Rise of a Lonely City: From Exiled Prince to Ruler of the Nine Provinces

The second year of Xuanji, the eighth month.

The urgent reports of victory in Jiangnan and the great triumph in Yingcheng had not yet completely dispelled the lingering gloom over the capital city caused by the previous rebellion when another urgent report from a thousand miles to the southeast suddenly exploded like a muffled thunderclap in the court, which had just breathed a sigh of relief, and stirred up a silent storm in front of the young emperor's desk in the Zichen Hall.

This report was not a battle report, but a letter of apology.

The person who submitted the memorial was Xiao Rui, the Prince of Wu, the only half-brother of the current emperor, who was enfeoffed in Wuzhou, a wealthy land in the southeast.

The letter was written in a sincere and even humble and fearful tone, yet its contents were shocking and horrifying.

The report was sent directly to the Emperor via an urgent, sealed box from the Privy Council, along with the military report of the great victory in Jiangnan.

When Xiao Chen unfolded the memorial sealed with the golden seal of the King of Wu, the ink still fresh, his gaze swept over the opening phrase, "Your subject Xiao Rui is filled with trepidation and fear, bowing his head repeatedly, I deserve death," and then fell upon the specific charges against him.

The cabinet ministers and privy councilors standing in the imperial study, including even the usually composed Han Yu, could clearly see that the young emperor's brows suddenly furrowed, his fingers gripping the memorial turned slightly white from the force, and the atmosphere around him instantly plummeted to freezing point.

"Fine, what a fine 'moment of confusion'! What a fine 'being deceived by villains'!" Xiao Chen's voice wasn't loud, but it was as cold as icicles in the dead of winter, and every word seemed to carry a sharp blade.

He slowly placed the memorial on the imperial desk, his fingertips tracing heavily across the few lines of text, as if he wanted to tear them off the paper:

"...Last year, the traitorous brothers Xiao Zheng and Xiao Rong, defiant and arrogant, secretly sent spies to secretly communicate with my illegitimate son."

The wicked son, young and ignorant, could not distinguish between loyalty and treachery. Bewitched, he actually... he secretly mobilized three hundred guards from the Prince's Palace, under the pretense of patrolling, to sneak out of his fiefdom, intending... intending to meet up with the two rebels.

Your Majesty... Your Majesty has failed in discipline and supervision. Only recently, as the case of the traitor in Jiangnan has become clearer, have you discovered secret letters between the traitor and the two traitors in the traitor's room, and have been shocked to realize this heinous crime!

I deserve to die ten thousand deaths for this crime! The rebellious son Xiao Jun has defied his sovereign and father, colluded with traitors, and his crimes are unforgivable. He has been arrested by the chief clerk of the Prince's Palace and awaits Your Majesty's judgment.

I have failed in educating my son and in managing my subordinates, resulting in this rebellious son in my family who has disgraced the imperial family and endangered the state. I am ashamed before the late Emperor and have failed Your Majesty's grace... I know my sins are grave and dare not ask for leniency. I only beg Your Majesty to remember me...

Considering that I have been dutiful and virtuous over the years and have not committed any major offenses, and also out of consideration for our brotherly bond, I hereby grant you permission to strip me of my royal title and imprison myself in the Prince of Wu's residence to reflect on my sins and atone for them.

All officials and guards involved in the case have been arrested and are at the disposal of the imperial court.

"I hereby surrender the military and political seals of Wuzhou and await the imperial court's takeover..."

The Imperial Study was deathly silent.

Only Xiao Chen's suppressed breathing, conveying his anger, could be clearly heard.

Han Yu, Su Zhongqing, Shen Du, and other senior cabinet officials looked at each other, their foreheads covered in fine beads of sweat.

They knew that the relationship between Prince Wu, Xiao Rui, and His Majesty was delicate, but they never expected that this elder brother, who always presented himself as a "wise prince" and "respectful," would cause such a huge mess behind their backs!

His heir actually secretly mobilized troops to support the rebels!

This is no longer a simple case of "negligence" or "lax discipline"; it is treason! It is a grave crime of participating in a rebellion!

Even though Xiao Rui claimed that the young prince was "young and ignorant," "bewitched," and "unaware beforehand," and only "realized the trap" afterward, who would believe such an explanation?

How could a mere boy like the Crown Prince easily mobilize three hundred guards of the Prince's Palace without the tacit approval or even authorization of the Prince of Wu? And were the "secret letters" with the traitors truly only "discovered" after the failure of the Jiangnan campaign?

This letter of apology, seemingly shifting all blame onto the "wicked son" and "traitor," and offering his own "resignation" in a humble manner, is in fact extremely vicious!

