Red Mansion: After being expelled from the family, I was granted the title of Marquis of Mobei

Chapter 129 The Establishment of the Crown Prince, the Capital City Explodes

The next day, in the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the imperial palace, civil and military officials were lined up in neat rows, and Emperor Yongping sat upright on the throne, exuding imperial majesty.

On the lower left side of the hall, the eldest prince and the second prince also came to the hall today.

At this moment, both of them felt somewhat uneasy.

The two men have been engaged in a fierce struggle for the throne for many years.

Now that Emperor Yongping has finally made up his mind to establish an heir, the years-long struggle will finally come to an end.

The struggle for the imperial throne has always been a winner-takes-all affair, with the loser suffering utter ruin.

Both of them were worried that if they were not selected, their future would be extremely miserable.

After the civil and military officials finished paying their respects, Emperor Yongping raised his hand slightly and spoke calmly.

"Everyone is safe."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After the homage, Emperor Yongping immediately got to the point.

"My esteemed ministers, there are two matters to discuss at today's court assembly."

"The first issue is the selection of the crown prince, and the second is the selection of the commander of the Imperial Guards."

"I have been on the throne for several years, and thanks to the blessings of my ancestors, I have achieved some success."

"In order to consolidate the foundation of the nation, I am determined to establish an heir apparent."

“In recent days, all the officials have submitted memorials recommending their preferred candidates.”

"After considering the recommendations of my civil and military officials, I have finally made up my mind."

"Xia Shouzhong, announce the decree."

"The slaves obey."

Xia Shouzhong then walked to the front of the stage and opened the imperial edict.

All the civil and military officials, as well as the two princes, knelt down to listen to the imperial edict.

Xia Shouzhong read aloud.

"The Emperor, by the Will of Heaven, proclaims this."

"I have been blessed by Heaven and inherited the great legacy of my ancestors. I am constantly vigilant and mindful of the foundation of the nation. The establishment of the heir apparent and vice-heir is to secure the country and stabilize the people's hearts. I must choose a wise and virtuous person to succeed to the throne."

"The Crown Prince, Zhou Yunli, is the legitimate son of the Empress. He possesses great wisdom and vision, is filial, friendly, gentle, and respectful. His virtue is evident both within and outside the court, and his learning is profound throughout history. I have observed that his words and actions are in accordance with public opinion, which greatly comforts me. Now, in accordance with ancient precedents and after consulting with all the people, it is appropriate to place him in the Eastern Palace to fulfill the hopes of the people."

"Therefore, I hereby bestow upon you a golden book and jade seal, establish you as the Crown Prince, and enthronement you in the Wenhua Hall. You shall revere Heaven and follow the example of your ancestors, diligently cultivate virtue and conduct, respect your teachers and value the Way, and be benevolent and compassionate to the common people, so as to fulfill the weighty trust I have entrusted to you and forever solidify the foundation of our ancestral line. This is hereby decreed by the Emperor."

"July 25th, Yongping 4th year".

After the imperial edict was read, the eldest prince, Zhou Yunli, could not hide his joy and said excitedly.

"Your subject is trembling with fear and will certainly live up to your father's expectations."

Some were happy while others were sad; the Second Prince, Zhou Yunwen, looked particularly grim.

However, since the imperial decree had already been issued, he knew it would be difficult to turn the tide. Afterwards, Zhou Yunwen and his uncle, Marquis Xiao Yue, in the ranks of nobles exchanged a glance, their understanding unspoken.

After the imperial edict was read, the eldest prince was all smiles, while the second prince looked as if he had lost his parents.

At that very moment, Emperor Yongping dealt another blow to the Second Prince.

Emperor Yongping looked at the Second Prince and said calmly.

"Yunwen, come closer."

Upon hearing Emperor Yongping's words, the Second Prince hurriedly came to the hall, knelt down, and said...

"My son is here."

Emperor Yongping then continued.

"Now that you have come of age, I hereby bestow upon you the title of King of Shu."

"The Ministry of Works shall immediately order the construction of a royal palace for the Prince of Shu in Yuzhou, with a deadline of six months."

"After the palace is completed, you will go to Yuzhou to take up your fief."

The second prince felt a pang of bitterness upon hearing this; his father was not giving him even the slightest chance to turn the tide.

If the second prince does not take up his fiefdom, he can remain in the capital and work with the ministers who support him to devise a plan, which may give him a chance to turn the tide.

However, once he was enfeoffed and far away from the political center of the capital, the second prince would completely lose his chance to compete for the throne.

Once the Crown Prince ascends the throne, the Second Prince will face a merciless purge.

Emperor Yongping's words were essentially a death sentence for the second prince.

However, the Second Prince did not have the courage to directly defy Emperor Yongping's authority; he could only force a smile and say this.

"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness."

Emperor Yongping said it casually.

"Alright, go and prepare for the enfeoffment."

"Minister of Rites, immediately consult with the Imperial Observatory to select an auspicious day for the formal investiture of the Crown Prince."

