"So what." The emperor gave an answer that surprised everyone, "I am an emperor, I can't possibly intervene casually in my ministers' family affairs. If the eldest son of the Chang House has the ability to produce evidence in the future, I will act according to the law. If he dies abroad, how can I ignore the court and destroy the Fang family?"
The Fang family rose to prominence by cheating in the imperial examinations and by deceiving the emperor. In addition, the Fang family successfully brought about the downfall of the Zhu and Tao families. It would be difficult for the imperial court to uphold justice.
But Fang Heng was just a young child, imprisoned and restrained in the remote Anshui Prefecture. He wandered around destitute. Could I just sit back and watch?
If the veterans know that their descendants have been exiled like this, will they still fight desperately on the battlefield?
How can people be so cold-blooded!
Chang Yan clenched his fists, full of anger and resentment.
"You are angry." The man on the dragon couch suddenly laughed, "But my son, if Fang Heng was not your third brother, if you didn't know each other, would you care what happened to the Fang family?"
Chang Yan's body tensed again, and cold sweat appeared on his back.
He really knows everything.
He knew about the injustice in the Fang family, and he also knew about the relationship between Chang Yan and Fang Heng. Does he also know about those five years, does he know what happened behind the scenes with Chang Yan?
"Among the countless prestigious families in Fengjing, all kinds of injustices, big and small, are constantly happening." The man was still indifferent, "The eldest daughter of the Meng family bullied the illegitimate daughter, the head of the Li family favored a concubine and destroyed his wife, the head of the Zhou family was promiscuous and licentious, but as long as they work diligently in their official positions, how can I intervene in their family affairs?"
"You sympathize with the Fang family because of your close relationship with Fang Heng, but why don't you help the illegitimate daughter of the Meng family, stand up for the legitimate wife of the Li family, or restrain the head of the Zhou family?"
"After all, people only care about their loved ones, and can't be fair in everything."
The downfall of the Fang family's main branch originated from General Fang's death on the battlefield. The second branch schemed to seize power by all means necessary, even making the emperor scoff.
But how could the wild ambition of a wolf have been cultivated overnight? The husband and wife of the main branch were unable to guard against it and protect themselves, who else could they blame?
Survival of the fittest.
Fengjing has never been a naive and innocent stage, but a fighting arena full of intrigue, scheming and wrist skills.
As the second branch consolidated control over the Fang family's power, the entire main branch almost disappeared. How could the emperor possibly uphold justice and contend with such a powerful family?
There are many kinds of love in this world, but they all have limits.
Just as Xu Mo cares more about the common people, Fang Heng cares more about the military officers and soldiers, Wen Zhiyun cares more about the poor and suffering, Jiang Sheng cares more about his aunts.
The emperor's love is too scattered, he only cares about the livelihood and survival of the whole, cares about who can benefit the common people in office, cares about who has made achievements for the country on the battlefield.
It sounds utilitarian, but it makes sense when you think about it.
Even Fang Heng himself couldn't get evidence, just making accusations like a child playing house outside the palace gates.
It's hard to stay upright in high places, some things are hard to distinguish between right and wrong, perhaps he can't be entirely blamed.
"Of course, I also have to admit my own cowardice." said the Son of Heaven seriously, "From taking a childhood sweetheart as a concubine, to the downfall of the Yan family, I didn't have the courage and ability to guard this dynasty."
"I'm afraid I can't defend the dynasty built by my ancestors, I'm also afraid I don't have my father's ability to expand territories, and I'm even more afraid that the history books will record me as incompetent."
Cowardice is a personality trait, but it is also a problem that comes from long-standing powerful families.
The different personalities of emperors create all kinds of dynasties.
"I have defended this dynasty with compromise, which doesn't feel good when restricted everywhere. I know everything, but I can't change it. The only thing I can do is choose the most suitable heir for this dynasty."
The man's eyes suddenly became kind, with hopeful light in them, "Little Five, you are very suitable, you are very suitable."
This was an affirmation, but Chang Yan was not happy.
From the moment his relationship with Fang Heng was revealed, he had a premonition that the emperor knew everything about his years of wandering outside the palace.
Including the storms he stirred up after returning to the palace, pulling in the Jiang, Dou and He families.
So what about the struggle for power between the princes? That must be nothing to him.
Raising gu worms?
There are gu masters in the southwestern border areas who raise killer creatures, letting thousands of worms kill each other, leaving only the fiercest and cruelest gu behind that can devour anything.
Now there is an emperor who allows his heirs to fight and kill each other, just to select the most outstanding successor.
His behavior is understandable, but his methods seem rather cruel.
Perhaps in the eyes of the Son of Heaven, the only children he truly loved were the eldest prince Zhu Changhong, the rest were just objects, vessels that could be selected through fighting and killing, like gu worms.
Chang Yan raised the corners of his mouth in a smile, but felt empty inside.
Human nature is so strange. From the perspective of the common people he could be considered a good emperor. From the perspective of elite families he was a bit too cowardly. From Zhu Changhong's perspective he was a loving father. But from the perspective of his other children he was hateful.
Perhaps Chang Yan should feel fortunate to have become the victorious gu worm, rather than the grindstone for the king of gu worms.
But for this father, his heart finally lost all ripples.
"You can resent me, I am indeed not a good father to you." It was as if the Son of Heaven saw through everything, "I just want you to firmly remember the mission and responsibility of the Zhu family when I hand this land over to you."
"Chang Yu is too gloomy and sinister to get along with the Fang family, he is not suitable to be a wise ruler. My fourth brother is as timid as I am, Changhong has been spoiled and lost his judgment. Only you...only you are the most suitable."
He suppressed a cough, fatigue appearing on his face, "So Yan'er, go ahead, have Vice Minister Jiang propose reinstating the crown prince again, go establish your crown prince residence, cultivate your own confidants and manpower, suppress all discontent, stabilize this land. "
"With top scholar Xu by your side you won't act recklessly, and with the Jiang family's eldest daughter you won't slaughter the innocent."
"Go, go..."
His voice got lower and lower, until he fell sound asleep.
His faint breathing echoed in the hall, the faint smell of blood evidencing his frailty.
Chang Yan remembered Wen Zhiyun's hesitant words, he must have known about the emperor's condition for a while.
He also remembered the candid conversation just now, feeling mixed emotions.
His father's image flipped back and forth in his heart, from useless cowardice to quite skillful, from cold and incompetent to planning intricately. He regained respect for the emperor, but still could not truly love or cherish him.
Even though he knew his father was in poor health, he still couldn't give him much concern or care.
The only thing he could do was cup his hands together and say with basic respect, "Your son withdraws."
There was no father-son affection between them, only inheritance and responsibility.
If Chang Yan didn't have some ability, perhaps the surviving gu king would have been someone else in the end.
The night was pitch black, and Steward Wu was still waiting outside.
The attendant who had disappeared at some point was timidly following behind.
Chang Yan nodded to them, then went back towards the Western Three Palaces, but at a street lamp on the corner, he saw someone he had almost forgotten about.
Someone he had crossed paths within Anshui Prefecture, and had parted ways with at the city gate, someone he hadn't seen in four years.
"Steward Wu..."
