One month after the victory banquet, the streets and alleys of the capital were already covered in a thin carpet of overlapping emerald and gold. After being soaked by the autumn rains, the carpet had remained damp for days.
The supporters of Prince Xian had held themselves back for quite some time. Now that Emperor Shunyuan had finally emerged from his grief over the Former Crown Prince, they began stirring restlessly, eager to establish a new Crown Prince.
In truth, it was hardly surprising that Prince Xian was so anxious. At present, he appeared to have the support of the masses. Once a man was pushed into a certain position, even if he himself wished to remain calm for a while, those beneath him would never allow him to stop.
In his previous life, Wen Zhuo had exploited Prince Xian’s growing impatience and loss of composure. Through various means, he had repeatedly hinted to Emperor Shunyuan at the methods Prince Xian had used against the Former Crown Prince, arousing the emperor’s wariness and chilling his heart. In the end, Prince Xian had been completely eliminated from consideration for the succession.
Emperor Shunyuan himself had always enjoyed an excellent relationship with his elder brother. Or rather, his elder brother had protected him since childhood, and he had been deeply dependent on that wise and formidable man.
Yet the brothers of the previous Emperor Kangzhen had been unruly. Emperor Kangzhen was kindhearted, and after ascending the throne, he had not dealt with his brothers. Instead, he had granted them the authority to assist in governing the realm.
That very benevolence, however, had sown the seeds of disaster. It had ultimately led to the eldest son’s brutal death, while the second son had suffered three assassination attempts and narrowly escaped death each time.
For this reason, Emperor Shunyuan detested fraternal strife above all else. What Prince Xian had done to the Former Crown Prince was more than enough to provoke his deepest taboo.
Wen Zhuo intended to administer the same bitter medicine to Prince Xian in this life.
As it happened, Mo Shu had finished constructing the lower-body exoskeleton. In an era without carbon fiber or alloy materials, he had somehow managed to reproduce nearly all the functions on Shen Zheng’s blueprint.
The people of the Marquis of Yongning’s residence had tested it one after another and discovered that it truly reduced the effort required to walk without being cumbersome or complicated. Only then did Mo Shu bring it to Emperor Shunyuan.
The emperor received him in the Palace of Cool Tranquility. Mo Shu knelt on the floor and respectfully fitted the exoskeleton onto him.
“This commoner humbly asks Your Majesty to try it.”
With that, Mo Shu lowered his head and retreated down the steps on his knees.
Emperor Shunyuan shakily rose to his feet, both startled and frightened as he held on to the contraption strapped to his legs. Even taking a step required the utmost caution.
“Careful, Master,” Liu Quan said, guarding him anxiously from the side. The moment Emperor Shunyuan showed signs of losing his balance, he would reach out to support him.
The emperor spread his arms and cautiously shuffled across the Palace of Cool Tranquility. At first, he moved extremely slowly, swaying from side to side like a clumsy goose. After making two circuits, however, he found his rhythm, and his pace gradually quickened, as though his former heroic bearing had truly returned.
Before he could say anything, Liu Quan was already grinning and offering his congratulations. “Congratulations, Master! Congratulations! With this divine device, Your Majesty can walk without difficulty again!”
“Good. Very good!” Emperor Shunyuan braced his hands against his waist and turned around, facing Mo Shu in delight. “Mo Shu, you truly are a genius of creation. You have solved a great problem for Me. I shall reward you. Tell Me—what do you want?”
Mo Shu did not take credit for his accomplishment. Instead, he pressed his head even lower and replied humbly, “This commoner is a convicted criminal who has survived only through Your Majesty’s grace. I would not dare ask for a reward. Besides, the crisis in the southern border has been resolved, and the frontiers of Great Qian are at peace. General Jun no longer has any need of me. This commoner wishes to follow in Tao Yuanming’s footsteps, ‘picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, and leisurely gazing upon the southern mountains,’ thereby making clear my desire for a tranquil and detached life.”
Wen Zhuo had told him that during this visit to the palace, he absolutely had to mention the word “chrysanthemum”—and do so casually, in a perfectly natural manner.
Emperor Shunyuan fell abruptly silent. After a moment, he said, “No. You cannot leave. I shall place you in charge of the Office of Arsenal Administration under the Ministry of War. From now on, you may openly forge weapons and firearms for the nation. Together with Huaishen, you will protect the peace of Great Qian.”
