Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 645 A Soft Coup
After the three of them stood outside for a while, the door to the main hall of Hezheng Hall finally opened, and Xu Shoutian, the imperial physician on duty this morning, came out carrying his medicine box.

"Imperial Physician Xu! Imperial Physician Xu!" Li Chu hurried forward. "How is my father?"

"Your humble servant Xu Shoutian pays his respects to His Highness the Crown Prince." Upon seeing Li Chu, Xu Shoutian immediately stopped and bowed.

"Oh dear. Let's not worry about that now!" Li Chu waved his hand impatiently. "Just tell my father how he is."

"Your Highness's pulse is wiry and rapid, but there is no sign of weakness. The vomit is mostly bright red blood, with some gastric erosion. I believe this is caused by a sudden stagnation of liver qi transforming into fire, which scorches the stomach's meridians." As he spoke, Physician Xu gestured on his own body—he first pointed to the location of his liver, then drew a line down from the liver to the stomach, and finally drew a straight line from the stomach to the throat.

"Is it serious?" Li Chu didn't know much about medicine, but he understood immediately.

"As long as we clear the liver heat, cool the blood and stop the bleeding, and prevent the recurrence of qi stagnation, there should be no major problem," said Physician Xu.

"That's good, that's good!" Li Chu breathed a sigh of relief.

"Your Highness, if there is nothing else, then this humble servant will go to the Imperial Pharmacy to get the medicine." Imperial Physician Xu bowed.

"Alright, alright, thank you for your trouble." Li Chu returned the bow with clasped hands.

“Your Majesty, I am deeply ashamed of my humble position,” Physician Xu returned the bow, then bowed to Park Seung-jong and Lee Il-chan. “Your Excellencies, I shall take my leave now.”

"Hmm." Lee Cheok said no more and turned to enter the main hall. Park and Lee exchanged a glance and then followed.

Li Chu initially strode forward, but the further he went, the slower his pace became. When he reached the vicinity of the folding chair and saw the bloodstains mixed with pyrethrum on the ground, he almost completely stopped.

"Heng'er." Princess Liu knelt beside the folding chair, her face showing signs of exhaustion.

"Your Highness." Lady Jin, the palace maid kneeling beside Lady Liu, also turned around. The brilliance in her eyes had faded.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty. Greetings to Lady Kim." Yi Cho instinctively bowed, the two bows showing little difference in effect.

"Heng'er, come here quickly." Princess Liu beckoned to Li Chu.

"Father, he..." Yi Chu stood still. "Is he awake?" Although the relationship between Yi Hun and Yi Chu was far better than that between Yi Yeon and Yi Hun, in Yi Chu's heart, his father Yi Hun was still an excessively strict father. If his father was still awake, then he had to follow the royal family's rules, first paying his respects, and then waiting for his father to give him a signal before going over.

"His Highness hasn't woken up yet, but thankfully he's calmed down." Madam Liu didn't think too much about it and even smiled slightly.

"Okay." Li Chu then took a step.

Li Chu had originally intended to kneel on the other side beside Lady Liu, but when he walked over, he discovered a spittoon filled with about half a jar of blood on that spot. He shrank back in fright and hurriedly asked, "Father, did you vomit so much blood?"

"Yes. His Highness has been vomiting blood, and he vomited for a while after I arrived." Lady Liu nodded and sighed. "When I arrived, Lady Jin was kneeling next to His Highness, holding this spittoon."

Lee Cho immediately realized that his mother was trying to curry favor with Lady Kim, so he bowed to her as his mother wished. "Thank you for your trouble, Lady Kim."

"No, no. It's my duty." Jin Shanggong dared not presume any further and immediately kowtowed to Yi Chu.

Li Chu instinctively shrank back, but quickly straightened his back. "I'm still troubling you."

Lady Liu was shocked, a hint of fear even flickering in her eyes. She hadn't seen Lady Kim kowtow so profusely to anyone other than the King for many years. "Lady Kim, what is this..."

"Does the princess not know what has happened?" Li Erzhan was astute as he was, and he immediately saw through the hidden story behind these little actions.

"I haven't had a chance to ask yet." Madam Liu wanted to know, but she was used to being submissive and didn't dare to ask. Besides, Physician Xu arrived quickly, and in order not to disturb the examination, she didn't even dare to breathe too loudly.

"Let's not talk about this here," Park Seung-jong said, feigning concern and quietly tugging at Lee Er-chan's sleeve. "So that His Highness doesn't hear it and get angry again."

“Don’t worry, you can tell just by looking.” Lee Er-chan raised an eyebrow at Park Seung-jong with a subtle look in his eyes, then turned to Lee Yeo-jung and said, “Your Highness, you should show the proclamation to the Queen so that she can be prepared.”

