There were no thunderclaps or earth-shattering upheavals that night. Under the direction of Yeguang’s leader, everything ended with astonishing speed; barely an hour had passed between Yu Gong Ming entering the palace and being brought to justice. Yet after the Cabinet ministers finished their deliberations and returned to their respective duty rooms to rest, Yu Gong Lie sat alone beneath the sky that was not yet quite dawn, waiting for morning court, and vaguely felt that the night had somehow been unbearably long.
“There is still time. Your Majesty should sleep for a while. This subject will stand guard here.”
Yu Gong Lie gently shook his head. Staring absently at the fish-and-dragon motifs on the lampshade, he murmured, “Little Uncle, if all the civil and military officials learn that I truly am ill, how will they look at me?”
In truth, after everything that had happened tonight, the clever ones should already have reached their own conclusions. But seeing that Yu Gong Lie appeared genuinely worried, Yu Gong Zhao Ye thought for a moment and answered with perfect seriousness, “If Your Majesty is worried that the ministers will force you to undergo a public examination, this subject will go to the Royal Medical Academy now and make the necessary arrangements. I guarantee no one will speak recklessly.”
His consolation was always simple, direct, and forceful. Yu Gong Lie could barely sustain his delicate melancholy any longer. He waved a hand and sighed. “We may have weathered the present storm, but even if we conceal it this time, there will always be another. One day, it will become impossible to hide. I wonder whether the histories will condemn me…”
Deceiving the sovereign was a grave crime. Then what crime should a sovereign bear for deceiving everyone beneath Heaven?
But he could no longer turn back. From the day he learned that he had contracted an incurable disease and was sternly warned by the queen mother never to reveal the secret to anyone, he had embarked on this road of deceiving the world and stealing an undeserved reputation—a road from which there was no return.
To survive, to become crown prince, to become king… he would have to conceal his true condition for the rest of his life, swallowing medicine and enduring needles day after day, suffering through torment while cautiously maintaining this outward shell.
Yet leprosy was treacherous and vicious. Even Wu Chuan Jie could not guarantee that his condition would remain stable forever. If fortunate, he might stubbornly deny everything until death. If unfortunate, his illness might suddenly deteriorate and collapse one day—or before then, another “Yu Gong Ming” might overthrow him on the grounds that he was unworthy of his position.
When this body had finally decayed beyond recovery, what kind of soul would people see through the ruined shell riddled with wounds?
“This subject is not particularly well-read, but when I listened to my teacher lecture in my youth, I remembered one sentence.”
“He who bears the disgrace of the state is called the lord of its altars; he who bears the calamities of the state is called the ruler of all beneath Heaven.”
Yu Gong Zhao Ye offered no beautiful words of reassurance, nor did he pat Yu Gong Lie’s head or shoulder like an affectionate elder encouraging a child. He merely stood there, calm and composed, like a tree planted before the window, casting cool shade through all four seasons and forever shielding him from wind and rain.
His voice was soft but certain. “You are the king of Longsha.”
Dawn was approaching. The faint beat of the night watch drums sounded in the distance, and palace attendants filed inside carrying robes, crown, combs, and washing implements.
At the end of the long night, deep within the hall, the wavering candlelight reflected in the eyes of this false uncle and nephew, flaring for an instant like starlight.
Yu Gong Lie braced a hand against the table and slowly rose, as though once again donning an invisible suit of armor. In a businesslike manner, he nodded to Yu Gong Zhao Ye. “Royal Uncle, please withdraw for the moment. I must change and prepare for court.”
On the fourth day of the turmoil, the king, who had remained secluded while “ill,” finally appeared and convened court in Xuanchen Hall to receive his ministers.
At Yu Gong Lie’s instruction, Fu Yu Wei stepped forward and announced the events of the previous night, enumerating the crimes committed by Yu Gong Ming and Duan Yang Shu Chang.
The officials’ faces changed one after another. The supporters of the Duan Yang clan scattered throughout the ranks exchanged frantic, terrified glances upon hearing the disastrous news. The Third Prince had been caught red-handed committing treason—what manner of immortal had Yu Gong Zhao Ye descended from? How had he managed to play both sides?!
The king was still young and had always been constrained by a powerful chief minister, never once revealing claws or fangs. Who could have imagined that when the crisis arrived, he would display such thunderous methods…
Only yesterday, Academician Duan Yang had instructed them to cling tightly to the matter of leprosy, make as much noise as possible, and force Yu Gong Lie to admit publicly that he was ill. Now the old man himself had gone to prison to visit his grandson. Were they still supposed to continue their attack?
