Sharing a Pavilion With You
Chapter 133: A New Crown Prince

Chapter 133: A New Crown Prince

"I will have to put Yicai into the Crown Prince position, Ying’er," the Emperor told his deceased wife regretfully. "I know he’s a boy you wanted to live a carefree life, and I wanted that for him too, but you left us too soon, my dear.

His life has been harder than either of us wanted. Hopefully, it has prepared him, as much as anything can, for what’s about to befall him.

History repeats itself, it seems, despite my very best efforts to avoid bloodshed between the princes."

The Emperor’s own usurpation of his brother’s throne was such a seismic event in his life; it had defined everything that came afterwards and redefined everything that went before.

"I’ll do everything I can to stop them killing one another, Ying-er, I swear it before you," he gazed longingly at the portrait of his beautiful wife.

"You’ve seen Lord Mei’s daughter, dear?" he asked her. "She’s just a slip of a girl, but she does remind me so much of you at the same age," his lips curled in a small smile. "Though she’s not you... how can anyone be you? For the first time since I lost you, someone eases my days in this life before I can see you again, dear wife. I hope you’ll forgive an old man his selfish folly?"

He lightly touched the painting of his wife in parting.

By the time he returned to the palace his fresh edicts were already dictated to Feng Bao, who had them immediately transcribed onto silk and parchment for the Emperor to apply his seal.

Feng Bao strode into the courtyard of the Crown Prince, surrounded by an entourage of junior eunuchs.

"Kneel to receive the Emperor’s order," he intoned from outside the palace rooms.

The Crown Prince stumbled out of his chamber, where he had been indulging himself in wine with some of his concubines, far too early in the day for such activities.

He fell to his knees more than knelt, and the Chief Eunuch unfurled the order.

"The Crown Prince has been found guilty of stealing vast amounts of silver from the kingdom’s treasury. For this alone, he must be punished. Additional to this theft from the kingdom, he has been found guilty of building a private army, which is the crime of treason. For these two crimes, the Crown Prince is hereby demoted and will no longer be the Crown Prince of this realm, but simply Prince Haoran. He will be locked in the Palace of Purity for the remainder of his days on this earth. He may receive no visitors other than family."

The Crown Prince took much longer than was appropriate to raise his shaking hands to accept the order and he failed to thank the Emperor for it, as was customary.

He looked at Feng Bao with narrowed eyes which were glassy with alcohol, and the eunuch thought, not for the first time, that this prince would not take his demotion lying down.

The Chief Eunuch bowed to the former Crown Prince and left the Palace of Purity, wondering if he would ever return there.

He and his attendants made their way to the Second Prince’s palace.

"The Chief Eunuch has arrived," called the Second Prince’s Chief Eunuch, Shi Lei.

The Second Prince had been expecting this visit since he was advised by his men that his Emperor Father had returned from his unexpected visit to his mother’s tomb.

Li Fengfeg was already in the courtyard waiting for him to join her there. He wondered how much she already knew of what was to come from her father...

The couple knelt to receive the Emperor’s order.

"The current Crown Prince and eldest son of the Emperor has been demoted, and the Emperor has therefore decided to name his second son, Prince Zhu Yicai, as the Crown Prince. The Second Prince has been a faithful servant of the realm and to his parents. He has done many good deeds for the People and is loved by them. He has shown his bravery and leadership on the battlefield. He is virtuous and always follows Confucian values. He will always put the People first in his exalted position, faithfully help and serve the Emperor and the Kingdom, striving for peace and prosperity. All of my officials, generals and members of the court are hereby ordered to give their allegiance and support to the new Crown Prince."

The newly minted Crown Prince raised his arms and took the momentous order from Feng Bao.

He had thought that he would feel a great sense of elation at this moment, but instead the emotion he felt was more akin to relief.

Relief that the machinations were over for the time being, that he was a critical step closer to his goal, that he would not be banished to his fiefdom in Gu, that he would have the power to protect his friends, and that he would be able to offer a glorious role to the woman he loved.

"My thanks to the Emperor for this illustrious honour. I will obey Emperor Father’s order."

The prince climbed to his feet, politely assisting Li Fengfeng to rise.

"Congratulations, husband," she was the first to congratulate him, and the delight on her face, was undisguised.

He inclined his head respectfully to her.

"My congratulations, Crown Prince," the Chief Eunuch bowed deeply to him.

"My thanks to you, Chief Eunuch, and thank you for coming to my palace in person to give me this order from my Emperor Father."

"Of course. That’s my duty to our Lord and to you, Crown Prince. We will leave you to celebrate in privacy with your wife."

The Crown Prince nodded at Shi Lei, who handed Feng Bao a reward before he left, and the Chief Eunuch bowed his thanks to Zhu Yicai.

The eunuchs had barely left his courtyard before the Crown Prince followed them out.

"Where are you going husband?" called Li Fengfeng. "I wish to celebrate this good luck with you."

"I have business to attend to, wife," he called over his shoulder. "I must see my Emperor Father in person to thank him."

"Will you be home for dinner?" she asked.

"Probably not. Don’t wait for me."

Where was he going? she thought with suspicion. Did he intend to spend hours with the Emperor? Where did he plan to go after that? She would have one of her maids follow him to find out.

Zhu Yicai strode off to find his Father, ostensibly to thank the Emperor in person for his trust in him, but more importantly, to find Mei Meili and tell her the news himself...

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