CH 240: The Champion Marquis’s Opportunity

The Champion Marquis was plagued by anxiety, alternating between feeling success was imminent and sensing impending doom. Looking around, he could neither see through future trends nor find loyal ministers to rely on.

His newly wedded wife sobbed quietly beside him. The Champion Marquis sneered, “The Cui clan was certainly generous, throwing their own daughter into a fire pit.”

“Why would you say such things, my lord?” Lady Cui grew more sorrowful. Though she knew it was mockery, she couldn’t help but ask.

“Cui Hong sees me in danger yet refuses to send even a single soldier to help. I’m an outsider, so that’s nothing, but what about you? Does he not care about you at all? Before marrying you, I should have inquired about your status in your family.”

Lady Cui broke into loud sobs, overwhelmed with grievance.

The Champion Marquis grew irritated at the sound and angrily said, “What use is crying? Can tears turn into soldiers? Besides, what do you have to fear? You’re a daughter of the Cui clan. After I die, they’ll find you another good match, perhaps even the Weary Marquis – you might still have a chance to become an imperial consort.”

Having been the most pampered daughter at home, Lady Cui had never heard such harsh words. Her heart shattered as she cried, “If the worst happens, I will follow my lord to the underworld. I will not live on shamefully.”

“Heh.” The Champion Marquis sneered, distrusting everyone now.

Someone coughed outside. The Champion Marquis strode out of the room, completely ignoring his wife.

An elderly servant quietly said, “The two Chief Censors have arrived.”

“That someone would still visit is quite a surprise. What should I do? Welcome them with lanterns and decorations?”

The elderly servant, embarrassed, lowered his head and said, “Lords Xiao and Shen are important court officials. Their arrival-“

“Now even you’re offering strategy? Why don’t you tell me how I can become emperor?”

The elderly servant immediately knelt down, “Forgive me, Champion Marquis. I was confused-“

“Take me to see them.” Rebuking an old servant did nothing to relieve the Champion Marquis’s tension.

The Left Chief Censor supervised Capital officials while the Right Censor handled regional officials. Though they typically didn’t interfere with each other’s affairs, their potential to become Chancellor made them natural rivals. Xiao Sheng and Shen Mingzhi were no exception, having competed openly and secretly for years. Yet in this critical moment, they immediately set aside their differences to work together for self-preservation.

The Champion Marquis wasn’t completely senseless and treated the two visiting chief censors courteously, greeting them with a smile as if victory was still certain.

The two chief censors weren’t nearly as composed. After they were seated, Xiao Sheng said, “The Weary Marquis has left the Capital-“

“What?” The Champion Marquis was shocked, his hand trembling and spilling tea on himself. As servants rushed to wipe it clean, he set down his cup and waved for all servants to leave the hall. Confused, he wondered whether this news was good or bad. “What does this mean? Has the Weary Marquis given up his claim to the throne?”

“It appears so.” Xiao Sheng was also surprised. He had even prepared to support the Weary Marquis if necessary, but hadn’t expected him to leave so suddenly. After making such a commotion in the Capital, the Weary Marquis retreated at the final moment – like a warrior who boasted endlessly before a duel only to flee as soon as his opponent appeared, greatly disappointing the spectators.

The Champion Marquis was speechless.

Shen Mingzhi, being more experienced, said, “I fear things aren’t so simple.”

“What are your thoughts?” The Champion Marquis’s tone grew more polite.

“I received reliable information that palace eunuchs escorted the Weary Marquis out of the city, which means he was acting on the Empress Dowager’s orders.”

“So the Empress Dowager isn’t really mad,” the Champion Marquis muttered.

Xiao Sheng and Shen Mingzhi exchanged glances. Realizing only now that the Empress Dowager was feigning madness showed the Champion Marquis was quite slow, but they had no better options anymore.𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

“The succession competition was fake, the emperor selection was fake, Cui Hong’s support was fake, and what about the ministers? There’s been no news from the Chancellor’s residence for three days. You two-“

Xiao Sheng spoke first: “Chancellor Yin sways with the wind, but we are utterly loyal to you, Champion Marquis. As the only descendant of Crown Prince Ju, you are most qualified to inherit the throne. We both served Crown Prince Ju before and harbor no other intentions.”

