"Of course, your subject will not disobey the imperial decree..."
The Emperor's expression softened slightly.
"But Linlin is destined to be the Purple Star, not everyone has the fortune to be worthy of him!" Prince of Jin exuded domineering arrogance.
First, I don't say I want to be emperor, but my son must be emperor.
Secondly, you can marry as you please; if the other person doesn't survive, it's just bad luck.
The emperor was so angry that he threw down his teacup and trembled with rage.
The Prince of Jin reached out and took it, his expression remaining calm.
He said, "Father, please prioritize your health and don't let these trivial matters affect your mood."
"You've gone too far!"
"No, Father, your words will always stand," said the Prince of Prince of Jin. "As long as you are alive, the throne can only belong to you. I will do everything in my power to protect you! After all—"
Something seemed to flash quickly across his eyes, "Father was once the most brilliant and ambitious monarch in my heart, unparalleled before and after him."
But that was then.
The emperor stared at him intently, a brief moment of emotion flickering in his cloudy eyes.
He felt he was getting old, and sometimes he couldn't tell which words were true and which were false.
"Father," said Prince of Jin, "I don't understand. What exactly is it that you dislike about Linlin? As for his literary and military talents, you are welcome to test him if you wish. Is there any child in the Yuwen Family who is more exceptionally talented than him?"
Why must we use imperial tactics to test, or rather, to disgust, a child who was originally so wonderful?
Linlin is only eleven years old.
He will meet a woman he loves in the future, and they can have a long and loving relationship. Why force him into marriage? Before he even understands what love is, you've already cut off his better possibilities.
The Prince of Jin did not understand.
But as a father, he will always give his son the best.
"Because the person you love happens to be the daughter of one of my most trusted ministers. But he may not be as lucky as you." The Emperor leaned back in his chair, a look of dejection on his face. "Qi'er, my days are numbered. I only wish to make better arrangements within the limited time I have left."
The Prince of Jin remained expressionless, clearly unmoved.
"As a ruler, one should not indulge in personal feelings. If that woman is destined to bring disaster to the country and its people, she will destroy my kingdom and the nation."
Feelings? The emperor didn't need them.
What he needs is admiration, absolute worship and obedience before him.
The emperor's harem was used to win over various factions.
He was no exception, and neither was Linlin.
--Only the Prince of Jin is beyond the Emperor's influence.
Of course, if it weren't for Tang Mingfan, he wouldn't have been able to tolerate Tang Zhuyun's absolute influence over the Prince of Jin.
Prince of Jin said, "Father, I cannot agree with what you say. Linlin has grown up with us since he was a child, and everyone praises him for his manners. He is wise from a young age and mature and prudent... He is not so bad as to not be able to choose a kind Zidu."
Linlin doesn't lack love, and she knows how to love.
"Listening to the incompetent rulers of the past dynasties," the Prince of Jin said calmly, "They were obsessed with women, trusted eunuchs, and even had affairs with their wet nurses... Not one of them was ever properly raised by their parents."
Unconditional love from parents may raise mediocre children, but it will not raise muddle-headed and twisted ones!
"If one's children are mediocre, it simply means laying a solid foundation so they can maintain the dynasty. The rest can be left to the next generation..."
"What if the next generation is mediocre?" The Emperor's gaze was intense, pressing him relentlessly.
"Father, as long as I live, I will be responsible for the ancestral land; after my death, I fear I will be powerless to do so."
He almost said, "You're going to live for a thousand generations, how can you possibly care about all that?"
All he knew was that if even his Zidu was unhappy, he probably wouldn't even get to see his Zidu.
Linlin outwardly gentle but inwardly strong; she appears mild-mannered, but in reality, her inner strength is very much like her mother's.
It was nearly evening when the Prince of Jin left the palace, and the wind blew yellow leaves all over the ground.
Stepping on the fallen leaves, listening to the sound of the veins breaking, Prince of Jin glanced back at the imperial city in the twilight.
The bell tolled, its echo lingering long afterward.
The era that belonged to the Emperor was like the setting sun over the western mountains.
The Prince of Jin felt a deep sadness and slowly stepped out.
That evening, Linlin was reading when she heard the Prince of Prince of Jin's footsteps.
The door was opened, and a large, pure black cat rushed in first, followed by the appearance of Prince of Jin.
Linlin put down her book, stood up, and bowed.
The "big cat" had already run up to him and was rubbing its face against his leg affectionately.
This is a black leopard, a birthday gift from Yanran to Prince of Jin, named Black Flower. However, Black Flower is still small, only slightly larger than a cat, and many people mistake it for a cat.
Linlin bent down and hugged the Black Flower to her chest, smiling as she said, "Father."
The Prince of Jin looked at the open book on the table and said, "Still reading?"
"Hmm, nothing much to do."
"The autumn imperial examinations are in a few days; why don't you give it a try?" said the Prince of Jin.
He felt a childish, almost resentful emotion, a sense of injustice—why did the Emperor think Linlin still needed to be tested?
At Linlin a young age, who could do better than him?
This child's diligence, self-discipline, humility, and thoughtfulness... the Prince of Jin had never seen anyone better.
Linlin was somewhat surprised. "Father, why?"
He had agreed with the Prince of Jin before he decided not to participate.
The Prince of Jin told him about the Emperor's intention to bestow a marriage upon him, saying, "Prove to your imperial grandfather that you don't need his interference."
Although he had already refused, he became increasingly angry the more he thought about it after returning home.
Linlin chuckled softly, her voice hoarse.
"Father, it's merely an imperial decree."
That's all?
The Prince of Jin suddenly lost his composure.
He reacted so strongly, but everything was Linlin and peaceful with Linlin?
"Father, I am a man."
As Linlin spoke, she held the black panther in her arms, gently stroking its head with a slow and tender gesture. Her eyes held a composure beyond her years, even... a sense of ease.
It's a kind of composure that comes after weathering countless storms, a calm acceptance that shouldn't exist at this age.
In this world, women are ultimately weaker.
Therefore, whoever is betrothed to him, the initiative is in his hands.
He held a woman's fate in his hands, not the other way around.
"What if she doesn't love you, or even hates you, and wants to harm you..."
"Father, it's not that I can only have her."
When the Prince of Jin returned, his head was still spinning.
He didn't dare tell Tang Zhuyun.
Tang Zhuyun must think that she has raised this son badly.
How could he possibly want to have three wives and four concubines?
But in fact, what Linlin said was that even if he was betrothed, he would still have choices in the future, and he was not destined to be unhappy because of this one woman.
It didn't say anything about starting a harem...
Yes, that's how the Prince of Jin comforted himself.
Linlin also made it clear that he would not participate, because if he did, it would mean one less person would pass the imperial examination, and there was no need to compete with those students who had studied hard for many years.
In their conversation, they had already regarded passing the imperial examination as something easily attainable and had no interest in it.
"Oh well, "Prince of Jin thought to himself, "Thankfully, I made it clear to the Emperor that I couldn't bestow a marriage upon Linlin."
Okay, that's the end of this matter.
However...