Chapter 44: Emperor Taishun Decides to Make a Move (Part Two)

Upon hearing the name "Wang Ziteng," Prince Zhongyi furrowed his brows instantly, deliberating as he spoke, "Your Majesty, Wang Ziteng is arrogant and despotic. If he is appointed as the Grand General for the Western Expedition, I fear it may not be appropriate."

Emperor Taishun gave a bitter smile, lightly tapping his fingertips against the desk, "How could I not know he is arrogant? Yet, he started as a personal imperial guard to His Late Majesty, remains a trusted confidant of the Retired Emperor, and truly possesses military talent."

Prince Zhongyi pressed further, "If Wang Ziteng becomes the Grand General, who shall succeed him as the Commander of the Capital Garrison?"

"Lukedu," Emperor Taishun replied with a helpless sigh.

Lukedu was also a trusted confidant of the Retired Emperor, Emperor Jingning.

Silence fell within the warm pavilion for a moment.

The post of the Capital Garrison Commander was a vital position connected to the military power within the capital, directly bearing upon the safety of the Retired Emperor Jingning; naturally, the Retired Emperor would arrange for his own trusted man to hold it.

After remaining silent for a while, Prince Zhongyi could not help but speak up, "Your Majesty, I have a matter to report. This matter concerns the Fourth Brother... it concerns Yi'er, and it also concerns Wang Ziteng."

Emperor Taishun suddenly raised his head. "Yi'er has entered the capital? How is he involved with Wang Ziteng?"

More than a dozen years ago, Emperor Taishun, then the Fourth Prince residing in Jiangning, had personally chosen a name for the illegitimate son he fathered with Jiang Xuelian: Yuan Yi!

However, to cover eyes and ears and keep the mother and son Jiang Xuelian and Jiang Nian hidden, Emperor Taishun had let Jiang Xuelian choose another name for the illegitimate boy, setting his surname as Jiang. Jiang Xuelian had named him "Nian," meaning yearning, expressing both her longing for Emperor Taishun and her hope that he would constantly remember her and their son.

"Yuan Yi" was Jiang Nian's royal name; if one day he were recognized by Emperor Taishun as an imperial prince and returned to the imperial family, he would be Yuan Yi. If he were never recognized, he would forever remain Jiang Nian.

Nonetheless, even though Emperor Taishun had not yet officially acknowledged this imperial prince, he had always addressed him as "Yi'er" in private.

Prince Zhongyi was aware of this.

Without hesitation, Prince Zhongyi recounted the entanglements between Jiang Nian, the Xue family, and Wang Ziteng in detail. He began with Jiang Nian encountering the Xue family on the Qinhuai River, proceeded to Xue Pan gathering a mob to cause trouble at the Jiang residence, mentioned Jiangning Governor Tang Gina's intervention, the rescue of the Xue family on the Grand Canal, the Xue family's written agreement to offer a concubine, and finally culminated in Wang Ziteng's threats and Qin Ye's unjust death. Every detail, large and small, was meticulously laid out.

Having listened to Prince Zhongyi's report, Emperor Taishun frowned and let out a cold snort through his nose, "The boy has no sooner entered the capital than he starts stirring up trouble!"

In truth, he had deliberately arranged an old, modest residence in the eastern suburbs of the Divine Capital for Jiang Nian to live in, primarily hoping that this illegitimate son would keep a low profile upon entering the capital and not assume he was an imperial prince simply by setting foot here...

As for why he still refused to acknowledge Jiang Nian as an imperial prince at present, there were three main reasons.

First, he worried that the Retired Emperor would be displeased by it.

Second, having ascended the throne for merely two months, his power was heavily restricted, he was surrounded by numerous enemies, and his brothers, who coveted the throne, were eyeing him like tigers watching their prey; thus, it was inconvenient to expose the existence of an illegitimate son lost among the common folk.

Third, he did not wish for Jiang Nian, an illegitimate son, to throw the imperial household into turmoil.

Prince Zhongyi pondered for a moment and said, "This subject humbly believes that this matter is not Yi'er's fault. Yi'er is merely fifteen years of age, and having developed an affection for the daughter of the Xue family—especially at a time when he had rendered great service to the Xue family—wishing to take the Xue daughter as a concubine to repay the kindness is entirely within reason."

He paused briefly, then continued, "Yi'er also told me that when he proposed the matter of the concubine, the Xue family attempted to make him take their daughter as his principal wife, but he resolutely refused. He understands that according to the commands of parents and the words of matchmakers, his marriage must naturally be decided by Your Majesty."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Taishun felt a tinge of satisfaction in his heart. Although he had not yet recognized this son, the boy knew that his marriage should be decided by his father, and this level of awareness somewhat comforted him.