The Champion Marquis hadn’t heard of these two censors standing up to protect their lord when Crown Prince Ju was killed. Suppressing his mockery, he said, “Prince Ying was assassinated, the Weary Marquis has left the Capital – only Prince Donghai and I remain. Prince Donghai has no ability, so we needn’t fear him. The key is still the Empress Dowager. Shang-guan Sheng’s Eight Palace Guard Camps control the entire city. What should I do? What should we do?”

Xiao Sheng and Shen Mingzhi hadn’t come seeking help – they brought a plan. After exchanging glances, Xiao Sheng spoke: “The situation isn’t beyond salvation yet.”

“Oh?” The Champion Marquis leaned forward. After being politely rejected by Grand Tutor Cui, this was the first good news he’d heard.

Xiao Sheng continued, “The Empress Dowager is clever. In a short time, she divided and conquered the ministers, gaining control of the court. But she was too clever, creating huge troubles for herself.”

“How so?” The Champion Marquis immediately regarded Xiao Sheng as his new right-hand man.

“Let me start from the beginning.”

“I’m not in a hurry.”

“The Graceful Emperor reigned for four years, the Thoughtful Emperor for less than one year, so the Empress Dowager has participated in government for at most six years. How did she gain such power?”

“How?” The Champion Marquis played along, though inwardly dissatisfied – he wasn’t in the mood for ancient history.

“It started with the Martial Emperor.”

The Champion Marquis fell silent. The Martial Emperor stirred complex emotions in him – he was both his grandfather and the greatest emperor of Great Chu who created a golden age, but also the tyrant who killed Crown Prince Ju.

“The Martial Emperor first suppressed the power of the imperial clan and nobility to prevent anyone from coveting the throne.” Xiao Sheng briefly touched on this history since it involved Crown Prince Ju’s death. “When the Martial Emperor named the Graceful Emperor as crown prince, he suddenly realized there were no trustworthy people around the crown prince. So in his final years, he focused on attacking the ministers.”

The Champion Marquis personally understood the phrase “no one to trust.” Even when the court officials most supported him, their reserve and coldness had made him angry. Now it filled him with despair.

Xiao Sheng recalled past events and sighed deeply. “I won’t go into details, but before the Martial Emperor passed away, he replaced almost all officials below the Chancellor. Yin Wuhai and Han Xing were promoted precisely because they were weak and incapable, unable to overshadow the emperor.”

The Champion Marquis sneered at the mention of Yin Wuhai. “I understand your meaning, Lord Xiao, but what does this have to do with the Empress Dowager?”

“After the Martial Emperor’s adjustments, all court officials developed a habit of never interfering in palace struggles. The Martial Emperor thought this would allow the Graceful Emperor to maintain the status quo. However, after ascending the throne, the Graceful Emperor’s personality changed. He didn’t want to just maintain the status quo – he wanted to achieve great things like the Martial Emperor, but couldn’t find any forward-thinking ministers to assist him.”

Xiao Sheng and Shen Mingzhi exchanged glances and sighed simultaneously – neither of them wanted to be “forward-thinking” either.

“The Graceful Emperor wanted to replace his ministers but didn’t get the chance to finish before the Thoughtful Emperor took the throne and the Empress Dowager became regent. You should understand how cautiously we ministers act after the Martial Emperor’s ruthless teachings and the Graceful Emperor almost acted to suppress us.”

The Champion Marquis suddenly realized Xiao Sheng wasn’t recounting history without reason – he was indirectly explaining why all the ministers failed to stand up for Crown Prince Ju.

The Champion Marquis was convinced. He understood that terrifying feeling – whenever changes occurred in the palace, he would lie awake at night, fearing he might follow his father’s fate.

