The coronation of the Crown Prince was usually accompanied by the conferment of princely titles on the other imperial princes. After coming of age, each would proceed to his fief.
But that was the final step, to take place only after the Grand Banquet commemorating the late Empress Yan, and a ceremonial procession by horse through the entirety of Fengjing City.
Whether from illness and mental confusion, or fear that his health would not permit it, the Imperial Court had unexpectedly moved this last step forward.
Beside him, Steward Wu hesitated, before finally appealing pleadingly to the Crown Prince for help.
It was true that conferment came only after the Grand Banquet. But the Imperial Court's health had clearly deteriorated. For nearly half a month now, the Crown Prince's Palace had taken over most of the tasks of government, resolving minor issues on its own and reporting only the major ones.
This was already equivalent to the Crown Prince governing as regent.
Gauging the times, Steward Wu had no wish to offend the next emperor, but neither did he dare defy the incumbent. So he took the easy way out, tossing this hot potato away.
Chang Yan smiled. "Since this is the case, let us do as Father says."
These dominions would not change hands again. A procession through Fengjing City could happen anytime; it was better to let this crowd finish their little drama first.
The main hall of the Fengtian Palace was the perfect stage.
He watched coldly as the three imperial princes filed in.
As the eldest, there was no doubt Zhu Changhong led the way. But compared to his former vigor, he now seemed overly dull and wooden, lacking even the verve he had displayed kicking down the door at the celebrations.
"What's happened to the Eldest Prince?" the Master of Ceremonies couldn't help whispering.
"Without Concubine Gu to advise him, his whole person has withered," the Bearer of the Imperial Register muttered back.
It seemed everyone in the imperial city knew that the Eldest Prince's periodic sagacity and stupidity depended on whether the figure behind him had arranged things properly.
With Concubine Gu fallen unconscious and the Gu clan's rebellion, in addition to mental torment, it was no surprise he had lost his former vigor.
Second to enter was Zhu Changyu, still wearing the same honest, stolid, and taciturn look as ever. His undistinguished features and excessively low birth had made him gradually turn gloomy and cold, until he learned to don a disguise and endure in silence.
Of the princes, he was the most ambitious, as well as the shrewdest and most capable. He was also the bare blade on the verge of leaving its sheath.
They were perfectly aware a clash was coming next, yet still able to greet each other with kindly smiles - proof enough of deep cunning.
The last to enter was the Fourth Prince, Zhu Changheng. His former limp had all but vanished for the occasion, and spine straight, he could almost be called a dashing youth.
Chang Yan's gaze grew complicated.
He remembered the Fourth Prince's whisper from behind him right before entering the Fengtian Hall:
"Little Five, you're about to be proclaimed Crown Prince, and I know today will be eventful. So I want to share a couple heartfelt words. To be frank, my limp is nearly healed. With a little care, I can pass for an ordinary person."
"I didn't deliberately hide anything from you. As princes of the Dayu Dynasty, who among us hasn't harbored ambitions for that position? Even when I asked to marry a daughter of the Yao clan, I was indirectly seeking the Jiang clan's backing."
"But later I realized that you are more suited for that role than me. The Jiang clan's ties to you are too close. Even if I married into the Yao's, I couldn't exchange that for the Jiang clan's support. So I took the initiative to withdraw."
"I hope you won't hold it against me for once aspiring to usurp the throne. For the Fourth Elder Brother's final assistance, be lenient on the Reserve Family."
At that moment Chang Yan was shocked.
Zhu Changheng had hidden too well, so that no one discovered his near-obsessive elation concealing calculation.
So the imperial city truly contained no innocent or good-hearted souls. No one could view power and money as dirt.
It was just that sensible people were willing to choose a side, while the self-confident persisted to the end.
A single decision had shifted the abyss of fate, changing the tracks of the future.
Chang Yan looked up at the Fourth Prince and gently inclined his head. At the moment their gazes met, both revealed candid smiles.
"You...you're all here," the exhausted Imperial Court on the dragon throne looked up. "Good that you've come. Steward Wu, announce the edict."
Steward Wu nodded. Taking the golden decree from behind the dragon throne, he read it aloud: "...We hereby confer upon the Eldest Prince...upon the Second Prince...upon the Fourth Prince..."
Imperial favor was fully exhibited in that moment.
Zhu Changhong received rich lands, the title of Prince - second only to the Crown Prince in rank.
Zhu Changyu received distant borderlands and the lesser title of Duke - his lands likely less fertile even than Anshui Prefecture. One could call it barren and impoverished.
Zhu Changheng's case was more ambiguous. He simply received Anshui Prefecture itself and took its name - neither high nor low in rank, merely a Lord.
"By Heaven's command, carry on ancestral precepts. The various princes shall proceed to their fiefs upon coming of age and assist the governors in administrating, by Our decree."
As the piercing voice fell, Zhu Changhong's gaze gradually focused. Eyes timidly sweeping his surroundings, he slowly knelt to receive the edict.
Zhu Changyu silently knelt and knocked his head on the ground three times.
Zhu Changheng was the most composed, calmly bending knee to accept.
Three princes, three minds.
Chang Yan observed coldly, sensing a storm on the verge of breaking - yet as all three rose to their feet, the Fengtian Hall remained perfectly tranquil.
The Imperial Court finally eased: "Crown Prince, go offer incense in commemoration of the Empress, then parade through Fengjing City. We are feeling unwell and will retire first."
Everyone in the hall respectfully saw off the ruler.
Once back on their feet, Chang Yan had become the most eminent in the Fengtian Hall.
Little Old Wu fawned obsequiously at his side: "The late Empress's palace has been cleaned and prepared. Does Your Highness intend to offer incense now?"
Before Chang Yan could even nod, a sudden commotion sounded from outside.
Court officials, military officers, palace women and eunuchs - all were crying out.
"What is happening?" Little Old Wu exclaimed, shocked. "How dare you clamor so on the day the Crown Prince is invested?"
No one answered him.
The Master of Ceremonies, previously holding the imperial regalia, poked his head outside for a look before scurrying right back, "So many people...so many people forcing their way inside and capturing the ministers!"
"Even the guards who should be protecting us have turned traitor and leveled spears at everyone..."
Under the bright sun and vast firmament, the century-spanning Dayu Dynasty was plunged into chaos.
Nothing like this had happened over the past decades. Small wonder the servants were thrown into frightened disarray, screaming and shrieking.
Chang Yan merely raised his lips, showing not the expected panic but asking strangely instead, "When you previously endured in silence, was it because you didn't wish Father worried? Or did you want to surprise him?"
His answer was Zhu Changhong raising up the imperial regalia case meant to confer the crown prince title - and smashing it harshly to the ground.
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