"What if Mother also..." Lee Cheok looked hesitantly at Lee Hun on the couch, just in time to see Lee Hun's eyelids twitch. "Mother! Father seems to be waking up." Lee Cheok immediately thought of what Park Seung-jong and Lee Il-chan had said to him earlier, and he tensed up instantly.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, are you awake?" Lady Liu straightened up and called out softly.

"Father." Li Chu subconsciously took half a step back.

"Your Majesty." Lady Kim looked at King Yi, but her eyes kept glancing at King Yi and the two men behind him, Park and Yi.

“Deokyu, let’s go outside for a while,” Park Seung-jong said to Lee Er-chan. “Let’s not upset His Highness any further.”

“Very well,” Li Erzhan had no intention of exposing Park Seung-jong’s shortcomings to his face again. He nodded and said to the people around the folding chair, “Your Highness, Your Highness, Lady Kim, we’ll go out first.”

“You…this…I…” Lee Joo was clearly unwilling to face his father alone, but he was too embarrassed to say it directly.

"Your Highness, rest assured, we haven't gone far. We've just informed the Imperial Uncle Liu and Counselor Li about His Highness's situation. They're still waiting in the side hall," Park Seung-jong said.

"Alright then, go and come back quickly." Li Chu really couldn't refuse, so he could only nod with a frown.

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Li Hui had a dream. A fragmented, yet terrifying dream.

Yi Hun dreamt of his deceased father, who, along with Prince Imhae, Prince Jinneung, Prince Yeongchang, and Grand Prince Yeongchang—all of whom died because of him—knelt on the magnificent palace floor, weeping and lamenting to the enthroned emperor that the Ming army had descended from the heavens and Hanyang was completely besieged. Changdeok Palace was ablaze, and a blurred-faced imperial envoy, his back to the flames, read out the decree deposing him. The eight-year-old Grand Prince Yeongchang wept, his voice hoarse, calling out for his mother. Prince Imhae, Prince Jinneung, and Prince Yeongchang each held a dagger, a cup of poison, and a white silk ribbon, approaching him, asking him to choose his own way of dying. He fled, alone from the burning Changdeok Palace. But he couldn't escape; the mountains and fields were filled with the emperor's heavenly soldiers. At Gyeongun Palace, he was taken there by the imperial envoy. Grand Prince Yeongchang was still weeping, and Queen Dowager Jeongui was also weeping. No! They weren't just weeping; they were pleading! Pleading to the emperor! The emperor? How could the emperor be at Qingyun Palace? A white silk ribbon was placed around his neck! A dagger plunged into his heart! The moment his mouth opened wide, poisoned wine was poured in.
"No, no! No!!" Li Hui screamed as he opened his eyes, his whole body covered in cold sweat.

"Your Highness!" It should have been Lady Kim, the court lady, who went first to comfort Yi Hui, but she hesitated. So this time, it was Queen Yoo who first appeared in Yi Hui's gradually returning vision.

"You?" Li Hui's mind was still blank. "Where is this? Where is this!" "This..." Lady Liu was stunned for a moment, "Your Majesty, this is the Hezheng Hall."

"Wazheng Hall, Wazheng Hall? Wazheng Hall is good." Lee Hui gasped for breath, and it took him a while to realize that he had just been dreaming.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty." Li Zhu kowtowed respectfully before straightening up.

"You've come too." Li Hui was still shaken, but his mind had recovered considerably. "Who sent you?"

"It was I who asked Kim Min-soo to invite His Highness here," said Lady Kim.

“Ah, that’s true. Park Seung-jong was in such a state, let alone you,” Lee Hui shook his head sadly. “Where are they? They’re all dead!”

"They've all gone to the side hall," said Lady Kim.

"Someone come here." Li Hui raised his hand to wipe the corner of his mouth, but instead pulled out a bloody mark.

"This servant is here." Jin Ti Diao bowed his head and slipped out from the side door.

"Go and summon those loyal ministers to me." Li Hui slowly sat up, and Lady Liu immediately stepped forward and gently supported his back.

"Yes." Jin Ti turned and left.

Before long, the loyal ministers arrived, but there were only four of them. They bowed and knelt on the ground.

“Park Seung-jong.” Lee Hun had already sat down on the edge of the folding chair.

"Your subject is here," Park Seung-jong replied anxiously.

"Where's Zhang Wan?" Li Hui asked.

"I believe that once the proclamation is circulated, Hanyang will inevitably descend into chaos. To prevent those with ulterior motives from taking advantage of the situation and to prevent rioters from looting, I have sent Zhang Wan to the Ministry of War to oversee the capital's defenses and prepare against bandits," Park Seung-jong replied.

"Prepare against thieves? I'm afraid they're mobilizing troops to prepare for a coup?" Li Hui actually put on a smiling face.

“Everyone was present when I spoke to Zhang Wan, including Lady Kim. If Your Highness does not believe me, you can ask them,” Park Seung-jong quickly clarified.

