Chapter 98: A Perilous Situation

Consort Ying said, “Now that His Majesty has only recently ascended the throne, his foundations are still unsteady. I fear that at a time like this, those with ulterior motives may seize the chance to stir up trouble.”

“Who would dare!” the Empress Dowager cried, slamming the table before her.

“Your Majesty, though it may seem like we are judging others by our own small-mindedness, we cannot help but remain on guard at a time like this,” Consort Ying replied.

Though the Empress Dowager was angry, the truth was that she had no clear idea what to do. She had never encountered such a matter before. Glancing at Consort Ying, she asked, “Consort Ying, what do you think we should do next?”

“Your Majesty, I believe we should immediately summon Li Gang to the palace for discussion. He has always been the person His Majesty trusts most. At such a time, it would be most appropriate to consult him,” Consort Ying said.

The Empress Dowager nodded. “That makes sense.” Then she turned to the eunuch beside her. “Dahuang, at once take my decree and summon Li Gang to audience.”

Dahuang knew the matter was urgent and dared not delay. He hurried out of the palace to find Li Gang.

“Your Majesty, Zhang Xin is also severely injured now. To prevent those with designs from taking advantage of the situation, why not send a unit of the Imperial Guard to keep watch?” Consort Ying continued.

The Empress Dowager immediately ordered another detachment of the Imperial Guard to be brought in. At that moment, these were the only measures they could think of. Of course, the most urgent thing of all was for Zhao Huan to wake up quickly. If Zhao Huan could recover consciousness, then everything would be manageable. If he could not, then all they did would be of no avail.

Wang Qiming rushed home in great haste.

Wang Fu was already waiting for him in the courtyard. The moment Wang Qiming stepped inside, Wang Fu snatched up a staff and began to beat him, all the while shouting, “You wretched boy, out again causing trouble for me! What have I told you? Things are no longer as they used to be. If you keep acting as recklessly as before, with no restraint at all, then the next one dragged down will be our Wang family...”

“Father, stop, stop...” Wang Qiming cried, dodging as he begged for mercy.

“Stop? Today I’ll beat you to death, you little wretch, and see how else you can cause trouble for me!” Wang Fu said furiously, his blows growing heavier.

“Father, I have good news to tell you,” Wang Qiming hurriedly said.

“You could have any good news?” Wang Fu did not believe him in the least. Clearly, he had long since grown used to being deceived by his son.

“Father, the emperor may be dead!” Wang Qiming shouted at once.

Those words were shocking enough that Wang Fu’s raised staff froze in midair. But after only a moment, he struck Wang Qiming hard again and cursed loudly, “You beast! How dare you speak such treasonous nonsense! Today I’ll beat you to death, you monster!”

“Ow!” Wang Qiming had not expected his father to strike him again, and this time he failed to dodge. He took the blow squarely, cried out in pain, and his temper flared as well. “If you don’t believe me, then beat me to death! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you don’t seize it quickly, someone else will!”

This was the first time Wang Fu had ever heard Wang Qiming speak like this. Half of him had already begun to believe it. He confirmed again, “Is that true?”

Wang Qiming nodded. “I was right there at the time. I saw it with my own eyes. It was absolutely true.”

Hearing this, Wang Fu hurriedly threw the staff to the ground and said to Wang Qiming, “Come with me to the study, and tell me every detail of what happened. You must understand that every word you say now could determine the life and death of our Wang family. Not a single word can be wrong. Do you understand?”

Wang Qiming followed him to the study and recounted the whole matter from beginning to end. When Wang Fu heard that Wang Qiming had once again been meddling with respectable women, he was so enraged that he nearly fetched another staff and gave him another beating.

Only when Wang Qiming threatened not to continue did Wang Fu finally relent.

After Wang Qiming finished speaking, Wang Fu frowned tightly and asked, “That white-bearded old man was someone you arranged?”

Wang Qiming shook his head. “Why would I arrange someone like that? Assassinating the emperor is a crime that wipes out nine generations. I’m not that stupid!”

Naturally, he did not tell his father that, at the time, he had also once considered killing Zhao Huan himself. There was no need to say that now, since someone else had already done it for him.

Wang Fu paced back and forth in the study and said, “The only thing we do not know is what has become of Zhao Huan’s condition.”

Wang Qiming hastened to say, “Father, this is a heaven-sent opportunity for our Wang family.”

Wang Fu looked at him. “What do you mean?”

Wang Qiming said, “If Zhao Huan dies, who will take the throne?”

That was indeed a difficult question. Normally, when an emperor dies, the crown prince succeeds him. But Zhao Huan had only just ascended the throne and had not yet named a crown prince. Empress Zhu Lian had borne him a son, but the child was not yet three. Could such a small child inherit the throne? By rights, he should be able to. Yet the retired emperor was still alive.

Back then, it was only because the Jurchen army had reached the city gates that Zhao Ji had handed the throne to Zhao Huan. But now the Jurchen forces had already been driven back, and the great victory at Shunchang was known to all.

“You mean to support the retired emperor in taking back control of the court?” Wang Fu said with a furrowed brow.

Wang Qiming nodded. “If we can make that happen, then our Wang family will have the merit of helping a sovereign rise. We might even be granted a princely title.”

To be honest, Wang Fu was truly tempted. Although the Wang clan had been one of the great aristocratic families since the Sui and Tang dynasties, they had never been granted a princely title. And in recent years, ever since the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang, the power of the great clans had been steadily weakened.

The temptation was indeed enormous.

“The key question now is whether anything is wrong with Zhao Huan’s condition,” Wang Fu said thoughtfully. Since Zhao Huan had ascended the throne, he had already removed many powerful ministers from court. Wang Fu did not want to become the next.

“Father, this is easy. First send someone to the Grand Celebration Hall to gather news. I’m sure we’ll hear something soon,” Wang Qiming said. “But as for the retired emperor, Father, you must move quickly as well. If you go too late, the credit will belong to someone else.”

Wang Fu nodded. “That’s true. Then I’ll enter the palace at once to pay my respects to the retired emperor. As for the Grand Celebration Hall, send someone to inquire after the news. If necessary, give those little eunuchs a bit more money. I refuse to believe they won’t talk.”