Chapter 4: Confrontation Before the Palace

Beneath the blazing sun over the Hall of Heavenly Purity, a chilling air of severity lingered before the palace gates. Li Chengyun, Grand Secretariat and Chief Minister, stood at the forefront of the assembled officials, his face as inscrutable as a clay statue. Behind him, several ministers of the highest ranks whispered among themselves, careful not to disturb the Chief Minister lost in silent contemplation.

The Fourth Prince, Zhao Yu, and the Sixth Prince, Zhao Kun, paced back and forth before the palace entrance. The Second Prince, Zhao Li, sat cross-legged on the ground, absorbed in his study of a chess manual. He had drawn a makeshift board upon the earth and played a solitary match against himself.

Zhao Yu approached Zhao Li, rebuking him, “Brother, our father is gravely ill, yet you have the leisure to play chess here. Where is your filial piety?”

The other ministers, hearing this, turned their attention toward them, though none dared intrude upon the princes’ private affairs.

Zhao Li’s hair was disheveled, and he slouched upon the ground, clutching his chess manual with none of the comportment befitting a prince. But for the crimson dragon-embroidered robe he wore, one might have mistaken him for a beggar.

“Our father is the Son of Heaven; surely Heaven will protect him. What good will your anxious pacing do? Do not disturb my game,” Zhao Li replied, bowing solemnly toward the sky before resuming his play, giving Zhao Yu no further heed.

“You…” Zhao Yu was left speechless, trembling with anger.

Just then, Eunuch Li hurried out, anxious. “Why has the Crown Prince not yet arrived?”

The assembled officials exchanged uneasy glances, no one offering an answer. The half-witted Crown Prince was of little consequence in their eyes.

Yuchi Wei, Duke Protector of the State, declared, “Eunuch Li, I will personally go at once to fetch the Crown Prince.” Without further ado, he strode rapidly from the Hall of Heavenly Purity, intent on leading the search himself. The Emperor’s condition was uncertain, and the Crown Prince’s absence could spell chaos.

Zhao Yu quickly stepped forward, asking, “Eunuch Li, has there been any improvement in Father’s health?”

All fell silent, listening intently. The Emperor’s wellbeing was the fate of the nation; they needed to know, to plan their next steps and decide their allegiances.

Eunuch Li replied with a smile, “Thank you for your concern, Fourth Prince. His Majesty’s health is under Heaven's protection.”

The crowd wished to ask more, but dared not; to inquire too freely into the Emperor’s health was a grave offense.

The old eyes of Li Chengyun flashed briefly with sharp light.

“I wish to personally tend to my father, to show my filial devotion. Eunuch, may I ask you to convey this to His Majesty?” Zhao Yu said.

Eunuch Li responded, “Your filial devotion moves even Heaven, Fourth Prince. I shall seek His Majesty’s instruction at once.”

“My thanks,” Zhao Yu replied with a bow, casting a smug glance at the Sixth Prince. With the Emperor gravely ill and the Crown Prince feeble-minded, a new heir would surely be chosen. Only the Sixth Prince, Zhao Heng, could rival him for the throne. Now, if he could but attend his father, serving him at his bedside, the honor of succession would inevitably fall to him.

“The Crown Prince has arrived!” came the cry from beyond the palace gates.

All eyes turned as the Crown Prince’s carriage entered, flanked on either side by a detachment of Imperial Guards under the personal escort of Duke Protector Yuchi Wei.

“Duke Protector, this is the Hall of Heavenly Purity. What is your purpose in bringing the Imperial Guards here?” Li Chengyun demanded, pointing his ivory tablet at the duke.

At once, a storm of voices erupted among the officials, reproaching the duke. Some even accused him of plotting a coup.

The Sixth Prince, Zhao Heng, fixed his gaze upon the approaching carriage, a look of puzzlement in his eyes. He glanced at the commander of the Imperial Bodyguards, who immediately understood and led several guards forward.

“Duke Protector, the security of the Hall of Heavenly Purity is the charge of the Imperial Bodyguards. Please withdraw the Imperial Guards,” the commander called out.

Before Yuchi Wei could answer, a commanding voice issued from within the dragon-embroidered carriage, “By imperial decree, I come to attend to my father. Who dares bar my way?”

The assembled officials stared in astonishment, scarcely believing their ears. The Crown Prince, long known for his idiocy and inarticulate speech, had spoken with such authority.

Shock registered on the faces of both the Fourth and Sixth Princes.

Li Chengyun’s expression darkened as he stepped forward, pointing at Yuchi Wei, “You dare to bring an impostor to pose as the Crown Prince—do you mean to rebel?”

An uproar ensued.

Dozens of Imperial Bodyguards drew their swords, forming a line before the palace gate.

A cold laugh rang out. “Chief Minister, be careful with such charges—accusations of treason can cost lives.” The carriage curtains parted, and Zhao Su, the Crown Prince, stepped out, his robes stained with blood.

The crowd gasped at the sight.

“Your Highness, have you… killed someone?” Li Chengyun stammered, incredulous. The Crown Prince, once harmless and witless, suddenly capable of murder? And the manner in which he spoke and carried himself bore no trace of his former idiocy.

The Fourth Prince was astonished; the Sixth Prince’s eyes grew shadowed.

“I killed a few servants who abused me. There is no need for alarm,” Zhao Su said, emerging with a bloodstained sword in hand.

The officials were once again thunderstruck—the Crown Prince had killed.

“Your Highness, are you cured?” a minister asked, uncertain.

Zhao Su swept his gaze over the Imperial Bodyguards and declared, “My madness is cured. I have come by imperial order to see His Majesty. Why do you still block my way?”

Li Chengyun’s eyes narrowed, a glint flashing within. The Crown Prince’s three years of idiocy—why now, of all times, has he recovered, just as the Emperor falls gravely ill? Was it all a ruse, or true illness?

The old fox’s mind raced with hidden calculations.

“Your Highness, His Majesty is recuperating and requests you return to the Eastern Palace,” Commander Xiao Lin of the Imperial Bodyguards said. The Emperor’s illness was at a critical point; even if the Crown Prince were still an imbecile, he would not be allowed to see him, much less now.

Zhao Su, sword in hand, mounted the steps toward the Hall of Heavenly Purity, the eunuch bearing the imperial command and Yuchi Wei with his cavalry saber at his side.

“I come by imperial command. Should any oppose me, they shall suffer death,” Zhao Su’s words rang out, chilling the hearts of all present.

Xiao Lin, unmoved, blocked the steps. “By His Majesty’s command, I guard the Hall of Heavenly Purity. Without his decree, none may enter. Your Highness, do you intend to force your way in and rebel?”

Dozens of Imperial Bodyguards, swords in hand, stood behind Xiao Lin, ready at a word to seize the Crown Prince.

“You wield your authority boldly. Is it so easy to level accusations of treason?” Zhao Su retorted with a cold laugh, stepping up to Xiao Lin, disregarding his warning entirely.

Xiao Lin snorted, bowing to the sky. “I act solely on His Majesty’s orders; all that I do is by command.”

“Very well, then by my command, step aside,” Zhao Su ordered.

“Your Highness, I cannot obey. I must ask you to leave,” Xiao Lin replied, shaking his head.

All eyes turned to the Crown Prince, waiting to see how he would respond.