Chapter 74: Chapter 74 Second Update The ministers supporting Prince Dai saw Kong Taichang and his son discussing serious matters with Prime Minister He and his group, so they had to step aside. At this time, the ministers supporting the Crown Prince mocked Prince Dai for not being capable, accusing him of not being able to produce offspring. Many deliberately said they knew doctors skilled in pregnancy and childbirth, and could introduce them to the Prince Dai Mansion to diagnose Prince Dai. The ministers of the Prince Dai faction were naturally very angry upon hearing this and started arguing with the ministers supporting the Crown Prince. The ministers supporting the Crown Prince kept urging Kong Taichang to quickly refuse the imperial marriage gift from the Emperor, otherwise his youngest daughter’s lifetime happiness would be ruined. They also said the Prince Dai Mansion was a fire pit and implored Kong Taichang not to push his daughter into it. They also persuaded the ministers supporting Prince Dai to advise him not to ruin Kong Taichang’s daughter and harm the young woman’s lifelong happiness. Furthermore, they said Prince Dai marrying Kong Taichang’s youngest daughter was essentially harming the girl. The ministers of the Prince Dai faction were furious upon hearing these words, and started to curse at the ministers supporting the Crown Prince, almost coming to blows. Both sides insulted each other back and forth, exposing each other’s weaknesses, turning the originally quiet palace entrance into a noisy marketplace. These adults, usually seen as lofty by the common people, were at this moment no different from quarrelsome women. Of course, their insults were not as straightforward and crude as those of market women; their insults were classical and full of references. Those who couldn’t understand would find it scholarly, but those who could understand found it extremely unpleasant. Shen Hu and Chu Ying stood aside, watching indifferently. "Prime Minister He, what are they arguing about?" "These people insult each other with such refinement." Shen Hu said with disdain, "It doesn’t sound like cursing; it sounds like they’re composing poetry. However, their ugly and vulgar expressions make them look like they’re indeed cursing." Grandmaster Liu was amused by Shen Hu’s words: "They’re not composing poetry; their insults are more unbearable than those of market women." Shen Hu and Chu Ying were shocked as they exclaimed in unison: "Really? We couldn’t catch a single word of it." Prime Minister He, amused, looked at them and said: "I’ve told you to read more, but you don’t. Now you can’t even understand their insults." "Reading makes me sleepy." As soon as Shen Hu mentioned reading, a look of disdain appeared on his rugged face, "Reading might kill me, and I’d like to live a few more years." Chu Ying echoed: "I’d rather die than read." He preferred battle over reading. With the time spent reading, he could kill a few more on the battlefield. "These people are still insulting, really energetic." Shen Hu mocked bluntly, "They each fancy themselves as gentlemen, always talking about rules and etiquette, yet here they are quarreling and cursing at the palace entrance, indeed..." He paused, thought hard, and said, "Yes, hypocrites!" Hearing Shen Hu correctly use several terms, Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu looked surprised. "Wow, Shen Hu, you know what hypocrisy is?" Chu Ying teased. Shen Hu glared at Chu Ying, slightly raised his chin, and said proudly: "I hear them say it every day; how could I not know?" Then, he contemptuously glanced at the quarreling ministers, "Each one is a hypocritical false gentleman!" "I drank too much last night; my head still aches this morning, and their quarreling gives me a headache." Annoyed by the noise, Chu Ying asked with a fierce expression, "Prime Minister He, can I beat them up?" At this moment, Song Dekang and Zhang Gong arrived. As soon as they reached the palace entrance, they saw the ministers quarrel. Then, they shouted: "What’s the commotion? This is the palace entrance, not your home. Keep it up, and I’ll deal with you by military law." This statement instantly quieted both the Crown Prince and Prince Dai factions. Song Dekang and Zhang Gong, both tall and intimidating, caused the ministers to step aside wherever they went, opening a path for them. Last night, Song Dekang and Zhang Gong drank with Chu Ying. They drank a lot as well, and even after a night’s sleep, they hadn’t recovered, with a headache still lingering. The ministers’ quarrel made their heads and ears buzz. Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu saw Song Dekang’s displeased expression and knew they had been drinking with Chu Ying last night, shaking their heads helplessly. Song Dekang glared fiercely at the ministers, speaking with ill intent: "Keep it up, and I’ll rip out your tongues." His intimidating appearance and words made many timid ministers turn pale, while some trembled. Although many ministers disapproved of Song Dekang’s "arrogant" demeanor, they couldn’t defeat him and had to endure it. They really couldn’t defeat him! A few years ago, Song Dekang’s group did indeed beat up these civil officials. The court’s civil officials were quite terrified of Song Dekang’s group. Although they often complained about their rudeness, they feared them deeply in their hearts. "You guys should drink less in the future." Prime Minister He reminded Chu Ying and his group for the umpteenth time, seeing their hungover appearance. "If you mess up because of drinking, the Emperor will not spare you." "Don’t worry, Prime Minister He, we know our limits." Zhang Gong and his group loved drinking and often drank, but never let it impede their duties, having learned their lesson. Back when they followed the Emperor to war, they once delayed military affairs due to drinking and were severely punished by the Emperor through military law. Since then, they dared not let excessive drinking affect their duties again. "You all better quit drinking." Prime Minister He had repeated this countless times, but Zhang Gong and his group didn’t heed it. "Prime Minister He, quitting drinking would kill us." Prime Minister He, hearing their reply, was too lazy to continue discussing quitting drinking. "Prime Minister He, when will Lao Yan return?" Song Dekang asked about Yan Huarong, a friend of theirs who was sent to the Southern Border by the Emperor last year. He had spent most of the year recapturing the Southern Border. "The rebellion in the Southern Border is quelled, so Lao Yan should be back." "He can’t return for now," Prime Minister He replied, "Although the rebellion is quelled, the Southern Border is still unstable. Moreover, several countries around the Southern Border are restless. He needs to garrison there for a while." Shen Hu and his group, shocked, said: "So, Lao Yan won’t be back for three to five years." "The Emperor sent him there not only to quell the rebellion but mainly to garrison the area, deterring those unruly countries to the south." "It’s probably not just about deterrence," Chu Ying thought deeper, "I guess the Emperor will later have Lao Yan annex those unruly small countries." Excited by the prospect, Shen Hu said, "Then I’ll go help Lao Yan." Having stayed in the capital for the past two years without going to battle, Shen Hu was nearly suffocated. "If I don’t go to battle soon, this Old Tiger Shen will turn into a sickly cat." As they were speaking, Prince Dai, Marquis Xuanping, and Duke Zhen arrived at the palace entrance together. Their arrival instantly changed the atmosphere at the palace entrance. Duke Zhen stepped forward and greeted Prime Minister He and his group courteously. Although Prime Minister He and his group couldn’t be swayed by Duke Zhen, he always treated them with courtesy whenever they met. Prime Minister He and his group, though disliking Duke Zhen, reciprocated with polite greetings. Prince Dai approached with Marquis Xuanping and greeted Prime Minister He and his group politely as well. After the greetings, Prince Dai chatted amiably with Shen Hu and his group. Towards Shen Hu and his group, Prince Dai was very respectful. One reason was because they were the Emperor’s trusted aides, and another was because he genuinely admired their bravery in battle. Chu Ying and his group wouldn’t treat Prince Dai specially just because he was the Emperor’s most favored son. Although many said Prince Dai resembled the Emperor, Chu Ying and his group thought Prince Dai was far inferior to the young Emperor. Regarding the Emperor’s ten sons, Song Dekang and his group felt none matched up to the Emperor. This resemblance referred not to appearance but temperament and talent. None of the Emperor’s ten sons inherited his remarkable talent. The only one they found agreeable was the Fourth Prince. Although the Fourth Prince did not resemble the Emperor in looks or temperament, he was steady, talented, and highly respectful towards the military officers. As for the Crown Prince, Shen Hu and his group respected him due to the former Empress, but they didn’t endorse him. To them, he was too weak and overly reliant on the Duke Zhen Country Mansion, lacking any of the Emperor’s bold spirit.