Chapter 3: Flowery Fists and Showy Kicks (Part 2)

In the early morning, Tang Xuan entered the imperial study alone, instructing the old eunuch to stand guard outside. He then fell asleep in the large armchair of the study. This time, he experienced several nightmares in succession, waking up in a cold sweat, and dared not sleep again. He stared at the ceiling, thinking to himself: "Perhaps next time, a burly man will jump down from up there! He will swing a big knife and chop at my head! Tang Xuan, oh Tang Xuan! Do you think the imperial palace is a place for games? No, I must hasten the implementation of the plan!"

The old eunuch cried out in anguish, saying: "Your Majesty, the memorials submitted by the Third Prince are all false! He is trying to frame this old servant! You... you must not believe him!"

Tang Xuan took the book without a change in expression, waved his hand, and said, "You may leave now!" The old eunuch replied affirmatively but remained still. Seeing this, Tang Xuan feigned ignorance and asked, "Oh? Old Yu, you don't look well today, do you?"

Tang Xuan nodded, soothing him with a few words, and then instructed the old eunuch to accompany him for a walk. The two ascended to a pavilion, where Tang Xuan leaned against the window railing and sighed, "Old Yu, who do you think this world belongs to?"

The old eunuch was momentarily taken aback, then gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, we cannot sit idly by; we must fight them to the end." Tang Xuan nodded and replied, "That is exactly what I intend!" After saying this, he burst into a hearty laugh. The old eunuch noticed that his laughter was cunning, and a chill ran down his spine, as if... as if something was amiss... This... this laughter... was clearly the kind that only someone with a well-thought-out plan could produce! A chill ran down his spine again, as if... as if something was amiss... This... this laughter... was clearly the kind that only someone with a well-thought-out plan could produce! ... Your Majesty? ... Is he truly a foolish ruler? As he thought of this, recalling various past events, the cold sweat on the old eunuch's back increased!

Hmph! If you cannot withstand fright, then do not pretend to be innocent everywhere? Tang Xuan secretly cursed, yet he smiled slightly and said: "You need not be afraid; as long as I live another day, no one can touch a single hair on you! However... I fear... I may become powerless! Ahem! I feel my health deteriorating more and more! Oh! That bowl of soul-soothing soup, please bring it to me; I would like to have some!" Tang Xuan intended to test him deliberately.

Tang Xuan let out a sound and laughed, saying: "I thought it was something significant. It turns out to be that memorial! Originally, I intended to erase it so you wouldn't see it. Alas! I didn't expect you would still look at it! But rest assured! With my remarkable wisdom and authority, how could I possibly trust the words of the Third Uncle?"

Before long, the old eunuch staggered over, presenting the memorial with trembling hands and feet. Tang Xuan observed this and felt secretly pleased: "I told you not to peek, yet you insisted on looking! Ah! Look how frightened you are! If one didn't know better, they might think you have Parkinson's disease! However, it seems my fabricated memorial is not far from the truth. After all, he is just an old eunuch; the Third Prince cannot possibly accuse him of lusting after women or seducing concubines! Moreover, to accuse him of plotting rebellion is even more impossible. Therefore, accusing him of accepting bribes, embezzling palace expenses, and raising some illegitimate sons to commit crimes outside, etc., would surely not be unjust! Aren't there many such cases in history?

After a considerable amount of time, the old eunuch cautiously approached with a bowl of soup. Tang Xuan took it, gently sipped a small mouthful, and indeed, the taste had changed, resembling some nourishing supplements like ginseng and snow lotus. Tang Xuan finally breathed a sigh of relief; the old eunuch had finally become fearful. After finishing the soup, he suddenly asked, "Old Yu, do you think we are just waiting to die in this palace? Or should we fight back and see who ultimately prevails?"

At this moment, the eunuch could no longer contain himself, and with a thud, he knelt on the ground, bowing his head and saying: "Your Majesty! Please... please do not frighten this old servant! This old servant cannot withstand such fright!"

