The ceremonial leaders began tapping the percussions rhythmically. Sometimes they rang bells. The spells sounded louder and louder. And Zhu Su, kept staring straight ahead, tried to ignore the hundreds of people who were whispering nervously to one another and by then making buzzing sounds like bees.
Of course, everyone was very nervous. Even including the royals. The spell had been chanted for so long, but still, nothing happened.
"You ask me to call the entire imperial family?" Zhu Yunwen asked suspiciously, as Zhu Su stated that the requirement for the sacrifice ceremony was, the whole imperial family must come to watch the ceremony.
"Well... except Brother Di and Younger Brother Quan who has been caught by Brother Di... because they can't attend after all!"
Zhu Yunwen only replied with a snort. But he did not ask further and immediately granted Zhu Su's wish. Because Zhu Yunwen thought this would be Zhu Su's last request before he died, and he had to grant it.
"Aahh! Look, look at that!" Somebody pointed to the sky. "Black clouds begin to fill the sky!"
Everyone looked up automatically. It was true, the black clouds were coming, their movements were quite fast. In a flash, the clear sky had changed its appearance, it was completely dark right now.
In the next minute, snow fell down.
Now everyone screamed out due to the sudden cold. The servants were busy giving their masters the thick and warm coats to wear. And even serving hot tea for them. But this luxury could only be enjoyed by the nobles who were still the nobles. And Zhu Su, of course, could not enjoy the privilege.
He began to change his position, from standing still, to bowing slightly. The chill he felt was unbearable. The clothes he wore were so thin for this weather. His hands and feet were going numb. His whole body trembled violently. He was dizzy, and a few moments later, he fell to his knees.
Now everyone shrieked.
My goodness... is Nayin true? I have turned this very holy ceremony to a strategy for the selfishness of mine and Brother Di's, of course, it provokes Heaven's wrath? Instead of going as expected, it then returns back to me?
I really must become the sacrifice for the sake of Ming continuity?...
"My Heaven!"
Zhu Su blinked. Everyone was in a turmoil.
But instead of worrying him, their attentions were diverted to the front seat, where Zhu Yunwen was sitting on.
Zhu Yunwen was busy holding his stomach. He whimpered, appearing so pitiful. Since their emperor was in a severe problem, of course everyone became a tantrum. The palace royal physicians were busy caring for Zhu Yunwen, while the servants soon went back and forth, delivering lots of things.
"Your Majesty has been infected by the infectious disease of Jiangsu's outskirts!" It was the diagnosis from the chief royal physician.
The whole meadow immediately turned hysterical. It was so chaotic at this time. In this mayhem, no one paid attention to Zhu Su. Slowly, he rose to his feet, observing what was happening in the distance. Both corners of his lips lifted up.
His plan had been carried out successfully.
***
"I just thought you have betrayed me, Su. I thought you join forces with Yunwen and stab me from behind. I never thought that you approach Yunwen to stab him in the front!"
In a crowded and noisy restaurant, Zhu Di was laughing cheerfully, while Zhu Su only replied to him with a slight smile. "How do you get the information stating that I try to betray you?" He asked in a soft voice.
"Ah... never mind! It's worthless to say!" Zhu Di patted his younger brother on the shoulder. "You know, I was always used to get lost earlier. You guys are right, Li Jinglong is not just anyone. At first, he did appear weak, but later it was me who often got defeated by him. So I decided to use the infectious disease to break Yunwen's concentration. And it worked. We won in every battle, until Li Jinglong finally gave up! Now I plan to end this campaign in the north since it only wastes so much time, and attacks directly to the south. This situation must be maintained well until I can take the capital!"
"I just don't expect that Yunwen will ask for my help." Zhu Su sipped his tea. "You know, I almost laughed out loud when facing him in the palace. You should visualize his funny expression when he found out that the mountain hermit he asks for help is actually me."
"But you're so clever, you can come up with this strategy!"
"At first I never thought of it. It was on my way from Yunnan to Yingtian that I could suddenly get this idea." Yes, Zhu Su's strategy was: Pretending to sacrifice himself for the sake of the country and people, showing to the public that he was the only imperial family who was willing to sacrifice and offer himself, whereas on the other hand, he asked Liu Ku for a poison in the form of aromatherapy to weaken Zhu Yunwen's immunity (he himself had already taken the antidote). It was not so difficult to do since he interacted quite a lot with Zhu Yunwen during this time. They did meet quite often, Zhu Su could infect Zhu Yunwen little by little and made his immunity decrease. Zhu Su and Zhu Di also arranged that the food supplies for the palace must be picked from the initial epicenter of the outbreak (the palace certainly had no clue about the exact location of the epicenter, different from Zhu Di who knew its location very well). Thus, the palace residence ate the contagious food. And Zhu Yunwen, whose immunity was the weakest, was soon infected much quicker than others. He fell ill more or less at a predetermined timing. Regarding the snow which could fall at the right moment, it was not a merely coincidence. Liu Ku had calculated it. Liu Ku arranged that their strategy should be implemented after their preparations were done, and made excuse that they must hold the ceremony at that moment since it was an auspicious time chosen by using a special calendar. But it indeed was. The falling snow, coincided with the emperor's illness, managed to let everyone believe that "The Heaven does get wrath and wants the imperial family to be sacrificed."
"The impact of this drama is formidable. Zhou Wang, who is willing to sacrifice himself for the people, is not punished by Heaven, instead, Heaven punishes the Emperor. Then everybody can be sure that the Emperor is the guilty one." Zhu Su nodded in satisfaction. "It can increase the morale of your soldiers, Brother. Increase the morale of yours and decrease the morale of the imperial army!"
"But Liu Ku says, Yunwen has very strong antibody, he won't die whatever happens," Zhu Di tut-tutted, he seemingly regretted that part.
"It's okay, Brother. That's enough. What we need the most is only the perception of all people. This way, Yunwen has lost his reputation. He will be deposed soon."