The Second Master of the Red Chamber

"enough!"

Looking down at Jia Lian and the Fourth Prince, who were both increasingly excited and earnest, Emperor Ningkang impatiently interrupted their remarks.

"Does it mean that I have wronged you by making you the crown princes?"
I have already said that you brothers should discuss and decide among yourselves which one should be the crown prince, and stop bothering me.

If you two cannot reach a conclusion, I do not necessarily need either of you.

I have another son, and I don't know how many other members of the imperial clan want to be my crown prince.

As soon as Emperor Ningkang finished speaking, the Hall of Mental Cultivation fell silent.

Jia Lian stopped speaking, and the Fourth Prince opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing more.

Princess Zhaoyang quickly stepped forward: "Father, please don't be angry. It is a virtue for the king and the fourth brother to be modest with each other."

Throughout history, countless brothers and close relatives have fought to the death for the position of crown prince.

The fact that the King and Ling'er are so loving and respectful to each other, even recommending one another, shows that Father's loving heart has been proven in them.

"In that case, Father should be pleased."

Upon hearing Princess Zhaoyang's words, Emperor Ningkang's expression immediately fell.

He first glared at the dim-witted fourth prince, then turned to Jia Lian and said, "The matter of the crown prince is not urgent. The most important thing right now is the funeral of your imperial grandfather."

I heard the Empress has entrusted you with the full responsibility of handling the Emperor Emeritus's funeral arrangements. You only returned to the capital yesterday; are you feeling well enough to manage?

Jia Lian quickly knelt and stepped forward, replying, "Please rest assured, Father, I am unharmed."

Emperor Ningkang nodded, seemed to think for a moment, and then asked, "If I remember correctly, the day of the funeral is approaching soon?"

"The date chosen by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau is the day after tomorrow."

"Hmm. I am not feeling well, so I will not accompany you this time, so as not to cause you any more trouble."

As the grandson of the retired emperor and my son, you will represent me by kowtowing more and offering more incense before the coffin. That will be considered fulfilling your filial duty on my behalf.

Emperor Ningkang's refusal to attend the funeral was expected by everyone.

Putting aside the fact that Emperor Ningkang was indeed ill for a long time, let's talk about his relationship with the retired emperor. From Emperor Ningkang's coup at Tiewang Mountain to seize power, to the retired emperor's instigation of the third prince to stage a palace coup.

The father and son were already at odds, and it's really hard to say whether they still had any fatherly affection left.

Only the fourth prince harbored some resentment after hearing Emperor Ningkang's words.

He thought to himself that, indeed, in some people's hearts, Jia Lian was the true relative.

Jia Lian is the Emperor's grandson and your son. Am I not the Emperor's grandson and your son?
Why didn't you ask me to kowtow a few more times for you?
I've seen through it all.

Suppressing the urge to complain, he watched as Emperor Ningkang finished speaking and gestured for everyone to leave.

He quickly got up, grabbed Jia Lian's arm, and whispered, "Come with me, I have something to tell you."

……

The Fourth Prince of Daming Palace is very familiar to me.

He pulled Jia Lian to a quiet side hall and shouted at the eunuchs who were about to come in to serve tea, "I don't need your service."

You all wait outside; don't let anyone near.

The eunuchs bowed and withdrew.

"Your Highness, please speak freely. I need to go to Chonghua Palace immediately to arrange the funeral."

The Fourth Prince pressed Jia Lian down into a chair: "There's no rush to arrange those things. I'll go with you later."

After saying this, the Fourth Prince's expression turned somewhat displeased: "Yesterday you called me 'Crown Prince,' which was fine."

I admit that I was willful before, misjudged him, and was deceived by that villain, almost harming your family and my elder sister.

It's understandable that you're disappointed and dissatisfied with me.

But after what just happened, I don't believe you can't see my sincerity in admitting my mistake.

"Aren't you being a little petty by acting so distant?"

Jia Lian reluctantly changed his words: "Fourth brother, please speak your mind."

The fourth prince then revealed a satisfied smile, leaned closer to Jia Lian, and said with a sly grin, "Brother, what you said in the Hall of Mental Cultivation just now, you weren't being sincere, were you?"

Jia Lian raised an eyebrow slightly: "What words are you referring to, Fourth Brother?"

"It means refusing to be the crown prince."

"Why do you say that, Fourth Brother?"

I have already made myself very clear to my father.

No matter what, you are still Father Emperor's biological son.

It is only right that you become the crown prince; how could it not be out of your true intentions?

Could it be that my fourth brother suspects me of having ulterior motives?

