The Red Mansion

Chapter 208 Two Saints Establish Heirs, Fortune Devours the Dragon

Meanwhile, Shen Chuan'en's invitation to Jiang Nian to Shen Garden failed, leaving him feeling quite uneasy. He had no choice but to take his adopted daughter, Yu Zhaoying, and board the painted boat with the character "Shen" on it, leaving the Tianning Temple dock and sailing into the North Moat.

The lights on the riverbank gradually thinned out, and a bright moon hung in the mid-sky, its clear light casting a deep glow on the river's surface.

The painted boat bearing the character "Shen" had vermilion lacquered railings, brocade curtains hanging low, and the interior furnishings were extremely luxurious.

At this moment, Shen Chuan'en, Yu Zhaoying, and others were sitting in the cabin, but it was completely silent except for the sound of water gently lapping against the hull, as if sighing and lamenting.

Shen Chuan'en's face was devoid of any smile; his expression was gloomy, clearly indicating that he was preoccupied with something.

He thought that the fortune slips from Tianning Temple were personally written by eminent monks and were always accurate, able to predict good or bad fortune. Unfortunately, tonight Jiang Nian drew the best slip, while he drew the worst. The slip read: "A grand banquet in a high tower suddenly collapses, gold and jade filling the hall turn to ashes. At midnight, a boat sails in the middle of the river; when will the black wind and waves return?"

Each word was like a knife, piercing straight to the heart.

Even more strangely, the fortune slip for the adopted daughter Yu Zhaoying was an ominous sign, which read: "Beneath the peony blossoms lie withered bones, a touch of crimson lips is poison. On the Phoenix Terrace, I recall playing the flute, which has turned into green smoke and entered the underworld."

Such an ominous omen, is it not a warning from Heaven?
He then thought of Jiang Nian, who, despite her young age, was extremely cautious. While others were captivated by the beauty of Yu Zhaoying, Jiang Nian seemed oblivious; she even insisted on buying her own candied hawthorns and almond tea, and refused to even touch the tea served on the pleasure boat with the character "Shen" on it. Clearly, she was wary of everything.

"This man is young but cunning. He must have come with ill intentions. Emperor Taishun is going to punish my Shen family!"

Shen Chuan'en gritted his teeth inwardly, his hands unconsciously clenching so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

After much thought, he made up his mind: "If that's the case, I should make plans to escape as soon as possible, lest I sit and wait for my death!"

Just as she was pondering this, Yu Zhaoying suddenly stood up and said softly, "Godfather, we're home."

The pleasure boat has docked.

On the shore, the servants of Shen Garden greeted them with lanterns.

Shen Chuan'en paid no attention to it, only coldly glanced at the crowd, strode through the crowd, and headed straight into the garden.

Fish reflected in the water followed closely behind, her skirt swaying.

Shen Chuan'en glanced at her, thinking to himself, "This woman is exceptionally beautiful and extremely obedient. Even if I fail to win over Jiang Nian this time, even if I have to escape, having her by my side would be of great use..."

Shen Garden was brightly lit, with pavilions and towers nestled among the flowers and trees, making it truly magnificent.

Shen Chuan'en had no heart to appreciate the scenery. He felt that the garden, which was full of beauty, was shrouded in gloom and ominous. The shadows of the trees seemed to be watching from the shadows.

He suddenly felt a chill and tightened his collar, sighing inwardly, "This wealth and glory is like walking on thin ice!"

……

……

Shenjing City.

On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, the imperial palace still carried the afterglow of the Lantern Festival. Colorful lanterns hung high under the eaves of each palace, and the red fragments of firecrackers still lingered before the white marble steps, like specks of rouge, reflecting the sunlight.

Inside the warm pavilion of Qianqing Palace, however, there was a different kind of solemn atmosphere.

Inside the pavilion, a gilded lion-shaped incense burner emitted ambergris, its wisps of smoke filling the room.

The retired Emperor Jingning and his son Emperor Taishun sat facing each other on a dragon-patterned couch, separated by a rosewood table.

The arrangement on the table was extremely solemn: bright yellow imperial edict paper was laid out flat like silk; cinnabar imperial ink was ground in a nine-dragon Duan inkstone; a pair of Hetian jade paperweights were warm and smooth like grease, like an omen of the eternal stability of the country; there was also a scroll of a secret draft of the edict for establishing an heir apparent, the ink just beginning to dry.