The Minister of Rites then walked into the hall, bowed, and spoke.

"The minister obeys the order."

After dealing with the matter of establishing an heir, Emperor Yongping looked around at his ministers and then spoke.

"The Marquis of Champion is under investigation by the Three Judicial Offices for allegedly murdering the widow of the late Grand Tutor."

"The Marquis of Champion also holds the important position of guard."

"The Imperial Guards have important responsibilities, and the position of Commander of the Imperial Guards must not be left vacant."

"My dear ministers, who do you think is capable of undertaking such a heavy responsibility?"

Upon hearing Emperor Yongping's words, General Shen Congxing of Weibei immediately went into the hall, bowed, and spoke.

"Your Majesty, I believe that General Wang Chun, who is loyal and devoted to the people, is the most suitable person to take over the Imperial Guards."

After Shen Congxing spoke first, the princelings naturally echoed his sentiments.

After all, they've already secured the position of Crown Prince, so the position of Commander of the Imperial Guards will definitely fall into their hands as well.

In contrast, the officials of the Second Prince's faction remained silent. These people were not stupid; they knew that if they dared to recommend Marquis Xiaoyue, the Crown Prince's faction would definitely question whether they were trying to incite bloodshed among the imperial family, causing fratricide and internal strife.

After all, there are precedents to follow. Emperor Yongping seized the throne by secretly infiltrating the Imperial Guards and eventually launching a palace coup.

Just when everyone thought that the position of commander of the Imperial Guards would also fall into the hands of the Crown Prince's faction, to everyone's surprise, Emperor Yongping calmly asked.

"What? Besides the General of Chariots and Cavalry, is there no other candidate who can temporarily take over the position of Commander of the Imperial Guards?"

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince's supporters exchanged bewildered glances, trying to fathom Emperor Yongping's thoughts.

Could it be that His Majesty does not want the Crown Prince to have too much power and is not comfortable handing over the Imperial Guards to the Crown Prince's faction?

The more people thought about it, the more they realized it made sense.

After all, there are many examples of fathers and sons killing each other for the throne.

Emperor Wu of Han and Crown Prince Liu Ju had a power struggle that led to a chaotic battle in Chang'an.

Even the bond between father and son must take a backseat to the supreme imperial power.

Shen Congxing was stunned for a moment after seeing Emperor Yongping's reaction. He then looked at Wang Chun and saw that Wang Chun shook his head. Shen Congxing realized that things were not going to work and immediately returned to the queue.

Now that the position of Crown Prince has been secured, for the Crown Prince's faction, as long as they can peacefully wait until the Crown Prince ascends the throne, it will be a great victory. There is no need to provoke Emperor Yongping's displeasure for the position of Commander of the Imperial Guards.

Just after the princelings gave up the position, Lu Yuan, the Minister of War, walked into the hall, bowed, and said...

"Your Majesty, I believe that Prince Zhongshun may temporarily assume the position of Commander of the Imperial Guards."

“Prince Zhongshun was originally from the military, skilled in horsemanship, and had a deep brotherly bond with His Majesty. He was extremely loyal and was the most suitable candidate.”

Upon hearing this, Prince Chungshun, standing in the imperial family's ranks, looked astonished. He quickly came to the hall, bowed, and then spoke.

"Your Majesty, I did have some strategic thinking in my younger years."

"But since Your Majesty ascended the throne, the world has been at peace and the four seas are at peace."

“My brother spends his days drinking and making merry in his residence, and has long since neglected his studies.”

"I am truly unworthy of such a great responsibility; I beg Your Majesty to consider this carefully."

Seeing Prince Chungshun's reaction, the civil and military officials couldn't help but laugh.

This Minister Lu is really interesting. Why would he suddenly think of recommending Prince Zhongshun?

Prince Zhongshun would probably avoid this kind of assignment like the plague.

Just when everyone thought Emperor Yongping would go with the flow and consider other candidates, he unexpectedly smiled and said after thinking for a while, "Alright, Jingyuan, there's no need to be so modest."

"Right now, I really don't have any suitable candidates for the Imperial Guard."

"How about this, you take over for a few months, and once I've found a suitable replacement, I'll let you step down. How about that?"

Seeing that Emperor Yongping had gone this far, it would be impolite to refuse any further.

Prince Chungshun could only nod helplessly and then said.

"Your subject will obey the decree."

At this moment, Wang Shiping's face in the hall was extremely ugly.

He couldn't help but feel that something was wrong.

Emperor Yongping's actions did not seem to indicate an intention to appoint a new commander of the Imperial Guards; rather, they appeared to be a simple transition.

Could it really be as my wife said, that His Majesty doesn't care about the murder case involving the Marquis of Champion and my family at all, and just wants to deal with it hastily?

Once the storm has passed, the Marquis of Champion will return to his position as commander of the Imperial Guards.

If that's really the case, then what's the point of risking everything to sue the champion, begging and pleading for favors?

Is it all just to forge a blood feud with the Marquis of Champion, so that he can be reinstated and take revenge on the royal family without restraint?

