Xie Jiayan had heard from Sixth Lady about the grievances between Fifth Master Yu and the Yu family, but judging by his attitude towards Sixth Lady, he was a man who distinguished between right and wrong and acted with integrity.
"I suppose she knows by now."
That girl was very cunning, and once she came to her senses, she would surely suspect his identity.
Moreover, Yu Mingjing had specifically sought him out during his visit to Jiangzhou this time.
"What are your plans?"
Ye Feisheng smiled, his tone somewhat dismissive, "That girl owes me a favor. Knowing that the Cui family was in trouble and not telling her is also a betrayal of that kindness."
Yu Mingyue had allowed his mother to enter the ancestral hall and receive the incense offerings of the Yu family. He remembered this kindness.
The Sage did not wish for him to reconcile with the Duke's mansion, otherwise, the Cui family's affairs would not have been entrusted to him.
It was good that things remained at this stalemate!
"She is not someone who confuses right and wrong," Xie Jiayan stated with certainty.
The fault in the Cui family's affairs did not lie with Ye Feisheng, and Sixth Lady naturally understood this.
However, at this moment, who was right and who was wrong no longer mattered.
What was lost could never be regained.
Ye Feisheng laughed heartily, "You do understand her."
Xie Jiayan did not respond, and Ye Feisheng stopped teasing.
Seeing how he conducted himself with such openness and magnanimity on a daily basis, why was he so timid and cowardly when it came to matters of love?
A top scholar matched with the Duke's legitimate daughter, he felt they were a match made in heaven.
After his illness, Xie Jiayan became busy again. The academy also had a backbone, and everything was in order.
Ye Feisheng secretly informed the Sage of recent events at the academy, including the death of Chai Xinye.
The Sage soon received Ye Feisheng's letter. At the end of the letter, it read: The tangerines in Jiangzhou are sweet and delicious. Your subordinate knows that Your Majesty has a chronic cough in winter. Locals roast tangerines to stop the cough. Your subordinate has tried it, and the effect is excellent.
The Sage glanced at a basket of tangerines beside him and smiled, "He is quite thoughtful."
Zhang Ying, with a joyful expression, also smiled, "Your Majesty has bestowed great kindness and entrusted important responsibilities upon the Sect Master Ye. It is only right that Sect Master Ye knows how to be grateful."
The Sage raised an eyebrow, "He is indeed useful. This Chai Xinye has disappointed me; he was too young and reckless."
Zhang Ying dared not reply. He peeled a tangerine and placed it on the imperial desk. After a long look, the Sage spoke, "Summon Prime Minister Mo!"
"Yes!"
The Sage's sudden summons of Prime Minister Mo caused uncertainty about what had happened. The Crown Prince's enthronement ceremony was imminent; one hoped no accidents would occur.
When Prime Minister Mo arrived, he saw the Sage roasting tangerines around a stove. He did not appear to be in any distress.
"Prime Minister Mo, please try these. Ye Feisheng sent them from Jiangzhou via express horse." The Sage's tone was familiar.
However, the more familiar he was, the more worried Prime Minister Mo became. The Sage had been acting rather unpredictably lately, with a deep and inscrutable mind.
He was unsure who the Sage intended to target next.
Only the Lu and Li families remained among the Five Great Clans; they no longer posed a threat. Could it be that the Sage intended to pursue them to the bitter end?
On such a cold day, Prime Minister Mo was sweating on his forehead.
Prime Minister Mo was an old official who had followed the late Emperor, but he had never felt so nervous facing the current Sage.
Prime Minister Mo nervously accepted the tangerine peeled by the Sage and put it in his mouth, nodding and praising it with a smile.
The Sage took a handkerchief to wipe his hands and said to Zhang Ying, who was nearby, "Pack some tangerines for Prime Minister Mo later; they are fresh."
Prime Minister Mo was overwhelmed with gratitude, "Your humble servant thanks Your Majesty."
The Sage had already sat on the dragon throne, with the clear distinction between ruler and subject.
"The Crown Prince's enthronement ceremony is not far off. The Seventh Prince is not of legitimate birth, which will always make the court officials dissatisfied," the Sage said, looking at Prime Minister Mo.
