Emperor Chunming had not slept all night.
He knew Lu Qi would make his move during the lantern festival that evening. Leading his own men and gathering dozens of elite fighters, he stood a fair chance of success.
The Crown Prince’s swordsmanship was indeed formidable, but his chronic headaches remained a fatal weakness in combat—especially in the deafening chaos of the Shangyuan Lantern Festival, which could easily trigger an episode.
Those stray arrows had struck him hard during a previous headache attack, leaving him defenseless. Tonight’s festival offered the same perfect opportunity.
Yet Emperor Chunming never expected that before any news from Lu Qi arrived, the Qianmen Gate lighthouse collapse would reach the palace first.
Minister of Works Xue Jingzhi and his deputies rushed to the palace overnight to plead for mercy.
When the Emperor learned that only minor injuries had been sustained by a handful of soldiers and civilians, he breathed a sigh of relief.
But upon discovering that the Crown Prince had long identified the lighthouse’s structural flaws and secretly orchestrated evacuations before the collapse, his emotions grew complicated.
Suspicion crept in. "How did the Crown Prince lure the crowd to the Water Mirror Stage? Could a single play really divert half the imperial street’s populace?"
The junior official overseeing the lighthouse project, drenched in cold sweat and teeth chattering, knew his fate was sealed. Still, he forced out an answer: "The play… it dramatized the affair between the Marquis of Ningde’s heir and Concubine Yu…"
The words struck like lightning. Emperor Chunming’s vision darkened briefly before blood roared to his head. Had he not clenched his fists to steady himself, he might have collapsed.
Ministers kowtowed below, shouting, "Your Majesty, calm your anger—"
But calm was impossible. The usually unflappable ruler now resembled a raging lion. He stormed forward and kicked the junior official square in the shoulder, snarling through gritted teeth, "You embezzled funds, blinded by greed—spitting on the law and humiliating your Emperor!"
The kick carried his full weight, sending the man sprawling. Unable to rise, the official could only whimper apologies while trembling against the floor.
Every minister pressed their foreheads to the ground, too terrified to meet their sovereign’s gaze.
After an eternity, Emperor Chunming wrestled his fury under control and pieced together the scheme.
The Crown Prince had known about the lighthouse’s impending collapse yet deliberately withheld warnings—allowing the disaster to unfold while covertly redirecting crowds with a scandalous play. Not only had he averted casualties, but he’d also exposed royal shame to the masses, tarnishing the Emperor’s dignity while polishing his own reputation.
A masterstroke.
His knuckles whitened. Only the thinnest restraint kept him from executing every corrupt official in the room.
When Lu Qi returned wounded, limping into the hall to kneel, the Emperor didn’t need details to know the assassination had failed again. Before Lu Qi could speak, a sweep of the Emperor’s arm sent a mountain of memorials crashing onto him. "Useless!"
"Your Majesty, I never anticipated the Crown Prince’s preparations—"
"Then what good are you?" The Emperor paced like a caged beast. "You missed the lighthouse dangers, his troop movements, his schemes—did you truly believe he left the palace just to amuse some concubine?"
Lu Qi groveled. "This lowly one failed! Punish me! Though… the Crown Prince did shield that bedchamber maid throughout, allowing me to wound his flank—"
The Emperor cut him off. In the past, news of the Crown Prince’s injuries might have pleased him, but after three months of relentless humiliations—
Purges in the Eastern Palace, sending tortured spies back to Empress Huigong’s quarters to stir gossip;
Exposing last year’s sacrificial livestock scandal to force Prince Chen to sacrifice his own aide;
The New Year’s banquet trap, luring Xie Huaichuan and Concubine Yu into public exposure;
Now this—broadcasting imperial disgrace through song for commoners to mock!
The thought of his carefully buried secrets becoming tavern chatter made his blood boil. He could silence Chaoyang Hall’s servants, but slaughtering every civilian witness was impossible.
The Crown Prince had calculated this perfectly—to shred his father’s dignity and make the Son of Heaven a laughingstock.
"Kill him," the Emperor hissed, eyes glinting. "By any means. If he lives, we die."
Lu Qi’s gaze turned murderous as he accepted the order.