"Heh," Li Hui rolled his eyes at him. "Li Chu."

"Your subject is here." Li Chu, kneeling at Li Hui's feet, trembled slightly.

"Who is Pei Mian? Who is Du Hongjian?" Li Hui lowered his head and looked at Li Chu.

"Your subject is foolish and does not understand what Your Majesty means. Please enlighten me, Your Majesty." Li Zhushen lowered his head.

“Very well, then I will be frank. Eight hundred and fifty years ago, Du Hongjian and Pei Mian submitted five memorials urging Emperor Suzong to ascend the throne in Lingwu, and remotely honored Emperor Xuanzong as the Retired Emperor. Eight hundred and fifty years later, my Joseon has also produced a ‘Li Heng.’ Speak, ‘Li Heng,’ my good son! They have advised you several times, when do you intend to honor me as the Supreme King?” As soon as Yi Hui said this, Yi Chu’s birth mother, Lady Liu, was immediately stunned. Her face turned deathly pale, and she wanted to say something but could not, like a puppet with its ropes cut and lifeless.

"Father! Your son has absolutely no improper thoughts!" Because of what had happened before, Li Zhu was somewhat prepared, but hearing his father say such words still made him feel terrified. "Your son only came to visit because he was worried about your safety."

"Visiting? Ha! You're probably not..." Li Hui suddenly became angry. His blood pressure spiked, and his throat started to itch again. "You're probably not here to see if I'm dead yet, are you? Cough cough cough!" After saying this, Li Hui coughed violently again.

"Father, please calm down! Father, please calm down! Don't get angry and hurt your liver and stomach." Li Chu kowtowed repeatedly. Liu Shi, in fear, picked up the spittoon.

"Ha!" Li Hui steadied himself and spat a mouthful of bloody phlegm into the spittoon. "You've read that proclamation?"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty has seen it." Li Chu trembled all over, his words slurred. "But, but Your Majesty has absolutely no improper intentions."

"Shut up!" Li Hui hissed.

Li Chu immediately fell silent.

“Park Seung-jong.” Lee Hui raised his head, his gaze passing over the three people in front of him.

"Your subject is here." Park Seung-jong knelt forward one step.

"What did you say to my good son while I was unconscious?" Li Hui asked in his usual sarcastic tone.

“I said nothing,” Park Seung-jong bowed deeply. “I only asked Your Highness to look at the guardianship proclamation.”

"Nonsense! You just told me to follow the will of Heaven and abdicate in favor of the Crown Prince! How could you possibly remain silent?" Li Hui pushed aside Lady Liu and Lady Jin and stood up abruptly. "Or do you think I'll be so angry you'll kill me, so you feel there's no need to say anything more?"

Sweat began to bead on Park Seung-jong's forehead; his mind was racing. He knew perfectly well that the words had been spoken, the die was cast, and there was no turning back. He had to continue persuading Yi Gwanggaeto to abdicate. However, with Yi Yeo by his side, he couldn't afford to provoke Yi Gwanggaeto too much. If he angered Yi Gwanggae to the point of vomiting blood, or even to the point of death, he would be branded as a usurper, and even if he helped the crown prince ascend the throne, he would certainly not have a good life.

"Your Majesty, I am truly wronged!" Park Seung-jong cried out loudly, then composed himself and added a sob to his voice: "I previously advised Your Highness to obey the will of Heaven and abdicate in favor of the Crown Prince. I had absolutely no selfish motives! I only wanted to preserve the throne for Your Highness's lineage. The situation has developed to this point, and it is impossible to reverse it now. But the Crown Prince is Your Highness's only son. As long as the royal line remains intact, even if Your Highness is deposed by the Emperor, Your Highness can still live out your old age peacefully with the Crown Prince supporting you."

"But if those traitors who were demoted in the past years of treasonous cases seize the opportunity to persuade the imperial envoy and deceive the emperor, causing a change in the royal lineage, then His Highness's lineage may be cut off!"

“As the King of Qin once said, ‘The wrath of the Son of Heaven can cause a million corpses and rivers of blood to flow for a thousand miles.’ Now, His Majesty has raised an army to punish us, and his forces are already at the heart of the capital. If we are not careful, the country will be in danger of destruction. I am His Highness’s great-grandfather-in-law, Li Guangchang is His Highness’s maternal great-grandfather-in-law, and Liu Wenchang is His Highness’s maternal uncle! If His Majesty’s lineage is severed under the Son of Heaven’s wrath, how can I, Li Guangchang, and Liu Wenchang protect ourselves and our families?” Park Seung-jong paused, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke first:

"Previously, Your Highness accused me of being a treacherous villain disguised as a loyal subject. But if protecting the king and protecting oneself is considered treacherous, then I truly do not know what loyalty is!" As if he had become emotional, Park Seung-jong actually burst into tears at the end.

(End of this chapter)