The fourth prince rolled his eyes: "Hey, that's no fun at all."

How long have we known each other?
Although I wouldn't call myself a particularly smart person, to be frank, there are very few people in this world who can catch my eye.

You are definitely one of them.

I truly consider you a brother, and I hope you will reciprocate by treating me as a brother, not just a prince with some use to you.

The fourth prince's tone was somewhat somber when he spoke the last sentence.

Jia Lian, sensing his meaning, reassured him, "You've misunderstood."

I have never regarded you as a prince I could use; to be frank, I never even considered you a prince before.

After all, Fourth Brother, your personality is really... unconventional.

If I had other intentions, I would have sided with the former crown prince or even Prince Yun back then.

Therefore, you don't need to doubt my good intentions.

In my heart, I have long considered you as a brother.

My bad attitude towards you yesterday was simply because I was worried after hearing about your elder sister's assassination attempt.

If you still care, I can apologize.

"Heh, forget about the apology. It doesn't sound sincere at all."

Unlike me, how sincere was my way of apologizing?

"The position of Crown Prince! So many people throughout history have coveted it but never attained it. I'm giving it to you without hesitation, not a word of pretense. Aren't you moved?"

Well, he can't be serious for more than three seconds; that's typical of him.

Jia Lian didn't want to talk and got up to leave.

The fourth prince quickly pressed down on him: "Alright, alright, I'm not joking anymore."

Back to the topic.

I truly intend to hand over the position of Crown Prince to you.

It's not for any other reason, but I genuinely feel that you are the most suitable person to sit in this position.

You, Father, and even my elder sister are all the same kind of people.

You are able to act solely according to your own will.

It's like when faced with an uncertain threat, you only think about how to eliminate it, instead of investigating the truth.

In other words, the truth is not important to people like you.

But I can't do it.

Although I was indeed deceived by Wei Yan's self-inflicted injury scheme before, after my elder sister reminded me and this happened again, I actually began to doubt him.

I just couldn't find out anything about him, so I couldn't bear to suspect him.

After all, when I saw him sleeping with his own excrement as a pillow in the stone house of the Imperial Clan Court, I really felt sorry for him.

As the saying goes, a dying man's words are often the best.

I am willing to believe that someone who has experienced such dramatic ups and downs can sincerely repent.

Of course, I don't deny that I did have a bit of a desire to deliberately go against my elder sister back then.

No one wants to live under someone else's wing forever, even if I know she really means well.

I wanted to prove that even someone as smart as her can make mistakes.

Even at my worst, I have my moments of righteousness.

"Deep down, I hope that if I gamble right this time, I can then refuse my elder sister and all your control with dignity in the future." Jia Lian listened quietly to the Fourth Prince's words.

He felt once again how sincere and pure-hearted this seemingly unreliable boy truly was.

Such sincerity is rare even among ordinary people, let alone those living in the treacherous imperial city.

"You know the final result without me telling you."

I lost my bet.

As the saying goes, you have to accept the consequences of your bet.

I really didn't want to be emperor, and I felt that I wasn't suited to be emperor.

This incident has only served to completely dispel my thoughts.

But you, my brother, are different.

Although you haven't shown it, I can sense that you have ambition and expectations for wielding power over the world.

And you are confident that you can do a great job.

I think so too.

From the moment I first met you, I felt that you were a very different person.

Well, they're somewhat freakish.

Since I am indeed not suited to be an emperor.

So, instead of waiting for you to take my place later, whether by your own initiative or by being forced by others, I'd rather give it to you now.

I really want to see what this world will become if it falls into the hands of a monster like you.

I'm really looking forward to it.

Jia Lian fell silent.

He could sense that the Fourth Prince was being completely open with him.

He sighed and asked, "Since you think I'll take your throne sooner or later, haven't you ever thought about getting rid of me?"

"To get rid of you, like the Third Prince did to the First Prince?"
I don't want to end up like Wei Yan.

And whether you think I'm stupid or just pretending to be high-minded or not.

I could never be like him, someone who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

What's the difference between him, a man devoid of humanity, and an animal?

The fourth prince's words were resounding and authoritative.

Jia Lian stared straight at him, and when he saw him looking over, he calmly said, "Well said."

That's why I chose you instead of Prince Yun.

If you're worried that I'll take your place in the future, you don't need to worry.

I promise that as long as you, my fourth brother, maintain your original aspirations, I will be loyal to you for life.

I will assist you as I would my father, helping you to create a prosperous and peaceful era!

The fourth prince frowned, glaring at Jia Lian with displeasure.