This was a strategic retreat, a move made at a delicate moment when the rebellion in Jiangnan had just been quelled, the court urgently needed stability, and was mindful of the "imperial family's kinship," thus outmaneuvering Xiao Chen!

If he is severely punished, it will inevitably lead to accusations of being "heartless and cruel to his own brothers," especially given that Xiao Zheng and Xiao Rong have just been executed. This would easily arouse suspicion among the imperial family and even the people of the world that the emperor is "discarding his bow after the birds are all gone."

Moreover, Wuzhou is an important town in the southeast, a place of great importance for money and grain. If Xiao Rui is forced to rebel, then the south of the Yangtze River will be pacified and war will break out in the southeast again, and the court will be exhausted from dealing with the situation.

If they are not severely punished, or are let off lightly, where is the law of the land? Where is the emperor's authority? Should those who participate in treason only be stripped of their titles and imprisoned?

Wouldn't all the imperial family members, princes, and nobles follow suit in the future? At worst, they'd just lose their titles and live in idleness! Once this precedent is set, the consequences will be endless!

Xiao Chen slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the faces of every important official in the imperial study.

His gaze was as deep as a cold pool, churning with anger, heartache, calculation, and a barely perceptible trace of the final, chilling disappointment in family ties.

"My lords,"

Xiao Chen's voice returned to calm, but beneath that calm lay a chilling undercurrent. "The King of Wu's petition for forgiveness is here. Take a look, and discuss how this matter should be handled."

Han Yu took a deep breath, stepped forward and bowed: "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince of Wu has privately mobilized troops to support the rebels. The evidence is conclusive. This is an unforgivable crime of treason!"

The King of Wu claimed to have failed in his duty of oversight, but this was hardly convincing to the people.

Even if he was unaware of the situation beforehand, his lax household management and ineffective control over his subordinates led to the Prince's residence becoming a den of traitors, and his crime was still grave! However…”

He then changed the subject cautiously, saying, "However, the Prince of Wu is Your Majesty's only surviving elder brother, and he has taken the initiative to submit a memorial to plead guilty, arrest his rebellious son, and relinquish power. His attitude has already become extremely humble. If we punish him too harshly, it may damage Your Majesty's reputation for benevolence and also make the imperial clan uneasy. Moreover, Jiangnan has just been pacified, and everything needs to be rebuilt. Wuzhou in the southeast is related to the canal transport and tax revenue, and it cannot be touched lightly. I believe... we should be cautious."

Su Zhongqing also said, "What Han Xiang said is very true. King Wu's memorial, seemingly a plea for forgiveness, is actually a test and a way to protect himself. His statement that he has already arrested the crown prince and the officials involved in the case and handed over power is actually a way of abandoning his weapons and showing weakness to the court."

The best course of action now is for the imperial court to take over the military and political affairs of Wuzhou, thoroughly investigate this case, and bring all those involved in the rebellion, regardless of whether they were in charge or accomplices, to justice in order to uphold the law of the country.

As for the King of Wu himself... his crime of "negligence" may be temporarily recorded, his royal title may be stripped, he may be demoted to a county prince, and he may be ordered to reflect on his mistakes in his residence, and may not leave without an imperial edict, so as to observe his future conduct.

In this way, national prestige is demonstrated, familial bonds are preserved, and the southeast is stabilized.

Shen Du frowned and said in a deep voice, "What Lord Su said is a wise and experienced strategy for governing the country."

However, treason is a capital offense, and there is no leniency for it. The Crown Prince's crime is undeniable and should be severely punished according to the law to serve as a warning to others.

But did the King of Wu truly "oversight"? How could his young son, the heir apparent, have accomplished such a major task—the unauthorized transfer of three hundred guards to meet the rebels—without the King's tacit approval?

The chief secretary of the Prince's Palace and the commander of the guards were both confidants of the Prince of Wu. How could they have been completely unaware of this? There are many suspicious points here!

If the matter is merely dismissed as "oversight" and the official is demoted, it will likely fail to silence public opinion and deter others with ulterior motives.

Your Majesty, I believe that a capable imperial envoy should be dispatched to Wuzhou to thoroughly investigate the matter and uncover the truth. If the King of Wu was indeed involved in the treason, then the law will be merciless!

If he was indeed implicated by the Crown Prince, then it wouldn't be too late to discuss his "negligence" later!

Several senior officials had differing opinions, but all were extremely cautious. This matter was far too sensitive; a single misstep could have far-reaching consequences.

Xiao Chen listened in silence, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the letter of apology on the imperial desk.

He knew that Xiao Rui's letter was timed perfectly, throwing a difficult problem at him.

Severe punishment would damage "benevolence" and "family ties," and might even incite rebellion in the southeast; lenient punishment would undermine the authority of the national law and have endless consequences.

