Volume One, Chapter Thirteen: Mourning the Late Emperor and the Selection of the Crown Prince
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“My beloved consort is with child; rise slowly and speak at your own pace,” Emperor Qingli gently said, supporting Ling Aoxue with a feigned tenderness.
“Your Majesty...”
As soon as Ling Aoxue spoke, tears welled up and spilled over. “Please, Your Majesty, seek justice for my brother. Today, my brother went to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to retrieve the elixir...”
With her embellished account, she described how the Ninth Prince, out of spite, deliberately made things difficult for Ling Aotian, obstructing his effort to save someone.
In desperation, Ling Aotian insulted the Ninth Prince and was consequently ordered by the Chief Inspector to be imprisoned in the Bureau’s dungeon.
“Your Majesty, my brother is innocent!”
Upon hearing Ling Aoxue’s story, Emperor Qingli was utterly shocked.
His astonishment was not over whether Ling Aotian was wronged, but rather that Ye Chen actually possessed medical skills!
Ling Aoxue had mentioned that the Ninth Prince really had revived someone.
In truth, she wanted to hint that the Ninth Prince might have resorted to some dark arts.
Yet, Emperor Qingli cared nothing for such matters!
“I understand. I shall immediately dispatch someone to release him from the Bureau!”
Just as the emperor was about to issue the decree, a eunuch outside reported.
“Your Majesty, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau has sent a memorial!”
“Bring it here!”
Upon receiving the memorial, Emperor Qingli’s expression dramatically changed after reading its contents.
“Your Majesty, my brother is innocent! The one who framed him must be severely punished!”
Ling Aoxue tried to fan the flames further, hoping the emperor would issue an edict to punish those responsible and avenge her brother.
“Enough!”
Unexpectedly, after reading the memorial, Emperor Qingli furiously declared, “Ling Aotian deserves to be locked up in the Bureau’s dungeon!”
Ling Aoxue was startled into silence, her sobs abruptly ceasing, unsure why the emperor was enraged.
“Your Majesty...”
“Silence!”
Emperor Qingli cut her off sharply, giving no chance for further words.
“I only spoke to you about my intention to make you empress. I warned you not to reveal it before the formal investiture. How did your brother find out?”
As he spoke, Emperor Qingli threw the memorial before Ling Aoxue.
It was a report from Chief Inspector Ge Hong, detailing Ling Aotian’s actions at the Bureau.
It also mentioned Ye Chen’s presence there, performing medical miracles, and his latest Confucian epiphany that elevated his cultivation to the first rank of the second heaven.
Reading the memorial, Ling Aoxue was completely flustered.
“Your Majesty, please allow me to explain...”
“Enough. The matter of making you empress is over!”
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With a grand gesture, Emperor Qingli dismissed Ling Aoxue’s pleas. “Take Consort Ling back!”
Ling Aoxue was left dumbfounded, dragged away by two eunuchs.
From the shadows, “Hawk” appeared, glancing at the memorial on the ground, equally shocked.
“Tell me, do you think this traitor has resorted to dark arts? Otherwise, how could his cultivation rise so quickly?”
Hawk replied noncommittally, “I am not certain yet.”
“Then stay close to him and observe carefully!” Emperor Qingli commanded angrily. “Leave now.”
Hawk bowed and vanished into the darkness. Almost simultaneously, the Chief Eunuch Lu Ningde arrived.
“Your Majesty, Third Prince Ye Han has entered the palace and arrived at the Xuanhe Gate.”
“I see.”
Hearing this, Emperor Qingli rubbed his forehead and looked at Lu Ningde.
“You have accompanied me since my ascension, witnessed my struggles with my brothers and the vassal kings. What kind of emperor do you think I am?”
Lu Ningde smiled warmly, bowing respectfully. “Your Majesty is wise and valiant beyond any subject’s capacity to judge.”
Emperor Qingli approached the gate of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, gazing at the sky. Just then, Third Prince Ye Han reached the hall.
“Your humble son greets His Majesty!”
Glancing at the kneeling prince, Emperor Qingli waved him off indifferently.
“Rise. Have you paid respects at the mourning hall?”
“I have, Father. Please accept my condolences.”
“Good. Now that you brothers have returned to the capital, I intend to appoint the crown prince.”
