Chapter 406: Chapter 237: Arrogant Because of Favoritism_3
The Crown Prince’s face lit up with joy, "Yes, Father."
The Emperor instructed, "Do not compromise the dignity of Great Zhou when entertaining them."
The Crown Prince, somewhat excited, said, "Rest assured, Father, I will handle this matter well."
The Emperor lightly nodded and said nothing more.
Prime Minister He stepped forward and said a few matters, and soon the morning court session ended.
After the court, Marquis Xuanping hurriedly made his way to the Prince Dai Mansion.
If Prince Dai had attended court today, the task of hosting the delegations from Annan and several other countries would have fallen to him.
Marquis Xuanping believed this because, before instructing the Crown Prince, the Emperor had glanced at where Prince Dai usually stood in the court. Unfortunately, since Prince Dai was absent, the Emperor had no choice but to entrust the important task to the Crown Prince.
It has been over twenty years since the establishment of Great Zhou, and this is the first time countries like Annan and Johor are formally coming to Great Zhou to offer their congratulations. Therefore, hosting the envoys from Annan and Johor coming to pay tribute is a matter of great importance.
If this affair is handled successfully, it is certain that the Emperor will reward greatly. It will also earn respect from Annan and Johor, and possibly some "tributes" too.
At this matter, within He Lianfang’s residence.
Zhao Yao had just engaged in a strategic battle with him on the sand table, which unsurprisingly resulted in Zhao Yao’s complete defeat.
In battling against He Lianfang, Zhao Yao had never won. He only ever managed to prolong his losing time or shorten it.
After reviewing, Zhao Yao finally understood the strategies He Lianfang had employed.
He Lianfang let Zhao Yao rest for a while. The two, master and apprentice, drank tea as they chatted.
Since discovering Zhao Yao’s fondness for pastries, every time he visited, the residence would prepare some for him.
"What is your view on the current situation in the court?" He Lianfang set down his teacup and suddenly asked, looking at Zhao Yao, who was eating pastries.
On hearing He Lianfang’s question, Zhao Yao paused mid-motion while picking up a piece of pastry and then set down the piece he had just picked up.
"Uncle, what do you wish to ask?"
"If you were Prince Dai, how would you handle the current situation?" He Lianfang asked in detail this time.
Zhao Yao thought for a moment and said, "Attend court diligently, handle affairs earnestly."
He Lianfang queried further, "What do you think of Prince Dai feigning illness?"
"It’s not a good move," Zhao Yao said disdainfully, "Prince Dai is being complacent due to favoritism."
Seeing Zhao Yao’s clarity, He Lianfang was not surprised, but somewhat was.
"Your father truly favors Prince Dai. His feigned illness might work on him."
"If it worked, Prince Dai wouldn’t still be absent from court. In front of He Lianfang, Zhao Yao made no effort to conceal himself, "Prince Dai has been feigning illness for several days, and Father only once sent Sun Kui to check on him, and no more after. This indicates Father’s displeasure with Prince Dai’s act."
"You mentioned that if you were Prince Dai, you would diligently attend court and earnestly perform your duties. Isn’t there anything else?"
"Doing one’s work well is better than anything," Zhao Yao said earnestly, "What Prince Dai needs to do is stabilize his position. His feigned illness is too low-level." Noble Princess Consort Rong, too, frequently feigned illness before, and now Prince Dai is also ill. This mother and son duo... Their favor doesn’t stem from wit but from Father’s intentional favoriting of them.
"Do you think Prince Dai could reverse Noble Princess Consort Rong’s fall from grace by doing nothing?"
"Uncle, you’re wrong, Noble Princess Consort Rong hasn’t fallen from favor," Zhao Yao responded with a smile, "If she had truly fallen from favor, the situation wouldn’t be as it is now."
"Ever since Princess Consort Ying entered the palace, hasn’t your father neglected Noble Princess Consort Rong?"
