Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Bitter Heart Prince Dai was casually sitting in a chair, drinking tea and chatting with the Emperor. Among all the princes, only Prince Dai dared to talk to the Emperor so freely. At this moment, he was discussing some interesting stories about Liangzhou with the Emperor. "Father, although the rebellion in Liangzhou has been completely suppressed, it doesn’t mean Liangzhou has become entirely peaceful." Prince Dai sat up straight, his expression becoming serious and solemn, "Father, you still need to station troops in Liangzhou to prevent those with ill intentions from inciting rebellion again." The Emperor asked, "Do you have someone in mind?" "Father, I certainly want to send my people to guard Liangzhou, but that would not be in accordance with the rules." Prince Dai spoke very frankly, "Father, you should send someone you trust to guard Liangzhou." "You dare to speak your mind." "Father, you already have someone in mind, don’t you?" Prince Dai asked again, "By the way, who do you plan to send to manage Liangzhou?" Just as he said this, he suddenly remembered that the third prince would be conferred a title next year, so he said, "Are you planning to send the Third Prince to Liangzhou?" Standing quietly at the side like a background decoration, Sun Kui was very shocked when he heard Prince Dai say this. Did Prince Dai actually dare to ask the Emperor so directly?! The Emperor was not angry; instead, he smiled and asked, "Do you think the Third Prince should go to Liangzhou?" Hearing the Emperor say this, Prince Dai felt a sense of relief. "Honestly, I don’t want the Third Prince to go to Liangzhou." "Why not?" "Liangzhou is not suitable for the pampered Third Prince." Prince Dai’s words were very sharp, "If the Third Prince goes to Liangzhou, it might cause another rebellion in Liangzhou." These words were very blunt but also very reasonable. "Then who do you think is suitable to take over Liangzhou?" "Father, of course, I am the most suitable. After all, it was I who suppressed the rebellion in Liangzhou; no one is more suitable than I am." Prince Dai spoke with a sense of entitlement. Sun Kui thought to himself: Prince Dai really dares to speak! "Are you asking me for Liangzhou?" Prince Dai nodded repeatedly, "Father, will you give it to me?" When Prince Dai came of age and was conferred a title, the Emperor bestowed Jizhou upon him as his fief. Jizhou is right next to Yong State, which shows the Emperor’s favor for Prince Dai. The Emperor chuckled lightly, "You cheeky boy, you really dare to ask." "Father, will you give it to me or not?" Prince Dai’s tone was somewhat coquettish. The Emperor looked at Prince Dai and said with a smile, "If you want Liangzhou, then I will have to retract the marriage edict about you marrying the daughter of Minister Kong." "What?" Prince Dai was stunned. "You can only choose one: Liangzhou or the marriage edict," the Emperor said in a gentle tone, "Choose for yourself." "Father, can’t I have both?" "Cheeky boy, you can’t be too greedy in life." The Emperor spoke, and his expression suddenly became stern, "You can only choose one." Prince Dai said without any hesitation, "Father, I choose the marriage edict." The Emperor had thought Prince Dai would hesitate for a while, but surprisingly, Prince Dai didn’t think twice and directly gave up on Liangzhou. "No more Liangzhou?" "I already have Jizhou; I don’t need Liangzhou as a fief. Besides, each prince can only have one fief; if I were to have two fiefs, it would be too against the rules." Liangzhou is good, but it doesn’t compare to Minister Kong’s worth. Ten Liangzhous are not worth this marriage. Sun Kui was mentally snarking: Prince Dai, you personally asked the Emperor for Liangzhou just now. "Father, I haven’t thanked you yet for granting the marriage." Prince Dai stood up and gave the Emperor a grand salute, "Thank you, Father, for arranging such a good marriage for me." The marriage with Minister Kong’s daughter as a concubine is more valuable than being bestowed with pearls. Father is paving the way for him to replace the Crown Prince in the future. Indeed, in Father’s heart, he is the most suited to be the Crown Prince. "Do you know why I’m letting you marry Minister Kong’s daughter as a concubine?" "Father is considering my future." Father sent him to Liangzhou to quell the chaos, to achieve great merit, and then reasonably marry Minister Kong’s daughter to him as a concubine. Father truly has painstaking considerations for him. "As long as you know." The Emperor continued, "Minister Kong’s daughter is very talented and renowned; after you marry her, learn well from her and read with her more." Prince Dai: "..." "All you know is fighting wars, and not reading. If you continue like this, you’ll become an ignorant brute." The Emperor was not joking; he was serious. One of the direct reasons he granted marriage to Minister Kong’s daughter is to make Prince Dai read more. Actually, Prince Dai is