Chapter 18
Chapter 18: The Prince Returns to the Scarlet Lotus Seal (Part 3)
Inside the Ritual Palace, the lights were brilliant, casting a warm, golden hue.
At this moment, however, the atmosphere was stagnant and unusually tense. The officials kneeling on the ground
were sweating profusely, not daring to make a sound.
Si Cang Qing just stood silently in front of these people, saying nothing.
Just when everyone was so nervous that they were about to faint, an almost heavenly voice sounded: "The
Emperor has arrived!"
Si Cang Qing slightly tilted his head, looking towards the door. After a while, a figure in bright yellow slowly
stepped into the main hall.
"Son pays his respects to Father Emperor."
“My son, please don't be polite." Si Cang JueTian looked at the other party with a light smile, and then his eyes
fell on the people who were kneeling tremblingly, and said in a slightly surprised tone, "My son, why are these
people kneeling on the ground? Did they make you unhappy?"
Just now, someone rushed to find him, saying that there was an accident at the Sili Palace. Si Cang Juetian
couldn't help but feel a bit surprised because the Sili Palace was currently in the process of conferring the
Emperor's Heavenly Seal on Si Cang Qing. Why would there be an incident?
Si Cang Qing gently shook his head, "This son never ordered them to kneel." However, he was indeed somewhat
displeased; it was just that these people were too cowardly and immediately knelt in fear.
A smile flashed in his eyes, and Si Cang Jue Tian slightly raised his voice: "Oh? So, Ritual Officer, why are you
all kneeling on the ground instead of performing the sealing ceremony for the Crown Prince?"
"To repl… replying to Your Majesty," the chief ceremonial officer slightly trembled, "His Highness the Crown
Prince requests that we bestow upon him... the Scarlet Lotus Heavenly Seal."
Unable to contain his astonishment, Si Cang Jue Tian looked at Si Cang Qing, "My son, do you know the
meaning of the Scarlet Lotus Heavenly Seal?"
The founding emperor of the Canghuan Kingdom was originally the leader of a grassroots organization called
"Lotus." The previous emperor was incompetent, and the people were filled with grievances, eventually leading
to a rebellion. After the establishment of the Canghuan Kingdom, the founding emperor, as a warning to not
repeat the mistakes of the past, carved a red lotus on his forehead. Since then, the red lotus has also become
the symbol of the Canghuan Kingdom. Later emperors learned from the founding emperor and carved lotus
flowers on their foreheads, calling it the "Imperial Seal." However, to show their reverence for the late emperor,
they could only use lotus seals of other colors and could not seal the red lotus.
"Know." Si Cang Qing replied calmly: "So what? Does the Father Emperor think that this prince cannot achieve
the merits of the founding emperor?"
After a moment of shock, Si Cang JueTian suddenly burst into laughter, nearly triggering the Heartless Gu
within him. “Cough cough... After a few coughs, Si Cang JueTian finally reined in his smile, "How could I not
trust the prince's abilities?" Then, changing his tone, he coldly addressed the officials, "My dear ministers, since
the prince has requested the sealing of the Scarlet Lotus Heavenly Seal, why are you not obeying his orders?
Are you trying to take advantage of the fact that the prince has just returned to the palace and is unfamiliar with
worldly matters?"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger, we dare not!" the ceremonial officials called out in unison. The Crown
Prince is cold-hearted and unpredictable; how could they possibly have the courage to bully him?
"Don't dare?" The emperor's words were cold and hard, "You dare not obey the crown prince's orders, what else
is there that you dare not do?"
Although it is indeed not their fault, they can only blame themselves for being at the wrong end of the stick.
Si Cang Qing had just returned to the capital, and many ministers were in a wait-and-see attitude, with some even
showing indifference. Today, Si Cang JueTian decided to make his stance clear, to strike fear into the ministers
and let them know where they stand, thereby establishing an unshakable authority for Si Cang Qing.
"We shall immediately pay our respects to the Crown Prince!" the head of the ceremonial officials hurriedly said.
"Very well," Si Cang Jue Tian's tone softened, "Tomorrow is the grand sacrificial ceremony, so do not miss the
time."
Si Cang Qing stood quietly to the side, fully aware of the emperor's intentions. This was very good; having just
returned to the court, he needed to establish an inviolable authority in front of everyone. This was also the reason
he decided to seal the Scarlet Lotus Heavenly Seal, to intimidate the ministers.
