Chapter Seven: Incognito Visit and the Relinquishment of Military Power
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Emperor Jing sat at his desk with the old prince seated just below him. After a moment of hesitation, the old prince spoke directly.
“May I ask, Your Majesty, what brings you here at this late hour?”
Emperor Jing did not conceal anything. He got straight to the point, laying out his purpose frankly.
“I have come today regarding the marriage between Princess Zhaohe and Zhao Ang. What he did today should be clear to you — being dominated and constantly tormented by a courtesan from the pleasure quarters. Such behavior is utterly absurd!”
“You also know my daughter’s temper. When she heard that I intended to marry her to Zhao Ang, she wept bitterly before me and even threatened to die rather than marry your grandson!”
The old prince felt helpless upon hearing this. He truly did not know how to respond.
While he was struggling to find a way to defend Zhao Ang and persuade Princess Zhaohe, Emperor Jing took the initiative and proposed a solution on his behalf.
“My minister, you need not worry so much. Since ancient times, the marriage of children has been the decision of parents and arranged by matchmakers. I am not only the princess’s father but also the Son of Heaven of Daqian. Naturally, I have the right to decide the princess’s marriage. However...”
Emperor Jing left the sentence unfinished. The old prince understood this was an opening meant for him to elaborate.
“But what? This concerns my grandson’s lifelong happiness. As long as Your Majesty commands it, I will spare no effort to ensure he marries the princess!”
The old prince was tactful, but Emperor Jing did not follow up on that line. Instead, his expression grew wistful, as if recalling the past.
“When I was still the crown prince, I often heard my father praise you, calling you the Martial Star descended from the heavens to protect our Daqian realm.”
“He said that without you guarding our borders and fighting bloodily, Daqian would have long since fallen beneath the iron hooves of foreign cavalry!”
“Not to mention, just a few days ago, you shattered the Turkic forces, fulfilling your promise to me and guarding the northern frontier, thus achieving great merit to save the north!”
“I have witnessed all these deeds. You have saved Daqian without ever asking anything from me.”
“Yesterday’s matter is the only request you have ever made. Even if Princess Zhaohe refuses, I will personally bind her to your mansion to ensure she marries Zhao Ang and becomes your granddaughter-in-law!”
Tears welled in Emperor Jing’s eyes as he spoke. The old prince’s heart sank; such a sudden praise of his achievements could only mean trouble. Both men were cunning as millennia-old foxes; each knew the other well.
Yet outwardly, the old prince wore a different expression. He roughly wiped away the tears at the corner of his eyes with his sleeve, his tone full of emotion.
“An old servant only fulfills his duties. Your Majesty is too kind to honor me so, even willing to marry your beloved princess to my undisciplined grandson. I am foreverI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.