As for the lighthouse collapse, only harsh punishments could preserve the Emperor’s "virtuous ruler" image. Minister Xue Jingzhi, his trusted ally, would inevitably fall with the corrupt Ministry of Works officials.
After investigations, punishments were decreed:
Xue Jingzhi—dismissed and prosecuted.
Left Vice Minister—three years’ salary forfeited, rank demoted three levels.
Right Vice Minister—eighty cane strikes, exiled to the frontiers.
The junior official—property confiscated, beheaded.
Others involved—assets seized, autumn executions.
With the Ministries of Works and Revenue now leaderless (the latter previously under the disgraced Marquis of Ningde), the Crown Prince seized the moment to recommend replacements—two officials whom Emperor Chunming had previously "promoted" into exile.
The Emperor had no choice but to recall them.
These appointments were but another move in their deadly game. Once the Crown Prince died, his faction could be purged at leisure.
But after executing the Marquis of Ningde’s faction earlier and now gutting the Ministry of Works, the court trembled on unstable ground.
After much deliberation, Emperor Chunming ordered the Imperial Guards to spread the news: the collapse of the Shangyuan Qiandumen lighthouse was, in fact, the Crown Prince’s scheme to eliminate his political rivals. Only by overthrowing these officials from the Ministry of Works could the Crown Prince install his own trusted followers.
The rumor quickly spread among court officials and commoners alike. The people, already intimidated by the Crown Prince’s tyranny, readily believed it. Public sentiment swiftly turned against him, and even the two officials he had recommended faced harsh criticism and curses from the populace.
Of course, maintaining his carefully crafted facade of benevolence, Emperor Chunming continued to display a harmonious uncle-nephew relationship with the Crown Prince in public.
During a meeting in the imperial study one day, the Crown Prince leisurely observed Lu Qi’s slightly limping right leg. "Has Commander Lu not yet recovered?"
Lu Qi replied, "My apologies for the unsightly display, Your Highness."
Lu Qi had publicly claimed that his injury resulted from a fire in his residence, where a collapsing beam struck his right leg. He had spent half a month recuperating at home before he could walk again, and even now, his movements remained hindered.
The Crown Prince smiled. "Commander Lu has risked life and limb for His Majesty. Even while injured, he remains diligent in his duties. I deeply admire such dedication."
Then, turning to Emperor Chunming, he added, "However, given Commander Lu’s current mobility issues, entrusting him with heavy responsibilities may no longer be appropriate. Your Majesty should consider promoting new talent."
At this, Emperor Chunming instinctively grew wary. "Lu Qi is reliable in his work. Handing certain matters to others would leave me uneasy."
The Crown Prince chuckled. "Be that as it may, it might give others the impression that Your Majesty lacks capable men. Moreover, the Imperial Guards are the Emperor’s personal army, representing the dignity of the royal family. Those promoted have always been exceptional in both skill and appearance. I happen to have a candidate in mind—would Your Majesty care to hear it?"
His words carried veiled barbs, even mocking Lu Qi’s appearance. Were it not for the fact that Lu Qi’s private affairs were known only to the Emperor and himself, Emperor Chunming might have suspected the Crown Prince had uncovered something.
With the court in turmoil these past few days, the Crown Prince had already promoted numerous officials. Emperor Chunming was no stranger to such tactics.
Yet each time, the Crown Prince presented his arguments so logically that refusing him outright would invite criticism.
Emperor Chunming forced a smile. "Whom does the Crown Prince wish to recommend?"
The Crown Prince answered, "Sheng Yu, the top martial scholar in the Tianqi era."
He then cast a meaningful glance at Lu Qi. "Commander Lu must know this man?"
Despite the bronze mask covering half his face, the Crown Prince noticed the slight tremor in Lu Qi’s pupils.
Sheng Yu… Twenty years ago, we both served as lieutenants under the late Emperor and were highly favored by him.
Why would the Crown Prince mention him in front of me?
Others may not recognize me, but Sheng Yu might…
Suppressing his unease, Lu Qi replied, "To my knowledge, after the Northern Frontier War, Sheng Yu was demoted two ranks as part of the accountability measures. He currently serves as a battalion commander in Pengcheng."
