Chapter 828: The Crown Grandson Passed the Test

"Is the Fifth Prince detained now, or what happened to him?"

Tong Huaqiong was curious about the fate of the Fifth Prince.

Nie Xiaofeng said, "The Fifth Prince was defeated and committed suicide..."

In Nie Xiaofeng’s description, the Fifth Prince stormed into the Imperial Palace, advancing as though he were in an empty realm, believing he had secured victory.

Unexpectedly, the Emperor’s serious illness was a deception.

He was driven to despair, captured by Su Chengmin, and presented before the Emperor.

The Fifth Prince knew he was defeated but defiantly refused to kneel, standing to fiercely condemn the Emperor.

He accused the Emperor of hypocrisy; accused the Emperor of fearing the Crown Prince and killing him; accused the Emperor of promoting Prince Ning only to bring him down; accused the Emperor of baiting him to clear the way for the Crown Prince’s grandson; accused the Emperor of welcoming back the grandson not out of genuine remorse for the Crown Prince but to instill fear in Prince Ning and himself...

The Fifth Prince’s tirade was utterly cathartic, causing the historian recording everything to tremble thrice.

When the Emperor ordered the Fifth Prince to be taken away, the Fifth Prince drew a guard’s sword and committed suicide by slashing his own throat.

Gu Taohua asked, "How is Su Chengmin?"

As part of the Imperial Guard, Su Chengmin also engaged in a fierce battle guarding the Imperial Palace yesterday.

Nie Xiaofeng said, "I saw my teacher before leaving the palace; he was fine, leading the cleanup of the battlefield."

Nie Xiaofeng’s voice carried bewilderment.

Those who participated in the rebellion last night were his comrades in arms, who had fought together to repel Mo Bei on the battlefield; he never imagined one day they would confront each other with drawn blades.

"Mr. Su, you were startled." Nie Xiaofeng turned to console Mr. Su.

As both had experienced the rebellion last night, only Mr. Su and Nie Xiaofeng could empathize with each other.

Mr. Su said, "I’m alright."

Mr. Su himself, except for a hand injury, suffered no other wounds.

Tong Huaqiong looked at Mr. Su and asked, "Mr. Su, is the Crown Prince’s grandson all right?"

Mr. Su shook his head and said, "He’s alright."

The Fifth Prince accused the Emperor of clearing obstacles for the Crown Prince’s grandson, which was incorrect.

The Emperor knew he was baiting the Fifth Prince to rebel and enter the palace, but he disclosed not a single message to the Crown Prince’s grandson; everyone believed the Emperor’s illness was real.

Prince Ning, members of the Royal Family, and court ministers were all in the Emperor’s chamber.

Only the Crown Prince’s grandson was not.

The Emperor ordered the Crown Prince’s grandson to stay in his own quarters and not to come out.

When the Fifth Prince’s troops charged in, one unit headed directly for the Crown Prince’s grandson.

The rebel army surged fiercely, almost breaking through the Crown Prince’s grandson’s palace.

At that time, the Crown Prince’s grandson’s palace had very few guards and inner court maids, with Mr. Su accompanying the Crown Prince’s grandson hiding in the inner chambers.

Mr. Su did not believe the Emperor was unaware that if the rebel army invaded, all the Imperial Guards would be defending the Emperor, leaving the grandson’s side as a solitary island.

If not for the grandson’s effective response, his life might have ended on the night of the fifteenth of the first lunar month.

The situation was extremely perilous when the chaotic soldiers rushed in, hacking at anyone they saw; many palace maids and eunuchs were killed.

Mr. Su took up a sword and fought the rebels; had Su Chengmin not arrived, perhaps Mr. Su would have been doomed to the Yellow Springs.

The Emperor could be said to have achieved three objectives with one act: he moved against the Fifth Prince, intimidated Prince Ning, and tested the Crown Prince’s grandson.

The reason for testing the grandson was simple; the Emperor doubted the grandson harbored no resentment over the Crown Prince’s murder, and he also wanted to expose those in court supporting the grandson.

Since the grandson was welcomed back, there were many discussions within the court about the Emperor wanting to bypass the Princes to establish the grandson as Crown Prince.

