Yi Lang knelt at the very front, completely silent. His aunt, Princess Imperial Jiayi, seeing he wasn’t crying, wiped her tears while embracing his shoulders, saying, “Your Highness, you must cry… join your aunt…”
Yi Lang gently shrugged his shoulders, avoiding Princess Imperial Jiayi’s hand, lowered his head, and still made no sound as he pressed his lips together.
Princess Imperial Jiayi could only turn to look at Yang Wan, saying softly, “Quickly, won’t you persuade His Highness.”
Yang Wan knelt behind Yi Lang and couldn’t see his face, but she could see his hands resting at his sides, gripped so tightly the knuckles had turned white.
She was about to speak when suddenly a weak voice cut through the crying: “I… White Huan, Prime Minister of the Cabinet… request to receive His Majesty’s final edict!”
The crowd’s crying faltered as they all turned to look at White Huan.
They saw White Huan dragging his sick body forward on his knees, using all his strength to raise his voice: “I… White Huan, Prime Minister of the Cabinet… request to receive His Majesty’s final edict! I! White Huan, Prime Minister of the Cabinet, request to receive His Majesty’s final edict!”
After speaking these words, he vomited a mouthful of fresh blood onto the ground, instantly melting the snow before him.
Seeing the Prime Minister cough blood, the kneeling officials were suddenly inflamed.
Yang Lun stood up directly, walked to White Huan’s side, and knelt, kowtowing as he called out loudly: “I, Yang Lun, Minister of the Cabinet, request to receive His Majesty’s final edict!”
Once these words were spoken, voices requesting the final edict rose one after another.
Hu Xiang became flustered at this sight and hurriedly said, “What are you all standing there for? Quickly carry the Minister away!”
The Ming armor guards were about to step forward but were blocked by Qin Wende, who said, “Those who abandon their posts before the hall will be executed immediately.”
Hu Xiang raised his head to look at Deng Ying standing before the Hall of Mental Cultivation and shouted, “Deng Ying, is your Eastern Depot rebelling? Deputy Commander Zhang… Deputy Commander Zhang!”
Zhang Luo said coldly, “If you didn’t understand Captain Qin’s words, I’ll say them once more: those who abandon their posts will be executed immediately!”
Hu Xiang’s legs weakened and he couldn’t help stumbling back several steps. “You… you all…”
The hall doors suddenly opened and Li Head Scribe walked out from within, casually helping Hu Xiang steady himself, then bowed to Yi Lang saying, “Crown Prince, the Empress permits Your Highness to enter the hall and view the body.”
Then he raised his voice to add, “Announce the death to Banana Garden.”
These last words were meant for Yi Lang to hear. At the words “Banana Garden,” Yang Wan saw Yi Lang’s body sway slightly.
He slowly stood up, ascended the steps to the moon terrace, and at the hall doors lifted his robes to kneel, kowtowing as he said: “I, Zhu Yi Lang, once showed great disrespect at my royal father’s sickbed. Knowing my guilt, I dare not view the body.”
The snowy wind carried these words to the ears of all the officials.
White Huan struggled to raise himself and opened his mouth but could produce no sound. Yi Lang stood up, walked down the steps, came before White Huan, and knelt again.
Seeing this, the officials hurriedly prostrated themselves and pleaded: “Your Highness must not do this!”
Yi Lang said, “I implore all the ministers to perform the mourning rites and send my royal father’s soul to rest.”
Then he turned and called to Yang Wan: “Aunt, let us return to change into mourning clothes.”
Night had fallen.
Yang Wan held a snow umbrella as she followed Yi Lang toward Chengqian Palace, but halfway there, Yi Lang stopped walking. Yang Wan crouched down with the umbrella, “Your Highness, if you want to cry, then cry. You can cry now.”
Yi Lang shook his head, “I want to see the Director.”
“I’ll go find him to come here.”
“No need, I’ll go see him.”
With all four gates locked, Yang Lun and the others could not leave the palace. White Yuyang supported White Huan as they went to the Cabinet’s chambers.
Yang Lun and Deng Ying stood in the snow before Huiji Gate.
“The teacher’s body can’t hold out much longer.”
“Yes. Tomorrow after the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), I’ll have Eastern Depot guards escort him out of the palace. You should go with him.”
Yang Lun shook his head and said, “I won’t leave. With the teacher gone, the Cabinet needs someone to remain in the palace keeping watch. White Yuyang has such an explosive temper, and now I’m the only one who can still hold him back a bit.”
Deng Ying smiled slightly.
Yang Lun said, “What are you smiling at on this day of national mourning?”
Deng Ying lowered his head and said, “Nothing.”
Yang Lun didn’t pursue it further and changed the subject: “Fu Ling, do you think His Majesty left a final edict?”
“Yes, but the Ceremonial Office won’t produce it.”
Yang Lun continued, “They might even write a false one.”
Deng Ying raised his head and said, “Whether true or false, tomorrow the Cabinet will certainly receive an edict. Have you discussed it beforehand? If His Majesty passes the throne to the Second Prince…”
“Reject it.”
Yang Lun spat out one word. Then he added, “The Cabinet has the right to reject and remonstrate. Even though this is a final edict, I can risk death to try.”
Deng Ying said, “And after you try?”
“Draft a new edict, supporting the Crown Prince’s ascension.”
Deng Ying interrupted him, “If the Empress doesn’t permit it, you’ll have died in vain. Can you rest easy leaving the Cabinet to Minister White?”
Yang Lun fell silent, and after a long while finally said, “You’re right. Today when the Empress led the Second Prince to view the body, making the Crown Prince kneel outside with us—just this one thing is enough to prove the Empress will not allow the Crown Prince’s ascension.”
“So, Zi Xi, rejecting the edict is not the best method.”
Yang Lun clenched his fist and said, “But persuading the Empress will be no easy task.”
Just then, Qi Huaiyang came running over, “Minister Yang, Minister White has awakened, but there’s no more charcoal in the chamber.”
Deng Ying said, “Get some from the Inner Eastern Depot.”
After speaking, he suddenly furrowed his brow and looked down at his ankle.
Yang Lun asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, an old injury from last year.”
Yang Lun said, “The charcoal still needs to be burned. Wan’er fought desperately to treat your injury, don’t make yourself out to be a prisoner.”
Deng Ying smiled slightly, “I’m not.”
“Whether you are or not, you know in your heart.”
“Enough.”
Deng Ying turned around. “This isn’t the time to argue with me. I’ll return to the Inner Eastern Depot first to change into mourning clothes and get charcoal for the teacher.”
After speaking he walked into the snow, then after a few steps turned back and said: “Yang Zi Xi, your life is more important than mine. Don’t act rashly in rejecting the edict, let me think more on it.”
“Who says your life is worth more than mine, stop talking such bullshit!”
“Fine, I’m talking bullshit.”
With that, Deng Ying cupped his hands in the snow and said, “But please be cautious, and leave a path for me.”