Read Novel Full Chapter 760 - 371: Whetstone
Chapter 760: Chapter 371: Whetstone
In the Prince Dai Mansion, Prince Dai paced back and forth in the study, muttering curses under his breath.
Marquis Xuanping got dizzy watching Prince Dai and quickly asked him to stop.
Prince Dai halted, his face clouded with gloom, and said, "Uncle, what do you think Father is thinking? All the ministers are begging him to depose Zhao Xuan, yet Father hasn’t agreed. Doesn’t Father want to depose the Crown Prince?" He just knew Father was biased. Zhao Xuan committed such a big crime, yet Father couldn’t bring himself to depose him.
"Your Highness, the Emperor was right not to depose the Crown Prince today."
"What?" Prince Dai looked at Marquis Xuanping in disbelief, "Uncle, have you lost your mind?"
Marquis Xuanping raised his hand, motioning for Prince Dai to sit down. Prince Dai sat down with an expression full of impatience.
"Your Highness, the reason the Emperor didn’t immediately agree to depose the Crown Prince today, was merely to put on a show."
"Put on a show?" Prince Dai was baffled, "What do you mean? Why would Father need to put on a pretense?"
Marquis Xuanping enlightened Prince Dai: "The Crown Prince is, after all, the heir. He cannot be deposed lightly."
"Zhao Xuan is almost about to raise an army and rebel, yet he can’t be deposed immediately?" Prince Dai was still confused, "I don’t understand what there’s to pretend about."
"My dear prince, if the Emperor deposed the Crown Prince today, it would be troublesome."
The more Prince Dai listened, the more confused he became: "Uncle, what nonsense are you spouting? Zhao Xuan committed such a grave offense, how would deposing him be troublesome?" As soon as he finished speaking, he thought of the possibility that Zhao Xuan might rebel, and with shock, he said, "Father is afraid Zhao Xuan will raise an army and revolt?" Impossible, how could the Emperor be afraid of Zhao Xuan and them raising an army to rebel.
"That’s not it. The reason the Emperor didn’t immediately agree to depose the Crown Prince is first because the Crown Prince is the heir he personally appointed, and secondly because the Crown Prince is the son of the late Empress."
Prince Dai still didn’t understand, sneering, "These two things are known by everyone under heaven. What’s wrong with that?"
Seeing Prince Dai still didn’t grasp it, Marquis Xuanping patiently explained, "If the Emperor immediately agreed to depose the Crown Prince, it would make him seem indifferent to the father-son relationship. Moreover, the Crown Prince is the heir of Great Zhou, and the heir is the foundation of the state, which cannot be easily shaken."
Prince Dai was still in a fog: "Uncle, what are you really trying to say?"
Seeing that he had explained for a long time and Prince Dai still didn’t get it, Marquis Xuanping was too lazy to explain further and directly said, "The Emperor not agreeing today doesn’t mean he won’t agree tomorrow. Even if he doesn’t agree tomorrow, he will certainly agree the day after tomorrow."
Prince Dai was thoroughly confused: "What do you mean?"
"In the coming days, the ministers will petition the Emperor daily to deal with the Crown Prince according to the law. Finally, the Emperor, unable to endure it any longer, will reluctantly depose the Crown Prince." Marquis Xuanping said this and looked at Prince Dai, "Your Highness, do you understand now?"
Hearing this, Prince Dai finally understood. With a look of realization, he said, "Oh~~~ Father wants the ministers to plead with him until he has no choice but to agree to depose Zhao Xuan."
Marquis Xuanping nodded slightly: "Precisely."
"Is it necessary to make things so complicated?" Prince Dai understood, but he still couldn’t comprehend the Emperor’s actions, "Zhao Xuan committed such a grave crime, shouldn’t Father have deposed him? Why does he need the ministers to beg him before he agrees?"
"Because the Emperor is still the Crown Prince’s father. If he immediately agreed to depose the Crown Prince, he would seem like an unfeeling father." Marquis Xuanping stroked his beard, his tone full of depth, "Moreover, the Emperor pretending to be indecisive indicates his deep disappointment in the Crown Prince’s actions, while also blaming himself because he, as the father, didn’t teach the Crown Prince well, leading to the Crown Prince’s grave mistake."
Prince Dai finally fully understood. He sharply complained, "Father is not afraid of trouble."
Marquis Xuanping laughed, "Even the Emperor must put on a show."
"In the end, Father is still biased toward Zhao Xuan, or else he wouldn’t make things so complicated." Prince Dai snorted coldly, "In the past, when the third prince committed a crime, Father didn’t pretend at all. He deposed the third prince immediately and even dealt with the third prince’s maternal family."
"The third prince cannot be compared with the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince, after all, is the heir of a nation." Marquis Xuanping said, "Since ancient times, a Crown Prince is not so easily deposed. Even if the Emperor is full of discontent towards the Crown Prince, he cannot depose him wilfully."
Prince Dai dismissed it lightly: "Such fussing about nothing." Deposing a Crown Prince makes things so convoluted.
"Your Highness, in the future you will also put on a show for the sake of reputation."
"I won’t do such troublesome things." Prince Dai still felt in his heart that the Emperor was biased towards the Crown Prince, "Uncle, are you sure that after a few days of the ministers pleading with Father, he will depose Zhao Xuan?"