworthy to be called his student,” Fang Xianye replied calmly.
“Minister Fang, you achieved the highest score in the imperial examination at the age of seventeen, becoming the youngest Zhuangyuan (top scholar) since the founding of Daliang. You should have been full of ambition and pride, yet you have always been humble and thoughtful, caring for the people and embodying the spirit of a virtuous ruler. Previously, I intended to let you undergo some trials to temper yourself before appointing you, Minister Fang, are you aware of my intentions?” the Emperor asked.
Fang Xianye immediately bowed and said, “Being favoured by Your Majesty is the greatest fortune of my life. I have no regrets.”
The Emperor then said softly, “Now, I am weak and frail, fearing that my time is limited. Minister Fang, in your opinion, which prince in Daliang would be most suitable to entrust with the future of Daliang?”
This question was too sensitive, and Fang Xianye felt something amiss immediately. He knelt down at once and said, “Your Majesty is at the height of your power and surely will live a long life. How dare I speak recklessly about such matters?”
The Emperor chuckled lightly, not letting him off the hook, but instead said, “Yao Jianhe is very close to Prince Ji. What do you think of Prince Ji? Is he suitable for a great responsibility?”
Fang Xianye broke out in a cold sweat, clenching his fists. He knew the Emperor was determined to get a result from him, so after hesitating for a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, “The Duke of Pei only has a close relationship with Prince Ji due to their familial ties and should have no other intentions. If I may… Although both Prince Su and Prince Ji are talented and possess strategic acumen, when it comes to literary and martial prowess, Prince Jin is not inferior.”
There was a moment of silence. In this bewildering situation, Fang Xianye had little confidence in his own speculations.
The Emperor didn’t seem too pleased with his answer. On the surface, Fang Xianye was known as Yao Jianhe’s student and although he hadn’t done anything substantial, he appeared to be aligned with Prince Ji’s faction. Having hidden in Jin’an Temple for many days without attempting to contact Prince Ji outside the city, the Emperor likely wasn’t satisfied with Prince Ji. Moreover, the Emperor’s unwillingness to stay in the palace and his clandestine plotting to escape indicated his fear of Prince Su, who controlled the palace.
If Fang Xianye’s guess was correct, the Emperor was dissatisfied with both of these sons who were growing in power. The most suitable candidate left would be Prince Jin. Among all the princes, Prince Jin was the youngest, excelled in calligraphy, and seemed uninterested in political struggles. However, Fang Xianye had occasionally read Prince Jin’s poetry and essays and found them profound, indicating hidden depths.
“Prince Jin…” The Emperor chuckled softly. He continued slowly, “Minister Fang, there’s no need to be so nervous. Please rise.”
Fang Xianye breathed a sigh of relief, seemingly having guessed correctly.
As he stood up from the ground, the Emperor waved his hand, and Master Zhao brought over a chair for Fang Xianye to sit on. The Emperor said calmly, “Prince Su and Prince Ji are both plotting to seize power while I am ill. If I hadn’t been prepared, I would have died in the palace. How can such unscrupulous individuals inherit the great land of Daliang? Minister Fang’s words are indeed reasonable. Although Prince Jin is young, he is kind and courteous, suitable for the throne. In the future, he will need capable assistants by his side. I favour you, and you will have a place by his side.”
Fang Xianye thanked him, but he knew that this was the Emperor’s way of reassuring him. Before Master Songyun found him, the Emperor should have already selected a group of loyalists for Prince Jin, and since Fang Xianye had a close relationship with Yao Jianhe, he was probably excluded from this group.
From the Emperor’s attitude, it seemed he intended to let Prince Su and Prince Ji fight each other while Prince Jin benefited. After both Prince Su and Prince Ji were weakened, and a new Emperor ascended the throne, neither of the two factions supporting the princes would benefit, likely leading to their decline, and a reshuffle of power within the court.
So was this upheaval arranged by the Emperor? No, it occurred suddenly, probably not the Emperor’s intention, but rather because the Emperor’s worsening condition triggered this upheaval prematurely.
Fang Xianye’s mind was quickly analysing the current situation. But he heard the Emperor ask quietly beside him, “Has General Duan not returned yet?”
Fang Xianye hesitated for a moment, secretly clenching his fists.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, General Duan has not yet arrived in Nandu.”
“It has been quite some time; he should have arrived by now. Minister Fang, why do you think he has not returned yet?”
“I am not knowledgeable about military matters, Your Majesty, so I dare not speculate. Perhaps the situation on the way is chaotic, and the messenger has not arrived yet.”
The Emperor chuckled softly. He continued slowly, “As soon as the situation changed, I issued an edict for him to return. General Duan is such an informed person; how could he still not have returned?”
Fang Xianye felt his palms sweating.
Fortunately, the Emperor did not pursue this topic any further and casually changed the subject.
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