Time quickly came to the Emperor's thirty-fifth birthday. As the Emperor had been feeling quite unsettled recently, he was not in the mood for elaborate celebrations. Thus, the event was held on a small scale, and the banquet was particularly simple. Everyone dared not send extravagant gifts, merely expressing their good wishes and seeking novelty.
The Emperor gazed at the various regional kings and their heirs seated below him, harboring deep resentment. He knew that although these individuals had not openly rebelled like Prince Ping, they had long been cultivating their own networks and had men placed in key positions within the capital. None of them could be underestimated.
The young man, Yang Hanye, also felt the Emperor's gaze upon him. Seemingly oblivious, he continued to eat and drink as usual. He was, however, wary of others harboring ill intentions towards him. Today, he had dressed simply. Following behind him was Wu Caiwei, who presented the dishes after examining them. Wu Caiwei had already inspected the food and, finding no issues, gave him a signal to eat.
Because he ate with such relish, the Emperor found himself watching him more than once. People said the fourth son of Prince Yang was exceptionally shrewd, yet when he met him, he always gave the impression of being simple-minded. Take this banquet, for instance. Everyone had come with their own agendas, and most had barely touched their food, lost in thought while observing the others. Only he was diligently eating. This involuntarily brought a measure of joy to the Emperor's heart.
Yang Hanye never expected that his behavior would bring him such significant benefits. Henceforth, whenever the Emperor suppressed the regional kings, he always showed favor to Prince Yang, leaving Yang Hanye utterly bewildered as to how he had managed to gain the Emperor's favor and earn their forgiveness.
When everyone proposed to return to their respective estates, the Emperor immediately dispatched men to tell them to wait a moment. They initially thought the Emperor had some instructions to give. What they didn't expect was the arrival of the Imperial Guard. Seeing the Imperial Guard, they were filled with indignation and stepped forward to question, "Does His Majesty not intend to let us leave the capital today?"
"He said that since you have come, you should thoroughly appreciate the surrounding scenery and stay in Jincheng for a while longer. We ask for your understanding, Lords and Princes. After all, these are tumultuous times. We are afraid that certain matters might inadvertently involve you, making it difficult to account for," the captain of the Imperial Guard said meaningfully.
Although they wished to retort, since the Emperor had already made his decision and was holding a sword to their throats, determined to kill, any attempt to reason with him would not only fail to change his mind but would also make their lives even more difficult. Some anxiously paced their studies, attempting to send letters to their allies.
The letters they thought they had sent out immediately found their way to the Emperor's desk. He opened them one by one and, reading their contents, couldn't help but frown. These were merely ordinary greetings. Why were they being sent only after he had surrounded their mansions? Was he being tested? He felt this was highly probable.
On his way, he unconsciously rubbed his temples. For a long time, he had been perusing memorials and handling court affairs day and night, resulting in severe sleep deprivation. Even now, sitting here, he felt listless, longing to lie in bed. But the moment he thought of the court's volatile situation, he could not sleep. After all, he was the Emperor, and his fortune was tied to the dynasty's. If others were to ascend the throne, the ministers, diligent as they might be, might spare the new emperor. However, he, the former emperor, was destined to meet a violent end. As the saying goes, there can only be one tiger in a mountain.
He had awakened from his indulgence in elixirs not only due to his own efforts but also because of the efforts of those Daoist priests. However, when the Emperor previously learned of the court's precarious situation, those Daoist priests had quickly urged him to attend to it, stating that his mortal body must not suffer any harm before his ascension. This meant that if the situation was not resolved, the dynasty would be destroyed, and they too would have no way to escape death. This was certainly not what those Daoist priests desired. The reason they had initially deceived the Emperor was to gain wealth and power. Witnessing the destruction of the empire would make them sinners, and they would be the first to be executed. In truth, they had always been aware of this, but they could not resist the temptation of gold and jewels offered by the Emperor.
For the sake of ascension, the Emperor had truly gone to great lengths. Thinking about the numerous elixirs he had consumed recently, his body must be incredibly weak. He eagerly sought the Emperor, wanting to quickly quell the rebel forces and restore the empire to its former state of peace and prosperity, so he could continue his alchemy without fear for his safety.
However, some court officials had also guessed the reasons behind the Emperor's and the rebel army's actions. Regardless of the circumstances, the situation was now developing in a positive direction. Not only should they not disrupt it, but they should also actively cooperate with the Emperor. After all, with a new emperor came a new prime minister, and for those who were confidants of the former emperor, their future was certainly bleak.
After the rebel army successively occupied several more counties, the imperial court finally received its first urgent dispatch, arriving by express courier. Having learned from previous experiences, the Emperor's heart sank every time he heard the news of such a dispatch, assuming it was bad news. To his surprise, he forced himself to suppress his panic and, after a cursory glance, tossed it aside. Then, as if remembering something, he quickly picked it up and read it carefully. Only after confirming he hadn't misread it did he joyfully beckon the attending ministers to approach.
Their hearts involuntarily tightened. From the Emperor's reaction, it was evident that there was good news from the front lines. This was the first victory in days of battle, and it was naturally worth celebrating.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty! I believe we will eliminate the rebel forces before long," the Prime Minister quickly stepped forward to flatter.
The Emperor smiled at him. Normally, he would not want to waste time in court, but overjoyed this time, he immediately asked the ministers to stay for lunch before leaving the palace.
No one refused. The atmosphere had been too oppressive recently. Everyone had been walking on eggshells under the Emperor's sharp gaze. Finally, a piece of good news had arrived, allowing everyone to relax. Moreover, although the palace dishes were sometimes served cold, they were still delicious, a testament to the imperial kitchen. Previously, they had been too preoccupied to appreciate them, always engaged in scheming. This time, with their spirits lifted, they savored the food. No wonder the Prince of Yang's heir had eaten so heartily last time.
Yang Hanye, still engrossed in his meal, was puzzled by the occasional glances from everyone. Unable to comprehend it, he decided not to dwell on it and continued to eat. Even Wu Caiwei couldn't help but think that his demeanor made him seem as if he hadn't eaten for three days and was on the verge of starvation. If it weren't for the organization's plans, she would have found him somewhat distasteful. However, she believed that the more he behaved this way, the more he would lower people's guard, which was a good thing for him.
Influenced by them, the Emperor also unconsciously ate another bowl of rice and felt somewhat full. He dismissed them and, with his trusted confidants, went for a stroll in the imperial garden to aid digestion.