Chapter 737
Chapter 737
Outside the grand hall, the Imperial Guard stood in full armor, packed tightly and ready to storm in at a moment's notice. This was the most direct of threats, and a heavy silence fell over the officials within the hall. Only the thumping of their hearts could be heard; none dared to even breathe too loudly. After a long wait, King Ning Yuanxian appeared and immediately took his seat on the throne.
“Your subjects greet Your Majesty.”
The officials knelt in reverence. Beneath Ning Yuanxian's royal robes, a glimpse of armor could be seen. Was it a mistake? Of course not. Ning Yuanxian was sending a clear warning to his officials.
‘I have made all preparations and will see this through today. Who dares defy my decree? If you do, do not blame my blade for its lack of mercy.’
Ning Yuanxian said with a smile.
“Rise, my lords. After more than a year of fighting this war for our nation’s destiny, we have finally achieved victory. It was no easy feat. That our State of Yue has not lost a single inch of land is surely a blessing from the heavens and our ancestors.”
The officials bowed and said,
“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”
Ning Yuanxian spoke again.
“Prince Qi made great contributions in this war and performed admirably! That wretched Nangong Ao has surrendered, leaving another vacancy in the Privy Council. My dear court officials, have any of you ever heard of a prince from any vassal state in the world entering the Privy Council?”
‘As if you don't already know the answer.’
In the northern State of Wu, during the reign of the previous king, his younger brother Wu Zhi had entered the Privy Council.
“Your Majesty, there is such a precedent.”
“So there is. Excellent. Even if there wasn't, I intended for our State of Yue to set a grand precedent. Prince Qi’s contributions are great, and they must be rewarded. I hereby relieve Prince Qi of his position as Grand Governor of Tianbei Province and appoint him as the Third Vice Minister of the Privy Council.”
Hearing this, everyone flinched.
‘Isn't this a clear move to suppress His Highness Prince Qi? Stripping him of his position as Grand Governor of Tianbei Province? While entering the Privy Council seems like a promotion on the surface, doesn't it isolate him from his power base?’
Prince Qi stepped forward and said,
“Your subject thanks you for your generous grace, Royal Father.”
Ning Yuanxian continued.
“That leaves the position of Grand Governor of Tianbei Province vacant again. By the way, how long has Zhang Chong served as the Governor of Yanzhou?”
“Two and a half years.”
“Ah, has it been that long? Zhang Chong has done quite a good job in Yanzhou these past two years. Very well. Then I shall appoint Zhang Chong as the acting Governor of Tianbei Province.”
Ning Yuanxian finalized Zhang Chong's appointment directly, bypassing the Chancellery. After speaking, Ning Yuanxian’s gaze turned to Zhu Hongzhu and the others.
‘Aren't any of you going to step forward and object?’
Zhu Hongzhu kept his head bowed, saying nothing. It was as if he hadn't heard a thing, as if he had no intention of ever objecting. Ning Yuanxian waited for a long time for someone to object, but when no one did, he finally continued.
“In this war for our nation’s destiny, no one’s contributions surpass those of Prince Zheng. He repelled the main forces of the Jin army, defending Tiannan Province. He raided the capital of Chu, forcing their army to withdraw. And finally, he negotiated a new armistice with the King of Chu, ensuring our State of Yue lost no territory. He has not only preserved the dignity of the Ying royal family but also protected the integrity of our lands. Such merits cannot go unrewarded. I hereby decree: Prince Zheng is to be named the Duke of Yue!”
Hearing this, the officials trembled slightly.
‘It's finally happening! Once he's named Duke of Yue, he's only half a step away from the title of Crown Prince. Judging by His Majesty's demeanor, he has no intention of allowing any time for a buffer.’
Normally, one would first be named Duke of Yue, and then, after waiting a year and a half for people to prepare themselves, be appointed Crown Prince. But it was clear Ning Yuanxian had no such intention; he seemed ready to push everything through at once, perhaps even seating Prince Zheng on the Crown Prince's throne today. This was because the Qiang cavalry would eventually have to leave the State of Yue. Who knew what might change in another year and a half? Delays often breed complications, so he intended to settle the matter in one fell swoop.