Mo Shu had no desire to become an official and only wished to retire from worldly affairs. This completely dispelled Emperor Shunyuan’s suspicions.
In his youth, the emperor had also been fond of seeking immortals and pursuing the Dao. He knew that certain recluses of profound cultivation were unwilling to serve in the imperial court, and he had always held such people in awe and admiration. Now, Mo Shu’s image in his mind drew ever closer to that of a hermit, as if he had emerged from seclusion solely to resolve the crisis in the southern border.
Besides, the divine device would likely need repairs and improvements in the future. The emperor could not afford to be without Mo Shu.
Mo Shu’s body trembled, and he looked up at Emperor Shunyuan in astonishment.
Liu Quan smiled. “Young Master Mo must be shocked. Hurry and thank His Majesty.”
As if awakening from a dream, Mo Shu hurriedly said, “Your servant thanks Your Majesty for your boundless grace.”
Serving in the imperial court had never been what he wanted. But for the reputation of the Mo family and the continuation of its scholarly tradition, he had no choice but to step into the world.
There was no denying that the Ministry of War was the place best suited to make use of his talents.
After Mo Shu thanked the emperor and departed, the doors of the Palace of Cool Tranquility remained open. A gust of autumn wind carried a yellow leaf over the threshold and laid it upon the blue brick floor.
Emperor Shunyuan stared quietly at the fallen leaf, sinking into a rare moment of contemplation.
Unable to restrain himself, he asked Liu Quan, “It is late autumn. Have the chrysanthemums in the palace bloomed yet?”
Liu Quan’s eyelid twitched. Pretending not to understand, he replied, “They bloom around this time every year. This servant has not paid attention.”
Emperor Shunyuan closed his eyes and sighed. “Empress Cao has always loved chrysanthemums. I had forgotten for so long, yet today I suddenly remembered.”
Liu Quan said nothing.
The Cao clan had been exterminated to the third degree, the Former Crown Prince was living in seclusion at Fengyang Terrace, and Empress Cao had very few relatives left in this world.
Now, the Cao clan was cursed by the populace, while the late Empress Cao herself had been dragged into the condemnation and portrayed among the people as the culprit who had thrown the imperial harem into chaos.
“Xiruo was kindhearted and gentle. I wronged her.” Only when they were completely alone did Emperor Shunyuan dare to reveal his true feelings.
Liu Quan still did not dare speak.
Emperor Shunyuan turned toward him in displeasure. “Why are you keeping silent? Surely I would not take offense when I was the one who brought her up. You truly have too many thoughts in your head!”
Only then did Liu Quan offer an ingratiating smile and bow even lower, as though making amends. “This servant remembers that Her Majesty had a tender heart and treated everyone in Prince Jing’s residence with great kindness.”
“Yes, yes…” Emperor Shunyuan’s eyes grew slightly moist, and his tears blurred the autumn scenery before him. “Back then, when I confined Consort Chen in a residence outside the estate and forbade anyone from visiting her, she was the only one who secretly sent her nourishing food and remembered to have a padded winter coat added.”
“When I learned of it, I reprimanded her. She accepted it without saying a word, and afterward continued to care for Consort Chen with all her heart.”
Emperor Shunyuan had rarely revealed his genuine emotions to anyone. Liu Changbai had forced him to become a cold tool, one that would ensure the normal operation of Great Qian. Everyone around him was a small tool as well, destined to spend their entire lives serving their ancestors, their foundation, and Great Qian—even though, in the eyes of outsiders, he already enjoyed limitless honor and privilege.
“My affection in this life has been sparse. The only true love I possessed, I gave to Consort Chen. She knew that what I offered her was merely a moment of pity, yet she never resented me. Cao Youwei truly did not deserve such a fine daughter.”
That was Emperor Shunyuan’s final remark.
In his lifetime, Emperor Shunyuan had had two empresses. Back when he was still Prince Jing, his principal wife, Lady Liu, had been forced upon him by Emperor Kangzhen. He had felt no affection for her, yet Lady Liu had been insatiably demanding.
After learning that he had once fallen from a cliff and met Consort Chen, with whom he had fallen in love at first sight, Lady Liu had constantly oppressed and targeted her.
When Consort Chen lived in seclusion at the residence outside the estate, Empress Cao had shown her care at every turn, while Lady Liu had repeatedly tried to take advantage of the opportunity to have Consort Chen killed.
