novelSusiti Chapter 13 Regent Minister – Prince Bayan of Junning
Chapter 13 Regent Minister – Prince Bayan of Junning
However, after the new emperor Ningzong Yilinzhiban ascended the throne, Yan Temur, who still held absolute power and controlled the court, could not sleep soundly at night.
The Prime Minister's residence was surrounded by deep walls, the candlelight flickering erratically. He lay on his brocade quilt, yet felt only a chilling wind, and the figures of Emperor Mingzong and Emperor Shiyi, bleeding from all seven orifices, stood silently before him, gazing at him intently. The figures made no sound, but his ears were filled with the faint sighs of the dead, each sigh, each word, questioning the indelible blood on his hands. Though he still held power, he felt as if he were walking alone on the edge of an abyss, the candle in his hand about to be extinguished at any moment.
He had no idea whether the new emperor, once he grew up, would one day turn against him. He could no longer suppress the surging fear and greed within him, and so, another insane idea began to fester in his mind—
Less than two months after Emperor Ningzong ascended the throne, another upheaval occurred in the inner palace.
Young Yilin Zhiban suddenly developed a high fever, his body burning hot. Imperial physicians knelt throughout the bedchamber, their robes soaked with cold sweat, the medicine in their silver bowls spilling over as they trembled, reflecting their terrified faces. All their best remedies and treatments were in vain, and the young emperor's breath grew weaker on his bed. In the blink of an eye, his condition deteriorated rapidly, and there was no hope of recovery.
Yan Tiemuer pretended to have heard the news and rushed into the inner hall. His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, swept over the helpless imperial physicians and eunuchs in the hall. When he saw the small figure on the dragon bed gradually losing its life, a barely perceptible relaxation finally appeared on his tense lips—this pawn, which could have led him to his doom if he had not been careful, had finally landed in the safest position.
However, he never expected that deep within the nine-layered palace, in the shadow of the turbulent court, there was someone who lay in wait like a night hawk, watching his every move.
This man was none other than Bayan, the Privy Councilor who held the same rank as the regent and commanded half of the nation's military forces.
In the autumn of 1328, Emperor Taiding of Yuan died, leaving the throne vacant and immediately triggering the "War of the Two Capitals," which shocked the world. Dadu and Shangdu were on the verge of war, and the empire was on the verge of splitting apart.
Amidst the turbulent times, Bayan, then Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard, assessed the situation and resolutely placed his bets on the weak and isolated Prince Huai, Tugh Temur, who had returned from Jiangling—the future Emperor Wenzong. He not only offered his full support but also personally led a cavalry raid, capturing the key figure in Shangdu—Ubdula, the Pingzhang Zhengshi who had supported Alajiba, the son of Emperor Taiding—amidst the chaos of battle. He then presented Ubdula as a weighty "pledge of allegiance" to Emperor Wenzong.
This move demonstrated both his bravery and strategic acumen, earning him the immense trust of Emperor Wenzong. Soon after, Bayan was promoted to Grand Censor, taking charge of discipline and administration, and thus stepping into the core of imperial power.
In the years that followed, his favor with the emperor continued to grow, and his official rank rose steadily: he was promoted to Privy Councilor, in charge of military affairs; and was granted the title of Prince of Junning, a position of great prestige and prominence.
However, despite his high achievements and great power, in Emperor Wenzong's heart, he could never reach the position of another person—Yan Temur. Emperor Wenzong's reliance on Yan Temur was almost unconditional; it was a bond and trust forged since his time as a prince, a bond that had endured life and death together, a trust that no later merit could easily replace. Even if Bayan were the brightest moon in the sky, its radiant light could not obscure the blazing sun of power on the horizon.
Because Yan Temur held absolute power, Bayan, though holding a high position in the court, remained as still as a deep pool, never revealing his true intentions. Every move Yan Temur made, every scheme he devised, could not escape Bayan's unfathomable eyes. He neither spoke out to stop him nor showed any displeasure, but silently watched, like a hunter waiting for his chance, weaving an even larger net in the silence.
