Chapter 287: Heartless Judgemen (1/2)
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“I was simply telling the truth. The emperor may have suspected the same thing before. He can easily find out what Nan Xun and Qi Yun have been doing. He's a mistrustful man. His doubt toward his own blood will be his downfall.”
Prince Duan spoke slowly, deliberately, which made him sound eerie. Qi Chen shuddered but remained quiet.
Prince Duan didn't intend to continue with this conversation. The eunuch outside was urging him to leave. He changed into his court attire and followed the eunuch to the palace.
The emperor had been on edge since last night and only relaxed when Prince Duan arrived. He hurried to Prince Duan to help him up and invited him to take a seat.
“What has Your Majesty summoned me for?” Prince Duan put on an innocent look, hiding the gears turning in his head. He snuck the emperor a glance and noted how tired he looked. He lowered his eyes bemusedly.
The emperor had summoned Prince Duan for advice. He didn't intend to hide anything from him. Prince Duan was known for being a man of integrity. The fact that he'd told the emperor what was happening in the palace proved him to be trustworthy.
“I've looked into the speculations you made a few days ago,” said the emperor. “You're right. However, I'm getting weak lately, and may not be able to live for long. I'm feeling lost and therefore asked you here for advice.”
Prince Duan looked thoughtful for a moment. “Ah, I hear the ninth prince is doing well with his studies and is growing into a fine intellect. He'll be able to a.s.sist Your Majesty in no time.”
He didn't tell the emperor that Qi Chen was living in his manor. After all, the emperor hadn't explicitly pardoned his son. There was no telling if he might get angry if Prince Duan brought Qi Chen up. It was better to put the ninth prince on the spot first. Once the ninth prince became the crown prince, they'd be on track to victory. They boy would be nothing but a puppet ruler after the emperor died. He would listen to whatever Prince Duan said.
“What do you mean exactly?” the emperor asked with a frown.
Prince Duan put away his thoughts and nodded respectfully. “This official shares the same thought as Your Majesty. The ninth prince is young, but he is your son. I also hear that he's a pure-hearted boy. The best solution now is to educate him well and help him become the crown prince. Then, Your Majesty will be able to rest easy.”
The emperor considered the proposal carefully. He looked up at Prince Duan, who sat by his side with a faint smile on his face. It seemed as if everything he said was for the good of the emperor.
The emperor deemed the plan viable after some deliberation. He nodded. “That may work. However, the boy is still too young. There are things he won't be able to deal with properly and things he won't understand. I'm afraid I'm not healthy enough to teach him myself.“
Prince Duan rose to his feet and knelt down before the emperor. “Your Majesty doesn't have to worry. This official will do all I can to a.s.sist the ninth prince and teach him how to tackle court affairs.”
The emperor didn't immediately respond. He considered Prince Duan for a long time.
For reasons unbeknownst to him, Prince Duan felt as if the emperor was trying to convey something through his look. He held his breath.
There was no basis to his sense of foreboding. He wondered what the emperor was thinking.
Just when Prince Duan started to feel suffocated, the emperor finally said, “I believe you. I know you want the best for me, and I think the ninth prince will make a good leader as well. How about you be the prince regent a.s.sisting the ninth prince? He's young, and I am ill. I'll be more at ease with you helping him.”
That caught Prince Duan off guard. He bowed down and hit the floor with his head earnestly, his heart skipping in excitement.
“However… this official worries that those with ulterior motives may refuse to acknowledge Your Majesty's decision. Would Your Majesty issue a decree to avoid complications?”
Prince Duan had thought everything through. He wasn't willing to leave any loose ends.
The emperor paused for a long moment before getting to his feet. “If so, please give me some privacy. You may return after I've drafted the decree.”
Prince Duan nodded. He knew the emperor didn't want other people to see the imperial seal. He wasn't too worried. In his mind, the seal was already his.
After he'd left the room, the emperor's personal eunuch approached the emperor and laid a blank decree scroll on the table under the emperor's order. He then started grinding ink.