After praising Erniu, Emperor Jingming finally turned his attention to the Crown Prince and casually remarked, “The Crown Prince did well too.”
The Crown Prince nearly burst into tears. He received even less praise than Erniu!
Once everyone had left and there were no outsiders in the room, Emperor Jingming fixed a deep gaze on the Crown Prince.
Feeling anxious under his father’s scrutiny, the Crown Prince forced a laugh and said, “Father Emperor—”
“What were your impressions from this trip, Crown Prince?” Emperor Jingming asked indifferently.
The Crown Prince was taken aback for a moment before quickly responding, “The disaster-stricken people are so pitiful; it pains me to see them suffer…”
Recognizing the Crown Prince’s compassion for the common people, Emperor Jingming silently nodded, maintaining a neutral expression as he said, “These disaster-affected citizens are subjects of the Great Zhou. Their suffering is our suffering. Do you understand?”
The Crown Prince nodded repeatedly, “I understand, Father Emperor.”
Emperor Jingming shifted his tone, “But you must also remember that without rules, there can be no order. While the disaster victims are indeed pitiable, there are established protocols for their resettlement and the amount of relief funds to be distributed. You cannot make arbitrary adjustments based on momentary emotions; otherwise, unnecessary troubles will arise…”
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince became furious, muttering, “That old scoundrel Zhao, how dare he report me!”
“What did you say?” Emperor Jingming, not having heard clearly, asked.
“There’s something I’m unsure whether to say or not—”
Emperor Jingming, already dissatisfied with the Crown Prince’s performance, snapped, “Speak plainly! Don’t adopt those petty habits!”
The Crown Prince hesitated, feeling wronged. His father truly looked down on him; everything he said seemed to be wrong.
Though frustrated, he didn’t dare to hesitate any longer. With a serious expression, he said, “Father Emperor, Right Deputy Minister Zhao is deceiving you!”
Emperor Jingming’s eyelids twitched, and he fixed a heavy gaze on the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince continued indignantly, “There was no divine being warning Seventh Brother in a dream. The one who predicted the earthquake in Jincai Town was the dog raised by Seventh Brother. Everyone was just worried that the people of Jincai Town wouldn’t believe it, so they pretended there was a divine being warning Seventh Brother in a dream…”
As he listened to the Crown Prince’s impassioned speech, Emperor Jingming’s anger rose higher and higher.
“Father Emperor, Right Deputy Minister Zhao knows the truth but still uses the pretense of a divine being warning Seventh Brother in a dream. This is deceiving you—”
“Enough!” Emperor Jingming slammed the table heavily.
The Crown Prince’s voice faltered as he looked at Emperor Jingming in surprise.
Emperor Jingming’s face was filled with anger as he pointed at the Crown Prince and scolded, “You fool! After your trip, you didn’t consider the hardships and contributions of the ministers, yet you’ve learned to complain behind their backs. Do you have any of the qualities expected of a Crown Prince? If this gets out, won’t it chill the hearts of the civil and military officials?”
If the hearts of the civil and military officials were chilled, who would ultimately suffer?
The Crown Prince’s minor hardships during his trip instantly faded from Emperor Jingming’s mind, leaving only disappointment.
Thinking of the three thick reports that praised Yu Jin and then looking at the Crown Prince, who was complaining behind closed doors, a thought suddenly flashed through Emperor Jingming’s mind: Was reinstating the Crown Prince a mistake?
This thought was immediately suppressed.
The Crown Prince had already been reinstated; he could not be disturbed again. Moreover—the Seventh Brother’s performance was so outstanding, and he had taken credit for the divine warning in a dream. Could it be without purpose?
The mind of an emperor is always filled with suspicion, and Emperor Jingming was no exception.
It was Yu Jin’s performance on this trip that exceeded his expectations, far surpassing those of the civil and military officials and even the common people. He couldn’t help but be wary.
After giving the Crown Prince a stern reprimand, Emperor Jingming took a breath and waved his hand, “Return to your Eastern Palace and reflect on your actions!”
The Crown Prince left the Imperial Study with a dejected expression, inwardly cursing Right Deputy Minister Zhao: That old scoundrel, there will be a day of reckoning!
With the Imperial Study now silent, after a long while, Emperor Jingming opened his eyes and said to Pan Hai, “Call your disciple in.”
Pan Hai stepped out and summoned Xiao Lezi, quietly advising, “The Emperor wants to ask you about Prince Yan and the divine warning in a dream.”
“Master—” Xiao Lezi hesitated, seeking Pan Hai’s opinion with his eyes.
He was certainly aligned with his master, as Pan Hai’s views on Prince Yan directly influenced what he would say upon entering.
They had all learned the art of speaking well; even if Prince Yan’s great contributions could not be erased, a slight change in wording regarding certain details could subtly alter the impression of Prince Yan in the ears of those who heard it.
Pan Hai softly said, “Prince Yan is a sincere person.”
Xiao Lezi immediately understood Pan Hai’s meaning and quietly replied, “I understand, Master.”
“Good, go in.”
Before long, Xiao Lezi appeared before Emperor Jingming.
“The servant pays respects to Your Majesty.”
“Tell me what you saw in Qianhe County,” Emperor Jingming said expressionlessly.
Xiao Lezi began to recount his observations.
Emperor Jingming listened intently and, upon reaching the end, asked, “At first, how did Prince Yan bring up the matter of the divine warning in a dream?”
Xiao Lezi hesitated for a moment.
“But feel free to speak; I only want to know the facts.”
Reports are written by people, and he could only rely on the eyes and ears of others as his own, which was often a helpless situation.
In comparison, the eunuchs around him were undoubtedly more trustworthy in the eyes of the emperor.
Xiao Lezi then said, “I inquired, and, at first, Prince Yan suggested that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince take on this explanation…”
“The Crown Prince—”
“His Royal Highness thought it was absurd to say that General Xiaotian could predict an earthquake and refused.”
Emperor Jingming twitched his lips.
He could easily imagine why the Crown Prince refused; it was because he feared taking responsibility if the earthquake did not occur.
Xiao Lezi lowered his head and continued, “At that time, the officials also thought it was risky, but Prince Yan insisted, so—”
“Enough, you may leave,” Emperor Jingming interrupted.
Xiao Lezi quickly glanced at Pan Hai, said “Yes,” and quietly withdrew.
Emperor Jingming wore a stern expression, feeling quite displeased.
Pan Hai advised, “Your Majesty, this is not the Crown Prince’s fault… Others do not have the discerning eye to recognize the talents of General Xiaotian early on, so they naturally do not dare to believe that General Xiaotian could predict an earthquake. If the Crown Prince had taken on this matter and the earthquake did not happen, wouldn’t that be a laughingstock?”
Emperor Jingming shook his head and said softly, “The Crown Prince lacks a bit of responsibility—”
Compared to the lives of a town full of citizens, what does it matter to be laughed at?
In this world, there are always some things that are worth doing, even if they might lead to ridicule.
Even if the possibility of an earthquake occurring is only one in ten thousand, it should still be pursued.
If it is done, and the earthquake occurs, it can save the lives of an entire town, just as it has now. If the earthquake does not happen, it would only result in a few laughs.
As the Crown Prince of a nation, if he is unwilling to bear the risk of being laughed at for the sake of a town’s citizens, how can he be expected to serve the country and its people in the future?
Emperor Jingming picked up his teacup and took a sip, only to find it bitter.
Yu Jin left the palace with Erniu, hurriedly nodding to Right Deputy Minister Zhao, who had intentionally stayed behind to chat with him, and almost sprinted back to Prince Yan’s Mansion.