"Mm," Si Cang JueTian said with a gentle expression as he looked at Si Cang Qing, smiling, "Son, after sealing
the Heavenly Seal, come to the Huanao Hall to see me. I have some matters to discuss with you."
"Mm."
After Si Cang Juetian left, the sealing ceremony in the Sacrificial Palace proceeded in an orderly manner.
After this incident, all the ministers understood the extent of the Crown Prince's favor and his firm demeanor,
making them all tremble with fear and not dare to be negligent any longer.
……
The moon has just risen above the treetops.
In the cool, solitary pavilion, a refined middle-aged man, with a somewhat dazed expression, drinks alone.
"Father," a tall figure suddenly walked into the pavilion, their voice clear and melodious, "Are you troubled by
something?" Why is it that ever since the crown prince returned to the court, he has been in a daze every day,
drowning his sorrows in wine?
"Yi'er, you're here?" The slightly tipsy man suddenly broke into a smile, his gaze drifting far away. "I have no
business, just reminiscing about the past."
Liu Yi silently sat down, not bothering to stop the man's almost self-destructive behavior. He didn't know much
about his father's past, only that he never liked to bring it up, as if it were a painful memory.
"Yi'er," the one who was drunk was none other than Prime Minister Liu Ziwen of Canghuan. He suddenly looked
at Liu Yi, his usually deep-set eyes now filled with utmost seriousness. "The Crown Prince has already returned
to the capital. I can see that he will surely become a great emperor. It's just that he has only just returned to the
capital, and there are still many things he doesn't understand. You must help him more in the future..."
"Father," Liu Yi interrupted Liu Ziwen's words lightly, "Liu Yi serves as an official, dedicated to the people, not
to the emperor!"
"Yi'er," Liu Ziwen, completely devoid of drunkenness, said, "Such treasonous words should not be spoken again
in the future."
"The child does not believe this to be a great act of treason; officials are the parents of the people." Liu Yi said
with a calm demeanor, then changed the subject, "But father, I have never seen you have much to do with
the royal family, only to protect yourself wisely. Why, then, do you suddenly ask the child to assist the Crown
Prince?"
Liu Ziwen shook his head and sighed, "Yi'er, you are still too young and inevitably arrogant. This world is the
emperor's world, and officials must first be loyal to the emperor. Without loyalty to the emperor, it is inevitable
that one will sometimes neglect their duties."
"Although I, as a father, prioritize self-preservation, my loyalty to the emperor is beyond doubt."
“Father," Liu Yi suddenly smiled faintly, "My child is not unwilling to be loyal, but the object of my loyalty
must not be a mediocre person. "
Having said that, Liu Yi stood up and left the pavilion.
Liu Ziwen watched the child walking away and sighed softly: This child is just like my younger self!
An ordinary person? He believed it could never be Si Cang Qing. Such trust was only because he was the child
that person relied on…
◇Cang Huan◇Seven Palaces◇
"Qing'er," Si Cang Juetian handed a stack of documents to Si Cang Qing, "I have decided that at tomorrow's
grand ceremony, I will announce that you will oversee the country, and all state affairs will be directly under
your responsibility."
In the emperor's inner palace, Si Cang and his son were secretly conversing.
Si Cang Qing frowned slightly, "Why?"
"Qing'er, over the years, I have grown increasingly weary," Si Cang JueTian's words were filled with a sense
of desolation, no longer the sharpness and ambition of an emperor. "The ambitions of an emperor have also
been worn down to almost nothing. If it weren't for the responsibilities of being an emperor, I would have long
since grown tired. This is also the reason why I urged you to return as soon as possible back then."
Si Cang Qing fell silent for a moment, his mind quickly turning over thoughts. After a while, he slowly spoke,
"Father,if I supervise the country, everything would be under my full responsibility, and I will not adhere to the
so-called ancestral rules." He always had his own plans for doing things; how could he be restricted by those rigid
customs?
Slightly taken aback, Si Cang JueTian chuckled softly, "If you want to be bound by rules everywhere, that's
truly impossible. Qing'er, over the past six years, you've handled everything very well. I believe in your abilities."
"As for the rules of our ancestors," Si Cang JueTian said with a slight smile, "they are already outdated."
Otherwise, Cang Huan wouldn't have fallen to its current state. "Qing'er, no matter what, I will support you. You
can act according to your own will."
Since it was decided that Si Cang Qing would hold the imperial power and supervise the affairs of the country,
he was naturally willing to let go and let the other party decide.