If Jiang Nian had lacked even this sense of awareness and had presumptuously agreed to take Xue Baochai as his principal wife on the spot, it would have greatly displeased Emperor Taishun...

Emperor Taishun sneered and said, "Yi'er is, after all, my own flesh and blood; how could he allow that Xue family girl to vainly claim the position of principal wife? Even if Yi'er had fallen among commoners, it is not something the Xue family could ever aspire to match!"

Prince Zhongyi found this remark unsurprising. He had long known that his Fourth Brother before him actually cared deeply about this illegitimate son, Jiang Nian.

Prince Zhongyi went on, "This matter should naturally be blamed on Wang Ziteng. This man is arrogant and lawless, coercing Yi'er and dispatching troops to surround and hunt down Yi'er's entire household. Had Yi'er not sent He Yun in haste to summon me to intervene, Yi'er might have fallen victim to his plot. Although Yi'er fortunately escaped danger, Wang Ziteng actually caused the death of Qin Ye, which is truly odious. Your Majesty, I boldly submit that we may seize this opportunity to punish Wang Ziteng. How can such a man be appointed as the Grand General for the Western Expedition? Nor can he be allowed to retain the post of Capital Garrison Commander."

Hearing this, Emperor Taishun wore a complex expression. Fixing his gaze on Prince Zhongyi, he said, "Yet Wang Ziteng is currently the Capital Garrison Commander and a trusted confidant of His Late Majesty. I... find it difficult to punish him as well!"

With a piercing and resolute gaze, Prince Zhongyi declared, "Then we shall memorialize His Late Majesty, detailing his recent crimes, and request His Late Majesty to punish him."

Emperor Taishun gave a bitter smile. "His Late Majesty will inevitably ask what connection you have with Yi'er. Could it be that you expect me to utter falsehoods to His Late Majesty over this matter?"

In a decisive tone, Prince Zhongyi replied, "Then we shall confess the truth about Yi'er to His Late Majesty!"

Emperor Taishun's eyes widened abruptly.

Silence descended once more upon the warm pavilion.

The wisps of smoke curling from the bronze incense burner seemed to have suddenly frozen in mid-air.

The few birds chirping outside the window likewise seemed to have abruptly fallen quiet.

Lowering his voice, Prince Zhongyi said, "Fourth Brother, now that Yi'er has already entered the capital and Wang Ziteng has made such a scene over him, the fact that he is your son cannot be concealed for long. His Late Majesty's eyes and ears are numerous and spread throughout the realm, especially here in the capital; I reckon he will sooner or later discover that Yi'er is your son. Rather than waiting for His Late Majesty to learn of it from other sources, it would be far better for you, Fourth Brother, to personally confess the truth to His Late Majesty today. It is merely confessing the truth to His Late Majesty; it does not mean proclaiming it to the entire realm at this very moment."

He paused, his throat bobbing as he swallowed, and continued his persuasion, "In my estimation, although His Late Majesty might be somewhat displeased with you, Fourth Brother, on account of this, he would hardly punish you over such a matter. After all, you are now the Emperor of our Great Qing, and since your ascension, you have risen early and retired late, diligent in affairs of state. In my opinion, confessing the truth about Yi'er to His Late Majesty in exchange for punishing Wang Ziteng is well worth it!"

He uttered this final sentence with exceptional solemnity.

Had anyone else offered such advice, Emperor Taishun would most likely have disagreed and even flown into a rage.

However, the one advising him now was Prince Zhongyi, the Thirteenth Prince, Emperor Taishun's own thirteenth brother!

Emperor Taishun felt that what the Thirteenth Brother said made sense. Unable to remain seated any longer, he stood up and began pacing back and forth within the warm pavilion, deep in thought with every stride.

Suddenly, he reached out a hand and grasped the imperial jade seal, contemplating the power and majesty it represented. Yet immediately afterward, he could not help but recall the third day of the third month over a dozen years ago—he remembered witnessing the birth of that illegitimate son with his own eyes, remembered reaching out to clasp the tiny hand of that infant in the swaddling clothes. The imperial jade seal was cold and hard, whereas that little hand had been so soft and warm.

At last, Emperor Taishun nodded to Prince Zhongyi. "Very well! I shall confess the truth about Yi'er to His Late Majesty!"

This signified that he had decided to take action and discipline Wang Ziteng!

Outside the warm pavilion, several ancient cypress trees stood with their branches and leaves swaying gently in the breeze, as if suddenly enlightened, or perhaps whispering secrets of the unknown...