Chapter 149: Abrupt Elevation and Deliberations in the Hall of State Affairs

"Hong, do not get carried away by success. The Emperor's anger is merely a temporary fit of passion; once he regains his composure, he will meticulously investigate the reasons behind the Crown Prince's transgression.
The most pressing task now is to fan the flames further, ensuring he falls into an abyss from which he can never rise again!"
"Oh? Just give the order, Uncle, and Hong will obey without hesitation."
"Hehe, over the years, this old man has also gathered quite a bit of evidence regarding the Crown Prince's corruption and abuse of the law. I shall now contact various censors and high-ranking officials to submit joint memorials, adding a heavier layer to his crimes!"

On the second day during the morning court session, numerous censors successively presented memorials, listing six major crimes against the Crown Prince: unbenevolent as a ruler for wantonly killing people, unfilial as a son for cursing his sovereign father, unkind as a brother for bullying his siblings, unloving as a husband for killing his wife and exterminating concubines, untutored as a father for condoning his sons to commit atrocities, and uncorrupt as an official for amassing wealth and taking bribes.

The Emperor had coughed up blood in anger just yesterday, and today, hearing the various ministers list these crimes for impeachment, the dragon veins shuddered and the imperial destiny grew unstable. His imperial body withered even further, and he slumped sideways onto the dragon throne.
Dark clouds suddenly gathered all over the sky above the Great Feng Dynasty, and wind and rain shifted unpredictably. The common people all sensed it, and a dynastic upheaval was imminent.

However, after the morning court was dismissed, the Emperor shut his doors and remained inside, making not a single move, nor issuing any orders to investigate the Crown Prince's crimes or the poisoning of his body. Instead, this left the various princes filled with anxiety and trepidation.

Meanwhile, Han Chong unexpectedly received an imperial edict at the Southern City Branch Office, bowing to listen to the proclamation.
"An edict from the Emperor, inheriting the mandate of Heaven: Riding General Han Chong fears no tyranny, demonstrates commendable loyalty and bravery, and has repeatedly rendered meritorious service. We are deeply gratified. He is hereby conferred the title of General Manifesting Might, stationed in command of the Imperial City's Demon-Slaying Branch Office. Respect this!"

A wave of doubt arose in Han Chong's heart. Yesterday, he had merely stated the facts as they were, without achieving a single merit. Yet the aged Emperor promoted him so exceptionally, which left him somewhat puzzled.
"Han Chong accepts the decree." After receiving the imperial edict, Han Chong delegated the affairs within the branch office, offered a few words of encouragement to the two Lieutenant Generals, and immediately hurried toward the Imperial City.

Unlike the General Headquarters, the Imperial City Branch Office was situated directly opposite the Changle Gate of the East City, nestled right between the Taiji Palace, the East Palace, the clusters of southeastern princes' mansions, and the official quarters of the Six Ministries directly to the south.
It could be said that its location was extremely sensitive; those entering and leaving its gates were invariably the Three Ducal Ministers, Nine Ministers, princes, and imperial sons.
The lowest official rank within the branch office was that of Pacifying Captain. Anywhere else, such an official could govern an entire prefecture, but here, they could only tread carefully in trembling fear, daring to offend no one.

The news that Han Chong had been personally appointed by the Emperor spread like wildfire. In less than three hours, it reached the ears of all the princes, who successively dispatched envoys bearing invitations to banquets at their residences.
At this critical juncture, the Emperor showed not the slightest reaction regarding the Crown Prince's case, while instead making an exceptional promotion of Han Chong. This inevitably aroused numerous speculations among the various nobles and aristocrats.
However, Han Chong declined every single invitation, turning them all down. Given his current official rank, he no longer needed to jump at every summons or command.
Yet the various princes dared not voice their anger, for to reprimand him at this moment would be equivalent to defying the Emperor's will.

...

Captain Ning, Leng Yue, and the others finally arrived in Fengdu and were transferred by Han Chong into the Imperial City Branch Office.
"How has it been? How has Qiongzhou been since I left?" Han Chong asked the group.
"Ah, don't mention it. Ever since you left, that general surnamed Diao spent his days eating, drinking, and making merry, completely unconcerned with matters concerning spirits and demons.
Fortunately, however, the giant demons and fierce ghosts of Qiongzhou had all been thoroughly purged by you, and with Captain Ning and Commander Leng holding the fort, a few minor demons and ghosts couldn't stir up any major trouble."

Although Captain Ning spoke lightly, Han Chong could hear between the lines that they had suffered no small amount of grievance.
"Rest assured, I have already notified the General Headquarters and issued strict orders to investigate the corrupt nature of that general surnamed Diao. Before long, he will be escorted back to the capital to stand trial for his crimes. As for your achievements, Han will also have someone calculate them for rewards."
"Thank you." Hearing Han Chong's comforting words, the captains felt that the grievances they had suffered over the past few months were entirely worthwhile.
"Brother Han, how have you been these past few days?" Leng Yue's expression was even colder than before, and after a long while, she could only force out this simple sentence.
"I'm fine. A few twists and turns, but I managed to pull through."