Tang Xuan turned around and sighed lightly: "Old Yu, you have served me for over ten years, and now you are getting old. You should be enjoying your later years! It is a pity... that neither of us can do without the other now. If I were to pass away, the Emperor's uncles would incite those below to hold you accountable, accusing you of undermining the court's integrity. All the blame would be placed on you, and at that time, it would not only be you; your adopted sons and grandsons would also be implicated. Your nine clans would likely suffer the destruction of seven or eight of them to appease the public's anger. Wouldn't you agree?"

Tang Xuan had always wanted to ask what the concubine's name was, but he found it difficult to voice the question. The younger sister-in-law kept her distance from him, as if avoiding a leper. Whenever Tang Xuan asked her a few questions, she would react like a frightened rabbit, and calling him a shameless rogue was considered mild; on several occasions, she even drew her sword. Tang Xuan could only shake his head and sigh, realizing that there was currently no common language between him and this younger sister-in-law

Tang Xuan thought to himself: "You old fellow, are you still pretending with me? Hehe! Don't think that just because you have lost your lower half, you can act innocent! Let's see how I can force you to reveal your true self!" He then said softly: "You understand my situation better than I do. I won't say much more! I have been emperor for ten years, enjoying all the glory and wealth, and I have no regrets in death! It's just that I think of you, this loyal old servant, who has worked hard and achieved great merit. If I die and you are targeted by the royal uncle and others... if they really execute your entire clan... sigh! I feel guilty towards you!"

The old eunuch was filled with trepidation, suddenly bowing his head repeatedly like a falling onion, and cried out, "Your Majesty, I am wronged! I am truly wronged!" Tang Xuanqi asked, "Old Yu, what exactly is going on?"

The eunuch felt a chill in his heart and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty... why have you suddenly brought this up?"

After listening, the old lady felt somewhat relieved, wiping away her tears, and gratefully said: "Your Majesty is wise! Your Majesty is wise! This old servant is wholeheartedly loyal to Your Majesty, please do take care of me!" Yet privately, she secretly rejoiced, thinking: "Fortunately, you are foolish! If you were truly wise and capable, you would know that the accusations in the memorial are all true, and I would be unable to escape a death sentence!"

The old eunuch did not understand why the Emperor asked this question. Previously, he would always ask, "Old Yu, which of these two crickets can win?" "Old Yu, does this soup really make one feel as if they are a celestial being?" "Old Yu, are there any other interesting things in the palace?" In short, they were all playful questions. When Tang Xuan suddenly asked a normal question, it startled him, and he whispered, "Of course... it is the Emperor's realm"

Tang Xuan observed him in a daze, secretly amused, and urged him several more times before the old eunuch finally descended the stairs in a state of utter bewilderment

The eunuch was dripping with cold sweat; what was with the emperor's every word being so cryptic today? He cautiously replied, "Your Majesty, what you are saying, this old servant... this old servant does not understand"

Tang Xuan came back to his senses and reorganized the memorials, making slight modifications and forging several documents from the Third Prince to accuse the old eunuch Hu. Once all this was completed, Tang Xuan let out a long sigh of relief. After resting for a while, he instructed the old eunuch to come in and lead him to the Yuling Palace. Upon arriving at the Yuling Palace, Tang Xuan exchanged a few playful remarks with the concubines and then had a meal with them. After the meal, Tang Xuan said to the old eunuch, "Go to the Imperial Study and bring back a few books that praise the late Emperor's military exploits; I would like to take a look, but you must not read those memorials! Hurry there and back!" The old eunuch acknowledged and exited.

Tang Xuan smiled meaningfully and said, "Haha, is it my world? Perhaps!" He then spoke to the old eunuch, "Old Yu, you are a clever man. Tell me, if I were to be gone, how would they treat you? I mean the princes and ministers, as well as the common people of the entire realm"

Ah? The old eunuch was dumbfounded. Normally, he would be overjoyed, but now he was truly afraid. He was a clever man; otherwise, he would not have risen to such a position! The emperor's words struck him like thunder on a clear day, awakening him to reality! If the emperor were truly dead, he would certainly be the target of everyone's wrath! Such events have occurred many times in history! As an old eunuch, when the emperor was alive, he was second only to one and above ten thousand, what a position of power! But if the emperor were really dead, he would be nothing at all! Without military power, he could only await his demise!