The sudden declaration startled Lu Ningde, who immediately dismissed the surrounding attendants and palace maids, then withdrew himself.
Though shocked, Ye Han remained composed.
“Father has his eyes on a certain prince,” Ye Han said, hoping it was himself.
“I do not know,” Emperor Qingli answered unexpectedly.
“How then will the crown prince be chosen?”
Almost instinctively, Ye Han asked.
The emperor sighed wistfully. “It depends on which of you brothers prevails.”
Ye Han immediately understood. “A contest of cultivation?”
“Partly yes, but not entirely,” Emperor Qingli smiled cryptically. “If it were only cultivation, I would have appointed the Ninth Prince long ago without hesitation.”
“Why the Ninth Prince? Among us, the eldest brother is the strongest; he is a third-grade warrior!”
Ye Han questioned with confusion. “Moreover, didn’t the Ninth Prince rebel? Even if he proved his innocence, surely he is unfit to be crown prince.”
Feigning surprise, Emperor Qingli retorted, “You still don’t know? The Ninth Prince has reached the first rank of Confucian cultivation. Among you brothers, who is stronger than him?”
“What! The Ninth Prince really reached first rank? I always thought it was a rumor, but it’s true!”
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Ye Han was incredulous. In his memory, Ye Chen’s meridians had been damaged, leaving him without cultivation.
Emperor Qingli sighed with emotion. “Indeed. In less than half an hour during yesterday’s court session, he had multiple epiphanies, instantly entering the second rank. He even assisted Tutor Du in an epiphany, elevating Du to become the first Confucian Supreme Sage and Eternal Teacher in three thousand years.”
Ye Han was utterly stunned; the rumors were true after all.
Yet the emperor’s words only stoked the fire of resentment within him.
The emperor shifted tone. “But becoming crown prince is not only about cultivation.”
At that moment, Lu Ningde arrived. “Your Majesty, Chief Inspector Ge Hong, Tutor Du, and the Ninth Prince have just paid respects at the mourning hall and are waiting at the Xuanhe Gate to pay their respects to you.”
With a glance, Emperor Qingli instructed Lu Ningde to admit them.
Shortly, the three entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation. After paying obeisance, they greeted Third Prince Ye Han.
Ye Han returned their greetings, then fixed his gaze on Ye Chen. “Ninth brother, congratulations on reaching the first rank and semi-sage status.”
“Third brother, you flatter me. My epiphany was fleeting, like a floating reed or a castle in the air; it was merely luck,” Ye Chen replied modestly.
“Enough. You two can catch up later,” interrupted Emperor Qingli.
“I was just discussing the crown prince issue with the Third Prince. With the Chief Inspector and Tutor Du here, I want to hear your opinions.”
“Crown prince!” Both exclaimed in unison, surprised.
The Great Yu Dynasty had never before appointed a crown prince. The royal family tradition was that only sons born of the empress could be heir apparent.
The sole exception was Emperor Qingli himself.
He was the only Yu emperor who ascended the throne without having been crown prince, and whose birth mother was not the empress.
Emperor Qingli was resolute. “What I do does not violate tradition. Once I choose a prince as crown prince, I will officially confer his mother the title of empress.”
Ye Chen’s heart tightened, the first thought being, “Old Tyrant is setting his sons against each other!”
“Gentlemen, help me consider how to select the most suitable crown prince from among the nine princes,” Emperor Qingli said, looking to Ge Hong and Tutor Du.
“The crown prince must not only have high cultivation but also possess sufficient prestige and be beloved by the people,” they replied.
Hearing these criteria, Ye Chen felt disdainful.
To him, the only requirement for crown prince was survival—whoever lived to the end would be heir.
“Your Majesty, the Martial Peace King has arrived outside the southern city gate. Shall we admit him?” Lu Ningde reported, causing everyone to pause.
The Martial Peace King was Emperor Qingli’s second elder brother, the princes’ uncle, a second rank master of divination, and renowned for his fortune-telling skills.
He was the only brother not targeted by Emperor Qingli.
Excitedly, the emperor said, “Brother is here—welcome him quickly!”
Lu Ningde hesitated, “But he has brought twenty thousand Yulin Guards, claiming to have just quelled a rebellion at Shanhaiguan.”