Yan Song looked at the desolation in the small garden of his mountain study, yet his mood was like fire erupting from an abyss.
Because,
Based on his understanding of Jiajing, that man was not a benevolent ruler who loved his people. Even he had felt a pang of sympathy during many natural disasters and man-made calamities, but the emperor remained cold-hearted. The emperor feared only one thing: failure. It was likely a deeply ingrained phobia from his early ascension to the throne, when he was intimidated by Yang Tinghe. Once encountering danger, the emperor would become incredibly tyrannical.
The world said that Emperor Jiajing was like Emperor Wen of Han, a rare enlightened ruler, but how many truly understood Emperor Wen of Han? Emperor Wen of Han would not act, but once he did, he would exterminate three kindreds. The alchemist Xin Yuanping, clearly believed by Emperor Wen of Han himself, yet blamed others? As a result, Xin Yuanping's three kindreds were exterminated. Exterminating three kindreds meant killing far more people than exterminating nine kindreds; it meant killing all three nine kindreds – the paternal, maternal, and conjugal lines. In this regard, this emperor was indeed comparable; he often ordered the extermination of entire clans when he took action. Now, his Yan family had great-grandchildren. If they were to be exterminated, it would be too great a loss.
The greatest loophole left by the emperor's recent actions was undoubtedly Prince Yu's fear! Chen Yiqin was insignificant; he was working for the Zhu family anyway, and working for his father or son was much the same. Prince Yu, however, would definitely feel that he was about to be deposed. Therefore, the groundwork previously laid could now be activated…
He sighed a long sigh and said leisurely,
“Shifan, you and the others had spoken to Prince Yu before, hadn't you? That Zhu Mo is the heir of which prince in Jiangnan… you've all found out, right?”
This?
Everyone was stunned—
At that time,
When everyone suggested further investigation, it was Old Yan Song who said it was unnecessary; as long as Prince Yu was suspicious, it was enough. Why bring it up again now?
Yan Shifan asked curiously,
“Old Father, are you saying we should play the imperial family’s game?”
Yan Song neither nodded nor shook his head, but sat stiffly on the couch, his eyes gleaming, and said calmly, “There are no outsiders here… even if there were, they wouldn’t be able to get out… I’ll just say it… Shifan, what happened with Prince Jing back then? Tell me honestly…”
This?
Father?
Hiss!
Whoosh!
These topics were extremely sensitive, and everyone had initially been afraid to listen. Now, hearing someone say Yan Shifan had caused Prince Jing’s death, and Yan Shifan himself saying Prince Jing had gone mad… any one of these words, if leaked, could bring disaster for generations! Everyone’s heart pounded, wanting to leave but not daring to.
Yan Song shook his head and sighed,
“Lu Bing told me… did you send a daughter of a condemned official from the Jiaofang Division to Prince Jing? What was her name, Song Yin’er?”
This?!
Hoo…
Yan Shifan then slumped onto the couch, muttering,
“I knew this would be a mess… Lu Bing, you’re no good either. Why didn’t you finish the job properly last time?”
Last time,
When Zhu Mo investigated the matter of Prince Raoyang and the Princess of Dai in Datong, and had Yu Er escort them to Fengyang, it was Lu Bing and Zhang Er who had people intercept and kill them on the road. Yan Shifan thought the matter was clean, but he didn't expect Lu Bing to be afraid and tell the old man. But what was he afraid of?
Yan Shifan was starting to feel a little guilty, and asked,
“Father, did Lu Bing hear anything else?”