"I've made myself so clear, how come you still don't understand?"

I can understand why you said those things in front of Father.

But now it's just the two of us here, and if you continue like this, it's not appropriate, is it?
Excessive modesty is simply hypocrisy!

As the fourth prince spoke, he said dejectedly, "On the other hand, it is precisely because of your meticulous and shrewd nature that you are suitable for that position, because no one can tempt you to make a mistake."

Well, I've listened to some of the lessons taught by the masters.

I understand the Zhou Dynasty's three concessions.

Since you want to go all the way, I'll grant your wish.

So this is the first time I've given way.

As for the second and third concessions, I will find a suitable time to cooperate with you and show them to the world.

But we agreed that after three times, you can't do it again. You know I've never had much patience.

Jia Lian said, "Fourth brother is overthinking it."

The fourth prince rolled his eyes at Jia Lian, then happily moved a chair next to Jia Lian and complained, "I really don't know what's so good about being an emperor."

Having been the crown prince for more than half a year, I can sum it up in one sentence: it's really... stumbling and staggering, something no human being can do.

For the past six months, I haven't had a single day of comfort!
I've had enough.

"Life as a prince is so comfortable. I don't have to deal with all the trivial matters of the court, nor do I have to endure the lectures of my father and tutors. I can go wherever I want—how carefree!"

"My fourth brother's pure heart is truly rare."

The fourth prince sensed Jia Lian's perfunctory attitude and lost interest in nagging. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Actually, my willingness to relinquish the position of crown prince is not without any ulterior motives."

"I have one more thing I'd like to ask of you."

Seeing Jia Lian looking at him with surprise, the Fourth Prince said awkwardly, "I didn't understand my elder sister before, why she would rather suffer herself than not follow you wholeheartedly."

It wasn't until that time, after I caught a glimpse of Yingchun at your house, that I seemed to understand a little.

I don't know what love is, but ever since that time, I've been unable to forget Yingchun. My mind is filled with the tenderness in her eyes when she turned around...

Seeing Jia Lian's unfriendly gaze, the Fourth Prince subconsciously moved his chair away, then moved closer again:
"Really, I didn't favor you."

If you grant my request to marry Yingchun, not only will the position of Crown Prince be yours, but I will also promise to treat my elder sister the same way you treated me.

No, she's even better to me than you are to my elder sister!
"If I treat her badly in the future, what if you whip me?"

The fourth prince appeared cheerful on the surface, but was actually terrified inside.

Because he saw that the murderous aura in Jia Lian's eyes was almost the same as when he beheaded Wei Yan yesterday morning.

If Jia Lian really wanted to attack him, he wouldn't be able to beat him.

In the end, Jia Lian did not make a move; he simply stood up and looked out of the hall.

"First, the position of Crown Prince is yours; don't say I don't covet it."

Even if I did have it, I wouldn't trade my own sister for it.

Secondly, there were reasons for what happened between me and your elder sister.

I won't go into the twists and turns, you're probably already aware of most of it.

But you, Wei Ling!

You know perfectly well that Yingchun is your cousin, yet you still harbor inappropriate thoughts about her and repeatedly mention her to me.

"You really think that just because you're the crown prince now, I won't dare to hit you?"

Seeing Jia Lian turn around and glare at him menacingly, the Fourth Prince shrank back.

But he also knew that this was his only chance, so he boldly retorted: "What's the difference?"

When I met Yingchun, my grandfather hadn't yet revealed your background, and I didn't know her identity either.
You are allowed to keep things secret from my elder sister, and maintain a lingering connection.

But in my eyes, it becomes a heinous crime?
I disagree.

This is called "allowing officials to set fires while forbidding commoners to light lamps!"

Say it again.

Seeing Jia Lian turn around and walk towards him, the Fourth Prince was so frightened that he backed away.

Without realizing it, the chair was knocked over, and it fell to the ground along with the nanmu armchair.

The loud noise attracted the attention of people outside the hall.

Aqi, Aqin, and Princess Zhaoyang all appeared at the door.

Seeing this, Princess Zhaoyang quickly came in to help the Fourth Prince and scolded Jia Lian: "Ling'er is now the Crown Prince. Even if he does something wrong, you can't lay a hand on him."

"He clearly fell on his own, why are you blaming me?"

"Nonsense, how could a grown man fall by himself? Brother Wang has also learned to lie."

With Princess Zhaoyang's interference, Jia Lian's accumulated momentum vanished completely.

He snorted coldly and sat back down, his murderous gaze still fixed on the Fourth Prince. (End of Chapter)