Everyone knows that a mother is strong and a daughter is weak, but a weak mother breeds a strong child.
This principle also applies between fathers and sons. An overly domineering former emperor has given rise to the current timid Imperial Court. He even had to reluctantly compromise on the choice of his wife.
The half imperial edict proves his feelings for Ju Noble Consort outweigh twenty years of favoritism.
But it is also half an imperial edict, proving that his heart contains not only affection, but also the mountains and rivers of the great Dayu Dynasty and the livelihood of thousands of people.
Looking at his birth father for a long time during the banquet, Chang Yan realized when did he become aware that he was not so incompetent.
Was it when he appointed the top scholar and top scorer in the imperial examination, seemingly compromising with the powerful families, but actually enduring silently and waiting for an opportunity?
Was it when he obtained hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, but did not keep a cent, and instead had it transported directly to the border for the soldiers to have meaty meals in winter?
Was it that as the emperor, he was neither extravagant nor addicted to wine and women, but instead abolished the triennial draft and to this day the harem only had six consorts?
This person suddenly diverged from the image of incompetence in memory.
He was so heartless, locking up his freedom-loving mother in the palace, watching coldly as Ju Noble Consort acted arrogantly, and giving all his favor to his eldest illegitimate son.
When faced with things he would only equivocate. He knew the Yan Family was being slandered but still let the medical family decline.
He knew the eldest branch of the Fang Family was being persecuted but just watched coldly as the second branch of the Fang Family made waves.
He was truly a contradictory man.
He did not eliminate the assassin, but kept An Jun safe.
He could not eliminate the corruption in the imperial examinations, but insisted that Xu Mo become the top scholar.
He seemed to waver between his two sons, but in fact he was the one in control.
Chang Yan realized that weakness and wise rulers were not mutually exclusive.
How could his brilliant grandfather choose an useless puppet for the Imperial Court to control?
It was all these details that led Chang Yan to decide to lay his cards on the table and take a gamble.
Of course he could also obtain that position through schemes, but he would rather do it clear and outright.
"Father," the youth spoke, using the most ordinary term of address in a commoner's family, "Does it upset you that I brought you to Fengxian Hall? Do you resent it?"
The Imperial Court was stunned for a moment, with memories flashing through his eyes, "It's been a long time since I've come to see him."
The "him" here referred to his grandfather, the martial emperor who was still wearing armor and battling when over a hundred years old.
So each person has a unique sentiment towards their father after all.
In Chang Yan's mind the incompetent father also used to admire his own magnificent father.
Or maybe he would secretly complain and chat in front of his memorial tablet during sleepless nights.
But the regret of the departed is that they cannot even scold, let alone hug their child.
"It's been many years since I last saw him too." The tip of the Imperial Court's nose turned red, as if he was trying his best to suppress something. "We've been apart for over a decade, I miss him a bit."
Some say there is no father-son bond in the imperial family, some say there is no true emotion in the royal family.
But one only has one father. No matter what the future holds, the former admiration and respect will forever be engraved in the heart. The longing for familial love has never faded.
"Father..." The man nearing forty suddenly knelt on the mat and choked out, "Have I fulfilled your expectations, have I done as you envisioned, am I a good emperor, am I like you..."
The pressure left by the preceding generation was too great. He would also feel lost and afraid.
Afraid of not being as outstanding as his father, afraid of destroying these thousands of miles of rivers and mountains.
Afraid that in a hundred years his father would look at him disappointedly and shake his head saying, "Ah Yuan, why can't you be like me?"
"Ah Yuan also wants to be like father, but each person is different. Don't blame me." The man wept bitterly.
It seems the half month spent drafting the edict has been an immense mental torment.
On one side was the romance of twenty years, on the other was a lifetime of filial piety.
It is often said that one cannot be both loyal and filial. Why has no one said that romance and filial piety also cannot coexist? Does being an emperor mean sacrificing some relationships? Always disappointing someone?
But in any case, Chang Yan knew coming to Fengxian Hall was the right decision.
He also knelt on the small mat, bowing with the utmost piety.
He didn't know how much time had passed before the sobs turned into tranquility, and only peace remained in Fengxian Hall.
He slowly sat up and saw that the discomposed Imperial Court had regained his calm. His eyes shone with the sharpness belonging to an emperor, "You brought me here to stop the ennoblement to empress?"
Yes and no.
Stopping the ennoblement would indeed bring Chang Yan trouble, but more importantly he was fighting for his mother.
Yan Empress never obtained any feelings of love in her life. The position of empress was her only honor. No one could snatch it away.
What Chang Yan really wanted to stop was never the ennoblement itself.
He stretched out his five fingers again, pretending to grasp at the air before closing it into a fist.
"Father, you could have ennobled her actually." The youth smiled, his flawless features overlapping more and more with Yan Empress. "I'm just very curious about one thing before the ennoblement to empress. Is Ju Noble Consort in love with father, or the position of empress?"
"How dare you be so rude!" The Imperial Court frowned. "You should still address her as Noble Consort, how can you speculate like this?"
"In front of grandfather, in front of generations of ancestors from the Zhu Family." Chang Yan tilted his head and smiled. "Is father afraid of the answer?"
Not waiting for the Imperial Court's anger, he slapped his clothes and stood up. "Why don't we make a bet in front of grandfather. If father wins he can ennoble Ju Noble Consort to empress. If father loses he gives up on the idea, which can be considered giving grandfather an explanation."
What win or lose, what explanation.
These were all nonsense. The key was the conflict in the Imperial Court's heart.
If in the last few days he leaned towards Ju Noble Consort, then coming to Fengxian Hall today had clearly pulled him back into hesitation.
He was reluctant to disappoint his childhood sweetheart, yet also remembered the promise to the Former Emperor. When hesitating, his heart was also undergoing tearing pain.
Chang Yan's words were more like a way out, giving the Imperial Court a chance to step down.
Win, and steadfast childhood love would allow him to ennoble her with a clear conscience.
As for losing...he probably hadn't considered it.
"Unchanging feelings for twenty years, even if grandfather knows you didn't fulfill the promise, he would forgive you right." Chang Yan's voice rang out timely, full of temptation.
The Imperial Court froze for a long time, gaze shifting to the Former Emperor's memorial tablet, before finally gritting his teeth. "Alright."
He just wanted to ennoble an empress. He wasn't joking around with the mountains and rivers of the country, he would always remember the Zhu Family's responsibilities.
So father, give him a chance to fulfill his beloved's wish, okay?
Just once.
