FIMA Ch96: Establishing the Crown Prince

These words fell.

Before Emperor Jianzhao and the Empress Dowager had time to speak, a wave of exclamations sounded among the courtiers behind them.

Then, a figure rushed out hurriedly, grabbed the little eunuch’s collar, and roared: “Who did you say lost their life? How could it be my family’s Yuanyuan? What is going on here?”

After roaring, he turned around and knelt directly in front of the Empress Dowager, crying with a face full of snot and tears: “Empress Dowager, you must stand up for our family’s Yuanyuan!”

This person kneeling on the ground was astonishingly the eldest master of the Duke of Chengen’s mansion, the Jiang family. He was also Empress Dowager Jiang’s biological nephew and Emperor Jianzhao’s biological maternal cousin.

The Empress Dowager’s head ached from being disturbed by this noise. But let alone the fact that this was her biological nephew, Jiang Yuanyuan was also her most beloved younger generation; this matter naturally had to be resolved properly.

She raised her hand and said calmly: “Didn’t the person Noble Consort Lu just sent over say to let this widow and the Emperor go to Linxi Pavilion to see with our own eyes? No matter what happened, this widow will always give the Jiang family and Yuanyuan an explanation.”

Although these words seemed to be directed at the eldest master of the Jiang family, they were actually meant for Emperor Jianzhao to hear.

In fact, without even needing to look, Empress Dowager Jiang could already guess what happened, and Emperor Jianzhao wasn’t a fool, so he naturally could guess as well.

Matters between men and women, wasn’t it just that sort of thing.

Not to mention, Gu Siyuan had previously mentioned boudoir reputation and pure name. And the only thing that could make a woman seek death by bumping her head against a pillar to defend it, was merely the two words ‘innocence’ and ‘purity’.

Empress Dowager Jiang reached out for the Momo (senior maid) beside her to support her, and slowly spoke: “Let’s go, the Emperor shall go together as well, to see what kind of incident your good son and the Jiang family’s daughter have actually caused?”

Emperor Jianzhao’s face instantly turned extremely ugly.

But at this time, not only were there the people of the inner palace in front of this Wuying Hall, but also the civil and military officials, and the King of the Northern Frontier. He couldn’t refuse even if he wanted to.

When the party arrived at Linxi Pavilion.

Noble Consort Lu was sitting leisurely on a chair drinking tea, while sitting opposite her was the Fourth Prince Xie Huan, his clothes disheveled and his face unbearable.

And on the ground, just as the little eunuch had said, pools of fresh blood could still be seen.

Seeing the Empress Dowager and the Emperor arrive, Noble Consort Lu stood up from her chair and welcomed the two to sit down.

Xie Huan also immediately looked up at Emperor Jianzhao, his gaze entirely full of grievance and pleading.

Emperor Jianzhao nodded.

The Empress Dowager pretended not to see the exchange of glances between this father and son, and warmly asked Noble Consort Lu: “This widow heard the person you sent mention Yuanyuan. Why don’t I see her now? Where is she?”

Noble Consort Lu immediately raised her chin slightly, gesturing toward the compartment shielded by a gauze curtain in the upper right corner.

“Lady Jiang bumped into the pillar with such force that she fainted on the spot. It gave this concubine quite a fright, so I hurriedly sent someone to invite an imperial physician. They are currently treating her inside, and it’s unknown if she will pull through.”

Linxi Pavilion was a viewing pavilion, so the place wasn’t very large. Besides the main hall for enjoying the scenery, there was an inner room used for resting.

Xie Huan and Jiang Yuanyuan had their relations there, and right now Jiang Yuanyuan was also lying inside, her life or death unknown.

The Empress Dowager’s brows furrowed deeply. After a long while, she finally asked helplessly: “How did it become like this, to the point of almost causing a fatality? What exactly happened in the middle of all this?”

Noble Consort Lu’s beautiful phoenix eyes glanced at Xie Huan, who was sitting distractedly on the opposite chair, and she flicked her bright red nails: “It’s better to let the Fourth Highness explain this matter first. If this palace speaks, in case the Fourth Highness gets unhappy and refuses to admit it, I would be caught out on my words instead.”

