The Crown Prince was heartbroken, "If that's the case, why did you set me up as a target? With a new monarch ascending the throne, how can I, who has been the Crown Prince for over thirty years, maintain my position?"
This was also the main reason Emperor Changwu had always been lenient with the Crown Prince.
After a long silence in the imperial study, his weary voice finally broke the quiet, "Your position as Crown Prince was forced upon me by your maternal grandfather and most of the court. But because of that, I will never allow you to truly ascend the throne, for you cannot hold the empire of the Situ family."
What helped him rise also led to his downfall.
The Crown Prince stood frozen, unsure how to react.
Emperor Changwu's dam of words broke open, "Feign illness and resign. I will grant you a noble title, ensuring you a life of wealth and honor, and I will not obstruct your children from entering the court."
"And what about me?"
"As I said, I will ensure you a life of wealth and honor."
"What if I refuse?"
Emperor Changwu closed his eyes, "Then the evidence of you spreading the plague among the people will be made public. At that point, it will be more than just a simple matter of resignation."
"Heh heh heh," the Crown Prince emitted a few laughs from his throat, the laughter growing louder, yet filled with desolation and resentment.
Emperor Changwu could not bear to listen and waved him away, needing some quiet himself. The Crown Prince walked heavily, stopping at the doorway, "Your Majesty, one last question. Was it from the moment Situ Yan went to relieve the disaster that you began waiting for me to make a mistake?"
His self-address had even changed.
"Yes, though I anticipated you might attempt to usurp the throne, I never expected you to resort to harming innocent civilians."
"Usurp the throne? The Minister of War was replaced, my uncle's military authority was curtailed, what could I use to force the throne? Relying on those tens of thousands of men under Fu Chuan?"
Emperor Changwu suddenly laughed, "That's why I say you are not fit for the position. All your reliance comes from the Duke of Cao's mansion. If you were to ascend, what would you be but a puppet?"
After that day, the Crown Prince fell gravely ill and remained bedridden even when Situ Yan returned to the capital.
However, he refused all visitors, even the Empress was kept outside.
Fu Lingyun, after being denied entry twice, understood that the tide had turned and wisely caused no further trouble. The Crown Prince's faction fell into disarray, but without a leader, they were at a loss.
Thus, the court settled into an eerie calm.
On the sixteenth of September, citing his persistent illness, the Crown Prince submitted a memorial requesting his deposition.
Emperor Changwu granted his request and enfeoffed him as Prince Qing.
After serving as Crown Prince for over thirty years, he was deposed in a single day, yet it stirred not even a ripple. The Crown Prince quietly exited the political arena without even making an appearance.
Simultaneously, Emperor Changwu lavishly rewarded those who had distinguished themselves in disaster relief and plague prevention. However, the name of Prince Rui, Situ Yan, was not among them. Many understood this as a sign that with these accumulated merits, Prince Rui would inevitably advance further.
After all, in the current court, no other prince could contend with him.
Whether the Crown Prince's illness was genuine or not, Emperor Changwu's health took a sharp decline. Situ Yan, setting aside his newlywed bliss with Lu Nianfu, dedicated himself to attending to Emperor Changwu besides handling state affairs, only returning home briefly during the day.
The two younger ones almost didn't recognize him.
Lu Nianfu generously offered that if he was busy, he didn't need to return home. If His Majesty missed the children, they could be sent to the palace to accompany him.
Situ Yan shook his head, "With His Majesty's condition, how could he handle the noise? Let's forgo that."
"You must also take care of yourself. Don't skip meals just because you have no appetite." Lu Nianfu was worried; he had lost a considerable amount of weight since returning from Zhanxian City, and had somehow become even thinner after returning to the capital.
"Looking at His Majesty like this, how could I possibly eat?"
Lu Nianfu sighed, recalling how she herself couldn't eat when Lu Chao was ill.
After playing with the two children for a while, Situ Yan returned to the palace before nightfall. Emperor Changwu was eating, and Situ Yan naturally took over the task of serving him food. Seeing him, Emperor Changwu's mood brightened somewhat and he invited him to eat together.
Situ Yan's aversion was blunt, "The medicine smell is too strong, I can't get used to it."
Emperor Changwu rolled his eyes, "This medicinal cuisine was concocted by Ji Jin and your savior."
"Alas, who asked you to be the patient? However, your complexion has improved significantly these past few days, it seems this concoction is quite effective."
"It's alright," Emperor Changwu drank a mouthful of soup. "Did you go home to see your wife just now?"
"I went back to see my sons. When you're feeling better, I'll bring the two little ones to the palace for you to play with."
"Tch. Can't be away from your wife and yet use your sons as an excuse. Alright, you don't get tired running back and forth? Leave the palace soon. There are so many attendants in the palace, you're not indispensable."
"Can servants serve the same as a son?"
"Then why don't you bring your wife and sons into the palace? This vast imperial palace surely has space for them."
Situ Yan shook his head, "They've already been granted royal titles and established their own residences. How can I still rely on my father and live off him with my wife and sons? You should get better quickly, lest you worry about me running back and forth."
Emperor Changwu chuckled, "Have you seen your second brother?"
"I have, but he wouldn't let me in."
"Still hasn't figured it out? What's so great about that position? If it weren't for the constant toil day and night over the years, how could I be this frail at my age?" Emperor Changwu mumbled, waving him away, "Little Seven, I'm tired. You go review the memorials."
Situ Yan: ...