The late Crown Prince, as the previous heir, was the ’white moonlight’ of many officials.

The Emperor cherished memories of the Crown Prince but absolutely did not allow officials to promote the Crown Prince’s son because of their nostalgia for the ’white moonlight’.

Only the Emperor could decide who inherits the throne, not the ministers, nor was it permissible for any Princes or the grandson to vie for it.

Fortunately, the Emperor was cunning, and court ministers were not foolish.

Until the last moment, those officials nostalgic for the ’white moonlight’, the Crown Prince, wouldn’t be foolish enough to crown the grandson upon hearing the Emperor was seriously ill.

The Crown Prince’s grandson passed the test.

After all, the first words when the grandson broke through the rebel encirclement were inquiries about the Emperor’s well-being.

Disregarding his own safety, the grandson diverted the rebels, knowing full well the Emperor was in his quarters but shouting that his royal grandfather was in danger and running toward the opposite palace, tricking the rebels into thinking the Emperor was not where he was, thus diverting them.

Naturally, someone informed the Emperor of the grandson’s actions.

Mr. Su, having taught the grandson for many years, knew the grandson was playing a part for the Emperor.

In terms of acting skill, the grandson was superior, having fooled even the Emperor.

Making the Emperor believe genuinely that the grandson was willing to sacrifice his life to divert the rebels.

After this night, in the Emperor’s mind, the scales of succession tilted towards the Crown Prince’s grandson.

This would be a double-edged sword for the grandson.

"Are all the ministers fine? How is Zhao Yang?" Old Mrs. Huang took a moment to ask.

Mr. Su said, "Mr. Lu is very well. Four officials from the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Personnel were injured. I don’t know their status. Additionally, Lord Su was injured."

Mrs. Min opened her eyes and asked, "Lord Su? Su Shihang?"

Mr. Su nodded.

Mrs. Min slapped her thigh in exasperation, "Why wasn’t he killed."

Everyone: "..."

"Both of you worked through the night; go and rest now."

Having learned the situation from last night, Tong Huaqiong urged Nie Xiaofeng and Mr. Su to go and rest.

"Give each person who participated in guarding last night two taels of silver," Tong Huaqiong instructed Su Qing.

The courtyard servants and attendants endured a night of alternating watch.

In such cold weather, it was indeed arduous.

Those involved in guarding received the silver, their joy spreading wide grins; already having consumed ginger soup and meat, the additional silver was a pleasant surprise.

The snow that drifted all night stopped, and the sun broke through the clouds.

The entire city spread the news that the Fifth Prince’s rebellion had been quelled and he had been executed.

The Fifth Prince’s residence was raided; the Fifth Prince took poison to end his life, and his son and daughter were demoted to commoners.

After experiencing a night of intense upheaval, the streets were nearly empty, the city eerily quiet.

Only the prefect was organizing people to clean the streets.

Jufu Supermarket and Taohua Dessert, famous businesses on West Street, also had to contribute to the street cleaning, with He Chao going out to organize the clerks to take tools to the street.

After returning, He Chao shook his head, indicating the streets were full of broken lanterns, fallen clothes, shoes, and jewelry.

Several merchant shops had been set ablaze and could only accept their misfortune.

Furthermore, the most horrific aspect was that when the rebels entered the city, lantern viewers scattered, leading to a stampede; those deceased, unmoving bodies lay on the snow, trampled beyond recognition.

Tong Huaqiong felt a surge of melancholy; this was the imperial power of feudal society, treating human lives like ants.

Fortunately, the turmoil was quelled!

Not until dusk did Gu Honglian, who had taken a sleeping potion, wake up.

She rolled over suddenly, sat up, and then rushed out shouting, "Has Fan Tong come?"

Since Gu Honglian fell asleep, no one had concerned themselves with Fan Tong.

Upon hearing Gu Honglian’s question, Tong Huaqiong and the others realized Fan Tong had not returned for nearly a day.

Seeing everyone silent.

Gu Honglian seemed to realize something, sitting on the ground and breaking into tears.

"Fan Tong is dead!"

"Boo hoo... That wretched Fan Tong, how could he leave me all alone."