gnovel Chapter 88 Guoben
Chapter 88 Guoben
Chapter 88 Guoben
It was already late September, and autumn was in full swing in Bianjing.
In recent days, the practice of holding court has almost been abolished.
Only the most important political affairs were discussed briefly by a few key officials, such as Chancellor Zhang Dun and Privy Councilor Zeng Bu, in the outer chamber of the Funing Hall.
The reason for the abolition was simply that Zhao Xu's health was deteriorating day by day.
Zhao Xu's early weakness seemed to have come to a head this month. He coughed incessantly day and night, his face was pale with a flushed complexion, he often had a low-grade fever, and he was in low spirits.
Let alone handling heavy administrative tasks, even sitting for a long time makes me feel short of breath and anxious, and I can hardly keep going.
The imperial physicians took turns on duty, and medicine was constantly being prepared, but they could only barely keep the patient afloat. In private, they all had deep frowns and dared not say a word.
Another reason, injecting a glimmer of hope into this heavy atmosphere of illness, was that Empress Liu's due date was just around the corner.
This is the first time since Zhao Xu ascended the throne that a concubine has given birth, and it is highly likely that the child is an imperial heir.
Therefore, Zhao Xu has stopped attending court recently and has devoted most of his remaining energy to this matter.
Despite his illness, he moved from Funing Palace to the East Warm Pavilion of Rouyi Palace, just to be closer to the delivery room.
Of course, he did not share a room with the Empress. The inner chamber of the main hall of Rouyi Palace was the Empress's sleeping quarters, while the East Warm Pavilion was not far away.
Not sharing a room doesn't mean they're estranged; on the contrary, it shows Zhao Xu's thoughtfulness.
"Your Majesty, you should return to the Funing Palace to rest. There are imperial physicians, midwives, and so many palace servants guarding the palace. Nothing will go wrong."
Empress Liu Qingjing (Liu Qingjing) looked through the beaded curtain at the emperor, who was being helped by eunuchs and pausing briefly at the entrance of the warm pavilion. Her voice was full of worry.
Her belly was swollen and her face showed signs of impending childbirth, but what was even more worrying was Zhao Xu's frail and sickly body.
Zhao Xu leaned against the door frame, slightly out of breath, but shook his head, his voice weak yet firm.
"Qing'er, I'm right here. Being close makes me feel at ease. Don't worry, I'll take care of everything. Cough—cough—"
Zhao Xu looked at the blurry, slender figure behind the curtain, his tone becoming even gentler.
"Qing'er, you should rest well in the inner room. I will wait for you in the warm pavilion. My illness is serious, and I mustn't let it affect you and the child."
Zhao Xu feared that even just being in the same room and breathing the same air as his child might be detrimental to his unborn child.
This carefully considered and cherished sentiment brought a lump to Liu Qingjing's throat, and she almost shed tears.
Knowing she couldn't persuade Zhao Xu, she could only choke back tears.
"Then—Your Majesty, please take good care of your health and take your medicine on time. Your Majesty and I are counting on you."
"Yes, I know." Zhao Xu gave a faint smile and, supported by a eunuch, slowly moved into the East Warm Pavilion.
Although the two places are close, they have become two carefully isolated worlds: one is fully committed to nurturing new life, while the other is stubbornly waiting in the midst of illness.
The Rouyi Hall and its surroundings instantly became the most heavily guarded and busiest place in the imperial palace.
The imperial physicians were divided into two groups: one group was dedicated to taking care of the emperor, while the other group, together with several of the most experienced midwives invited from outside the palace, was responsible for the empress's health and childbirth.
All food, medicine, and supplies underwent several inspections.
The palace servants walked on tiptoe and spoke in hushed tones, creating an atmosphere as tense as a fully drawn bowstring.
September 27th, late at night.
Inside the East Warm Pavilion, Zhao Xu was wrapped in a thick brocade quilt, yet he still felt a chill seeping into his bones. He suppressed his cough, turning it into a muffled groan.
Tonight, he couldn't sleep at all. His eyes were fixed on the brightly lit main hall not far away, and his ears were straining to catch any unusual sounds.
Suddenly, a series of slightly hurried but not panicked footsteps came from the main hall, along with the low, indistinct voices of palace maids.
Zhao Xu's heart jumped, and his hands unconsciously clenched the corner of the blanket.
He knew that the time had probably come.
Time ticked by in anxious waiting.
The sounds of rain, the water clock, my own suppressed cough, and the rapid, heavy beating of my heart mingled together.
I don't know how much time passed, maybe an hour, maybe longer.
From the main hall, faint sounds of a woman's heavy groans and panting could be heard, along with the steady, encouraging voice of the midwife.
Zhao Xu's palms were sweaty, and he leaned forward slightly, wanting to hear more clearly.
Suddenly, a clear sound pierced his ears—"Wow! Wow!"
