Chapter 116: The Emperor’s Personal Expedition

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Qin Yi returned early in the morning from Changhe Garden to the Imperial Palace. Morning court required strict observance of rituals, and the officials stood solemnly outside Cheng Tian Gate. Yet, their eyes kept sneaking glances towards Qin Yi.

 

Qin Yi acted as if unaware. When he previously resided in the palace, he could sleep a bit longer and didn’t need to wait outside the palace walls at such early hours. However, now that he appeared outside the palace gates, it was as good as publicly announcing where he had spent the previous night.

 

As the Crown Prince and the nation’s foundation, leaving the palace without permission was a matter that could be treated as minor or major, depending on whether the censors decided to make an issue of it. But today, the censors had no time to focus on the Crown Prince’s breach of decorum.

 

During the morning court, the issue of the northern border troubles was raised again, and rumors that the Emperor was considering a personal expedition were once again subtly mentioned. The court naturally took the opportunity to debate the matter. The ministers were divided. Some believed that since autumn, disasters had been plaguing the land and tax revenues were poor. As a result, military preparedness was likely lacking. In such a situation, if another war broke out with the Oirats, the drain on resources would be immense. However, if the Emperor personally led an expedition, it would boost morale and intimidate the Oirats, potentially causing the frontier barbarians to retreat out of fear. This suggestion had some merit, but many ministers were strongly opposed. Their reason was simple: the Emperor was the true dragon, and his health was tied to the stability of the nation. How could they allow him to take such a risk?

 

Both sides argued all morning, but in general, those opposed to the idea held the majority. The Emperor, seated on the white marble steps, listened, though it was unclear how much he actually took in. As the court session neared its end, the voices opposing the expedition became overwhelming. Without expressing any opinion, the Emperor announced the dismissal of the court.

 

Qin Yi did not speak during the session either. His position was too unique. Supporting either side would make him an easy target for accusations from ill-intentioned parties. It was better to remain silent and let the Emperor make the decision.

 

After the court session ended, the Emperor was the first to leave, followed by Qin Yi. As he walked down the empty, pristine path, a minister soon caught up with him from behind.

 

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

 

“Please rise, no need for formalities, sir.”

 

After exchanging pleasantries, the minister subtly tried to probe Qin Yi’s thoughts. “Your Highness, what are your thoughts on the matter of the personal expedition?”

 

Qin Yi responded with a distant smile. “As the Emperor’s son, how could I presume to speculate on His Majesty’s will?”

 

The minister, having met a brick wall, awkwardly smiled and said, “Of course, of course, my apologies for being out of line.”

 

Qin Yi truly had no desire to get involved, but privately, he leaned towards the opposition camp. However, his reasoning had nothing to do with loyalty concerns. Qin Yi believed the Emperor wouldn’t go for one simple reason: a personal expedition was exhausting—would the Emperor really go?

 

Qin Yi doubted the Emperor had the stamina or much sense of responsibility for the nation. The notion of a personal expedition likely stemmed from the Emperor’s eunuchs. In this dynasty, eunuchs often held the post of military supervisors, and their power sometimes even eclipsed that of generals. These high-ranking eunuchs were desperate for more power, and they were likely the ones encouraging the Emperor to take action, laying the groundwork for their own ambitions. Qin Yi didn’t think the Emperor would agree to such a hardship.

 

With that in mind, Qin Yi dismissed the matter from his thoughts and focused on his work at Wenhua Hall. Today, he didn’t feel like returning to the Eastern Palace. The atmosphere at Ciqing Palace was so suffocating it felt like he was in mourning. It was better to finish his tasks early and head back to Changhe Garden.

 

However, by evening, a eunuch hurried over to Qin Yi, bending over to whisper something in his ear.

 

Qin Yi’s expression noticeably darkened. “Is this news certain?”

 

“Our people saw it with their own eyes. There’s no mistake.”

 

Unconsciously frowning, Qin Yi walked over to the window, looking out at the magnificent sunset.