For a moment, Wang Shiping couldn't help but feel disheartened.

Don't mention the discord between the new crown prince and the Marquis of Champion; that's completely insignificant.

Judging from Emperor Yongping's physique, he is full of vigor and vitality, and he can live for at least another ten or twenty years.

As long as the Crown Prince has not ascended the throne, he has no way to deal with the Marquis of Champion.

And who can say for sure what will happen in twenty years?

Wang Shiping grew increasingly frightened, and cold sweat broke out on his brow.

Wang Shiping's unusual behavior went unnoticed and unnoticed by anyone.

Just as the court meeting was about to end after the discussions were completed, a deafening explosion suddenly resounded throughout half of the capital city.

The faces of all the civil and military officials in the court changed drastically, not knowing what had happened.

Emperor Yongping, however, remained calm, displaying an composure befitting someone facing a collapsing mountain.

Emperor Yongping immediately looked at Xia Shouzhong and said.

"Go and see what's going on?"

"The slaves obey the order."

Xia Shouzhong hurriedly left the palace and sent the Imperial Guards to gather information.

All the civil and military officials in the hall were waiting for a reply.

About half an hour later, Xia Shouzhong hurriedly arrived at the hall.

Upon seeing this, Emperor Yongping turned to Xia Shouzhong and inquired.

"So, has the investigation been completed?"

Xia Shouzhong whispered urgently in Emperor Yongping's ear.

"Your Majesty, something is wrong."

"The previous explosion came from the vegetable market in the south of the city."

"According to the report from the Imperial Guards, a fire broke out near Caishikou in the south of the city, and dozens of shops were destroyed by the raging fire. The fire spread all over the south of the city."

"At the center of the subterranean fire explosion, there was a stone tortoise several meters tall with two sentences inscribed on it."

Xia Shouzhong hesitated as he spoke.

Emperor Yongping, seeing this, asked impatiently.

"Speak, what exactly did you say?"

"To violate ancestral rules is an offense against both gods and men."

"Heaven has now sent down its punishment as a warning to others."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongping's face immediately darkened.

Then Emperor Yongping looked sharply at the officials in the hall, and when his gaze swept over Prince Bei Jing and others, he gave them a special look.

After calming down, Emperor Yongping spoke calmly.

"The Imperial Guards just reported that the fire in the southern city was caused by careless use of fire."

"By imperial decree, the Jingzhao Prefecture is ordered to devote all its efforts to disaster relief. In addition, 20,000 elite troops from the Imperial Guards are to be transferred to assist in disaster relief and maintain order in the southern city."

"Anyone who takes advantage of the fire to cause trouble or spread rumors will be killed without exception."

After giving his instructions, Emperor Yongping got up and left the hall.

After the civil and military officials respectfully saw Emperor Yongping off, they all seemed lost in thought.

It has to be said that today is definitely a day worth remembering.

The 25th day of the seventh month of the fourth year of Yongping was destined to be recorded in great detail by the historians of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

In the evening, in Lin Daiyu's boudoir at the Lin family mansion, Jia Jue was having dinner with her.

Lin Daiyu looked at Jia Jue with great concern and asked.

"Husband, how have you been these past few days?"

Jia Jue said with a calm smile.

"I'm doing great, but you're not doing so well. You look like you're having trouble eating and sleeping. You've lost weight and even have dark circles under your eyes."

"You really have so little faith in me?"

"I've weathered countless storms, how could a small family like the Wang family possibly bring me down?"

Lin Daiyu said shyly after hearing this.

"Oh, I was just worried."

"And you, you're making fun of others."

Jia Jue smiled and took Lin Daiyu's hand before speaking.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Lin Daiyu said with a hint of helplessness.

"The Wang family is fine, but I heard that His Majesty has already established an heir today, and it's the eldest prince who has a grudge against my husband."

"What will my husband do if he takes the opportunity to retaliate later?"

Jia Jue said calmly.

"It's questionable whether he can even secure his position as crown prince."

"He is not a threat at all."

"We'll see."

"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. Look how much weight you've lost recently. Come on, eat more and make sure you're well-nourished."

After Jia Jue finished speaking, he put some food on Lin Daiyu's plate, and the two began to eat dinner.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Lin Daiyu looked at Jia Jue with some confusion and asked him a question.

"Husband, there was an explosion in the south of the city today. What do you think happened?"

"I heard from Xueyan that it's all over the place now, that His Majesty's lack of virtue has brought down divine punishment."

Jia Jue said meaningfully.

"It might be divine retribution, but I think it's more likely man-made."

Lin Daiyu said with great surprise.

"No way, how could human beings be so terrifying as to cause an explosion of such scale?"

Jia Jue gently stroked Lin Daiyu's hair and then spoke.

“Daiyu, do you believe that in a few thousand years, human power will be able to move mountains and seas and fly into the sky?”

Lin Daiyu shook her head after hearing this.

"Husband, don't joke around. This is something only immortals can do. How could a mortal possibly do it?"

(End of this chapter)