Chapter 213

Chapter 213

Han Zhang had actually known for a long time about the news Pan Taining brought regarding Zhao Yongchang's questionable background.

The reason was simple—who told him to be someone who transmigrated with supernatural powers?

Who told him his power was a plant-based ability with healing effects?

Back when he had just married Shen Qinglan, in order to pave the way for his official career, he deliberately opened a flower shop.

Then, by using the flowers sold to various noble and official households, he secretly gathered quite a bit of private information about court officials.

And among it all was one piece about Zhao Yongchang!

To be honest, when he first learned the truth back then, Han Zhang was startled too.

Because Zhao Yongchang was actually not the child of the current State-Assisting General, but rather the sole surviving bloodline of the Former Crown Prince!

Back when Emperor Taixuan was still a prince, the competition for the Crown Prince position back then had also been extremely fierce. However, the Former Crown Prince of that time was far more capable than the current Crown Prince.

He single-handedly took on several brothers without falling behind, not only firmly holding onto his position as crown prince, but also enjoying deep prestige both at court and among the people—truly a successor who had universal support.

Therefore, to a certain extent, the reason Emperor Taixuan governed so diligently after taking the throne wasn't necessarily because he genuinely cared about the world, but largely because he had no other choice.

After all, the Former Crown Prince's reputation for virtue was so overwhelming that if this latecomer didn't perform well enough, the public pressure would be huge.

This also showed just how outstanding the Former Crown Prince was back then.

Unfortunately, according to historical experience, the Crown Prince's true opponent was always the emperor, his own father, sitting on the dragon throne.

And the late emperor, unsurprisingly, was a long-lived ruler who was extremely power-hungry.

In the end, the Former Crown Prince was forced to resort to a "Xuanwu Gate" style rebellion, but unfortunately his luck ran out, and it ended in failure.

The Former Crown Prince killed himself on the spot, and his household in the Eastern Palace suffered too, dying off one by one during the house arrest that followed.

Because the Former Crown Prince's appeal had been too great, even if the late emperor wanted to protect the Eastern Palace family members, the other princes wouldn't allow it—giving the regretful late emperor any chance to install a "Grand Imperial Grandson" instead.

And in all these matters... Emperor Taixuan had certainly played his part.

So when he learned that the Former Crown Prince still had surviving descendants, and that the late emperor had left a life-saving trump card for that bloodline before he died—

Emperor Taixuan naturally couldn't tolerate Zhao Yongchang, this fish that had slipped through the net!

Because he didn't dare gamble.

He didn't dare gamble on whether Zhao Yongchang, upon learning the truth, would seek revenge for his father.

Even if this nephew currently seemed simple and useless, once his identity leaked, there would inevitably be those with ulterior motives who might use it to threaten the imperial line.

In short, the dead were the only ones who could put your mind at ease.

But because the late emperor had left behind that trump card, Emperor Taixuan didn't dare act rashly for the time being. He could only keep Zhao Yongchang under his nose, watching him under the guise of "imperial favor," while secretly taking apart the late emperor's hidden forces.

It was only now, with those hidden forces either eliminated or brought to heel, that Emperor Taixuan finally had no more concerns about dealing with Zhao Yongchang...

When Han Zhang first learned this information, he hadn't yet harbored thoughts of rebellion, so naturally he didn't interfere, to avoid bringing trouble upon himself.

But once he did develop rebellious ambitions, there was so much he could do with this!

To put it bluntly, Emperor Taixuan had been able to dig out all the hidden forces the late emperor had left for Zhao Yongchang because Han Zhang had helped.

As the saying goes: Without proper justification, words carry no weight; without proper justification, nothing gets done.

Although Han Zhang didn't care about historical judgment, in the current environment, the difference in resistance between bearing the label of rebel and leading a righteous uprising was still huge.

He needed a just cause.

Abusing power to shield his own son, disregarding the lives of tens of thousands of commoners, disregarding the sacrifices of loyal ministers and brave generals, and even exterminating the Former Crown Prince's entire line...

Once these secrets came out, Emperor Taixuan could forget about keeping his throne!

What Han Zhang hadn't expected, however, was that Emperor Taixuan was even more ruthless than he'd imagined—he didn't plan to let Zhao Yongchang die quietly of "illness," but rather wanted him dragged into the mess he was about to create, dying with a bad name.

But thinking about it, given how brilliant the Former Crown Prince had been back then—

Emperor Taixuan had probably suffered a lot of psychological damage, leaving a lasting shadow that still made him fear his deceased elder brother's might. Only by going all the way could he feel at ease.

From another angle, Han Zhang felt that if he were in Emperor Taixuan's position, he might also choose to wipe out the whole family.

The struggle for the throne had always been bloody and ruthless.

The victor becomes king; the loser becomes outlaw.

So he absolutely couldn't fail!

...

The three of them talked in the study's secret chamber until late into the night, finalizing many subsequent plans before finally dispersing.

When Han Zhang returned to the back courtyard, Shen Qinglan was still awake.

Seeing him come back, Shen Qinglan was both worried and hopeful: "Husband, is everything settled?"

