CH 38.1

“Imperial Father, is Son-Official this kind of person in your heart?” The crown prince looked at Emperor Changlong, cutting a wounded figure.

“We spoke mistakenly. Our son is a master of the pen and sword, peerless in appearance. How is it possible that you need to seize a woman, this kind of lowly action?” Emperor Changlong felt ashamed of his careless assumption. “Right, a few days ago We received some interesting playthings. Later on, Zhao Sancai will deliver them to the Eastern Palace.”

After Emperor Changlong promised him a pile of good things, he noticed the crown prince’s expression growing better. Interest piqued, Emperor Changlong said, “Which family’s young miss have you taken a fancy to? We will send a marriage proposal to her parents.”

Not a word left the crown prince’s lips.

“Is it East Street’s Du family or Yao family? Or is it South Street’s Tian family or Chen family?” Emperor Changlong frowned. “It’s not one of your maternal cousins, right?”

“No.” The crown prince shook his head. “Son-Official does not know how she feels. Let’s discuss this matter later on.”

“If you truly like her, you should inform Imperial Father quickly. Imperial Father can help you strike first and gain the upper hand.” He could eat anything, but Emperor Changlong would not allow his son to eat suffering.

“If you help Son-Official get a matchmaker to talk to her family, whether or not she is willing to marry me, she would not reject the proposal. With her personality, even if she originally held some good feelings toward me, she would have gripes over it. In the end, it’s uncertain whether this marriage would be a success or a failure,” said the crown prince to Emperor Changlong in a serious manner. “There’s nothing wrong with her status. Right now, Son-Official does not want to force her into a marriage, yet also does not want to see another man snatch her away.”

Emperor Changlong felt calm in his heart. Yuansu has always done as he pleased, unwilling to be wronged. Now, he pondered over something so deeply. It seems he truly fell for that woman.

Love was the stuff of deep schemes.

The sole thing Emperor Changlong did not understand was this: Why did Yuansu refer to himself as a beast? Emperor Changlong thought over it again and again, countless ideas springing up in his mind.

Was the other party already married? Such a matter was not allowed. Even if he was the crown prince, Emperor Changlong would beat him until his legs were broken.

Was the other party older than him? Three years his senior? Did she have children? Was she more than three years older? Even if she had more children, it wasn’t that big of a deal. It wasn’t bad enough to warrant calling himself a beast.

Could it be…

Fear entered Emperor Changlong’s expression. Could it be that the girl is very young?

Thoughts coming to this point, Emperor Changlong wore a grave expression as he looked at the crown prince. With sincere and earnest wishes, he said, “Yuansu, whether it’s conducting oneself or handling matters, whether one’s identity is noble or humble, sometimes there are things you cannot do, cannot reach out your hand for. Do you understand?”

Baffled, the crown prince shifted his gaze to Emperor Changlong. “Imperial Father, rest assured. Son-Official will not do what’s in your thoughts.”

Seeing how resolute and decisive the crown prince’s words had been, Emperor Changlong felt a bit more relieved. Even if he was the emperor, acting as both the father and mother wasn’t easy.

After the state banquet came to a close, he should summon his trusted aides for a meeting. To determine whether the court should issue some benefits to single-parent households off on their own.

This could bring relief to the adults’ pressure. And it could decrease the amount of abandoned children, decrease the occurrences of illegally trafficking children. But no matter how he considered this idea, there were loopholes. To the point that it would bring even more inconveniences.

For this reason, every governmental decree required him and his trusted aides to consider it countless times before they dared to issue said decree.

It wasn’t easy being the emperor. Being an incapable ruler was more relaxing. Emperor Changlong turned his head to glance at the crown prince. His successor was too lazy. A father like himself did not know how long he’d have to simmer over before he could finally lay down the burden on his shoulders.

The crown prince raised his head. When he caught sight of Emperor Changlong’s expression, he knew what his imperial father was thinking. Thus, he blurted, “Imperial Father, it’s called ‘getting married and starting a career’ for a reason. Son-Official hasn’t even married yet. So don’t hope for those other things from me even more.”

“Useless thing. We didn’t say anything at all.”

“Your gaze speaks volumes enough,” said the crown prince, just and forceful. “You’re still in your prime and Son is still young. So don’t even think about those other things.”

Translated by Sleepchaser at https://sleepchaser.wordpress.com/ If you read it anywhere else besides Sleepchaser’s wordpress, that copy was stolen.

“You’re already past twenty years old. How are you still young?” said Emperor Changlong. “When We were your age, We had already ascended the throne and were handling state affairs.”

