“Your son understands.”

Zhao Yanjin took the wine cup and drained it in one gulp.

“Back then in the Northern Lands, when Father Emperor sat high on his horse commanding thousands of troops and turned his head to call ‘Jin’er,’ in that moment, your son was willing to even risk his life to charge into battle for Father Emperor.”

Hearing these words, Emperor Yonghe’s expression showed considerable emotion.

Why did he favor this son alone?

Besides looking like him, more importantly, this child had fought desperately on the battlefield at such a young age, not even fearing death.

Asked why he did this?

He said: I want to win battles for Father.

“Good child!”

The emperor looked at this son who most resembled him and couldn’t help but praise from the bottom of his heart.

The court situation had reached the point of irreconcilable opposition. A few days ago, he’d summoned Xie Daozhi before him.

“Daozhi has always been steady and balanced. Why have your recent actions also become aggressive?”

Xie Daozhi knelt. “Your Majesty, this subject has selfish motives.”

“What fine words—’this subject has selfish motives.'”

Emperor Yonghe gave a cold laugh. “Bringing selfish motives to the court for discussion—what use is that official hat on your head?”

Xie Daozhi prostrated himself. “This subject is guilty. This subject deserves death.”

Seeing his attitude, Emperor Yonghe was willing to be a peacemaker. After all, it was his own son who’d erred first.

“Take the memorial back. Reflect at home for three days properly. This matter won’t be discussed further.”

Xie Daozhi straightened up and said seriously: “Your Majesty can allow this subject to take back his memorial, but cannot make everyone take back their memorials. This subject acts from selfish motives—do they all act from selfish motives too? This subject requests Your Majesty’s clear judgment.”

Emperor Yonghe was struck speechless, his heart jolting with shock.

Memorials impeaching Prince Han had flown in like snowflakes these recent days. If I, Xie Daozhi, am a petty person, are all these civil and military officials in court also petty people?

Your Majesty, everyone clearly knows You disfavor the Crown Prince and solely favor Prince Han, yet they still risk death submitting memorials one after another. Why?

Why?

Because of status.

Since ancient times there has been order of seniority, distinction between legitimate and concubine-born—these are rules passed down for thousands of years.

Rules exist to be followed. Once broken, what are the consequences?

When historians one day write with their brushes, how will they write about You?

Only at this moment did the emperor realize the gravity of the situation. Thus came today’s heart-to-heart between father and son.

“How many months has Jin’er been in the capital?”

“Replying to Father, exactly five months.”

Emperor Yonghe nodded. “A fief cannot be without its lord for even one day. After drinking at the Grand Grandson’s wedding celebration, my son should return to your fief. This northern campaign—you need not accompany it.”

A basin of cold water poured down from above.

Zhao Yanjin was so shocked his eyes went somewhat blank.

“Father, why is this? You clearly designated your son to accompany Your imperial expedition.”

Emperor Yonghe reached out to pat his son’s shoulder.

“These years you’ve campaigned east and west for me, leaving a body full of injuries and ailments. I hear your waist hasn’t been very good lately.”

“It only aches on rainy days—nothing serious.”

Zhao Yanjin lifted his robe and knelt, saying with genuine emotion:

“Father is at the age of sixty. Campaigning to the Northern Lands, your son can by no means feel at ease. Please Father, fulfill your son’s filial heart.”

“Father knows you’ve always had a filial heart. But, Jin’er…”

Though the Crown Prince is inadequate, the Grand Grandson has won my heart. That child can be ruthless when needed and forbearing when required—he’s good imperial material.

Looking at your lineage…

No one can bear such重任!

As a sovereign, one must walk one step while seeing three steps ahead. The Zhao family’s realm must be passed down generation after generation. Some things must certainly be sacrificed.

For example, your and my father-son affection.

Emperor Yonghe looked down at him and said gently: “Filial devotion isn’t only charging into battle for Father. Managing that area of Jiangnan well and sharing Father’s worries—this too is filial devotion.”

“The ancients said: Brothers are like hands and feet for fighting tigers; father and son are soldiers together in battle.”

