Chapter 269 Resistance
On the other side, Huo Zheng braved the rain to enter the palace. There was no court meeting today, so the emperor summoned him to the imperial study.
The emperor learned yesterday that Huo Zheng had returned to the capital. He waited and waited, but he did not see him enter the palace to meet him. When he saw Huo Zheng today, he couldn't help feeling angry.
Huo Zheng first explained to the emperor why he had returned to the capital yesterday and not entered the palace. He said to the emperor, "I was assassinated on my way back to the capital. My close friend Yuan Jia was seriously injured after shielding him from the sword. He was on the verge of death yesterday, and I simply could not abandon him. Therefore, I am late. I ask for your forgiveness, Your Majesty."
When the emperor heard his words, he said, "Qi Lang is a man of great loyalty and righteousness. His late arrival to save his friend's life was justified. However, as the Prince of Chang'an, you have neglected public interests for personal gain, which truly disappoints me."
"Father..." Huo Zheng wanted to explain a little more.
The emperor continued, "Now that things have come to this, there's no need for you to say more. You would do the same thing anyway, wouldn't you?"
The emperor is Huo Zheng's sovereign and also Huo Zheng's father. To some extent, he really understands Huo Zheng.
Huo Zheng had no words to refute this.
Because he really did as his father said, even if he had the chance to do it again, he would still put Yuanjia's life first.
In his opinion, the affairs of Xizhou had been settled, and the peace talks between the two countries had been agreed upon. Going to the palace to meet the emperor later would not affect the livelihood of the people, but would only cause him to be blamed by his father.
Compared to his own blame, Gu Yuanjia's life is naturally more important.
Huo Zheng said, "My father taught me to cherish talents. Moreover, Yuanjia saved my life. I must do my best to repay him and live up to his teachings."
After he said this, the emperor didn't want to pursue the matter any further, so he asked about what Huo Zheng had done in Xizhou.
Huo Zheng's face became more serious when he talked about serious matters. He reported all the affairs of Xizhou to his father. He was neither arrogant nor self-deprecating. He was neither humble nor arrogant, but calm and composed.
Looking at his son, the emperor couldn't help but think of the memorial from Xizhou, which said that the people of Xizhou supported Prince Chang'an even more than the emperor.
These words were almost engraved in the emperor's heart.
At this moment, when the emperor saw Huo Zheng talking about the affairs of Xizhou, he felt more and more that his son had grown up. He could use his pen to pacify the world and he could ride a horse to rule the country. He was a rare talent for an emperor.
If the emperor were twenty years older, he would surely be delighted to have such a son.
But the emperor felt that he was still in his prime, and with a son like Huo Zheng who was well-known for his virtue, the people had even begun to say that Prince Chang'an's succession to the throne would definitely benefit the people more than the current emperor.
How could the emperor tolerate this? Looking at Huo Zheng, he began to feel that Huo Zheng's achievements surpassed his own and posed a threat to his throne.
So when Huo Zheng had almost finished speaking, the emperor suddenly said, "Qilang has done a great job in Xizhou, but there is one more thing we need to do."
Huo Zheng knew what the emperor was going to say, but he couldn't avoid it, so he said quietly, "Father, please speak."
"You were the one who drove the Xiling army out of Daxing. If the Princess of Xiling wants to marry in Daxing, you're the only one who can stop her. You're the most suitable candidate, and the Princess of Xiling has chosen you." The Emperor said, "I'm determined to facilitate this marriage. I've already had an imperial decree drafted to grant the marriage. What do you think of holding the wedding ceremony next month?"
Huo Zheng immediately opened his robe, knelt before the imperial desk, and said solemnly, "Your Majesty, I beg you to revoke your order."
"What?" The emperor's face darkened. "Are you going to disobey my order?"
Although Huo Zheng was kneeling, his back was straight, unbending, and he spoke in a clear and upright voice, "I already have a beloved wife and a son. How can I marry the Princess of Xiling?"
The emperor said, "A marriage between two countries naturally outweighs personal feelings. Let your princess be a concubine. I haven't asked you to abandon your wife and children. Princess Xiling has no objection. I believe that Lord Mu, who is devoted to the country, will not refuse."
"I won't agree."
Huo Zheng refused without hesitation, even abandoning the title of "son and minister".
The emperor's expression suddenly darkened. "So, you are determined to disobey my order?"
Huo Zheng met his gaze and said, "If the emperor insists on forcing me to be a heartless and ungrateful person, I regret that I cannot obey your order."
The eyes of the father and son met, and it seemed as if a flash of lightning struck invisibly.
Huo Zheng has always valued rules and practiced benevolence and filial piety. The last time he was punished by the emperor was because he personally killed Prince Ning and his son.
At that time, the emperor punished him with a hundred lashes because of his royal family background, but he was not really angry with his son at that time.
But now it’s different.
This time, Huo Zheng defied the imperial order in person, which was tantamount to challenging the imperial authority and patriarchal authority.
"You have pacified Xizhou and defeated Xiling, and your contributions are immense. I wish to make you Crown Prince. As long as you are willing to marry the Grand Princess of Xiling and continue to prioritize our country, I will pretend you never said such nonsense."
The emperor calmed down and watched Huo Zheng offer inducements.
Huo Zheng was raised by the Queen. He has been outstanding in talent since childhood and is the most outstanding among his brothers.
He used to devote himself to state affairs, so naturally he didn't do it to help others. He naturally wanted the position of crown prince.
But the emperor always felt that he was in his prime, and he had refused to appoint a crown prince over the years.
This was the first time he agreed to appoint a crown prince.
The condition is that Huo Zheng agrees to marry Princess Xiling.
Huo Zheng said, "I will not marry the Princess of Xiling."
The emperor pressed the issue, "So you don't even want the position of Crown Prince?"
Huo Zheng said in a very serious tone, "If the position of Crown Prince requires my wife and children in exchange, then I don't want it."
"You—" The emperor raised his finger and pointed at Huo Zheng, "When did you become so sentimental and lack ambition?"
"I have no romantic feelings or ambitions," Huo Zheng said. "When I was young, my father taught me: If you can't even clean your own house, how can you conquer the world? Now that I understand this truth, how can I rule the country if my home isn't peaceful?"
He said, "If a person cannot even protect his own loved ones, how can he bring welfare to thousands of people? I must first protect my wife and children before I can benefit the people of the world."
The emperor looked at Huo Zheng, trying to see something in his eyes, but the emperor found that Huo Zheng seemed to have made up his mind about what he wanted.
He's not playing tricks.
When the emperor realized this, he was stunned.
After a long while, the emperor finally said, "So, you've already made up your mind?"
Huo Zheng said: "I have made up my mind."
The emperor asked, "You gave up the throne today, and you will never have a chance to be emperor again. Are you really willing to do that? Is it really worth it for a woman?"
In the emperor's eyes, no matter how stubborn Chunzhi was, she was just a beauty with thorns. With imperial power above all else, there was no one who could not be tamed.
Huo Zheng only needs to let Chunzhi take a step back and become a concubine, so that he can have the best of both worlds. The only grievance he feels is for Chunzhi, which will only benefit him in every way.
But Huo Zheng was reluctant to let Chunzhi suffer even this.
The emperor said, "You could have both the kingdom and the beautiful woman, but you chose the lesser for the greater. How foolish!"
"Then please consider me stupid, Father." Huo Zheng said, "In life, one always has to make choices. I simply chose what I thought was most important and gave up the rest."
Haruji is something he can never give up in his life.
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