The captains found it hard to believe. Han Chong had gone from an incriminated official awaiting trial under escort to an unprecedented double promotion instead of demotion; the hardships and perils involved were beyond ordinary imagination.
"Now, we have not辜负 (failed) General Han's expectations and have even been transferred to the imperial city of Fengdu. It can truly be called a meteoric rise. Please command us as you see fit, General—we will brave fire and water without hesitation!"
The captains all cupped their fists in unison to await orders.

"Please rise, all of you. You have already advanced to the Qi Refining stage and have been enfeoffed as Pacifying Captains, but your strength is still somewhat lacking. As the newly appointed General Manifesting Might, I have quite a few regular rations of spiritual herbs that I have little use for, so I shall distribute them among you.
Additionally, you may hold my command arrow to seek out sword techniques and movement arts at the General Headquarters for study. Han has a premonition that the imperial court's turmoil will only intensify in the coming days; you need only step up your combat prowess."
"What! How can we accept this? We have already received profound grace from the General, how could we covet the General's spiritual herbs?"
The rugged giant who had followed Han Chong from Yunzhou to his post in Qiongzhou resolutely declined.
"Han truly has no use for them. You need not stand on ceremony—this is a military order."
"Understood! We obey the order!" The group exchanged glances and had no choice but to comply.

The Crown Prince had been placed under house arrest for three days now, and the verbal attacks and denunciations in the imperial court were incessant. This gradually gave rise to the sentiment that the country could not go a single day without a Crown Prince, otherwise the state would become unstable and the national fortune would be unsettled.
However, the aged Emperor still ignored these appeals, invariably wrapping up state affairs before hastily dismissing the court.

In the Secretariat, over a dozen high-ranking officials of the Secretariat, the Chancellery, and the Department of Affairs sat together to discuss state affairs.
"Grand Academician Zhang, recently we have successively petitioned for the appointment of a new Crown Prince, yet His Majesty's attitude remains ambiguous throughout. What do you think we should do?"
"His Majesty has numerous princes; there are as many as seven who have been enfeoffed as Commandery Princes alone, and over a dozen more besides.
If the heir apparent is not established for even a single day, the court politics will remain turbulent and uneasy for a day. His Majesty is heartbroken due to the Crown Prince's defiance, but we subjects cannot fail to observe this. If we cannot share the ruler's worries, what use are we subjects?"
The slightly plump, long-bearded elder seated at the left side said in a deep voice.

"Well said, well said. What Grand Academician Zhang has said captures the very height of our distress. We should rise together in remonstrance. If we cannot resolve the sovereign father's anxieties, we shall kneel here until we die in the inner gardens, or dash our heads against the palace walls!"
The various remonstrating grand-advisors and censor-in-chiefs felt the same way and vied with one another to volunteer.
"Hold on, please hear this old man out." The spirited elder seated on the right side stood up, pressing his hands downward in a calming gesture.
"Oh? Does Grand Academician Jin have some brilliant insight? Zhang is all ears!" The slightly plump, long-bearded elder raised an eyebrow, cupped his fists, and turned to ask.
"Hehe, what brilliant insight could this old man have? Grand Academician Zhang has always enjoyed high virtue and prestige, and Jin also holds him in deep admiration.
What the colleagues just said about sharing the sovereign father's worries is something Jin also deeply agrees with. However, with the East Palace currently vacant and numerous princes about, His Majesty's lack of a clear proclamation regarding the establishment of an heir is not because he is unwilling, but rather because he finds it difficult to choose between them.
I can completely understand the sentiments of my colleagues, but shouldn't we first recommend an heir apparent who will win the heartfelt submission of the officials of the various ministries and the subjects across the realm, before speaking of remonstrating to the death?"

"Grand Academician Jin is truly far-sighted and devoted to the state. Hearing your words is better than reading books for ten years!
If we do not first make up our minds about a candidate for the heir apparent, wouldn't we simply be creating a difficult problem for the sovereign father?"
The various censors nodded in agreement, thinking it exceptionally profound.
"Hehe, Grand Academician Jin, Grand Academician Zhang, I wonder if the two of you have any candidates in mind?" An eagle-nosed elder on the left side chuckled lightly.

The two exchanged a smile, cupped their fists, and replied:
"Grand Academician Ni has for years concurrently served as the Right Vice Director of the Department of Affairs, overseeing the offices of the Six Ministries with a myriad of daily affairs. I wonder which prince Grand Academician Ni favors in his heart?"