Chapter 73: Chapter Seventy-Three: First Update The rumor about Prince Dai’s inability had spread throughout the capital even before the next day. By the early morning of the following day, every citizen in the capital knew about Prince Dai’s inability to produce an heir. The servants of the Kong Mansion naturally heard the news too. "Uncle Jiu, I just heard something," a servant of the Kong Mansion hurriedly came to the front courtyard to find the steward. The steward saw his grave expression, thinking something serious had happened, and quickly asked, "What happened?" The servant whispered into the steward’s ear, "I recently went to buy groceries and heard people saying Prince Dai is incapable and unable to have children, which is why he has no offspring." "What?" The steward was shocked by this rumor. "Uncle Jiu, everyone in the capital is talking about it now. I’m not making it up," the servant said. "Everyone’s saying it with details that seem credible. Besides, Prince Dai indeed has no heirs." "I will immediately report this to the master," said the steward, then hurried off to find Kong Taichang. Kong Taichang was having breakfast when he saw the steward walking in with urgency, and he quickly asked what had happened. The steward reported what he had just heard to Kong Taichang. After listening, Kong Taichang’s expression remained very calm. The steward was surprised to see no reaction and asked, "Master, you know?" Kong Taichang nodded and said, "Hmm, not unexpected." He had anticipated that news of Prince Dai’s incapability would spread throughout the capital after Duke Zhen spoke those words at the celebration banquet last night. "Master, if Prince Dai is incapable, what about Miss?" The Miss was betrothed to Prince Dai as a consort. If Prince Dai is incapable, she would marry him to live a lonely life, which is too unjust for her. Kong Taichang had finished his breakfast, took a few sips of tea, and said, "Yao Er will not marry Prince Dai as a concubine." After the early morning court session today, he planned to see the Emperor and refuse the marriage decree. "Master, do you plan to..." "It’s getting late; I should go to court now." Kong Taichang walked to the door, where Kong Yuan was already waiting by the carriage. "Father." Kong Yuan saluted Kong Taichang and then helped him into the carriage. Once the father and son were seated, the coachman lifted his whip and urged the horses, and the carriage slowly drove towards the imperial city. "Father, are you ready?" Kong Yuan asked. Kong Taichang solemnly nodded, "I am ready." Then he sighed softly, "We might face imprisonment." "Father, I’m not afraid of prison. It’s just that mother and sister will suffer later." "I’ve talked to your mother. If anything happens to us, let her take your sister and leave the capital." Kong Yuan frowned slightly, "I fear mother and sister may not be able to escape the capital." Kong Taichang also considered this possibility and fell silent. "Prince Dai will probably not easily give up on this marriage." Their Kong Family was too important to Prince Dai, "Even if the Emperor nullifies the marriage decree, Prince Dai won’t give up and might resort to any means." This was what he least wanted to see. Kong Taichang naturally also considered this. He said heavily, "This is the aspect your father fears the most. This marriage decree puts our Kong Family on the fire. If we don’t refuse the marriage, our family’s lives are temporarily safe, but our Kong family’s reputation will be ruined. If we refuse, our family’s lives are in danger, but the Kong Family’s reputation is preserved." "Father, the reputation of the Kong Family is more important than anything." As descendants of the Kong Family, they must protect the centuries-old reputation of the Kong Family, so they would not face their ancestors in shame later on. "It’s just that your mother and sister are implicated, and for this, your father feels sorry for them." Kong Taichang originally planned to divorce his wife and expel his daughter from the family, but there was simply no time. "Father, mother and sister won’t blame you." "I know they won’t blame me, but... sigh..." Kong Taichang thought to himself that he could only repay his wife and daughter in the next life. "What did our Kong Family do to displease the Emperor?" He thought over and over again, feeling the Emperor shouldn’t have betrothed his daughter to Prince Dai as a concubine. Yet, the Emperor did it anyway. "Our Kong Family hasn’t done anything