The Emperor was silent for a long time, looking at Yan Huisheng.
"You have no need to blame me. Throughout the ages, which emperor ascended the throne without turbulence? There has never been one. I did what an emperor should think and do. If you can’t even handle your brothers, then the throne beneath me is not something you are capable of possessing."
Yan Huisheng looked straight at the Emperor, "It’s not wrong to struggle with my brothers. They are all the sons of the Emperor, and they all have this right. If the Emperor wants to sit and watch the fight, I don’t blame him. But it’s wrong for the Emperor to suppress me and greatly support my brothers."
The Emperor countered, "You were born to be the Crown Prince, the heir. I gave you this status."
Yan Huisheng nodded, "Yes, the Emperor gave me this status, and I wanted to do well. But I didn’t expect that even doing my best would provoke jealousy from the Emperor."
The Emperor drew a deep breath, "Yan Huisheng, I am first your Emperor, second your father."
Yan Huisheng nodded, "I am very clear about this, otherwise, I wouldn’t have been cautious and careful not to make the slightest mistake for so many years. After all, if the Emperor wants his minister to die, the minister must die. The grace of a father demands repayment by the son."
Angered and humiliated, the Emperor pointed at Yan Huisheng, "Now, none of your brothers are a match for you. You have grown strong and must be pleased seeing me weak here. Are you doing this on purpose to make me angry?"
Yan Huisheng lowered his eyes, "I dare not, it was the Emperor who asked me to be truthfully."
The Emperor, pointing at Yan Huisheng in silence, would have ordered him to leave in the past. But now, he pointed for a while and gave up, "I never thought of giving this throne to anyone else. I don’t want to be unworthy of my ancestors and the nation."
Yan Huisheng raised his head.
The Emperor glared at him, chiding angrily, "What are you looking at? I also don’t want to be labeled as an inept ruler in the history books a hundred years from now."
Yan Huisheng remained silent.
The Emperor held his forehead, not wanting to get more agitated, and changed the topic, "I didn’t interrogate Imperial Concubine Zhen, you go and do it! I don’t want to see her anymore."
Yan Huisheng nodded.
The Emperor then asked, "What do you think I should do with the Crown Prince and his wife?"
"The Crown Princess is pregnant with the royal grandson, it depends if the Emperor wants to keep him or not. As for the Crown Prince, we should listen to his defense before making a decision."
The Emperor nodded at him and dismissed him with a wave, "Alright, you go ahead. As for the people waiting outside, send them away, I don’t want to see anyone."
Yan Huisheng stood up, and still said one more thing, "You said that you never thought of giving this throne to anyone else, I will believe it. I also want to tell you the truth. I will not let you give this throne to anyone else. And I am not eager to take your throne either. So, you, the Emperor, take care of your health, take care, and try to live longer than your father."
The Emperor finally laughed in anger, "Get out, you!"
He hadn’t dared to speak so frank to his Emperor before, but now, with the help of Su Rong, he seemed unstoppable, not holding back any longer.
Yan Huisheng bowed and left the Hall of Meditation.
The hall’s door opened and closed again, and the hall fell silent. The Emperor sighed deeply, in the royal family, there is no father and son. The broken relationship between him and his son could not be fully restored, and he had no intention of restoring it, and his son did not plan on reconciling with him. In any case, in a hundred years, there will be no shame upon his ancestors.
After all, he had resented his predecessor; he had been very clear that he wasn’t his father’s most valued son.
But Yan Huisheng was his most valued son, and because he had performed his duties too well as the Crown Prince, it only made him, as the Emperor, seem more incapable, irritated by his incapacity. Even if he knew that it’s wrong, he still did it.
After leaving the Hall of Meditation, Yan Huisheng relayed to the people waiting outside that the Emperor would see no more visitors.
Yan Lin looked very displeased, "Crown Prince, is the Emperor really not seeing us? We have waited for two mornings."
Yan Huisheng glanced at Yan Lin, "This is what the Emperor said. If you want to see the Emperor, just notify him. I have other things to do, so I’ll leave first."
