Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

The ministers who had been waiting outside the palace entered the sleeping quarters one after another, moving with utmost care, afraid of making even the slightest sound that might disturb the person on the dragon bed. They knelt quietly on the ground, and the only sound in the entire palace was the emperor's heavy breathing.

After a long while, just when everyone thought the emperor had fallen asleep again, they heard him slowly speak.

"I have a son named Zhou Luo, who was accidentally separated from his family and ended up in the countryside... Later, he was fortunate enough to be rescued by Mr. and Mrs. Shen Jingheng and raised by them... Now, I am weak and frail, and I am old... cough cough... I am not long for this world... Therefore, I hereby appoint Prince Zhou Luo as Crown Prince, to succeed to the throne after my death... cough cough, I hope that all my beloved ministers will do their best to assist the new emperor and stabilize... stabilize the court..."

The emperor's words were like water droplets falling into hot oil, instantly stirring up the ministers who had been kneeling quietly below. Although they dared not discuss too loudly, they still harbored many doubts about the sudden appearance of a prince. However, the emperor also mentioned that the prince had been raised by Lord Shen, and for a moment, everyone had their own speculations.

Some, who had a strained relationship with Shen Jingheng, doubted the authenticity of the prince's identity and wanted to voice their opposition to establishing a crown prince. However, seeing the emperor's health, they sighed inwardly and swallowed back the words they were about to say.

The Emperor finally finished speaking, followed by a series of excruciating coughs. Li Dequan and several other eunuchs rushed forward to attend to him, serving him the medicine that had been simmering on the small stove.

The emperor glanced at the ministers below who were still whispering and gossiping. Li Dequan understood that the emperor had more to say, and immediately stood up straight and called out...

"quiet......"

Upon hearing Li Dequan's voice, the ministers realized that this was not the right time to discuss the matter. The Emperor's health was truly like an oil lamp in the wind, which could be extinguished at any moment. They dared not speak or make a sound, and all lowered their heads, waiting for the Emperor to continue.

"However, the Crown Prince's birth mother passed away early, and the Crown Prince is still young. He will now be adopted by Consort Jiang and raised by her. When I pass away, Consort Jiang will rule from behind the curtain and assist the new emperor until he comes of age." As soon as the emperor finished speaking, the ministers below, who had just quieted down, became excited again.

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!" One of the old ministers could no longer disregard everything else and immediately voiced his opposition. Consort Jiang had harmed the imperial heir; to hand this prince, who had been living away from home, over to her was like a lamb entering a tiger's den.

The Emperor wanted to explain, but his weakened state caused him to cough violently as soon as he opened his mouth. He could only weakly wave his hand at the old minister.

"quiet......."

Having finally stopped coughing, the Emperor continued speaking.

"The Jiang family has a daughter named Qile, ten years old, elegant and quiet, of noble birth. She is betrothed to Crown Prince Zhou Luo as his principal wife, the Crown Princess, and the wedding will be held on a chosen date after both parties come of age. Scholar Shen is appointed Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince and concurrently Grand Preceptor to assist the new emperor. General Shen Jingxun, the General Who Pacifies the South, is appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Capital City Defense Army and the Imperial Guard, responsible for the security of the capital and the inner palace, and will serve in the Emperor's presence. Minister of War Mu Rongfu will lead the Five Armies, and General Jiang Pingda will lead the Three Thousand Battalion and the Divine Machine Battalion. It is hoped that all of you will join hands to assist the new emperor in stabilizing the court."

Despite his physical discomfort, the Emperor weakly finished giving his instructions, then gestured for Li Dequan to feed him two more mouthfuls of medicine. Only then did he address three other ministers, giving them his final instructions.

"Your Majesty, we obey your command and will not fail in your trust," the ministers shouted in unison. Everyone knew that the Emperor was entrusting his son to a powerful figure in a time of crisis. These ministers were to become his pillars of support after the new emperor ascended the throne.

"Ha...all of you may leave now, except for Minister Shen, I have something to say." The Emperor let out a long breath and instructed the ministers kneeling before his bed.

"Your humble servant takes his leave." Except for Shen Jingheng, who remained kneeling on the ground, everyone else orderly withdrew from the study.

Only after the doors of the main hall closed again did the Emperor slowly speak.