The Empress Dowager glared at her crossly, and only then looked at Xie Huan with a slightly stern face: “Huan’er, then tell this widow what happened?”

“Your son is truly wronged…” Xie Huan looked at his Imperial Father, and then at the King of the Northern Frontier aside, whose face was extremely ugly, and truly couldn’t bring himself to speak.

Seeing this scene, the Empress Dowager’s gaze immediately became incredibly sharp. Back then, she had also walked through a hundred battles in the deep palace; her imposing manner instantly made one tremble with fear.

She slapped the table and said coldly: “Xie Huan, you are the only conscious party involved at present, and you are a grown man. What else is there that cannot be spoken? What are you looking at your Imperial Father for? As a prince, can you not even bear the responsibility for your own actions? Then what matters will you be able to bear in the future! What can the Emperor count on you for!”

These words of the Empress Dowager were already considerably sharp, practically pointing at his nose and scolding him for not being a man, and even less having the qualifications to covet those ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains (the empire) in the future.

Xie Huan’s face instantly turned pale and gloomy to the extreme.

Emperor Jianzhao also felt his Empress Mother was somewhat harsh, but the people around, especially the King of the Northern Frontier, clearly showed expressions of agreement with the Empress Dowager’s words.

Emperor Jianzhao coughed lightly and could only brace himself to say: “Huan’er, speak up. I am also here listening. If there are any misunderstandings or grievances, I will inevitably stand up for you.”

Knowing he could no longer avoid it, Xie Huan half-closed his eyes and began to slowly speak.

According to what he said, because he accidentally got his clothes wet at the banquet earlier, he ordered a palace servant to go to the Feihong Hall where his mother consort lived to fetch a new set to change into, while he himself went to the Wensi Hall behind the Wuying Hall to rest temporarily.

However, Feihong Hall was located in a remote area and was quite far from here.

He had drunk a bit too much just now, and his body was wet and dirty. After sitting for a while, he felt his whole body was somewhat uncomfortable, so he walked to the viewing platform of Wensi Hall to get some fresh air.

He hadn’t stood on the viewing platform for long when, in a blur, Xie Huan caught a glimpse of someone also viewing the night scenery at the window of the Linxi Pavilion in Ningshou Garden, directly across the square.

Today was the Mid-Autumn Festival, so encountering people enjoying the scenery in the palace was quite normal.

Waiting alone in the Wensi Hall was boring, so as if possessed by ghosts and gods, he went downstairs and walked toward the Linxi Pavilion. Only after going up did he realize that it was actually a woman there.

However, Xie Huan was the Fourth Prince, and Jiang Yuanyuan was the Empress Dowager’s niece who often came to the palace, so the two were naturally familiar with each other, and they casually exchanged a few words.

But when Xie Huan was preparing to leave, he smelled a strange, sweet, and cloying fragrance and suddenly felt his whole body become unwell. What happened afterward, he himself didn’t know.

When he woke up again, it was Jiang Yuanyuan’s maid who had found them. Seeing the two of them lying together completely naked, she couldn’t help but let out a scream.

“That’s how it is…” After Xie Huan finished speaking, he looked at Emperor Jianzhao pledging in all sincerity: “Imperial Father, your son didn’t do it intentionally. That strange fragrance… your son was definitely framed. Your son is absolutely not someone whose intellect is muddled by lust…”

Hearing him say this meant he didn’t want to take responsibility.

Immediately, the Empress Dowager sneered: “You say it wasn’t intentional? That you were framed? But it turns out you actively walked to Linxi Pavilion yourself. This widow even thought someone knocked you out and sent you over here.”

“Imperial Grandmother… your grandson was just taking a casual walk at the time, I didn’t expect…” Xie Huan defended himself embarrassedly.

Hearing this, Noble Consort Lu was the first to unable to resist a cold sneer. Her voice was profound: “Taking a casual walk, yet walking to a girl’s place in the dead of night. Doesn’t the Fourth Prince even understand the principles of ‘not adjusting one’s shoes in a melon patch or one’s hat under a plum tree’ (avoiding suspicion) and that men and women should not touch each other when giving or receiving?”

