"Your Majesty, watch out!"
At this crucial moment, Jiang Deshun, who was standing behind Xiao Jingheng, acted on instinct without hesitation and pushed Xiao Jingheng out of the way.
'Bang!'
The plaque barely missed Xiao Jingheng, but slammed right into Jiang Deshun's right leg.
His right leg was instantly twisted and deformed in an unimaginable posture, just barely hanging on by skin and flesh on the lower half of his body.
The depth of the wound revealed stark white bone jutting out, a ghastly sight that made one's heart skip a beat!
"Is Your Majesty alright?"
Song Zhao handed Cheng Yu over to the wet nurse to hold and hurried over to the still shocked Xiao Jingheng.
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
Xiao Jingheng breathed heavily, his face pale. He stared blankly at Jiang Deshun lying on the ground and crying out in pain.
The plaque that landed on his leg was broken into three sections. The four bold characters that read "Diligent Governance, Close to the Wise" were also shattered into pieces, looking abrupt and out of place.
With such a big incident occurring, the rest of the palace women quickly surrounded them.
Xiao Yinzi was even more anxious, crying out, "Master! Master, please endure!"
This voice snapped Xiao Jingheng out of his daze. He quickly ordered, "Hurry and summon the imperial physician to treat Jiang Deshun!"
Then he looked up, his gaze dark as he looked at the empty door frame. "Go see what is going on here."
The palace women quickly carried Jiang Deshun out to the outer rooms of Chaoyang Palace, while Xiao Yinzi brought over a ladder and climbed up to inspect the abnormality of the door frame.
"Your Majesty, the iron hook holding up the plaque came loose... But people from the Imperial Household Department come to inspect and maintain these things every three days. There should not have been such an oversight."
After further investigation, it turned out to be negligence by the eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department. On that day when they came to Chaoyang Palace to inspect and repair, they had just gone through the motions, looking at the "Righteousness and Brightness" plaque in the main hall, but neglecting the one by the inner chamber doors.
Xiao Jingheng was furious. He punished the eunuch with death by lingchi, and also caned the head of the Imperial Household Department with one hundred heavy strokes, suspending his salary for a full year.
As for Jiang Deshun, his right leg was completely crippled.
Xiao Jingheng appreciated his meritorious deed of protecting him, and richly rewarded him with much silver and gold. He also allowed him to retire early after five more years of service, granting him twenty mou of fertile land near the outskirts of the capital to support him for the rest of his life.
After all, if not for Jiang Deshun, that plaque could have landed on Xiao Jingheng today, and he might have lost his life.
In the next few days, Xiao Jingheng did not spend the night with any of his consorts, only having Song Zhao accompany him at night.
At night, Song Zhao would often hear Xiao Jingheng mumbling in his sleep about people trying to assassinate him, frequently startled awake in cold sweat after a nightmare, unable to have a sound sleep.
After the assassination attempt during the southern tour, Xiao Jingheng had already become more suspicious. Even though this incident with the plaque was just an accident, he still felt uneasy and jittery.
The issues in Jiangnan had yet to be resolved, and dissent was gradually rising among the common people. Many unfortunate things coming together made Xiao Jingheng feel like things had been too unfavorable recently.
Moreover, Danjie had accurately predicted the Jiangnan floods, making Xiao Jingheng rely on him even more, frequently summoning him, though no one knew what they discussed behind closed doors.
By the ninth month, nearing Xiao Jingheng's birthday, the consorts came to Song Zhao's palace to pay their respects that day, and brought up the arrangements for Xiao Jingheng's birthday celebration.
Song Zhao said, "I was thinking that since it's an eventful autumn this year, the court has also spent much silver to provide disaster relief to Jiangnan. For palace affairs, we should do everything simply this year. For His Majesty's longevity celebration, we should also keep it as low-key as possible, to show the people that this sets an example. "
However, Consort Yin had a completely different opinion than her.
"This concubine thinks it's inappropriate. It is especially during times like this that other nations keep an eye on the beginning of our dynasty. This concubine believes not only should we not simplify everything, we must make it exceptionally grand.
