Chapter 11: Closed Doors

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"Cui Qianting really knows how to scheme!" Emperor Mingde skimmed through the secret document detailing the Life Preservation Meeting at the Rong Residence. His gaze slowly settled on the kneeling covert guard, his voice tinged with earnestness: "Go back and practice your lightness skills again."

The guard was taken aback: "Your servant is fearful, lightness skills..."

"The words Cui Qianting said were meant for you," the emperor chuckled.

To the emperor, these words were not harsh enough. Even the young Cui Hu dared to incite his own father to assassinate the emperor, risking the ruin of nine generations.

Reflecting on this, Emperor Mingde whispered a reminder: "Send someone to protect the lives of Cui’s father and son. Also, urge Marquis Cui to invest more in doctors for the harsh frontier towns. That benefits both us and the common folk."

The guard nodded and took his leave.

Watching him go, the emperor once again looked at the secret document, personally lighting a candle and burning it to ashes.

As the smoke drifted with the wind, Emperor Mingde finally spoke softly, addressing his trusted eunuch, Sixi: "Is the eldest still in the harem persuading his sister?"

The eldest, Situ Chengyan, born in the central palace, was seventeen this year.

He secretly incited two departments to submit memorials targeting the Cui family under the pretext of establishing a princess’s residence.

Ambitious indeed.

But he was scared stiff by Marquis Cui’s mad grave-digging and used the excuse to advise his innocent and humiliated sister to hide in the harem.

This move... the more one thought about it, the more it clogged the heart with rage, wishing to kick his useless son directly!

As an emperor who ascended the throne by coercion, he was prepared to wait for a capable son to do the same.

Yet, he never expected his eldest to be so foolish as to fail to control even Cui Enhou, a feckless playboy. This was what truly pierced the emperor’s heart!

Sixi met the emperor's probing gaze with downcast respect: "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is still in the Weiyang Palace."

Emperor Mingde pressed his forehead where a vein throbbed: "I have waited all day, yet this group hasn’t taken decisive action, not as resolute as Marquis Cui!"

With disdain and impatience, the emperor issued an order: "Summon all civil and military officials, and all princes and princesses to court!"

"Then..." Sixi looked at the emperor’s darkened face, braving a timid question, "What about Lord Rong?"

"Summon him to court to carry two iron certificates and assassinate me on the spot?" Emperor Mingde rolled his eyes. "I still want to live in peace for a few more years."

Sixi prostrated himself: "Please calm your anger, Your Majesty."

"Resolve this mess quickly, or I shall not have peace anymore," the emperor waved plainly. "Go now."

"Yes." Sixi hurriedly got up, bowed deeply, and retreated.

Once outside the palace gates, he straightened his posture, assumed the commanding presence of the Chief Steward, waved his dust whisk, and raised his voice: "The emperor commands all civil and military officials to attend court, and all princes and princesses to enter the court!"

Upon this decree, every court official trembled, not to mention those directly involved.

Inside Weiyang Palace, the Crown Prince wore a worried expression: "Father... why would Father suddenly order all princes and princesses to court? This is completely against protocol!"

There were five princes in total this dynasty. He was the eldest legitimate son but had only been allowed to observe court proceedings so far. The other four were still studying in the imperial study. The second prince was only thirteen, and the youngest still an infant. How could they participate in governance?

"The rules are what your father decides," the Empress gently admonished her son, sensing his unease. "Just follow your father's wishes. The rest has nothing to do with us. It's those scoundrels trying to guess the emperor’s intent."

Her words were like a bucket of cold water on a hot day, instantly quelling the prince’s anxiety. His eyes flickered as he looked at his mother, who had stood by his father all along, and slowly replied, "Yes."

The worst possible outcome would be the demotion of the princess.

Marrying his sister to Cui Hu, a fallen scion, was somewhat unfair to her but at least the Cui family had some standing—two iron certificates alone.

Such favor was unmatched even by the maternal family.

Contemplating this, the Crown Prince glanced at his disgruntled sister and said gently, "Let’s hurry. Don’t cause a scene with Father in court."

The eldest princess snorted coldly and swept past with a flick of her sleeve.

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Emperor Mingde sat high on the dragon throne, looking down at the kneeling officials. His gaze slowly swept over his standing children in the front row before he spoke calmly, "Esteemed ministers, you are all intelligent and perceptive. You must know what happened yesterday. How do you think I should handle it?"

Silence engulfed the vast hall.

No one dared to step forward.

After all, Marquis Cui was a madman who dared to dig up his great-grandfather’s tomb—the imperial burial site of the founding war heroes! Such reckless defiance, and he held iron certificates!

