Chapter 1221: Chapter 189: Time Is Running Out
Chapter 1221: Chapter 189: Time Is Running Out
In the study of Prince Han’s mansion, Zhao Yao had just finished reading the secret message sent from the capital. He slightly furrowed his brows and sighed deeply, “Alas…”
Prince Chu, hearing Zhao Yao’s sigh, asked with concern, “Has something happened in the capital again?”
Zhao Yao handed the secret message in his hand to Prince Chu, “Fourth Brother, take a look for yourself.”
Prince Chu put down the teacup in his hand, took the secret message Zhao Yao handed over, and then read it carefully. After finishing, his expression also became serious.
“Over the past two years, Eighth Brother’s methods have become increasingly ruthless, and if this continues…” Speaking to this point, Zhao Yao did not continue. “In the past half year or so, Eighth Brother has also been killing more and more officials.”
“He is becoming more urgent and more ruthless,” Prince Chu said with furrowed brows, “He intends to kill all those who don’t listen to him.”
“The officials Eighth Brother has killed over the past two years, some indeed deserved to die, but some did not deserve execution,” Zhao Yao originally thought that after Emperor Yong’an established his authority in court, he would no longer resort to extreme measures, but he hadn’t expected the emperor to become more radical.
To extend imperial power to the countryside, Emperor Yong’an sent his loyal followers to monitor officials everywhere. If local officials were disobedient or failed to act according to orders, Emperor Yong’an’s loyalists could directly convict and execute them on the spot.
Zhao Yao did not expect Emperor Yong’an to establish a “Jinyi Guard.” He felt this was wrong and had written memorials advising Emperor Yong’an to abolish the “Jinyi Guard,” but the emperor did not listen.
The existence of the “Jinyi Guard” made the civil and military officials panic and filled the common people with anxiety.
Although Emperor Yong’an’s “Jinyi Guard” did not trouble the common people, just the thought of their lives being monitored by the “Jinyi Guard” made the people involuntarily scared. They feared saying something they shouldn’t, doing something they shouldn’t, offending a “Jinyi Guard” officer, and then being executed.
Over the past two years, common people and officials have become very cautious. In the court, officials do not dare to defy Emperor Yong’an; whatever he says, they comply without daring to refute. Officials who refuted the emperor either died or were dismissed from office, or otherwise exiled.
Since ascending to the throne, Emperor Yong’an’s methods have become increasingly ruthless, making court officials and people fear him greatly. In Zhao Yao’s view, this is not a good thing, and if this continues, a major incident will occur.
“If Eighth Brother continues to kill, no one will dare to take office.” In the past two years, Emperor Yong’an has killed hundreds of officials. Last year, the officials in the northwest were nearly all slaughtered. “Alas, over the past two years, fewer and fewer students are participating in the imperial examinations.” Ever since Emperor Yong’an wiped out the entire Li Family, the inland scholars’ hearts grew cold, and they hated the emperor deeply. To resist the emperor’s tyranny, the inland scholars were unwilling to take part in imperial examinations or become officials.
During these two years, many scholars from the inland fled to Lingnan to study, take the imperial examinations, and become officials.
Zhao Yao welcomes scholars from all over the world to come to Lingnan to participate in the imperial examinations, but he doesn’t wish for all scholars to rush here. After all, Lingnan is only so big, and if all scholars come to take the exams, there aren’t enough official positions for them.
Because more and more people come to Lingnan to take the imperial examinations, they have become increasingly challenging, and the number of people admitted has decreased. Even so, the scholars who come to Lingnan are unwilling to leave. Those who do not pass the exams find a livelihood in various prefectures of Lingnan, such as teaching, opening private schools, or doing business.
These scholars gathered in Lingnan, making the cultural vein of Lingnan flourish, which Zhao Yao is pleased to see, but the inland cultural vein has become dim, which he does not wish to see. He cannot drive these scholars away, so he can only let them stay in Lingnan. Doing this, at least, preserves the cultural vein of the Great Zhou.
Prince Chu said, “I told you he would not make a good emperor.”
“Alas, I feel Eighth Brother is becoming more urgent; what exactly is he urgent about?”
Prince Chu knew what Emperor Yong’an was urgent about, but he did not tell Zhao Yao.
“Who knows.” Even if Emperor Yong’an wasn’t urgent in his actions, he still wouldn’t make a good emperor.
“Eighth Brother has become increasingly stubborn, listening to no one’s advice, and continues doing as he pleases.” Whether it was his advice, or that of Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu, Eighth Brother listened to none of it. “I really worry that if Eighth Brother continues like this, it will lead to big trouble.” He really feared that Eighth Brother would become a tyrant.
Prince Chu suggested, “If you’re not at ease, go back to the capital and see him, advise him face to face.”
Zhao Yao pondered for a while and said, “I’ll return to the capital to take a look after a while.” For the past two years, he hasn’t returned to the capital, and it’s time to go back and see. “We can’t let Eighth Brother continue like this.”
At this time, far away in the capital, Emperor Yong’an suddenly fainted, scaring Yu Hai and Sun Doudou into quickly calling for the Imperial Physician.
The Imperial Physician already knew the state of Emperor Yong’an’s health, but he could not tell Yu Hai and Sun Doudou the truth, so he could only say that the emperor was overworked and needed a good rest.
Yu Hai did not doubt the Imperial Physician’s words. In the past few months, Emperor Yong’an tirelessly reviewed memorials day and night, neglecting his health. He often advised the emperor to rest well and take care of his health, but the emperor did not listen.