Although Emperor Jingning's hair was white as frost, his eyes were still bright, his spirit restrained, and his imperial might remained. After a moment's thought, he said to Emperor Taishun, "Establish an heir!"

The three words uttered carried the weight of a thousand pounds!
Emperor Jingning had once deposed his crown prince, a memory that still haunted him; Emperor Taishun had also personally experienced the bloody and turbulent struggle for the throne among his nine sons, a memory etched deep in his mind. Father and son shared a common sentiment—the word "crown prince" was a thorn in their side. Therefore, after careful consideration, they decided to secretly establish an heir!
At this moment, Emperor Taishun nodded slightly, rolled up his sleeves, took out his purple-tipped imperial brush, and lightly dipped it in cinnabar. The cinnabar dissolved in the water, spreading like fresh blood, a startling sight. Facing the draft, the brush tip hovered above the edict paper, paused briefly, and then flew across the paper, each character penetrating the back of the paper:
"Imperial Edict of the Retired Emperor and Imperial Decree"
The emperor was sent to heaven to carry the order, and the edict said:
I, having inherited the great legacy of the Retired Emperor, have reigned on the throne and diligently served day and night, with the sole aim of revering Heaven and honoring our ancestors, and ensuring the peace and prosperity of the nation. The imperial regalia is of paramount importance, and the successor should be decided as soon as possible to secure the hearts of the people and strengthen the foundation of the state. This matter is of utmost importance, and I dare not act on my own authority; therefore, I respectfully request the Retired Emperor's wise decision.

The Retired Emperor's achievements surpass those of all previous emperors, and his virtue endures for eternity. Though enjoying a life of leisure and tranquility, he still cherishes the fate of the nation. The Retired Emperor, with his profound wisdom and far-sighted insight, understands the subtle nuances of life and, mindful of the foundation of the state, hereby issues this imperial edict to me.

The Retired Emperor issued an imperial edict: 'Among my grandsons, Yuan Li is of benevolent and filial nature, exceptionally intelligent, and possesses extraordinary bearing. He closely resembles me and is capable of carrying on the virtuous legacy of our ancestors. His words and actions are in accordance with my wishes. By the grace of Heaven and by observing public opinion, Yuan Li has been chosen to inherit the throne. Your Majesty, please understand my intentions and secretly designate Yuan Li as Crown Prince, to fulfill the auspicious grace of Heaven and to fulfill my long-cherished wish. This is the edict!'

I kneel and listen to the Holy Instructions of the Retired Emperor, deeply moved and awestruck. The Retired Emperor's wisdom and insight are absolutely correct. Yuan Li is indeed my fine son, naturally gifted, filial, friendly, kind, diligent, and quick-witted, closely resembling both the Retired Emperor and myself. His virtue and character are growing daily, perfectly in line with my will, and he is fully capable of bearing the weighty responsibility of the throne.

I respectfully obey the imperial edict of the Retired Emperor, and in accordance with His benevolent command and the will of Heaven, on the sixteenth day of the first month of the third year of the Taishun reign, I specially ordered Yuan Li to personally write his name, and sealed it in a secret box, which was then placed behind the "Zhengda Guangming" plaque in the Qianqing Palace.

This is the decree of the Retired Emperor, personally received by me, and proclaimed to Heaven, Earth, and our ancestors as an immutable law for all ages. It is not merely my personal preference, but rather the mandate of Heaven, the will of the people, and a clear testament to the wise judgment of the Retired Emperor.

All officials, both domestic and foreign, must remain steadfast in their duties and diligently assist the emperor. They must not pry, speculate, or engage in unwarranted discussion. This decree is kept deep within the palace walls and may not be opened without the special permission of the Emperor Emeritus and myself. Those who leak this decree, spy, or speak recklessly will be severely punished according to the laws of the land!

The announcement was made at home and abroad, and the envoys heard about it.

Admire this! "

Emperor Jingning and Emperor Taishun deliberately omitted mentioning Yuan Li as the fourth prince in this secret edict establishing the heir apparent, because both of them had the idea of ​​having Jiang Nian acknowledge his ancestral lineage. If Jiang Nian were to actually acknowledge his ancestral lineage in the future, Yuan Li would no longer be the fourth prince, but would later become the fifth prince, and Jiang Nian would become the fourth prince under the name "Yuan Yi"!
Once the imperial edict was completed, two copies were made.

