Prince Duan sacrificed his life to protect the Grand Empress Dowager, perishing with Duke Baili Hao.
The Fifth Prince, Sima Han, arrived in time to save the Grand Empress Dowager and capture the Great Princess Zande.
His Majesty, considering Princess Zande’s years of loyal service and her current repentance for her grave mistake, commuted her death sentence. She was confined to her princess mansion, forbidden to leave for the rest of her life.
In recognition of the Fifth Prince Sima Han's merits, and since Prince Duan’s military and political power had no successor, the Fifth Prince Sima Han was appointed to temporarily assume these duties.
Thus, this matter came to a close.
Sima Hao listened numbly to Jiang Yubao's reply, his heart filled with a complex mix of emotions, rendering him speechless.
After pondering for a long while, he looked up at Sima Han again, only to see no trace of joy on Sima Han’s face, despite having gained military and political power.
“Ah Han, you got what you wanted, why aren't you happy?”
Sima Han raised his eyes at Sima Hao’s words and replied indifferently, “What is there to be happy about?”
His calm tone left Sima Hao utterly speechless.
“Alright, now that matters are settled, we should go congratulate His Majesty on his birthday. It’s getting late.”
Yizixie said, leading the way out.
Sima Han cast no further glance at Sima Hao and followed them out.
Only when the figures of Shen Xiaoyan and the others had completely disappeared did Sima Hao’s once rigidly straight body suddenly go limp.
He collapsed onto the wooden chair in his room, gasping for air as if he had just survived a fierce battle.
He knew that this Great Chu would no longer belong to him.
Neither Sima Zhu nor Sima Han would ever give him another opportunity to grasp power.
With a long sigh, Sima Hao suddenly felt an urge to cry.
After scheming for so long, after expending so much effort, was this all he had achieved in the end?
No matter how unwilling he was, the matter was already settled and irreversible.
Meanwhile, Shen Xiaoyan and the others arrived at the Hall of Diligent Governance. Sima Zhu sat there with a haggard expression, a stark contrast to the lively festivities surrounding him.
Upon seeing Shen Xiaoyan and the others enter, Sima Hao’s gaze fixated on Sima Han.
Shen Xiaoyan thought to herself that Sima Zhu must be incredibly frustrated right now. His plans had been grand, but ultimately, Sima Han had gained the most.
The more Sima Zhu pondered, the more stifled he felt. Even Sima Han's birthday greeting struck him as gratingly unpleasant.
What was there to celebrate?
Sima Han must be wishing for his immediate demise, wasn't he? Only then would the world be his.
With this thought, Sima Zhu let out a cold snort, his gaze falling directly on Yizixie.
“Grand Tutor, you are truly busy these days. I have been waiting for so long to finally welcome you, Grand Tutor.”
Sima Zhu's words were clearly laced with sarcasm.
Yizixie, however, acted as if he hadn't understood, nodding seriously and smiling, “Your Majesty speaks truly. While congratulating Your Majesty on his birthday is important, comforting the Grand Empress Dowager was of greater urgency, wouldn't you agree?”
“This…”
Sima Zhu stared blankly at Yizixie, unsure of how to respond.
If he did not agree with Yizixie, it would imply that he believed Yizixie was wrong.
However, as an emperor, benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and filial piety were absolute necessities. In the choice between his own birthday banquet and comforting the Grand Empress Dowager, the outcome was self-evident.
“The Grand Tutor speaks correctly, haha.”
With a dry utterance, Sima Zhu began to falter.
At the same time, Sima Zhu was furious. Yizixie was becoming increasingly audacious, showing him no respect as the emperor.
“May I ask what birthday gift the Grand Tutor has brought for me today? All of Great Chu knows that the Grand Tutor possesses countless rare treasures. Today, perhaps you will allow us to feast our eyes upon them?”
He had already had someone inquire with Princess Zande, who claimed she had never seen Yizixie in Sima Hao’s mansion that day, let alone any matter of him delivering a gift on her behalf.
Even if Sima Zhu were foolish, he would realize by now that Yizixie was behind this scheme.
It was just unfortunate that Princess Zande’s reputation was already tarnished, and no one might believe her words now.
However, he was absolutely unwilling to give up just like that. Thus, he could only pretend that everything that had happened before had not occurred and continue to demand the birthday gift from Yizixie.
To Yizixie, these trinkets were of course nothing.
The day's events had gone so smoothly, largely thanks to Sima Zhu’s foolish cooperation. Otherwise, how could everything have unfolded step by step according to the plan?
“His Majesty’s birthday gift has, naturally, been prepared by this Grand Tutor.”
Saying this, Yizixie placed a small porcelain bottle on the table beside him.
Upon seeing the porcelain bottle, Sima Zhu forgot his anger and waved to Wang Lin beside him, saying, “Quick, go fetch the Grand Tutor’s gift for me to see.”
Having taken the contents twice already, Wang Lin knew what was in the bottle and that this was Sima Zhu's final dose. He was as excited as Sima Zhu.
He quickly walked over to Yizixie, carefully picked up the porcelain bottle, and carried it with both hands to Sima Zhu. Only when he placed it in Sima Zhu's hand did Wang Lin heave a sigh of relief.
If he had accidentally dropped it, he would have been truly doomed.
Sima Zhu looked at the porcelain bottle before him with great excitement. Even without opening it, he could sense that the contents within were genuine.
“Haha, the Grand Tutor’s gift is to my liking. Grand Tutor, you must stay and drink your fill today.”
Yizixie smiled faintly at this, not replying.
Sima Zhu had no intention of paying attention to Yizixie’s attitude at this moment. If not for the inappropriateness of the timing, he would have almost wanted to consume the last of the sacred water right then and there.
For the rest of the time, Sima Zhu appeared somewhat distracted. The court officials all assumed it was due to Princess Zande’s affairs and thought nothing more of it.
However, Sima Han was exceptionally popular today. Numerous courtiers came to toast him and offer congratulations, creating a lively scene, vastly different from his former image of being shunned like a plague.
Although Sima Han felt displeased, he had grown up experiencing such things. After these events, he understood the fickle nature of human relationships even more.
Therefore, he handled the situation with ease.
Finally, Sima Zhu felt that the time was appropriate and declared the banquet ended. Sima Zhu left in haste.
The court officials, however, still felt somewhat unsatisfied. They were astonished that in just a few years, Sima Han had grown so much in every aspect.
Coupled with Sima Han now holding military and political power, his future achievements were truly unpredictable.