Chapter 47: Chapter 47 The Emperor’s Purpose In Prime Minister He’s residence, Grandmaster Liu, Song Dekang, Chu Ying, and others were drinking tea and chatting with Prime Minister He. The topic of their conversation was naturally the emperor’s sudden marriage edict from the morning court. This marriage edict not only caught Kong Taichang off guard but also left Prime Minister He and the others bewildered. Song Dekang, a straightforward man, drank tea as if chewing on peonies. After gulping down the tea, he placed the teacup on the table with such force that it made a "thud" sound. "What do you think the emperor is thinking? Why would he suddenly betroth Old Kong’s youngest daughter to Prince Dai?" Shen Hu furrowed his brows slightly and said, "Could it be that the emperor truly intends to depose the Crown Prince and establish Prince Dai as the heir?" Chu Ying said indifferently, "Whether the Crown Prince is deposed or Prince Dai is established has nothing to do with us." Their loyalty was to the emperor, not to the Crown Prince or Prince Dai. Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu said nothing, calmly drinking their tea. Seeing their leisurely demeanor, Song Dekang became a bit anxious and quickly asked, "Prime Minister He, say something." Prime Minister He put down the teacup in his hand and looked at Song Dekang rather helplessly, "Say what?" "Do you think the emperor wants to depose the Crown Prince and establish Prince Dai?" Song Dekang asked with a worried expression. Prime Minister He retorted, "What does that have to do with you?" "How can it not have anything to do with me?" "Tell me how it concerns you," Prime Minister He asked again. "I..." Song Dekang started to speak but was at a loss for words for a moment. Prime Minister He looked at Song Dekang and said, "You don’t want the Crown Prince to be deposed?" This time, Song Dekang replied without any hesitation, "Of course." As he spoke, a complex expression appeared on his face, "After all, the Crown Prince is the son of the late Empress." At the mention of the late Empress, all the people present showed changed expressions. "Considering the late Empress, the emperor would not depose the Crown Prince," Prime Minister He reassured Song Dekang, "Rest assured, the emperor will not let Prince Dai replace the Crown Prince." "Then why would the emperor betroth Old Kong’s youngest daughter to Prince Dai?" Although Song Dekang was a military officer, it did not mean he was simple-minded. He understood that the emperor betrothing Kong Taichang’s youngest daughter to Prince Dai would benefit Prince Dai greatly. "The Kong Family is highly regarded by scholars, and what Prince Dai lacks most is the support of scholars." Prime Minister He guessed the purpose behind the emperor’s marriage edict, "The emperor must have his own plans." "Plans to make the Crown Prince’s position increasingly dangerous? To make Prince Dai more arrogant?" Song Dekang said with some dissatisfaction, "If Prince Dai really marries Old Kong’s youngest daughter, he will neglect the Crown Prince even more." Grandmaster Liu glanced at the indignant Song Dekang and said calmly, "Even without this marriage edict, Prince Dai would still neglect the Crown Prince more." Shen Hu asked, "Are we just going to watch?" Grandmaster Liu gave Shen Hu a glance, "What do you plan to do, help the Crown Prince?" Shen Hu was stumped by Grandmaster Liu’s question, opened his mouth, and found himself unable to say anything. "Can’t we help?" Song Dekang said, "Considering the late Empress, we should lend a helping hand to the Crown Prince." As soon as he said this, he received a warning look from Prime Minister He. "I advise you not to do that. You should understand the emperor does not want us to get involved in matters between the Crown Prince and Prince Dai." Prime Minister He understood Song Dekang’s desire to help the Crown Prince, but he did not agree with doing so, "You should know our loyalty is to the emperor, not the Crown Prince." "I know, I understand, but the late Empress has shown us kindness, we can’t just stand by, right?" Song Dekang was a man of strong emotions and loyalty. Back then, while he was following the emperor in battles outside, his wife had complications during childbirth; if it wasn’t for the late Empress arranging for the Xie family’s Divine Doctor to save his wife, both she and the child would’ve perished. Also, because he spent years fighting outside, leaving no one to care for his elderly mother and pregnant wife at home, the late Empress had always looked after them. Not just for him, but Prime Minister He and others’ families were also cared for by the late Empress. "It hasn’t come to such a critical stage yet," Prime Minister He said, "If the Crown Prince truly finds himself in