Emperor Taishun took the nine-dragon-knobbed jade seal and lightly dipped it three times in the vermilion ink—once for heaven and earth, twice for his ancestors, and three times for the common people. Then he firmly stamped it on the end of the edict. The four characters "Emperor's Seal" leaped onto the paper in vermilion, as red as blood, conveying the majestic power of the emperor.

"Pack it into a box," Emperor Jingning ordered in a deep voice.

The chief eunuch, Dai Quan, held a gilded brocade box. The box was lined with bright yellow silk and carved with a five-clawed golden dragon on the outside, its claws outstretched and lifelike. The lock was sealed with seven layers of sealing wax, indicating that it was a highly confidential item.

Emperor Taishun carefully folded one of the edicts, placed it in the box himself, and slowly closed the lid. A soft "click" sounded, as if the wheel of fate was turning.

"Come with the ladder."

At a command, twelve guards carried in a sandalwood ladder with cloud patterns.

This ladder is made entirely of rosewood, carved with dragons and phoenixes, but it is more than three times wider than an ordinary ladder.

The group carefully placed the ladder under the "Upright and Honorable" plaque, even their breathing was extremely soft, for fear of disturbing this solemn moment.

Emperor Taishun personally carried the brocade box up the steps one by one, and placed the brocade box behind the plaque when he arrived at it.

The new crown prince of Daqing was thus sealed behind the plaque bearing the inscription "Upright and Honorable." Meanwhile, the wheels of history began to turn in a direction no one could have predicted…

Emperor Jingning, looking up, suddenly burst into tears. This long-suffering retired emperor was suddenly struck by a scene from over sixty years ago—an eight-year-old boy, clad in a yellow robe, sitting on the dragon throne, his feet barely touching the ground; he recalled his initial fervent ambition in establishing a crown prince, and his heart-wrenching grief at deposing him; he also vividly remembered the complex expression in his fourth son's eyes as he personally handed the imperial seal to him at the moment of abdication…

"Father?" Emperor Taishun had already descended the ladder and saw Emperor Jingning with tears streaming down his face, so he called out softly.

Emperor Jingning wiped away his tears and waved his hand: "It's alright, it's just..." The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back. He wanted to say that the country was too heavy, that being a ruler was not easy, but in the end he could only let out a long sigh: "Let's see what fate has in store."

Just then, a strange phenomenon appeared in the sky!
Above the capital city, the sun hung high, casting countless golden rays that illuminated the Forbidden City, making it appear as if it were a celestial palace.

Suddenly, a golden dragon appeared out of nowhere in the clear sky!

The golden dragon was still young, swimming glittering in the sunlight, sometimes raising its head, sometimes wagging its tail, stirring up the clouds in the sky.

Even more strangely, a large plume of white vapor suddenly surged from the horizon, rolling and churning like the Qiantang River tide, heading towards the little golden dragon.

The guards and eunuchs on duty outside the Qianqing Palace were all craning their necks, staring blankly at the sky...

A eunuch hurriedly rushed into the hall, his voice trembling as he reported, "Your Majesty, the Emperor Emeritus...the heavens have shown strange phenomena!"

Both Emperor Jingning and Emperor Taishun were taken aback.

Emperor Taishun turned to look at Emperor Jingning, who frowned slightly and asked, "What strange phenomenon is this?"

The eunuch prostrated himself on the ground, not daring to raise his head: "In the sky... a golden dragon has appeared, and the sea of ​​clouds is surging. It is truly a rare and extraordinary phenomenon!"

Emperor Jingning and Emperor Taishun exchanged a glance, and without saying a word, hurriedly walked out of the palace.

Outside the hall, the crowd was in complete chaos; some were kneeling and kowtowing, while others were whispering amongst themselves…

Emperor Jingning looked up at the sky and saw a large cloud of white mist surge in front of the little golden dragon.

The little golden dragon thrashed and struggled amidst the billowing white mist. At first, it could still dart left and right, sometimes disappearing into the mist, sometimes leaping out, its golden light shimmering and dazzling. But the white mist grew increasingly turbulent, like crashing waves or a stampede of ten thousand horses.

Emperor Taishun saw it clearly and couldn't help but exclaim, "This..."

Before the words were even finished, the white mist had completely engulfed the little golden dragon.

