After hearing Dong Qingping’s words, the Emperor bit his teeth, and the gentle smile on his face disappeared. Though his son was weak and incompetent… he absolutely could not allow a minister to look down upon him!
The Emperor’s voice carried obvious anger: “Minister Dong, are you dissatisfied with my son?”
Dong Qingping put on a look of panic and hurriedly kowtowed: “This humble minister would never dare deceive Your Majesty – every word I spoke is true! I implore Your Majesty to investigate clearly!”
The Emperor felt deeply humiliated and harbored resentment in his heart.
Seeing the Emperor’s furrowed brow, the Crown Prince feigned confusion and said: “Father, this Prince Liang… previously it was love letters with the Princess of Zhenguo, and now it’s personal accessories with the Dong family daughter. Could this be another case of unrequited love? We really should investigate this thoroughly!”
Upon hearing the Crown Prince’s words, Dong Qingping’s heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly kowtowed: “Your Majesty, if Prince Liang favors my daughter, that would be a blessing she cultivated over several lifetimes! Prince Liang need only send a matchmaker to our door – this humble minister would be overjoyed beyond measure to have a dragon’s son as son-in-law! Please, Your Majesty, advise Prince Liang not to act in such a manner. This humble minister still has three other daughters – if Tingzhen’s reputation is damaged, how will my other daughters find suitable matches in the future? What parent doesn’t worry for their children? I hope Your Majesty can take pity on this humble minister’s three daughters and absolutely not allow His Highness Prince Liang to use my daughter’s personal accessories to propose marriage! This humble minister will respectfully await at the mansion for Prince Liang to send a proper matchmaker, and will certainly arrange this betrothal matter properly and appropriately.”
Dong Qingping spoke sincerely and genuinely, using a parent’s universal concern to move the Emperor. Though the Emperor felt somewhat comforted, he couldn’t help but grow suspicious of Prince Liang.
Having spoken to this extent, the Emperor could hardly still summon Dong Tingzhen for a confrontation.
The Emperor felt somewhat embarrassed – his son should act openly and honestly, so why must he resort to such unseemly methods of either sending love letters or taking others’ personal accessories when pursuing a woman?
“You may go!” the Emperor said.
Dong Qingping respectfully kowtowed and left the great hall.
“What kind of nonsense is Prince Liang doing!” The Emperor was furious. “Does this behavior befit a prince?! Can he even be considered my son?!”
The Crown Prince, perceptive and intelligent, stepped forward to serve tea to the Emperor, first helping to calm his anger: “Your son thinks it’s possible that Minister Dong doesn’t know his daughter has privately pledged herself to Prince Liang. However, Minister Dong’s words are reasonable – if Prince Liang uses the Dong family daughter’s personal accessories to propose marriage, it would become impossible for the other Dong family daughters to marry once word spreads.”
The Emperor accepted the teacup and heard the Crown Prince continue: “However, Prince Liang’s actions are indeed inappropriate. He is a prince who has already reached the age of twenty – surely Father wouldn’t be unconcerned about his marriage? Would Father really force him to marry someone he doesn’t want to marry? If he came to Father properly and spoke honestly, wouldn’t Father grant him a marriage? Would Father really break up a loving couple? To take someone’s personal accessories and bring them to Father unnecessarily ruins the young lady’s reputation. If he truly cares for Miss Dong, he shouldn’t put her in a position where she cannot show her face in society, making it so she can marry no one but him!”
The Emperor frowned with displeasure written all over his face.
“Fortunately, Minister Dong is the Minister of the Honglu Si and not a frontier official wielding military power, otherwise… your son would suspect Prince Liang’s true motives in being willing to ruin the young lady’s reputation just to marry the Dong family daughter!” The Crown Prince’s voice carried a hint of laughter, as if joking.
But the Emperor’s tea-drinking motion paused.
Dong Qingping had no military power, but… Dong Qingyue did!
Not only had the Dong Qingyue and Dong Qingping brothers always maintained an excellent relationship, but it was said that Dong Qingyue, having no daughters of his own, treated his elder brother Dong Qingping’s daughters like his own.
Seeing the Emperor’s thoughtful expression, the Crown Prince knew he had likely struck at the Emperor’s heart.
Ever since the Second Prince’s rebellion and forced abdication attempt, what the Emperor feared most was princes associating with powerful ministers who held military authority. He dreaded experiencing another Second Prince rebellion, and even his legitimate son Prince Xin had not dared to do such things these years.
The Emperor set down his teacup. But… Prince Liang was incompetent and weak – was this just a coincidence?
The Emperor inexplicably thought again of that white tiger dream, remembering the terrifying murderous aura when the Second Prince had silenced Tong Ji.
Seeing the Emperor deep in thought, the Crown Prince didn’t interrupt, quietly standing to the side performing the menial task of massaging the Emperor’s shoulders like a servant.
The Emperor’s fingers intermittently stroked the embroidery on his cushion. Prince Liang had presented him with golden elixirs… hoping for his robust health. Could it be that he feared that upon the Emperor’s death… the throne would naturally pass to the Crown Prince, leaving him no opportunity?
The Emperor turned to look at the Crown Prince who was earnestly massaging his shoulders.
Seeing the Emperor looking at him, the Crown Prince asked with an uneasy heart: “Is your son pressing too hard?”
The Emperor also recalled that after Shi Panshan returned from Yanwo, he had interceded for Prince Liang before him, highly praising how Prince Liang had handled all matters appropriately during the disaster relief in Yanwo, and that the final civil unrest was indeed because those troublemakers had gone too far.
The Emperor leaned back in his dragon throne, dismissed the Crown Prince, and sat alone pondering carefully.
The Crown Prince was appointed by the Emperor himself. The Crown Prince was filially devoted and quite fearful of him, so he would definitely not attempt rebellion or forced abdication. The Emperor was confident of this, which is why he had not appointed another Crown Prince or supported another prince to balance against the Crown Prince.
In every nation throughout history, succession struggles were always bloody affairs. At their root… it was because emperors were wary of their heirs, which gave others opportunities to exploit.
So in selecting a consort for Prince Liang, careful consideration was needed – the status couldn’t be too high… but also not too low.
“Gao Demao!” the Emperor called.
Gao Demao immediately approached with quick small steps: “Your Majesty, this old servant is here!”
“Go personally and quietly tell Prince Liang that the Dong family and Bai family are related by marriage. Previously, Prince Liang attempted to falsely accuse the Duke of Zhenguo of treason, so Dong Qingping disagrees with this marriage. Tell him not to ruin Miss Dong’s reputation, and have him give you Miss Dong’s safety lock so you can find an opportunity to quietly return it to Dong Qingping!” The Emperor lightly tapped the table once with his finger. “This matter is settled! I will certainly arrange a good marriage for him!”
“Yes! This old servant will handle it immediately!”
Just as Gao Demao was about to leave, the Emperor called him back: “I seem to remember that the retired Imperial Teacher Tan Song has two granddaughters under his knee, born to his eldest son’s first wife?”
Gao Demao immediately understood and hurriedly said: “Exactly! Later, when the Imperial Teacher’s eldest daughter-in-law gave birth, she died in childbirth. The current wife is a second marriage, and the Imperial Teacher is indeed blessed – this second daughter-in-law, Lady Li, gave the Imperial Teacher two grandsons within just a few years of entering the family!”
“Are those two granddaughters of the Imperial Teacher’s family married?” the Emperor asked.
“The eldest granddaughter married last year. Miss Tan Er is not yet betrothed. If the Imperial Teacher knew his granddaughter could marry Prince Liang as his consort, he would certainly be delighted!” Gao Demao said with a smile.