Chapter 153: Concealment

Emperor Taian observed Cheng Maoming's expression and spoke indifferently, "Minister Cheng, you know how to handle things regarding the General's Mansion, don't you?"

Cheng Maoming immediately cupped his hands. "Your servant knows."

"As long as you know." The tension in Emperor Taian's face relaxed slightly, revealing a hint of a smile. "Then go attend to your duties. Handle this case as quickly as possible."

"Your servant takes his leave."

As soon as Cheng Maoming left, Emperor Taian's expression instantly darkened. The trace of a smile that had hung at the corners of his mouth vanished like a passing breeze, leaving no trace behind.

In the brightly lit hall, he remained silent for a long time; the brightness could not penetrate the darkness of his heart at all.

Liu Chuan did not dare to disturb him, silently pouring a cup of tea at a moderate temperature and placing it by Emperor Taian's hand.

After an unknown amount of time, Emperor Taian finally spoke, "Summon the Crown Prince."

Compared to the Emperor, who held control over the Jinlin Guard, the Crown Prince's information was much more delayed. Even now, he only knew that Zhao Helin had failed in his mission, but he did not know that the man had already been sent away with a cup of poisoned wine.

Upon receiving the eunuch's message, the Crown Prince's heart began to drum with anxiety.

His young uncle had sent word that the Jinlin Guard had investigated into the Xuanwu Camp; surely Imperial Father wouldn't know yet?

The Crown Prince went to see Emperor Taian with trepidation.

"Your son offers greetings to Imperial Father. I wonder what business Imperial Father has summoned me for?"

Emperor Taian looked at the Crown Prince with an indifferent expression, yet his heart was surging with waves of emotion.

This was his legitimate eldest son, his unquestioned heir all this time, yet he hadn't expected that as he grew older, he would become more and more out of line, to the point where he was actually causing the Emperor to waver.

But if it wasn't the Crown Prince, it would be the Fourth Prince.

The image of Prince Wei's round face flashed through Emperor Taian's mind, and his mood grew even heavier.

Compared to discovering that an heir was lacking in virtue and ability, the choice between one or the other was even more frustrating. This sense of passivity was even more uncomfortable than when he had first ascended the throne amidst internal and external turmoil.

"Yuan'er, do you know what Imperial Father cares about most?"

The Crown Prince froze for a moment.

He thought his father had summoned him to scold him; why did it sound like a heart-to-heart talk?

After thinking for a moment, the Crown Prince said, "Imperial Father cares most about the stability of Great Zhou and the happiness of the people."

Emperor Taian smiled. "As the ruler of a nation, that is indeed what I care about most. But as a father, what I care about most is the deep brotherhood between you and the Fourth Prince, and that you support one another."

"Your son understands. Your son will look after Fourth Brother."

"Just remember today's words. You may go."

"Your son takes his leave." Although the Crown Prince was utterly confused, he felt much more relieved.

He hadn't expected to pass the test so easily.

After the Crown Prince departed, Emperor Taian remained motionless, still holding his teacup, looking as if he had aged several years.

Worried, Liu Chuan called out softly, "Your Majesty—"

Emperor Taian waved his hand. "Leave me in peace."

He also wanted to angrily demand the Crown Prince's purpose for doing such things and give this rebellious son a thorough lecture, but before he had plans to change the heir, he could not break the surface of the tension.

He always had to leave a way out for the Fourth Prince.

Depose the Crown Prince and establish the Fourth Prince?

Emperor Taian's first reaction was to shake his head.

Because he had never considered the Fourth Prince, and since the Fourth Prince had been chubby and dim-witted since childhood, he had almost no expectations for this son. It was hard to believe the Fourth Prince had the ability to manage the empire. Furthermore, the Fourth Prince's biological mother came from a humble background, which was also something he disliked.

Emperor Taian rubbed his temples in a headache, suddenly thinking of the late Emperor.