After a while, the white mist dissipated, and the sky returned to its clear state, as if the scene had never happened.

Emperor Taishun, his face filled with shock, turned to Emperor Jingning: "Father, what is the meaning of this strange phenomenon?"

Emperor Jingning's expression was solemn, his white eyebrows furrowed. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Let's talk in the warm pavilion."

The father and son returned to the warm pavilion, and Emperor Jingning said, "It must be the strange phenomenon caused by our secret appointment of an heir just now!"

Emperor Taishun asked urgently, "Is it auspicious or inauspicious?"

Emperor Jingning did not answer, but instead strolled to the window and gazed at the clear blue sky in a daze.

The warm room was eerily quiet for a moment.

After a long silence, Emperor Jingning turned around and said, "The golden dragon is an auspicious sign of the emperor. Its appearance at the time of establishing an heir suggests that Heaven has approved our chosen heir. This is an auspicious omen!"

Emperor Taishun paused and said, "But the golden dragon was swallowed by the sea of ​​clouds..."

Emperor Jingning said, "Perhaps the golden dragon has disappeared, or perhaps it is because you are the current emperor, and Li'er is, after all, only a secretly appointed crown prince."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Taishun breathed a sigh of relief and laughed, "I truly never expected to witness such a strange phenomenon today!"

Ah, if Jiang Nian had witnessed the strange phenomenon above the capital city today, she would surely have thought of the divination slip from last night: "The light of the celestial pivot shines upon the Jade Capital, and the Five Clouds City is hidden in the clouds. Neither immortal nor Buddha, the flow of fortune reveals its meaning!"

Suddenly, Emperor Jingning stroked his white beard and changed the subject, saying, "I wish to make a southern tour."

Emperor Taishun was taken aback, thinking he had misheard: "Father is going on a southern... tour?"

Emperor Jingning nodded slightly, his gaze piercing through the carved window lattice, as if he could already see the misty rain of Jiangnan a thousand miles away: "I have made six trips to Jiangnan in my life, but the most recent one was eighteen years ago. Now I intend to make my seventh southern tour."

Emperor Taishun frowned slightly: "Your Majesty's health is of utmost importance. Moreover, although the world is at peace now, it is hard to guarantee that there are no villains..."

Before he could finish speaking, Emperor Jingning waved his hand to interrupt him and said with a smile, "Although I am old and sick, I am not so weak that I cannot even make a southern tour. This tour is called a southern tour, but in reality, everything will be kept simple. I just..." At this point, he suddenly sighed, "...just want to see the willow banks of Jiangnan and hear the bells of those ancient temples before I am buried."

Seeing that Emperor Jingning was determined, Emperor Taishun had no choice but to ask, "When does Your Majesty wish to depart?"

"Since everything is to be kept simple, we can set off ten days from now, on the 26th of this month," Emperor Jingning said, then added meaningfully, "I intend to take Li'er with me on this southern tour."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Taishun's expression changed drastically: "Li'er is only fifteen years old and should be focusing on her studies."

"Fifteen is too young?" Emperor Jingning chuckled. "I ascended the throne at eight and began ruling in my own right at fourteen! Now that I have secretly designated him as crown prince, he should be allowed to see the vast land and broaden his horizons." As he spoke, he looked intently at Emperor Taishun. "Don't you agree?"

Emperor Taishun was speechless at this question and could only lower his head and agree.

Emperor Jingning's secret appointment of Yuan Li as crown prince with Emperor Taishun today signifies his further recognition of Emperor Taishun, further consolidating Emperor Taishun's throne.

Emperor Jingning believed that Emperor Taishun would not take advantage of his southern tour to harm him.

Even so, he was still somewhat uneasy.

He deliberately kept the newly appointed crown prince by his side, both to show his affection for this grandson and to broaden his horizons. But wasn't he also keeping an eye on Emperor Taishun to prevent him, the retired emperor, from harming him?

Emperor Jingning gazed at Emperor Taishun, then suddenly laughed and said, "I'm really getting old. After this southern tour, I'm afraid I'll just be waiting to be buried." As he spoke, he reached out and patted Emperor Taishun's shoulder, "You've done a very good job as emperor!"

This slap brought tears to Emperor Taishun's eyes.

Since his ascension to the throne, Emperor Jingning had rarely praised him so openly.

(End of this chapter)