Chapter 524: The Emergence of The Child Who Flummoxed The World
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Bao"er"s emergence caused shockwaves through the Empire of Yutang.
In fact, the tears that fell from His Majesty"s eyes when he heard the news as well as his unadulterated loving expression that afternoon, had said that much about the child"s background and his status in the emperor"s heart.
It was compa.s.sion, the height of which no one else could reach!
Everyone in the vicinity was greatly perturbed by it. The reality that transpired on the morning of the second day had only confirmed their thoughts.
His Majesty had taken Bao"er to the morning a.s.sembly for the first time, holding the child"s hand and announcing to his officials with a rosy glow, "This is my eldest grandson. The eldest prince, Yu Wuxia"s son, Yu Qiankun. His nickname is Bao"er."
Boom!
It was like a bomb had exploded right in the middle of the imperial court.
Despite all their speculations, the court of officials was still left flabbergasted. After all, the news had come as a sudden shock to all of them. It had overwhelmed the entire Yutang dynasty!
All the color drained from His Highness, the crown prince"s face, on the spot. He was frozen.
"Father!" He cried out in an anguished voice, frightening the civil and military officials nearby from the sheer volume of his cry. The crown prince himself would never have dreamed that one day he would have spoken so loudly to his father. "The matters about being an heir to the older brother is tied to the royal bloodline, please be careful, father! Please watch your words, father!"
The crown prince was trembling, a flash of panic crossed his face as he spoke. He was very well aware of what the current appearance of his eldest brother"s orphaned child, Yu Qiankun, meant for him. It meant that the throne that was so close within his grasp would now be completely out of reach!
Moreover, since Yu Qiankun had appeared, he might already have taken the crown prince"s qualification to succeed the throne in their father"s mind!
It was an absolute catastrophe!
When the four countries had attacked Yutang in a siege, Yutang faced the threat of being subjugated alongside its people. The whole nation was resolute and united to defend against the external crisis. However, as the warfare worsened when Dongxuan"s Han Sanhe invaded and even breached the east line"s Resilience Fortress, the crown prince had secretly gathered his aides to plan ceding territories in exchange for reconciliation.
As long as Yutang was not subjugated and he could still ascend to the throne, it would have been fine even if vast territories had to be relinquished.
However, as the Nine Supremes reappeared and overturned the warfare with a severe blow to Dongxuan, killing Han Sanhe in the process, the four-nation siege was broken off. Yutang"s external crisis was over. His Highness the crown prince was overjoyed. After this war, all four countries were greatly damaged and would need at least eight to ten years of recuperation. Yutang"s greatest enemy, Dongxuan, would need at least two to three decades before they could sufficiently recover.
Such a situation was exactly what the crown prince was looking forward to! He understood himself very well and could accurately gauge his own capability. Although he would be incapable to expand the land and make new conquests, he could still have managed it if he were conservative and took the safe route.
It was exactly what was needed right now too. Not only had the four countries suffered great losses, Yutang was also seriously damaged. They needed a prudent ruler, exactly like himself!
Now, everything was within his grasp and only the act of being enthroned was left. But another wave had come cras.h.i.+ng down on his shoulders and it was an incredible one indeed, enough to drown him and crush him entirely.
"Be careful… Watch my words…" The Emperor chuckled coldly and replied in an indifferent voice, "About it relating to the royal bloodline, of course, I will be careful and watch my words cautiously. But my dear crown prince, did you mean to refer to the throne or the royal bloodline?"
His Majesty"s words were cut sharply, like a marksman hitting a bullseye without mercy.
The crown prince continued to tremble, "The royal bloodline is not a petty subject nor does it allow any room for doubt!" he blurted out without thinking.
He couldn"t help himself, His Highness could only think of denying the child"s ident.i.ty in order to fuel his argument.
The emperor was enraged once he heard him, slapping his palm on the armrest. "So it"s a petty subject that I want to reunite with my grandson? My biological grandchild, the eldest royal grandson! Is this a petty subject? Do you think I would joke about it?!"
