97 Chapter 97
◎Parents. ◎
The next day, Liu Ju was reading when a palace maid arrived with the news: "The Imperial Household and the Marquis of Nanhuan wish to see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Liu Ju slowly closed the book in his hand: "Please."
Soon, Gongsun He came in, led by a palace servant, and bowed, "Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"No need to be so polite, Grand Coachman," Liu Ju said. "Please take a seat."
The Grand Coachman was among the Nine Ministers. Even though Liu Ju was the crown prince, he should have been given some face. Even if he didn't have to stand up to greet him, he should at least have stood up to show his appreciation.
But now, although Liu Ju did not say anything polite, his posture was as steady as a rock, and he did not move at all.
Gongsun He's heart sank, and he thought, it seems that what happened yesterday cannot be easily resolved.
Although Gongsun He was a relative of the empress, there was still a layer of distance between them, and he was an outsider, so it was impossible for him to enter the emperor's harem to pay a visit to the empress. Therefore, he rarely saw Liu Ju.
At this moment, he secretly glanced at the little prince and thought that this was different from what his wife said. The prince was not a cute, pitiful and soft-hearted child. The way he looked at him was like His Majesty looking at the Prime Minister.
Before coming to see the prince, Gongsun He thought that the trouble caused by his son was just a childish quarrel and could be solved by saying a few nice words. However, since the other party was the prince, they had to give him face, so he came to ask to see the prince and his wife went to ask to see the queen.
Self-knowledge is the most important thing in life, and Gongsun He has always been very aware of his own worth. In the past, thanks to his father's service to the then-crown prince, he served as the Crown Prince's attendant, becoming a close and trusted aide to the Emperor. In the intervening years, he earned the title of marquis by serving under the general in battles. Now, the future of his son and those of his son would likely depend on the young Crown Prince before him.
Especially my son’s future!
Otherwise, Gongsun He would not have had to rush to the prince to prepare to perform a play. However, what he did not expect was that the little prince did not seem to intend to let him perform.
Liu Ju said, "I have just been appointed Crown Prince and am not familiar with state affairs. I am still learning. The Imperial Household Officer must be looking for me for personal matters."
Gongsun He said dryly, "That's right."
"Your Highness, I heard that Your Highness left the palace yesterday?" Gongsun He calmed himself down. After all, the prince was just a child. He had been in the court for so many years, it was impossible that he couldn't even handle a child!
Liu Ju smiled slightly and said, "The Imperial Household must have listened to what your son said."
Gongsun He covered his face with his hands in shame and said, "My child is rude. It's my fault for not bringing him up properly. I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Your Highness."
"Speaking of private matters, the Grand Coachman is my elder, and I dare not interfere in the elder's family education." Liu Ju said lightly.
Gongsun He: “…”
The little prince is as difficult to deal with as his father. He is stubborn and unyielding. It's true that a dragon breeds a dragon and a phoenix breeds a phoenix!
"It is true that Your Highness has a private relationship with my family, but when it comes to public and private, the public comes first. Your Highness is the king and my son is the subject. Your Highness sees that he is behaving inappropriately, so it is right for you to discipline him." Gongsun He lowered his head and said.
Liu Ju said, "The Imperial Household Officer has said it very well."
Gongsun He considered these words. They didn't sound like praise. He spoke more cautiously, "These are just humble opinions. Your Highness, please enlighten me."
"I've only read a few articles, so I don't dare to advise the Grand Coachman," Liu Ju said. "At least there's one thing I'm very confused about, and I'd like to ask the Grand Coachman for advice."
Gongsun He said, "I dare not."
Liu Ju said, "Grandmaster, since you hold such views, why don't you teach your son a lesson? Or, as a father, do you not understand your son's character? Or, as a father, do you think your son is just as he should be, and doesn't need any discipline?"
A drop of sweat slid from Gongsun He's forehead to his eyelashes, but he didn't dare to wipe it off. The prince asked this question...
Gongsun He really doted on his only son and was reluctant to scold or control him. Moreover, to be fair, there were many playboys in Chang'an City, and Gongsun Jingsheng was not the most excessive among them.
However, this cannot be told to the prince truthfully. After all, the prince has asked this question, what else can Gongsun He say?
Gongsun He said with deep sorrow, "Your Highness, I will teach my son a lesson. When I return home, I will discipline him strictly and make sure he is careful with his words and actions and never makes such a mistake again."
Liu Ju knew very well that these were just words to get the matter over with, but Gongsun He believed that what the prince wanted at this time was his statement.
The Gongsun family is an in-law and represents the prince's reputation. Gongsun Jingsheng has offended the prince now. The prince really has to make some statement, otherwise everyone will look down on him.
If he had such an attitude in his previous life, Liu Ju would have been able to let this matter go.
Thinking of this, Liu Ju reflected on himself. Perhaps it was because he was too tolerant of them in his previous life that Gongsun Jingsheng dared to commit such a disaster as misappropriating military funds.
To deal with some people, you have to be ruthless.
Moreover, in his previous life, Liu Ju believed that the prince did need the support of his maternal relatives, and his father also thought so at one time.
But later facts proved that when Emperor Wu of Han no longer trusted his prince in front of his father, no one could support him.
"Are you serious, Grand Coachman?" Liu Ju asked.