Two in total—each of the seven founding dukes received one; the martial emperor had granted one to Cui Zhen.

"Since all remain silent, I shall decide the punishment myself. Lord Rong—" the emperor deliberately prolonged the last word, and sure enough, someone stepped forward.

"I am the Marquis of the Nation’s Defender. I implore you, in light of two generations of founding dukes who shed blood for the country, and considering Marquis Cui’s childhood marked by repeated assassination attempts as a general’s kin, spare him," the marquis knelt, every word filled with heartfelt sorrow. "Countless generals defend the borders while their progeny face sword and dagger attacks in the capital. Please show leniency to their families."

At these words, military officials exchanged glances, then knelt in unison, pleading, "We beg Your Majesty’s mercy."

Seeing all the founding martial heroes and other new military aristocrats kneel so united, some civil officials grew angry and stepped forward: "Are you boasting of your merits and forming factions?"

"Minister Li, your accusation is grave. If you accuse factionalism, then the king too," Prince Fu said angrily, trembling as he approached. "What right does your Ministry of Rites have to meddle in the coming-of-age of the eldest princess? Do you think the Imperial Clan Court is just decoration?!"

After speaking, Prince Fu knelt deeply, performing the full ritual: "Your Majesty, the honor of the imperial family is won by ancestors’ blood and sweat for the country and its people—not to be used to fight for turf with the sons of military merit. Frankly, Marquis Cui looks so weak and helpless, that if my daughter were to take the Rong Residence’s land, it would be outright plundering! Everyone would curse the Situ family to death!"

Each word was shouted with all his strength, tinged with tragic sorrow and grim resolve.

Hearing this, Emperor Mingde glanced over at his children, whose expressions remained somewhat indifferent, seeming concerned only with their own prestige. His eyes showed a hint of sadness as he solemnly said, "Uncle Fu is right. When I forced the palace coup, some were willing to follow me. I myself also guarded the border for five years!"

Suddenly hearing the emperor mention the bloody and contentious rise to power shocked Prince Fu into stunned silence as he looked up at Emperor Mingde.

Seated on the throne, the emperor opened his mouth and uttered unexpected words: "Our founding generals were never discarded like hounds after the rabbits were caught. How could I destroy my own ramparts?"

"Generals defend the land and fight valiantly. Rewards are clearly stipulated. How could I revoke them? Even if descendants are unfilial, that is family business. If the court or emperor rescinds these rewards, would that not destroy the sacred word of the emperor?!"

Prince Fu was taken aback.

Meanwhile, the martial heroes knelt once more, shouting "Long live the enlightened emperor!" loud enough to shake the heavens.

Overwhelmed by their deafening cries, Emperor Mingde smiled: "After this incident, I have a deeper understanding of princes and princesses establishing their own residences. If ministers think Marquis Cui is unworthy of a mansion, they must also believe princes and royal descendants are unworthy of thousands of acres and the people's support. So they must accomplish something substantial to win respect."

The princes and princesses, especially their maternal families, twitched at these words.

"Therefore, I decree that all princes and princesses who establish residences, especially princes before attending court to discuss state affairs, must serve three years defending Ning City!" Emperor Mingde commanded with no room for argument, his gaze sweeping the court with imposing authority. "From now on, the emperor guards the borders; this shall be the rule! If any cannot endure three years, ministers should not expect them to be true royal sons. They shall be stripped of their royal status!"

The princes: "…………"

The entire court: "…………"

Everyone was struck dumb.

Prince Fu, after recovering, was joyful, repeatedly worshipping at the ancestral temple and privately speaking with Emperor Mingde for an hour. He then brought many gifts to the Rong Residence to appease Marquis Cui.

"Study hard. Your father will be happy to see you and the Cui family succeed, right?" Prince Fu said softly, his eyes full of affection. "I know you can’t sit still, so all your beauties must behave, lest someone force you to take concubines beyond regulation."

Marquis Cui sighed in relief and silently admired Cui Qianting’s brilliant strategy.

Then, like a child, he clung to Prince Fu’s waist and wept: "Uncle, if I pass the imperial examinations, will anyone let me become an official? Will those civil officials, like this time, deliberately suppress my rank by misreading the emperor’s will?"

His own son had warned him of many tricks in the rankings. Vigilance was necessary.

Prince Fu almost dropped his cane: "You... you want to take the imperial exams?"

