The prince is more stable

Chapter 831 The Discussion of the Virtuous and Wise Son
Dusk, the Chu King's Palace.

The turmoil that had lasted for many days finally subsided, but the guards inside and outside the Prince's Mansion remained vigilant. The Yan-Yun Border Army was stationed everywhere to protect this mansion, which was more like a power center than the imperial palace.

Inside the Yin'an Hall, the father and son sat under the bright candlelight, drinking and chatting.

Having weathered all the trials and tribulations, and with the great task accomplished, the wine tastes especially delicious now, infused with a hint of "success."

Zhao Hao took a small sip, chuckled, and picked up his chopsticks to dig into the braised pork on the table.

With a snap, Zhao Hao's chopsticks were slapped away by his dutiful son, and Zhao Xiaoqian picked up the piece of braised pork, put it in his own mouth, and remained calm and composed.

Zhao Hao was taken aback, threw down his chopsticks, and said angrily, "You unfilial son!...I'm not eating!"

“Perfect timing, Father, skip a meal to lose weight, and I reckon you’ll lose two ounces tomorrow…” Zhao Xiaoqian had no intention of flattering him at all.

Zhao Hao patted his round belly, then looked at the meat dishes on the table, a look of sadness on his face.

"A man in his forties was brutally abused by his own son. I fear I won't survive this summer..."

Zhao Xiaoqian said calmly, "Say what you want, do what you want. If you want to live a few more years, you have to control your diet. You can go outside and bang drums and gongs saying I'm abusing you. So what? You'll just be labeled an 'unfilial son.' With my thick skin, would I care about that?"

Zhao Hao was speechless.

If a person cannot be bound by morality, that person is basically invincible.

Obediently, Zhao Hao picked up his chopsticks, moved the plate of raw vegetables mixed with sesame oil in front of him, and began to eat grass like an ox or a horse.

"It's not that bad, at least it has some sesame oil flavor," Zhao Hao muttered under his breath.

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled. His living father in this life might live a few more years than he did in real history. Although Zhao Xiaoqian was always eyeing his living father's inheritance, he could endure it for a few more years. Anyway, when he wanted to spend it, no one in the Prince's Mansion would dare to say no.

After eating half a bowl of lettuce, Zhao Hao smacked his lips, feeling an urge to go grind grain after he was full, but fortunately, reason stopped him in time.

"I am a prince, I am a prince, I am not livestock, I am not livestock... Remember, don't do work that isn't my responsibility!" Zhao Hao silently gave himself psychological guidance, trying to get his life back on track.

The father and son raised their glasses, clinked them together briefly, smiled at each other, and drank them down.

"Is this a victory celebration?" Zhao Hao asked.

Zhao Xiaoqian laughed and said, "It doesn't count. It's just a casual drink between father and son. The journey of a hundred miles is only half complete at ninety. It's not time to celebrate yet."

Zhao Hao nodded: "Then we'll drink after you put on your imperial robes and ascend the throne amidst the congratulations of all the officials."

Zhao Xiaoqian was somewhat disheartened: "Father can be the emperor. I just want to do my job well and not be hindered by the people and things inside the company."

"What I want to do is unify China and subdue the world. I have little interest in an emperor who is a separatist regime, almost like a warlord."

Zhao Hao said seriously, "No, you must become emperor. We've already laid the groundwork for this. If you say you're not interested now, what will those who follow and support you think? They risked their lives to do this great thing for you, all for their own future and wealth."

"Believe it or not, if you just tell the public that you don't want to be emperor, the Yan Yun border army will immediately mutini. All your generals are unruly and only you can control them. If you don't become emperor, they will dig up the tombs of all the emperors of the Song Dynasty."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled wryly: "This is what they mean by 'when you're in the game, you're not in control of your own destiny.' You may not want to do it, but people and things will push you to do it, and you can't refuse."

Zhao Hao glared at him and said, "The supreme position that others dream of is discarded like trash by you. Don't you think you're being pretentious?"

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed and said, "Alright, being emperor is fine, but after I ascend the throne, I will inevitably have to lead troops on expeditions year after year. My goal is to destroy Liaoxia, not to enjoy life in Bianjing. Father, can you understand?"

"Once you become emperor, you can do whatever you want, and who would dare to say a word against it? Qian'er, if you don't want to be held back by internal people and affairs, the best solution is to completely control the court. The only person in this world who can completely control the court is the emperor."

"Your life's ambition or mission must be built on this foundation in order to fulfill your life's aspirations."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "Alright, we fought for this position back then because our whole family wanted to survive. Now that we can survive, I'll treat being emperor as my job from now on. I won't care about status or power. Doing my job well is enough."

Zhao Hao nodded: "If you can think like this, you will definitely not be a foolish ruler in this life. No emperor throughout history has ever had such a mindset."

After a pause, Zhao Hao continued, "Starting tomorrow, public opinion will rise in the court and among the people, and the call to appoint the virtuous over the eldest son will grow louder and louder. When the momentum reaches a certain level, it will be only natural for you to be recommended by the court officials as the new emperor."

Zhao Xiaoqian asked in surprise, "When did Father make this?"

