Chapter 79 You are Father's Pride
Gu Nanxiao guessed that it would be related to the military power of his maternal family, but he did not expect that the emperor, who had been on the throne for more than 20 years, had not yet been able to take control of the Tiger Roar Army.
Therefore, having a younger brother who could also rightfully ascend to the throne naturally makes one a thorn in one's side.
Fortunately, my father has never been close to the Shen family all these years, otherwise the emperor would have been forced to eliminate them long ago.
He remembered that when he was a child, his father was a great general whom everyone respected, but later he refused to lead troops into battle again. Everyone said that the incompetent king had become increasingly lustful and incapable. Who could have imagined that there was such a hidden reason behind it all?
Even though my father repeatedly concealed his talents, the Emperor's malice towards him was always evident. For example, my father's title should have been "Yongrong Deyong," signifying stability, peace, and nobility.
However, when the imperial decree was issued to bestow a title, it became the character for "mediocre" instead of "mediocre talent." How can it be explained as a mere slip of the pen? These two characters are worlds apart; how could they be written incorrectly so easily?
He remembered that after he began his studies, he specifically asked his father why he had been given the title of Yong. At the time, his father just smiled bitterly, patted his head, and did not explain anything.
Only when he grew up did he realize that he was at the mercy of others, like a fish on a chopping board. It was not difficult for an emperor to take the lives of someone's entire family, and what did it matter if he bestowed an insulting title upon someone?
At this moment, Gu Nanxiao's opinion of his father had changed significantly. Perhaps his father's years of forbearance were also intended to protect him and his mother.
He used to think that his father favored his two half-brothers, but since they caused that scandal, their futures were ruined. However, his father showed no regret at all, as if they were destined to be useless.
Gu Nanxiao asked directly, voicing his confusion: "Father, is it because you are afraid of the one above you that you have deliberately created the illusion of marital discord and favoring concubines over your wife all these years?"
Upon hearing this, Prince Yong sighed deeply with a sense of desolation and recounted with a look of reminiscence, "Your mother and I were betrothed by the late emperor when we were young, and we grew up together as childhood sweethearts."
I adore her bright and cheerful personality, and I even tried to protest against His Majesty's decision to marry her to a concubine. But in the end, it was all in vain.
Consort Xu's scheming and calculations were written all over her face. How could Father not understand that the woman was no match for your mother?
However, the discord within our Prince Yong's household is something His Majesty desires to see. That's why Father has deliberately neglected you and your mother all these years.
Because we have grown increasingly estranged from your mother and the Shen family, we have been able to preserve the lives of the three of us.
When King Yong finished speaking, he patted his son on the shoulder, sighed again, and then said, "How could your father not know that you have suffered a lot on the frontier all these years?"
But your father hopes even more that you will develop the skills to protect yourself. At least in times of crisis, you won't be dragged down and killed because of what happened back then.
What we, father and son, said today, you can only keep to yourself and pretend to be at odds with others.
If you ever find yourself in a life-or-death situation in the future, you may pretend to break with me in order to save your own life.
As for your concubine, your father can see that she is no ordinary woman, and it is only natural that you like her.
But you must be careful; before you are absolutely certain of victory, you must not be too aggressive, otherwise you will surely bring about your own demise.
The words of the Prince of Yong deeply touched Gu Nanxiao, especially when the Prince of Yong said that he could abandon him to save himself, Gu Nanxiao couldn't help but tear up.
He understood that for a man to endure this much required even greater willpower, since it was the easiest thing to act impulsively in a fit of rage.
Although he admired his father's perseverance, he strongly disagreed with his actions.
Gu Nanxiao first bowed respectfully to his father, then expressed his thoughts: "Father, I believe that blindly enduring, while seemingly preserving one's life temporarily, actually narrows one's path until there is nowhere left to retreat and no chance of ever turning things around."
"In recent years, although His Majesty hasn't taken any major actions, he has been constantly weakening the military and political power of the Prince Yong's residence. Father, you have gone from a great general commanding hundreds of thousands of soldiers to a Prince Yong who can only indulge in pleasure with his concubines in the inner quarters. This is what the Emperor wanted to see."
Upon hearing his son's words, the Prince of Yong did not erupt in anger or reprimand him harshly as usual. Instead, he nodded in agreement and said:
"The way I am now is exactly what my elder brother wanted to see. He also wants to prove to the world that the late emperor's decision to pass the throne to me was a mistake. He also wants the world to see that I am inferior to him in every way."
Your father knew that living like this was humiliating, and he had been thinking of simply enduring this wretched existence. But after you displayed extraordinary talent in your childhood, your father finally understood the feelings of the late emperor.
No one wants your talent to be seen by the world more than I do, but I dare not, so I can only suppress and belittle you to cover up your brilliance.
Your father knows that you have harbored resentment all these years, but you have never known that after uttering those hurtful words, the pain in your father's heart was no less than yours.
You are your father's pride, the only reason he clings to life on his deathbed. More than anyone else, your father wants to see you rise to prominence and be recognized by the world.
Your father's methods of protecting you and your mother were cowardly, and they caused your mother a lot of suffering. Your father does not expect you to understand, but only wishes you a peaceful and smooth life for the rest of your days.
No sooner had Yong Wang finished speaking than Gu Nanxiao strode forward and embraced him tightly. The father he remembered as so towering and imposing had now become so thin and frail.
Gu Nanxiao choked up and couldn't utter a word. It had been so many years since he had heard his father praise him. It turned out that his father had always approved of him and had never thought that he was a worthless son. It was all due to the circumstances.
The Prince Yong was embraced by his son, who was a head taller than him. The bitterness that had weighed on his heart for many years turned into two streams of tears, which surged out of his eyes.
Just now, he was worried that if he told the truth, his son would look down on him even more, since his actions seemed cowardly and incompetent.
To his surprise, his son not only didn't show any disdain, but also understood his difficulties and comforted him. His son had finally grown up; he would no longer have to bear the pressure of acting alone.
Feeling his father's trembling body and the warm, wet tears on his shoulder, Gu Nanxiao cleared his throat and made a firm promise:
"Father, you have done a good job in the past, protecting the lives of my mother and me. Now it is your turn to protect us, Father. Is that alright?"
Having said that, without waiting for the Prince to continue being moved, she released her arms from his embrace, and after he awkwardly wiped the tears from his face, she solemnly said:
"Please, Father, come with me to the palace tomorrow to ask Grandmother to release Yunxi."
Upon hearing this, Prince Yong instantly stopped crying. He suddenly began to wonder if the tender father-son relationship he had just witnessed was all an act by this brat, and if his real purpose was simply to save his concubine.
Facing the suspicious gaze of Prince Yong, Gu Nanxiao took his leave without any shame.
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