Chapter 605: Chapter 444: Fate is Like a Knife

Midnight.

Yongxing Square.

A dark shadow vanished into the night, leaping over walls and darting between houses, until it arrived at the rear residence of Tang Fu.

The study was brightly lit.

Tang Mingyuan flipped through the reports from various regions, sometimes smiling, sometimes frowning. When he encountered objections, he picked up a pen and wrote his responses directly on them.

“Hehehe…”

A strange laughter rang out: “Grand Secretary Tang actually dares to bring petitions home to review. Such blatant overstepping, for which, if caught by us, you’d be punished by extermination of three clans at the very least!”

“I reside in this Prince’s Mansion, having already overstepped the boundary. The Emperor could find a reason to throw me into the heavenly prison at any moment.”

It seemed Tang Mingyuan had long anticipated Zhou Yi’s visit, continuing to peruse the reports while speaking.

The numerous affairs of the thirty-six prefectures of Daqing, north and south, were overwhelming, and even just reviewing critical points was a monumental task, to which Tang Mingyuan dedicated himself till late into the night every day.

Zhou Yi emerged from the darkness, carefully observing Tang Mingyuan, who was illuminated by lamplight, and said in surprise.

“Grand Secretary Tang, you’ve aged. Could it be you’ve been secretly practicing the Epiphyllum Treasure Tome?”

Tang Mingyuan plucked at his temples, pulling out a few white hairs: “Heavy thoughts lead to grey hair; too much worry harms the body. It’s normal to have some white hair.”

Zhou Yi laughed and said, “Knowing full well it’s overstepping and still willing to strain your mind, the Emperor truly doesn’t appreciate Grand Secretary Tang’s hard work. He deserves to pass away.”

Tang Mingyuan closed the report and looked in the direction of the imperial palace.

“From the way the Grandmaster speaks, has the situation been settled?”

“More or less.”

Zhou Yi explained, “The nourishing soup the Emperor drank today had several potent laxative ingredients mixed in, and among the beauties sent to the palace, there were a few bewitching demons from the heretical sects skilled in the arts of draining vitality.”

Tang Mingyuan said in surprise, “The eunuch Jing and the imperial physicians testing the medicine are all people from the Grandmaster?”

“I don’t have such great influence.”

Zhou Yi continued, “I once saved Eunuch Jing’s life, and I also arranged for his family to serve as officials in the Eastern Depot. The imperial physicians testing the medicine were organized by Eunuch Yuan.”

Tang Mingyuan said in astonishment, “So are you saying, once again, we join hands in regicide?”

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

Zhou Yi let out a strange laugh: “Grand Secretary Tang, you once asked about my dream. Now I’ll tell you–it is to manipulate imperial succession as a mere eunuch!”

“Such thoughts from the Grandmaster are truly shocking and unconventional…”

Tang Mingyuan said, “While I, myself, have no intention to manipulate the throne, if changing the Emperor would let the common people live better, it’s not necessarily a bad thing!”

“What a noble excuse.”

Zhou Yi clicked his tongue, “When I commit regicide, it’s regicide–when I plot a rebellion, it’s rebellion. Only scholars like you can erect a spiritual archway for yourselves, always carrying the guise of righteousness!”

Tang Mingyuan, undisturbed by the Grandmaster’s mockery, said, “Imperial Physician Liu examined the Noble Consort and predicted she would give birth to a prince. We must also guard against the unexpected–if a princess is born, which member of the imperial clan could succeed?”

Zhou Yi didn’t reveal that Imperial Physician Liu was part of his inner circle. Even when cooperating with others, it was crucial not to reveal all one’s cards, in case the victory turned into a total loss.

“You’re right to be concerned, Grand Secretary. Indeed, a princess was born, but I changed her for a prince.”

“You…”

Tang Mingyuan rose abruptly, pointing at Zhou Yi and rebuked, “Are you trying to usurp the throne?”

“How can I, a rootless man, usurp the throne?”

Zhou Yi explained, “I had the Imperial Guard in the capital switch a newborn baby just after delivery. Only after witnessing the Noble Consort acknowledge her son did I come to discuss with Grand Secretary Tang.”

Tang Mingyuan pressed on, “Are you certain this child has no connection to the Zhou family?”

Zhou Yi replied, “Not only is there no connection to the Zhou family, but this child is also somewhat connected to you, Grand Secretary Tang, through ties of incense.”

Tang Mingyuan pondered for a moment, then realized, “Could it be a descendent of the Lu family? It’s rumored that Lu’s daughter-in-law is a martial arts expert who escaped the Eastern Depot’s dungeons, gravely injuring the pursuers.”

Zhou Yi nodded, “If not for intentionally letting her escape, not even an Innate Grandmaster could flee the dungeons. Those thunder bombs were, in fact, supplied by me.”

