The former Grand Imperial Son-in-law departed on a bright summer morning.
Unlike the adoration he had previously enjoyed, this time he left the capital in disgrace, accompanied by his new wife, Madam Liu, and their child.
He had considered seeking out the Grand Princess during this period, but she had refused to see him. Furthermore, their child remained in the inner palace, making any meeting impossible.
Marrying Madam Liu, a woman he had always disdained, he knew this was the Grand Princess's revenge. He could only hope that in time, the royal family would forget his transgressions, and he would one day be recalled to the capital.
The departure of the second son of the Zhuang family was merely the beginning; the capital grew increasingly turbulent after he left.
The Third Prince was the first to make a move, unwilling to accept defeat. Although he knew the Grand Princess could no longer forgive him, blood was thicker than water, and his mother was still there; she would surely help him.
However, he had not anticipated that the Grand Princess, who was ruthless towards her own consort, would be no kinder to her own brother.
Having experienced betrayal, the Grand Princess was now wholly devoted to Buddhism, indifferent to the outside world's turmoil. Even their mother found it difficult to persuade her.
Therefore, he needed more allies to assist him, and Duke Zhuang was the best choice. He had no other options besides himself.
The other princes paid no heed to Duke Zhuang; a man who had offended the Emperor and held no significant power was hardly worth the attention of those aloof princes.
The Third Prince and Duke Zhuang reached an agreement quickly. However, on the surface, Duke Zhuang maintained a low profile, projecting an image of fear that the Emperor might remember their family again.
The Third Prince was aware of his father's deep disappointment in him. His path to becoming Crown Prince was blocked, and if he wished to ascend the throne, he would have to find other means.
The Third Prince's machinations began when he learned the true state of the Emperor's health.
While the Third Prince schemed in secret, the other princes also vaguely sensed the Emperor's declining health, intensifying the struggle for the succession.
A horse race on the outskirts of the capital resulted in the renowned Fourth Prince breaking his leg. The horse's hooves heavily trampled the Fourth Prince's lower leg; Lin Yan speculated it was a comminuted fracture, but under the medical conditions of the era, such an injury was bound to result in a permanent disability.
A prince with a crippled leg was certainly ineligible to inherit the throne, and the Fourth Prince thus withdrew from the contention for the position of Crown Prince. But how could he be content to withdraw so inexplicably?
Consequently, the subordinates of the princes who had attacked him were impeached. For a time, the court was in turmoil, fearing that divine conflicts would spill over to affect mere mortals.
Although the Fourth Prince's leg was ruined, his maternal family was not to be trifled with. Their grandson, who could have become Emperor, had now lost his chance. How could they possibly endure such an insult?
Thus, under the furious retaliation of the Fourth Prince's faction, all other adult princes, whether they had attacked him or not, suffered losses. The eldest among them, the First Prince, suffered the most.
"The waters in the capital have become muddied; it's time to fish."
An urgent secret letter, delivered through special channels, reached Prince Yingchuan, who was far away, a thousand li distant.
He had not been idle all these years. He had found the former chief eunuch who had served the late Emperor and learned from him why the Emperor had consistently targeted him.
In addition to this, he had obtained an imperial decree. Although the decree did not explicitly name him as the successor, who truly knew its contents? As long as this decree was in his possession, he alone would dictate its meaning.
However, upon receiving the letter, Prince Yingchuan became more concerned about his only child, who was still in the capital. He wondered if they could leave before the chaos erupted. Even if they could not, he hoped they would find a way to protect themselves.
Although his son had taken a liking to a man, as long as he was happy, he did not wish to object.
As his wife had said, if he wanted to break them up, he should recall the scene of his son lying sick in bed, recall his thoughts then.
That was the deepest pain in his heart. He could not forget the newborn infant, his face bruised and purple, his breathing weak. He could not forget that tiny person, who had learned to take medicine before he had learned to eat, yet still raised a smiling face to comfort them.
Thinking of these, he could not be harsh with An'an. Fine, let him follow his heart. If they truly succeeded in their endeavor, An'an would become the most honorable person in the world.
At that time, if An'an still wished to be with Lin Yan, he would not separate them. If An'an changed his mind and desired a harem like emperors of the past, he would not stop him.
An'an's future path would be his own to choose. As a father, he could only provide him with the best of everything.
The alarming atmosphere of the capital did not affect Princess Fu'an, who was recuperating. Yet, no one expected that all the chaos would begin from Princess Fu'an's residence.
Lin Yan and Zhao Hao were playing chess again, but this time, they were not in the courtyard. They chose to sit on a low couch by the window in the study.
The Emperor seemed to be preoccupied with his own affairs recently. The surveillance personnel at the princess's residence had significantly decreased. Although those watchers had obtained little information, who enjoyed living under constant surveillance?
"An'an, you should be able to wear men's clothing again soon."
"This is all thanks to Yan Ge. I wonder what Yan Ge plans to do next?"
"You don't need to do anything. Once some things begin, you don't need to manage them; they will develop into the form you wish to see."
Humans are like this; their desires are insatiable. Those princes will not stop until a conclusion is reached.
"Do you think we should tell His Highness Prince Yan about his mother?" Lin Yan suddenly mentioned Zhao Yanxiang.
Yanxiang, this was hoping his son could live freely and unrestrainedly, but his son would have to repay his mother's debts. His death was too easy, yet it could not compensate for An'an's years of suffering from illness.
"How does Yan Ge plan to say it?"
"I don't believe that person left their son with no fallback. What do you think Prince Yan would think if he knew his mother was not dead, but was imprisoned by his own father in that cold palace?"
That person could send Rou Niang to infiltrate Prince Yingchuan's residence to target a single child. She must have cultivated other individuals. Lin Yan believed that the male protagonist must also have such people around him; they just didn't know their capabilities.
If they could also participate in the chaos in the capital, it would further muddy the waters. It would be best if they didn't have to act; the princes could eliminate each other. After all, Prince Yingchuan was not like that Emperor, who could ruthlessly act against his own blood relatives.