Chapter 38: Risks and Rewards, The Contingency!
Yanshi Prince’s Mansion.
Zhu Di resumed fishing once more.
At moments like this, he was all the more able to keep his composure.
It must be said, this was one of Zhu Di’s greatest virtues.
Remarkable patience!
Yao Guangxiao, on the other hand, did not sit cross-legged to chant scriptures again but leaned against the railing, gazing into the distance.
A gentle breeze stirred, causing his flowing monk’s robe to flutter.
Bathed in the afterglow of the sunset, he exuded an ethereal, transcendent aura, imbued with the grace of an immortal.
A guard hurriedly approached.
“Your Highness, Prince Wu has led the Embroidered Uniform Guard to surround the Duke of Liang’s residence, claiming he intends to arrest the Duke.”
Zhu Di turned to exchange a glance with Yao Guangxiao; surprise flickered briefly across his face but vanished instantly.
Zhu Yunzhong actually wanted to seize Lan Yu—this matter, no matter how one looked at it, was full of strangeness.
“On what charges?”
Zhu Di inquired.
“Prince Wu refuses to disclose the reasons, only ordering the Embroidered Uniform Guard to obey his commands.”
The guard then meticulously recited, word for word, the conversation between Zhu Yunzhong and Jiang Yuan.
Zhu Di waved him away.
“To dare to mobilize a thousand Embroidered Uniform Guards and openly surround the Duke of Liang’s residence without the Emperor’s edict—this nephew of mine truly has the audacity of heaven!”
He asked, “Monk, what do you make of this?”
Zhu Di’s way of addressing Yao Guangxiao was always inconsistent.
Sometimes “monk,” sometimes “master,” depending entirely on his mood.
Yet this informality also revealed the profound intimacy between them.
“Brilliant, Your Highness, truly brilliant!” Yao Guangxiao sighed in admiration.
Zhu Di fixed his gaze on him, puzzled and tinged with mockery.
“With Lan Yu’s standing in the army, even if the Emperor wished to deal with him, it would require months of careful preparation.”
“For him to act so rashly, directly dispatching the Embroidered Uniform Guard to seize the man without the Emperor’s order…”
“Why haven’t I seen what’s so brilliant about this move?”
“Is reckless defiance and lawlessness what you mean by ‘brilliant,’ Master?”
Zhu Di then looked down at the fishing float beneath his rod on the water’s surface.
“His reckless action will surely bring a flurry of memorials against him at court tomorrow like flying snow.”
Yao Guangxiao chuckled, “He dares openly demand the appointment of an heir at court—has he not been criticized enough these days?”
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“Yet the Emperor has not punished him.”
“Instead, he was promoted to Prince Wu.”
“If anyone else did this, it would be a certain death sentence.”
“But because it’s him, he paradoxically solves the dilemma I posed to him.”
“Prince Wu is even more formidable than I imagined!”
Yao Guangxiao whispered with admiration.
Zhu Di was taken aback, countering, “Solve your dilemma?”
Suddenly recalling something, his expression darkened.
“Indeed,” Yao Guangxiao said.
“Your Highness informed him that the Emperor intended to deal with Duke Lan Yu.”
“But Duke Lan Yu is his great-uncle, one of his greatest supports in court.”
“Yet Prince Wu is the Emperor’s own grandson, loyal and filial; he should stand with the Emperor.”
“The problem we set for Prince Wu was that whichever side he chose, it was impossible to stand firmly; not choosing was also impossible.”
“His solution was to divide the Emperor’s worries and fulfill the filial duties of a grandson.”
“If the Emperor must deal with Lan Yu, Prince Wu would do it himself—righteous and unyielding, arresting Lan Yu first.”
“This is both loyalty and filial piety.”
“Lan Yu was arrested by him, yet on no real charge—only some trivial, old grievances.”
“The Emperor has already punished what needed punishing.”
“Arresting Lan Yu again—what does that amount to?”