Tang Mingyuan spoke bitterly, “Because of those thunder bombs, the Lu family was exterminated!”

Zhou Yi remarked, “A few deaths in exchange for the throne, the Lu family came out ahead.”

With gritted teeth, Tang Mingyuan said, “The Grandmaster is quite calculating.”

Tang Mingyuan would never have agreed to any other infant, insisting on selecting a new ruler from among the imperial relatives, but he couldn’t object to a descendent of the Lu family.

“I wasn’t the sole architect of this plan.”

Zhou Yi spoke solemnly, “I didn’t choose that woman–it’s just that she happened to give birth today, and the Imperial Guard just happened to be in South City. Perhaps fate had its own intentions!”

“Heaven’s will…”

Tang Mingyuan looked up at the night sky, vast and boundless, endless.

“Heaven’s will is like a knife, yet aren’t you afraid it’ll fall on your own head, causing all your schemes to go down the river?”

Zhou Yi raised his eyebrows, feeling an underlying message in the words, and replied with commanding presence, “Regardless of swords or spears, axes or halberds, I will take them all on!”

The words had not yet faded.

A melodious bell rang through the deep night, followed closely by eight more tolls.

Nine bell tolls–the Emperor has passed away.

Tang Mingyuan’s expression changed, the memories of the days he became close friends with Emperor Tianshun–drinking tea, cooking wine, discussing poetry and writings–flashing before his eyes. Who could have imagined such a life-and-death situation now.

“Heeheehee…”

Zhou Yi laughed triumphantly, the oath he had made in those years had finally come true today.

“Lord Tang, before you enter the palace, you should settle the future distribution of power with me!”

…

The fifth year of Tianshun.

Spring.

The Emperor died in Yichun Palace.

The history books recorded his death as due to excessive indulgence, depletion of yang energy, or what the folk call sudden sexual death.

…

The Imperial Palace.

Diligent Administration Hall.

Emperor Tianshun’s body lay on the soft couch, his complexion purplish-blue, veins bulging.

Despite being dead for half an hour, his lower body was still rigid, shiningly indicating to the officials the cause of death.

The officials were abuzz with discussions, their faces filled with contempt.

Many things Emperor Tianshun had done, as recorded in the history books, were unprecedented, and now even his death was utterly unique!

Noble Consort Shu was holding the young prince, sitting on the soft couch, her tears flowing ceaselessly.

Whether it was from extreme grief or from crying tears of joy, that was unknown; her fingers, hidden beneath, twisted the infant hard, causing him to suddenly cry out in pain.

This was to tell the officials that the late Emperor had a blood heir.

Tang Mingyuan gave a light cough, and the officials quieted down, as he stepped forward to speak.

“A nation cannot be without a ruler for a day. Since His Majesty has a son, according to the laws of the National Dynasty, he should inherit the throne.”

Noble Consort Shu abruptly stopped crying, giving Tang Mingyuan a thorough look-over, her fondness for this young Grand Secretary growing immensely; no wonder the late Emperor had often sung his praises for his extreme loyalty.

The majority of the officials frowned, looking toward the Crown Prince, who had not even opened his eyes in less than an hour.

Would he be able to oversee government affairs?

Xie Cifu, apparently guessing the officials’ thoughts, suggested, “The Crown Prince is still young. Following ancient precedent, he should be assisted by the Dowager Empress until he comes of age.”

Noble Consort Shu nearly leapt for joy upon hearing this.

The surprise came so suddenly–indeed, the late Emperor was a benevolent ruler, having so many loyal subjects under his command!

The Minister of Rites proposed, “Might we consider adopting someone from the royal family, honoring the late Emperor as his father and the Dowager Empress as his mother, which would be beneficial for the continuity of the dynasty.”

In this era, the infant mortality rate was extremely high, and even a prince had a thirty percent chance of not surviving to adulthood.

Noble Consort Shu’s gaze turned icy in an instant, etching the Minister of Rites into her memory.

Thud thud thud!

A series of heavy footsteps approached, mixed with the clanking of iron armor, the ominous and oppressive aura preceding the entrance of the person.

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Commander-in-Chief Xie, personally appointed by the late Emperor, walked into the Diligent Administration Hall, one hand on his sword and the other holding a severed head.

With a swing of his hand, he threw the head onto the ground, where it rolled to the steps of the throne.

Noble Consort Shu trembled with fear, nearly dropping the infant in her arms.

Commander-in-Chief Xie knelt to the ground, performing three prostrations and nine kowtows to the young infant.

“Your servant heard the bell and feared chaos, so I led my men to guard the palace gates. King Rui, against advice, attempted to seize the opportunity to enter the palace during the turmoil and has been executed on the battlefield!”