The Prince Can Do Divination-Chapter 51 - 47: Reckoning and Punishment, The Downfall of Princess Consort Zhao
Morning.
News that the Eldest Prince, Lu Changfeng, was imprisoned on death row for attempting a palace coup had completely swept through the Imperial Capital. It seemed deliberately spread, as everyone from the streets and alleys—commoners and nobles, the wealthy and powerful—had heard and were talking about it.
Some rejoiced while others worried. With the dismissal of several Elders from the Cabinet, the number of top officials in the Imperial Court was suddenly cut by more than half, leaving a vast number of vacancies.
Squads of stern-faced men in brocade robes and silver boots moved like phantoms, sweeping out from the Imperial Palace. Imperial City Bureau Guards rushed out with drawn swords, surrounding several opulent mansions in the Imperial City. Everyone within, from the elderly to women and children, was taken into custody and escorted to prison.
Large seals were slapped onto the vast mansions, declaring the fall of a noble house.
The most tragic case was that of the Pei Family. Though only a second-rate Military General Family, their entire household was arrested and their property confiscated.
Capturing the Demoness of the Demon Kingdom alive from amidst a chaotic army had once been an immense merit, a great deed. Yet, after a series of events, their family’s fate was sealed: three generations sentenced to execution, the rest exiled to the Border Region, and the women forced into the Music Bureau. In the treacherous vortex of the Capital City’s politics, however, this was merely the tip of the iceberg.
Naturally, Prince Zhao’s Mansion bore the brunt of this turmoil.
In just half a day, Prince Zhao’s Mansion was completely deserted.
The mansion’s treasures were absorbed into the state treasury. The old steward, guards, and servants were all dismissed. Only a single noblewoman remained in the courtyard, dressed in a flame-colored pleated skirt, her hair styled in a high chignon.
The Bright Lamp Bureau was seizing the mansion’s assets, but Yang Yingchan remained serene. She stood in the courtyard, examining the early spring blossoms, showing no sign of sadness over Prince Zhao’s imprisonment.
"My Lady, please come with us."
The man in the lead, the Commander of the Bright Lamp Bureau, was a burly figure. He spoke dispassionately, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade.
The woman before him was Prince Zhao’s wife, Princess Consort Zhao, Yang Yingchan.
’I cannot be disrespectful, but according to the Holy Decree, I must also restrict her movements.’
"Please lead the way, Commander."
Yang Yingchan withdrew the delicate hand cupping a flower petal and gave a slight nod, her voice soft and clear.
’As the daughter of Prince Zhenbei, I am a Hostage in the Capital City—no different from a common prisoner. Although I didn’t participate in the coup, with Prince Zhao implicated, my end will not be a peaceful one. I prepared myself for this long ago.’
’This fate was sealed when I was eight years old, destined to marry a man nearly twenty years my senior.’
’I just don’t know how the Holy Emperor will deal with me.’
’If death is what awaits, so be it. I’ve suffered enough grievances over the years. I don’t even know what meaning there is in living anymore. Every day has been empty and filled with despair.’
’Gradually, I’ve just become numb to it all.’
With a placid expression, Yang Yingchan boarded the carriage prepared by the Bright Lamp Bureau.
’I just wonder where this carriage is headed. A well? A prison? Or the execution grounds?’
After some time, the carriage came to a halt.
"My Lady, please exit the carriage."
The Commander’s voice sounded from outside.
Yang Yingchan lifted the hem of her skirt, parted the beaded curtain, and saw vermilion palace walls before her, topped with symmetrical black eaves and crimson tiles.
"How does the Holy Emperor intend to deal with me?"
she could not help but ask the Commander.
The Commander of the Bright Lamp Bureau replied indifferently, "House arrest in the Imperial Palace, awaiting judgment."
Hearing those eight words, Yang Yingchan immediately understood.
’The Holy Emperor doesn’t want to kill me yet. My identity is too unique; I still have value. I’m my father’s weakness, and a thorn in Mobei’s side.’
’For these reasons, he’s confining me within the palace to prevent me from escaping the city.’
’But I don’t think the Great Yan of today, or Emperor Yong’an, has any reason to fear my father.’
’What value could I possibly have left as a Hostage?’
’Perhaps it’s because Great Yan is weakened after several major wars with the Demon Country. When Great Yan recovers its Primordial Qi, that might be the day I die.’
At this thought, Yang Yingchan sighed and stepped into the Imperial Palace.
This was her third time entering the Imperial Palace. The first was when she came to the Capital City at the age of eight. The second was for her marriage to Lu Changfeng. She had never imagined her third time would be under such circumstances.
Escorted by the Bright Lamp Bureau, Yang Yingchan walked deeper into the palace, drawing sidelong glances from numerous palace maids, eunuchs, and concubines.
"Who is she? A new consort for the Holy Emperor? She’s quite pretty."
"She doesn’t look like one. That attire... she looks like a Princess Consort. Could she be Princess Consort Zhao, Yang Yingchan?"
"So it’s her. What’s she doing here? The daughter of a martial man—crude, barbaric, and surely difficult to get along with. She must have all sorts of awful habits."
Having practiced martial arts since childhood, Yang Yingchan’s hearing was sharp, and she naturally caught these disdainful whispers. She paid them no mind, however, arriving at a remote hall with a serene expression.