Emperor Jianzhao glanced at her and said coldly: “Say a few words less.”

Noble Consort Lu, however, was completely indignant and continued: “The Emperor is a man, so you naturally don’t understand the hardships of a daughter whose innocence has been ruined. This concubine has no choice but to speak out from a sense of justice today. Fourth Prince, don’t tell me that before going to Linxi Pavilion, you didn’t know whether it was a man or a woman up there? Late at night like this, the guards are all on duty at fixed posts, and besides eunuchs, where else would there be men daring to go in and out of the inner palace? Could it be that the Fourth Prince eagerly went over to find some eunuch to compose poetry and admire the moon together? I didn’t know the Fourth Prince actually had such a hobby?”

“Noble Consort Lu, you…” Xie Huan’s face changed abruptly.

Xie Xuan glanced at him and said coldly: “My mother consort is your elder, Fourth Royal Brother, be careful with your words.”

Emperor Jianzhao also gave Xie Huan a disapproving glance.

Although he didn’t take Noble Consort Lu seriously in his heart, Noble Consort Lu was, after all, Xie Huan’s elder. For Xie Huan to publicly contradict her like this would only make his reputation even worse.

Xie Huan’s face was gloomy.

Firstly because he didn’t have reason on his side, and secondly because he also didn’t know how to refute it.

He naturally knew that the person in Linxi Pavilion was a woman, which was why he specially went. He even clearly saw that the person was Jiang Yuanyuan.

He and Jiang Yuanyuan already had a secret affection for each other. Tonight he had drunk too much wine, and suddenly seeing a slender beauty with an extremely beautiful profile, who happened to be his own lover.

Although he knew it was against the rules, a fire still rose in his heart, and he ran straight over, thinking of casually being intimate with the person for a bit.

Who knew that after going over, for some reason, the development of the matter became completely out of control. They actually directly had relations, and were even yelled about openly by Jiang Yuanyuan’s maid.

Right at this moment, the King of the Northern Frontier, who had been silent all along, suddenly stood up and spoke directly to Emperor Jianzhao: “Regarding the marriage contract between my little daughter and the Fourth Prince, this King feels that the decision back then was probably too hasty. It’s better to let this matter drop here. I hope the Emperor will permit it.”

The expressions of Emperor Jianzhao and Xie Huan changed abruptly one after another. Although they had long guessed that such an incident would leave a bad impression on the King of the Northern Frontier, they didn’t expect the King of the Northern Frontier to be unable to tolerate even a grain of sand in his eyes like this, wanting to directly cancel the marriage contract.

Emperor Jianzhao forced a smile and advised: “King of the Northern Frontier, this matter concerns the alliance treaty of our two nations. It’s better to discuss it cautiously. Moreover, Huan’er mentioned a strange fragrance, so he must have been framed this time. How about making a plan after I investigate it thoroughly.”

The King of the Northern Frontier shook his head: “No need, Emperor. This King believes in the sincerity of the alliance between Great Liang and the Northern Frontier. Even without a marriage contract to maintain it, everyone will still cooperate happily.”

At this time, Xie Xuan, who hadn’t spoken much all along, also suddenly chuckled lightly and said leisurely: “Just as the King of the Northern Frontier said, this Prince also feels there’s absolutely no need to investigate this matter further. Eight or nine times out of ten, it’s just like the tiger menace that happened at the drill ground a few days ago; perhaps it’s also the conspiracy of the grassland people, just to destroy the friendly relationship between Great Liang and the Northern Frontier. However, thanks to the King of the Northern Frontier’s profound understanding of righteousness, even if the marriage contract is canceled, you still remain as friendly with Great Liang as before. Truly fortunate.”

As soon as these words came out.

Emperor Jianzhao immediately stared deathly at Xie Xuan, knowing this matter was eighty to ninety percent related to him.

That day at the drill ground, I gave him such an investigation result for the fierce tiger case, so now, Xie Xuan is turning around to use my own methods against me, checking my king (checkmating me)?