Thus, after Emperor Shunyuan ascended the throne, he had been forced to make Lady Liu his empress, but no matter what, he had refused to name Shen Bi Crown Prince.
"Prince Cao has committed a serious crime, and Your Majesty's severe punishment is to give an explanation to the people who died in Qianzhou. Empress Cao is understanding and will surely comprehend your actions," Liu Quan consoled. "It's the late autumn. I'll go offer a stick of incense to Her Majesty the Empress and bring some fresh chrysanthemums."
Emperor Shunyuan suddenly asked, "How is the Former Crown Prince?"
Liu Quan trembled again.
On the day of the regular court session later.
Emperor Shunyuan swaggered onto the dragon throne wearing the magical item made by Mo Shu.
He was in a rather good mood. Originally, he intended to show off to the ministers that he could now move as swiftly as the wind, looking as if he still had the mettle of his prime.
However, the officials of the camp supporting Prince Xian were preoccupied and failed to understand the emperor's intention.
Bu Zhangyi stepped forward first and said, "Your Majesty, the foundation of the country lies in the heir apparent. Now that the position of the Crown Prince is vacant, the court and the public are worried. I hope Your Majesty will quickly appoint a new Crown Prince to fulfill the trust of the ancestors and the expectations of the people!"
Tang Guangzhi also chimed in, "Your Majesty, the Former Crown Prince's misdeeds have caused panic in the court and the public, and the people have lost confidence. Only by quickly appointing a virtuous person can the foundation of the country be established, the hearts of the people be stabilized, and the country be at peace both internally and externally."
Shang Zhiqin said, "I beg Your Majesty to appoint a Crown Prince as soon as possible and follow the ancestral rules and the last wishes of the late emperor!"
Emperor Shunyuan's face suddenly darkened. His enthusiasm for showing off and sharing vanished, and instead, he asked rather warily, "Then, gentlemen, who do you think I should appoint?"
Prince Xian, Shen Bi, glanced around with his peripheral vision and rarely became nervous. His palms were sweating profusely.
In his view, Emperor Shunyuan had no other choice. In terms of virtue, prestige in the court, and ability, he was the only candidate. Moreover, he was also the son of the empress, with a legitimate claim.
Bu Zhangyi and Tang Guangzhi exchanged a glance. They thought there were no more obstacles and decided to take a chance.
Bu Zhangyi knelt down and said, "Our dynasty follows the system of the Zhou Dynasty and the rule of the eldest legitimate son. In the past, when the Qin Dynasty abolished Fusu and appointed Huhai, it led to the downfall of the dynasty after only two generations. Now, the eldest prince, Cangling, is growing up and has exceptional talents. Appointing him as the Crown Prince is in line with the will of heaven."
Wen Zhuo couldn't help but lower his head and press his lips.
The officials of the camp supporting Prince Xian didn't know that the emperor had thought of Empress Cao the other day and, by the way, the Former Crown Prince. So he sent someone to Fengyang Terrace to check on him and incidentally learned about someone's instructions to abuse the Former Crown Prince.
Their attempt to force the emperor to appoint a Crown Prince at this moment was actually pushing Prince Xian into the fire pit.
Sure enough, Emperor Shunyuan said sinisterly, "I heard yesterday that the Former Crown Prince has lost a lot of weight in just one month at Fengyang Terrace. He is in a state of extreme fear and suffering from a serious illness, but there is no imperial physician to treat him."
"I also heard that someone implied to cut down on the Former Crown Prince's food and ordered the guards to insult him verbally, stripping him of his dignity. As the weather is getting colder, there are no thick bedding or warm clothes in the Former Crown Prince's room."
"After the Former Crown Prince was deposed, his followers deserted him. No court official dared to mention him, and the maids in the palace avoided him. Even those who used to serve in the Eastern Palace slandered him to curry favor with the new master. Only Huang Ting, the official of the Eastern Palace who was under the Fifth Prince, was forgiven by him and went to Fengyang Terrace to pay a distant homage once."
Wen Zhuo was slightly startled. His smile faded, and he turned to look at Shen Zheng. At the same time, many officials also looked at Shen Zheng.
Shen Zheng stood out among the princes. However, he looked calm and didn't react much to the emperor's words. He was also not very interested in the officials' attention. He only showed a faint smile to a certain position in the front row of the officials.