“The Empress Dowager took advantage of the ministers’ caution,” the Champion Marquis continued for Xiao Sheng. “She empowered law enforcement officials and arrested imperial clan members connected to Prince Qi, but largely left the ministers alone. Despite repeated palace upheavals these past years, the court remained stable, so you were content to watch her schemes.”

The two censors’ faces reddened slightly. Xiao Sheng said, “With the Chancellor’s position weakened, the court officials were leaderless-“

“I don’t blame you. I would have done the same as a minister,” the Champion Marquis reassured them. “What did you mean about the Empress Dowager being too clever?”

“Her schemes revealed the truth to the ministers. Before this, we were cautious because we distrusted each other. To be honest, until recently, I suspected Lord Shen had ulterior motives.”

Shen Mingzhi smiled faintly. “I also thought Lord Xiao was the Cui clan’s puppet.”

The two exchanged knowing looks, still harboring doubts but unwilling to show them.

“But the Empress Dowager’s repeated plots made us realize something – none of us want to meddle in the business of others: no one opposes her, but no one truly supports her either. The same applies to the Weary Marquis and the current Emperor.”

“Is that a good thing?” the Champion Marquis asked coldly.

“For the Weary Marquis, yes,” Xiao Sheng said confidently. At Divine Hero Pass, he had underestimated the Weary Marquis and lost. But in the Capital, being well-prepared, he could easily “defeat” his opponent. “Champion Marquis, you should see that the Empress Dowager is actually quite isolated. The lack of opposition is illusory – the truth is she has no support. You need just a little help to turn the situation around.”

The “little help” clearly referred to the two loyal censors.

“But Shang-guan Sheng controls the Eight Palace Guard Camps-“

“If an official seal alone could control tens of thousands of soldiers, Shang-guan Xu wouldn’t have lost the Southern Army-” Xiao Sheng stopped abruptly, since the Champion Marquis was also losing the Northern Army. “The Empress Dowager has been too hasty. Half the Eight Palace Guard Camps are still old personnel that Shang-guan Sheng hasn’t had time to replace or win over. This is your opportunity.”

The Champion Marquis’s confidence grew. “Will these old soldiers be loyal to me?”

Xiao Sheng had to suppress his contempt and smiled. “These people follow the tide – they could be loyal to anyone if you win them over-“

“Is there time?”

“There is,” said the usually quiet Shen Mingzhi. “The Capital’s situation is chaotic, and there’s one weakness the Empress Dowager and Shang-guan Sheng haven’t noticed: Han Xing is stationed at Hangu Pass, leaving the Chief Commander’s office empty. If we occupy it and obtain the military tally inside, we can command the Eight Palace Guard Camps.”

The Champion Marquis was startled. “Without documents from the Ministry of War and imperial edicts, will the Eight Palace Guard Camps really obey?”

“Even if they won’t follow your orders, it will create chaos and destabilize Shang-guan Sheng’s position. Then you’ll have a chance to storm the inner palace and seize the imperial seal.”

The Champion Marquis had thought the two chief censors brought a foolproof plan, but it turned out to be a huge gamble – even more dramatic than his boldest imagination.

As Shen Mingzhi tried to persuade him further, Xiao Sheng gave him a look and said, “We’ll let you consider it. We’ll go contact other ministers who might help. We’ll return before dark.”

The Champion Marquis nodded numbly.

Outside the mansion, Shen Mingzhi said to Xiao Sheng, “I’m afraid the Champion Marquis lacks the courage.”

“We have to push him forward. We weren’t cautious enough – we showed our hand too early,” Xiao Sheng sighed, secretly admiring Yin Wuhai. The old fox could now watch the tigers fight from a safe distance.

“You go probe the Ministry of War’s position, I’ll gather news about Prince Donghai and the Weary Marquis. There might still be other options,” said Shen Mingzhi. Having no better ideas, Xiao Sheng agreed.

In the mansion, the Champion Marquis was still shocked and indecisive when an old servant entered and said softly, “The young master’s birth mother has arrived. The madam invited her to the rear courtyard.”

The Champion Marquis grunted, unconcerned about the meeting between his wife and his ex-wife.