"Mm, all settled. Things are going smoothly in the capital—we can proceed with our plan from here on."

"It's just your father... the sacrifice this time is huge. His reputation in the capital right now probably rivals that of Chen Shimei."

Han Zhang walked over to Shen Qinglan, bent down to kiss his forehead, and said with deep tenderness: "Don't overthink it. I'll handle everything on the outside. You preparing the provisions and securing our rear is the greatest support—no need to worry so much."

"We're about to be exiled, and you just gave birth. Even with my treatments, you still need to rest and recover well."

"I know, but I just worry about you. When you're not here, I can't sleep..."

Shen Qinglan was equally stubborn on this matter.

Han Zhang's earlier concerns had indeed been justified. Ever since learning about the family's rebellion, Shen Qinglan had been anxious day and night. When Han Zhang wasn't by his side, he simply couldn't fall asleep.

Han Zhang felt helpless and heartbroken: "It's my fault, always making you worry for me. Don't worry—I definitely won't fail. And even if something unexpected happens, we can still flee overseas. Everyone will be fine."

"I know. My husband is the most capable—I believe in you."

But saying that aside, when it came to something as enormous as rebellion, how could Shen Qinglan truly be at ease?

He couldn't stop his husband's decision; all he could do now was face it together with him, sharing honor and disgrace alike.

Neither husband wanted the other to worry—both said nice things while stubbornly refusing to change their ways.

Finally, the two looked at each other for a moment, then both blushed and laughed.

Han Zhang pulled the man into his arms: "Alright, my husband, I don't actually have complete certainty either. If that day truly comes, would you be willing to face death with me?"

"I would! As long as you're with me, I'll follow you wherever you go."

Shen Qinglan also held tightly onto his waist, not letting go. There was no fear of the future on his face, only the steadfast resolve to follow his beloved.

Meanwhile.

When Jiang Wencheng returned to the residence, An Yongyan was likewise still awake. He had blown out the lamp and was tossing and turning in bed, only letting out a long sigh of relief when his husband finally returned.

He didn't ask Jiang Wencheng about where he'd been late at night or what matters had been discussed. Instead, as usual, he rose, and by the faint light from outside the window, skillfully helped his husband out of the outer robe damp with night dew, switching him into comfortable sleepwear.

Once they lay down, he habitually nestled into Jiang Wencheng's arms, snuggling close, his voice soft yet clear:

"Husband, no matter what you do, I support you."

The two of them were one; no matter what lay ahead, he would stand by his husband through honor and disgrace.

These simple, plain words were more powerful than any oath. Jiang Wencheng's throat constricted, and his arm tightened suddenly, pulling An Yongyan firmly into his embrace.

After a long moment, he pushed down the emotions welling up inside him and nodded with a hoarse voice: "...Mm, sleep now."

He would give his husband and their child a bright future—he absolutely would!

A storm was brewing.

That night, Han Zhang and the others all found it hard to sleep.

Over the following days.

The Crown Prince's sleeper agents in Yunyang Prefecture, as expected, began to stir.

Han Zhang sensed the movement but kept his cards close to his chest, continuing to play along with Jiang Wencheng in their act, keeping things relaxed with Zhao Yongchang and the rest.

Until over a month later.

The main river dam in Yunyang Prefecture suddenly collapsed, causing a massive flood that instantly submerged tens of thousands of acres of fertile farmland downstream of the dam, along with the villages where the people lived.

Although Han Zhang had used the "Harvest Festival" as an excuse in advance to persuade many residents into staying in the county town and escaping disaster, casualties and property losses were still unavoidable.

And what caused the most panic was that when Han Zhang ordered the granaries to be opened for relief distribution, all the disaster relief grain in every county town in Yunyang Prefecture had turned into moldy, spoiled grain!

"Lord Han, all... all of Yunyang Prefecture's disaster relief grain reserves are inedible! The grain hoarded by the big merchants and local gentry was also bought up by traveling merchants days earlier."

"Also, the roads connecting Yunyang Prefecture to the other prefectures of Yan Province have all collapsed and been cut off! As things stand now... the only grain that can be mobilized in all of Yunyang Prefecture is, is the military reserve in the army granary!"

The officials and clerks reported with grim, mournful expressions.

The military reserve grain, as the name suggested, was stockpiled specifically for the army. Without an imperial edict, it was off-limits under any circumstances—violating this was tantamount to treason.

Yunyang Prefecture was a thousand li from the capital. Even with an eight-hundred-li urgent courier, a round trip would take half a month. The disaster victims were starving, and after the flood, epidemics would soon break out—how could they afford to wait?

By the time the imperial edict arrived, it would be too late!

But if they didn't wait for the edict, who would dare to open the military reserve grain?

Even though the situation was urgent and extraordinary times called for extraordinary measures, who knew whether the punishment afterward would be light or severe?

If no one was willing to step forward and take responsibility, everyone would rather bear the charge of inadequate disaster relief than take on the black mark of unauthorized use of military reserve grain.

Because the former would at most result in dismissal from office, while the latter could mean having your property seized, your head chopped off, and your whole family exiled!