Some lowered their heads and avoided one another’s gazes, silently signaling that they intended to retreat. But others had originally chosen Yu Gong Ming’s side because the symptoms of leprosy were so obvious that any physician could determine the truth with a single examination. Yu Gong Ming should not have lied about something so easily disproved. Whether or not his rebellion succeeded, as long as Yu Gong Lie was confirmed to suffer from such a malignant disease, he was unfit to rule and a new heir had to be chosen as soon as possible.
When Wei Fu had been at court, he had not sided with any faction, yet he had worked remarkably well with Yu Gong Lie. Now that he was gone, the factions at court were entering a period of turbulent change. If Yu Gong Lie truly suffered from that disease, he clearly would not live long. In that case, the only path was to begin with the succession, pledge allegiance early, and secure greater advancement in the future.
“Your Majesty, although the Third Prince has already been brought to justice and confessed, the rumors among the people remain fierce, and the populace is deeply unsettled. Ultimately, this will damage Your Majesty’s authority.” Zhou Shi Min, a Censor of the Censorate, stepped forward and memorialized, “Previously, Your Majesty placed great trust in Wu Chuan Jie while distancing yourself from the Royal Medical Academy, causing suspicion throughout court and country and allowing those with ulterior motives to exploit the matter. This humble subject risks death to offer frank counsel and boldly begs Your Majesty to summon the royal physicians immediately for a joint consultation, so as to calm the hearts of all beneath Heaven.”
Before Yu Gong Lie could answer, someone else stepped forward to meet the challenge. “The Third Prince has already admitted that it was nothing but a fabricated rumor. Why continue entangling ourselves in such meaningless matters? His Majesty’s sacred person is of immeasurable dignity. If ministers can force him to prove his identity merely because of a few rumors, then royal authority will truly be swept away! This subject believes the proposal improper and asks Your Majesty to disregard it!”
“The duty of the Royal Medical Academy is to examine the sovereign. If His Majesty is in good health, what is there to fear from an examination?”
“Naturally, he may be examined. His Majesty may choose to be examined whenever he wishes. The one thing that cannot happen is for you people to coerce him into it!”
“You are twisting logic! Are you trying to allow the rumors to continue unchecked?”
“Bullshit! A minister who oppresses his sovereign is disloyal! If you dare threaten His Majesty, you will first have to step over my corpse!”
“…”
Before the two factions could begin swinging their court tablets at one another amid flying spittle, Yu Gong Lie interrupted them in time. “Enough.”
“Master Fu Yu already explained that Yu Gong Ming fabricated the prophetic rumors to create a diversion and throw the realm into confusion. Now that the rebel has been brought to justice and his crimes are plain for all to see, the rumors collapse of their own accord. My ministers need not argue over this any further.”
Before his words had even finished, Zhou Shi Min immediately pressed on. “At present, both the central palace and the eastern palace stand empty, and the foundation of the state remains unsettled. For rumors of this kind to appear now—if they are allowed to continue, even falsehood may eventually be declared truth. Your Majesty, I beg you to reconsider!”
Yu Gong Lie said, “By that reasoning, even if I summoned the royal physicians for an examination, those who doubt me could still claim that I had silenced them beforehand. As the saying goes, once a man suspects his neighbor of stealing his axe, everything the neighbor does appears suspicious. Once this filth has been thrown upon me, nothing I do will ever wash it clean in certain people’s eyes.”
“Your Majesty’s innocence will speak for itself, but what if foreign powers seize upon this as an excuse to restrain Longsha?” Zhou Shi Min assumed an impassioned, resolute posture and declared gravely, “To speak only of what is near at hand: the previous chief minister has only just departed, and Xiling is searching for a suitable reason to continue controlling Longsha. If they use this matter as a pretext to send another official…”
“Censor Zhou has remarkable foresight. You even predicted this.”
A warm, elegant voice carrying a smile drifted leisurely from behind them. It was not loud, yet it was so familiar that it sent fear coursing through every heart.
All the officials turned around in unison. Several with weaker nerves audibly sucked in a sharp breath on the spot.
At some unknown moment, the main doors of Xuanchen Hall had opened. The man wore plain everyday robes with no extravagant embellishments, save for a deep-purple fox pendant at his waist. He crossed the floor flooded with morning light and approached with graceful, unhurried steps. Officials standing nearby could even catch the distinctive clear, bitter scent of dragon-gall incense as he passed.
