Chapter Fifty: Crying Temple

  Feng Kai Zhang knelt down to bid farewell to the Crown Prince, Beijing's March was still chilly and wintry. He wore a thin military uniform that offered little warmth against the cold wind, which made his chest feel icy. However, as he galloped away on horseback, his heart burned with passion.

  However, the situation in the streets and alleys of the capital was also chaotic. From a distance, a military officer came galloping over on horseback, and the faces of the civilians were filled with shock!

  They rushed all the way to Wang Jiayan's mansion, dismounted at the stone step, and the servants of the Wang family came to greet them and took hold of Feng Kechang's horse.

  It's not a usual morning, but Wang Jia Yan is the deputy commander of the capital camp, so he is extremely busy. As soon as Feng Kai Zhang dismounted his horse, he asked the gate official: "How is it? Is your master at home?"

  "He has just returned." The attendant replied: "Governor Li has also just arrived."

  "Oh, he's in..." Feng Kechang hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said: "It doesn't matter, take me in."

  He is also a frequent visitor to Wang Jiaxun's place, so his family doesn't need to report it, and he can be taken in directly.

  The weather was still very cold, and Wang Jiayan was as clear as water. The large living room for receiving guests was extremely cold, so the family members directly led him to the inner study, familiar with the routine.

  Not yet entering the door, I heard the sound of people talking inside, seemingly still in a state of agitation.

  "At this time, I don't know what's the use of defending the city?"

  "What's going on? Not guarding the city and letting bandits in?"

  "Only less than ten thousand soldiers!"

  "That's it! That's why we're in this situation!"

  Two voices, one seemingly Li Banghua questioning the defense of the city, while Wang Jiayan was calm and composed, not raising his voice, yet yielding nothing.

  He waited for him to enter, and inside Li Banghua was already in a state of anxiety. This old minister had also been suffering from setbacks recently. The matter of the southern migration, he was the one who took the lead, but later was questioned by Guang Shi Heng about his motives, which made him lose face. Later, being suspected by the emperor of wanting to support the crown prince in governing the country, he was not trusted.

  At this moment, the old man had a stubborn face, not caring about his own situation at all, but thinking of coming to persuade Wang Jiayan to take the prince out of the city immediately.

  "To be honest..." Wang Jia Yan had no choice but to say, "The Crown Prince has made other arrangements and has entrusted me with the task, I must follow his orders."

  Li Banghua was shocked and asked: "Really?"

  "Of course it's true." Actually, Wang Jiaxian didn't have any real evidence either. At this time, being pressed by Li Banghua, he could only grit his teeth and persevere.

  Feng Kai Zhang smiled and entered, taking out the secret decree from his bosom and handing it to Wang Jia Yan's face, saying: "Sir, I have been ordered by His Highness to deliver this decree."

  Wang Jiayan unfolded it and saw that it was indeed the unmistakable handwriting of the Crown Prince... After waiting for several months, he finally saw the determination of the Eastern Palace, even if it meant being regarded as a treacherous subject! His face turned pale, and his body swayed... Feng Kechang hurriedly supported him, Wang Jiayan stood up straight, smiled coldly, and said: "I'm going to the city now, the affairs of the imperial court are urgent, I won't keep you company here."

  What he has been entrusted with is indeed the most important, at this time when the military edge is approaching, it is also the moment of utmost urgency, and the crown prince has helped him manage for several months, and he also has considerable power in his hands, at this moment, there is no need to hide anything.

  "Master Meng!" Feng Kai Zhang said to Li Banghua: "I have been ordered to leave the city, and I will be waiting for people outside Chaoyang Gate. Master Meng is also on the list of the Crown Prince's entourage, so your family can take two or three carriages at most, and you can arrive in Tianjin within three days... What do you think, Master Meng?"

  "How can I dare say go when you haven't left yet?"

  "Don't worry, elder," Wang Jiayan also said: "My humble abode has over thirty people, and we've already agreed to leave the city today. Originally, I had the same opinion as you... but His Highness rebuked me... A gentleman serves his lord with loyalty, but he must also treat his own family with kindness. If one's home is not at peace, how can one be at ease when serving the country? I thought it through and realized this is the right principle... So, please send your esteemed family members out of the city as well."

  "Good! Heartfelt thanks!"

  Li Banghua made up his mind to bring the strong servants and young nephews from the mansion to the city gate, determined not to back down until death. However, there were indeed some old and weak people in the household, who now found this suggestion quite reasonable and thought it would be better to send them out of the city after all.

  He bowed his head and clasped his hands together in gratitude, but then asked: "Are there enough carriages and horses?"

  "It's enough." Feng Kechang was about to leave the city, and from today on, every moment was crucial, so he hastily replied: "Your Highness has allocated funds to purchase over 200 large carts, with sufficient carters and replacement draft horses. Along the way to Tianjin, there are also several relay stations that provide supplies and replacements for carts, horses, and mules... Please don't hesitate, Lord Meng."

  "Alright, then someone will be sent out of Chaoyang Gate tonight."

  "I'll take care of things in the city," said Wang Jiayan.

  Feng Kui Zhang also stood up and said urgently: "The students will leave the city immediately."

  His uncle, Feng Yuanbiao, was also ordered to go to Tianjin to assist with the transportation of ships and troops. His father, Feng Yuanyong, the governor of Tianjin, had prepared over 200 large ships, which were constantly being used and replenished by the prince. As for the guards, there were over a thousand soldiers from the Tianjin garrison, who were arranged by the prince to provide escort services along the way. Along the route, there were hundreds of carts, with over 300 carters, as well as porters and postmen, all of whom were taken care of by Feng Kezhang. Over the past few months, he had been so busy that he was exhausted and thin, his voice weak and faint, no longer resembling the elegant and refined young nobleman he once was when he first arrived in Beijing.

