Free Web NovelChapter 1301: Chapter 1290: Illegitimate Son
Just a few days after saying those words, the old Emperor suddenly had a stroke, unable to speak, plunging the court into utter chaos because the Crown Prince hadn’t been decided yet!
Thus, the princes became restless, with the most pronounced presence being Prince Kang, Prince Min, Prince An, and the Fifteenth Prince, the Emperor’s most favorite in the past two years.
Surprisingly, yet not unexpectedly, the most popular candidate turned out to be Prince Kang!
Indeed, he was the legitimate eldest son, rightfully entitled to succeed, especially considering the Emperor’s ambiguous attitude towards them recently, favoring him and his heir greatly. Who knows if the Emperor’s intention in keeping Prince Kang in the capital was for him to inherit the throne?
Only Eunuch An knew that, from the beginning, the Emperor had no intention of appointing Prince Kang as Crown Prince, merely using him as bait to see the reactions of the princes.
But who would have known that before the decree was issued, the Emperor would suffer a stroke? Could he even express these words? Even if he could, would anyone believe the words of an old eunuch? Perhaps the Empress would end his life the moment he showed an intent to speak.
No one would have expected that the Empress hadn’t truly relinquished her power over the palace all these years; her swift actions caught everyone off guard. By the time they reacted, the palace was firmly under her control. Even if others were dissatisfied, what could they do?
She was the legitimate Empress; these years, the Emperor hadn’t actively usurped power. The authority she delegated was either in the hands of the Manager or in the hands of concubines she was on good terms with. Although it appeared she gave away power, it merely distributed the pressure, with the ultimate decision-making authority still lying with her.
What could other concubines say? Anyone who objected would only give the Empress more reasons to punish them. After all, what were you trying to do taking advantage of the Emperor’s stroke? The Empress hadn’t violated any rules, were you attempting a revolt?
Three days later, seeing the Emperor’s condition worsening and the Imperial Physician’s diagnosis being pessimistic, ministers immediately submitted petitions stating that the nation could not go a day without a ruler, urging the Empress to establish a Crown Prince promptly.
Indeed, despite being a woman, the Empress was the Mother of the Country, different from ordinary women. There was precedent in this dynasty where Emperor Xingwu died suddenly, and the Empress, without a son at her knee, received petitions from courtiers requesting her to appoint a new Emperor among the princes.
In truth, establishing a new Emperor wasn’t as troublesome as imagined, requiring assessments of talent or other attributes. As long as the new Emperor wasn’t incompetent, with so many ministers observing, they would eventually learn how to be an Emperor. Thus, whoever the Empress appointed, everyone else would follow suit.
Although many differences existed compared to back then, the fundamentals were the same. Without the Emperor managing state affairs, not establishing a new Emperor would lead to court upheaval. The only person qualified to decide on the new Emperor was the Empress, and if she appointed her own son, it wouldn’t matter because her son was the legitimate eldest son.
"I urge the Empress to adhere to the ancestral system and appoint Prince Kang as Crown Prince." The speaker was a two-generation veteran within the court, ten years older than the Emperor himself. If not for the matter of succession, he wouldn’t have entered the palace today.
This man belonged to the Conservative faction. Even when the old Emperor favored Prince An and Prince Min while slighting Prince Kang, he had stepped forward to advise repeatedly, urging the old Emperor to appoint Prince Kang as Crown Prince. Since Prince Kang had self-requested to go to Nanyue, things calmed down somewhat. Now, with the Empress in power, Prince Kang seems to be rising again, and Prince Kang’s heir is astute and capable. Hence, his fervor reignited.
Once he stepped forward, others eager for change followed suit: "Prince Kang is the Emperor’s legitimate eldest son; Empress, please appoint Prince Kang as Crown Prince and immediately govern as proxy."
However, there were those in agreement and those opposed. They hadn’t formed factions for so long only to let Prince Kang reap the benefits.
"This is nonsense. Prince Kang self-requested to go to Nanyue, effectively relinquishing his succession right, tacitly accepted by the Emperor. Do you wish to defy the imperial will?"
"Mr. Li, that’s incorrect. When did Prince Kang say he abandoned his succession right? What tacit acceptance by the Emperor? Prince Kang bravely sacrificed to develop impoverished Nanyue. Now, Prince Kang returns triumphantly; the Emperor is overjoyed. Haven’t you noticed the Emperor’s recent favorable attitude towards Prince Kang?"
His words were powerful and reasonable, rendering Mr. Li speechless.
Indeed, although everyone tacitly agreed on what happened years ago, neither Prince Kang nor the Emperor had explicitly stated anything publicly.
More importantly, the Emperor’s recent favoritism towards Prince Kang and his heir left them speechless, wondering if the Emperor, disappointed in other princes, found Prince Kang the most fitting for his desires.
"I believe the Emperor has always been healthy. It’s better to await the Imperial Physician’s treatment before making decisions."
"I concur." Since there was temporarily no reason for the Empress to appoint Prince Kang as Crown Prince, it was better to stall.
"Report! Urgent news from the border: Marquis Ye reports that barbarians have recently gathered forces, seemingly preparing for a large-scale attack on our dynasty. The Emperor must quickly make a decision."
At the critical juncture, an issue arose at the border, catching everyone off guard, thereby accelerating the urgency of the Crown Prince matter.
However, Ye Sihui was certain this was her good brother Ye Qiu’s doing for Ye Jing. She now felt despair, as unexpected events time and again left her devoid of hope for her husband Prince An.
On the contrary, Ye Jing, since marrying Prince Kang, hadn’t taken a wrong step. Not only was she the birth mother of Prince Kang’s heir, she also heard that Princess Kang had long been confined, otherwise why hadn’t Princess Kang been seen since Prince Kang’s return?
After exerting so much effort to reach this point, she suddenly discovered Ye Jing achieved her dreams without needing to do anything, upsetting her equilibrium.
Yet over time, she got used to her misaligned mindset; years of grinding eliminated any sense of superiority from her rebirth. She deeply realized the consequences of offending others without certainty of success.
She learned patience and silence, even instructing her son not to deliberately target Ye Rui.
Years later, she never ceased to be grateful for this decision, as it allowed her son to remain unscathed and even live freer than other princes and imperial grandsons.
Due to Ye Qiu at the border awaiting a decision, the Crown Prince matter couldn’t be delayed. People barged into Yangxin Hall asking the old Emperor’s intent, yet the old Emperor was so severely stroked he couldn’t even show an expression, surrounded by the Empress’s vigilant people, leaving no room for action.
Consequently, the Empress swiftly appointed her son Prince Kang as Crown Prince. If others disagreed, she would immediately quash them, for Prince Kang was the legitimate eldest son, rightful by decree. Disagreement would be considered rebellion.
