Chapter 325 The Way of a Ruler
“You look great in your new clothes today,” Li Yuanzhao suddenly said.
Today she wore a bright yellow round-necked court dress, and she looked energetic and vibrant, with a touch of childlike charm.
The crown prince's eyes lit up: "Really? This was made for me by the Imperial Wardrobe at the behest of the Empress Dowager. She said this color suits me..."
Are you happy?
"happy."
"What if from today onwards, everyone who sees you only compliments your clothes?" Li Yuanzhao looked at her. "Today they'll praise this light green one for complementing your skin tone, tomorrow they'll praise that peach-pink one for making you look lively. If they keep praising you for a month, a year, ten years... would you still be happy?"
The prince was stunned.
"If you study poetry and books diligently and stay up for three nights to memorize the entire Book of Rites, when they see you, they will only say, 'The prince's clothes are really beautiful.'"
"If you practice martial arts and archery until your arms ache, and finally hit the bullseye, when they see you, they will still say, 'The prince's clothes are so beautiful.'"
"If you were to ascend the throne and painstakingly finalize a new policy that benefits the country and its people, when they see you, they will still only say, 'The Crown Prince's clothes are truly beautiful.'"
Li Yuanzhao's voice was calm, "What would you think?"
The crown prince's brows furrowed, and after a moment's thought, he whispered, "Your subject feels... that they didn't see what I did at all."
Li Yuanzhao stopped and squatted down under the palace wall as the morning light began to appear, looking at the Crown Prince at eye level.
"That's why Mother is unhappy. Mother hates these flattering words because they clearly have so much to praise: the new policies I implemented, the territories I conquered, the prosperous era I created. Yet they choose the one I dislike the most, and in such a disingenuous way."
The Crown Prince hesitated and said, "But perhaps they just... want to please the Empress Dowager, and have no ill intentions?"
"Oh? Is that so?" Li Yuanzhao's voice was gentle. "You've been reading history books lately, haven't you?"
The Crown Prince nodded: "Yes, Grand Tutor Liu just happened to be teaching me the history of the Han Dynasty."
"Historical records about Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han describe their achievements, their decisions, and their great accomplishments in building the Great Wall, opening the Silk Road, defeating the Xiongnu, and establishing relations with the Western Regions. When you read history books, do you ever see any volume that says 'Qin Shi Huang was handsome'? Or any chapter that says 'Emperor Wu of Han had an outstanding demeanor'?"
The crown prince pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "No."
Li Yuanzhao's gaze was deep as he continued, "The people of the world submit to them because of their civil and military achievements, because of the prosperous era they created, not because of their appearance. For an emperor, appearance? That is the least worthwhile and least important thing to write about."
"Then why do they use these words to flatter me?" she asked.
The crown prince was stunned, shook his head, and honestly said, "Your subject does not know."
"Because in their hearts, I am first and foremost a 'woman,' and only then an 'emperor.' In their deeply ingrained belief, any woman should care about her appearance and love to hear such flowery words. She should be bound by her looks and pleased by such praise."
"But like all emperors throughout history, I don't care about appearances. I only want power, status, and beautiful women..."
Li Yuanzhao placed his hand on the Crown Prince's shoulder. "You are the Crown Prince of Great Qi, the successor I have chosen. If you memorize a policy essay today, I will praise your intelligence; if you hit the bullseye, I will praise your diligence. These praises are because I have seen your efforts, your growth, and your thoughtfulness."
"If they only praise your beauty and your clothes, it proves that they don't care what you've done, how many books you've read, how much martial arts you've practiced, or how much you understand about governing a country. Fundamentally, they don't see you as the future heir apparent."
The crown prince nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
Li Yuanzhao gently brushed aside the stray hairs ruffled by the morning breeze from her forehead, his tone softening slightly. "So, Qian Yuan, you must always remember that such words are never a compliment to you, but rather an invisible constraint. They will confine you to the so-called 'how a woman should be,' telling you to be docile, beautiful, and know how to please others, but never telling you that you can be ambitious, talented, wield power, and have the world in your heart."
The prince listened with his head tilted back, the morning light casting a soft shadow on her tender face.
Li Yuanzhao stood up, took her hand, and continued walking forward. "They make you believe that a woman's intelligence, ambition, and achievements are not as important as a beautiful appearance. This is the trap that men have set for women throughout history."
"Everyone is tempting you, implying to you, making you think that—a woman only needs to be beautiful, she doesn't need to study hard, doesn't need to practice martial arts, doesn't need to have the world in her heart... But I don't! What I want is what those men hold tightly in their hands!"
The prince's hands unconsciously clenched.
Li Yuanzhao felt the strength of the small hand in his palm and continued, "Look, now, I am the Emperor of Great Qi, the one who holds the power of life and death. So... it has become those men who need to rely on their beauty to please me. If I am happy, I will reward them; if I am unhappy, I will punish them."
"Have you understood the hierarchy and order of importance in this?"
The Crown Prince nodded. "Your subject understands."
Ahead, we have arrived at the Taiji Hall.
The main hall was filled with the solemn figures of hundreds of officials, standing silently in the morning light.
Li Yuanzhao released the crown prince's hand.
The Crown Prince stood on one side of the main hall, looking up as his mother, the Empress, walked step by step up the steps to the throne and sat down on the supreme dragon throne.
As the bell rang, all the officials knelt down and shouted in unison, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
As the Crown Prince gazed at his mother, the Empress, sitting on the dragon throne, he felt as if she herself was radiating light, making it impossible for anyone to look directly at her.
She seemed to understand.
Her father taught her to be kind to others, gentle, respectful, and frugal, and to be considerate, humble, and tolerant.
Her mother taught her that in this world, she herself was the most important, and everything should be based on her own will and needs.
If you can't even protect yourself, how can you protect the country?
Her father taught her that as the eldest sister, she should love and care for her younger siblings, be more accommodating in everything, forgive their mistakes, and maintain harmony among her brothers and sisters.
Her mother taught her that she was the crown princess, second only to the emperor. Her sisters were first and foremost subjects, and only then her siblings.
When it's time to establish authority, you must establish authority; when it's time to make decisions, you must make decisions. Excessive tolerance will only turn into weakness and will instead bring disaster.
Her father taught her to be patient and restrained, and to know how to conceal her sharpness.
Her mother taught her to have desires, to be ambitious, and to strive and compete.
Without striving and seizing, how can one gain the world?
Her father taught her how to "be a person"?
Her mother taught her how to "be a ruler"?
But compared to her father, who was a gentle and obedient empress, she longed to be like her mother, the emperor, who was high and mighty.
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