  But the more it is so, the more peaceful and calm I feel in my heart. At this moment, although we may be parting ways, and the three of us are vastly different in age, we all feel a deep connection. Wang Jia Yan simply smiled and said: "There's a sentence in the letter that Your Highness gave me, I'd like to share it with both of you."

  Li Banghua was very interested and said: "Tell me about it!"

  Feng Kai Zhang had read it and was now silently waiting for Wang Jia Yan to come and read.

  "If one's life is tied to the fate of the nation, should one flee from calamity or fortune?"

  Wang Jia Yan looked up at the sky and laughed loudly, with tears in his eyes. As the host, he led the way out, saying: "Your Highness has already praised me so much, what else is there to say? Haha, let's go up to the city gate!"

  ……

  ……

  Something big is approaching, but Zhu Ciwen's heart remains calm.

  Everything has been done, and there's nothing to fear or regret. If it's said that he left no stone unturned, then that's not the case either. But if it's said that he did everything he could...then that's probably right.

  He will go to the Qianqing Palace to make a final plea, and when he arrives near the Rijing Gate, he coincidentally meets Wu Xiang, the eunuch in charge of the Qianqing Palace.

  "Announce our arrival to the master!"

  The palace was already in a state of panic, but since Chongzhen was still in the palace, the various palaces still maintained their most basic operations. Even the Guanglu Temple was still using its reserves to supply the inner court, and the Shangshan Supervisory Office was still managing the food for the palace maids who were imprisoned in the Huanyi Bureau... although it was still the usual insufficient quantity and coarse quality.

  "Don't be too polite." Zhu Ciwen frowned and said: "Where is Father Emperor?"

  "Report back to Young Master: The Emperor is in Fengxian Hall."

  "Huh!" Zhu Ciwen felt a sense of surprise first, then nodded and said, "I know, take me over there."

  At this time, Chongzhen's heart was indeed in a state of panic, and going to the Fengxian Hall was probably to cry at the temple.

  "Yes, I'll lead the way."

  The Fengxian Hall, unless it's a festival or a specific day, Zhu Cizhao will not come. For example, the birthday of some imperial ancestor, Chongzhen himself would go to worship, or appoint this crown prince to go and worship, usually sweeping and burning incense is not something the emperor needs to worry about, this is in the inner court ancestral temple, who dares to be reckless and neglectful here?

  From the side of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, passing by the Yong Lane, when arriving at the outside of the Fengxian Hall, indeed saw several eunuchs from the Palace of Heavenly Purity who had been attending Chongzhen closely.

  If it were someone else, they naturally wouldn't be able to approach, but since everyone saw that it was the crown prince who came over, they all bowed down.

  Chongzhen himself slowly pushed open the palace gate, and saw that Chongzhen was indeed kneeling on the golden brick floor of the main hall, facing the portraits of the great emperors of the Ming dynasty. However, the current emperor looked like a wronged child, prostrating himself on the ground, and was crying out in anguish: "Two imperial ancestors, you fought through countless battles to establish the great Ming dynasty. Now, your unworthy son has been misled by civil officials and military officers, and after seventeen years on the throne, I have the heart to revive the dynasty but lack the power to do so! The rebel army has already invaded our territory and will arrive at the capital city in a few days. Currently, there are no soldiers or generals in the city, and Sun Min has issued an edict to gather reinforcements, but they are far away and cannot arrive quickly... I have wronged the country and myself, and now my resolve is set on death. I am willing to sacrifice myself for the state! But I regret that I will not be able to face our ancestors in the underworld..."

  Chongzhen had previously wept and his voice was still weak, several times the sound of his crying exceeded his words, while the eunuchs outside the palace who heard him were all in tears, wailing loudly.

  Since the Temple of Supreme Ancestors was built in the Ming dynasty and the Hall of Imperial Ancestral Worship was constructed within the palace to house ancestral tablets and portraits, there had never been an instance where an emperor wailed loudly in the Hall of Imperial Ancestral Worship, followed by hundreds of palace maids and eunuchs bursting into loud sobs.

  In the midst of wailing, a large group of crows were startled into flight, making eerie cries as they swooped back and forth in the sky above the temple, adding to the desolation.

  Wu Xiang's eyes were filled with tears as he wept beside Zhu Ciyan, saying: "The Emperor is not a ruler who has lost his country, how could such a tragic event occur!"

  Zhu Ciwen's face was cold and stern, without saying a word.

  Chongzhen's tragedy was caused by himself, and now he still has to continue his tragic life under the influence of his tragic personality?

  As soon as Chongzhen finished crying, he stood up and looked up at the portrait of the second ancestor. Then he passed by the portraits of other ancestors and gods, some of whom he would bow to, such as Emperor Xiaozong, while others he wouldn't even look at, like his brother Tianqi Emperor's god tablet. In Chongzhen's heart, the beginning of the country's downfall was his brother Tianqi Emperor, who didn't care about state affairs.

  Only in front of his mother's spirit tablet did Chongzhen's face show gentle affection, and after standing still for a moment, his whole face gradually regained its "stern" color. Chongzhen knocked his head three times, and when he got up, although his eyes were brimming with tears, his emotions had calmed down a lot. He said slowly: "Your son will soon be reunited with you in the underground, along with Empress Tian and others... Is Empress Tian still filial? Your son will also bring Empress Zhou and Consort Yuan to serve you..."

  Chongzhen's words were extremely soft and low, but the resolute and stern tone in his voice was clearly audible to Zhu Ciyu.

  At this point, he could only gently close the temple door, sigh and take big strides towards the direction of Kun Ning Palace.