The Crown Prince said, "A man of Sheng Yu’s talents is wasted as a mere battalion commander. The Imperial Guards are in need of a deputy commander, and Sheng Yu once served as an assistant commander. I believe he is well-suited for the role."
Had the Crown Prince not brought him up, Emperor Chunming might have forgotten Sheng Yu entirely. He vaguely recalled Sheng Yu as a towering, elegant figure who had once been the talk of the capital. After the late Emperor’s fatal injury and death, Emperor Chunming had used accountability as a pretext to demote or exile his former generals—Sheng Yu among them.
The Crown Prince’s sudden push to promote Sheng Yu was undoubtedly an attempt to plant his own man among the Emperor’s personal guards.
Emperor Chunming said, "There’s no rush to fill the Imperial Guards’ vacancies—"
The Crown Prince cut him off sharply. "Is it truly that the Imperial Guards lack manpower, or is Your Majesty questioning my judgment in appointing capable men?"
Though his lips curved in a smile, his dark eyes held no trace of warmth.
Emperor Chunming clenched his fists discreetly, suppressing his anger. "The Crown Prince knows well that I mean no such thing."
The Crown Prince’s tone turned solemn. "Sheng Yu served under the late Emperor, achieving remarkable military feats at a young age and rising to the rank of lieutenant general. Without any major faults, he has been suppressed for twenty years without promotion. The one who should be questioned is not I, but Your Majesty."
A muscle twitched near Emperor Chunming’s eye. After a long pause, he gritted his teeth and conceded, "Very well. As you wish, Sheng Yu shall be promoted to deputy commander of the Imperial Guards and summoned to the capital at once."
The Crown Prince smiled. "Your Majesty is most wise."
With that, Emperor Chunming exchanged a fleeting glance with Lu Qi.
Promotion was one thing—whether Sheng Yu would make it safely to the capital was another matter entirely.
……
The Crown Prince had been occupied with official duties lately, attending court and meetings from dawn till dusk, often returning late into the night.
The wound on his abdomen had only just healed, and Yun Kui was currently indisposed due to her monthly courses. Any thoughts of intimate discussions between yin and yang had to be postponed.
During the day, Yun Kui either visited Nanny Yan to practice hairstyling or secluded herself in Chengguang Hall, reading romantic novels—a leisurely and carefree existence.
Perhaps the Crown Prince couldn’t bear to see her so idle, for he summoned her every morning to dress his hair. After repeated practice, Yun Kui’s braiding skills had improved significantly. Now, her visits to the rear quarters were mostly to pass the time and keep Nanny Yan company.
Nanny Yan, advanced in years, was most concerned about the Crown Prince’s marriage and heirs. Unable to approach the Crown Prince directly, she could only inquire through Yun Kui.
Yun Kui sighed helplessly. "His Highness is preoccupied with state affairs and was recently injured. The matter of selecting a Crown Princess must be postponed."
Nanny Yan knew the Emperor and Empress would never prioritize the Crown Prince’s marriage. Sighing, she glanced at Yun Kui’s abdomen. "And what about you? Why is there still no movement?"
Yun Kui nearly laughed aloud. She and the Crown Prince had only shared one night—how could everyone be as fortunate as the Marquis of Ningde’s son, who conceived at first try?
Nanny Yan lamented, "The late Emperor had few heirs, and His Highness has delayed for so long. At my age, how can I face Empress Huigong in the afterlife…"
Yun Kui: "…"
She could only offer a flippant reassurance. "Don’t worry, Nanny. Tonight, I’ll… try a few more times with His Highness."
The moment the words left her mouth, the door creaked open.
Dressed in dark brocade robes, the Crown Prince stood at the threshold, his gaze dark and unreadable as it fixed on her.
Yun Kui turned and nearly jumped out of her skin. "Y-Your Highness! When did you arrive?"
The Crown Prince had come from Chongming Hall on a whim, detouring to the rear quarters to visit Nanny Yan and escort Yun Kui back. Little did he expect to overhear such bold claims the moment he reached the door.
This chapter delved deeper into the political intrigue. Can you guess the identity of the newly introduced character?