If his father had given birth to fewer sons, he wouldn't have to keep so many brothers confined in the capital and expend so much effort guarding against them. And yet, despite having so many sons, he had not chosen the best among them, but had instead passed the throne to his weak and incompetent eldest son.

If only he had many sons—Emperor Taian sighed with regret.

Ultimately, he was dissatisfied with this heir.

Very dissatisfied!

But what could he do about his dissatisfaction? He only had these two "misfit melons"—

Emperor Taian controlled himself from thinking that way and instructed Liu Chuan, "Summon Prince Wei to the palace."

The news of Zhao Helin's death would spread quickly. When that happened, the case could be closed by pinning it on Zhao Helin; he still had to appease the Fourth Prince.

Shortly after, Prince Wei arrived.

"Your son greets Imperial Father."

Emperor Taian looked closely at his bowing son.

The Fourth Prince really was getting thinner day by day; it actually made him look quite handsome.

Emperor Taian's prolonged silence left Prince Wei feeling quite puzzled.

To call him here at this time, surely it wasn't for the matter of Miss Lin being kidnapped? Why was Imperial Father staring at him like that?

"The mastermind behind the kidnapping of Miss Lin has been identified."

"Who is it?" Prince Wei asked immediately.

"The Deputy Commander of the Jinlin Guard, Zhao Helin."

Prince Wei was stunned. "Why would he do such a thing?"

He had almost never dealt with this Deputy Zhao.

Emperor Taian's expression was complex. "According to his confession, he was dissatisfied with your selection of a consort."

"Huh?" Prince Wei thought he had misheard.

Dissatisfied with his selection of a consort? What kind of nonsense was that?

"Imperial Father, isn't that reason too absurd? What could he be dissatisfied with? Could it be that he was angry because your son didn't choose him?"

The corner of Emperor Taian's mouth twitched.

He knew it—the Crown Prince was a scoundrel, and the Fourth Prince was unreliable too.

"His daughter also attended that Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet, and after returning, she couldn't stop thinking about you..."

Prince Wei pointed at himself, his mouth hanging wide open. "Thinking about... me?"

Isn't this just mocking me!

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Prince Wei shook his head repeatedly.

He remembered the circumstances of that day clearly. Not to mention the noble ladies who couldn't hide their disdain, even the noble ladies who smiled at him for the sake of the Princess Consort status were obviously faking it; otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen Miss Lin.

If there were any noble ladies truly fond of him, he would eat his own eyes.

"This is the result of a careful investigation by the Jinlin Guard. How could it be impossible?"

"Imperial Father, I was still fat during the Chrysanthemum Banquet. Was his daughter blind?"

Prince Wei spoke casually, but Emperor Taian suddenly felt a bit pained.

This was his son, yet because he had been chubby since childhood, he was looked down upon like this.

And was he not also someone who had neglected the Fourth Prince many times? Even now, he was deceiving him just to cover for the Crown Prince.

Carrying guilt, Emperor Taian straightened his expression. "How can you say such things? You have your own strengths; what is so strange about someone admiring you? Do all the women in the world only look at appearances?"

Prince Wei's lips twitched.

He didn't believe it for a second!

However, this was his Emperor father; even if he didn't believe it, he could only listen.

"Even so, would Zhao Helin really kidnap Miss Lin? Even if he truly kidnapped her, your son still wouldn't choose his daughter."

"That's not necessarily true. What did you say when you chose Miss Lin back then? You said she looked at you like an ordinary person. If you were willing to choose her under those circumstances, could you remain unmoved if Miss Zhao came to you and said she was fond of you?" Emperor Taian became more certain as he spoke. "For the Zhao family, this is at least one extra opportunity."

"That's not certain. Your son is thin now."

Recently, when he walked through the Prince's mansion, the eyes of the maidservants looking at him had changed.

"Therefore, it is even more worth the gamble."

Prince Wei shut his mouth completely.

After a round of soothing, Emperor Taian sent many treasures to Prince Wei's mansion, then turned to instruct Liu Chuan, "That Wang Gui by the Crown Prince's side... dispose of him quietly."