Wish You All the Best - Chapter 79

Chapter 79

In the Imperial Study, Liu Jiushao, the overall commander of the Shanglin Park excursion, finished a detailed report of the events and added: "The right wing of the Four Guards Battalion consists of over five thousand men. Most of the commanders and battalion leaders were trusted confidants of Zhou Jin. After Your Majesty left the city that day, the right wing began secretly and unauthorizedly dispersing and mobilizing. This was a preparation Zhou Jin made for a forced abdication, just in case the assassination failed. All the depositions are complete; I await Your Majesty’s final verdict."

After he finished speaking, he saw the Emperor staring at the candle flame on the desk, his figure frozen, his face a pale, bruised blue. Fearing to look further, Liu lowered his head.

After a long moment, he heard the Emperor say: "Your mobilization was timely, and your loyalty and bravery are commendable. Very well, you may withdraw first. I will reward you later."

Liu Jiushao bowed in gratitude and withdrew. Seeing Pei You'an waiting quietly outside the hall, he hurried forward and called out, "Lord Pei."

His admiration for Pei You'an now bordered on total devotion. Had it not been for Pei's prior warnings and precautions regarding this trip to Shanglin Park, it would be impossible to imagine what might have become of the situation, given the meticulous planning of the assassination and coup. Even now, the mere thought sent shivers down his spine.

Pei You'an nodded.

One could not linger outside the hall. Before leaving, Liu Jiushao lowered his voice: "My Lord, do not worry. Although you did not accompany us to Shanglin Park, I did not dare to bury your contribution; I have already reported everything truthfully to His Majesty."

Pei You'an smiled faintly.

As Liu Jiushao departed, Pei stood beneath the steps of the hall, lifting his gaze to the row of chiwen (dragon-headed) ridge beasts perched upon the central ridge of the glazed palace roof.

The ridge beasts were arranged in orderly fashion, their faces stern, eyes like drums, looking down arrogantly upon everything beneath their feet.

A palace attendant emerged from within and bowed to him: "Lord Pei, His Majesty summons you."

Pei You'an withdrew his gaze, stepped forward, entered the hall, and performed the kowtow ritual for Xiao Lie.

Xiao Lie sat upright behind his desk, the bruised hue still lingering on his face. He stared at the kneeling Pei You'an without speaking for a time.

Pei You'an did not rise, remaining on his knees.

"You'an, Liu Jiushao just reported to me that he had received your guidance for this trip to Shanglin Park?"

"How did you foresee the Crown Prince’s plot to assassinate me? Since you were aware, why did you not inform me earlier?"

"Raise your head and answer me!"

Xiao Lie finally spoke, his voice unusually heavy, faintly tinged with interrogation.

Pei You'an looked up, meeting the Emperor’s gaze with a calm expression.

"Your Majesty, I could not say these things before, but today, I must. There is no other reason: the Crown Prince has always viewed me with the heart of a traitor, and I had no choice but to be on my guard."

The Imperial Study fell into silence. A moment later, Xiao Lie spoke again: "Why are you so certain that the Crown Prince could not tolerate you? I have taught the Crown Prince time and again that your father and I were like brothers, and I wished for you two to also..."

His voice grew hoarse, and he trailed off, his gaze desolate.

Pei You'an slowly kowtowed to the floor.

"This subject is guilty. I failed to fulfill my duties as a subject, leading to the Crown Prince’s unresolved resentment and causing Your Majesty such disappointment."

He said this in a low voice.

Xiao Lie remained silent.

Pei You'an straightened his body and called for the attendant, ordering him to retrieve the items he had brought. As the attendant passed them inside, Pei unfolded them. It was a woman’s undergarment; one sleeve was stained with dark spots, the color yellowed, looking as though some time had passed.

The Emperor was startled: "What is this?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this is the garment my wife wore when she attended the birthday banquet of the Crown Princess’s mother. When my wife returned from the banquet that night, she told me that the Crown Princess had directed the accompanying palace maids to pour wine for the guests at the table. When it came to my wife’s cup, she noticed the palace maid’s way of holding the pitcher was peculiar. Fearing to drink it, she pretended to drink and secretly poured the wine into her sleeve. After returning, my wife recalled the scene of the Crown Princess going mad in public. She was unsettled, and in her confusion, she told me about the incident. Your Majesty knows that I have some slight knowledge of medicine. Having learned to treat illnesses since I was young, I have dabbled in exotic medicines. My suspicions were aroused, so I extracted and tested the residue of the wine stains on the garment. I eventually discovered it was a secret sect’s hallucinogenic drug; those who ingest it appear drunk and lose their minds."

Xiao Lie’s expression slowly tightened.