Zhao Yanjin: “Father, I beg You to let me go!”

Emperor Yonghe turned his gaze away and said in a heavy voice: “This matter need not be discussed further. I have decided.”

Seeing that even after saying this much, the emperor showed no sign of softening, Zhao Yanjin only felt his heart turn ice cold.

He couldn’t give up here. He had to make one final attempt.

He secretly swallowed and asked carefully: “Father, is it because I’m an ill-omened star?”

Emperor Yonghe’s expression suddenly changed.

He’d ordered the Imperial Observatory not to publicize this matter. He hadn’t expected someone would dare violate his decree.

“How did you learn of this ill-omened star matter?”

“It’s already spread widely outside. People say I’m an ill-omened star.”

Zhao Yanjin looked aggrieved. “Father, your son has followed You campaigning north and south. How many times through storms of spears and rain of bullets have I escaped death by a hair—where does this talk of ill-omened star come from?”

Emperor Yonghe pressed his lips together without speaking.

“Your son was born at an auspicious time on an auspicious day. From childhood I’ve had good fortune and luck. How could I possibly be an ill-omened star?”

Having begun, Zhao Yanjin no longer concealed or covered up. “Father must absolutely not listen to those petty people’s slander!”

Emperor Yonghe frowned. “The Imperial Observatory acts with propriety…”

“Father!”

Zhao Yanjin interrupted: “Do You know to whom the Imperial Observatory’s Master Zhu has secretly aligned himself?”

“Whom?”

“His Highness the Crown Prince!”

Emperor Yonghe’s expression darkened. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

Zhao Yanjin: “Your son speaks no nonsense. Master Zhu has recently been frequently meeting with Xie Daozhi’s youngest son and Pei Yu’s eldest son. These two are precisely the Grand Grandson’s close friends.”

Emperor Yonghe raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Father, see clearly—your son speaks not half a false word.”

Zhao Yanjin’s eyes brimmed with tears. “They… they’re trying to sow discord between us father and son!”

The two words “sow discord” suddenly flipped the situation around.

The so-called ill-omened star was nothing but fabrication—the Crown Prince’s faction had instructed Zhu Yuanmo to do this.

But Zhao Yanjin didn’t know that this time the emperor’s refusal to let him campaign wasn’t simply about the ill-omened star anymore.

These recent days, the Crown Prince’s faction and Prince Han’s faction had been clashing head-on in court, allowing the emperor to see one thing completely clearly—

Though the Crown Prince was useless, he excelled in virtue.

A virtuous person had the support of hundreds of officials and the people’s love. Moreover, he was both the eldest son and legitimate—to forcibly reverse fate…

His own path to the throne had already been criticized by the world.

If the path of succession had more problems…

Just as Xie Daozhi’s words had hinted, when historians one day write with their brushes, how will they write about him as emperor?

Emperor Yonghe looked at him, silent for a long while, then said: “In this matter, I judge that Zhu Yuanmo doesn’t have such audacity!”

“Father has misjudged!”

Zhao Yanjin gave a cold laugh. “The Zhu family has always had such audacity.”

I misjudged?

A trace of displeasure flashed in Emperor Yonghe’s eyes, so quickly that Zhao Yanjin didn’t notice at all.

“There’s one matter Father certainly doesn’t know. On the day Master Zhu’s father Zhu Xuanjiu died, three coffins exploded in succession.”

Zhao Yanjin: “In just a few months, the Zhu residence has carried out several more coffins. Plus a few days ago, Master Zhu’s hair turned white overnight. The common people are discussing their family matters extensively.”

“Discussing what?”

“All saying the Zhu family did too many immoral deeds and received retribution.”

The two words “retribution” made Emperor Yonghe feel suffocated to the extreme. Yet Zhao Yanjin gave a cold snort and said without care:

“As the saying goes, when the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam is askew. If the father lacks virtue, the son won’t be much better. Father, You must absolutely guard against this. What if the Zhu family joins with the Crown Prince to scheme against You…”

“Outrageous!”