Wen Zhuo was caught off guard by this smile. His eyes widened slightly. Realizing that he felt happy, he quickly grabbed his unruly ears, adjusted his black cap, and stuffed his ears inside.
Emperor Shunyuan still continued, "I will definitely conduct a thorough investigation to find out who has ill - intentions and is disrespectful to the Former Crown Prince and wants to do something improper. Before that, all the princes are suspected. I won't discuss the matter of appointing a Crown Prince for now."
The situation took a sudden turn. The officials of the camp supporting Prince Xian broke out in a cold sweat. No one had expected that Emperor Shunyuan would still care about a deposed prince.
If the imperial guards found out that they were the ones behind the scenes, with Gong Zhiyuan and Luo Mingpu adding fuel to the fire, they would probably be in big trouble.
Prince Xian almost lost his composure in the court. He stared at Emperor Shunyuan in shock and truly understood the meaning of "joy turns to sorrow".
Although Emperor Shunyuan didn't make it explicit, all the court officials knew that the person with ill - intentions referred to him.
The third prince, Shen Ting, curled his lips into a sneer. When the officials had presented the memorial to appoint a Crown Prince just now, he had panicked for a moment. Now it seemed that the emperor had no intention of appointing a Crown Prince. So they could all just wait and see who could last longer. Anyway, he was still relatively young.
After hearing this, Shen Chen couldn't help but sigh and grit his teeth in frustration.
How could he forget to show some kindness to the deposed prince when he was in trouble!
This move could not only win the emperor's favor but also move the former followers of the Crown Prince and make the officials submit to him. It was all beneficial to him. Who would have thought that Shen Zheng had snatched this opportunity!
It was also his fault that he had been preoccupied with the matters in Mianzhou recently, waiting to give Wen Zhuo a heavy blow, and had ignored the affairs in the palace.
The court was dead silent. All the officials hung their heads. Only Wen Zhuo dared to look up at Emperor Shunyuan's face.
It could be seen that the emperor's eye bags were drooping even more, and the veins on his neck were pulsating. Obviously, he was still angry.
He may not have felt much pity for the Crown Prince, but he had noticed that the officials' hearts were no longer with him. They were all eager to curry favor with the next Crown Prince.
He even loathed those who would try to destroy their brothers. It was this kind of greed that had led to the tragedy of his whole life.
Wen Zhuo raised his head and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, I also have something to report."
"What is it?" Emperor Shunyuan was in a bad mood and his tone was harsh, but he was still quite patient.
"What good thing are you wearing today, Your Majesty? You're walking even faster than me," Wen Zhuo's eyes were shining with eagerness. "I'm usually very lazy, and the long corridor to the palace hall is so long. Can you also give me one to wear?"
Emperor Shunyuan was amused by his anger and said, "You always covet all my good things. This one is not for you."
Wen Zhuo immediately slumped his face and tilted his head dejectedly.
Liu Quan quickly took the opportunity provided by Wen Zhuo and said, "This is a lower - limb exoskeleton specially made for Your Majesty by Lord Mo. It's very convenient to wear when walking. Your Majesty loves it very much."
Finally, someone noticed the emperor's magical item and also saw his energetic appearance today. So Emperor Shunyuan's mood improved a lot.
"Wen Wanshan, don't make that face again. You're just relying on the fact that I don't want to argue with you," Emperor Shunyuan scolded, but he really didn't want to argue with Wen Zhuo. He immediately explained, "It's not that I'm reluctant to give it to you. This thing requires the top - grade Dalbergia odorifera. Only two pieces were found in the entire Divine Wood Factory. There's no share for you."
"Oh?" Wen Zhuo pretended to be surprised. "It seems that Lord Mo is so amazing. He can not only make city - defending crossbows but also create a magical item for Your Majesty. Then I guess I have to endure it."
Hearing this, Shen Chen's face instantly turned pale, followed by shame and embarrassment.
He finally understood everything!
Mo Shu's visit to the Divine Wood Factory was definitely a trap. Emperor Shunyuan must have known that he was selecting Dalbergia odorifera in the Divine Wood Factory to prepare this magical item.
That's why Luo Mingpu and Gong Zhiyuan's attempt to arrest Mo Shu and impeach Jun Dingyuan had failed. Because it was actually going against the emperor's interests!
But in the previous life, Mo Shu had never mentioned the lower - limb exoskeleton!
What on earth was that strange thing tied to his waist and legs, and where did it come from?
Xie Langyang was in a daze and almost stumbled out of the line.