“Therefore, the Emperor will have to release him eventually.”
“In doing so, Prince Wu both fulfills loyalty and filial piety and helps his great-uncle Lan Yu overcome this hurdle, preserving his own foundation at court.”
“Isn’t such a perfect resolution brilliant enough?”
Zhu Di’s face turned pale as he said gravely, “More than that, I was the one who leaked the information to him.”
“If Lan Yu is unharmed afterward, and he too escapes unscathed, then I—this instigator—shall surely face the Emperor’s severe punishment.”
Yao Guangxiao smiled and nodded.
“There’s more!”
“The Emperor’s reluctance to appoint him heir lies chiefly in the fear that after the Dragon’s reign ends, Prince Wu might not control the military generals and nobles.”
“For Prince Wu, these men are both his base in court and his greatest obstacle to becoming heir.”
“Seizing Lan Yu without imperial sanction today is a demonstration to the Emperor that he can command those generals and nobles, can control Lan Yu.”
“The Emperor need no longer worry about external clans usurping power if he passes the throne to Prince Wu.”
“With this obstacle removed, Prince Wu’s path to heirship clears.”
Zhu Di said, “So this big move, not seeking imperial sanction, was deliberate?”
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Yao Guangxiao replied, “Exactly.”
“Prince Wu’s cunning exceeds even my expectations.”
“Though this move appears reckless on the surface, it is in fact exquisitely calculated.”
“Whether this was his own scheme or guided by some strategist nearby remains unknown.”
Zhu Di smiled bitterly, “What does it matter? Either way, it’s the same. What matters now is to quickly counter his move. Monk, do you have any ideas?”
Yao Guangxiao smiled calmly, “Your Highness need not worry excessively.”
“Though brilliant, Prince Wu’s move is fraught with risk.”
“The matter was urgent; he likely had no time to coordinate with Lan Yu beforehand.”
“Moreover, such actions forbid private communication; if discovered, it would backfire.”
“Without prior arrangement, Lan Yu’s fiery temper might prevent him from surrendering quietly.”
“If they clash, the outcome will be beyond Prince Wu’s control.”
“I’ve heard Lan Yu’s mansion is guarded by five hundred retainers, all seasoned veterans of countless battles.”
“They willingly set aside their armor to protect Lan Yu within his residence.”
Zhu Di asked, “And what then?”
Yao Guangxiao said, “If a fight breaks out, swords know no mercy. Should Lan Yu suffer harm, a great meritorious figure unjustly punished or innocent lives lost, the noble officials and military leaders will surely be enraged.”
“The Emperor would have no choice but to put Lan Yu forward to bear the blame.”
“Right now, the Emperor has not sent orders to stop him, intending to see if Prince Wu can truly control this wild horse named Lan Yu.”
“If he succeeds, the rewards will be immense.”
“He will then truly have the capital to contend for succession.”
“If he fails, he will fall into an abyss from which there is no return.”
Zhu Di pondered briefly, then nodded in approval.
“Master, you are correct! That is indeed the situation. In your opinion, can my nephew pass this test?”
Yao Guangxiao smiled without answering and beckoned toward the shore.
A guard on duty at a distance hurried over.
“Send troops immediately to inform the noble officials, meritorious ministers, and commanding generals in Jinling City and its outskirts, especially those close to Duke Lan Yu.”
“Tell them that Prince Wu, without imperial decree, has taken troops to surround the Duke’s residence to arrest him, and urge them to intervene and rescue him at once!”
Nearby, Zhu Di clapped his hands and laughed heartily.
“Brilliant! If these men clash with the Embroidered Uniform Guard led by my nephew, the situation will spiral out of control. Master, your move is truly a step above!”
Yao Guangxiao stroked his beard.
“There are also two crown princes, arranged by me as backup.”
Zhu Di frowned, “Those two little kids—what use can they be?”
Yao Guangxiao remained silent, deliberately leaving the matter in suspense.
“Your Highness, just wait and watch the show.”