TRBDM -Chapter 210 Hidden Struggle

Li Fuan stumbled out of the main hall. He was supposed to go to the Qianqing Palace to guard the emperor’s coffin, but his steps were uncontrollable, aimlessly wandering in every direction.

When he finally regained awareness, he realized he had ended up near the Taihe Hall.

A figure approached him—and it was none other than the Tenth Prince, Zhao Jingheng.

Li Fuan stared at him in shock, as if seeing Zhao Jingheng’s face for the first time.

At the same time, the words of the Eldest Princess kept echoing in his mind.

The Princess, who had never interfered in the struggle for succession, had declared she would support the Tenth Prince’s rise.

Until now, not just Zhao Kuang, but even Li Fuan himself, had never taken Zhao Jingheng seriously.

He was the youngest; when his elder royal brothers were making their mark, he was still practicing calligraphy and reading books.

Suppressed by his elder brothers, he had never stood out.

Moreover, his mother, Consort Shu, was soft by nature and never vied for favor, and her family had no influence—Zhao Jingheng had always been a marginalized figure within the palace.

So, when exactly had he earned the Eldest Princess’s favor?

Li Fuan’s gaze was far too direct, impossible to ignore.

Unlike Li Fuan’s stunned confusion, Zhao Jingheng’s expression was calm and steady. He already knew that today, Zhao Lingchen had summoned Li Fuan.

They were on the same side, and each had informed the other in advance about their actions.

So Li Fuan’s abnormal behavior was already clear to Zhao Jingheng.

He stopped in front of Li Fuan.

Now that he was involved in the succession struggle, he could no longer remain low-profile.

Zhao Jingheng lowered his eyes, and their gazes met.

Li Fuan shivered suddenly and saluted him: “Your Highness, the servant pays respects.”

The Grand Eunuch, a powerful figure close to the emperor, had always been all smiles with none of them reaching his eyes. He had never looked Zhao Jingheng in the face—until now, this was the first time he had saluted the prince.

“Li Gonggong, please rise,” Zhao Jingheng said, his tone calm as ever.

He had always been composed, neither humble nor overbearing. Even when ignored or used by others, he faced it with equanimity, never complaining, never bowing in submission.

Zhao Jingheng’s resolve was something Li Fuan realized for the first time.

How had he been so blind before?

Zhao Jingheng did not speak further. Passing by Li Fuan’s shoulder, he continued on his way.

Li Fuan looked back at him: Zhao Jingheng, dressed entirely in white mourning robes, stood like a solitary pine in snow, proud and unyielding.

Li Fuan slapped himself. The sting confirmed it all—everything was real.

In his heart, a mournful cry arose:

It’s over… the emperor’s last wish cannot be fulfilled.

The late emperor had lain in repose for twelve days, and for twelve days, factions in the palace had been battling each other.

Though the Crown Prince temporarily held authority, enforcing orders in court was extremely difficult.

The Third Prince’s faction constantly obstructed his commands, so the Empress and the Crown Prince’s supporters wanted the Crown Prince to ascend quickly.

But the Third Prince’s faction opposed the Crown Prince’s succession, citing the lack of a will, and strongly promoted the Third Prince’s claim.

Under the cover of national mourning, the two sides fought intensely but only behind the scenes.

Once the emperor was interred, bloodshed and chaos would erupt instantly.

In Zhao Lingchen’s bedchamber, the Noble Consort and the Empress arrived one after the other.

Their intentions were clear: both hoped Zhao Lingchen would help their sons.

The two women disliked each other, huffing as they entered the hall.

“Lingchen, I have important matters to discuss. May I speak with you privately?”

The Empress, taking advantage of arriving first, spoke first.

The Noble Consort ignored such formalities: “Princess, I also have urgent matters to discuss. Allow me to speak first.”

The Empress refused to yield: “Do you know the rule of first-come, first-served? I arrived first, so naturally, I speak first.”

The Noble Consort did not accept this reasoning. But she realized that continuing to argue with the Empress would make her look like a petty streetwoman.

Soon to become Empress Dowager, she could not afford to lose face.

Reluctantly, she stepped back: “Very well, Your Majesty, you may speak first.”

The Noble Consort sat gracefully, her presence overshadowing the standing Empress.

Zhao Lingchen did not wish to witness the overt struggle between the two women. She said: “Your Majesty, please sit. Noble Consort, you are no stranger; there is no need to hold back. Speak freely.”

The Empress, seeing the Noble Consort waiting for her to start, lost all desire to speak.

Zhao Lingchen’s finger tapped the table rhythmically. On the twelfth tap, her patience ran out.

“If neither of you will speak, then disperse. I am going to Qianqing Palace.”

The Empress panicked and, forgetting the Noble Consort’s presence, hurriedly said: “Lingchen, you must help the Crown Prince!”

Zhao Lingchen seemed slightly interested and asked: “Why?”

“Because it is the late emperor’s wish that Xuan’er succeed the throne.”

The Noble Consort scoffed coldly: “Empress, on what basis do you claim this is the emperor’s wish? I could just as easily say the emperor wished for Jingyan to succeed.”

The Empress, cornered by the Noble Consort’s rebuttal, blushed furiously: “Xuan’er is the Crown Prince. It is only natural that he succeeds.”

“So what if he is the Crown Prince? Without a will, the emperor did not recognize him. I think it would be better to follow the advice of senior ministers and let Jingyan ascend. Jingyan’s succession is supported by the people.”

Mention of the will stuck in the Empress’s throat.

Without a will, the Crown Prince’s position was somewhat illegitimate—a sharp weapon for the Third Prince’s faction to attack with.

“The senior ministers you mention are all your maternal relatives; that does not reflect the will of the people,” said the Empress.

Rolling her eyes, she pressed one point repeatedly: “Then produce the will.”

The elusive will—or rather, the lack of it—was precisely what left the Crown Prince in a precarious position, almost forcing him to retreat at every turn.