"One can be killed but not humiliated! Emperor Mingde said our Cui family can only produce ranking scholars, only ranking scholars!" Marquis Cui glared fiercely at Prince Fu. "I, Marquis Cui, don’t fight for bread but for dignity! Uncle, go tell so-and-so that I’m entering the exams! I’ll bring the Cui family to every exam, not missing a single one!"

"I must take the palace exam and face him directly!"

Hearing these defiant words, childish in their defiance, Prince Fu laughed: "Fine, you take the exam. As long as Uncle is around, you can rest assured. I think Emperor Mingde isn’t bad either—"

He recounted the events in court with pride, his gaze growing even more loving toward Marquis Cui.

He believed Emperor Mingde was likely stunned by the grave-digging incident, recalling his own youthful struggles, thus awakening to the true duty of serving the people, leading to the decree that the emperor guards the borders.

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"So you must study seriously. Our little monkey’s other flaws aside, he was personally taught essay writing by the Martial Emperor, right?" Prince Fu coaxed, even mentioning the good emperor uncle in Marquis Cui’s mind.

"Exactly!" Marquis Cui responded eagerly.

"And you look like a top scholar already."

"I want to be the champion!"

"…………" Prince Fu’s eyes widened in disbelief, confirming he was indeed looking at Marquis Cui, not Cui Qianting. He solemnly patted Marquis Cui’s shoulder again: "Ambitious! A soldier who doesn’t want to be a general isn’t a good soldier! Uncle supports you taking first place!"

"Then you must come see me when I’m studying hard," Marquis Cui cried again, eyes red.

"You’re not told to close the side door when the main door is closed," Prince Fu advised. "We can’t study in a vacuum. But things won’t be peaceful for a while. You just stay inside quietly for now. When times calm down, Uncle will send you an invitation to watch a show."

Marquis Cui nodded like a chick pecking grain: "Uncle is the best. I love you the most."

"Such a sweet mouth."

Marquis Cui smiled and personally saw Prince Fu out, then immediately dashed back into the mansion, ordering servants to close the gates. He even directed them to prop the doors with sticks to prevent intrusions.

"Side doors, back doors—close all tightly," Marquis Cui was cautious. "Our estate is large. We can grow our own vegetables. For the next year, no, three years, we don’t go out. Otherwise, the princes’ families will kill us!"

Every prince’s family wanted their son to succeed.

But Emperor Mingde seemed bewitched by the “demotion” decree and publicly declared that failure to guard the borders for three years would mean losing the right to succession. Naturally, the princes’ families felt uneasy.

Assuming the worst, they would pick the easiest target, believing the Cui family had bewitched the emperor!

So safety first.

Once secure, Marquis Cui’s gaze decisively fell on the “prince generation” trio.

Brought again to the main courtyard, Cui Xiu stood properly like the others, facing his eldest uncle’s scrutiny, who growled through clenched teeth: "As sons of the Cui family, remember this family’s loss! Study hard! At least get into the top three ranks like Madam Ru!"

Cui Xiu was speechless.

With such fierce determination, shouldn’t he aim for champion?

Sensing a surprised glance from the youngster, Marquis Cui looked down: "Does Cui Xiu still not understand the imperial examination? You’ll have to tutor him well."

"Make sure he keeps up with our family’s big plan—the top three ranks like Madam Ru!"

The barely understanding former third place was stunned: "Thank you, Uncle. I will keep up with the imperial exams and strive for first!"

"Last place is fine. For a martial family like ours, producing a literary star would make the ancestral tombs smoke green. But if someone really dug them up..." Marquis Cui’s words faltered, then his eyes gleamed oddly: "Wait, if the Cui family really produces a champion, would that make the ancestral tomb or the imperial mausoleum smoke green?"

The Cui family genealogy was rewritten starting from his grandfather’s generation. But since they were buried in the imperial mausoleum, they never had a true ancestral tomb.

Cui Qianting, who had been silent, finally lost patience and rolled his eyes: "Marquis Cui, can you be more cautious? Aren’t you afraid the censors will accuse you of disrespect?"

"What disrespect!" Marquis Cui’s eyes shone brightly as he stared at Cui Qianting. "You rely on the imperial exams. If others sneer that the Cui family excels both militarily and literarily and is ambitious, we can say the imperial mausoleum is blessing us, the emperor’s protection!"

"Cui Qianting, can your mind be as quick and sharp as mine?"

Cui Qianting was speechless.

Listening secretly, Cui Xiu thought: "Uncle, you’re amazing!"

Little did Cui Xiu know that one day, thanks to his uncle’s wild idea—that the imperial mausoleum protected them—he would secure the champion’s rank instead of settling for third place!