"Father neglects her not because Princess Consort Ying entered the palace but because of Noble Princess Consort Rong’s open attempt to assassinate her earlier," Zhao Yao stated seriously, "No matter how favored she is, she cannot brazenly have someone assassinate Princess Consort Ying. That would be not only challenging Father but also challenging the laws of Great Zhou." It seems Princess Consort Ying’s appearance has driven Noble Princess Consort Rong to irrationality, leading her to commit such foolish acts.
"If Father doesn’t neglect, he fears she may act even more outrageously. In the past, her excessive acts were overlooked because she didn’t violate the laws of Great Zhou. But this time, she’s crossed the line, and Father won’t tolerate it."
"In another month or two, Father may no longer neglect her, provided she refrains from malicious acts." She should humbly admit her mistakes and show repentance to Father, and this way, Father won’t neglect her for long.
"Do you think she hasn’t truly lost favor?" He Lianfang curiously asked, "You don’t believe Princess Consort Ying can replace her?"
"Why would she replace Noble Princess Consort Rong, just because she looks identical to Si Youying?" Zhao Yao scoffed, "Father agreed to her entering the palace to escalate the fight between Prince Dai and the Crown Prince."
Hearing this, He Lianfang’s eyes flashed with a hint of brilliance.
"Why do you think so?"
Zhao Yao smiled, "Isn’t it obvious?" He said, resting his hand on his face, "Father is no fool; is he unaware of the court’s dynamics? Most courtiers support the Crown Prince and Prince Dai, and they hold significant power in court. Father has always balanced the two, using Prince Dai to counteract the Crown Prince and vice versa."
He Lianfang said, "With this matter of Princess Consort Ying, it’s clear that the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen outmaneuvered Prince Dai and Marquis Xuanping."
"Had Prince Dai not feigned illness, they wouldn’t have lost to the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen," Zhao Yao said, showing disdain, "One wonders whose idea the feigned illness was, Prince Dai’s or Marquis Xuanping’s."
"Marquis Xuanping is no match for Duke Zhen," He Lianfang commented, "His means fall far short of Duke Zhen."
"Marquis Xuanping may not match Duke Zhen, but he has advantages Duke Zhen lacks. For one, Marquis Xuanping’s Mansion isn’t a noble family, and he is Father’s cousin," Zhao Yao continued, "Also, Father has always been apprehensive of Duke Zhen."
It’s common for Marquis Xuanping to fall short compared to Duke Zhen. Duke Zhen is the legitimate son of the top noble family, the Xie family, and has received the finest education from childhood. In terms of strategy and scheming, few can rival the noble families.
Marquis Xuanping, on the other hand, hails from a peasant background, and in his youth, he barely had enough to eat, let alone the chance to study. It wasn’t until he and his sister joined the Zhao family that they began learning to read and write.
"What do you think will happen next?" This child, Xiao Shi, is exceptionally intelligent. Although not attending court, he can comprehend the dynamics merely through hearsay.
"If Prince Dai continues to feign illness, Father might truly grow disappointed in him," Zhao Yao speculated, "Father will likely comply with the Crown Prince’s and Duke Zhen’s wishes, continuing to favor Princess Consort Ying while neglecting Noble Princess Consort Rong."
"What if Prince Dai keeps feigning illness?"
"Then Father might let the Wang family take matters into their own hands," Zhao Yao said, "Currently, besides Marquis Xuanping’s Mansion, only the Wang family has a chance of contending with Duke Zhen’s Mansion. Additionally, the Wang family has long coveted the Xie family’s position as the leading noble family."
"However, even if Prince Dai ceases feigning illness, Father is already inclined to push the Wang family to the forefront."
He Lianfang asked, "If it were you, what would you do?"
"Uncle, are you asking if I were Father, what would I do?"
He Lianfang nodded slightly, "Yes, if you were the Emperor, what would you do?"
This question was something Zhao Yao hadn’t pondered. Now, faced with it, he paused momentarily before saying, "I would let the noble families fight among themselves."
He Lianfang playfully asked, "How so?"