After a long silence, Xiao Chen slowly spoke, his voice devoid of any emotion: "The Crown Prince of Wu has privately mobilized troops to support the rebels. The evidence is conclusive, and his crime is equivalent to treason."

He was immediately stripped of his imperial lineage, reduced to a commoner, and escorted to the capital to be jointly tried by the Imperial Clan Court, the Ministry of Justice, and the Court of Judicial Review. He was to be severely punished according to the law without any leniency.

All officials and guards of the Prince's Palace involved in the case, regardless of their position, shall be arrested, severely interrogated, and punished in accordance with the law to uphold national discipline.

He paused, his gaze sharp as a knife: "Prince Xiao Rui of Wu has failed to govern his subordinates strictly and manage his household well, which has led to his rebellious son committing such a heinous act. He has failed the late emperor, disgraced the court, and has lost the way of a subject and the duty of an elder brother."

The title of Prince of Wu is hereby stripped, and he is demoted to Duke of Feng'en. He is to leave Wuzhou immediately and relocate to the residence granted to him in the capital. He is not to leave without imperial decree. All military and political affairs in Wuzhou shall be taken over by officials dispatched by the court immediately for thorough investigation and rectification.

The Wu Prince's Palace is hereby ordered to be thoroughly searched by the authorities. All contraband and correspondence with the traitors must be thoroughly examined, leaving nothing out.

"His Majesty!"

Han Yu couldn't help but say, "King Wu... it is only right that you move to the capital with the help of the Duke. However, is it... is it too hasty to take over the military and political affairs of Wu Prefecture and confiscate the Prince's residence? I fear it may cause unrest."

Xiao Chen said coldly, "Since he has submitted a memorial to plead guilty and relinquished his power, he has admitted his wrongdoing and is at the mercy of the court. What is wrong with the court taking over the fiefdom and investigating the case according to the law? Could it be that his plea for guilty is a pretense, and his real intention is to retreat in order to advance? If he has nothing to hide, why should he fear the court's investigation? Prime Minister Han, there is no need to say more. My mind is made up."

He looked at the Privy Councilor who had remained silent: "Instruct the Privy Council to immediately send a letter to Han Lie of the Jiangnan Grand Camp, ordering him to detach a portion of his troops and relocate them to the border of Wuzhou in preparation for any eventuality. Also, select capable censors and members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, carrying my imperial edict, to rush to Wuzhou to work with the local officials to handle matters such as taking over, confiscating, and escorting the prisoners. Remember, be quick, be steady, and above all, act in accordance with the law and regulations, leaving no room for excuses."

"Your subject obeys the decree!" The Privy Councilor solemnly responded.

"As for Xiao Rui..."

Xiao Chen's gaze fell once more on the letter of apology, his tone laced with a cold sarcasm. "Didn't he want to reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors? I'll grant his wish. The Duke of Feng'en's mansion in the capital will be enough for him to ponder his sins."

The decree was issued, ordering him to depart immediately upon receiving the decree, without delay. "I await my 'good elder brother' in the capital."

Inside the imperial study, the officials bowed and accepted the order, but their hearts were filled with turbulent emotions.

They knew that His Majesty's decree, which seemed to spare Xiao Rui's life, preserve his dukedom, and "invite" him to the capital for "honorable retirement," was in fact a swift and decisive measure.

Stripping Xiao Rui of his real power as a prince, relocating him from his fiefdom which he had cultivated for many years, confiscating his mansion, and imprisoning his son were all tantamount to uprooting Xiao Rui and confining him to the capital.

From now on, Xiao Rui will completely lose the capital to stir up trouble and become a duke under close surveillance in the capital.

This not only gave the people of the world an explanation for "caring for family ties," but also completely eliminated a major hidden danger in the southeast. Furthermore, by severely punishing the crown prince and the officials involved, it served as a strong deterrent to all those with ulterior motives.

Their shrewd methods and masterful control of the situation are chilling.

Wu King Xiao Rui's seemingly humble letter of apology not only failed to exonerate him or reduce his punishment, but instead provoked a more swift and thorough purge and control by the court.

A treason case involving the Crown Prince of Wu is about to unfold simultaneously in the capital and Wuzhou, and its ultimate target is the seemingly obedient but potentially treacherous elder brother of the emperor.

The smoke of battle in Jiangnan has just dissipated, but another, equally thrilling struggle, without the smoke of gunpowder, has quietly begun in the imperial court.

Xiao Chen used his iron fist and strategy to tell everyone that whether it was the rebels on the battlefield or the hidden dangers in the imperial court, they would be eliminated without mercy.

The Great Xia dynasty will not tolerate any threat, even if that threat comes from one's own blood relatives.