Chapter 58: Killing with Praise

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Golden Citadel, Imperial Palace.
“Your Majesty, as you anticipated, Lang Qingzao and the Qingwu Guards have been detained by the Sixth Prince in Fengxi County.”
“However, the main army set out at dawn yesterday heading to the northern frontier and is expected to arrive by the afternoon today!”
A Qingwu Guard appeared in the study of the Martial Sage Emperor.
This confirmed Gao Changsheng’s suspicion: all of Lang Qingzao’s actions were under the Emperor’s orders.
Moreover, everything he did was within the Emperor’s expectations.
“Zhang Yao, deliver the imperial edict I have prepared to him immediately.”
“When you see Lang Qingzao, order him to escort the court offenders back to Golden Citadel at once.”
“He need not concern himself with the northern frontier anymore.”
The Martial Sage Emperor’s expression was unusually calm.
The Qingwu Guard, holding the edict, left the study.
Yet at that moment, the Emperor’s face suddenly darkened.
This startled Zhang Yao.
“Zhang Yao, do you think the Sixth Prince harbors ambitions to seize the throne?”
The Martial Sage Emperor looked up at Zhang Yao with a meaningful gaze.
“I dare not speak recklessly, Your Majesty!”
Zhang Yao panicked immediately.
This was clearly a question of life and death—he dared not say anything rash!
“Heh.”
“Zhang Yao, you are no fool; otherwise, you wouldn’t have risen to be Chief Eunuch.”
“Before the Sixth Prince’s expedition, you two already had conversations.”
“With your intellect, how could you fail to see his abilities?”
“Rest assured, I do not blame you. I merely wish to hear some truth from your mouth.”
The Martial Sage Emperor sneered coldly.
Rarely did this masterful actor show such candor.
This reassured Zhang Yao considerably.
“The Sixth Prince is indeed a remarkable man. Though I dare not say his mind equals that of the Crown Prince, he is by no means an inept individual.”
“But Your Majesty asked if he has designs on the throne—I truly cannot tell.”
Zhang Yao spoke honestly.
He had only known Gao Changsheng for a short while, their conversations lasting at most a quarter-hour.
If Zhang Yao could fully discern a man’s heart in such a short time, why remain a eunuch chief? He might as well be a sage seer!
“A man who for twenty years let the world believe he was a prodigal and a failure, only to suddenly reveal his sharp edge within a month.”
“Such patience and cunning make even me feel inferior.”
“Perhaps circumstances forced him to bare his fangs, but once that step is taken, there is no turning back.”
“Whether he seeks the throne may no longer be up to him.”

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The Martial Sage Emperor chuckled coldly, and the room’s atmosphere turned chilling.
Seeing this, Zhang Yao couldn’t help but worry for Gao Changsheng.
The last time the Emperor displayed such emotion, tens of thousands linked to the Duke of Liang were slaughtered.
Could it be that this time he intends to strike at Gao Changsheng?
“Zhang Yao, I recall the Sixth Prince’s birth mother was Consort Yi, correct?”
“After her death, I never granted her a posthumous title.”
“Have the Ministry of Rites choose a posthumous title for Consort Yi, and move her tomb to the Imperial Mausoleum.”
The Martial Sage Emperor waved his hand, suddenly looking exhausted.
These words shocked Zhang Yao deeply.
Granting a deceased consort a posthumous title and relocating her to the Imperial Mausoleum was a tremendous honor!
It was tantamount to declaring to the world that the Martial Sage Emperor recognized Gao Changsheng.
Consort Yi’s elevation was a privilege bestowed by her son’s status—an unprecedented honor.
Once this news spread, the court and country would be greatly shaken!
Gao Changsheng’s position was already precarious.
Now, the Emperor’s deliberate elevation would only breed greater resentment toward him.
This was pushing him into a desperate corner!
“Being the emperor’s son is truly difficult!”
Zhang Yao sighed.
He then approached the Ministry of Rites, delivering the Emperor’s decree.
When officials there heard the news, from the Minister of Rites to the junior clerks, all were stunned.
Minister Gu Shan repeatedly confirmed the matter with Zhang Yao before finally dismissing his doubts.
It would not be long before the Empress and the two Princes of Seven Pearls learned of this first.
An hour later.
Kunning Palace.
Gao Changwen and Gao Changfei arrived hastily. The palace maids and eunuchs, seeing the furious Princes, avoided them instinctively, fearing to be caught in the crossfire.
“Mother, have you heard the news from the Ministry of Rites?”
Gao Changwen pushed open the door and asked loudly.
“The Ministry of Rites?”
The Empress had not yet received the news.
“An hour ago, Father ordered Zhang Yao to the Ministry of Rites to choose a posthumous title for the late Consort Yi.”
“And to select an auspicious day to transfer her spirit tablet to the Imperial Mausoleum!”
“What is Father trying to do?”
Gao Changfei’s face was anxious. The matter was sudden and shocking enough to unsettle everyone.
“What?!”

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The Empress’s pupils trembled violently.
When the Martial Sage Emperor had granted Gao Changsheng the title of Prince of Double Pearls, the Empress had not shown such a loss of composure.
Though the title carried considerable symbolic weight, it was merely honorary and insufficient to shake the Empress’s entrenched faction.
But this time was different.
Relocating the deceased consort to the Imperial Mausoleum was tantamount to the Emperor publicly showing great favor toward Gao Changsheng.
It even implied support for the Sixth Prince.
All land under heaven belonged to the Emperor; both the Crown Prince and the Empress’s power stemmed from him.
If the Emperor chose to favor Gao Changsheng, who previously had no faction, he could rise in power overnight.
Once Gao Changsheng gained strength, he could rival the Crown Prince and the Empress, becoming a true threat.
Simply put, relocating Consort Yi’s tomb was a legitimization of Gao Changsheng.
Its symbolic meaning far surpassed the title Prince of Double Pearls, explaining the Empress’s fury.
“Has the Crown Prince heard the news? How has he reacted?”
The Empress’s heart raced.
In her eyes, the Crown Prince Gao Changling was the greatest threat.
But now, she even considered allying with the Crown Prince against Gao Changsheng.
“We just received this news from Minister Gu Shan.”
“No one, not even the Crown Prince, could have known before us.”
“Why do you suddenly ask about the Crown Prince? Do you plan to join forces with him against the Sixth Brother?”
Gao Changwen for once used his head, but the Empress was in no mood to praise him.
“Calculate the time. Dou Yuan’s army should have already reached the northern frontier.”
“Once Gao Changsheng enters the north, he will no longer be under our control. It won’t be easy to strike him.”
“Though we were previously enemies of the Crown Prince, now a new contender, Gao Changsheng, has appeared. One family alone cannot eliminate him.”
“To achieve our goal by any means, even the Crown Prince may temporarily become an ally if useful!”
The Empress said coldly.
Gao Changwen and Gao Changfei agreed wholeheartedly.
Yet, neither could devise a way to deal with Gao Changsheng far away in the north.
“Send a letter to the Crown Prince for me. I will temporarily set aside our grievances and join forces against Gao Changsheng.”
“Also, spread the news.”
“Since the Emperor wishes to prop up Gao Changsheng, so shall I.”
“I want to see how the Northern Qi will deal with a favored prince appearing on the battlefield in the north!”