It felt as if his self - esteem had been flattened, crushed, thrown on the ground, and trampled on mercilessly!
He had pondered for a full seven days but still couldn't understand the deeper meaning behind Wen Zhuo's move. It turned out that the acquisition of the Divine Wood Factory was not a coincidence but a deliberate plan.
But when exactly did the Emperor reach an agreement with Mo Shu?
Right, it must have been when Jun Dingyuan went to the palace to thank the Emperor.
But how could the Emperor overlook the capital crime of hiding a rebel just because of a vague divine artifact and allow Mo Shu to secretly make it?
He couldn't figure it out again.
Was there also a connection between this incident and the Return of the Bones?
If the spy wasn't caught in the previous life and the matter of the Return of the Bones was also entirely planned by Wen Zhuo, then how did Wen Zhuo get Nanping to cooperate?
He used to think that the difference between him and Wen Zhuo was like that between the bright moon and the clouds in the sky. Now it seemed that he was just like dust on the ground, with the faint light of a firefly.
So, it was really up to Wen Zhuo to decide who would be the Emperor.
On this day, after the court session ended, Wen Zhuo walked out of the Wuying Palace and gave Shen Zheng a meaningful look.
Shen Zheng sneaked out of the palace at the hour of You (5 - 7 p.m.) to meet Wen Zhuo.
Before Shen Zheng could even pick up a slice of pear to eat, Wen Zhuo got straight to the point and asked, "Did Your Highness send the former Eastern Palace Prefect to pay respects to Shen Zhen?"
Shen Zheng silently put down the pear slice he was about to take a bite of. The little - cat - like expression on his face was quite serious. He wondered if Wen Zhuo was angry.
"I thought it was a trivial matter, so I didn't tell you, Teacher. Is there something wrong with this?"
Wen Zhuo slowly shook his head.
That Eastern Palace Prefect had once come to his mansion with Shen Zheng to pay a visit before the Spring Terrace Chess Tournament.
Representing the Crown Prince, that prefect had been extremely impolite to Shen Zheng. Now that he was assigned to work under Shen Zheng, Wen Zhuo thought that Shen Zheng would at least take revenge.
He was just a little incredulous. Shen Zheng's magnanimity reminded him of Emperor Taizong of the Great Qian Dynasty.
In the past, Emperor Taizong emulated Li Shimin. He had a broad mind, recruited talented people from all over the world, and truly trusted the people he employed. He was never afraid to admit his own mistakes. Therefore, all the court officials were convinced by his charisma, dared to present memorials to the throne, and criticized the current political situation. Soon, the court and the countryside were in a state of clarity, and the Great Qian Dynasty ushered in a magnificent prosperous era.
No court official didn't yearn to serve under Emperor Taizong, where they didn't have to engage in intrigues and could just display their talents in national policies.
"He is your subordinate now but still misses his former master. I thought you'd be unhappy," Wen Zhuo said.
"Doesn't this just prove his loyalty? He didn't even kick the former Crown Prince when he was down. I'm confident that I can make him willingly pledge his loyalty to me. Otherwise, what's the use of keeping a two - faced person by my side?" Shen Zheng laughed. Then he picked up a piece of pear and fed it to Wen Zhuo's mouth. "You're frowning so seriously. I thought you were angry."
"How could I be angry with Your Highness? Your Highness did the right thing," Wen Zhuo lowered his eyelashes, looking at the fresh and juicy green pear. He couldn't help but lick it with his tongue and then said, "Didn't Your Highness say that I shouldn't eat too many sweet things?"
"Just a little. It's okay when you're being fed by me," Shen Zheng said with a smile, rubbing the pear piece against Wen Zhuo's lips, as if urging him or seducing him.
Wen Zhuo thought to himself that this act was extremely impolite and shouldn't have happened between His Highness and his teacher.
But he couldn't help the fluttering in his heart and wanted to satisfy his dirty thoughts.
While condemning himself, he opened his mouth and took the pear piece, gently biting it with his teeth. He really wanted to be fed another piece.
Then he heard Shen Zheng sigh and say, "I just didn't expect that the Fengyang Tower was guarded so strictly. He talked himself hoarse but still couldn't persuade the guards. So he just paid his respects outside. Isn't it a high - rise building? Can't they meet through the window?"
Hearing this, Wen Zhuo suddenly froze and even forgot to swallow the pear piece.
