Many people at the banquet began discussing in low voices.

“Now that the Yun Family has just achieved great merit, with General Yun serving as both Grand General and Grand Marshal, this is the height of imperial favor. For the Eighth Prince to request His Majesty grant him a princely title at this time—isn’t that being a bit too greedy?”

“The Yun Family Army has returned to the Yun Family’s control. If the Eighth Prince wants to… I’m afraid…”

“His Majesty is still in his prime, and the Crown Prince is also strong. How could it ever be the Eighth Prince’s turn…”

The Emperor’s expression was somewhat inscrutable: “In our Great Jin Dynasty, imperial princes and grandsons are granted princely titles at age twelve. Tell Us, why do you wish to be granted a princely title early?”

The Eighth Prince knelt on the ground and said: “Now that the Yun Family has achieved great merit and become the most prosperous great family in the history of the Great Jin Dynasty, with no other family able to surpass them, your son’s mother consort is a member of the Yun Family. The Yun Family gaining power means Mother Consort gains power, which means your son gains power…”

The Emperor looked at this son with some surprise.

He had thought this son would say that after becoming a prince, he would share His worries, share the court’s burdens, do practical things for the common people—in short, he would surely speak such empty and ethereal words.

Yet he had never expected that the Eighth Prince would actually voice what everyone present was thinking at this very moment.

“The Yun Family has been loyal subjects for generations. Even while commanding heavy military forces, they remain loyal to imperial authority and the court. However, the civil and military officials in court may not think this way.” The Eighth Prince continued, “Crown Prince Imperial Brother and several other Imperial Brothers may not believe that the Yun Family, or that your son, has no such ambitions… Looking throughout a thousand years of history, whenever imperial power changes hands, members of the imperial family slaughter each other. Your son does not wish for such things to happen, and if they do happen, does not wish to witness them… Therefore, your son requests that Father Emperor grant him a princely title, and also requests that Father Emperor allow your son to immediately go to his fief and never return to the capital!”

The entire venue was shocked once again.

After imperial princes and grandsons were granted princely titles, they generally only waited until the next emperor ascended the throne before being dispatched to their fiefs.

When princes went to their fiefs, it was called being “dispatched,” because fiefs were generally in remote, impoverished areas in the east, south, west, or north. The hardship was real. Imperial princes and grandsons generally tried every means possible not to go to their fiefs. Who would be foolish enough to go to their fief early? Wouldn’t that be asking for suffering?

Moreover, the Eighth Prince had even said the phrase “never return to the capital.”

Any prince had the possibility of seizing the throne, but it wasn’t as if the Emperor would believe you just because you said one sentence claiming you had no designs on the throne.

These four words from the Eighth Prince could be said to have dispelled all concerns from the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince.

“Stand up and speak.” The Emperor’s gaze softened somewhat. “We ask you, is this request your own idea, or is it Consort Yun’s intention?”

“It is a joint decision after your son and Mother Consort discussed it together.” The Eighth Prince replied. “Uncle also supports it.”

Yun Silin stepped forward and cupped his hands: “Your Majesty, this subject is only loyal to Your Majesty and would absolutely never use soldiers to support a prince in seizing the throne. The Eighth Prince staying far from the capital can maximize the preservation of trust between sovereign and subject. Therefore, this subject supports the Eighth Prince’s decision.”

“Excellent!” The Emperor clapped his hands. “The Eighth Prince values relationships and righteousness, so We shall bestow upon you the character for righteousness. You shall be Prince Yi, granted eight hundred household troops and one thousand taels of gold. Choose an auspicious day to proceed to your fief.”

The Eighth Prince knelt down again: “Your son kowtows in gratitude to Father Emperor. May Father Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”

The Empress’s long-suspended heart finally settled.

To be honest, what she was most wary of was the Yun Family. If the Yun Family supported the Eighth Prince, the Eastern Palace might not be a match.

After the Eighth Prince went to his fief, the Yun Family would become a neutral faction and wouldn’t be so formidable.

