The Human Emperor

For the time being, it was hard to say if the Sage Emperor had really grown dissatisfied with Yang Zhao and wanted to remove him from his post as Chamberlain of Palace Revenues. But women were extremely sharp, particularly when it came to their partners. They could detect even the subtlest of changes.

If even Consort Taizhen felt that something was wrong, the character of this entire matter changed completely.

“Virtuous brother, you… I really can’t hide anything from you!”

Yang Zhao was stunned. He had not expected Wang Chong to be so formidable that he could tell from just a few sentences that he had been sent by Consort Taizhen.

After getting an affirmative answer from Yang Zhao, Wang Chong slowly put down his tea cup, a grave expression on his face.

As Yang Zhao stared in surprise, Wang Chong got up and began to slowly pace in the center of the hall, a look of deep contemplation on his face.

“Is that incident still going to happen?” Wang Chong muttered to himself, apparently deeply confused.

Wang Chong recalled that the Sage Emperor had reviewed the treasury in his last life, but everything had been different back then, with both the southwest and Talas having been lost.

In the various exaggerated rumors the people discussed regarding the Sage Emperor in that apocalyptic era, this was an extremely important incident.

According to the story, when he broke precedent and opened the treasury, he saw the vast sea of gold and silver before him and sentimentally sighed.

For the first time, he realized just how prosperous the Great Tang was, and from that moment, the Sage Emperor changed. He felt there was no need to continue aggressively expanding and began to devote himself to enjoyment and pleasure.

Although Wang Chong had not believed this story, many people in that era did. More importantly, what the Sage Emperor did after that incident really did match what the people said.

Wang Chong’s mind was whirring with thoughts.

“Virtuous brother, how is it? Have you thought of anything?” a voice interrupted.

Yang Zhao was getting restless in his sandalwood chair.

Wang Chong blinked and came back to his senses.

“There is no need for Big Brother to worry. Tell Her Majesty that His Majesty’s favor for her has never waned, not in the past, not now, and not in the future. Her Majesty holds a special place in His Majesty’s heart. His Majesty’s visits have decreased because he is consumed by government affairs. He will naturally be visiting Her Majesty soon,” Wang Chong sternly said.

No matter how history had changed, or what was going on with the treasury incident, there was one thing Wang Chong was sure about. No matter what dimension or world, Consort Taizhen would always be the Sage Emperor’s most beloved woman.

The Sage Emperor would never grow tired of Consort Taizhen, nor would there be any fading of affections with beauty. Everyone in the realm understood this. Consort Taizhen’s fears were completely groundless.

“Is that true?”

Yang Zhao’s eyes lit up in joy.

In truth, a campaign general like Wang Chong should have known nothing about affairs in the harem, and his words were hardly worth believing, but Yang Zhao had an almost blind belief in Wang Chong. After all, in the aftermath, everything Wang Chong had said and done had always proved to be correct.

This was true in military, economic, political, and even harem affairs. Wang Chong would always use his extremely sharp eyes to accurately pin down the essence of the matter and predict how it would develop.

In the Consort Taizhen Incident, when Consort Taizhen found her own chances of winning the approval of the ministers slim, the sixteen-year-old Wang Chong had immediately realized the Sage Emperor’s resolve. He convinced King Song to change his mind into supporting Consort Taizhen, and in the end, Consort Taizhen got her desire and was enthroned in Yuzhen Palace as a consort.

Rumors on this matter had been spreading for some time.

Wang Chong had understood how the entire matter would develop, even understanding the Sage Emperor’s mind. This was one of the important reasons Consort Taizhen had asked for his advice at this time.

“Virtuous brother, I believe in you! If that’s what you say, it can’t be wrong! In a little while, I’ll report to Her Majesty so that she can rest easy.”

Yang Zhao stood, hardly able to contain his joy.

At this moment, he felt like a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

Although he didn’t know what the future had in store, he knew that Wang Chong’s words would be of great comfort to the consort.

At this moment, rapid footsteps began to approach. A few moments later, Zhang Que rushed in and got down on one knee.

“Your Highness, we’ve just received word that His Majesty has just proclaimed a decree conferring the title of Crown Prince on Fifth Prince Li Heng!”

Wang Chong and Yang Zhao both shuddered in shock and turned their heads.

“What?!”

Yang Zhao’s eyes flew open, and then he clapped his hands together and laughed.

“Wonderful! The Sage Emperor finally granted the title to His Fifth Highness! Virtuous brother, I’ll go back first to report to Her Majesty and then start the preparations!”

After the Rebellion of the Three Princes, the Fifth Prince had become first in the line of succession, and his performance during that rebellion had won him the favor of the Sage Emperor. He had already been allowed to participate in court affairs, and all levels of society were speculating only when, not if, he would be made Crown Prince. But nobody had expected it so quickly.