With that said, he ignored Yan Lin and walked down the steps.
Yan Shen immediately followed Yan Huisheng, "Brother, I will go with you."
Yan Huisheng replied with a "Hmm."
Yan Lin watched as Yan Shen paced, keeping pace with Yan Huisheng, his face darkening, gritting his teeth in secret. He thought that Yan Shen was particularly good at surviving from desperate situations. The case concerning him and Miss Lipin, which was almost certainly going to end in their deaths, had surprisingly been revitalized by his plea to Yan Huisheng. Yan Lin realised that he had underestimated this fourth brother of his in the past.
As they walked, Yan Shen asked Yan Huisheng in a low voice, "Third Brother, how’s the Emperor?"
"Mm, he’s doing alright." Yan Huisheng nodded.
Yan Shen sighed in relief and turned to the case he was most concerned about. "Has the Emperor spoken about the case?"
"Yes, he has." Yan Huisheng briefly mentioned the Emperor’s instructions to him to interrogate Imperial Concubine Zhen and his suggestion on managing the Crown Prince and Prince Consort.
Yan Shen nodded.
Yan Huisheng glanced at him and said, "You can rest assured. Miss Lipin was framed and falsely accused. Although her mother’s family is somewhat involved, the investigation has made it clear that it has nothing to do with her. She might have been implicated, at most she’ll be demoted. She won’t be executed."
Yan Shen was immediately relieved. "Thank you, Third Brother."
He should be grateful. Without Yan Huisheng, the case would not have proceeded, Imperial Concubine Zhen would not have been implicated, and Miss Lipin would have been left to shoulder the blame. He would not be here now, out of legal jurisdiction, free to come and go.
Zhou Wei spent the night at the Duke Residence and planned to leave the next morning. When he heard a buzz of activity from the front, he asked the person attending him, "What’s happening at the front of the house?"
The attendant hastily replied, "The wife of the Inspector of Jiangzhou, Su Family, is paying a visit."
Zhou Wei nodded, "She is here alone?"
The attendant shook his head, "She has six daughters with her, all are legitimate daughters of the Su Residence."
Zhou Wei asked again, "What about Lady Su Qi? Did she come?"
The attendant shook his head, "It doesn’t look like it."
Zhou Wei then asked, "What about my fourth brother? Is he attending the guests?"
The attendant nodded, "The fourth young master went there early in the morning."
Zhou Wei said, "In that case, I should also meet Mrs Su. I’ll stay half a day more before leaving!"
The attendant agreed.
Zhou Wei rose and headed for the front hall.
In the front hall, the former Defender of the Nation, First Imperial Princess Sheng’an, the Duchess and others, along with Miss Zhou Yun and Zhou Gu, were present.
Mrs. Su expressed her gratitude to everyone at Duke’s Residence for taking care of her sons Su Rong and Su Xingze during their stay in the capital.
First Imperial Princess Sheng’an shook her head with a smile, "Lady Su, you don’t have to be so formal. We’re all family, let’s not be so formal. As for Little Qi and your eldest son in Daliang, we haven’t really done much. They are likable kids and the Shen Residence and Qingping have done more for them than us."
Lady Su laughed, "In any case, I have caused some trouble. Although we’re family and trouble is not an issue, as a mother, I must still extend my gratitude."
Laughing, First Imperial Princess Sheng’an waved her hand, "I had heard you were quite straightforward, and now that I’ve met you, I see you’re very polite."
Lady Su was a little embarrassed. "In front of the old Duke and Princess, I can’t but help to be courteous."
First Imperial Princess Sheng’an laughed, "We’re family here, just be at ease."
Lady Su, hearing First Imperial Princess Sheng’an repeatedly call her family, didn’t know what to say for a while, so they just chatted and laughed about various things.
Zhou Gu sat to one side, listening to Lady Su’s polite conversation. He thought that Lady Su must be quite pleased with Ye Guixue. Otherwise, given her forthright nature, she would not be so polite to the Duke’s Residence. Sometimes, excessive politeness was a sign that she wanted to keep her distance.
Especially since today, Su Rong did not come along.
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