The King of the Northern Frontier didn’t know the lawsuit between their father and son. Hearing this, he actually smiled and nodded: “The Sixth Prince’s words are reasonable. Great Liang and the Northern Frontier are the best of friends. No matter how those people cause trouble, it won’t destroy our alliance.”

Emperor Jianzhao couldn’t say any harsh words in front of the King of the Northern Frontier, so he could only frown and confirm once again: “King of the Northern Frontier, will you truly not consider it anymore?”

The King of the Northern Frontier nodded and affirmed: “You people of Great Liang also say ‘a single word from a gentleman is hard to chase even with a team of four horses’ (a promise must be kept). We people of the Northern Frontier are the same. This King originally couldn’t bear for my little daughter to marry far away. Now that such a thing has happened, this King doesn’t need to struggle anymore. It’s better to bring her back to the Northern Frontier and keep her by my side, to find a devoted and single-minded good lad.”

Reaching this point in the conversation, Emperor Jianzhao also fell silent. As the Son of Heaven, he naturally didn’t have the habit of pressing his hot face against someone’s cold butt (trying to please someone who is indifferent).

The King of the Northern Frontier was only short of directly saying he felt your son was not a good match.

As the person involved, Xie Huan naturally understood the meaning in his words even more. But he couldn’t argue a single sentence for himself. His face instantly sank to the extreme gloominess, almost dripping with water.

The Empress Dowager glanced at these people and said calmly: “Since the Northern Frontier’s marriage contract is canceled, then Yuanyuan’s matter is easy to handle.”

Emperor Jianzhao abruptly raised his head: “Imperial Mother, you mean…”

The Empress Dowager’s expression was tranquil: “Naturally, handle it as it should be handled. The man is unmarried, the woman is unwed. Yuanyuan has always had a good reputation outside, and is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Duke of Chengen’s mansion. Could it be she still isn’t worthy of your son, Emperor?”

Emperor Jianzhao hesitated.

In terms of status, Jiang Yuanyuan was naturally not bad. But although the Duke of Chengen’s mansion was the Empress Dowager’s maternal family, it had truly not produced any outstanding figures. The Duke of Chengen himself was considered quite down-to-earth, but the eldest master and second master of the Jiang family were typical cases of achieving nothing in either civil or military pursuits, merely relying on their status as imperial relatives to live off their past gains. For Xie Huan fighting for that position, they basically couldn’t provide the slightest bit of assistance.

Seeing him like this, the Empress Dowager’s face became ugly to the extreme, and she instantly became furious: “Emperor, could it be you want Yuanyuan to just die bringing this reputation with her, and let the Jiang family become the laughingstock of the capital? Don’t forget, I, your Imperial Mother, am also surnamed Jiang. Your own body also flows with the Jiang family’s blood!”

Emperor Jianzhao hadn’t seen the Empress Dowager angry for a long time. With the civil and military ministers still present, if he wasn’t careful, he himself would bear the name of being unfilial. He had no choice but to hurriedly apologize repeatedly.

Xie Huan knew that he was probably definitely going to marry Jiang Yuanyuan.

When he first woke up, he originally suspected that Jiang Yuanyuan deliberately set up this trap because she wanted to marry him.

However, later, seeing Jiang Yuanyuan smash into the wall so tragically, he became somewhat uncertain again.

This woman, Jiang Yuanyuan, had always been extremely good to him. Back then, she was even willing to marry Xie Xuan to be an insider for him. If only Xie Xuan hadn’t properly rejected the marriage…

Thinking of this, Xie Huan’s gaze swept toward Xie Xuan again, full of venomous hatred inside.

If Xie Xuan hadn’t rejected Jiang Yuanyuan back then, how could today’s matter have happened? Making his reputation completely ruined like this, unable to advance or retreat.

Moreover, hearing Xie Xuan mention the matter of the fierce tiger at the drill ground just now, today’s matter of his was one hundred percent designed by him. This is deliberate revenge.

Damned thing!

However, Xie Xuan just pretended not to see it, feeling melancholy in his heart: Let today’s broken matters be resolved earlier. I still want to go back and spend the Mid-Autumn Festival together with my family’s Great General Gu, right?

