Chapter Twenty-Four: The City of Kuaiji

Chapter Twenty-four: The City of Kuaiji

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince requests an audience.”

“Is it Goujian?”

“No… it is the Crown Prince Tan Zhi.”

A violent cough echoed from deep within the Yue Palace. The woman in palace attire hurriedly helped the aged man up, settling him against the couch, her hand gently patting his back as she signaled the maids to move the screen aside.

The guard repeated his report. The woman frowned, about to speak, when she felt her hand gently grasped. Turning, she saw the old man looking at her tenderly, saying, “Let him in.”

The man on the sickbed was King Yunchang of Yue. Since being struck by a cold arrow from the Wu army years ago, his health had rapidly deteriorated.

“Lan’er, you too have grown old,” Yunchang’s trembling hand brushed lightly across her hairline.

“Your Majesty, the imperial physician said you should speak less,” she replied, desperately holding back tears.

“It’s nothing. I’ve been lying here so long, my mind has grown muddled. I wonder how Goujian fares outside the city.”

Footsteps sounded in the hall. The woman quickly wiped her tears and helped Yunchang sit upright.

A short, effeminate man strode in.

“Tan Zhi greets Father.” His gaze lingered on Yunchang and the woman, then he bowed.

Before Yunchang could speak, Tan Zhi straightened, his lips curled in a half-smile. “Consort Lan, you certainly are attentive to the King.”

“Enough,” Yunchang said calmly. “What brings you here?”

“Have you news of Goujian?” Tan Zhi asked.

Consort Lan’s hand stiffened. Yunchang betrayed nothing.

Tan Zhi continued, “My younger brother is truly something. With Father gravely ill, he should have returned long ago.”

Yunchang sneered, “Haven’t you been sending men to search for him? Still haven’t found him?”

Tan Zhi stared at the pair for a long moment, gleaning nothing. He spoke again, “Father, an envoy has arrived from Chu.”

“Oh?”

“The capital of Chu has been occupied, King Zhao’s whereabouts are unknown. Their envoy comes only to ask for soldiers.”

“Chu and Yue have always been brother nations. Now that Chu is in trouble, how can Yue stand by and do nothing?”

“Brother nations? They may soon cease to exist altogether.”

Once Wu destroys Chu, they will surely not spare Yue. You must not be so shortsighted—” Yunchang was seized by another fit of coughing.

“To send troops to aid Chu is not impossible. If Father would grant me the command token, I will lead the army myself.”

After a long silence, Yunchang said, “So it’s the command token you want. Are you in such a hurry?”

“Does Father not trust me?”

Yunchang remained silent.

“If so, then Father should rest well,” Tan Zhi said coldly, swishing his sleeve as he turned to leave.

The hall fell silent. After a long time, a faint sigh escaped.

Tan Zhi left the palace, glancing coldly back at the building. A trusted attendant hurried over. “News just arrived: the North Gate Commander, Fan Li, has left the city for the camp.”

Goujian’s expression darkened. “Keep someone watching him. Report any unusual activity immediately.” With that, he strode away.

Fan Li paced anxiously outside the main tent of the military camp, repeatedly asking Wen Zhong, who stood nearby, “The Second Prince still refuses to see me?”

“It’s been this way since yesterday. I’ve asked several times; even the guards sent in were driven out,” Wen Zhong replied with a bitter smile and a shake of his head.

“This is urgent—how can His Highness remain so calm? No, I must go in.” Fan Li raised his foot to rush into the tent, but Wen Zhong held him back tightly.

“No! You cannot! To force your way into the Prince’s tent is a capital offense in the army!”

Fan Li slumped to the ground, disheartened, muttering to himself. Wen Zhong consoled him, “Be patient, Lord Shaobo. After all, this is a matter of the King’s family. As ministers, it is not our place to interfere.”

“Foolish! What private matter can a ruler have? The King’s family affairs are state affairs! Tan Zhi is ruthless and cruel, harming his kin, seizing power while the King is gravely ill. If he does ascend the throne, it will bring nothing but calamity to Yue!” Fan Li’s anger spilled over, his words unchecked. Wen Zhong hurriedly covered his mouth. “Watch your words! Watch your words!”

Night gradually fell. The Crown Prince’s residence was ablaze with lights. Tan Zhi sat in high command, playing with a bronze wine goblet, watching the ministers whisper among themselves.

One official stood up and bowed. “Congratulations, Your Highness. After the King’s passing, the fate of the nation depends on you.”

“Indeed, everyone knows of Your Highness’s kindness and generosity. It is a blessing for Yue,” another chimed in, nodding emphatically.

The crowd vied in flattery. Tan Zhi smiled with composure, raising his cup. “With your support, let us drink together!”

“Let us drink together!”

After the toast, singers danced gracefully, maids served attentively, and guests feasted and reveled—a scene of lively celebration.

Tan Zhi bade everyone enjoy themselves, then withdrew to the inner chamber, where his confidant Gong Bu awaited.

“Have you found him?”

“No, Your Highness. Still no news.”

“And that old wretch? Still refuses to confess?”

“He has bitten his tongue and died. But he cared for Goujian since childhood; his sudden departure from the palace must mean the King sent him to find Goujian.”

“Nonsense! The question is—where is he? Where is he?” Tan Zhi’s gentle demeanor vanished, his face twisted with rage.

“We’ve searched the city and beyond. Unless…”

“Unless what?”

“The palace or the army camp—those are the only places we cannot search.”

Tan Zhi calmed himself. Over the past years, taking advantage of Yunchang’s illness, he had bought off most ministers and generals, controlling the government. Yet two places remained beyond his reach.

One was the palace, whose guards were all kin, loyal to Yunchang. The other was the army camp outside the city, with five thousand native soldiers under Wen Zhong’s command, who responded only to the command token and never to Tan Zhi. And then there was Fan Li, the North Gate Commander, impervious to every tactic.

So, he dared not act rashly, hoping to inherit the throne properly after Yunchang’s death. Yet Yunchang lingered, neither dead nor alive, clinging to life for years. This latest mission to find Goujian unsettled him even further.

He slammed his fist onto the table. “Father, my patience is not limitless!”

Meng Di sat in the guesthouse, utterly at a loss. The official hosting him cared only for wine and food, never mentioning when the King of Yue would grant an audience. Judging by the situation along the way, something was afoot in Yue.

A soft knock sounded. Han Zhan had arrived. With guards at the door, entry by force was impossible, but fortunately, there was a large tree in the backyard. Han Zhan seized the chance, scaling the wall to gather news.

“Well?”

“I heard King Yunchang is gravely ill, and Crown Prince Tan Zhi is about to ascend the throne.”

“I see… But the city gates are guarded so tightly—there must be another reason.”

“Rumor is, Yunchang has another son, the Second Prince Goujian, missing for a long while. Tan Zhi is searching everywhere for him.”

Meng Di was amazed. “You learned such secrets in just one night? Do you have acquaintances in Kuaiji?”

“Well, I went to the women’s quarters,” Han Zhan replied sheepishly.

The women’s quarters were places of pleasure, officially sanctioned, frequented by nobles and officials. Han Zhan had spent the night eavesdropping outside the window, naturally picking up plenty.

The Second Prince Goujian? Meng Di mused, suddenly recalling that this was the future King of Yue. But where had Tan Zhi come from? Could the historical records be mistaken?

So far, Meng Di still could not tell if he had traveled into the past or entered another world entirely. Or perhaps, his so-called previous life was simply a vivid dream. For a man from the Han dynasty, the concept of transmigration was difficult to grasp.

Yet this did not prevent him from reaching a conclusion—trouble was brewing in Yue.