27 By Royal Decree

Tian Ren heard the sound of footsteps echoing from down the hall, barely audible over the sounds of sobbing from the cells further within. He thanked the heavens that he had forced his wife and second son to stay at home. They wouldn't be implicated in these matters.

Even so, he couldn't help but envy the family of Wei Hong Sheng's birth mother a little bit. At least they were all together. He himself understood how awful a thought this was, but who wanted to be alone at the very end of their life?

Tian Ren held no hope towards nor illusions about his fate. He knew what was coming.

The man clad in all black who came into his cell looked familiar. Tian Ren was sure that he'd seen him at Prince Rui's estate. The man set down a tray of items, each more sinister than the last. Atop the tray was a stack of blank papers and ink, a brush, some white silk, and a blue and white porcelain bottle. "If you will confess the truth, your life may be spared," the man stated in an emotionless tone.

"If he confessed"? Tian Ren knew that this was Prince Rui's attempt to force Tian Ao into the imperial family. If Tian Ren "confessed" to the crimes they were accusing him of, Tian Ao would lose whatever remaining faith he had in his family. He would turn his back on the Tian family and become Prince Rui's son completely. But could he even refuse? Tian Ren eyed that porcelain bottle.

He thought of his wife, of his still-immature second son. His wife had been worried about her husband and son going to Eastern Wei. It had taken all his efforts to get her to stay behind in Northern Xi. How devastated would she be if he died here? Was it worth dying over your principles? If he could still live, he may yet be of use to his son. But...

Tian Ren shut his eyes. Even if he agreed to do what Prince Rui wanted, there was little chance that they would let him live. Why leave such an obvious loose end? Even though he knew it would hurt his beloved wife, Tian Ren had to do what he felt was right. He had to leave Tian Ao a way out. If he "confessed" here, then that confession would become the truth and Tian Ao would be manipulated into the role Prince Rui wanted. If he refused, they would take his life, but Tian Ao could still somehow find the truth. Their family might still be together again someday.

In his heart, he apologized to his wife of many years. He had once promised her that they would grow old together, holding hands until their hair turned white.

In the end, as his son had said, Tian Ren was a liar.

"I cannot and will not confess to crimes that I did not commit. My apologies to Prince Rui."

His little life was snuffed out in an instant.

"The criminal Tian Ren has committed suicide in jail! He left behind a message written in his own blood saying that he deeply regretted his immoral actions!"

"The immediate family of that venomous bedwarmer has been sentenced to death after it was found that they committed various other vile acts! Extended family will be contracted into slavery!"

Just like that, everything was over. In disgrace, the illegitimate Wei Hong Sheng left Prince Rui's estate to establish his own household.

"...As such, this Emperor hereby decrees that the true legitimate son of Prince Rui and Princess Consort Rui is reinstated into the family genealogy book. He is to be given a name of his true parents' choosing..."

Prince Rui and his household, including a shellshocked Tian Ao, were kneeling in front of one of the emperor's most trusted eunuchs who was currently reading out a very long decree.

The general idea was that Tian Ao would now officially be part of Prince Rui's family once more. He would take the royal "Wei" surname and his parents would give him a new name. He was to stay in their household, as in the future he would become the new Prince Rui. These things were stated in such a flowery way that a page or two was dedicated to embellishing each main idea.

And then...

"...Beloved official Duke Ning's only daughter, the noble Yan Qiu Yue, being of good character, virtuous, and possessing good fortune, was chosen by this emperor to be bestowed in marriage to the heir of Prince Rui. This emperor decrees that the wedding take place, as originally planned, in three months' time on an auspicious day in the fourth month of the year. Betrothal gifts, etcetera, should be sent forthwith to the house of Duke Ning..."

Princess Rui's brow furrowed, her mouth set into a line with displeasure. So that girl was still marrying in! The emperor was pretending that Yan Qiu Yue had never been engaged to Wei Hong Sheng. The decree made it sound as if, all along, she'd been betrothed to Tian Ao. Princess Rui was very discontent. The son she'd raised and loved for years was suddenly replaced with another and now this arrogant, willful girl would be marrying in so soon. She'd barely had time to get to know her son after being separated for almost 20 years. In a few short months, he'd have a wife to worry about.

She raised her head a fraction to look over at Tian Ao. His face was pale and his expression was one of shock and horror. He'd been more or less frozen like this since the day his foster father/kidnapper had committed suicide. Her heart ached for her son even as she struggled to sort out her own feelings. Princess Rui wondered how Wei Hong Sheng was doing. She'd barely been able to see him since Tian Ao's arrival at the estate and now he was living outside. The thought of him being slighted, of not living comfortably, bothered her a great deal. She hadn't been too upset over his true parentage. After all, the main wife taking over the care and raising of the concubines' children was a fairly common occurrence. How could she not feel attached after treating him as the apple of her eye for so many years?

After the eunuch finished reading the decree, Prince Rui rose and took the scroll in both hands. He reread it a few times before handing it over to a servant. The prince turned to his wife with a faint smile. "My dear, we will have to be diligent in choosing an auspicious new name for our son."

Before Princess Rui could reply, their son abruptly stated, "My name is Tian Ao."

"No, that is the name your kidnappers gave you. You are our son. It is only right that we bestow you a name."

"My name is Tian Ao." He repeated his words, clenching his eyes shut with a pained expression.

Prince Rui gritted his teeth and balled his hands into fists. He seemed to need a moment to calm himself. His wife feared that he would strike Tian Ao where he stood. Then, finally, the prince grinned. There was no mirth in his eyes. "Fine. You shall be Wei Tian Ao, then. We'll just change the characters." Prince Rui then stomped off in the direction of his study.

Princess Rui's eyes widened. Such a casual approach! How could this be done? He was their son, the future prince! But since Tian Ao said nothing this time, it could be seen that this was a necessary compromise.

"Ao..." Princess Rui called out, but her voice trailed off. She didn't know what to say to comfort her son at this moment. She barely knew him at all. How could she call herself his mother like this?

Wei Tian Ao raised his hand in front of his face, signaling for her not to speak. "I'm sorry, Princess. ...Mother. I... I need some time." Without another word, he, too, turned and strode away.