Zhao Hao sneered: "These past two days, all I've seen is you being all high and mighty, commanding thousands of troops. Do you think I've been busy running for my life and having an affair with the Empress Dowager, and haven't done anything else?"

Zhao Xiaoqian raised his cup: "Father is wise and shrewd." Zhao Hao took a sip and said, "As for the late emperor's two brothers..."

Zhao Hao sneered, "I've had people watching them day and night. Ha! Two brats under sixteen. If they dare to have any improper thoughts, their lives are over."

"Father, these two cannot die, otherwise their behavior will be too unseemly and will be detrimental to our future," Zhao Xiaoqian said solemnly.

Zhao Hao laughed: "They don't need to die; they'll kneel down on their own."

…………

As expected, public opinion spread throughout the streets and alleys of Bianjing.

Public opinion was quite blunt: most of the late emperor's brothers were mediocre, and some were even vicious. If a new emperor were chosen according to ancestral rules, the Song Dynasty would be in danger.

It is better to appoint the virtuous emperor than the eldest son of the legitimate wife. This is a simple and easy-to-understand principle. Let a wise and virtuous person be the emperor. He should be benevolent and have a long-term vision. Such a person will not treat the people too badly in the end.

The imperial court has been implementing new policies and old laws repeatedly over the past few decades, and it's time to clean things up. Otherwise, in the end, it will be the common people who suffer.

If a mediocre person becomes emperor, it is impossible to change the status quo. Only a wise ruler can break the current situation and allow the people of the world to breathe and break free from the constant back-and-forth between new policies and old laws.

The reasoning was very simple, and it concerned the future fate of every citizen and family in the Song Dynasty.

Those who spread these rumors and words clearly put thought into it, clearly explaining the advantages and disadvantages of the eldest son versus the wise and virtuous, and stating that it was closely related to the fate of every common person, so that no one could remain uninvolved.

Within days, the calls for Li Xian among the common people grew louder and louder.

When everyone speaks with one voice, even the voice of the humblest person can resound through the heavens and awaken the deaf.

Thus, the voices of the common people finally reached the Imperial Academy, and the ears of these cultured, knowledgeable, and patriotic students.

On the third day after the rebellion in Bianjing was quelled, a memorial jointly signed by the students of the Imperial Academy was handed to the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy.

Concern for the world and the courage to be pioneers are precisely what the Imperial Academy advocates. Zhang Zai's words, "To establish a heart for heaven and earth, to establish a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of the past sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations," still resonate today and have been regarded as a guiding principle by students of the Imperial Academy throughout the ages.

The scholar had no reason not to send this memorial, jointly submitted by the students, to the Hall of State Affairs.

During this period, after the downfall of Prince Jian and Prince Duan, the students and common people in Bianjing finally ran out of patience with the imperial family.

If both heirs are of this caliber, is the so-called primogeniture system really appropriate? The late emperor also had two brothers, only twelve or thirteen years old. Who knows what kind of character they will have in the future?
If that's the case, why insist on clinging to outdated and corrupt ancestral systems?
If a wise and virtuous person is chosen from among the imperial relatives, the Song Dynasty will still belong to the Zhao family, and the emperor will still be a descendant of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong. What's wrong with that?
The struggle between the new and old policies for decades has created chaos in the court, and the people have had enough. It's time for it to end. Only a wise ruler can end it; mediocre people cannot.

Many things begin and escalate with a group of passionate, perpetually tearful young students.

This time is no exception.

The fact that students of the Imperial College jointly submitted a memorial was no small matter.

It was the origin of the whole affair and the fuse that ignited the court.

The Council of State Affairs received a memorial from the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy. Chancellor Zhang Dun did not issue any comments, but simply ordered that a hundred copies of the memorial be engraved and made, and distributed to all government offices and court officials in Bianjing.

As the central authority of power, the Council of State Affairs did not comment on or approve the memorial jointly signed by the students, but instead printed hundreds of copies and distributed them to government offices and court officials. This action itself is quite intriguing.

So, did the prime ministers agree with what the students said, or did they print it out for the court officials to discuss among themselves?
The answer is already obvious, but no one has dared to reveal it.

Public opinion, through this joint memorial signed by the students, inevitably reached the imperial court.

A public and private debate, concerning the choice between primogeniture and the selection of a virtuous and capable heir, has begun.

The throne of the new emperor of the Song Dynasty remains vacant, but the discussions in the court and among the people are in an uproar and becoming increasingly heated.

Both have their supporters, and the two camps are clearly divided.

Most of the New Party officials supported the appointment of a virtuous official, partly due to Zhang Dun's guidance and instruction, and of course, also due to the benefits promised by Zhao Xiaoqian.

The old party, however, mostly believed that the ancestral system should be followed and the eldest son of the legitimate wife should be chosen. Otherwise, it would be a betrayal of the ancestors, the throne would be illegitimate, and it would also sow the seeds of future troubles for the Song Dynasty.

The old party's starting point was actually quite simple. The interests that Zhao Xiaoqian and the new party had privately reached, especially the point of continuing to promote the new policies, would not benefit the old party officials at all. On the contrary, they would continue to be driven to extinction by Zhang Dun, so naturally they would oppose it.

(End of this chapter)