Yan Song smiled and waved his hand, “You don’t need to be afraid. Since ancient times, what royal family hasn’t had such matters? We’re speaking behind closed doors here, don’t let it get out… that’s all…”
He pushed himself up by his legs and stood slowly, saying,
“Shifan, you guys didn’t do a clean job! Lu Bing did it for your own good! Don’t you forget, you are related by marriage…”
He shook his head and continued,
“He told me that in that temple in Datong, Zhu Mo found a jade pendant on the body of the Princess of Dai, which belonged to Prince Jing… I suspect he also obtained something else and used Zhu Qi to inquire everywhere after returning to the capital…”
Speaking of which,
Yan Shifan could no longer conceal it and could only sigh,
“Father, it’s not that your son is hiding it from you, but this matter is truly dangerous… I don’t know what was going through my mind at the time? I just wanted to keep Prince Jing in check, so I got him a prostitute, but that prostitute was surprisingly strange; in just a few moves, she hooked up with Prince Raoyang and later became the Princess of Dai! Alas, your son didn’t think much of it, I just wanted to plant a chess piece in advance, in case Prince Jing became the Crown Prince in the future, wouldn’t that be an informant…”
Whoo…
Hiss…
The few people present listened intently, their hearts pounding out of their chests.
Yan Song nodded and said, “It’s good to have it clarified, at least we know where we stand… What about Prince Ning’s third son, Zhu Xi?”
Me?!
Yan Shifan suddenly choked—
How did he even know about this?!
He shook his head and replied truthfully,
“Father, I must tell you… your son is quite familiar with Prince Ning’s third son; he frequented the capital for a few years and then disappeared… your son kept him around also to plant a chess piece for the future, in case the Zhu family treated us unfairly, wouldn’t there be a substitute…”
Hiss!
Hiss!
The few people present, except for Luo Longwen, Yan Maoqing, and Zhao Wenhua who were already deeply involved, and the semi-outsiders like Gao Hanwen, were terrified! One must know, these words were tantamount to treason! Prince Ning’s third son was a person who truly deserved to die! But Gao Hanwen thought to himself: since it has come to this, how could he possibly distance himself from the Yan family?
While everyone was astonished.
Yan Song nodded and glared at Yan Shifan,
“Zhang Er and Lu Bing both said they questioned many people, and they all said Prince Jing was killed by you… What will you say when the time comes?”
Yan Shifan said anxiously,
“Your son truly didn’t do it!”
Everyone present thought: this is a major matter; if the Yan family really did this, they would have to find a way out…
At this moment, seeing that Yan Shifan’s expression was not feigned, and remembering that this person was usually good at deception, they did not entirely believe him in their hearts.
Yan Song stared at him coldly, remaining silent. Yan Shifan immediately sighed, stood up with a whoosh, knelt before Yan Song, and shouted,
“Father! Your son is not stupid! Why would I do something like that? Prince Jing, at such a young age, wanted to rebel, and was later confined by the Emperor. Who could see him in the imperial residence? Who knows what happened inside? Your son was entering the cabinet at that time; why would I stir up such trouble? Father, believe me, your son truly didn’t do it… If he died, who is that madman in Anlu? He scared himself mad…”
Yan Song thought for a while, finally nodded, and said slowly,
“You, don’t be afraid. This is a rumor, as long as it’s explained clearly… Since Shifan didn’t commit this act of rebellion, let others say what they will… It’s good to clarify, and you don’t need to listen to those useless things…”
Whoo…
Only then did people begin to believe somewhat. After all, what Yan Shifan said was true: at that time, he was entering the cabinet, full of ambition, why would he bother with such a thing? Moreover, the Emperor was notoriously indifferent to his sons, paying them no mind. Prince Jing’s struggle for succession, being frightened by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and falling into madness, was not an unusual occurrence…
Seeing that everyone’s expression had eased, Yan Song felt a weight lifted from his heart. After all, if this rumor persisted, and given the recent severe setbacks, people’s hearts would likely be divided. At that point, some would inevitably betray their lord to save themselves, and if this foundation were revealed, no matter how powerful the Yan family was, they would ultimately not be guilty of treason. These followers who followed the trend, knowing they would not be exterminated, would stabilize their hearts.
“It’s late today, you all go down and think about it, think hard… Your father believes the Crown Prince will likely cause some trouble, and we need to figure out how to respond. Think about it, there’s no rush to speak…”
After Yan Song finished speaking, he picked up his brush and began to write stroke by stroke.