Fifth Prince Li Heng was very close to Wang Chong, and Yang Zhao was sworn brothers with Wang Chong. These three had been part of the same group for some time, and once Li Heng became Crown Prince, Consort Taizhen’s position in the harem would be as sturdy as Mount Tai. Yang Zhao no longer had anything to worry about.

Laughing, Yang Zhao soon took his leave.

Once Yang Zhao was gone, a dark cloud of worry flitted across Wang Chong’s brow. But this cloud of worry was quickly diluted by the joy he felt over Li Heng’s ascension.

“The day is finally here!”

Wang Chong sighed, a faint smile forming on his lips.

After numerous factional wars, the War of the Princes was finally over, and the Great Tang could finally welcome its true heir apparent and future Emperor.

With the matter of the heir apparent settled, the future of the empire was decided. This was the most important event in the entire empire!

Li Heng might have had various flaws, but he was not as conniving as the First Prince, nor was he as cruel as the Xueyang Palace Incident’s Fourth Prince. He was loyal, upright, and benevolent, a diligent sovereign.

In the apocalyptic era, Li Heng’s death from vomiting blood had been a source of immense regret, a loss that all of the Great Tang had felt and mourned. That he was able to take the reins of power while the Sage Emperor was still healthy and the empire was its peak was something Wang Chong had looked forward to all this time.

“Zhang Que, prepare a good gift for me! I plan to personally witness the Fifth Prince enter the Eastern Palace!” Wang Chong sternly said.

“Yes!”

……

The news that the Sage Emperor was making Li Heng the Crown Prince went off like a bomb, shaking the entire empire.

The Sage Emperor was both wise and powerful, a sovereign for the ages, but he had been slow to name an heir apparent. First Prince Li Ying had served as the eldest son for decades, residing in the Eastern Palace and participating in the government for some time, and he had even been made the regent. He had been Crown Prince in everything but name.

The Sage Emperor had been Emperor for decades, and the position of Crown Prince had been empty for just as many years.

The Imperial Court had its objections to this way of doing things, and many officials had submitted memorials asking that the Sage Emperor decide on a Crown Prince as soon as possible. But privately, they did not think there was much of a problem.

The heir apparent was the next Son of Heaven. Choosing one was no easy matter, as once the title was granted, it was difficult to remove. As the fate of the millions of people of the Great Tang hinged on this decision, the Sage Emperor needed to be as cautious as possible.

But finally, the dust had settled. A new Crown Prince was certainly something worth celebrating.

“Wonderful! His Majesty has finally decided to confer the title of Crown Prince!”

Both the officialdom and the common people were ecstatic.

Time flew by, and it was soon the day on which Li Heng was to be granted the title.

“Acceding to the will of the heavens, the Emperor declares: Ever since We received the mandate of Gaozong and ascended to the throne, We have expended our utmost effort on the important matters of the court and the people, never growing tired and never daring to be satisfied. But the matter of succession in the clan cannot suffer a gap. The position of Crown Prince is of utmost importance to the fortune of the empire and cannot be left empty for long!

“Fifth Prince Li Heng has an honest and considerate nature, devoted as a sovereign and upright as a subject, taking the sages as his model and placing himself under the service of the heavens. His virtues make him appropriate for the role. Now, in accordance with the imperial traditions, heeding the public sentiment, this ceremony is held to announce to the heavens and earth, to the ancestral temple, to the gods of the grain and the earth, that he is to be made Crown Prince and move into the Eastern Palace so that he may inherit the place as the ruler of ten thousand years, the heart of the four seas.

“This decree is to be announced to all the realm so that the people may hear and understand.”

The Sage Emperor sat in front of the lofty Taiji Palace as Gao Lishi read the decree. On the white jade steps, Fifth Prince Li Heng was wearing the Crown Prince’s dragon robe, solemnly bowed as he received the decree. Farther down, the officials had lined up along the many steps, looking up toward Taiji Palace.

Wang Chong stood on the platform once occupied by King Qi, serving as a spectator to the ceremony.

Wang Chong smiled in gratification as he looked up at Li Heng, who already had some bearing of a sovereign.

“Your lowly subject and son accepts the decree! May the Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand years!”

Li Heng solemnly walked up to the Sage Emperor, got down on both knees, bowed several times, and then finally took the decree and Crown Prince seal from Gao Lishi.

The Imperial Palace exploded with cheers, first from the officials, then from the Imperial Army, and finally, outside the Imperial Palace, the common people began to cheer.

Countless fireworks shot into the air in celebration!

When the ceremony was over, Li Heng passed through the crowd and went up to Wang Chong.

Wang Chong joyfully smiled.

“Thank you, Wang Chong. If not for you, I would have never been able to get this far!” Li Heng sincerely said to Wang Chong.