"From now on, you will live here."
...
「Qingzhu Hall」
"Mother, is what you said true?"
Lu Mingyuan stared at Wang Zhaoyan in disbelief, his face a mask of astonishment.
Wang Zhaoyan smiled. "Of course, it’s true. Your Father, the Emperor, said you’ve behaved well in the Cold Palace. To compensate you for the assassination attempt at the entrance to Qingzhu Hall, he is relaxing your restrictions. You may now walk about the six palaces of the Harem, so your range of activity is much larger. He will also arrange for someone to teach you martial arts."
Lu Mingyuan remained stunned, taking a long moment to process the news.
He had embellished the story of the hardships he endured on the night of the coup—tales of rampaging soldiers, assassination attempts, and general turmoil. He had reported it all in a lengthy complaint to his mother and maternal grandfather, and his mother, in turn, had relayed it to Emperor Yong’an.
And that very afternoon, his mother had come to tell him that his Father, the Emperor, had granted him more lenient terms.
’Not only has my permitted area been expanded to the six palaces of the Harem, but he’s even willing to hire a teacher to instruct me in martial arts!’
’The Imperial Palace is divided into three main regions: the front halls, used for sacrifices, court assemblies, and receiving guests; the government offices, like the Cabinet and the Hanlin Academy; and finally, the living quarters, centered around the six palaces of the Harem.’
’I can now move about a third of the Imperial Palace. I still have to live in the Cold Palace, but my activity space has grown.’
"Does that mean I can go pay my respects to Grandmother every day?"
Lu Mingyuan asked expectantly.
"Yes."
Wang Zhaoyan nodded, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. ’I didn’t expect that to be the first thing he thought of. It’s really not like his old self.’
But in the next second, Lu Mingyuan added with a grin, "Mother, since Father is being so accommodating, do you think you could assign a few pretty palace maids to me?"
Only then did Wang Zhaoyan feel her son was back to his familiar self. She tapped him lightly and chided with a smile, "Your Father, the Emperor, is anything but accommodating right now. He’s still fuming over the Eldest Prince’s rebellion, and with the Cabinet having lost more than half its Prime Ministers, he’s extremely busy."
She paused, then her tone became serious. "But don’t worry about the palace maids. If you want some, Mother will certainly arrange it. However, we must limit the number. We’ve just nursed you back to health, so you absolutely cannot overindulge again."
"I know, Mother~"
Seeing her son, whose physique was growing sturdier by the day, acting so affectionately, Wang Zhaoyan’s mood brightened, and she announced another piece of good news.
"Also, your grandfather might be getting a promotion."
"A promotion?"
A flash of surprise crossed Lu Mingyuan’s eyes. "Another promotion? Wouldn’t that mean he’d enter the Cabinet and become a Prime Minister?"
In the official hierarchy of Great Yan, only those who entered the Cabinet and were granted the title of Grand Scholar could be considered a Prime Minister in the truest sense.
The Cabinet held the power to decide on all of Great Yan’s military and political affairs, wielding authority that, in reality, surpassed even that of the Six Ministers.
Wang Zhaoyan nodded slightly. "Correct. The Court Cabinet has too many vacancies right now. Your grandfather has seniority and is the current Minister of War, which makes him an excellent candidate. He should be entering the Cabinet very soon."
Her expression was full of relief. "It’s a good thing you didn’t succeed in leaving the palace. Otherwise, this opportunity would have vanished. Our Wang Family has truly had a stroke of immense luck."
"It’s just been hard on you, having to remain in the Cold Palace."
Hearing this, Lu Mingyuan simply smiled without a word.
"Mother, it’s alright. As long as you all are safe and sound, I’m happy."
Hearing this, Wang Zhaoyan’s eyes grew moist. She felt a deep sense of relief. ’Ever since his imprisonment, my son has become so much more mature and understanding. This is a wonderful thing.’
"Alright, I have matters to attend to as well. The prominent noble families in the Capital City are all carving up the assets of the Xie, Cui, and Pei Families. Naturally, our Wang Family must also get a share of the spoils."
Lu Mingyuan walked Wang Zhaoyan to the door, just in time to see a group of the Bright Lamp Bureau’s brocade-clad guards escorting a noble, dignified woman in a flame-colored pleated skirt to a nearby palace hall.
He couldn’t help but ask, "Mother, who is that?"
"Oh, her."
Wang Zhaoyan glanced over and answered casually, "That’s Prince Zhao’s wife, Princess Consort Zhao, Yang Yingchan. Your Father, the Emperor, mentioned her to me this morning. She’s a pitiful soul. She’s been trapped in the Capital City as a Hostage for twenty years. Now that Prince Zhao is in prison, she’s naturally been placed under house arrest in the palace and can’t take a single step outside. In a way, she’s a bit like you."
’So, that’s the daughter of Prince Zhenbei, Yang Yingchan.’
Hearing this, Lu Mingyuan became lost in thought.
...
It’s rare for me to ask this of everyone.
Next week, I’ll be trying to get on the front-page "Sanjiang" recommendation list. Please don’t save up Chapters to binge later—read them as they come out to help boost the numbers.
Once it gets on the list and goes premium, I’ll reward everyone with more updates.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
[Kowtowing] [Kowtowing] [Kowtowing]
