Chapter 81: The New Sovereign Ascends
His fingertips carried the chill of deep winter. Yan Xuerui shivered, turning her face away, her voice stiff.
"I don't want to."
Gu Yan chuckled softly. "Rui'er, I told you long ago to be honest."
He understood human nature deeply. Initially, he hadn't wanted Yan Xuerui entangled in these troubles. It was she who had secretly searched his study, discovered her true parentage, and, with decisive resolve, gone to the palace to claim her lineage. She demanded troops and a princess estate from the emperor, even arguing that their son, too, carried royal blood—why shouldn't he contend for the throne?
His Rui'er had bested him at chess even as a young girl, and Gu Yan never found her behavior out of line. Since she desired it, he would grant it. Yet, Rui'er was never truly honest; her words always belied her true feelings.
Hearing the word "honest," which he often whispered intimately during their private moments, Yan Xuerui's snow-white cheeks instantly flushed. She shook off his hand.
"Hmph, you're so improper."
Gu Yan had meticulously planned today's events for a long time. Now, with victory assured, he calmly embraced Yan Xuerui's slender waist and, ever compliant, said, "Alright, alright, I won't say it again. Later, when we go to the palace, you..."
Gu Yan gently instructed her. Today's grand drama was only half-played. He cared not for his reputation in history, but his Rui'er and son must remain untarnished. No matter how much he inwardly disdained Zhilu, the child was still his flesh and blood.
She had nearly died giving birth to his child. Gu Yan always feigned annoyance, claiming Zhilu was demanding and diverted Yan Xuerui's attention. But among his three children, if he had to rank them, Ming Lan was his eldest son, whom he meticulously groomed as heir; Ming Wei was his only daughter; yet neither was as cherished as the newborn Zhilu.
The first two children had arrived unexpectedly, with a hint of reluctance. Two years prior, a charlatan claimed that a drop of his heart's blood could cure Yan Xuerui's illness. During his recovery, she was unusually compliant, doing whatever he asked. Though Gu Yan was robust and could have healed in a month or two, he deliberately prolonged his convalescence for over half a year.
Zhilu was conceived during that time.
During her most defiant periods, Gu Yan had once thought, "Fine, have the child. The Marquisate can afford it. Pregnancy might calm her down." But when Zhilu was conceived, he felt no joy. The always composed Senior Tutor Gu was, for once, genuinely afraid.
Her body was too frail, and she was no longer as young as before. If this child came at the cost of harming her, he would not have it.
She loved children deeply, and during that time, joy radiated from her every expression. She meticulously sewed a tiger hat for Zhilu, stitch by stitch. She placed his palm on her slightly swollen belly, letting him feel the baby's faint, rhythmic movements.
Their harmony was like perfectly matched instruments, a warmth they had never experienced before. Fortunately, Zhilu was in the correct position and was born safely. Their youngest son's very being was conceived in love.
...
Gu Yan had drunk wine today. With supreme authority at his command, a beauty in his embrace, and the loyal Black Armor Army under his command, his usual vigilance had a momentary lapse. So much so that he forgot this was the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince's territory.
He had tutored the Crown Prince for many years. The Prince's nature, to put it kindly, was gentle and benevolent, but in truth, he was weak and incompetent. He didn't even dare to act against the Virtuous Prince, so Gu Yan had never taken the Crown Prince seriously.
But as the saying goes, even a cornered rabbit will bite. Gu Yan had killed the Crown Prince's beloved consort right before his eyes and now had him deposed. Having been Gu Yan's student for years, the Prince also understood Gu Yan.
Senior Tutor Gu would certainly not let him live.
Outside, the cold wind howled. Gu Yan lowered his head and secured her fox fur cloak around Yan Xuerui. Just then, frantic, rushing footsteps approached from behind. Out of the corner of his eye, Gu Yan caught a glimpse of a gleam of sharp steel. He instinctively sidestepped to avoid it, but he and Yan Xuerui were so close that his foot instinctively moved to shield her, causing a moment's hesitation.