"I still remember breaking into a cold sweat that night. I cannot imagine the consequences if my wife had drunk that wine. It was only after that night that I was forced to be on my guard. Later, with the incidents involving the Crown Princess, Zhou Jin, and Empress Zhou all ending in their own ruin, even with Your Majesty’s deep fatherly heart, the Crown Prince could not avoid being caught in the crossfire. I presumed to guess that the Crown Prince likely developed a sense of self-preservation. As for this trip to Shanglin Park, the signs originated from the White Crane Temple. When I treated Chi Hanzhen, she was evasive, and her illness was recurrent. On the eve of the trip, she fell into a coma, and I had to request leave. I knew Chi Hanzhen had prior ties to the Crown Princess, and this illness seemed suspicious, occurring just as Your Majesty was leaving the palace. Thus, my suspicions were aroused, and fearing for Your Majesty’s safety, I warned Commander Liu that he must be meticulous and extra vigilant."

Pei You'an raised his eyes, fixed upon the Emperor before him.

"One may block a valley or stream, but greed is never satisfied. Humans are born with spirits, yet they are often driven by ambition and desire without realizing it. This is a form of suffering. Your Majesty, before the incident at Shanglin Park, all of this was but my own reckless speculation based on the human heart. I did not believe the Crown Prince would commit such an act of treason against the clan and ancestors, nor would I dare to come before Your Majesty and openly sow discord between the father and son of the imperial house."

"This is the entirety of the reason; I have hidden nothing. For the selfish desire of self-preservation, I disregarded Your Majesty’s safety. I am guilty."

After finishing, Pei You'an kowtowed to the ground once more.

Xiao Lie sat as if in meditation, eyes closed and silent. After a long while, he stood up, his footsteps heavy, and walked slowly to where Pei You'an remained kowtowing without lifting his head. He bent down and used both hands to lift him from the ground.

"You'an, what crime have you committed! I do not blame you. I must also reflect on myself; for many years, my private virtues have been lacking, and my vigilance insufficient. I failed to notice the Crown Prince’s growing estrangement until it reached the point of attempted parricide—insane and shocking. Regarding the Shanglin Park incident, although you did not accompany us, your contribution is no less than Liu Jiushao’s."

"To think that while I possess the world, there is not a single person by my side..."

He suddenly tightened his fingers, gripping Pei's arms firmly. His voice trembled sharply, then stopped abruptly. He stared fixedly at Pei You'an for a moment, then, seeming to realize his loss of composure, let go of Pei's arms, turned, stood for a moment, and sat back down behind the desk.

"You'an, from the moment you came to my side at sixteen, I have trusted you. From this day forward, you and I shall work together with one heart."

"Though the world belongs to me, in the future, I will never treat you unfairly. Do you remember this?"

Xiao Lie gazed at Pei You'an, saying each word clearly.

Pei You'an hesitated for a moment, then knelt again, kowtowing in thanks.

Xiao Lie told him to rise: "I know the Crown Prince’s nature is thin and callous. I once thought the Crown Princess was virtuous, which is why I betrothed her to him, hoping she would assist him. I did not expect her to collude with him, which truly disappointed me. I originally intended to send her away for life imprisonment, but yesterday, someone from the Eastern Palace reported that she is pregnant. I will tolerate her for a few days, and after she gives birth, I will dispose of her otherwise. She harmed the Zhen family; you will not blame me for favoritism in handling it this way, will you?"

Pei You'an replied: "Your Majesty’s judgment is sound; even if my wife were to know, she would surely respect it."

Xiao Lie nodded: "I am a bit weary. You may also withdraw."

As Pei You'an exited, Xiao Lie watched his retreating figure. Just as Pei reached the palace door, he suddenly called out again.

"Does Your Majesty have further instructions?" Pei You'an stopped.

"With the passing of the Elder Mistress, you are the eldest grandson responsible for the rites, and I ought to let you observe the mourning period properly. However, national affairs outweigh family matters. The Elder Mistress was a person of great principle during her lifetime; now that her spirit is in heaven, she would surely not blame me. Recently, memorials from the Jingxiang region have arrived like snowflakes, full of ceaseless disturbances. The matter of naturalizing displaced people is fraught with complexity. Although you established the grand strategy earlier, the local officials lack the ability to implement it effectively, and there are frequent conflicts with the populace. I fear that if this continues, it will incite public resentment, and if trouble rises again, it will be a grave matter. Since you spearheaded this project, the local people trust you. Thus, I summoned you back to the capital intending to rescind your mourning period and restore your rank, wishing to send you to the Southwest once more to implement livelihoods on my behalf—both to benefit the region and to eliminate future trouble. What is your will?"

Xiao Lie’s tone sounded as if he were consulting him.

Pei You'an’s figure steadied, then he replied: "This subject obeys the decree."

Xiao Lie watched him: "If that is the case, I will order the Ministry of Personnel to issue the decree tomorrow. You may choose the day to depart..."