She was still pondering in her heart that if she had known, she should have vigorously promoted the marriage between Gongsun Ning and Yun Chu back then. Wouldn’t the Yun Family naturally have boarded the Crown Prince’s boat?

Unfortunately, at that time she didn’t know Yun Silin would return alive. It was too late for regrets now.

Fortunately, the Third Prince and Yun Chu’s eight characters were incompatible, so Yun Chu couldn’t possibly marry the Third Prince either…

At this moment, Chu Yi was holding a cup of wine and walked before Yun Silin, offering a toast. Today everyone would come to toast Yun Silin, so it didn’t seem particularly conspicuous.

Yun Silin heavily patted his shoulder: “You’re quite something, kid. It’s just a pity…”

He shook his head. If five years ago he had married Chu’er to Prince Pingxi, Chu’er wouldn’t have suffered so much unnecessary hardship.

“There’s no pity.” Chu Yi’s voice lowered. “Five years ago, I was nothing, without any power to contend with Father Emperor… Now is the best time. Everything is just right.”

“If you dare let Chu’er suffer any grievance, I, Yun Silin, would rather give up this life than let you off.” Yun Silin drained the wine in his cup. “Fortunately you were there, those two children were able to live, and Chu’er’s greatest burden was lifted.”

Speaking of this, Yun Silin sighed.

Five years ago when his daughter was discussing marriage arrangements, he wasn’t there. He barely made it back in time for the wedding toast.

When his daughter was pregnant and giving birth, he wasn’t there.

When his daughter suffered endless grievances at the Xie residence, he wasn’t there.

When his daughter divorced Xie Jingyu, he also wasn’t there.

Now his daughter was discussing marriage with Prince Pingxi, and he still wasn’t there.

As a father, he had truly failed too much.

The Yun Family’s banquet continued for most of the day. After His Majesty and the Empress returned to the palace, the guests slowly dispersed.

Since returning to the capital, Yun Silin had been constantly handling affairs. Only now could he finally lie on the couch and rest properly. Lin Shi leaned beside him.

The husband and wife spent little time together and much apart. It was very rare for them to be able to lie together peacefully and quietly.

Lin Shi sighed and said: “The National Preceptor said Chu’er and Prince Pingxi’s eight characters are incompatible. What do you think we should do about this matter?”

“What is there to worry about?” Yun Silin smiled. “Rest assured, Prince Pingxi has a solution. His Majesty will bestow the marriage very soon. Madam, you’d better spend your time thinking carefully about how much dowry to prepare.”

Lin Shi’s attention immediately shifted to the dowry: “When Chu’er first married Xie Jingyu, we prepared a dowry of thirty thousand taels of silver. This time she’s marrying into the imperial family, so it absolutely cannot be less than thirty thousand taels. Our Yun Family appears to have a large estate and great business, but in reality, we can’t actually come up with much silver. You, as a father, are constantly out fighting wars, completely ignoring whether the family has silver or not. What use are you…”

Yun Silin: “…”

How did this get blamed on him again?

He could only get up and embrace Lin Shi. “Madam, calm down. This time I chopped off the head of the Southern Yue King, conquered the Southern Yue Kingdom, pacified the Qicheng rebellion, and eliminated the Empress Dowager’s faction… Didn’t His Majesty give many rewards? Put them all in Chu’er’s dowry. Will that work?”

Lin Shi chided: “At least you’re generous as a father. However, we can’t give everything to Chu’er. The child in Qianqian’s belly is about to give birth. Save some for the child too.”

As parents, both the palm and back of the hand are flesh. Only by treating them equally could a family be harmonious and happy.

Five or six days passed in succession.

Ding Yiyuan had divined that an earthquake would occur in the south after three days. Such a great disaster would be communicated by signal fires, which meant that at most within three days after the earthquake occurred, news would reach the capital. However, there was none.

This day at morning court, this matter was brought up and made into a separate agenda item.