The voice was initially faint, carrying the bewilderment of someone newly arrived in the world, but it quickly became loud and powerful, full of vibrant life force, sounding so breathtaking in the silent night!
It's a baby crying!
Loud, healthy, and full of energy!
Zhao Xu froze, and then a violent tremor swept across his thin shoulders and back.
It wasn't the cold, but rather a kind of emotion that had been suppressed and anticipated for too long, suddenly bursting through the dam.
He was sickly from a young age and grew up in fear amidst the constraints of Empress Dowager Gao and the debates among court officials, enduring unimaginable pressure on both his body and mind.
After inheriting the throne, he worked diligently to govern the country, but he always struggled to produce an heir.
This became almost Zhao Xu's biggest worry.
Now, this loud cry, like a ray of light, has pierced through the gloom that had accumulated in his life for many years.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Great joy! This is an incredibly joyous occasion!"
The door to the warm pavilion was suddenly pushed open, and Hao Sui practically rushed in, disregarding all etiquette, his voice filled with sobs and ecstasy as he prostrated himself and shouted.
"Her Majesty the Empress has given birth to a prince! Mother and child are safe and sound! The prince's cry is loud and clear, and his limbs are strong; he is a healthy little prince!"
""
Zhao Xu opened his mouth, as if to say something, but his throat seemed to be blocked by something, and he could only make a hoarse sound.
His eyes instantly filled with tears, blurring his vision. He blinked hard, and the tears rolled down his pale, thin face.
Zhao Xu tried to get up, but a wave of dizziness washed over him, and he slumped back down, gripping the edge of the bed tightly until his knuckles turned white.
"Great—great—that's wonderful!"
He finally found his voice again, hoarse and trembling, yet filled with an unprecedented brightness and joy.
"Rewards! Everyone in Rouyi Palace will be richly rewarded! No, the entire palace will be rewarded! Quickly, inform the Empress Dowager! Issue an edict to the relevant officials!"
"Yes! Yes! This servant obeys!" Hao Sui kowtowed, got up, wiped away her tears, and stumbled out again.
Soon, more cheers, congratulations, and hurried yet joyful footsteps rang out inside and outside Rouyi Palace, washing away the chill and sickness of the autumn night.
Over the next few days, the royal family completed the series of ceremonies for the newborn's birth with maximum efficiency.
They offered sacrifices to Heaven and Earth and to the ancestral temple, and received congratulations from all the officials.
Although Zhao Xu was unable to attend the ceremony in person, a series of festive imperial edicts were issued from the palace, dispelling the gloom that had hung over the court for days.
Zhao Xu personally chose the name Mao for his son.
The design evokes the imagery of lush vegetation and abundant virtues, conveying the simplest yet deepest blessings of a frail father for his newborn.
I hope my son will be healthy, strong, and virtuous.
Despite the repeated dissuasion of the imperial physicians, Zhao Xu insisted on going to the main hall to visit Empress Liu and the newborn Zhao Mao, who had just been bathed and was wrapped in bright yellow swaddling clothes, on the third day after giving birth.
Empress Liu was weak after childbirth, but in excellent spirits, her face radiant with the glow of a new mother.
She watched as her husband was helped up, gazing intently, almost greedily, at the baby in the wet nurse's arms, her eyes filled with tenderness.
Zhao Xu barely dared to breathe, afraid of disturbing the tiny bundle.
The baby was sleeping soundly, with a rosy complexion, jet-black hair, and his little mouth occasionally twitching.
He reached out his trembling hand, wanting to touch that delicate face, but stopped just before touching it, afraid that the illness on his hand would contaminate her.
In the end, he merely touched the edge of the swaddling clothes with his fingertips, as if touching a priceless treasure.
"Mao'er—my Mao'er—"
He murmured softly, a near-holy, compassionate light appearing on his pale face, which seemed to dispel some of the weariness brought on by his illness over the past few days.
Zhao Xu looked at her for a long time before turning to Empress Liu and speaking gently.
"Qing'er, you have done a great service, thank you for your hard work. Take good care of him, Mao'er—I entrust him to you."
"Your Majesty, rest assured, I will do my utmost," Liu Qingjing replied softly. Looking at Zhao Xu's face, which was trying to appear energetic but could not hide his decline, a deep sense of sorrow and unease quietly welled up beneath the immense joy in her heart.
This unease wasn't just for Zhao Xu, but also for the little life in his arms that had just arrived and was destined to be drawn into the center of the vortex.
When the emperor had a son, the whole country rejoiced.
Led by Chancellor Zhang Dun and Privy Councilor Zeng Bu, officials from all walks of life submitted memorials to offer their congratulations, with eloquent and beautiful language and continuous praise.
However, beneath this festive atmosphere, a true undercurrent began to surge within the hearts of these two de facto leaders of the empire.
