Chapter 68: The Capital
“A plague?”
The King of Youzhou, Duo Bo, smashed the teacup in his hand at the physician kneeling before him, trembling with anger. The physician was hit on the forehead by the porcelain cup, and fresh blood immediately flowed from the corner of his forehead.
“How can a perfectly fine person suddenly catch the plague? This king doesn’t believe it!” As Duo Bo spoke, he was about to step into the courtyard where Qin Zhaohuang was being held.
A group of ministers and physicians immediately knelt at the courtyard’s arched gate and cried out, “Your Majesty! You absolutely must not! The plague is no small matter, and there is no cure. Please reconsider, Your Majesty—”
Duo Bo trembled with anger. Not only had he lost a lot of fun and pleasure, but more importantly, if the hostage fell ill and died, what would he use to threaten Bei Miao! The bargaining chip would have died for nothing. Duo Bo could not let it go.
“Why did the National Preceptor, Qin, suddenly catch the plague?” Duo Bo’s eyes flashed with anger, his face as dark as a coming storm.
Yu Qianzu leaned to the side, humming a little tune, pretending not to know, not caring at all.
The physician said tremblingly, “Replying to Your Majesty, it seems to be because the National Preceptor, Qin, accidentally used the belongings of someone infected with the plague…”
“Yes, yes.” another physician chimed in. “A few days ago, a servant who had returned from another place was infected with the plague, and we found his outer robe in the National Preceptor, Qin’s room.”
Duo Bo turned and ordered the butler, “Then investigate for this king, who put it there with ill intentions!”
All the servants were brought to the courtyard, and the guards from that day were not spared either. However, after a severe interrogation, no one knew anything, and there were no results. The two guards who had let Yu Qianzu and Yu Qianshou into the courtyard were about to confess under torture when they felt a few cold insects slowly crawling inside their clothes. The insects had sharp, multiple legs, and when they scraped against their fragile flesh, a layer of goosebumps rose on their bodies. Remembering the methods of the two brothers, they would rather be beaten than provoke them.
Seeing that the investigation had no results, Yu Qianzu said unhurriedly to Duo Bo, “Your Majesty need not worry about this. My senior brother’s medical skills are not bad. He is best at using poison to fight poison and treating these originally incurable diseases.”
“Then have your senior brother hurry back and cure the National Preceptor, Qin, for this king!” After saying this, Duo Bo snorted and left with a flick of his sleeves, angry.
Yu Qianzu rolled his eyes inwardly. Stupid king.
Now, his senior brother could openly feign compliance.
“…General Wen has rendered meritorious service to the country and is skilled in governance. His name is known in the present age, and his achievements will last for a thousand autumns. Now, in accordance with the will of heaven, Wen Ning’an is hereby enfeoffed as the Regent of the current dynasty, to assist the Son of Heaven and jointly manage the affairs of the court. By imperial decree!”
Feng Jun’s edict had already been announced to the world. It said that His Majesty was ill, and his dragon body was not well, so the Regent, Wen Ning’an, who was carrying His Highness the Crown Prince, would temporarily manage the affairs of the court. The common people naturally had no objections and all knelt to welcome Wen Ning’an, who was returning to the capital, and the “Emperor,” who was in a carriage and had not shown his face.
Wen Ning’an rode on horseback. His three-month belly was not obvious, and covered by a wide long robe, it could not be seen.
“Long live Your Majesty—Long live the Regent—”
“Long live the Crown Prince—”
Wen Ning’an himself did not know that his reputation among the common people was actually very high. They were all saying that Wen the God of War was the blessing of Bei Miao, the guardian of Bei Miao.
“Long live the Regent!”
A girl handed a flower wreath to the guard beside Wen Ning’an. The guard checked it and, after confirming it was safe, handed it to Fu Che, who then placed it around Wen Ning’an’s neck.
Wen Ning’an turned to the girl and smiled. “Thank you. It’s very beautiful.”
There was still some distance to the imperial palace. The withered trees and houses in the capital were covered in a faint layer of white, and the thousands of miles of the country were a scene of jade and powder. During the first month of winter, the season of light snow, the north wind was biting, and the cold seeped into the bones. The ground was like a white net.
Wen Ning’an thought to himself, I have walked this road countless times. In the past, he had walked it with Feng Qi, who was still the crown prince. Later, he had walked it alone, despised by Feng Qi, unable to even enter the palace gates. Now, he was entering the palace gates with the most noble status, yet he was still alone.
A wave of cold came, and Xingxing and Liangliang, who were nestled in his arms, couldn’t help but shrink back. Wen Ning’an gathered his woolen coat and reached out to catch a snowflake. The snowflakes at this moment were not large or dense, but floated lightly with the wind like willow catkins.
“It’s snowing again.”
A road of winter snow.
After entering the palace and settling down, Wen Ning’an went to the Imperial Study to meet with Prime Minister Duan Hong.
Duan Hong had been waiting in the Imperial Study for a long time. Seeing Wen Ning’an arrive, he immediately knelt down and paid his respects. “Greetings, Your Highness.”
Although Duan Hong was over fifty, his eyes held a wise light, not cloudy at all. His official robes and hair were neatly arranged, and he was respectful and loyal. He had been assisting Feng Qi his whole life and was his confidant and trusted person.
Wen Ning’an was a little unaccustomed to the title “Your Highness.” He was stunned for a long while before smiling. “Please rise, Prime Minister Duan. There is no need for such ceremony. In the future, there will be many things that I will need to ask and rely on you for.”
