Ashes to Crown

Chapter 151: Chapter 105: 2 Edicts

Eunuch Chen had been by the Emperor’s side for over a decade, and for just as long, the Emperor had neglected the affairs of state.

For an Imperial City where the Crown Prince had come of age and managed the court for years, the identity of its true master had grown somewhat ambiguous.

In fact, when Eunuch Chen had uttered the words that the Inner Palace Guards were all handpicked and unswervingly loyal to His Majesty, he’d found it laughable himself.

’Take me, for instance. It isn’t that I’m disloyal to His Majesty. It’s just that, besides His Majesty, I can be loyal to others too—if those others need it.’

’I wonder who this ”other person” will be now.’

’The Crown Prince is out of the question. The Third Prince, perhaps?’

As his mind raced with chaotic thoughts, he heard the Emperor speak a name. It was an unfamiliar name, and it left him completely bewildered.

For over a decade, the Emperor could only be bothered to name a handful of people around him. It wasn’t that no one tried to get his attention, but he couldn’t be bothered to look at them, let alone remember them. Later, with the rise of the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, the Emperor’s court had become even more desolate.

”Who is Deng Yi?” he asked as he hurried out. ”Why would His Majesty know a mere Palace Gate Order?”

Stranger still, His Majesty had to provide his imperial belt as proof for this Palace Gate Order, as if the man couldn’t be summoned otherwise.

’What kind of man is this?’

The Inner Palace was pitch-black. He called for a dozen eunuchs to accompany him, their hurried footsteps echoing on the stone slabs and making his heart pound even faster.

The dozen eunuchs were just as bewildered upon hearing the name.

They had never heard it spoken in the Emperor’s presence.

’When did His Majesty meet this Palace Gate Order? Aren’t all the Palace Gate Orders chosen by the Crown Prince? They don’t even come before His Majesty—’

Too many incredible things were happening today.

Though his loyalties could waver, at this very moment, only the Emperor stood before him. He had no choice but to obey with unwavering devotion.

The area around the inner palace gate was brightly lit, but that only made it more terrifying.

Before they could even get close, Imperial Guards shouted, ”Halt! Who goes there!”

At the same time, gleaming crossbows were aimed at them. The eunuchs jumped in fright. ’This is bad,’ was their first thought. ’We don’t know who controls the inner palace gate now—’

’But no matter who was in charge, they had to acknowledge the one at the top, right?’

They quickly called out, ”By order of His Majesty—”

But the crossbows were not lowered. ”Do you have proof of this order?”

’It seemed if they didn’t have proof, they’d be shot full of arrows right here and now—’

’Is this Deng Yi’s way of doing things? His Majesty truly understands this man.’ Eunuch Chen took a breath and held up the belt. ”Yes—”

The torchlight made the eunuchs clearly visible, and the Bright Yellow Belt with its dragon pattern, held high, was just as clear.

The officials standing on the palace walls breathed a sigh of relief. ”It really is His Majesty’s imperial belt.”

But then they held their breath again. ’Did His Majesty remove the belt himself, or was it... ripped off him?’

They had heard the commotion from the Inner Palace earlier—the sounds of fighting and screaming were no less intense than those from the outer city.

They hadn’t known what to do. Deng Yi had immediately led a group to investigate but was stopped by the guards at the imperial bedchambers, who said His Majesty had ordered no one to approach.

When told not to approach, Deng Yi didn’t ask for proof of the order. He simply turned around and led his men back.

”So now there’s an order from His Majesty. Do we obey it or not?” they asked, looking at Deng Yi.

Deng Yi did not hesitate for a second. ”We obey.” He raised a hand, signaling for them to be allowed through.

At this moment, everyone at the inner palace gate followed his lead. The Imperial Guards immediately let them pass.

Eunuch Chen strode over, his eyes scanning the officials in their robes, a group of varying ages.

One of the officials, a man of about thirty, looked quite ordinary. His official robe was of the lowest rank, yet one’s gaze was unconsciously drawn to him, perhaps because the other officials clustered around him instinctively.

Eunuch Chen held up the Bright Yellow Belt. ”His Majesty summons you. Please follow me at once—”

He was being deliberately clever, not calling out Deng Yi’s name directly.

Hearing this, the officials’ expressions turned strange. None of them responded immediately.

’In the past, hearing a summons from His Majesty was like ascending to the heavens for them. Look at them now.’ Eunuch Chen sneered inwardly.

’In the past, a summons from His Majesty was indeed a blessing. But now? Who knew if going in meant you’d truly be ascending to the heavens...’ The officials hesitated, their eyes uncertain.

Deng Yi stepped forward and reached for the belt. ”Deng Yi accepts the order.”

’So he is Deng Yi after all.’

Eunuch Chen looked at him, his expression complex.

’And His Majesty is His Majesty, indeed.’

’You think you’ve seen through him, but in truth, he’s unfathomable.’

...

...