A pressing question confronted the two of them:
National origin.
Evening, Zeng Bu's residence, study.
Zeng Lu had just seen off several of his subordinates who had come to offer congratulations and test the waters. Now, only his confidant, Zhang Shangying, remained in the study.
Zhang Shangying also frowned, her teacup already cold, but she had no heart to replace it.
"Tianjue (Zhang Shangying's courtesy name), today's joyous occasion may seem like we're celebrating with everyone else, but in our hearts, we're probably just as worried," Zeng Bu said slowly, his voice low.
Zhang Shangying put down his teacup and sighed, "The Grand Chancellor is wise. The birth of the prince is indeed a blessing to the nation and will put the hearts of the people at ease."
However—judging from the Emperor's complexion and hearing the imperial physician's private words, I fear—this is not a long-term sign.
Zhang Shangying paused, lowering her voice even further, "If His Majesty truly has something to hide, the prince is still an infant, and a young ruler in a country is always a time of great turmoil. The selection of the regent and advisors—it's a matter of life and death."
Zeng Bu nodded slightly, his fingers tapping the table unconsciously.
"That's exactly right. Zhang Zihou is probably thinking something similar to us right now," he said, his eyes gleaming.
"In the current situation, we can only prepare for two scenarios. First, if the imperial tombs collapse and the prince ascends the throne smoothly, then the key will lie with Empress Liu, no, with Empress Dowager Liu."
"The prince is young, so the Empress Dowager will undoubtedly rule from behind the curtain. Whoever gains the Empress Dowager's trust will hold the reins. Zhang Dun is headstrong and his relationship with the inner palace, especially with Empress Dowager Xiang and Consort Zhu, has never been harmonious. The Liu family is newly enthroned, their foundation is not yet stable, and their family is not prominent; they need the support of the outer court. This is our opportunity."
Zhang Shangying nodded in agreement.
"What the Grand Chancellor says is absolutely right. Empress Dowager Xiang has always disliked Zhang Dun's radicalism, and Consort Zhu's thoughts are unpredictable. However, the prince is Empress Dowager Liu's own son, and in order to protect the prince's position, she will inevitably rely on the power that can check and balance Zhang Dun."
If we take the initiative and curry favor with the Liu family to gain their trust, the overall situation will be stabilized. Even if Zhang Dun remains prime minister, his power will be constrained.
"Not bad." A sharp glint flashed in Zeng Bu's eyes. "But we still need to prepare a backup plan."
Zeng Bu leaned forward slightly, his voice barely audible.
"The prince is still young, and his health is unknown. Infants in the palace are prone to illness. If anything were to happen—"
Zhang Shangying felt a chill run down her spine, knowing that Zeng Bu was referring to the worst-case scenario.
Zeng Bu continued speaking.
"If a prince is lost, a new emperor must be chosen from among the late emperor's sons. Prince Jian is the emperor's younger brother from the same mother, and has always been favored by Consort Zhu. Moreover, he has a long-standing relationship with Zhang Dun, and Zhang Dun will surely advocate for Prince Jian to be enthroned."
Therefore, we must support Prince Duan!
Zeng Bu continued resolutely, "In terms of seniority, Prince Duan is the eldest, and Zhang Zihou will definitely establish a relative (the Emperor's half-brother, Prince Jian). So we advocate establishing the eldest! This is the great principle of propriety and law, and it is enough to counter him."
Although Prince Duan was fond of pleasure, he was easygoing and had a decent relationship with the Emperor and Empress Dowager Xiang. More importantly, Zeng Bu revealed a deep meaning in his eyes.
"Mingcheng is by Prince Duan's side."
Mentioning Zhao Mingcheng, Zhang Shangying's expression shifted. He knew how highly Zeng Bu valued this young protégé.
"Zhao Mingcheng? This young man certainly has extraordinary abilities. His contributions to the Hehuang region have all demonstrated his talent. Moreover, he has a close relationship with Prince Duan. If we can influence Prince Duan through him, and even make him an ally in the future, it would indeed be a brilliant move. However—Prince Duan's temperament is probably not that of a wise ruler."
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures," Zeng Bu said in a deep voice. "Prince Duan may not be a wise ruler, but precisely because of this, if he is to be established, he will need to rely on us, his advisors, even more."
Zhang Dun is arrogant and domineering. If Prince Jian is enthroned, with Consort Zhu and Zhang Dun supporting him from both inside and outside, where will we have a place to stand?
Only by supporting Prince Duan can we overthrow Zhang Dun and stabilize the court. As for the future—”
Zeng Bu paused for a moment, then said, "We'll deal with the future gradually; for now, we must get through this immediate hurdle."
"Your humble servant understands."
Meanwhile, in the residence of Prime Minister Zhang Dun, the lights were also lit in a secluded room.
Zhang Dun looked at Cai Jing standing in front of him and asked.