“This old subject has received the late Emperor’s holy edict and will naturally give my all for Your Highness. Reporting to Your Highness, the late Emperor has already arranged everything. The common people and ordinary ministers think His Majesty is seriously ill, but we old subjects and confidants have long been prepared. Your Highness is not without support in the court. After Your Highness has dealt with the Li family and the court situation is stable, we can then logically announce the late Emperor’s ‘passing due to illness,’ letting him slowly withdraw from everyone’s sight. This is the most stable way to prevent those with ill intentions from taking advantage.”
Duan Hong’s words were for his own and Bei Miao’s sake, but Wen Ning’an found them a little harsh and did not respond. He just smiled and pulled out a chair for him, showing his cherish and respect. Duan Hong was first stunned, then sat down with some trepidation.
Fu Che added some more charcoal to the fire in the room.
Wen Ning’an and Duan Hong sat in the private seats in the study. Duan Hong took out a scroll from his sleeve and respectfully handed it to Wen Ning’an with both hands. “This is the holy edict that Your Highness had this old subject retrieve from the Golden Throne Hall.”
Wen Ning’an opened it and read it carefully, but was silent.
Duan Hong sighed. “Your Highness, please restrain your grief.”
Wen Ning’an’s hands were trembling slightly. Duan Hong then took the heavy holy edict. “With this holy edict, Your Highness can be logically enfeoffed as the Regent, and His Highness the Crown Prince will also inherit the throne in the future. Fortunately, the late Emperor only stated Your Highness’s status in this edict and did not make the assumption that he had already passed away. He was truly far-sighted…”
Wen Ning’an was silent. He couldn’t get the sentences Feng Qi had written on the back of the holy edict out of his mind. They were not part of the official edict, nor were they written in a formal format. They must have been just a casual thought Feng Qi had had when writing this edict…
My beloved Wen Ning’an is the most noble person in this world, his power surpassing anyone in the court. His wealth shall be his own, and his heir shall inherit my glory, forever blessed with fortune.
Wen Ning’an rubbed his temples.
Duan Hong couldn’t help but say, “Your Highness, please take care of your body. Even if not for yourself, for the sake of His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“I… this prince knows.” Wen Ning’an smiled. “The court is now in turmoil. This prince will naturally not fall first.”
He still had a country to protect, and Qin Zhaohuang to save.
Zhaohuang…
Wen Ning’an closed his eyes to calm himself.
Seeing that although Wen Ning’an’s face was calm and his demeanor was proper, Duan Hong, who had been in the court for half his life and had sharp eyes, said, “Your Highness has had a long and hard journey. You should rest first. This old subject will take his leave and discuss court affairs with Your Highness tomorrow.”
“Alright.”
After Duan Hong left, Wen Ning’an looked at the empty surroundings. This was Feng Qi’s study, and in the future, he would also use it. The servants had prepared a new palace for him, equally luxurious and grand, but he did not plan to move. As for the others’ comments and gossip, he would let them be.
“Your Highness…” Ah Bai walked in with a small bowl of soup, which was very full, so his movements were very careful.
“Your Highness, you have eaten very little recently. It’s not good for His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Wen Ning’an shook his head. Fu Che really is something. Knowing he couldn’t refuse Ah Bai, he had sent him, and even taught him his lines.
Wen Ning’an took the soup with one hand and lifted Ah Bai onto his lap with the other. He slowly drank the rich and nourishing ginseng soup, feeling a warmth spread through his body.
“I’ll have the imperial kitchen make a bowl for you later.”
Ah Bai shook his head. “I’ve already had some.”
Seeing Wen Ning’an drink the soup slowly, Ah Bai seemed a little reserved. He shrank back and said, “Your Highness, will I be pressing on His Highness the Crown Prince? He’s so small…”
Wen Ning’an chuckled softly, then, as if thinking of something, said, “Ah Bai, I have my own child now. Will you mind?”
Ah Bai thought for a moment and lowered his head. “I’m just afraid that Your Highness won’t like me anymore…”
Afraid that Wen Ning’an would be angry, he immediately added, “But I will always, always like Your Highness. The Crown Prince is Your Highness’s child, so I like him too.”
“I won’t,” Wen Ning’an stroked his hairline. “Just like with Ah Bai, I will always like you in the future. And I will have to ask Ah Bai to take care of the Crown Prince for me. The Crown Prince doesn’t know anything. You are his older brother. You have to take good care of him and accompany him.”
“Ah Bai will definitely take good care of the Crown Prince!”
Wen Ning’an smiled. “I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. There’s no time like the present. I’ll have someone draw up an edict later. From now on, you will be my adopted son, and I will give you the name ‘Bi.’ In the future, you will be called Bai Bi. How does that sound?”
*A spirit of soaring pride, a white jade like a mountain that no one dares to buy.*
Ah Bai… now to be called Bai Bi’s little crying face’s eyes were red, and he was at a loss.
“Thank… thank you, Your Highness!”
Wen Ning’an placed the finished porcelain bowl at the side, smiled, and reached out to pinch Bai Bi’s soft and tender cheek, calling gently, “Bi’er, Bi’er…” As he spoke, he moved his hand down, held Bai Bi’s hand, and gently placed it on his own stomach. “This is Long’er.”
“Long’er!” Bai Bi felt the soft, slight bulge under his hand and found it strange.
With a “swish,” a cold wind came in. Bai Bi shivered and immediately jumped from Wen Ning’an’s lap to close the window.
“We can’t let Long’er catch a cold!”
After the window was closed, Bai Bi looked at the fine snow falling outside, a sea of white, and turned to Wen Ning’an. “The snow is getting heavier!”
Wen Ning’an smiled bitterly. “Yes, the snow is getting heavier.”
