Chapter 395 Too Hasty
In fact, in this power struggle between the emperor and the crown prince's faction, some figures were well-known. For example, the crown prince was merely a figurehead whom the emperor didn't want to appoint, a position he was forced to create. The crown prince was simply a target set up by the emperor.
Now the emperor is asking the crown prince, "Do you want to marry Minister Pu's daughter as your principal wife?" This is essentially saying, "You know I don't want you to succeed to the throne, yet you still want to marry a minister's daughter as your principal wife. What are you trying to do?"
Did the kneeling crown prince understand the emperor's meaning? He was merely a bit impulsive and of average intelligence, but not stupid. In fact, due to the influence of his upbringing, he was far more capable than the average person.
He knelt on the ground, his hands clenched into fists, veins bulging. His mind was filled with thoughts of how the emperor had made him crown prince if he didn't want him to inherit the throne. He had used his own son as a target, forcing his other sons to scheme to kill him—was this the kind of thing a father should do?
But he could only question himself in his heart; in front of the emperor, he dared not utter a single word. Suppressing his anger and resentment, he said, "Your subject did not mean that. Your subject truly did not know that she was Minister Pu's legitimate daughter."
The emperor naturally didn't believe this. Even if he believed Pu Tonghe hadn't colluded with the crown prince, he wouldn't believe the crown prince's rescue of Pu Mingyue was unintentional. His son wasn't the kind of person who would sacrifice himself for others. But now that the deed was done, how could they resolve it?
The emperor sat upright on his dragon throne, his fingers unconsciously stroking the jade pendant at his waist, the cool touch unable to quell the burning desire within him. This matter was extremely thorny.
The Pu family girl fell into the lake, and it just so happens that the Crown Prince jumped in and pulled her out. Now the whole city is buzzing with gossip; who doesn't know that a lone man and woman were seen in intimate contact? If this marriage isn't approved, Pu Mingyue, a woman rescued by the Crown Prince in public, will have her reputation severely damaged. Which family would dare to marry her in the future?
Pu Tonghe has worked diligently in the court for so many years, and he is a capable assistant whom I personally promoted. If I were to dishearten him, I fear the entire court would laugh at me, saying that the royal family is heartless and ruthless. But if I were to agree, the consequences would be even more unimaginable.
As the Minister of Personnel, Pu Tonghe controlled the promotion and demotion of officials throughout the country, and his protégés and former subordinates were all over the court and the country. What a huge influence he was! Now, to make his daughter the Crown Princess, wouldn't that be an open attempt to push Pu Tonghe, this big tree, toward the Crown Prince?
He already holds the title of Crown Prince, making him a target, but if he gains Pu Tonghe's support and his power grows, he might become difficult to control in the future. The reason I went to such lengths to make him Crown Prince was precisely to use him as a shield, to let my sons compete and see who is more capable. If he were to gain a foothold through the Pu family's influence, wouldn't all my previous calculations have been in vain?
The Emperor, his aged eyelids drooping, silently tapped the jade pendant at his waist with his fingers. The Imperial Study fell silent once more. Pu Tonghe and the Crown Prince knelt on the ground, their bodies tense. The incident of Pu Mingyue falling into the water and being rescued by the Crown Prince was part of their plan. They knew there was a risk involved when they devised it.
Pu Tonghe felt cold sweat trickle down his forehead, running along the patterns on the floor tiles. He knew all too well that he had been promoted by the emperor himself, but if he were to even get close to the crown prince, his very breath could be seen as collusion.
They had prepared their resignation excuses in advance, intending to retreat in order to advance, but now they were terrified and their whole bodies were tense. If the emperor really agreed, the network of power they had built up over decades would be destroyed. The sacrifice was too great, and they could not afford to gamble.
The Crown Prince's knuckles turned white from clenching his fists. He had long anticipated the Emperor's suspicious nature; this whole charade was fraught with peril. Pu Tonghe's resignation was a buffer they had left behind, but if Pu Tonghe truly left the court, without this powerful figure protecting him, their chances would be even slimmer.
If the emperor went along with it, all their plans would become a foolish act of self-inflicted harm, and a chilling fear gripped him, making it hard to breathe. The emperor's silence continued, while Pu Tonghe and the crown prince were drenched in sweat.
After an unknown amount of time, the emperor's voice finally rang out, "Let Minister Pu's daughter be the Crown Prince's principal wife..."
"Your Majesty!" Pu Tonghe interrupted the emperor by kowtowing, his forehead hitting the ground heavily. His voice was exceptionally clear in the imperial study. "My daughter, Mingyue, has already suffered the tragedy of falling into the water, and her reputation has long been ruined. How can she be worthy of the position of the Crown Princess? Wouldn't this tarnish the imperial genealogy and make her a laughingstock to the world?"
His throat bobbed, his voice trembled, yet every word was earnest: "I have resolved to resign and return to my hometown, never to concern myself with court affairs again. My daughter has been saved by His Highness the Crown Prince, a great blessing indeed. I dare not presume for a title, but only beg Your Majesty's mercy to allow her to enter the Eastern Palace to serve His Highness the Crown Prince as a nameless concubine. This would not only save my daughter's life but also preserve the dignity of the royal family, further demonstrating Your Majesty's benevolence. I implore Your Majesty to grant my request!"
These words were meant to reiterate to the emperor that he had not colluded with the crown prince beforehand, and that regardless of whether the crown prince acted intentionally or not, he truly knew nothing about what happened today beforehand.
Sure enough, the emperor's expression softened considerably after hearing his words. He turned his gaze to the crown prince and asked, "What do you think?"
The Crown Prince immediately kowtowed, his forehead pressed against the ground, not daring to lift it: "Your subject deserves to die! At that time, I rescued the person by the lake purely out of desperation, and I had no idea that she was Lord Pu's daughter. Now that such a commotion has occurred and Miss Pu's reputation has been damaged, it is all your subject's fault for being reckless."
He choked back a sob, his voice tinged with regret: "Miss Pu suffered this misfortune because of me, and I will bear the full responsibility. If Lord Pu were to resign because of this, I would be even more uneasy. If Your Majesty feels that the position of the principal wife is inappropriate, I humbly request Your Majesty's permission to allow Miss Pu to enter the Eastern Palace as a secondary wife. This would not only preserve her status but also allow me to constantly make amends for my mistakes. I hope Your Majesty will understand!"
The two men's words were perfectly timed. Pu Tonghe's retreat was thorough, resigning his post and only seeking a safe haven for his daughter; the Crown Prince's admission of guilt was sincere, focusing on responsibility rather than power. One sought to avoid suspicion and disaster, the other took responsibility and made amends, showing no trace of competition or collusion, but rather appearing to be making amends in a moment of panic due to an unexpected turn of events, with the aim of dispelling the Emperor's suspicions.
The emperor listened to their words and fell silent again. After a long while, he finally said, "Let's discuss this matter again. You may return now."
Upon hearing this, Pu Tonghe and the Crown Prince stiffened again. The matter remained unresolved; they couldn't fathom the Emperor's true intentions, and further delay might lead to unforeseen changes. However, if they made any further moves at this juncture, the Emperor would become even more suspicious.
At this moment, both of them felt that they had acted too hastily.
The two were filled with mixed emotions, but dared not exchange a word. They could only rise and leave the imperial study one after the other.
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