It was precisely that moment. In a flash, the Crown Prince lunged forward with near madness. The Prince's agonizing cry followed. By the time Yan Xuerui realized what had happened, the Prince had been struck several yards away by Gu Yan's palm, clutching his chest and coughing up blood. Gu Yan's hand firmly pressed on her shoulder, without even a muffled sound. He hung his head, his expression hidden in dark shadows.
"Don't move!"
Yan Xuerui's voice rose sharply, trembling. In her eyes, Gu Yan was all-powerful. How could he be injured?
There was no time for Yan Xuerui to freeze. She quickly supported his shoulder and swiftly removed the gold hairpin from her hair—knowing today was dangerous, she had prepared a whistle there. With a quick twist and blow, her people would arrive.
"I'll call for help. Hold on."
"No need. Close your eyes."
Gu Yan's voice was hoarse. He covered Yan Xuerui's eyes with his palm. Gasping for breath, he pinched the small exposed part of the blade with his fingertips. With a muffled grunt, he cleanly yanked the blade free from his flesh.
After a lifetime of hunting geese, today he had been pecked by one. It was his mistake.
The Crown Prince had aimed to kill him, using all his strength. Though it didn't hit a vital spot, the dagger had plunged deep into his back. Anyone else would likely have collapsed unconscious by now.
Gu Yan tore off a piece of cloth from his robe and bandaged the wound roughly. Raising his voice, he called, "Guards—"
"Escort Princess Changle to the palace."
His wife and son still depended on him. Not only could he not fall, but he also couldn't let anyone see his weakness. Otherwise, he would be like a fresh carcass, waiting for vultures to descend and tear him apart.
His jawline was tense, his cold, stern face extremely pale. Yan Xuerui refused to leave, insisting stubbornly, "Let the royal physician examine you."
"I'm fine. It looks worse than it is—just a superficial injury."
Gu Yan's thin lips were already bloodless, but he still calmly persuaded her, "Rui'er, if you stay away too long, people will grow suspicious. All my plans will be ruined."
"Let me clean the wound first. I'll come find you later, alright?"
Yan Xuerui knew Gu Yan was lying. He was badly injured.
But she also knew he was right. They were so close to success; now was not the time for impulsive emotions.
Gu Yan's personal guards had already arrived. Gritting her teeth, she whispered in his ear, "The children and I rely on you, Marquis."
"If you die, we'll be a widow with fatherless children. I won't remain faithful to your memory."
With that, ignoring Gu Yan's dark expression, she hurried out of the hall. Her steps were rushed, afraid that if she slowed down even a moment, she would soften and stay.
Her hands and feet trembled. How many times had she thought she hated him to death? But when it came to this moment, her chest ached with a pain that made her want to cry.
The howling cold wind blew against Yan Xuerui's delicate cheeks. She clenched her fingers, forcing herself to calm down.
The more critical the moment, the less she could show fear.
***
Because of the Crown Prince's sudden disruption, the once certain situation had descended into chaos.
The emperor had woken up, but he had suffered a stroke and could not speak clearly. Without Gu Yan shielding her, Yan Xuerui faced the questioning ministers alone. She imitated Gu Yan's demeanor, sweeping her gaze downward, carrying herself with full authority, noble and unassailable.
The ministers had previously only known Princess Changle for her unrivaled beauty. After this event, they realized she was articulate and shrewd. She even understood current court affairs—the shortfall in the Ministry of Revenue's funds, the Ministry of Personnel's evaluations... In truth, Yan Xuerui only knew the surface, but she feigned depth, fooling many.
The emperor mumbled for a long time but couldn't articulate anything. During the stalemate, Gu Yan sent someone to deliver the imperial decree. The handwriting was undoubtedly the emperor's, clearly stamped with the imperial jade seal. It indeed appointed the imperial grandson, Zhou Xuanyi, as the new monarch.
