Chapter 108 Why wasn't she a son?
Just then, the Duke of Liang suddenly pulled up his fishing rod and shouted, "Hey, it's on the hook! With that force, it must be a big one!"
The emperor's thoughts were pulled back by this sudden commotion.
With a flick of his wrist, Duke Liang sent a silvery fish leaping out of the water.
The palace servants who were waiting nearby had already quickly brought over the wooden bucket.
Duke Liang deftly removed the fishhook and put the still-throwing fish into the bucket, not caring at all that the water splashed onto his sleeves.
"Your Majesty, look at the quality of these fish! I fear my catch today is slightly better than yours!"
After saying that, he deliberately patted the wooden bucket, his tone full of undisguised pride.
The Emperor couldn't help but laugh at his appearance. The seriousness between his brows had lessened considerably, and his tone became somewhat teasing.
"You old codger, you're more focused on fishing than you were on the battlefield back then. My fishing line hasn't budgeed an inch yet, it seems you're going to win today."
"Your Majesty's mind wasn't on fishing, which gave me the opportunity to win by a small margin." Duke Liang didn't mince words, pointing out the emperor's distraction.
Upon hearing this, the Emperor's tone lost its previous smile.
"Yes, I am getting old, and I am burdened with worries about state affairs. The ministers in the court are probably worried that I may pass away at any time, and they are urging me to establish a crown prince as soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, the smile on the Duke of Liang's face instantly froze, his expression changed slightly, and he quickly said, "Your Majesty is joking! Your Majesty seems to be in excellent spirits and good health. You could live for several more decades without any problem. Those idle rumors are just your subjects worrying unnecessarily. You don't need to take them to heart."
The Emperor shook his head. "You still can't shake this habit of boasting. I know my own body. Even with the best doctors that Que Nu has found to take good care of me, I'm afraid... I won't last more than a few years."
Duke Liang quickly reassured him again, "Your Majesty is overthinking it."
"How can one not worry?" The Emperor interrupted him, his gaze suddenly shifting to the Duke of Liang, his eyes sharp enough to pierce through one's heart.
"My dear minister, you have served me faithfully for decades. Tell me honestly, do you also think that I should establish a crown prince as soon as possible to stabilize the court and prevent future troubles?"
Upon hearing this, the Duke of Liang felt a headache coming on.
He had served the emperor for many years and knew his temperament better than anyone else. He was most averse to others mentioning the matter of establishing an heir in public.
In the past, an imperial censor was dismissed from his post and exiled to a harsh and cold place for speaking frankly and advising the emperor to establish a crown prince.
He pondered for a moment and replied, “The matter of choosing an heir has caused quite a stir among the court officials, who say it is a matter of state. But in my opinion, this is not only a matter of state, but also Your Majesty’s family matter. When to choose an heir and who to choose should be decided by Your Majesty, the ruler of the world. Although the ministers may have opinions, who dares to disagree?”
Upon hearing this, a complex light flashed in the Emperor's eyes, and he pressed on, "Then, my dear minister, who do you think I should appoint?"
Duke Liang's heart tightened, and he immediately knelt down, his voice filled with fear.
"Your Majesty! Only Your Majesty's divine will can decide this matter; how dare I speak presumptuously?"
The Emperor's tone softened a bit, "Get up. Today we are just chatting casually, why be so formal?"
Only then did the Duke of Liang dare to slowly rise, his forehead already beaded with sweat.
Seeing that the emperor was still looking at him with a probing gaze, he knew he couldn't avoid it, so he could only carefully consider his words.
"Although Your Majesty has few children, each of your princes and princesses has their own strengths. The eldest princess is exceptionally talented and capable, and enjoys high prestige in the court. The second prince... is also known for his gentle nature, obedience, and understanding. The third princess is clever, well-behaved, and lovable. The fourth and fifth princesses are still young and need time to be raised. In my opinion, any of them would be suitable to be chosen; it all depends on Your Majesty's wishes."
These words are as good as saying nothing at all.
But the emperor still understood the unspoken meaning in his words.
This Liangcheng is indeed a soldier brought by Shen Lang; his words, though seemingly casual, reveal a clear bias.
"Do you know what Zheng Wenkai said to me?" The Emperor suddenly changed the subject.
The Duke of Liang looked at the Emperor with slight surprise, wondering why he had suddenly mentioned Prime Minister Zheng.
"Zheng Wenkai once privately advised me," the Emperor continued, "He said that women will eventually marry. If the country is truly handed over to Que Nu, and she gives birth to a son, that child will surely worship his own paternal ancestors. Wouldn't the country then fall into the hands of someone outside the family? If it is a daughter, then the court's rules and the laws of the world will have to prioritize women. Future generations of men will surely laugh at me for being weak and foolish, saying that I have pushed the country into a state of 'a hen crowing at dawn'."
The Duke of Liang hesitated, then said, "Your Majesty..."
The Emperor raised his hand to rub his temples, interrupting him directly, "These words are like a thorn, deeply embedded in my heart."
"It's not that I haven't considered Que Nu's abilities, but what Zheng Wenkai said is also the concern of the people. If I really insist on making her the crown prince, how will I deal with the turmoil in the court, the criticism from the people, and the judgment of future generations?"
Duke Liang suddenly understood why the Emperor had suddenly said these things to him today.
It turns out that His Majesty has made up his mind and intends to make the Second Prince Yuanyou the Crown Prince.
By agreeing now, he is merely using his own words to send a message to the court, thus accumulating power for the Second Prince.
The Emperor sighed deeply, his tone suddenly becoming sorrowful and regretful, "But Que Nu... she is, after all, my child with A Lang, the daughter I raised with my own hands! Over the years, I have asked Heaven more than once why she is not a son? If she were a son, why would I have such worries? I would entrust this vast empire to her without hesitation!"
Seeing his "heartbroken" appearance, the Duke of Liang subtly pursed his lips.
He didn't reply, but simply lowered his eyes and waited quietly for the Emperor to continue.
The Emperor seemed lost in his own thoughts as he continued, “In any case, I cannot bear to see her suffer. I have already planned her future and chosen a good husband for her. After Yuan You ascends the throne, I will appoint her to assist in governing the country. Yuan You has always respected this elder sister and almost always listens to her. I have seen all of this. As long as she is willing to wholeheartedly assist Yuan You, she will still be the most powerful person in this Great Qi Dynasty and enjoy all the honors.”
He turned to look at the Duke of Liang, his gaze intense, as if seeking approval. "Isn't this more comfortable than sitting in that lonely, isolated position? She wouldn't have to bear the infamy of the world, yet she could still wield real power and live a carefree life. Isn't this the best arrangement I could devise for her?"
The Duke of Liang stood aside, listening to the emperor's "perfect blueprint," and felt nothing but irony.
The so-called "best arrangement" was nothing more than knowing that the second prince was incompetent, so they were unwilling to give up the eldest princess's talent for governing the country, but also unwilling to give her the position. They wanted to use her abilities to stabilize the country, but were also afraid that her power would become too great to control. So they vainly thought that by checking and balancing the three powers of "the emperor, the eldest princess, and the aristocratic families", they could firmly bind the eldest princess to the path of "assisting in government" and have her devote her whole life to the country of Qi.
Suppressing his complex emotions, the Duke of Liang bowed and said, "His Majesty is far-sighted and prioritizes the stability of the nation in everything he does. He considers both the bond between father and daughter and the long-term interests of the court. I believe that Princess Chang is a person of great righteousness and will understand His Majesty's good intentions."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor finally smiled with satisfaction.
"As expected, my dear minister, you are the one who pleases me the most."
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