The news of victory in the northwest was swiftly delivered to the capital city on horseback. People both inside and outside the capital shared the news, celebrating joyously. The Dayue Dynasty, governed by Duan Ruo, was a major threat to Great Zhou. A year ago, they had flattened their royal court and overthrown their dynasty. This time, Pei Zhan led a force to completely eradicate the roots of trouble, eliminating future threats. Everyone was both excited and worried, repeatedly confirming whether peace in the world had truly come.
"From now on, peace reigns in the world."
The next day marked the Double Ninth Festival, and the emperor ascended the city tower, addressing the people amidst the encirclement of officials.
That day, the joyful cheers and excitement of the city’s inhabitants were indescribable.
After the border was pacified, what remained was to "stabilize the interior."
The day after the Double Ninth, the usually arid northwest suddenly experienced a torrential downpour.
The northwest being seven or eight days’ journey from the capital, the departure was marked by urgency, and the return was with eager anticipation.
Everyone remained silent, focusing only on the journey home. Encountering rain midway, they had to rest early at a post house.
That night, Pei Zhan arranged for a small room in the post house’s kitchen, where everyone sat down for a proper meal and took the opportunity to rest.
From the time of departure to the northwest, it had been a journey of seven or eight days. They spent more than half a month at the frontier and several days on the return to the capital, almost a month in total of hurried travel, with little rest. That night, the rain provided a chance to rest adequately.
Yang Yi, concerned about the prison carriage in the backyard, went to inspect it in the afternoon, then arranged for Chen Song and everyone to take turns guarding it. After getting drenched in the rain, he went back to his room for a bath, coming out later than the others.
When he went downstairs, the hall was fully packed, the rain having kept all the travelers in the post house.
"...The news has already stirred the entire capital to a frenzy. From top to bottom, everyone in the court is discussing this matter. People have tried tracing the Emperor’s ancestral lineage nearby, but now they can’t find anyone, not even within seven or eight generations."
"Think about it, before the establishment of Great Zhou, the Central Plains had been chaotic for so many years, with wars driving people from their homelands. So many years have passed, and those who could be found have already been found."
"If they couldn’t find anyone when the nation was first established, can they find any now?"
The loud discussions in the hall were clearly heard by everyone passing by. Yang Yi, hearing the content, couldn’t help but pause his steps.
At that moment, the person speaking with the previous speaker continued: "Indeed, previously the Prince Rong was the only prince in the Imperial Family, and he was merely a cousin to the emperor. If there really were more, it’s impossible that only Prince Rong would have been ennobled."
"This suggests that Great Zhou truly has no successors, a worrying prospect for the future!"
The post house was only about two hundred miles from the capital, making it a busy place with a dense flow of people, many coming from the capital city itself.
The people in conversation were clearly those traveling north from the capital.
Yang Yi found it very strange and asked He Zhao, "What are they discussing?"
He Zhao, always by his side, clearly had no clue about the matter either.
He lifted his foot intending to inquire, but Yang Yi had already stepped ahead.
"Gentlemen, from your accents, you seem to be coming from the capital? May I ask, what significant event has occurred in the capital recently?"
Yang Yi greeted them with a bow, amiable and cordial.
Although he was tall and strong, he wore plain clothes and always treated people kindly, making him indistinguishable from ordinary civilians. Thus, his greeting did not seem abrupt.
The four people who had been discussing around the table stopped talking and, after sizing him up, stood up: "We are merchants from the capital. Brother, are you also out for business?"
"I’m not; my home is in the capital, but I left the city on business some time ago. Now, I’m preparing to return. I overheard your conversation and am quite curious about what events have transpired in the court?"
Upon hearing his background, knowing he was not from the officialdom, their minds were put at ease. The first to speak, a man in blue clothes, said:
"You may not know, but about half a month ago, a major event occurred in the capital. The King Yan in the Imperial Palace, who was preparing to take his place in the Eastern Palace, was revealed not to be a real prince!
"He was merely the orphan of a Border General adopted by the emperor and empress in those years!"
Hearing this, Yang Yi’s expression stiffened: "How did this news come to light?"