“Who supports and who opposes my decision to name Prince Zheng the Duke of Yue?”
The hall remained deathly silent. Ning Yuanxian scanned his ministers with a hawk-like gaze, ready to strike down anyone who dared to object. None of them had necks of steel, and when a monarch acted this way, it was exceedingly difficult for his subjects to bear. Even a great figure like the Wanli Emperor knew how to endure for the sake of the state; he might not attend court for decades, but he did not slaughter his officials. The Chongzhen Emperor (the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty), on the other hand, was different. Once his patience ran out, he immediately turned his blade on his officials. How many ministers did he kill upon his ascension? A monarch is not born with a love for killing; he is forced to it. When a king begins to kill his officials, it means the situation has collapsed beyond repair. The Chongzhen Emperor was a lesser monarch than the Wanli Emperor, but when he turned his blade on his officials, they could not withstand it.
Ning Yuanxian made no attempt to hide the killing intent in his eyes, his trembling hand fiddling with the Buddhist prayer beads he held. Outside, thousands of Imperial Guardsmen gripped the hilts of their swords, ready to draw them at any moment. With a smile, Ning Yuanxian slowly asked Zhu Hongzhu,
“Grand Preceptor, do you support or oppose my decision to name Prince Zheng the Duke of Yue?”
The title ‘Grand Preceptor’ once again left Ning Yuanxian’s lips, but it sounded like a taunt. Aged and slow, Zhu Hongzhu seemed to be dozing, showing no reaction. Ning Yuanxian’s eyes turned cold as he asked again,
“Zhu Hongzhu, I am asking you a question.”
Zhu Hongzhu jolted as if waking up, perking his ears.
“Ah, did Your Majesty have a question for this old subject?”
“I intend to name Prince Zheng the Duke of Yue. Do you agree or disagree?”
“This old subject abstains.”
‘What does 'abstain' even mean? It's either support or opposition.’
Ning Yuanxian inwardly scoffed at the response and continued with a smile.
“Yu Jun, draft the official decree naming Prince Zheng the Duke of Yue!”
“As you command!”
Yu Jun drafted the decree in front of everyone, and Ning Yuanxian signed it and affixed his great seal. With that, Prince Zheng's appointment as Duke of Yue was officially confirmed.
“There is another matter to discuss today. It has been confirmed that the Crown Prince, Ying Yi, has surrendered to the Jin army, has it not?”
‘Here it comes.’
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Ning Yuanxian erupted in anger.
“The Jin army even sent an official notice asking if we want our Crown Prince back. An incompetent general leads his entire army to ruin. The Crown Prince of a great nation not only abandoned his troops and fled alone but even surrendered to a foreign state! He even helped the Jin army retake Luoye City. This is an immense disgrace. I do not know how I could have fathered such a son.”
‘Your Majesty, you've known this for some time. Why feign such anger now?’
“Can such a man, devoid of virtue and talent, remain the Crown Prince of our State of Yue? Some time ago, while paying respects to our ancestors, I spoke of this matter. The former king appeared to me in a dream and said that such a descendant is not worthy of being the Crown Prince of Yue, nor is he even worthy of being a member of our Ying royal family. Therefore, I decree: ‘Depose Ying Yi of his title as Crown Prince and announce this to the world!’”
Instantly, the officials bowed and cried out.
“We obey the command!”
The Grand Eunuch once again drafted an edict, officially deposing Ying Yi from his position as Crown Prince. He should have been deposed long ago, but the king had devised all sorts of schemes to delay and avoid dealing with the matter. This was because, previously, Prince Qi’s reputation had far surpassed Prince Zheng’s. Had the Crown Prince been deposed then, the calls to install Prince Qi would have been overwhelming.
