Two days later, Prince Danyang made another move, this time aiming his blade first at Prince Ying.
As fellow brothers of Emperor Wu, Prince Ying had suffered an injury in his childhood that left him disabled. Over the years, he had lived an idle life, earning the reputation of a wealthy and carefree idler.
There was still no emperor at the morning court session, and Prince Danyang continued to dominate proceedings.
Prince Danyang announced publicly that Prince Ying had been consumed by excessive worry and was now severely ill. Under the escort of the Imperial Guard, Prince Ying was already being sent to Taicheng Temple outside the city. Once his health improved, he would be tonsured and become a monk to pray for blessings for Wu.
The officials below looked at each other in dismay. Anyone could see that this move was meant to eliminate his rivals. Since even the disabled Prince Ying was being disposed of, did he not view the throne as already firmly within his grasp?
Sure enough, the second decree shocked the gathered officials even more.
The Empress walked slowly forward from behind the hall, and the ministers below hurriedly paid their respects.
Some upright censors were still whispering among themselves, saying that the inner court was not supposed to interfere in politics, and that the Empress's rash entry into the court hall was a breach of decorum...
"A country cannot go a single day without a ruler. As a subject of Wu, this Empress is willing to hand over the rivers and mountains of Wu to... Prince Danyang."
It was a brief sentence, without a single extra word of nonsense.
The members of Prince Danyang's faction below seized the moment to interject, beginning to urge Prince Danyang to ascend the throne, while the faction of the Empress and Zhang Song exchanged bewildered glances, completely at a loss.
This unexpected support from the Empress, coupled with Zhang Song's unexpected silence, pushed this drama to its climax.
Ultimately, amidst "public expectation," Prince Danyang resolved to ascend the throne as emperor the very next day.
It was not that there were no questioning voices among the officials in the court, but there was a lack of a leader, and those officials with courage lacked the standing to speak out.
Thus, a simple enthronement ceremony was prepared day and night, with everything awaiting the ascension of the new emperor.
After twenty-four hours of tireless work, the time finally arrived. Prince Danyang wore the imperial dragon robe, though he had yet to put on the imperial pearl crown.
"I am feeling unwell, so..."
The Empress wanted to decline and refuse to attend the new emperor's enthronement ceremony, but Prince Danyang would not allow it.
"Halt!"
The Empress stopped and turned around, and Prince Danyang had already closed in, grabbing her tightly by the chin.
"Xiao Yan, have I given you too much face?"
The Empress was already weak after giving birth, and Prince Danyang's violent shove caused her to collapse entirely to the floor, her hairpins and ornaments disarrayed.
"Listen well: I want you to crown me with your own hands, and I want you to watch with your own eyes how I take back everything that rightfully belongs to me."
At that moment, Prince Danyang's face was full of triumph, completely unconcerned with his words and actions. The feeling of holding absolute power was precisely this.
"Someone, take the Empress down to wash and change."
...
At this moment, Emperor Wu, Yang Xingyuan, was in his room being meticulously "styled" by Yu Shisan. This styling was not about applying cosmetics or powder, but rather hoping to make him look less emaciated and haggard.
When Yu Shisan finished, he gathered up his equipment and left, leaving only Qian Zhao and Emperor Wu in the room.
From no one knew when, Qian Zhao had already become the person Emperor Wu trusted the most. Perhaps it was because Qian Zhao had been responsible for his protection while Ning Yuanzhou was away, making him the person who had spent the longest time with Yang Xingyuan. Or perhaps it was because Qian Zhao knew his secret.
"Qian Zhao, tell me, if Prince Danyang becomes emperor, will he do a better job than I did?"
Perhaps only Qian Zhao would answer such a question without flattering him simply because he was the emperor.
"No difference." Qian Zhao uttered only those three words, yet doubt still lingered in Emperor Wu's eyes.
"To prevent us from entering An to carry out a rescue, Prince Danyang also sent assassins to intercept and kill us, showing no regard for fraternal ties."
Yang Xingyuan fell silent as well. During these days, he had come to realize that he was not a qualified ruler, but was the current Danyang not simply his former self?
The nations of An and Chu were eyeing them covetously, yet Prince Danyang was entirely consumed with seizing power and had even tried to have Yang Ying killed—he was truly hateful!
"You must return to the imperial court and clear the grievances of the Liudao Hall brothers before the eyes of the entire world. This is what you owe them." Qian Zhao's attitude toward Emperor Wu remained cold, but those few words truly sank into Emperor Wu's mind.
Yes, what he owed had not yet been repaid; he had no qualification to consider much else.
...
Amidst the sound of bells and drums, the palace gates swung wide open. Prince Danyang, clad in a dragon robe interwoven with dark gold threads faintly bearing dragon patterns, stood at the base of the grand hall's steps, walking step by step up the red carpet.
He walked step by step, very slowly and steadily. This road was one he had walked for far, far too long.
From as far back as he could remember, he had constantly wondered: where on earth was the difference between himself and Yang Xingyuan? They were both sons of the late Emperor; by what right could Yang Xingyuan be the crown prince while he could only be an ordinary imperial prince?
Clearly, he had never fallen behind in his studies or policy essays; clearly, he was more outstanding. Why was the throne his, and why even Xiao Yan...
To overturn all of this, he had paid far too much. Day after day, he labored diligently, racking his brains, lobbying and bribing officials from various ministries while bearing the risk of forming factions for private gain. Starting almost from scratch, he had step-by-step built up a force sufficient to rival Zhang Song.
To prevent Yang Xingyuan from returning to the court, he had even sent his men to intercept and kill the delegation, despite his own real younger sister being among them...
Of course, none of that mattered anymore. Now, Wu was completely within his grasp. To say nothing of a not-very-close sister, as long as he could reclaim what rightfully belonged to him from the start, he could sacrifice everything.
He walked step by step toward the high platform. As he was about to reach the top, he caught sight of the Empress, Xiao Yan.
The Empress had put on her most formal ceremonial dress. Although her expression was unpleasant, in Prince Danyang's eyes at that moment, she remained dazzling and captivating.
Reaching the top of the steps, he stared unblinkingly at Empress Xiao Yan, his face full of triumph.
Xiao Yan averted her gaze, mechanically holding up the pearl crown belonging to the emperor.
Prince Danyang lowered his head slightly, waiting for the pearl crown to be placed upon his head.
Suddenly, a sharp arrow flew from afar, streaking straight toward the spot at the top of the steps where Prince Danyang and the Empress stood.
The commander of Prince Danyang's Imperial Guard was the first to notice, crying out in alarm, "Assassins!"
Prince Danyang failed to react in time to dodge, merely turning his head slightly as he watched the arrow shoot straight toward his head.
The arrow grazed the top of Prince Danyang's head, its tip fiercely knocking the pearl crown down to the ground and leaving a panicked Xiao Yan to quickly retreat a few steps.
The arrow ruffled Prince Danyang's hair, and coupled with his rigid posture, he presented a look of indescribable disarray.
"Assassins, there are assassins!"
"Where are the assassins?"
The officials who finally reacted descended into chaos, and those who valued their lives had already scurried toward the corners of the walls.
Amidst the cries of the crowd, a bright yellow figure appeared at the bottom of the steps.