His icy gaze scanned the crown prince"s face before it slowly moved onto the officials. His Majesty"s voice was chilling. "I wonder if any other official thinks I"m joking about this matter too?"
The emperor was unspeakably furious, his anger threatening to explode. His oppressive aura suffocated the court of civil and military officials.
In spite of this, everyone knew how important the topic was. It was about the throne! It was extremely significant! One of utmost importance!
This matter was relevant to one"s stance. The officials who were close to the crown prince had to speak up despite knowing that giving advice at this moment would only serve to anger the emperor even more. After all, when the event was set in stone, the crown prince would lose his place. Not only would their previous service and investment be wasted, the forthcoming consequences would be ugly.
"His Highness is being reasonable. We ask Your Majesty to be cautious. The royal bloodline must not be taken lightly!"
There were a total of twenty to thirty officials who kneeled down. An old official whose hair and beard was all white stood shakily and spoke through his tears, "Your Majesty, please calm down. Matters are to be explained clearly – just like His Highness has said, this can"t be taken lightly as the genuineness of the royal bloodline is relevant to the ultimate throne. This child," he coughed, "this official has indeed never heard about His Highness the crown prince leaving a bloodline behind. Now that a child has popped up so suddenly, this old official thinks that Your Majesty should be more prudent."
Before his words could echo around the room, the old official had kneeled quickly on the floor. "Your Majesty, this is relevant to Yutang as a country, Your Majesty must be sagacious in this matter."
As the old official kneeled, some forty to fifty officials stood out and followed suit. "Your Majesty, the country, and its sovereignty are bounded to this matter, please be judge wisely!"
His Majesty"s gaze became sharp like a hawk; watching the officials who kneeled down, his eyes were icy. "Officials who have stepped out, do you all think that it is very inappropriate for me to do this?"
Those who had stepped out were experienced officials, easily discerning the iciness and underlying threat lacing His Majesty"s tone. Everyone shuddered inwardly as they knew that once they answered, they would be thoroughly offending the emperor.
However, they could no longer back down now. Besides, the law could not be enforced when everyone was an offender – there were near to seventy or eighty officials who stepped forward to advise. Even if the emperor was enraged, he could not actually demote all these officials especially when the state had just gotten its peace!
"Your Majesty, please think twice!" Everyone said in unison, their voices chorused loudly.
"Good, good, great!" His Majesty cried, the words sounding harsher one after another. He said coldly, "You"re all my great officials! My great crown prince! You all think only about the country and nothing else! How patriotic and loyal, not mincing your words in advising – truly great indeed!"
Plenty of officials were fl.u.s.tered when they heard the emperor"s words.
"What do all of you think then?" His Majesty cast his gaze over to the officials who did not speak and said faintly, "Why aren"t you speaking? Do you all also think that what I have done is less than appropriate?"
The President of the Board of Punishment, Wu Lie, stepped out, saying, "This official has no opinion about Your Majesty"s action. What Your Majesty mentioned is indeed a royal matter but to Your Majesty, it"s a family matter. It"s just a reunion of a grandfather and his grandson and spending quality family time; on this point, this official thinks that there"s nothing more to be said. In addition to that, this official doesn"t feel strongly regarding Your Majesty"s reunion with this child. Even if Your Majesty doesn"t acknowledge this child, this official would remain indifferent."
His Majesty"s eyes shone with satisfaction upon hearing these words.
However, this stoic official did not think he said enough yet as he continued speaking, "This official, is only a mere official. This official is only concerned about completing this his tasks and fulfilling his a.s.signed responsibilities; why should I worry about other matters? Speaking of which, this official wants to ask the other sirs, why are all of you so interested in His Majesty"s family matters? Claiming that it is so critical to the country and that such cautions judgment is needed regarding the royal bloodline – pardon this official"s ignorance, but this official cannot understand the thoughts of these sirs. Is it really so serious?!"