dire straits, we naturally would not stand by and do nothing." "What do you mean?" Song Dekang did not understand Prime Minister He’s words, "Isn’t the emperor betrothing Old Kong’s youngest daughter to Prince Dai serious enough?" Grandmaster Liu said, "Not serious." Song Dekang and Shen Hu were stunned, their faces showing shocked and puzzled expressions, "This isn’t serious yet?" Grandmaster Liu gave a soft snort, "This is nothing." "This is nothing?" "From ancient times, being heir is not an easy task," said Prime Minister He with deep meaning, "The Crown Prince is too gentle and needs to be well trained." Song Dekang and Shen Hu did not understand and asked blankly, "What do you mean?" Prime Minister He said, "It means you shouldn’t worry about this, just do what you’re supposed to do." Song Dekang worriedly asked, "We really don’t need to worry?" "We don’t need to worry about this matter." Prime Minister He’s mouth turned up in a meaningful smile, "If such a small issue requires our intervention, then the Crown Prince is truly useless." Though Song Dekang mostly understood what Prime Minister He said, if the Prime Minister said they need not worry, then he wouldn’t fret. Grandmaster Liu said, "You should not concern yourself with this matter." Shen Hu nodded and said, "Okay." Song Dekang said, "Fine, then we won’t interfere." Just like Prime Minister He said, if the Crown Prince is truly driven to despair by Prince Dai, there would be no need for him to worry; Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu would step forward to help the Crown Prince at that time. Shen Hu and Song Dekang had other matters to attend to, so after drinking tea at Prime Minister He’s residence for a while, they left. Grandmaster Liu did not leave immediately, continuing to drink tea with Prime Minister He, chatting. They first talked about the rebel army issue in Yangzhou, then about matters in the Shu region. In the end, they returned to discussing the marriage edict. However, their discussion was not about helping the Crown Prince, but about what actions Duke Zhen and Kong Taichang would take. The reason why Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu were not worried about the marriage was mainly because they knew Kong Taichang would try every means to sabotage this marriage. Of course, there was also Duke Zhen. "What if the emperor overplays his hand?" Grandmaster Liu suddenly asked, "At that time, the court would become unstable." "The emperor must have his measures and will not let the situation get out of his control." "Prince Dai is ambitious, and Third Prince and the others are watching closely, I hope the emperor indeed doesn’t overplay his hand." If he does, Great Zhou will become dangerous. "Do you not understand the emperor’s means?" Prime Minister He picked up the teapot and poured Grandmaster Liu another cup of tea, "Moreover, the Crown Prince indeed needs to temper himself." Grandmaster Liu picked up the teacup, not drinking immediately but instead saying, "What if the final result is not what the emperor wanted, then what?" "That’s the emperor’s business to worry about; as subjects, we only need to obey orders." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎 Grandmaster Liu smiled faintly, "Indeed." The two didn’t discuss this matter further and turned to talking about this year’s spring farming. At this time, the harem became very "lively" because of the marriage edict, with concubines, eunuchs, and palace maids all discussing the matter. Liang Zhaoyi and Yu Meiren naturally heard about this matter and were also shocked by it. "Is the emperor planning to make Prince Dai the Crown Prince?" "Is the Crown Prince going to be deposed?" However, Liang Zhaoyi did not think so. She said, "This matter is not that simple." "What does sister mean?" Liang Zhaoyi shook her head towards Yu Meiren and the others, "This isn’t something we should concern ourselves with. Let’s not discuss it further." Yu Meiren and Pan Cairen nodded in understanding, "Sister is right, it has nothing to do with us." Liang Zhaoyi ordered that people in Kunde Hall should not discuss this matter further. Anyone who continued would be severely punished. In Zhao Yang Palace, when Empress Xie heard of the matter, she first laughed delightedly, then her expression turned as dark as water. She was happy that the emperor was finally thinking of deposing the Crown Prince. However, she was displeased that the emperor valued Prince Dai so much. Although Empress Xie had always hoped for a struggle between the Crown Prince and Prince Dai, and even more hoped for Prince Dai to replace the Crown Prince, when the day seemed to be approaching, her heart was filled with jealousy and reluctance, because Prince Dai was the son of Noble Princess Consort Rong.