When the devastating news of Emperor Ningzong's untimely death reached the Prince of Junning's residence, Bayan was in the moonlit courtyard, polishing his Mongolian scimitar, a weapon steeped in countless bloodshed. The blade reflected the cold moonlight, its edge gleaming with a chilling light. Upon hearing the news, the old general, a native of the Merkit tribe, showed no sign of trembling; his movements as he polished the blade remained as steady as a rock. Only a slight twitch at the corner of his eye silently betrayed the turmoil stirring within him.
"Your Highness," the trusted general hurried forward, his voice low as if afraid of disturbing the eerie night, "Yan Temur has already led his armored guards toward Xing Sheng Palace."
Bayan did not respond immediately. He simply and slowly sheathed his sword, the copper rings at the hilt clanging together with a crisp, clear ring in the otherwise silent night. He suddenly recalled thirty years ago, when he accompanied Emperor Wuzong Haishan on his expedition to the Chagatai Khanate. In that boundless sea, he had seen a lone wolf surrounded by a pack of jackals—its mane bristling, its eyes gleaming with ferocity, a cornered beast fighting desperately, ready for a final gamble. Now, Yan Temur was that mad beast, trapped in a desperate situation, determined to tear apart everything in its path.
Inside Xingsheng Palace, the candlelight illuminated the halls as bright as day, yet it couldn't dispel the pervasive oppressive atmosphere. Yan Temur addressed the bloodless Empress Dowager Budaishili on her throne, his voice resounding throughout the palace: "Your Majesty! Although Prince Yan Tegus is still young, he is exceptionally intelligent and unparalleled in filial piety! If Your Majesty were to graciously rule from behind the curtain, I would certainly exert all my strength to loyally assist you, together ensuring the eternal stability of the realm..."
The voice has not fallen,
The palace doors suddenly burst open, the heavy sound silencing all conversation! A biting night wind, carrying the chill of late autumn, howled in, instantly causing the candlelight to flicker violently, its glow uncertain.
Everyone hurriedly turned their heads, only to see Boyan, draped in a dark cloak, seemingly blending into the night itself, slowly approaching under the cold moonlight. Each step of his black iron boots pounded heavily on the floor tiles, producing a dull and rhythmic echo, each sound like a war drum resounding through the deathly silence of the deep palace.
He knelt on one knee, his black armor gleaming coldly in the candlelight, the clanging sound like metal striking metal. His gaze, sharp as a blade, was fixed on the bloodless Empress Dowager on the phoenix throne: "Your Majesty, I humbly beg you, at the risk of my life, that the eldest son of Emperor Mingzong, Toghon Temür, be enthroned!" His deep voice pierced the tense atmosphere in the hall, "The seven-year-old prince died suddenly after only fifty-three days on the throne. Heaven's warning has been like a thunderclap. Your Majesty... we must not make another mistake!" Each word echoed between the beams and pillars of the empty hall. The candlelight flickered in Xing Sheng Palace, casting unease on everyone's faces.
Yan Tiemu'er's pupils constricted sharply, and he abruptly drew his sword from his waist! With a sharp clang, the blade flashed with a blinding light, pointing directly at Bayan: "How dare you, Bayan, trespass into the Forbidden City and spout nonsense here!" He shouted hoarsely, but his rebuke revealed a hint of panic that he could not hide. His hand holding the sword trembled slightly, the veins bulging from the excessive force.
Bayan, however, never once glanced at the sharp blade that was only three feet from his throat. His composed gaze remained fixed on the Empress Dowager's slightly trembling jeweled crown, and he said in a deep voice, "The ink of Emperor Wenzong's blood edict is still wet, and Emperor Mingzong's eldest son is the one destined by Heaven. Lord Yan Temur, are you determined today to defy the late Emperor's blood edict and to be an enemy of Heaven and the people?" He spoke slowly, but deliberately emphasized the words "blood edict." Seeing Budashili's fingertips suddenly tremble, and he tightly gripped the intricate gold thread embroidery on his phoenix robe, his face under the jeweled curtains turned ashen.