Finally, Yan Xuerui knelt before the emperor's bed, kowtowing three times loudly, and said, "Father, your daughter will surely guide the imperial grandson, treat the royal clan kindly, and protect the Great Zhou's realm."
The emperor couldn't speak, his imperial eyes wide with astonishment, clearly never expecting his usually obedient and filial daughter to harbor such ambition. The decree to depose the Crown Prince was written by him, but he had never intended to appoint Zhilu as the new monarch. He was still alive!
Besides, that was Gu Yan's son. He and Gu Yan were mortal enemies; he would never appoint Gu Yan's bloodline.
Yan Xuerui slowly approached the emperor and said, "Father, all the officials are here. Give us your clear decision."
The emperor fumed in silence, his eyes blazing with anger. Yan Xuerui remained calm. She leaned in slightly and deliberately said loudly, "Father, what did you say? Your daughter cannot hear clearly."
A moment later, she turned around, holding in her hand the token to command the palace guards.
Since the Virtuous Prince's palace coup, the emperor had grown increasingly paranoid, trusting no one. He kept the token firmly in his own hands. Previously, Yan Xuerui had brought Zhilu into the palace daily, not merely to amuse the emperor.
The emperor never allowed anyone near his dragon bed. She had guessed there was something hidden there and took the opportunity to search, finding the token to command the guards under the pillow.
"His Majesty gave the command token to me. With that, do any of you still have doubts?"
The officials exchanged glances, then dropped to their knees, their robes sweeping the floor as they proclaimed, "We humbly obey His Majesty's decree. We shall assist the young emperor and uphold the Great Zhou."
By the time Gu Yan arrived, having taken medicine and tidied himself up, this was the scene that greeted him: His Rui'er stood tall at the forefront, a lifelike phoenix hairpin adorning her hair. Light streamed through the window lattice, enveloping her in a glow that made even her strands of hair seem luminous.
So beautiful.
***
In just one day, the world had turned upside down. Young Zhilu, who had been sleeping with his little feet kicked up in the princess manor, was now emperor. With the new emperor being young, his mother, Princess Changle, took up regency.
As the biological father of the new emperor, not only the court officials but even Yan Xuerui expected Gu Yan to claim a title for himself like "Prince Regent." She knew her own limitations—Young Zhilu could not even speak yet—and in reality, they still had to rely on Senior Tutor Gu.
Unexpectedly, Gu Yan was surprisingly unconcerned with status or power. Though the Crown Prince was imprisoned, he remained "Senior Tutor," merely transitioning from teaching the Crown Prince to instructing the new emperor. With the Crown Prince confined and his cleanup that day thorough, no one aside from Yan Xuerui knew he had been severely wounded.
With Gu Yan steadying the court, affairs proceeded orderly without major turmoil. Coinciding with the New Year holiday, matters such as changing the reign title, ancestral temple ceremonies, and imperial pardons—all the myriad tasks of a new emperor's accession—were postponed until after the New Year, giving Gu Yan time to recover.
Since the emperor had to reside in the palace, Yan Xuerui naturally moved in with Young Zhilu. Events pushed her along, and she returned to the palace she had only recently left. She had wanted Gu Yan to recuperate in the palace, but he merely smiled without agreeing, insisting on staying at the marquis estate instead. This forced her to constantly go back and forth.
On New Year's Eve, the vast palace held only her and Young Zhilu. Facing a table full of delicacies, Yan Xuerui suddenly found it all bland and unappetizing.
Humans are never satisfied. Back at the marquis estate, she had felt restricted. Now, as the emperor's mother and the regent princess, she found herself missing the lively New Year celebrations at the marquis estate.
Gu Yuan and Ming Lan usually returned just before the New Year, and the whole clan would gather—her mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, and a crowd of children from the third branch calling her "aunt." Yan Xuerui set down her jade chopsticks and commanded, "Prepare a horse. I am leaving the palace."