Chapter 151 (1/2)
Chapter 151 Burnt Ends: Memories
The days of Autumn are often filled with rain. Compared to the thunderstorms of Summer that often leave a cooling sensation in the air, the long drizzles of Autumn are like the quiet sobs of a woman, carrying with them a freezing sadness in its starts and stops. This day, the clouds above Chang'an were overcast like usual, as if they were going to fall from the sky at any moment.
Along the road from the Office of Imperial Clan Affairs to the Imperial Prison, a lone man walked with an umbrella above his head. Dressed in a robe of bamboo green, with star-shaped embroidery along the collar and edges of the robe, the man had a cape of fox-skin wrapped around his neck despite it already being the middle of Autumn. The pendant of white jade that swung with his every step reflected the pale shade of his skin, his delicate eyebrows and handsome features making him the very definition of a handsome gentleman.
Jiang Moyin held back a cough as he handed a badge to the guards before the Imperial Prison. The guards exchanged a look and one quickly disappeared into the building, returning with the Imperial Jailor. Following the jailor, Jiang Moyin slowly descended into the depths of the Imperial Prison, where the criminals were held.
The prison was damp and dark, with barely any sunlight reaching the dank floor that stank of mould. Jiang Moyin coughed heavily, but still, he followed the jailor to the deepest part of the prison. The jailor stopped outside a cell and turned to Jiang Moyin, without looking at the inmate inside.
“Master Jiang, he is inside. His Majesty has ordered that n.o.body is to go into the cell; you can only talk to him through the bars.”
Jiang Moyin nodded. The jailor bowed and quickly turned to leave. Jiang Moyin dropped to one knee outside of the door and peered into the cell. A frail-looking man with dishevelled hair sat inside, a stark contrast to his handsome image of the past.
“Your Highness!”
The tired eyes of the Second Prince quickly found Jiang Moyin sitting mere feet away from him. Joy welled up in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by anger. His mouth twitched furiously, but no words came out of it. He sighed heavily.
“I never thought that you'd be the one to visit me now.”
“Your Highness.” Jiang Moyin called out again, sadness apparent in his eyes. He forced a sad smile and placed a porcelain bottle on the floor of the cell through the bars.
The Second Prince did not even look at the bottle. “What is there to say between the two of us now? It's all over. Everything is over. I'm no longer the Heir that you'd once pledged yourself to, and you are no longer my Grand Tutor. Why do you have to come and witness me in this horrible state?”
“Your Highness.” Jiang Moyin repeated the words again. In the game of thrones, the losers can never be forgiven. No one can break that rule.
Nostalgia welled up in the eyes of the Second Prince. His voice was a low mumble when he spoke again, like the light patter of the raindrops outside the prison. “In the years I've spent in the palace, I've always remembered how you looked when your father had brought you into the palace when you were only three. Back then, I was but the least favoured son out of all the princes. When I learnt that you were the famous child that had astounded the entire Chang'an with your intelligence at three years of age, all I wanted was to be your friend.”
“I did all I could back then. We finally became friends, and I pestered you day and night to teach me all that you knew. When you were thirteen, I begged Father and Mother to make you my study-partner, but I never expected you, who was already famous throughout the kingdom, to agree.”
“From thirteen to nineteen, you helped me all that you could for six years. From an unknown prince, I slowly grew into the inheritor of the kingdom, the powerful Heir Apparent. We shared our visions of the kingdom all those years, and I remember all your promises of helping me make our kingdom the way we saw it.”
“For production, to reduce taxes on the farmers and allow them to recuperate from the years of war. For education, to place emphasis on the system of examination and the importance of education for all. For politics, to accept opinions and criticisms while trusting those that I know. I remember every word of yours, even till today.”
The voice of the Second Prince rose. “I'd thought that you would stay by my side all the way, until the day our dreams were realised! But now, one wrong step led to many and I am now in the abyss.”
“Your Highness!” Jiang Moyin raised his voice as well, interrupting the tirade of the Second Prince. “Then why did you do it, your Highness? Your position was already secured; his Majesty was intent on pa.s.sing on the throne to you. His support of the other princes was just for show; it wouldn't have changed anything!”
“Hah!” The Second Prince's laughter was shrill. “Did you say that Father wanted to pa.s.s on the throne to me? He'd wanted to give it to the other princes as well! He was the one who fuelled the growth of my brothers, and forced me to the state I am in today! He is so heartless!”
Jiang Moyin kept mum, hiding his disappointment and sadness behind a mask.
The laughter died down, and his voice turned into a low mumble. “Moyin, I know that I am wrong. I know that I would remain the Heir if I'd done what you'd said, and ascend to the throne. But do you know the feeling of power? The feeling when you can decide the lives of others in a single word? An ounce of power may sate a person, but it will also bring about a thirst that can only be quenched by more power. That was all that I could think about; I dreamt of it even in my dreams. I, have forgotten why we'd started out in the first place.”