Chapter 186 Your subject requests permission to go to war

Hongzhao, dressed in plain white with a hemp cloth tied around his waist, knelt at the very front of the Shouhuang Hall.

As for why he was at the front, it was naturally because the Emperor was keeping vigil for the Empress Dowager. Perhaps it was because of the many things that had happened over the past year that had taken a toll on his health, and he had fainted several times from grief. It was only because Su Peisheng and Hongzhao were quick-witted and held him tightly that he did not fall to the ground. He had already been taken back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation by the sedan chair.

Even after kneeling for several days in a row, Hongzhao still stood upright and tall, his not-so-broad shoulders looking as if they were bearing a heavy burden.

In November, the weather was freezing cold. The bone-chilling cold on the bluestone slabs crept up to the knees. The hall was not warm because the doors were tightly closed. On the contrary, the doors and windows were wide open, and the cold wind kept blowing into the room. With everyone around him shivering, Hongzhao appeared even more unmoved.

Xiao Dezi secretly slipped him a knee brace, but he didn't wear it. Knee braces at this time were different from those in later generations; the one Xiao Dezi held was only secured by a few straps, making it quite unstable during movement. He didn't want to take such a risk. If something went wrong in front of the Empress Dowager's spirit tablet, it would truly be a loss. Besides, he had the system with him, so he wouldn't actually hurt himself.

"Your Highness, would you like something to eat?" Xiao Dezi crouched down and stepped forward, lowering his voice to almost a whisper—"This servant has delivered the ginseng soup to the Hall of Mental Cultivation as you instructed, and has also informed Eunuch Su."

Hongzhao's gaze remained fixed on the ground. He tilted his head towards Xiao Dezi and said, "This servant told Eunuch Su that Your Highness was worried about the Emperor, which is why you ordered me to bring this ginseng soup. You also said that the Emperor was concerned about the Shouhuang Palace and dared not leave without permission. I will keep it safe for the Emperor. Please take good care of yourself, Your Majesty."

Hongzhao responded softly. He always trusted Xiao Dezi's abilities. "That's enough. Su Peisheng will know what to say next."

After saying that, he turned his head straight and said, "Put the food away and don't take it out again. I won't starve if I skip a meal. There will be plenty of time to eat after these two days."

The night is long, and dawn is still a long way off.

The Emperor did not cancel the morning court session, so Hongzhao, who had been kneeling in the palace all night, had to hurry up and get ready to go to court as soon as it was dawn. Along the way, it was obvious that his steps were not as firm as before, and his legs seemed to be weak and unsteady. His walking made Thirteen, who was following behind him, feel terrified.

He thought to himself that this child was indeed a calm and patient person, no wonder he was able to achieve great things.

At this time, attending court was simply about discussing one matter.

The expedition against the Dzungar Khanate was imminent, but the question of who should lead the troops had been the subject of much debate for the past few days. In reality, however, the debate had come down to just two candidates.

Yue Zhongqi is one, and another is the former Grand General, the Fourteenth Prince Xun.

Since the day before yesterday, Prince Xun had volunteered himself many times. But each time he failed to get a definite answer from the Emperor. His attitude was ambiguous, neither saying yes nor no. But Hongzhao knew in his heart that if the probability of getting the Fourteenth Prince to go on the expedition was 40% before, after the incident with the Empress Dowager, saying it was 19% would be an exaggeration.

There's nothing wrong with Yue Zhongqi leading troops; the only downside is that he's too obedient to the emperor, not daring to disobey him.

Yinzhen was notoriously superstitious and eager to meddle in wars, so only by pairing him with the rebellious and unruly Fourteenth Prince could a balance be achieved. After all, if only Hongzhao were to obstruct from the sidelines, there would always be times when he couldn't provide adequate support.

Seeing the fourteenth prince, his face flushed and neck red from arguing with the court officials, Yinzhen couldn't help but cough lightly, sighed inwardly, and looked away. "Hongzhao, you haven't spoken for quite a while. What's your opinion on this matter?"

Hongzhao stayed by his father's side every day, and even without a mind-reading device, he could understand his father's thoughts perfectly. He was holding a grudge and just didn't want to use the fourteenth prince.

Since that's the case, I can't recommend him directly. Hongzhao lowered his head, rolled his eyes, quietly moved his stiff knees, stood up, and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Father, I request permission to lead the troops to conquer the Dzungars!"

The Thirteenth Prince, standing to the side, stared intently at his nephew, his gaze subtly sweeping over his equally stunned elder brother in front of him. He couldn't help but give his nephew a thumbs up in his heart.

Even the fourteenth prince, who was standing to the side, immediately shut his mouth and didn't say a word. He even forgot to argue with those annoying civil officials and just stared blankly at the little prince at the front.

You mean... that I, the Emperor's own brother, was not allowed to go by the former Grand General, nor by the battle-hardened Governor of Gansu, but instead a little prince who is just over ten years old was sent? Is that so?

"Nonsense!"

This was the only thought that came to Yinzhen's mind after he was jolted back to reality by a single sentence.

People are supposed to become more composed as they get older, but he's the opposite; the older he gets, the more people try to annoy him.

Yinzhen was already feeling unwell, and now, provoked by Hongzhao, he forgot everything. He stood up, pointed at him from afar, and repeated, "This is truly absurd!"

"Your subject is not being silly." Hongzhao raised his head, and indeed there was not a trace of joking on his face, but this was also what worried Yinzhen the most... This brat actually wanted to go to the front line.

"It is said that brothers fight together and fathers and sons go to war together. Wherever Father Emperor's heart is, that will be my battlefield. I will not let Father Emperor down. I will not return until Loulan is conquered!"

Although the saying is corny, it was perfectly adequate and sufficient in the Qing Dynasty, where there were no corny pick-up lines.

Just as Yinzhen was beginning to feel moved, Hongzhao's last words forced him to swallow his emotions back.

You're not coming back... You think you can just stay away? No way! I absolutely won't allow it!

He waved his hand, stopping Hongzhao from continuing his rambling speech—"Alright! There's no need to discuss this matter any further!"

"Father!" Hongzhao deliberately feigned regret and confusion, took two steps forward, and pleaded again—"Brothers fight together, fathers and sons go to war together, this is no exaggeration, please grant my request, Father!"

"Don't even think about it!"

It was rare for Yinzhen to give such a direct rejection, his tone so firm that even eight horses couldn't pull him back. He looked up at the officials, their eyes downcast. Only the Fourteenth Prince remained, his stubbornness tinged with a rare sense of helplessness. It seemed that Yinzhen wasn't the only one caught off guard by Hongzhao's rebuke.

"Enough. I remember when Father Emperor was alive, Yue Zhongqi assisted Prince Xun in pacifying the Dzungar Khan Tsewang Arabtan and made great contributions. Now that so many days have passed and no result has been reached, I will allow you to go on the expedition against the Dzungar together, just like last time."

"You two draft the specific regulations, and come to the Imperial Study to wait for me later."

Having said that, she practically couldn't wait to get down, ultimately out of consideration for the Crown Prince, who was now grown up and needed to save face. Otherwise, the hand that was holding his arm would be on his ear right now.

Although Hongzhao outwardly admitted his mistake, he inwardly agreed with his actions.

Sure enough, when you're torn between two options, the appearance of a worse option makes the first two seem less bad.