But now, Prince Zheng had achieved several major victories in a row, and in the eyes of the people of Yue, his presence had eclipsed Prince Qi's. That was why he was only now deposing Crown Prince Ying Yi. However, Ning Yuanxian was now in such a hurry, it was as if he were trying to walk by lifting both feet at once. He couldn't wait a year and a half, not even ten or fifteen days.
Then, King Ning Yuanxian sighed and said,
“My dear ministers, my health is failing. The nation cannot be without a Crown Prince for even a single day. They say it is better to strike while the iron is hot than to painstakingly choose a date. How about we settle the matter of the Crown Prince today?”
The officials held their breath.
‘He's deciding it right now?’
The air seemed to crackle with killing intent.
“Royal Uncle Ying Gang, you are experienced and have a broad perspective. Tell me, which prince do you think is more suitable to be Crown Prince?”
The king, of course, wanted to say, ‘I have decided on Prince Zheng as the Crown Prince.’ But he needed to put on a bit of a show. Ying Gang sighed inwardly. He truly held Prince Qi in high regard, but it was a pity. At such a crucial moment, he could not defy the king’s will. Still, Prince Zheng was also outstanding, a worthy candidate for a monarch in Ying Gang’s eyes.
Ying Gang quickly stepped forward and said,
“This subject nominates His Highness Prince Zheng for Crown Prince.”
The king asked again.
“Royal Uncle Ying Jie, who do you think is more suitable?”
Ying Jie was silent for a moment, then let out a deeper sigh than Ying Gang. His heart truly leaned toward Prince Qi.
“This subject nominates His Highness Prince Zheng.”
At that moment, Prime Minister Zhu Hongzhu stepped forward and said,
“This subject nominates His Highness Prince Qi.”
Zhong Yue also stepped forward.
“This subject nominates His Highness Prince Qi.”
The officials of the court stepped forward one after another, saying,
“This subject nominates His Highness Prince Qi.”
“This subject nominates His Highness Prince Zheng.”
The scene currently unfolding was a rare sight in the grand hall of any nation. Normally, the appointment of a Crown Prince was a family matter decided by the reigning monarch, not a state affair to be settled by the court, so it was rarely discussed openly in the grand hall. In most cases, the king would consult privately with his key ministers, and the decision would then be formally passed in court, where it was imperative to present a united front. Putting forth two candidates, having both factions tear at each other, and then holding a vote to choose one? Such a spectacle was viewed with extreme caution in Eastern dynasties.
Yet, that was precisely the scene playing out in the court of Yue. Of the hundreds of civil and military officials in the grand hall, only a tenth of them, those holding significant positions, dared to step forward and speak. Among those who spoke, eighty percent supported Prince Qi, while twenty percent supported Prince Zheng. It was a somewhat surprising result. That as many as twenty percent of the officials supported Prince Zheng?
But King Ning Yuanxian paid no mind to these results.
‘You have the right to voice your opinions, but in the end, I will be the one to appoint the Crown Prince.’
In the Eastern dynasties of this era, once a Crown Prince was appointed, it was exceedingly rare for him to be forcibly deposed unless he committed a grave error. Even a king could not easily depose his Crown Prince. Looking back through the history of various dynasties, there were many instances where kings wished to change their Crown Prince but were thwarted by their officials. This time, however, Ying Yi had brought this upon himself, so deposing him was something everyone desired.
But with Ying Yi finished, it was impossible to appoint a legitimate son as Crown Prince. This was because neither Prince Qi nor Prince Zheng was the queen's legitimate son. Appointing the second prince was also impossible. He had left to become a monk many years ago; where would they even find him to make him Crown Prince? In terms of status alone, Prince Zheng and Prince Qi were on equal footing. One was the son of a secondary consort, the other the son of a lesser consort.
The officials, who had been declaring their support one by one, fell silent when Ning Yuanxian raised his hand.
‘Just now, I gave you time to speak. Now, I will make my decision. All of you will hold your tongues. Otherwise, you will be defying my decree, so do not blame my sword when it takes your head. The intermission is over. Now, it is time for me to act alone.’