Chapter 436: Father and Son Affection (Part 1)
The Emperor’s eyes dimmed, looking at the Crown Prince with a heart full of pain: "Back then, I clearly knew Mei Fei had faults, but wasn’t she ultimately being manipulated? Do you really think I was unaware of those schemes in the harem? I knew all this, so why did I still imprison Mei Fei and her son as you all wished? It was because I knew Mei Fei is an ambitious person! As long as she has the chance, she will compete with you all! So I went along with your wishes and locked her away for so many years, neglecting the fourth one, leaving him in the Cold Palace for so long! When it comes to guilt, who do I feel the most guilty towards? Huh?"
"I’ve questioned my conscience, and even if I’ve wronged anyone over the years, it couldn’t possibly be you! In order to stabilize your position as Crown Prince, when have I ever given other Princes the opportunity to associate with the influential ministers of the court? And you? The great scholars personally taught you, the Crown Princess Consort and concubine I chose for you, which one of them wasn’t from a powerful family that could benefit you! I’ve been painstakingly considerate for all these years, what did it bring me in return?" The Emperor spoke with a hint of agitation, his body trembling slightly.
The Crown Prince knelt on the ground, his body stiff, staring at the Emperor, unable to utter a single word.
Did he want to rebel? Had he ever wanted to walk this path?
The Crown Prince took a deep breath, then looked up at the Emperor: "Father, you have indeed been considerate towards your son, never having wronged me in the slightest. But Father, have you ever considered things from my standpoint? I am the rightful Crown Prince, but when have Aunt and the Imperial Uncle ever given me the dignity due to a Crown Prince? The Imperial Uncle, with his exceptional martial arts and abundant wealth, treats the fourth brother as his own son, yet he’s never given me a smile. With such a formidable opponent, have you ever thought about how much pressure I am under? As if my position as Crown Prince could be taken away by him at any time. Isn’t everything now the perfect proof of that?"
"No matter how much effort and planning I have put in over the years, what do they count for? The Imperial Uncle and Aunt join forces, and in just a few days they crush all my years of hard work? It is not only Prince An who doesn’t understand, even I don’t understand, how can you, your aunt, a mere woman, be entrusted to such an extent that she can meddle in the court affairs? Even if I believe the fourth brother has no ambition to seize the throne, as long as the Imperial Uncle and Aunt make a move, everything will be handed over to the fourth brother without him needing to fight, because his support is far stronger than mine!"
"To say that I lack magnanimity, am I supposed to just watch such a powerful opponent live under my nose every day? Then what am I? Even if I become Emperor, if one day I unwittingly displease Aunt and the Imperial Uncle, will they just casually overthrow me if they join hands? The military power of the fourth brother, the finances of the Imperial Uncle, the connections of Aunt, which of these, which person, can let me sleep peacefully? I truly don’t understand, Father, what are you thinking, you say everything is for me, but don’t you know how capable they are? You even agreed to let Han Jing marry the Imperial Uncle, isn’t this clearly a threat to me? Father, do you all take me for a fool?"
"Father may think I’m being rebellious, but think about it, without the interference of the Imperial Uncle and Aunt this time, could the fourth brother have won?"