Gongsun He paused and said, "Of course, I will discipline him strictly..."
"In that case," Liu Ju interrupted him, laughing briskly, "Uncle, if you trust me, I'll hire someone to teach cousin Jingsheng for you. Would you be willing?"
Gongsun He almost didn't react to the change in title of Crown Prince. He stuttered, "Your Highness... Your Highness, who would you like to ask to discipline Jingsheng?"
Liu Ju said, "My uncle."
General? Gongsun He was stunned for a moment. The general had so many things to do that he probably couldn't even discipline his own son.
"This... the general is busy with military affairs, there is no way he would have this..." Gongsun He didn't finish his sentence when he inadvertently caught a glimpse of Liu Ju's calm eyes with a smile.
...Attitude! What the prince wants is an attitude!
Gongsun He changed the subject abruptly: "But if it is Your Highness's order, no matter who is asked to discipline Jingsheng, I and Jingsheng will obey your orders without hesitation."
Liu Ju nodded with satisfaction: "Okay."
…
In the Pepper Room Palace.
Wei Junru told the story of yesterday and apologized to the Crown Prince on behalf of her son. She pushed all the responsibility onto the blind playboy and said that her son was absolutely innocent and was implicated by that bastard.
Wei Zifu listened quietly to her elder sister's words, then said, "Sister, you and I are sisters who know each other well. I know what kind of child Jingsheng is. You don't have to pretend in front of me."
Wei Junru was a little indignant. What happened to her son?
But he didn't dare to speak loudly to the Queen, so Wei Junru could only defend himself: "Your Highness, you know that if Jingsheng had been here earlier yesterday, how could he dare to be disrespectful to the Crown Prince?"
Wei Zifu said, "If it was Ju'er, he wouldn't dare to do that. But what if it was someone else?"
"Who are other people?" Wei Junru snorted. "Who is his aunt? Your Highness, in Chang'an City, except for those with the surname Liu and their relatives, who doesn't want us to show some respect?"
Wei Zifu said calmly, "His aunt is the queen, so what? My sister, the one in Changmen Palace was also the queen back then."
Wei Junru said: "How can she compare with His Highness..."
"Her mother is Empress Dou, the legitimate daughter of Emperor Xiaowen. I am indeed not as good as her," said Wei Zifu.
Wei Junru finally noticed that something was wrong with the Queen. She lowered her voice and asked carefully, "Your Highness, what's wrong with you?"
Wei Zifu said earnestly, "Sister, whether we can maintain our status as nobles today will last forever is yet to be determined. We must be careful with our words and actions, and be prudent in every detail. You must pay more attention to Jingsheng."
The Queen had said this much, and Wei Junru had no choice but to respond, but she still wanted to say a few more words in defense of her beloved son.
"Every noble child in Chang'an City has his share of problems. Your Highness, our Jingsheng has some minor issues, but he's fine now," Wei Junru said. "Think about it, Qubing also went through the same thing. It's only because Jingsheng never went to war with his uncle, otherwise what would this little thing mean?"
Wei Zifu was surprised and said, "Sister, you don't really think that the reason Qubing was the most meritorious among the three armies was because he went to the battlefield. If Jingsheng could also go to the battlefield, he would definitely be no less than Qubing."
Wei Junru didn't say anything, but her eyes said it all.
Wei Zifu shook her head and said, "Sister, if you think so..."
She didn't say everything so as not to embarrass her sister.
"No wonder Juer insisted that I say these words to my sister." Wei Zifu sighed.
Wei Junru was confused: "What do you want my younger sister to say to me?"
Wei Zifu looked at her and asked, "Right now, Gongsun Taifu is with Juer, and my sister is with me. Where is Jingsheng? Isn't this the cause of this trouble?"
Wei Junru was speechless: "He..."
Wei Zifu asked, "You just mentioned Qubing. Wasn't he also a tyrant in those years, bullying men and women, and living a life of extravagance and debauchery? Of course, he did make some minor mistakes, but did Qingdi punish him? Sister, will you punish Jingsheng?"
Wei Junru was speechless. She thought to herself, how can a biological son and a nephew be the same? She has never seen Qingdi punish his own son!
As for Wei Qing's children, they were still young and their personalities and talents were unknown, but she didn't think about that.
Wei Zifu sighed. After all, she had been accompanying the emperor for many years. Although she could not make decisions on military and national affairs, she was not completely ignorant.
At least, when it comes to fighting, Wei Zifu sees things more clearly than Wei Junru.
There were many people who followed Wei Qing on the expeditions over the years, so why was it that only Huo Qubing achieved such great feats?
Is it just because he is Wei Qing’s nephew?
Of course not!
If Wei Qing's nephew can win the battle, does Your Majesty still need to worry?
The reason why Huo Qubing was able to win was not because he was Wei Qing’s nephew, but because he was Huo Qubing!
Just like how Wei Qing was able to stand out back then, it was not because he was Your Majesty’s brother-in-law, but simply because he was Wei Qing!
But in the Han Dynasty, there was only one Wei Qing and only one Huo Qubing!
But Wei Junru wouldn't listen to these words. After all, children should always be her own.
"That's all," Wei Zifu said. "I have my own ideas. Sister, you can just go home."
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