Invite envoys from all nations to celebrate, lively and bustlingly hosting a longevity feast, also to show those with traitorous thoughts that although Qi encountered natural disasters, it remains prosperous and powerful, not to be coveted by them."
Song Zhao said, "Consort Yin, do you really think your method is appropriate? Inviting envoys from all nations? Are you planning to fill the depleted national treasury with your own pocket money? Do you know how much silver it takes to host envoys from all nations, flowing out like water?"
Consort Yin sneered lightly. "I don't need to discuss these things with you. When I previously assisted the late Empress Dowager in managing the affairs of the six palaces, you had not even entered the palace yet."
Song Zhao also smiled. "Yes, my elder sister is older after all, naturally more experienced than I. In times like now where we have to split every ounce of silver, yet you want to invite envoys from all nations. This move perhaps wards off covetous smaller nations, but have you neglected the sentiments of the common people of Qi?"
The two of them sparred with no intention of conceding. In the end, it took Consort Yao's mediation to find a compromise.
"We're all sisters here, there's no need to bicker. Since Imperial Consort and Consort Yin each have their own views, why not present both your ideas to His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager for them to decide?"
Matters had come to this point, and Song Zhao was too lazy to continue arguing with Consort Yin. She simply put it all in a memorial and had it delivered to Xiao Jingheng.
The next day, when the consorts came to pay their respects at Song Zhao's palace again, Xiao Jingheng had come along too.
He sat in the chief seat, his gaze falling upon Consort Yin.
"The memorials Imperial Consort and Consort Yin submitted yesterday, We have looked over them. We feel Consort Yin's method is good, so let's go with your thinking for now."
Hearing this, Consort Yin was overjoyed, quickly giving her thanks again and again for the imperial grace, and arrogantly glaring at Song Zhao.
But before she could gloat for long, Xiao Jingheng's next words left everyone present dumbfounded.
"The reason for inviting envoys from all nations this time is not only to celebrate this Emperor's birthday, but also Prince Cheng Yu's first birthday."
"The Prince of the Crown?"
The consorts were baffled, almost blurting out this line in unison.
Xiao Jingheng said, "The foundation of a nation is unstable. The turmoil of the nation and the suffering of its people weigh heavily on Our mind. Therefore, We have decided to appoint Crown Prince Cheng Yu as Heir Apparent immediately."
His words were clear. It was even more shocking, leaving them all caught off guard. Song Zhao could only hurry to decline,
"Your Majesty is in the prime of life. Cheng Yu is not yet one year old. How could he possibly..."
"Our decision is made. Imperial Consort shall obey this decree."
Xiao Jingheng gently replied Song Zhao's protest, but his tone instantly became solemn when his gaze shifted to Consort Yin.
"Imperial Consort still presides over the six palaces. For all internal affairs of the six palaces, you shall all listen to her. If anyone dares to overstep their bounds and act arrogantly, Imperial Consort can punish them according to the palace rules at any time, with no need to report back to Us. Do you understand?"
The consorts quickly got up to bow in acceptance, saying in unison,
"This concubine/servant would never dare to disobey."
Xiao Jingheng's words clearly were meant to reprimand Consort Yin.
And even if this longevity celebration followed her suggestion, so what?
After Xiao Jingheng left, Consort Yun quietly grumbled,
"Cheng Yu is neither the eldest nor the principal son. How can he so casually be made Heir Apparent?"
"Sister Dong doesn't understand this matter? I get it~", Consort Hui interrupted with a face of innocence, happily looking at Song Zhao and candidly saying,
"If Sister Song becomes Empress, then little Cheng Yu would be the principal son, right? I think this is precisely His Majesty's intention~"
At her words, the knife-like gazes of the consorts all fell upon Song Zhao.
But at this moment, Song Zhao didn't have the mind to care what they thought.
Appointing Cheng Yu as Heir Apparent was clearly an occasion of great joy.
Yet for some reason, her heart was in turmoil.