 

The informant had just reported that the Empress had gone to Qianqing Palace to persuade the Emperor and had successfully convinced him to agree to the personal expedition.

 

In the harem, anything that could be persuaded had always been a matter of going with the flow. If the Emperor had truly been against it, it wouldn’t matter if it were the Empress, the Grand Secretariat, the Chief Eunuch, or any concubine pleading with him. If the Emperor didn’t want to go, he simply wouldn’t go.

 

For the Emperor to agree to a personal expedition implied deeper implications.

 

Qin Yi knew full well that the turning point in his rise to power had been the Battle of Xuande.

 

Due to the Empress, Qin Yi had been exiled to the frontier. At first, it was indeed difficult. His position at the frontier was awkward—he was a Crown Prince with no command authority. Those experienced soldiers didn’t respect him, and he had only a few hundred sick and weak soldiers under his command, essentially a token force meant to appease him.

 

Having grown up being revered and pampered, Qin Yi couldn’t tolerate such treatment. The disparity between his former power in the palace and his current situation was too great. Unable to bear the silent disdain, he secretly led a force out to pursue the Tatars, only to be injured. When he woke up, a young girl had been brought into the marquis’ residence, timidly observing her surroundings.

 

That period of time was perhaps the most difficult yet strangely enchanting part of Qin Yi’s life, marked by emotional and internal struggles as well as external challenges. But he persevered, and what had initially been a humiliating punishment turned out to be the first step toward his ascent to power. At seventeen, though he had been Crown Prince for seven years, much of that time had been spent confined within the palace, with his influence limited mainly to eunuchs. Even his maternal family, the Marquis of Zhenbei, couldn’t be relied upon. When Qin Yi shot that arrow at those two despicable individuals, he had genuinely meant to kill them, so his banishment to the frontier was well-deserved. On the surface, it seemed like the Empress had won a great victory, but at the same time, it gave Qin Yi the chance to leave the palace and come into contact with the army and warfare—true sources of power.

 

Many of the talents Qin Yi gathered around him during that time stayed with him later. When war broke out between the two nations, the highly centralized control of power during wartime became the perfect opportunity for Qin Yi’s faction to rapidly expand. The highest peak is always reserved for the most daring gamblers. Qin Yi bet everything on a daring attack with three thousand men, and he won. The Battle of Xuande became the turning point in the Yan army’s counteroffensive, and Qin Yi’s reputation soared. In the military, he gained immense authority and benefits, and among the people, his popularity far surpassed that of the previous emperors.

 

And in the process, he found his Crown Princess.

 

Later, Qin Yi took advantage of his wedding to openly return to the capital. By that time, his wings had fully grown, and the court was united in praise. The Emperor, who didn’t care much for governance, created a perfect storm for Qin Yi’s rise. The Eastern Palace grew stronger, eventually becoming the behemoth it was today. Now, with the Eastern Palace’s power towering, it was no longer just a topic of idle conversation.

 

And now, the Emperor was planning to personally lead the army. Was this a move to centralize military power or a test for Qin Yi?

 

Qin Yi stood by the window for a long time, gazing at the fading light in the west, which eventually dissolved into a vast expanse of gray. Only then did he turn around and issue a calm command.

 

“Prepare the horses.”

 

The eunuch, Xiao Linzi, was momentarily stunned. “Your Highness, you’re heading out again?”

 

Qin Yi’s cold glance silenced Xiao Linzi, who quickly lowered his head. Internally, he cursed himself. What had possessed him to question the Crown Prince’s orders?

 

Xiao Linzi hurried off to make the arrangements. Once out of sight, he let out a long sigh. “Crown Princess, when will you return? This life is becoming unbearable.”

 

—

 

In Kunning Palace, the Empress had just returned from Qianqing Palace and was now having her clothes changed.

 

After everything was settled, the Empress sat by the soft couch, leisurely lifting the lid of her tea and gently blowing on the rising steam.

 

“Your Majesty,” her attendant, Lanyu, finally found a chance to ask, “why did you help Eunuch Liu?”