He hesitated, then said: "You'an, I know that for these years, you have exhausted your heart and traveled back and forth for me, never having a moment of leisure. I see it all. Once this matter is handled, I will certainly let you rest for a while. It has not been easy for you."

"Your Majesty is too kind. I have only fulfilled my duty. I take my leave."

Xiao Lie smiled and called in Li Yuangui, ordering him to escort Pei.

"Lord Pei, please."

Li Yuangui said respectfully.

Pei You'an bowed to the Emperor, lowered his head, turned, and exited the study. He had walked only a few paces when Cui Yinshui hurried inside from the opposite direction, his expression full of panic. Seeing Li Yuangui stop and frown, he hurried over and whispered: "Godfather, something happened at the North Garden! The Empress wants to see the Emperor, but the palace attendants would not pass on the message, so she tried to burn herself alive. Fortunately, it was discovered early, extinguished in time, and nothing major occurred..."

Li Yuangui stopped in his tracks.

Pei You'an smiled faintly: "Eunuch Li, please stay. I can find my way out of the palace myself." Having said this, he turned and walked away.

He stepped out of the hall and walked down the steps. The smile on his face gradually faded. He stared ahead and walked along the palace path, gradually quickening his pace.

...

Within a palace courtyard in the North Garden, the Zhou woman’s face was pale, her gaze frantic. The soles of her palace shoes struck the ground as she paced back and forth across the hall.

The echoes of her hollow and hurried footsteps reverberated through the empty hall. Suddenly, she saw a tall figure walking from the deep darkness of the entrance, where the candlelight could not reach, casting a long, black shadow upon the ground.

The man finally stood there, looking at her coldly. His gaze was indifferent, devoid of the slightest emotion; it seemed as if even his hatred had ceased to exist.

The Zhou woman ran toward him, yet ultimately did not dare approach. She knelt on the floor a few paces away, tears streaming down her face, and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, I received Your Majesty’s reprimand and was filled with dread and anxiety. Although Yintang has committed a monstrous crime, if it were not for Zhou Jin’s instigation, my son would never have done such a thing! He was momentarily confused. Even a tiger does not eat its cubs; I beg Your Majesty, for the sake of our years as husband and wife, to spare him this one time!"

She kowtowed incessantly, her forehead striking the floor with a dull thud.

Xiao Lie said coldly: "You sought me out with death. I thought you had a heart of remorse and came for the sake of twenty years as husband and wife. I did not expect that instead of reflecting on your own failures in upbringing, you would continue to push the blame onto others? Even lambs know the grace of kneeling to suckle, and crows know the duty of feeding their elders, yet what has your son done? After my ascension, I appointed him Crown Prince; what did he have to be dissatisfied with? Now that he has attempted parricide to seize the throne, I have already spared his life. Once the Zhang woman gives birth, regardless of whether it is a boy or a girl, I will raise the child as an imperial heir. For twenty years, I have not failed you or your son. You had best take care of yourself; I am leaving."

Having said this, he turned and strode away.

The Zhou woman opened her bloodshot eyes, staring intensely at the Emperor’s departing back. Suddenly, she shrieked: "Your Majesty, you say you have not failed me or Yintang! Do you think I do not know where you went during those six months you secretly left Yunnan? You clearly snuck into the capital, went to Cien Temple, and were with Pei Wenjing—is that not true? All these years, you have only had eyes for the son Pei Wenjing bore you. When have you ever truly looked at Yintang? He is your legitimate son, the heir to the throne! You are so partial that you have a hand in Yintang’s downfall! What right do you have! Do you think the golden child you treasure has no ulterior motives toward you? If one day he learns of your sordid past, do you think he will still recognize you as his father?"

The Zhou woman’s shrill voice echoed in the empty palace, as if creating layers of sound.

Xiao Lie stopped abruptly and turned his head slowly.

The candlelight danced, reflecting on his face. His complexion was ash-blue, his facial muscles twitching slightly, his expression fierce, like a beast of prey suddenly enraged.

"What did you just say?"

He gritted his teeth, stepping toward the Zhou woman step by step, his gaze incomparably grim.

The Zhou woman shrank back, a look of terror appearing in her eyes. Suddenly, as if coming to her senses, she threw herself at his feet and clutched Xiao Lie’s leg: "Your Majesty, I deserve to die! I was just babbling nonsense. I beg Your Majesty, spare Yintang, give him another chance..."

She wept until her heart seemed broken, "I have only one son. To handle it this way, what difference does it make from taking his life?"

Xiao Lie lowered his head, staring at the woman clutching his legs and weeping bitterly. After a long moment, he sneered: "What is 'legitimate'? Why is there so much 'legitimacy' in the world? My throne was not obtained through legitimacy either; why must it be passed to your son? Man’s heart is never satisfied; he has cut himself off from Heaven."

Xiao Lie kicked her aside and walked away, never looking back again.