Emperor Yong’an woke up after being unconscious for more than an hour and saw the Empress Dowager looking at him with worried eyes, and he gave her a reassuring smile.
“Mother, I’m fine, just too tired.”
The Empress Dowager asked with concern all over her face, “Emperor, how do you feel now?”
“I feel much better,” Emperor Yong’an smiled slightly, “Mother, I’m just too tired these past days. A good sleep will be enough, don’t worry.”
Seeing Emperor Yong’an’s weak appearance, the Empress Dowager’s eyes slightly reddened, and her voice was choked with emotions: “You child still want to hide it from me, your health…” Speaking up to here, the Empress Dowager’s eyes moistened, unable to continue.
Emperor Yong’an, seeing the Empress Dowager’s endless sadness, understood in his heart that the Empress Dowager knew everything.
“You know?”
The Empress Dowager nodded softly with tears in her eyes, “I know, you’ve been too reckless.” Actually, with proper care, Emperor Yong’an could live a few more years, but after ascending the throne, he worked tirelessly every day and did not take care of his health, causing his condition to worsen. Now, with his current health, let alone living a few more years, it would be good enough to survive till next year.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager already knew everything, Emperor Yong’an no longer hid the truth.
“Mother, I just want to do more.”
“I know you’re doing it for Yao Yao, but if Yao Yao finds out…”
Emperor Yong’an interrupted the Empress Dowager, “Mother, do not let the tenth brother know what I have done, nor let him know about my health condition. Just let him think I died of illness…” The word “died” hadn’t finished when the Empress Dowager covered his mouth.
The Empress Dowager said sternly, “Do not say that word.”
Emperor Yong’an obediently smiled, “Alright, I won’t say it.”
“You should know he can achieve it; why do you…” The Empress Dowager was perceptive and knew that everything Emperor Yong’an had done over the past three years was to remove all obstacles in the court and regions so that Zhao Yao could implement his policies without hindrance after ascending the throne.
Emperor Yong’an said with a smile, “This is all I can do for the tenth brother.”
“But it is a grievance for you.” Emperor Yong’an was not the Empress Dowager’s biological son, but he had been under her care since childhood, and she regarded him as her own. Furthermore, Emperor Yong’an had always been respectful to the Empress Dowager since he was young.
The word “grievance” brought a surge of sorrow to Emperor Yong’an’s heart, and his eyes immediately turned red. In this world, only the Empress Dowager and Zhao Yao cared whether he felt aggrieved.
“Mother, I would rather grieve myself than let the tenth brother feel aggrieved.”
“You know his character; he won’t allow himself to feel aggrieved.” The Empress Dowager sighed lightly, “He also would rather be aggrieved than let you be aggrieved.”
Emperor Yong’an pleaded, “Mother, don’t tell the tenth brother anything.”
“Even if I don’t say, he will still guess.”
“Mother, as long as you don’t tell him about the poisoning, the tenth brother won’t blame the father.” As Emperor Yong’an finished speaking, he began to cough and then spit out a mouthful of black blood.
Seeing this, the Empress Dowager hurriedly used a handkerchief to wipe the blood from Emperor Yong’an.
“Mother, the matter of my poisoning must not be told to the tenth brother. I don’t want him to resent the father.” Emperor Yong’an didn’t wish for Zhao Yao to live in resentment, “If the tenth brother guesses, just say it was the Southern Wei people who poisoned me.”
“Don’t you hate the Supreme Emperor?” Initially, the Empress Dowager did not know the Supreme Emperor had poisoned Emperor Yong’an, but when she found out, it was too late; Emperor Yong’an was already beyond saving.
Emperor Yong’an said calmly, “I used to hate him, but later I no longer did.”
Seeing that Emperor Yong’an truly showed no hatred, the Empress Dowager asked sorrowfully, “Why don’t you hate him?”
“If I were the father, I would do the same.” Emperor Yong’an smiled self-deprecatingly, “It’s because I have half Southern Wei blood in me.”
The Empress Dowager held Emperor Yong’an’s hand and said, “I would rather you hate him.”
“Mother, I’ve already avenged him, haven’t I?”
The Empress Dowager understood the meaning of Emperor Yong’an’s words and sighed deeply.
“Mother, I don’t have much time left; we must bring the tenth brother back.” Emperor Yong’an was very aware of his condition; he wouldn’t last until next year.
The Empress Dowager cried silently, “Alright, let him come back, so he can accompany you.”
“Mother, can I be your biological son in the next life?” Emperor Yong’an had always wanted to be the Empress Dowager’s biological son, to be real brothers with Zhao Yao, sharing the same mother.
Emperor Yong’an’s words made the Empress Dowager cry uncontrollably. She nodded repeatedly, “You can… you can… you can…”
“Then I’ll wait for you…” Before finishing the sentence, Emperor Yong’an fainted.
The Empress Dowager sat by the bed, watching the unconscious Emperor Yong’an, and cried for a long time.
She called Sun Doudou in and asked him to bring a basin of warm water.
Sun Doudou moved quickly, bringing a basin of warm water.
The Empress Dowager personally wiped Emperor Yong’an’s face clean of bloodstains. Then, she asked Sun Doudou to change Emperor Yong’an into clean clothes and bedding.
“Do not tell anyone about the Emperor spitting blood.”
Sun Doudou respectfully said, “Yes, Empress Dowager.”
The Empress Dowager waved her hand, signaling Sun Doudou to withdraw and decoct medicine for Emperor Yong’an while she continued to stay by Emperor Yong’an’s side.