 

Eunuch Liu was the most favored eunuch serving the Emperor, and for some reason, he had recently expressed a desire to command troops in battle, like a great general. Thus, he fervently advocated for the Emperor to personally lead the army. Despite his influence, even Eunuch Liu had been unable to persuade the Emperor, so he had turned to the Empress for help.

 

The Empress blew on her tea to cool it and took a sip before smiling with disdain. “It wasn’t about helping him. No matter how favored he is, he’s still just a castrated servant. Hardly worth allying with. He overestimates himself.”

 

“Then why…”

 

“Lanyu, do you think anything in this palace is truly achieved through pleas and persuasion?”

 

“I’m too ignorant to understand Your Majesty’s meaning.”

 

The Empress put down her tea cup and scoffed lightly. “The Emperor didn’t agree because I convinced him. It’s because he already had the intention. The Emperor had been delaying, waiting for someone to urge him repeatedly, giving him an excuse to agree. If I couldn’t understand the Emperor’s thoughts, how could I have entered the palace, let alone maintained his favor for so many years?”

 

Lanyu finally understood the Empress’s reasoning. “So, Your Majesty didn’t do it for Eunuch Liu, but to regain favor?”

 

The Empress didn’t particularly like the term “regain favor,” but Lanyu was one of her trusted aides, so she merely snorted without getting angry. “In this palace, only those who understand the Emperor’s heart can thrive. The Emperor is also feeling insecure. By scratching where it itches for him this time, even though he won’t say it now, when he returns, he’ll reward me generously. If I work a bit harder then, I’ll clear away any misunderstandings and restore my former glory with ease.”

 

The implications of these words were chilling. Even someone as experienced as Lanyu dared not fully comprehend it. The Emperor was the true dragon, the sovereign of all under heaven. What could possibly make him feel insecure?

 

This was a forbidden topic. But now, in both the palace and the court, there was one unspoken cause for the Emperor’s anxiety: the Crown Prince.

 

Most of the court had opposed the expedition, but that was only because the Emperor had not yet spoken. The Empress’s intervention added the final weight to the scale, tipping the balance, and the Emperor finally decided. He would personally lead the army north.

 

The ministers learned of this the next day, and a group of senior officials took turns pleading with the Emperor to reconsider, but to no avail. They soon realized that both the Emperor and Empress had made up their minds. With the most exalted individuals in the empire aligned, who would be foolish enough to oppose them?

 

Once the Emperor had spoken, his words were as solid as iron. The decision was irreversible. Soon, news of the Emperor’s expedition spread from the court to the streets, made the people thrilled. The Emperor’s previously poor reputation quickly transformed into one of admiration.

 

—

 

At Changhe Garden, Chu Jinyao and Chu Jinxian were discussing the matter as well.

 

“I heard the Emperor’s expedition is set,” Chu Jinxian remarked. “Do you think you’ll still be able to stay here?”

 

Chu Jinyao shook her head. “An expedition isn’t a small matter. The Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War will have a lot of arrangements to make. I doubt I’ll be able to stay quiet for long. Once the ceremonies begin in the palace, I’ll have to return.”

 

As she said this, Chu Jinyao didn’t realize she was overthinking it. Two days later, Qin Yi arrived at Changhe Garden earlier than expected. Chu Jinyao, now used to his visits, walked up to him and helped warm his hands.

 

“The weather’s getting colder. You have court tomorrow, and this place is so far from the palace. Why bother coming all the way out here?”

 

Qin Yi smiled, but there was an odd undertone to it. “I don’t have court tomorrow.”

 

Chu Jinyao blinked. “What do you mean? It’s not the New Year yet. Why would there be no court?”

 

“I mean exactly that,” Qin Yi replied, his smile growing more genuine. “The Emperor has already led the five military camps and the Divine Machine Camp north. The court is now leaderless, so of course, there’s no court.”

 

Chu Jinyao was stunned. “He just… left?”

 

A royal expedition should be a massive affair, but he just left, just like that? She, the Crown Princess, hadn’t even been informed.