outrageous." Kong Yuan hesitated and said, "In the Emperor’s eyes, our Kong Family is merely a tool to balance the Crown Prince and Prince Dai." Kong Yuan’s words hit a sore spot in Kong Taichang’s heart, his face full of pain: "A tool?" "Father, you must have realized by now that in the Emperor’s mind, our Kong Family is not that important. We are just a tool for balancing the court’s power, whereas the Li Family..." Here, Kong Yuan paused, seeing his father’s unwillingness, he didn’t continue. Kong Taichang continued, "Whereas the Li Family is deeply respected by the Emperor." "Indeed, the Li Family is more important to the Emperor than the Kong Family." Kong Yuan stated objectively, "Although the Li Family doesn’t have the same legacy as the Kong Family, their reputation in the past century has surpassed ours. Today, the Li Family holds a high status in the hearts of scholars across the country, not only rivaling us but even surpassing us." Kong Taichang’s eyes reddened and tears welled up. He choked, "If it weren’t for that beast, how would our Kong Family have ended up like this and lost to the Li Family?" "Father, we must accept this fact." Kong Yuan said calmly, "This is why the Emperor granted my younger sister’s marriage to Prince Dai as a concubine." This reality was hard for Kong Taichang to accept, but there was no way not to. "If your younger sister truly marries Prince Dai as a Consort, our Kong Family will be ruined, we’ll be despised by scholars nationwide." "Alas..." "If we are punished this time for defying the imperial order, our Kong Family will instead preserve its reputation." Kong Taichang’s tone suddenly became bleak, "Our Kong Family cannot escape this disaster, but at least we will have fulfilled our family’s honor." "Father, this is the responsibility of us Kong Family members." Kong Yuan had known from a young age the responsibility of being part of the Kong Family; he knew that for their family, honor was more important than life. "Father, neither I nor mother nor sister regret being part of the Kong Family." These words made Kong Taichang unable to bear it any longer; he covered his face and cried silently. Kong Yuan, seeing his father like this, felt deeply saddened. Tears blurred his vision. He took a deep breath and said, "Father, perhaps things are not as bad as we imagine. Although the Emperor sees our Kong Family as a tool to balance the Crown Prince and Prince Dai, the Emperor is not a cold and ruthless person." Kong Taichang raised his sleeve to wipe his tears away. "Father, as long as you earnestly request the Emperor to withdraw the marriage decree, the Emperor might agree and not hold you accountable." "You’re right, the Emperor is not a cold-blooded, ruthless person. Over the years, our Kong Family has done quite a few things for the court and the people. Even if there’s no merit, there’s also hard work." Kong Taichang consoled himself, "The Emperor might show mercy to our Kong Family." "Our Kong Family’s reputation may not be as high as the Li Family’s now, but it holds some esteem among the nation’s scholars, which the Emperor will somewhat consider." "You’re right." Kong Taichang said, feigning light-heartedness as he smiled at Kong Yuan, "I don’t think our fate is doomed." "Father, I think the same." The father and son exchanged smiles and burst out laughing. Amidst their laughter, the coachman stopped the carriage, "Master, Young Master, we have arrived." Kong Taichang and Kong Yuan quickly adjusted their appearances before getting out of the carriage. By then, many officials had arrived at the palace gate. The palace gate had not yet opened, and officials could only wait at the entrance. As soon as Kong Taichang and Kong Yuan got off the carriage, many officials surrounded them to greet them. These officials were supporters of Prince Dai. Since the Emperor granted the marriage, Prince Dai’s faction regarded Kong Taichang and his son as allies. Kong Taichang and Kong Yuan responded to their greetings distantly, but the officials seemed oblivious to their indifference and continued to speak warmly. Father and son had no choice but to run over to find Prime Minister He and the others. Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu were chatting casually when they saw Kong Taichang and his son suddenly coming over to greet and talk with them; they politely responded. They expected Kong Taichang and his son to leave after greeting, but unexpectedly, the two didn’t show any intention of leaving.