"Well... I'm glad you understand..."
The emperor slowly rose to his feet. "That's enough for today... I'm tired. You may all leave."
He paused, looked at the Crown Prince standing in the first row, and said, "Crown Prince...you stay!"
The crown prince cupped his hands in agreement, "Yes... Father..."
The Taiji Hall was completely empty, leaving only the father and son.
The two fell silent for a moment.
It's not that I don't want to speak, but I don't know where to begin, or what to say that would be appropriate.
This situation has become the norm between the father and son.
Since his mother's passing, the emperor has personally taught the crown prince and taken care of him in every detail.
Perhaps because the father's role was too strict, and there was no mother to mediate, the concubine, although in charge of the inner court and responsible for the crown prince's daily life, did not care about the crown prince's growth.
Therefore, the crown prince had respect and fear for the emperor, but lacked the warmth that should exist between father and son.
This is something that can't be helped.
The emperor sat quietly on the dragon throne, a deep sense of self-reproach and helplessness welling up in his heart.
He knew that as the ruler of a country, he bore the responsibility for the well-being of all people, yet he could not take care of every role within his family.
He could make decisive decisions and command respect in the imperial court, but he seemed powerless when facing his children.
Especially at this moment, of his three most beloved children, one was married off to a foreign country and became a victim of a political marriage; while the remaining two became estranged from him because of this political marriage.
They were disappointed and heartbroken by his inaction and even his encouragement of the situation, which he was powerless to change.
He was acutely aware of his dereliction of duty as a father. He possessed the most supreme power in the world, yet he could not protect his daughter, and even sacrificed her in order to preserve his power.
Because of this, whenever the night was quiet, the emperor would feel confused, wondering if all the choices he had made were worthwhile.
The emperor couldn't help but think of his youngest daughter, Rong Ning.
On the banks of the Muyang River, she stepped forward at a critical moment, bravely upholding the dignity of the Southern Dynasty and providing strong support for her elder sister.
In comparison, he, as a father, felt ashamed of himself.
If it were him, would he be able to speak those words firmly in front of the Da Jing Army like Rong Ning?
He might hesitate, with many concerns.
At this moment, the emperor felt his own powerlessness for the first time.
He realized that even with supreme power, not all problems could be solved.
As a father, he still has a long way to go and many things to make up for.
Or perhaps, he can never make up for it, and he may even continue to sacrifice and owe it to others.
He sighed heavily, stepped down from his high position, and passed by the Crown Prince. "Walk with me for a while..."
The morning court session had just ended, and it was still early; the sun had only recently risen into the sky, but its golden rays had already spread throughout the entire palace.
It is now late March or early April, and temperatures are rising rapidly. However, the rainy season has not yet arrived, making the weather unusually dry and hot.
After walking only a few steps, I felt myself sweating profusely.
The emperor stopped and looked up at the sky, saying to the crown prince who was following closely behind him, "Since I ascended the throne, it seems that my son and I have never sparred in martial arts."
Today looks like a fine day, perfect for a good workout. What do you think, Your Highness?
The crown prince bowed his head obediently and replied, "Father is absolutely right!"
The emperor nodded and strode quickly toward the palace's training ground.
It was too hot, and the imperial robes he was wearing were too heavy. When they arrived at the training ground, the emperor took off his outer robe, picked up a long spear, and threw it to the crown prince, saying, "I taught you your spear technique. Today, let's see if you have practiced properly."
The crown prince received the spear steadily, and almost simultaneously, the emperor's spear shot straight at him like lightning, its speed astonishing.
However, the crown prince was not intimidated. He nimbly dodged to the side, skillfully avoiding the fatal blow. Immediately afterward, he swiftly retaliated, his spear moving like a dragon, attacking the emperor with fierce momentum.
The two were locked in combat, exchanging blows and neither giving an inch.
Their spectacular fight scenes were breathtaking.
Every move was full of power and skill, showcasing their superb martial arts prowess.
They unleashed their full potential and thoroughly enjoyed the exhilarating battle.
Finally, the two stopped, and the emperor's depressed mood had improved considerably.
He nodded in satisfaction, casually tossing the spear to a nearby guard with a pleased smile. He couldn't help but praise, "Truly, the student has surpassed the teacher! I only had you learn martial arts so you could protect yourself, but I never expected you to master it so well."
"I personally taught you this marksmanship, and now it seems you've surpassed me. If you hadn't deliberately let me win, I, as your father, might not have been able to defeat you."
Upon hearing his father's praise, the Crown Prince smiled slightly and said humbly, "It was Father Emperor who was hiding his talents and deliberately letting me win."
Even if I practiced diligently for another hundred or eighty years, I still wouldn't be able to match his skill.
After saying that, he handed the spear in his hand to Ah Heng, who was serving him, then wiped the sweat from his forehead and answered calmly.
"Don't say that. It sounds nice, but if you think about it carefully, it's laughable," the emperor said, not taking the crown prince's half-hearted flattery to heart.
Seeing his good mood, the Crown Prince continued, "Speaking of spearmanship, A-Ning is the best. If A-Ning had been the one to perform today, Father would have enjoyed it even more."
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