Back then, the previous emperor favored an enchanting consort. Not only did he promote all of her family members, he even wanted to depose the then-crown prince, Emperor Changlong, and establish a new one. The family of the enchanting consort seized women, snatched up the commoners’ land, and preyed on the people. Imperial censors tried to impeach them, but the enchanting consort’s people blocked their path to the palace gates and beat them to death.

And he, the then-crown prince, had stood above the city walls, looking at the wife of that imperial censor as she supported her swollen belly. As she held onto her husband’s corpse sobbing her heart off. Chills had spread through him from head to toe.

Everyone knew that when the emperor grew angry, there would be millions of corpses. Could the emperor himself not know this?

That’s why after Emperor Changlong had ascended the throne, he always reminded himself this: Even if he could not become a wise ruler that only appeared in more than a thousand years, he could take care of this country well.

What was the country?

Was it the towering and majestic mountains and the ceaselessly racing rivers?

No, it was the common people who lived on this land.

“Imperial Father,” said the crown prince, “Son-Official heard that Imperial Tutor Du seemed to have fallen ill.”

The crown prince’s voice caused Emperor Changlong to snap out of his reverie. He sighed. “Imperial Tutor Du is an extraordinary scholar.” But a terrible official.　　

“Visit him for Us.” A moment of thought, and Emperor Changlong added, “Imperial Tutor Du is a grumpy person. If he says anything unpleasant, pretend you didn’t hear it. Once you return, We will give you a few boxes of jewelry, so that you can accumulate wealth for your future wife.”

“Son-Official understands. These past few years, when has Son-Official ever bothered with him?”

In any case, although this inflexible old man was grouchy, his loyalty toward his imperial father had never changed.

Du Songwen had truly fallen terribly ill.

He had gone through two reigns of emperors. Because of his numerous talents, he had become an official of the Eastern Palace at a young age. Afterward, the previous emperor grew infatuated with the enchanting consort. Because Du Songwen had stood by the then-crown prince’s side since the start, once Emperor Changlong ascended the throne, Du Songwen lived a comfortable life until now.

Everyone in the world thought that Du Songwen was especially stern with the crown prince. But he simply felt that the crown prince would be the next emperor, and he feared the crown prince becoming like the previous emperor. In that case, the ones to suffer would be the common people.

Face sallow, Du Songwen lay in bed, the entire room smelling like bitter medicine. He made an extreme effort to open his eyes wide as he looked at his children and grandchildren. Said to the red-eyed Du Xiuying, “Come here.”

“Grandfather.” Du Xiuying forced a smile as she crouched by the bed, lightly holding Du Songwen’s hand that was covered in wrinkles.

“Are you truly unwilling to marry the crown prince?” he asked.

Du Xiuying lowered her head; not a word escaped her lips.

“Nevermind.” A sigh. “Originally, I wanted you to remain by the crown prince’s side to remind him of what was right and what was wrong. Yet, I also feared that the crown prince would spurn you. Then how could you pass the rest of your days? So this is also fine. This is also fine.”

“Grandfather…” Du Xiuying could no longer stop the tears from flowing down her cheeks.

“I was wrong.” Du Songwen closed his eyes. “I was always worried that the crown prince would become like the previous emperor. Yet, there are all kinds of people in the world, and no one would become how other people wanted them to be. These years, I persisted in my views and offended the crown prince many times as a result. Once I am gone, what’s going to happen to you all?”

Even saints would be very affectionate and close with their family. Let alone Du Songwen, who wasn’t a saint.

“When I am gone, you must all assist His Majesty and the crown prince with all your hearts. You must not have any other thoughts,” said Du Songwen, gasping for breath, before continuing, “Although the crown prince isn’t perfect, His Majesty raised him. Thus, he must have some of His Majesty’s virtues. The other imperial princes may have their own merits, but those merits cannot compare to the crown prince’s graceful bearing. If you start having thoughts that you should not have, then… then…

“Your names will be removed from the Du clan’s genealogical records, and your descendants will have nothing to do with the Du family.”

“Father, Son and the rest of us will definitely not go against your wishes,” said Du Xiuying’s father, moving his way before Du Songwen on his knees. Sobbing, he said, “Father, please rest well. You will get better very soon.”

“I understand my own body,” said Du Songwen. His gaze fell upon Du Xiuying. “Xiuying is a good child. Don’t stop her from doing whatever she wants in the future.”

“Son understands.” Sir Du was already middle-aged, yet as he knelt in front of the bed, he cried like a child. He would normally complain that his father was inflexible and stubborn, but at this very moment, there was only reluctance to see his father go within his heart.

“Sir, His Highness the crown prince has arrived.”