"Minister Shen, I am neither a good emperor nor a good father. I know everything she has done in the palace. But when I was young and in that dilapidated palace, I was bullied and made fun of by the eunuchs and palace servants every day, and only she stood up for me. When I was in the darkest quagmire, she appeared before me like a fairy and took my hand to pull me out of that dark quagmire. Over the years, only when she is by my side do I feel that my empty heart has a place to rest."

Shen Jingheng listened with his head down, unsure how to respond to the emperor. Harming one's own offspring was intolerable even in ordinary families, but the emperor's love had allowed Consort Jiang to remain arrogant and untouchable. The emperor didn't intend for Shen Jingheng to say anything; he only kept him there because he hadn't finished explaining things.

“I don’t really want Luo’er to marry a woman from the Jiang family, but the Jiang family holds military power and has deep roots in the court. If we don’t give them some hope, I’m afraid they will harm Luo’er.”

As he was speaking, the Emperor suddenly reached out his hand to Shen Jingheng, who quickly knelt down and took a few steps to grasp the Emperor's hand.

"My dear minister, I only have this one son, but I am not a good father. Luo'er has been raised by you and the Grand Tutor since he was a child, and I know that only you and the Grand Tutor are truly sincere towards him. Now I entrust Luo'er to you, and you must protect him and ensure he grows up well. Do not let him be bullied in the palace, do not let him suffer the same fate I experienced as a child, and do not let him become an emperor like me..."

Shen Jingheng felt the force in his hand; he could sense the Emperor's resentment and reluctance. Aside from the matter of Consort Jiang, he was a good emperor. For over twenty years, he had been diligent in governing, cared for his people like his own children, and punished corrupt officials. However, the single incident involving Consort Jiang had destabilized the Great Huai dynasty, nearly destroying the court. If that pregnant palace maid hadn't been sent to his side, what would the Great Huai be like today?

After saying this, the emperor fainted again due to exhaustion. The imperial physicians waiting outside the palace quickly came over to administer acupuncture to the emperor.

"Eunuch Li, may I speak with you in private?" Shen Jingheng said to Li Dequan with great respect.

Li Dequan glanced at the sleeping emperor, gave instructions to the eunuch beside him, and then followed Shen Jingheng out of the main hall.

"What are your instructions, Lord Shen?"

"Eunuch Li, I wonder if Her Highness the Imperial Concubine has come by these past few days?"

"Alas, no. The Imperial Concubine has fainted several times from the grief of losing her son and is still unable to get out of bed, only able to stay alive with ginseng soup each day," Li Dequan shook his head and sighed.

"Has anyone from the Jiang family visited the palace?" Shen Jingheng asked again.

"Madam Jiang has arrived with her two daughters-in-law, as well as Lord Shen's wife. Is there something you need, sir?"

"No, I haven't been home for several days and I'm wondering how things are at home. I wonder if my wife is still in the palace?"

"This old servant didn't notice; I've been by your side these past few days without leaving. I'll send a eunuch in to investigate, and he'll report back to you later, sir."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Father-in-law," Shen Jingheng said politely.

"You're too kind, sir." After saying that, he casually beckoned a little eunuch over, whispered a few instructions in his ear, and then the eunuch ran off in a flash.

The group that left the emperor's bedchamber, except for Shen Jingxun who waited by the main hall gate, planned to go out of the palace to take a look around. They had been suddenly left in the palace, and their families must be very worried.

However, as soon as they reached the palace gate, they were stopped by the imperial guards stationed there.

"What do you mean by this? Are you not allowing us to leave the palace?" one of the civil officials shouted at the imperial guards at the gate.

"I'm sorry, sirs, but the city is not safe right now. Please stay in the palace for a few days. Once the prince arrives in the capital, you can go home." The imperial guard replied politely, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

Everyone present understood what he meant: if the prince was not safe to enter the capital, none of them were allowed to leave the palace.

"Please return, gentlemen," the imperial guard said politely to the group.

"Even so, we'll stay in the palace for a few more days. You generals have worked hard," another official said politely to the imperial guards.

None of them were fools. They had only just learned about the prince from the Emperor, yet this Imperial Guard knew about it even earlier. This showed that he had an extremely close relationship with the Shen family. Considering that Shen Jingxun already controlled the Imperial Guard, it was clear that Lord Shen had arranged all of this beforehand.

The group didn't argue further and followed the imperial guard to their lodgings.