Unsurprisingly, under the pressure of the Empress Dowager, this matter was ultimately finalized.

Everyone present tonight was instructed to keep their mouths shut; royal gossip naturally wasn’t that easy to spread.

In a few days, Emperor Jianzhao would grant a marriage decree for Xie Huan and Jiang Yuanyuan. Then the two would seize the time to get married, to prevent too long a delay. In case she got pregnant or something, that would be truly terrible.

…

By midnight, the civil and military ministers and others exited the palace and returned to their mansions.

Xie Xuan also returned to the Sixth Prince’s mansion.

However, the lights in the Huangji Hall were still bright.

Emperor Jianzhao and Xie Huan were inside, summoning Gu Siyuan and the people from the Fish Scale Guards.

Emperor Jianzhao first looked at the Fish Scale Guards: “Recently, hasn’t there been any movement in the Sixth Prince’s mansion? This matter concerning Huan’er was definitely done by him.”

The commander of the Fish Scale Guards immediately answered: “To answer Your Majesty, a few days ago, the people of the Sixth Prince’s mansion were privately investigating the fierce tiger case. Your subordinate has constantly sent people to keep a secret watch.”

Emperor Jianzhao frowned slightly and nodded again: “Now that he acted directly against Huan’er, he must have found out something. The people under him actually have some ability. What else…”

The commander of the Fish Scale Guards looked up at Emperor Jianzhao again, and only then said carefully: “Not only that, the Sixth Prince’s people also investigated Feihong Hall.”

“He’s looking for death.” Emperor Jianzhao’s gaze instantly turned cold.

Xie Huan also sneered. His mother consort could be said to be his Imperial Father’s reverse scale. Out of all things to investigate, Xie Xuan actually investigated up to this point.

Truly looking for death!

However, on the surface, Xie Huan immediately pretended to be anxious and said: “Imperial Father, if Xie Xuan knows about Mother Consort’s identity, will he use this as blackmail to threaten you… What will we do then?”

Emperor Jianzhao’s gaze turned even colder, just like sharp arrows.

He looked at Gu Siyuan, who had been standing silently on the side, and asked: “Siyuan, a few days ago I had you specially keep an eye on that mysterious expert in the Sixth Prince’s mansion. Have you gained anything recently?”

Gu Siyuan nodded: “Can be considered a little.”

Emperor Jianzhao narrowed his eyes: “Speak.”

Gu Siyuan casually spouted nonsense: “The night before yesterday, your subordinate followed that person in the Sixth Prince’s mansion. Although I still didn’t figure out his specific identity, looking at the places he went, I was already able to see something.”

Emperor Jianzhao: “Where did he go?”

Gu Siyuan said coldly: “The Capital Guards Command Division.”

The Capital Guards Command Division protected the capital and completely managed military and political affairs within the entire capital city. It had sub-jurisdictions over the capital’s military agricultural colonies, patrols and arrests, water transport, defense preparations, sentry dispatches, guarding entries, garrisoning, military weaponry, and other affairs. (Note 1)

During the previous dynasty, even the Imperial Guards in the imperial palace were under the jurisdiction of the Capital Guards Command Division.

In the current dynasty, with the centralization of imperial power, the Imperial Guards were separated to be directly under the Emperor.

Hearing these words ‘Capital Guards Command Division’, Xie Huan’s eyes filled with both shock and joy.

He was shocked that Xie Xuan was actually connected to the Capital Guards Command Division. He was overjoyed because for a prince to privately collude with military generals was almost considered a major crime of treason.

Emperor Jianzhao’s face indeed sank like water instantly: “Is he wanting to rebel?”

Xie Huan said: “No wonder Xie Xuan has been acting like he’s gone mad recently. So he’s intending to smash the cracked pot (resort to extreme measures)…”

Emperor Jianzhao sneered repeatedly: “Wanting to rebel, very good, very good. Then I will lend him a hand! Spread the rumor that I recently often feel unwell, and have decided to establish the Crown Prince on my birthday in October!”

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