"Sorry, I had something too salty for lunch."
Song Yu's expression was utterly sincere, leaving King Heng and his son unable to voice their bitterness.
"By the way, what was Song Liu saying earlier? This prince didn't quite catch it."
Hearing Song Yu's words, Song Liu's mouth twitched violently. On his honor, he dared not repeat what he had just said a second time.
He was afraid the man before him would vomit again.
King Heng's face was livid as he pulled Song Liu away from the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince's unwillingness was plain, but what did it matter if only the Crown Prince objected?
As long as the civil and military officials were willing, the Crown Prince would have to accept Liu'er as his son, even if it made him vomit.
Soon, all the officials learned of Song Liu's intention to become the Eastern Palace's adopted heir.
Song Liu spoke earnestly. At a young age, he displayed the makings of a fine jade to be polished—gentle and courteous. For a time, the officials approved of King Heng's plan.
If the Crown Prince was unwilling to marry, then why not just acknowledge a son!
Currently, the only royal of suitable age was King Heng's heir. Coupled with the fact that the heir showed potential for cultivation, the voices in the court petitioning for the Crown Prince to adopt King Heng's heir grew louder and louder.
Zichen Palace.
"I will have them killed!"
Emperor Yuanyou's eyes were red with rage. "How dare they covet my throne."
Emperor Yuanyou was willing to treat his brother's descendants well, but that did not mean he was willing to hand over the throne. The mere thought of Song Liu ascending in the future, and even Ah Huan having to bow and scrape before him...
His own line reduced completely to subjects...
Made Emperor Yuanyou want to kill.
In matters of such grave principle, those so-called bonds of brotherhood were tossed to the back of Emperor Yuanyou's mind.
"Your Majesty, the Princess instructed you not to anger yourself."
Wu Qi hung his head. "Now that King Heng's ambition is exposed, the Princess wishes you to use this opportunity to observe the distribution of power in the court."
The factions in the court were in constant flux.
Although the position of heir was settled, the ministers below had their own factions and pursued their own interests.
"Also, regarding the cause of King Heng's father's death, Young Master Shen says he has found some clues and has left the capital to verify them."
Hearing this, Emperor Yuanyou took a long moment to calm down before speaking.
"Then let them live a few more days."
Wu Qi's eyes trembled. These words... meant that even if a great immortal came, King Heng and his lot were doomed to die clean.
Faced with the officials' support, the Eastern Palace had only one retort:
"Whoever wants to acknowledge this son can go ahead."
This statement instantly pushed the already tense atmosphere to a new height. Those courtiers who felt their good intentions were met with disdain immediately turned their criticism back towards the Eastern Palace.
And in the Eastern Palace at this moment...
"They are truly hilarious. They scold me for being arrogant and looking down on everyone except the Princess."
Gu Mingzhu "gesticulated wildly" describing how she was being criticized, her face showing not a hint of sadness, only delight at realizing the court officials were binding her and the Eastern Palace together.
"This isn't scolding me at all; it's clearly helping me declare my devotion to the Princess."
As she spoke, Gu Mingzhu threw a rather clumsy, flirtatious glance at Song Shihuan.
Gu Zheng shuddered, covering his eyes with both hands.
Out of sight, out of mind.
"I got scolded too," Cheng Guang said, chest puffed out. "They say I support the Eastern Palace without any bottom line, right or wrong, just to gain a foothold in Da Qi."
Quite right. He accepted it all.
"And me..." Zheng Fang also timidly raised his hand. "My wife was so indignant she had our servants go argue with them, and they actually made a Censor's wife cry with their scolding."
What a heroine!
They all looked at each other and burst into laughter.
Only Gu Zheng's expression grew worse and worse.
Why were the criticisms against these others inconsequential, but when it came to him, they dialed up the intensity?
Thinking of this, Gu Zheng's voice dropped unusually low, like the buzzing of a fly. "I was scolded too. They say I rely on my military power, am unwilling for the Crown Prince to adopt an heir, and fear... fear I have rebellious intentions."
"Old pal, that's indeed not something to be happy about."
Cheng Guang patted Gu Zheng's shoulder in a comradely manner, only to have it shrugged off unfeelingly.
"This shows General Gu genuinely makes them feel threatened,"
Song Shihuan blinked, "That's why they want to drive a wedge between the Eastern Palace and General Gu."
Exactly!
Seeing that the Crown Prince and Princess showed no sign of doubt, Gu Zheng raised his head high and cast a contemptuous look at Cheng Guang.
"The Princess is right. Let them scold if they love to."
The matron arranged for everyone to dine together in the Eastern Palace, and sounds of laughter and joy continuously drifted out.
"Yingchun, it's the first time I've seen people look so proud after being scolded."
Yingchun smiled upon hearing this. "Indeed, a rare sight."
The Eastern Palace's disregard made King Heng and his son somewhat panicked.
"Have you found out the situation in the palace?"
"Your Highness, His Majesty is likely truly gravely ill. It's said that recently, Eunuch Wu Qi from Zichen Palace has been running to the Eastern Palace frequently."
Hearing his subordinate's words, King Heng's eyes turned inscrutable. If His Imperial Uncle was truly failing, they must solidify Liu'er's status before that happened.
Otherwise, once the Crown Prince ascended, everything would be useless.
"Send word, notify those several ministers. It's time to act."
A few days later.
A court official dashed himself against a pillar at the palace gate and died. Before his death, he shouted loudly:
"The Eastern Palace cannot be without an heir! King Heng's heir can be the Eastern Palace's adopted son!"
On the same day, another court official slit his own throat with a knife on the busiest street in the capital, uttering the same words before dying.
Instantly, the common people were drawn into this court of public opinion, though the direction was somewhat strange.
"His Highness the Crown Prince is in the prime of his life. Why must he acknowledge someone else's son when he can have his own?"
"I heard it's because His Highness doesn't want to marry."
"Even if he doesn't marry, he can take concubines. Concubines can bear children too."
The common people were very puzzled. If the Crown Prince were old and frail, adoption might make sense. But a man in his prime, who would want to adopt another's child?
However, the emotions of the officials had clearly been thoroughly stirred.
They saw far more complexity than the common folk. The Eastern Palace was giving a warning to them all, cutting off their path to becoming the imperial in-laws. Ultimately, it was a lack of trust in any of their aristocratic families.
Throughout history, a delicate balance existed between ruler and ministers. Often, the Son of Heaven had no choice but to endure the constraints of his officials.
But if the Eastern Palace were allowed to continue like this, in the future, all their interests would be judged solely by the word of the Eastern Palace.
This was a situation the aristocratic families of every dynasty were unwilling to be reduced to.
Thus, in the latter half of the eleventh month, some emotionally charged officials surrounded the homes of the Eastern Palace's allies like the Gu and Shen families.
Shen Mingwen was so angry he was huffing and puffing.
"Have these people gone mad? Drunk King Heng's bewitching soup?"
Were they taking advantage of his son being away from the capital to bully an old man living alone?
"Those standing outside are all court officials, right?"
Seeing the servant nod, Shen Mingwen took a deep breath. "Go find some rotten vegetable leaves and rotten eggs, and throw them over the wall."
Smother those blind fools!
Now I can't even buy the braised duck my wife wanted to eat!