"Your Majesty worries too much. His Highness has been personally tutored by Your Majesty and has achieved great military merits. His establishment as Crown Prince is the will of the people."
Prime Minister Mo's words were not false. The Seventh Prince was indeed the will of the people, but not because of his great military merits. Rather, after the downfall of the Wang, Cui, and Zheng families, the aristocratic clans and their followers could no longer stir up trouble. Who would dare to offend the Sage at this time?
The current situation was that whoever dared to displease the Sage, he would truly dare to exterminate their entire clan.
Gu Bohao, who was the Sage's companion during his studies, was still subjected to confiscation of his property, and Gu Bohao remained in a coma.
The Sage flicked his sleeves, "Prime Minister Mo need not comfort me; I know in my heart." The Sage paused and looked at Prime Minister Mo, continuing, "Therefore, before the Crown Prince's ceremony, I wish to have the Seventh Prince registered under the Empress's lineage. This way, he will be considered the legitimate son of the central palace, and no one will dare to criticize him..."
For a moment, Prime Minister Mo wondered if he had misheard. The Seventh Prince's position as Crown Prince was already a certainty; why the unnecessary step?
But upon reflection, it was logical.
The Sage had severely weakened the aristocratic clans. There might be some in the court who felt a sense of loss. By having the Seventh Prince registered under Empress Wang, who came from an aristocratic family, it would also serve as a form of appeasement and silence the murmurs of the masses.
So, the true intention behind killing Yao Zhinian was this. With Yao Zhinian's death, those newly appointed officials would not be able to cause a stir, let alone anyone daring to confront the Sage.
As for Consort Yao, without the status of the Crown Prince's mother, she was nothing.
Consort Yao learned the news that very night and knelt at the Taiji Hall, begging to see the Sage, but no one dared to relay her request.
The Sage and Xiao Che were playing chess in the hall. Xiao Che felt a pang of sympathy, "Father Emperor, Consort Mother she..."
With a click, the Sage placed a chess piece, cutting off Xiao Che's words, "For a ruler, being soft-hearted is a great taboo. Consort Yao's virtue and origin are both unsuitable to be the mother of the Crown Prince. You must change your address from now on."
When Xiao Che heard the Sage refer to her as Consort Yao, he dropped his chess piece with a clatter.
The Sage glanced at it and then dropped the remaining pieces in his hand, "Only by preventing her from having delusions can her life be preserved. You choose; I respect your choice."
"Your humble son... obeys the decree!"
On the twenty-ninth day of the tenth month in the eighteenth year of Yong'an, Xiao Che, son of the Empress, was established as the Crown Prince. He ascended to the Eastern Palace, to uphold the eternal lineage and to unite the hearts of the four seas.
...
Yu Mingyue learned of Chai Xinye's death after the Crown Prince's enthronement ceremony. She looked at Yu Mingjing in surprise. Didn't her brother tell her to be patient? He had been impatient himself, acting as soon as he left Jiangzhou.
Yu Mingjing shook his head, "It wasn't me."
Yu Mingyue paused. If it wasn't her brother, it certainly wouldn't be her uncle. Then who...?
A person flashed through Yu Mingyue's mind, but she did not voice it.
She simply smiled and refolded the letter, "It seems the saying 'evil people will eventually meet their retribution' has come true!"
"Let's assume so!" Yu Mingjing did not expose the truth.
Apart from Xie Jiayan, it was unlikely anyone else could have acted so stealthily and without a trace.
Yet, he was usually gentle and kind to others, so no one would suspect him.
Traveling north, from lush green to withered yellow, winter had arrived in the north.
Yu Mingyue wrapped her cloak tighter. Chihua handed her a hand warmer, "What are you thinking about, Miss?"
"I miss my mother," Yu Mingyue said softly.
She hadn't felt it so strongly when she was in Qinghe, but the closer they got to the capital, the more she missed her mother.
"We will reach the capital in a few more days. Madam must be missing you too," Chihua comforted her.
She recalled how cheerful their young lady had been on their journey south. Now, seeing the desolate scenery everywhere, their young lady had no smile on her face.
In just a few months, their young lady seemed like a different person.