Watched by the nervous, uneasy, and sympathetic gazes of the other officials, Deng Yi followed Eunuch Chen alone. It was an imperial summons; there was no sense in bringing guards. Whether this journey led to life or death was now up to fate.

Eunuch Chen glanced at Deng Yi from time to time. In the dim light, his expression was placid, and he asked no questions.

”Lord Deng, how long have you been with the Palace Gate Guard?” Eunuch Chen couldn’t help but ask.

Deng Yi said, ”Not long.”

Eunuch Chen said, ”This old servant is always in the Inner Palace and has never had the chance to greet Lord Deng. I am ashamed.”

Deng Yi replied, ”It matters not. I have never entered the Inner Palace, so we have had no opportunity to greet one another.”

’Never?’ Eunuch Chen was even more astonished. He understood even less about Deng Yi’s origins now. Tonight, it felt as if his eyes were veiled by the darkness, unable to see anything clearly. He dared not ask more, and simply lowered his head to lead the way.

Deng Yi looked at the Inner Palace. This was the first time he had ever walked inside. The palace was dark and gloomy, permeated with the stench of blood. In the inky blackness, shadows seemed to overlap, and intermittent, illusory cries echoed through the air, making it feel like a realm of ghosts.

But upon entering the Emperor’s bedchambers, it felt as though he had returned to the world of the living.

The room was brightly lit. An old man, his bright yellow robes open, sat on a couch nibbling on pastries. He seemed unsatisfied with them, his brow furrowed in a frown.

”Too sweet,” he said, tossing the pastry back onto the plate. ”It’s nothing like the ones the Imperial Concubine used to make.”

The eunuchs beside him hurriedly offered tea.

The old man waved a hand impatiently, and the eunuchs scurried away.

Eunuch Chen stepped forward and bowed. ”Your Majesty, Deng Yi has arrived.”

Deng Yi knelt and kowtowed. ”Your subject, Deng Yi, pays his respects to Your Majesty.”

He kept his head bowed, feeling the old man’s gaze settle upon him from above.

”How old are you?” the Emperor asked.

Deng Yi replied, ”Your subject will turn thirty-one this August.”

The Emperor grunted. ”At thirty, one should be established.” He then asked, ”Have you studied the classics?”

Deng Yi replied, ”I have. In my youth, I went to Lu County to study poetry. However, my elder brother passed away young and my widowed mother was frail, so I was forced to return after only five years.”

The Emperor grunted again. ”Lu Shi. That is the school of Shen Peigong.” He then asked, ”And what did you do after that?”

Deng Yi replied, ”Your subject served as a Pavilion Chief in my home village for three years, then entered the county government to serve as a Clerk for another three. After that, I was a Supervisor at the Governor Mansion in the County for two years, before being appointed as a Gate Patrol Officer under the Imperial Censor. Last year, I came to the capital and became a Commander at the Weiwei Mansion, and just last month, I was transferred to the Palace Gate Guard.”

The Emperor laughed after hearing the list. ”You’ve held quite a few posts. From the lowest rungs to the top, you’ve done a bit of everything.”

Deng Yi said, ”Your subject lives on his lord’s stipend; I can only be diligent in my duties.”

’Listening to this exchange between sovereign and subject, Eunuch Chen grew even more surprised. It sounded like His Majesty didn’t know this Deng Yi at all. Was he just finding out about him now?’

’But for this Deng Yi to have started as a lowly Pavilion Chief... such an unremarkable background—’

’What on earth did His Majesty summon Deng Yi for? Surely he didn’t just want to find a stranger to chat with because he couldn’t sleep on a chaotic night like this, right?’

As Eunuch Chen’s mind raced, he strained his ears to hear what the Emperor would say next.

The Emperor asked Deng Yi no more questions. He called out, ”Attendants.”

Eunuch Chen quickly answered, ”Yes.”

”Bring the robes and sash of a court official,” the Emperor said, pointing at Deng Yi. ”Bestow them upon Deng Yi.”

Both Eunuch Chen and Deng Yi looked up in astonishment. But while Eunuch Chen was simply stunned into silence, Deng Yi immediately kowtowed again. ”Your subject thanks Your Majesty for this grace.”

The Emperor looked at Deng Yi and asked, ”I am making you a court official at a time like this. Are you afraid?”

Deng Yi raised his head, his expression calm, his eyes shining. ”When I was a Pavilion Chief, I did not fear becoming a Clerk. Today, as a Palace Gate Guard, I do not fear becoming a court official. Your subject heeds only the imperial command. I will give my all and serve until my dying day.”

The Emperor laughed heartily and pointed to the desk.

”Deng Yi, here is Our Jade Seal, the Imperial City Guard Order, and the Capital Camp Tiger Talisman. The Imperial Family is in turmoil. We hereby appoint you as Grand Tutor. The safety of the Great Xia, We entrust to you.”

Deng Yi straightened his back, performed a fist-in-palm salute, and then prostrated himself in a deep kowtow.

”Your subject, Deng Yi, accepts this command!”