not someone lacking in knowledge. Before he came of age, while studying at Wende Hall, he was quite good at reading. But later, after entering the military camp, he read less often. In the camp, he spent day and night with rough soldiers, picking up a lot of bad habits. The most serious was that he began to handle matters like those soldiers, resorting to fighting rather than thinking deeply first. Moreover, he became lax in the rules and manners he’d learned in the palace. Over the past years, the Imperial Censor frequently impeached Prince Dai for lacking rules and etiquette. The Emperor wanted Prince Dai to read more books in the hope that he would use his brain more in the future. Of course, this wasn’t the most important thing. The most important thing was to make Prince Dai understand some things. Prince Dai scratched his face, whispering in his own defense, "Father, I’m not an ignorant brute. Besides, I often read military books." "I want you to read more books, not just military books, but other books as well." "Other books?" Prince Dai said, "I read them when I was younger." "You read them when you were young, but don’t need to read when you’ve grown?" The Emperor picked up a copy of ’The Analects’ from the imperial desk and threw it towards Prince Dai, "Books need to be read often." Prince Dai picked up ’The Analects’ thrown by the Emperor and obediently said, "I’ll remember, Father." "Off you go then." "I take my leave, Father." Prince Dai originally planned to visit Noble Princess Consort Rong, but since the palace gates were about to be locked, he had to return to his mansion first and visit Noble Princess Consort Rong after the morning court tomorrow. "This cheeky boy still hasn’t made much progress." The Emperor said while shaking his head. "Your Majesty, didn’t you just say that Prince Dai hadn’t let you down? Why do you now say he hasn’t made progress?" "In quelling the rebellion in Liangzhou, the second prince indeed did not disappoint me, but," at this, the Emperor said with deep meaning, "in other respects, he hasn’t progressed at all." "So that’s why you want Prince Dai to read more?" Giving Minister Kong’s daughter to Prince Dai as a concubine wasn’t just about making him read more. The Emperor didn’t answer Sun Kui’s question, but instead said something intriguing. "It depends on whether he understands my painstaking efforts." Sun Kui: Painstaking efforts? Granting Minister Kong’s daughter to Prince Dai as a concubine was meant to gain the support of the learned people for Prince Dai. Isn’t it? 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂 Well, this isn’t something a servant like him should be concerned about. As soon as Prince Dai left the palace, he saw Marquis Xuanping and the Princely Heir of the Marquis Mansion waiting for him at the palace gate. Marquis Xuanping and his son first saluted Prince Dai, "Your Highness." Prince Dai helped up Marquis Xuanping and affectionately called, "Uncle." Marquis Xuanping carefully examined Prince Dai from head to toe, then said, "You’ve lost quite a bit of weight, this battle must’ve been tough." "This bit of hardship is nothing much." "Father, whatever you have to say, wait until we’re home. Let His Highness board the carriage first." "Your Highness, first come to my mansion; I’ve prepared a banquet to welcome you." "Alright." After getting on the carriage, Marquis Xuanping didn’t hurriedly ask Prince Dai what the Emperor said to him, but first asked if he had been injured in Liangzhou and if there were any lingering effects. "I did suffer some injuries, but it’s nothing major now." Injuries were expected in battles, and he was used to it. For him, as long as he wasn’t dead, no injury was considered significant. "Father said he wants me to marry Minister Kong’s daughter as a concubine for me to learn from her and to read more..." Prince Dai recounted what the Emperor had told him to Marquis Xuanping. "Uncle, what do you think Father means? Is Father being serious?" Marquis Xuanping thought for a moment and said, "Your Highness, don’t overthink it. What the Emperor said is just an excuse, an excuse for you to marry Minister Kong’s daughter as a concubine." Marquis Xuanping laughed, "Your Highness, for your future, the Emperor really has painstakingly planned." The Princely Heir of Marquis Mansion said, "The Emperor values you, Your Highness; that’s why he has such comprehensive plans for you." Prince Dai, with a face full of smiles, said, "Father has always cherished me." Marquis Xuanping suddenly remembered something from the past and sighed, "If the late Emperor hadn’t cooperated with the Xie family back then, Your Highness, you’d already be the Crown Prince." "There’s no need to mind the past; now Father plans to return to me the Crown Prince position that was originally mine." Prince Dai spoke with a cynical smile, "I already guessed that Father was dissatisfied with the Xie family and wouldn’t let Zhao Xuan, who has half Xie family blood, ascend to that position."