Chapter 10 — Destined for the Phoenix Throne, I Refuse the Crown Prince

Out of concern for his public image and the imperial prestige, the emperor refrained from issuing a grand proclamation to the realm. Yet, he was by no means a man to let the true mastermind escape unpunished. The crown prince was confined strictly within the Eastern Palace, forced to watch helplessly as every single feather and wing of his maternal grandfather’s faction was plucked away one by one, utterly powerless to intervene. In the end, he could no longer sit still and wait for his own demise.

Thun Xuan contacted the remnants of the empress’s faction and colluded with several corrupted generals within the capital guards. He plotted to launch a palace coup while the emperor had not yet fully recovered from his illness and the imperial court remained in a state of turmoil. Little did he know, every single move made by him and the empress had long been placed under the meticulous surveillance of the shadow guards dispatched by myself and Lu Wen He. The conspiracy that the crown prince believed to be impeccably secretive was, in our eyes, as transparent as crystal glass.

On the night of the coup, the crown prince led his troops storming into the imperial palace, advancing all the way without encountering the slightest resistance. It was only when he reached the threshold of the sovereign’s bedchamber that he beheld rows of imperial guards standing in stern, ready formation. Lu Wen He sat proudly upon a warhorse, gripping a long spear in his hand, looking down upon the prince from a position of absolute supremacy. The crown prince’s face turned ashen; he knew instantly that he had walked straight into a trap. Yet, by then, all paths of retreat were cut off. Like a turtle trapped in a jar, the crown prince was captured alive, bound securely, and dragged before the emperor.

Gazing down at the son kneeling before him, the emperor’s eyes were filled with profound exhaustion and desolate sorrow. That very night, an imperial edict was proclaimed to the entire realm:

"The crown prince Lu Bei Yuan, unfilial and rebellious, harboring traitorous intentions, is hereby stripped of his title and demoted to a commoner. He shall be permanently imprisoned within the abandoned palace, forbidden to ever step foot outside for the remainder of his days. The Empress Wang, jealous, vicious, and the source of chaos within the inner court, is likewise stripped of her rank, demoted to a commoner, and cast into the cold palace."

Furthermore, the entire maternal clan of the deposed empress was thrown into prison; the primary culprits were exiled three thousand miles away, while the accomplices were permanently banished from the capital, forbidden ever to return.

As the dust of turmoil finally settled and a few more days elapsed, the emperor made a grand announcement during full court assembly, issuing yet another imperial decree:

"Having occupied the throne for over twenty years, We have labored day and night in anxiety and sorrow, fearing only that We might fail the trust bestowed upon Us by the late emperor. Now, with the crown prince's rebellion, the seat of the heir is vacant. After deep and thorough reflection, We find that only Xuan Prince Lu Wen He possesses both the virtue and the talent required to shoulder this grand responsibility. From this day forward, Xuan Prince Lu Wen He is hereby appointed as the Imperial Crown Brother, to inherit the grand ancestral heritage after Our hundred years have passed."

Civil and military officials alike dropped to their knees in unison, their resounding cheers of long life shaking the rafters.

Two months later, the emperor’s illness grew grave, leaving him physically incapable of managing affairs of state. Summoning the court officials to his bedside, he formally announced his abdication. The coronation ceremony for the new imperial crown brother, Lu Wen He, was scheduled for half a month later.

On that day, the sky was clear and bright, and a gentle, auspicious breeze swept through the capital. Officials of all ranks entered the hall to offer their congratulations, accompanied by the grand rolling of drums and the deep echoing of bronze bells. Draped in the ceremonial robes of the empress and wearing the elaborate phoenix crown upon my head, I walked step by step toward Lu Wen He, who stood proudly upon the highest tier, beneath the watchful gazes of the entire court.

He reached out, took my hand, and spoke in clear, deliberate syllables for all the officials to hear:

"In this lifetime, this emperor shall have only one empress. The inner palace shall never take in imperial concubines, nor shall there ever be any lesser consorts."

The court erupted in a momentary wave of murmurs before the officials once again dropped to their knees in collective worship. I tilted my head to look at him, just as a stray beam of sunlight grazed his shoulder. As if sensing my gaze, Lu Wen He gently tightened his grip around my fingers, the corners of his lips curving upward into a tender smile.

The coronation ceremony was immediately followed by a grand banquet for all nations. Envoys from distant tributary states and neighboring kingdoms stepped forward one by one to present their congratulatory gifts, filling the auxiliary halls with rare treasures and exotic gems.

When the turn of the Eastern Woman Kingdom arrived, the leader of their delegation stepped forward—a striking woman clad in vibrant red robes, exuding a bold and heroic bearing. Several maidservants followed closely behind her, carrying a colossal brocaded chest.

"The Empress of the Eastern Woman Kingdom congratulates the new emperor of the heavenly dynasty on his ascension, and specially offers our nation’s supreme national treasure—a branch of the Scarlet Flame Coral. At the same time, we wish to forge a matrimonial alliance with the heavenly dynasty, cementing our friendly relations for all eternity."

The Scarlet Flame Coral was the ultimate guardian treasure of the Eastern Woman Kingdom. Entirely crimson like blazing fire, it even emitted a faint, ethereal luminescence in the dead of night, making it an extraordinary and priceless rarity indeed. However, what drew even greater attention was the final condition she stated.

The Eastern Woman Kingdom revered women above all, and their successive monarchs were invariably female. Their tradition of marital alliance naturally meant selecting a male of our dynasty to marry into their royal family and reside there as a consort.

Lu Wen He raised his wine cup, falling into a brief, contemplative silence. Having just ascended the throne, his political foundation was not yet fully solidified, and for the moment, he truly could not think of a suitable candidate to dispatch for this political marriage. Among the imperial clan’s younger generations, those of appropriate age were either already married or possessed talents far too mediocre.

Seated beside him, a thought suddenly crossed my mind. Leaning closer, I used a voice meant only for the two of us to offer a subtle suggestion:

"That person currently residing in the abandoned palace actually possesses rather pleasing features..."

Lu Wen He paused slightly in surprise, before a spark of amused understanding flashed deep within his eyes.

Three days later, Lu Wen He issued an imperial decree. The deposed crown prince Lu Bei Yuan was granted the honorary title of "Marque of Shun De." That very same day, he was dispatched to set out for the Eastern Woman Kingdom as a bridegroom for the royal marriage, entering the imperial household of the Eastern Woman Kingdom as a consort to serve by the side of their reigning queen.

Following Lu Bei Yuan’s departure for the Eastern Woman Kingdom, it finally occurred to me to inquire about the whereabouts of Xuan Qing Qing. According to the shadow guards, on the very night of the palace coup, Xuan Qing Qing seemed to have a premonition of impending doom. She had hurriedly gathered her wealth and portable valuables, preparing to flee amidst the widespread chaos. However, she had not managed to run very far before she was intercepted and caught by Lu Bei Yuan himself.