"Alright." Si Cang Qing did not hesitate and quickly agreed.
Si Cang JueTian smiled faintly, looking at the indifferent expression of Si Cang Qing with a loving gaze. On his
originally smooth forehead, a bright red lotus mark suddenly appeared.
"Then it's settled," Si Cang JueTian said, his expression slightly weary. "It's late, Qing'er, you should rest early.
The grand ceremony will be held early tomorrow morning."
Nodding, Si Cang Qing took a few steps outside, then suddenly turned back, "Father, I have a question."
"What question?" There was some confusion in his voice.
"Then Liu Ziwen, since he was your fellow disciple and senior brother, why didn't he become your person later
on?"
Caught off guard, Si Cang Qing's question came suddenly, leaving Si Cang JueTian momentarily stunned.
Quietly observing Si Cang JueTian's expression, Si Cang Qing soon noticed that the other person's face gradually
became somewhat sorrowful, confused, and regretful, and then asked, "Why?"
That Liu Ziwen is a talented person, and even more so, a person with a heart. The reason for this certainty is
because, with a glance at the court that day, Si Cang Qing discovered that Prime Minister Liu Ziwen was the
same worried Confucian scholar he had encountered back when he was still a wandering soul. Therefore, he
immediately asked people to investigate Liu Ziwen's past from childhood to adulthood. He couldn't understand
why such a talented person just wandered among the ministers, protecting himself wisely without making any
achievements.
"Qing'er," Si Cang JueTian's voice was slightly sad, "Some things are beyond one's control, such is the sorrow
of being in the royal family..." He then began to recount those distant past events.
Si Cang Qing quickly pieced together the context, which was roughly as follows: Si Cang JueTian and Liu Ziwen
had been taught by the same master since childhood, and their relationship was very good. They even promised
to travel the mountains together in the future. Until the year Si Cang JueTian turned twelve, when the original
crown prince died suddenly, leaving the royal family with few heirs. Si Cang JueTian, who had no intention of
becoming the emperor, had no choice but to become the crown prince and married the current empress. His
senior brother, Liu Ziwen, angered by his betrayal, went far away. Years later, when he returned to the capital,
he had a wife and child, but unexpectedly entered the court to serve as an official.
Feeling guilty, Si Cang JueTian granted Liu ZiWen the position he deserved, but never asked him to serve
himself. Over time, their relationship became increasingly distant, limited to the formal ties of ruler and subject.
Although Liu ZiWen was talented, he merely acted as an intermediary among the officials, maintaining neutrality.
"If not..." Si Cang JueTian said sadly, "If my royal brother had not been murdered by a traitor back then,
everything would have been completely different." He wouldn't have let down all the people around him.
Si Cang JueTian's words were vague, but Si Cang Qing knew the secrets of the past. Back then, the Crown
Prince was assassinated by Si Cang JueTian's nominal mother, the current Empress Dowager, in collusion with
her brother. Unfortunately, the emperor at that time was muddle-headed and completely unaware of the truth.
Later, Si Cang JueTian ascended to the throne but was unwilling to be controlled by the Empress Dowager.
Instead, he devoted himself to eradicating the Qin family. Unfortunately, being young and lacking support, he
was no match for the Qin clan. Instead, he was betrayed by his adoptive mother, who used Heart-Devouring
Gu on him, resulting in no heirs except for a son and a daughter, and he was severely injured.
"Qing'er," Si Cang JueTian had already put away the look of sorrow and said, "If you need Prime Minister
Liu's help, you can go find him... I believe he will do his utmost to assist you."
Si Cang Qing looked at him calmly, still with some doubts in his heart. For example, Si Cang JueTian ascended
the throne as emperor which was not inherently a bad thing, so why did he feel guilty towards Liu Ziwen
because of it...
For a moment, he couldn't figure it out, but Si Cang Qing no longer pressed the issue; he had gotten the answer
he wanted.
As for the Liu father and son, he would go to see them when the time was right. For now, it seemed that Liu
Ziwen didn't need to worry, just his son Liu Yi…
That day, with just a glance, Si Cang Qing had a gut feeling that the person was somewhat difficult to deal with.
Looking at Si Cang JueTian's exhausted face, Si Cang Qing stood up and left, saying, "Father, please rest well!"
Although he didn't quite understand the other's grievances, just like he promised Feng Lan, he would reclaim
everything for his father in this life.
The Empress Dowager, huh...
A glint of ice appeared in Si Cang Qing's eyes.
Hmm…
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