For an instant, everyone seemed simultaneously to see a radiant peacock stroll into the great hall with its tail swaying.
“Mi-minister Wei!”
Wei Fu stopped in the center of the hall and bowed to Yu Gong Lie. Then he turned his face slightly, glanced at the expressionless Yu Gong Zhao Ye, and smugly sent him a flirtatious look.
Yu Gong Zhao Ye: “…”
The official standing behind Yu Gong Zhao Ye, who was accidentally grazed by the edge of that glance: This is bad! He dares provoke His Highness the Prince! This gaudy peacock—this fox—must have returned to steal the credit!
After giving his most important greetings to the uncle and nephew, Wei Fu turned and generously scattered free smiles among everyone else. “Good morning, gentlemen.”
Everyone: “…”
What exactly was good about it?!
Seeing that the king did not intend to speak, Yu Gong Zhao Ye voiced the urgent question in place of the ministers. “Why have you returned?”
Wei Fu raised his brows cheerfully and answered with a smile, “I am honored by Your Highness’s inquiry. Since I took office, contact between Xiling and Longsha has grown increasingly close, commerce has flourished, the people have prospered, and both countries have benefited. Unfortunately, three years is neither particularly long nor particularly short. Many undertakings have only just begun, and still more have yet to be attempted.”
“His Majesty possesses wisdom and foresight. Fearing that my departure would cause all previous policies to end with the person who introduced them, he recently submitted a memorial to our emperor, expressing Longsha’s willingness to continue recognizing Xiling as its suzerain state and requesting that His Majesty dispatch another chancellor to assist in government, thereby continuing the alliance between our two countries.”
Wei Fu accepted a document from the deputy envoy behind him and displayed it to the gathered officials before allowing an attendant to present it to Yu Gong Lie. He said sincerely, “While returning home, this subject received a message from an envoy. Our emperor was deeply moved by Your Majesty’s sincerity and ordered this subject to remain in office for another three years and continue assisting Your Majesty. I therefore led the delegation back. I did not expect to hear of such a serious incident immediately upon entering the city, so I hurried into the palace. My manners were inadequate. I ask Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”
Quite a few ministers silently spat in their hearts. The Xiling fox’s robes were perfectly arranged—clearly and carefully coordinated. Forget appearing worn from travel; not even a strand of his hair was out of place. In what way did he look as though he had “hurried” anywhere?!
He had obviously discussed everything with Yu Gong Lie beforehand and had been waiting outside the city for news, timing his return precisely so he could come back and support him!
Since Longsha recognized Xiling as its suzerain state, both the king of Longsha and his successor would require Xiling’s investiture before their rule could be considered legitimate. This was precisely why Yu Gong Ming had waited until Wei Fu departed before daring to make his move. Otherwise, if Wei Fu determined that he was a rebel, neither the principle of a younger brother succeeding an elder brother nor any ancestral law would have been of use. Wei Fu could simply ask Xiling to send troops against him and replace him with a ruler more to his liking.
Yu Gong Lie always wore the honest expression of someone seeking no great achievement and merely hoping to avoid mistakes. No one had imagined that he possessed such decisiveness and courage—that behind the ministers’ backs, he had actually invited back the ancestor they had only just managed to send away!
Although Longsha would still remain subject to another’s control, the advantage was equally obvious: as long as Wei Fu stood on his side, it did not matter whether Yu Gong Lie had leprosy or not. Even if he were a complete fool, he could sit securely upon the throne.
With Yu Gong Zhao Ye before him and Wei Fu behind him, the entire pool of water that Yu Gong Ming had exhausted himself muddying had failed to raise even the slightest wave, apart from bringing catastrophe upon himself and his maternal clan. He had labored for more than a month, only to prepare another man’s wedding clothes.
The moment the fox spirit emerged, every evil retreated. Censor Zhou lowered his banners, silenced his drums, and withdrew resentfully into the ranks.
The king and the Assistant Chancellor exchanged a glance, each understanding the other perfectly. Yu Gong Lie said, “Those are minor formalities. There is no need to dwell upon them. Now that Minister Wei has returned, my heart is at ease.”
Wei Fu inclined his body. “Many thanks, Your Majesty.”
Then he gracefully returned to his customary position below the throne and eagerly showed Yu Gong Zhao Ye across the hall a smile that clearly said, Look how well-behaved I am.
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