Capital City.
Inside Yangxin Hall, the candle flames never ceased, and the heavy scent of medicine and incense lingered without dissipating. Outside the hall, eight hundred Embroidered Robe Envoys guarded the great hall, having received an imperial decree yesterday that no one outside the hall was allowed to leave, only to enter.
Even for eating, drinking, and other personal matters, there were designated individuals to handle the transmissions.
Inside the hall, Zhu Huai'an, the founding Emperor of the Great Yan dynasty, leaned on the dragon bed, dictating his final edict.
"My time is near, and this is the mandate of Heaven which cannot be defied. Ministers, heed my decree..."
Zhu Huai'an's gaze swept over the crowd, and all the courtiers lowered their heads.
The old dragon, though aged, still commanded respect.
"Crown Prince Zhu Chengsi is kind, filial, intelligent, and capable of succeeding to the throne. You all must dedicate yourselves to assisting him and safeguarding the Great Yan's state and society!"
At the front of the crowd, the Crown Prince, who was nearly forty, stepped forward on his knees. Despite tears streaming down his face, he choked up and dutifully responded, "Your son accepts the decree!"
Zhu Huai'an's eyes reflected satisfaction. In matters of great importance, his eldest son understood what mattered most.
Passing on the throne was of utmost significance. After informing the ministers of this matter privately, Zhu Huai'an then turned to Wu Zhiyuan, the Chief Grand Secretary, and said, "Draft the edict, and convey my will: from this day forth, the Crown Prince shall ascend the throne. Observe ancestral laws, and implement benevolent governance; the military power of the nine borders shall be entrusted to Wang Liang, Yin Ping, and Shang Shaoyang jointly; and those who do not comply with the Eastern Palace's orders or obey the new Emperor shall be executed immediately!"
Zhu Huai'an coughed for a while before continuing to proclaim the edict.
All matters, both great and small, whether within or outside the court, were addressed.
Finally, Zhu Huai'an dismissed the others, leaving only the Crown Prince Zhu Chengsi by his side.
"Li'er, do you know why your father gave you this nickname?"
Zhu Chengsi answered, "Because when my mother was alive, she loved cats and kept two Li Nu, so she gave me this name."
Zhu Huai'an shook his head and said, "It wasn't because your mother loved cats, but because your father once issued an edict ordering the palace attendants to be kind to the palace's Li Nu. Your mother liked the house and its crow, so she started hiring and keeping cats."
"Do you know why your father issued that edict back then?"
"I don't know, father."
Zhu Huai'an patted Zhu Chengsi's hand and asked again, "Then do you remember when I wanted to hire a teacher for you, to serve as the Imperial Tutor of our dynasty..."
"I remember, at that time, you humbled yourself and went in person to invite that man, but you returned without success several times."
Zhu Huai'an sighed, continuing: "Yes, one of my lifelong regrets, aside from failing to save your grandfather, is not being able to bring Brother Xu to be your teacher."
"Figures like Wang Liang, the King of Dingyuan, Wu Zhiyuan, and that Gu Family's Shaoyang have all benefited from his guidance. Even the throne and the state of Great Yan heavily relied on him."
"Li'er, the reason your father gave you this nickname is actually because my Brother Xu had a Li Nu by his side. I often thought, if your mother could cherish the house and its crow, perhaps Brother Xu would also care for you in such a way."
"Help me up."
Zhu Huai'an coughed several more times. After sitting up, he retrieved an already written letter from his robe, saying:
"This is the last thing your father can do for you. If you ever face a matter of extreme urgency or difficulty, you can take this letter to Jin Sect, Linjiang County City, and seek out Xu Qing at the Funeral Shop on Underground Street. Let him assist you."
"My child, you must treat him with utmost courtesy and respect; do not show any neglect, remember!"
Zhu Chengsi took the letter, though he did not pay it excessive attention, instead frowning, "Father and Mr. Xu knew each other in their youth; it's been decades since then. Mr. Xu must surely be elderly by now..."
Zhu Huai'an suddenly became lucid, "Thanks to your reminder, or else a major event could have been missed!"
"Li'er, just remember, Mr. Xu is no ordinary being. Never judge him by mortal standards. Regardless of whether he grows old or disappears, if you encounter a crisis threatening the Zhu family's foundation, go to Jin Sect. As long as there's a black-cloud Li Nu at the Funeral Shop, he will certainly still be there."
Zhu Chengsi felt a chill in his heart. He might doubt others' words, but his father's words surely weren't without basis.
He had already decided that unless it involved the survival of the realm, he would not use this letter!
If, as his father said, Mr. Xu in Jin Sect possessed the powers of an Immortal, not limited by a mortal's lifespan, then why not keep this letter forever, just like his father, and pass it on to the descendants of the Zhu family.
As for the present, Zhu Chengsi had his own conviction—to govern the realm of Great Yan well on behalf of his father!
That midnight, Zhu Huai'an, with breath barely perceptible, kept his eyes open, hovering between wake and rest, steadfastly holding onto his last breath.
In the middle of the night, an Imperial Physician approached with a jade box, within which lay ginseng slices, thin as cicada wings, their color resembling amber.
The Imperial Physician placed a slice under the Emperor's tongue.
Shortly after, faint sounds murmured from the old Emperor's mouth, as if fluids flowed within, and his chest lightly moved.
Yet, Emperor Zhu's face was still ashen, and he struggled to speak.
Cold sweat beaded on the Imperial Physician's forehead as he continually wiped his face with his sleeve.
Next to him was a broad-shouldered, benevolent-looking monk by the name of Sanjue, who gestured for the Imperial Physician to step back. He retrieved a purple bronze censer the size of a palm and took a stick of concentration incense, lighting it with a flick of his finger.
Smoke curled endlessly upwards. Sanjue held the censer near Emperor Zhu's nose, and moments later, Zhu Huai'an's nostrils softly fluttered, with a gleam gradually returning to his eyes.
Chen Liu'Er watched Emperor Zhu, whose appearance regained luster, and shook his head.
Emperor Zhu might not survive the night!
A stick of concentration incense had burned halfway when, in the interval between midnight and the hour before dawn,
an unrooted wind suddenly blew through Yangxin Hall, causing the candles inside to flicker wildly, while Zhu Huai'an on the bed seemed to sense something, immediately rousing himself to dismiss those around him, waiting silently for someone to arrive.
Before long, a familiar silhouette appeared at the foot of the dragon bed, carrying a fragrance that was both like incense and akin to a certain flower's aroma. Zhu Huai'an turned his gaze and recognized the figure that had somehow appeared there.