"Has the congratulatory letter been submitted?"
"Rest assured, my lord, it has already been sent to the palace. The eulogy was personally drafted by me, and it both celebrates the birth of the prince and praises the Emperor's virtues, without the slightest flaw."
Cai Jing bowed and answered, then changed the subject, his tone becoming somber.
"But—my lord, I just learned from an acquaintance in the Imperial Medical Bureau that His Majesty coughed up blood again last night. Although it wasn't much, it's definitely not a good omen. I fear even with the prince's celebration, it may be too late to avert disaster—"
Zhang Dun's hands, which were resting on his knees, suddenly clenched, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged slightly.
"Alas—such is fate, beyond human power to change."
He finally spoke, his tone heavy, "The most important matter right now is no longer the birth of a prince, but the succession to the throne. It concerns the foundation of the nation and whether the new policies can continue!"
Cai Jing nodded repeatedly: "What you say, Your Excellency, is a wise and experienced view on governing the country. The prince is young, and if Your Majesty is truly inconvenienced, and the country is in turmoil due to the young ruler, the most important thing is to determine the successor and the person to assist in governing. I wonder if Your Excellency has any plans?"
Zhang Dun raised his eyes and looked directly at Cai Jing.
"Yuan Chang, there is no one else here, so speak frankly. In your opinion, if something truly were to happen, who would be suitable to succeed to the throne?"
Cai Jing felt a chill run down his spine. He considered his words carefully before speaking slowly.
"If the prince is healthy and well, then he is naturally the rightful heir, without a doubt. However, there are too many variables when it comes to infants in the palace."
For the long-term benefit of the nation, we must consider other factors. In my humble opinion, if the prince is unharmed, the Empress Dowager will naturally rule from behind the curtain. If you and the new Empress can work together, we can maintain political stability and ensure the implementation of the new policies. However—”
Cai Jing glanced at Zhang Dun's face and said, "Empress Liu is newly appointed. We still need to observe her intentions and how she interacts with the outer court. We also need to make arrangements with the Empress Dowager and Consort Zhu."
Zhang Dun snorted coldly.
"What do the women in the inner palace know about matters of state? As long as they don't interfere, the government has its own rules. Even when the Empress Dowager is ruling from behind the curtain, she still needs to listen to the advice of the prime ministers. That's one point. Now, continue."
"Yes," Cai Jing continued, "The second point is—if a prince falls ill, then a virtuous and capable son of the late emperor should be chosen to succeed him. In my humble opinion..."
Cai Jing's voice was extremely low, yet every word was clear: "His Highness Prince Jian is the Emperor's younger brother, born of the same mother, and is the closest of blood relatives. Moreover, he is of a calm and composed nature, and is greatly favored by the Empress Dowager. Establishing him as heir is reasonable and will also reassure the Empress Dowager and stabilize the harem. Furthermore, Prince Jian has always held you, my lord, in high esteem—"
Approval flashed in Zhang Dun's eyes; Cai Jing's words resonated deeply with him.
He had a decent relationship with Consort Zhu (the mother of Zhao Xu and Zhao Si), and knew that she favored Prince Jian.
King Jian, Zhao Si, was two years younger than King Duan, Zhao Ji. He was calm and composed, and had the demeanor of a ruler.
Supporting Prince Jian would both maintain his close relationship with the emperor's birth mother and ensure that the new emperor would be more receptive to his ideas, making it the most politically advantageous option at present.
"Yuan Chang has considered things carefully." Zhang Dun nodded slightly. "Prince Jian is indeed a good candidate, but Zeng Zixuan probably won't agree easily."
A knowing smile appeared on Cai Jing's lips.
"Prime Minister Zeng naturally wanted to establish Prince Duan as the eldest son, and that was their reason."
However, the succession should be based on merit and kinship, not solely on age. Moreover, in recent days, I have been in close contact with Prince Jian's residence under the guise of calligraphy, painting and antiques, and His Highness Prince Jian has also expressed considerable agreement with your strategies for governing the country.
As long as we prepare early, both in and out of office, and build momentum beforehand, we can seize the initiative should trouble arise. Zeng Zixuan wanted to use "eldestination" to pressure others; we should respond with "familial kinship" and "meritocracy"!
Zhang Dun finally revealed a slightly cold smile.
"Very well, I'll trouble Yuan Chang to take good care of this matter. You should be more diligent in your dealings with the Prince Jian's residence, but you must do so naturally and not give anyone any grounds for complaint."
You can also probe and secretly contact the other officials in the court. As for Zeng Zixuan—”
A cold glint flashed in Zhang Dun's eyes. "If he knows what's good for him and considers the bigger picture, then so be it. But if he really wants to compete with me on this matter, then let's see who can better grasp the prevailing trend!"
"Your humble servant understands!" Cai Jing replied solemnly.