zChapter 1145 - Something Bad Happened At Heavenly Hall (1/2)
Feng Tianyu told Ren Xifeng: “You also know that our home has a burden, my father is afraid that something bad will happen to me and does not allow me to go out, so this needs to be carried out by you. Enter the imperial palace and meet His Highness the Sixth Prince, the relationship between His Highness the Sixth Prince and Ah-Heng is still rather good. With His Highnesses the Ninth Prince and Seventh Prince not in the capital now, no one can make Ah-Heng listen to them. But His Highness the Sixth Prince might be able to do so!”
Once Feng Tianyu mentioned this, Ren Xifeng also felt happy, “That’s right! How did I forget about His Highness the Sixth Prince! Ah-Heng’s current state is so unstable, no one can do anything about it, but for someone like His Highness the Sixth Prince, he might stablise her. In this world, other than His Highness the Seventh Prince, the person who can combat action with calmness should be His Highness the Sixth Prince, aye aye, Tianyu, you contributed a lot, I will enter the imperial palace now, you shall stay in the manor and wait for my good news!”
Ren Xifeng was the type to prove her point with her actions, once she said she would do it, she would do so immediately, heading straight to the imperial palace after leaving the Prime Minister’s manor. But once she reached the imperial palace gates, that was when she finally thought about how she was supposed to get in? Unlike Feng Yuheng, she did not have the right to enter and leave the imperial palace whenever she wanted, and even though she was the first daughter from General Pingnan’s manor, it was not an easy thing for her to enter the imperial palace. Unless a master inside invited her, she could not enter at all.
Ren Xifeng stopped in front of Deyang Gate with a gloomy expression, the servant who was driving reminded her: “Master entered the imperial palace today and had not come out yet! Young Miss can wait at the imperial palace gates, and when Master comes out, we can have Master think of something.”
“No.” Ren Xifeng shook her head, “In the end, this is a problem from a female, how can I ask my father to get involved.” She thought for a while and thought of an idea. She immediately reached into her sleeve pocket and pulled out her money bag, then picked out the two largest pieces of silver, holding them in her hand and got off, handing it over to the imperial guard who was on duty, then she said: “Sir, I am someone from General Pingnan’s manor, I have some business with Eunuch Zhang Yuan, can you see if you can help to pass on the message?”
Even though the imperial guard guarding the palace did not recognise Ren Xifeng, looking at her attire and hearing her declare her family background, he could guess the identity of the other party. They were all people under Xuan Tianming and naturally knew the relationship between Ren Xifeng and Feng Yuheng and also knew that General Pingnan’s manor was standing on the Ninth Prince’s side. Therefore, that soldier did not give her any trouble, accepting the silver, turning around and entering to deliver the message. Ren Xifeng waited for a duration of two incense sticks and finally saw Zhang Yuan following the soldier and walking out from the imperial palace.
She quickly approached him and greeted him warmly: “Eunuch Zhang, Ah-Heng asked me to look for you.” Ren Xifeng was very smart, declaring Feng Yuheng’s name immediately. Firstly, it was such that Zhang Yuan would not end up not helping her in the end. Secondly, it was for these imperial guards to hear. With Feng Yuheng suppressing the scene, it would be easier to allow her into the imperial palace.
Once Zhang Yuan heard that Feng Yuheng asked her to come, he quickly asked for the reason. Ren Xifeng pulled him to the side and then spoke softly: “Ah-Heng has encountered some trouble, I came to see His Highness the Sixth Prince. But I cannot enter the imperial palace, without any other choice, I can only trouble Eunuch Zhang to help think of something, see if you can bring me in than allow me to see His Highness the Sixth Prince.”
Zhang Yuan rolled his eyes, thinking that what was said just now was just a lie! But something bad happened to Feng Yuheng, this surprised him greatly. He wanted to ask what exactly happened, but it was not good to speak here. Therefore, Zhang Yuan nodded and told Ren Xifeng: “Let’s talk after entering the imperial palace!”
Zhang Yuan was someone close to the Emperor, it was too easy for him to bring someone into the imperial palace. The imperial guards just let him through without asking anything. Of course, who would dare to anger someone close to the Emperor? The old Emperor valued this Eunuch more than his own life, if not for this Eunuch keeping him company and placating him every day, the old Emperor would have caused a huge ruckus again.
On the way from Deyang Gate to Heavenly Hall, Ren Xifeng summarised the situation with Feng Yuheng to Zhang Yuan, and after hearing this, Zhang Yuan commented with emotion: “It has been a long time since I heard any news from outside the imperial palace, I didn’t expect for such a thing to happen. It was correct for Young Miss Ren to come, as long as it can help Princess Yu, any method is worth trying. This Servant will bring you over to Heavenly Hall, you can definitely meet the Sixth Prince.”
The two of them walked towards Heavenly Hall, and when they arrived, they discovered that the Sixth Prince was discussing matters inside the Hall. At this kind of hour, the morning court had not even ended yet. Ren Xifeng did not understand and after gathering information, she realised that they were talking about the winter disaster in the northern border. It was entering winter now, the weather at the northern border would change abruptly. A disaster would occur every year, they could not succeed in avoiding it this year as well.
Ren Xifeng stood outside the Hall and listened to the proceedings inside the Hall, the positive Sixth Prince lost his temper. There was a winter disaster in the northern border, half of the army was recalled because of the battle at the eastern border. For the other half which was left behind, they were unable to receive the army supplies in time. Currently they did not have enough food. In the military camp, they had to depend on their own purchasing to ensure that the soldiers standing guard could eat their fill and dress warmly. But in the first place, the northern border was barren, seeds would not grow where they were buried, the food eaten by the citizens were imported from other provinces, how could it be enough to satisfy the needs of an army? Seeing that the soldiers were going to go hungry, how could the Sixth Prince not feel anxious?
But the ministers had an explanation, they had just entered winter, but the snow in the northern area had started falling since late autumn, and the snow was only getting heavier. It was not that the imperial court did not send food towards the northern disaster, but after passing through River Sky Manor, the roads became difficult to travel on, and then they encountered a large number of refugees. The food was plundered during the journey and when they were delivered to the army camp at the northern border, not even half of what was delivered remained.
Ren Xifeng frowned as she listened, Zhang Yuan spoke softly next to her: “This isn’t anything new. These things happen every year, the northern border is a frozen land, it would be strange if there was no disaster. In addition, they even included Qian Zhou now. Our Da Shun still has to be responsible for the citizens in Qian Zhou as well. It is like this in court ever day. Even though This Servant does not know anything about matters outside the imperial palace, This Servant knows about the matters within the imperial palace very well. His Highness the Sixth Prince is so busy that he would frequently not sleep night after night, and even with that, the political duties keep piling up.” As Zhang Yuan spoke, he shook his head and sighed, “His Highness the Sixth Prince is a little too serious, for His Majesty in the past, when he handled these matters, most of the time he would throw something on the ground and tell those Ministers that they chattered too much and not bother him about every little thing. The ministers would handle things well anyway, no one would dare to under-deliver. But His Highness the Sixth Prince does not dare! He is holding the position, so many eyes are watching him! With any small mistake, people would harp on about it. I really cannot tell what is so good about fighting for the position to manage all the important matters in this world.”
Ren Xifeng had the same thoughts, many people wanted to fight to become the Emperor, such that they were willing to harm their brothers and their father. But they did not know that after becoming Emperor, the burden on their body was higher than the sky. Once they sat on that Emperor seat, it was not as easy as just enjoying court greetings.