I was a prince in the Middle East

Chapter 26 The Supreme Elder Deng abdicates, and Young Master Wa is immediately pressured to get married as soon as he takes command!

Prince Talal looked at Princess Mona, his tone gentle yet authoritative.
“Mona, you have trained your child very well, I am very satisfied. But you have not taught him the most fundamental things about this desert tribe.”

Princess Mona was immediately terrified.

Walid was completely dumbfounded.

Princess Lamia immediately spoke up in defense of her nephew.

“Father, how old is Walid? And he already performed amazingly well yesterday, far exceeding our expectations!”
Aren't your expectations a bit too high?

Prince Talal waved his hand, a gentle smile returning to his face.

"Lamia, you've misunderstood."

I am not denying Walid's achievements yesterday or his analytical abilities today.

On the contrary, I am incredibly proud of him.

However, he is the sole heir of my Talal lineage and has undeniably ascended to the center of the kingdom's political stage; therefore, he must understand a more fundamental principle!

His gaze sharpened, locking onto Walid once more, speaking each word with deliberation.
"In the desert, even hatred must learn to conserve water."

Walid was startled.

He said...

The grandson doesn't understand.

Prince Talal picked up his juice glass but didn't drink it. His gaze seemed to pierce through the palace dome, looking towards the boundless yellow sand. His voice was deep and rhythmic, like that of an ancient Bedouin bard.
"The knight's hatred was severed by the sword in the dueling arena;

The Confucian scholars' hatred was extinguished by the incense in the ancestral hall;

The hatred of the desert only truly dies when it is completely buried by the yellow sand!

Walid is numb.

He got it.

So, showing off is a hereditary disease!

But he didn't say anything, just 'Speak like a human being!'
Prince Talal's gaze returned to Walid's face, carrying an all-knowing understanding.

"Child, the way hatred is transmitted is essentially a profound reflection of environmental pressure on cultural genes."

In the era of Western knights, loyalty and hatred were both personal contracts with the lord. The stain of breaking the contract would be engraved on the family crest, passed down from generation to generation, and needed to be washed away by the descendants with honor.

In Eastern agrarian civilizations, filial piety and ancestor worship naturally imbue blood debts with intergenerational inheritance, making it a matter of course for sons to repay their fathers' debts.

This is all because they are rooted in the feudal system, where land and blood ties bind the fate of individuals and families.

He paused, giving his grandson time to process the information, before continuing his in-depth analysis, explaining the profound philosophy of tribal survival:
"Our desert tribe's tradition is 'honor-blood-driven reciprocity'."

It is closer to a 'dynamic balancing act between interests and responsibilities'.

In the short term: if repaying blood debts or other debts would severely damage the tribe's overall survival, such as having to sell all the camels to pay compensation, we would choose to strategically 'default'.

But we will compensate them in other ways, such as providing key intelligence, military protection, or granting long-term trade preferences.

In the long run, inter-tribal 'debt' is essentially a network of relationships that invest in the future.

Repaying the principal and interest is to maintain the possibility of mutual assistance in the future under more severe circumstances.

Completely defaulting on debts is tantamount to cutting off one's own path to survival, and is foolish.

This is neither the Chinese-style moral rigidity of having to repay debts, nor the Western-style individual rationality of calculating gains and losses, but rather a survival rationality:
Debt, including blood feuds, serves as a regulator of intertribal relations, a bond that maintains fragile survival networks, rather than a moral shackle that breaks the camel's back or a cold, hard transaction!

Prince Talal pointed to himself, then to Khalid and Alwaleed, his voice carrying a wisdom that seemed to transcend time.

"So, when I raised the banner of 'Prince of Freedom' and failed, I was overthrown and went into exile. But your father and second uncle are safe and sound."

In desert traditions, blood ties do not automatically bind one's parents to moral stains or political debts.

Although the Sudri faction seized my assets and marginalized me back then, they did not completely eliminate me. Instead, they left me a way to live a decent life, such as tacitly allowing me to obtain living resources through channels like Egypt, so that I could live without posing a real threat.

This is a 'balance' based on survival rationality.

He looked intently at Walid, “Rules serve the survival and continuation of the tribe, not abstract justice or eternal hatred.”

So, what Grandpa wants to tell you is,

Prince Talal's voice was deep and powerful, "Your choice in dealing with Bandar is not limited to 'completely defeating him and eliminating him completely'."

The 'water-saving irrigation' of hatred means that sometimes a controllable 'debt relationship' can be left behind, which, at certain times, may turn into unexpected assistance.

At the same time, my grandson, you don't need to be so fixated on explaining to your family the connection between your choice yesterday and our family's past blood feud, trying to prove that you 'haven't forgotten' or 'made the right choice'.

What you should always be considering is: how can the Talal family better survive, develop, and grow stronger in the current complex and turbulent situation?
How can we shed the burden of history and move forward with a lighter load?

Do you understand, child?

Walid nodded emphatically, as if enlightened.

My inner monologue was like a raging storm: how could anthropological theories be integrated into the dialogue so naturally and profoundly? It was like a desert version of The Prince!
The wisdom of desert survival is more flexible, pragmatic, ruthless, and also more...efficient!
This grandfather... is hardly the 'idealistic revolutionary' recorded in history books?
He is clearly the embodiment of political wisdom that becomes more cunning with age!

He nodded emphatically: "I understand, Grandpa! Thank you for your guidance!"

Prince Talal smiled with satisfaction: "Very good. The choice is yours."

My child, yesterday's test, the exam your mother gave you, and the answers you submitted, have far exceeded all of our wildest imaginations.

You are stronger than your father and uncle were back then, much stronger!

Upon hearing this, Prince Khalid and Prince Alwaleed showed no displeasure, but instead both smiled with satisfaction and pride.

Princess Lamia nodded with a smile.

"A new era has arrived."

Prince Talal's voice carried a sense of ritual.

"The Talal faction needs a new helmsman, a leader like you who can guide the family through storms and waves."

Your performance yesterday perfectly proved that!

"By accurately assessing the situation and transforming passive defense into precise counterattacks, you demonstrate a keen grasp of timing and strong strategic initiative!"

"During the racing segment, your meticulous actions in ensuring Prince Faisal's absolute safety demonstrated your exceptional risk assessment and control abilities!"

"Through clever planning, Muhammad was brought to the forefront to lead the operation—turning our Talal faction from fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered into behind-the-scenes strategists."

"Securing a monopoly on arms sales and a solid friendship with the future crown prince in one fell swoop—this proves your superb skill in maximizing political gains!"

"Throughout the process, you mobilized religious courts, tribal traditions, and international forces to construct a multi-dimensional strangulation net, leaving Prince Bandar nowhere to escape—this demonstrates your outstanding ability to integrate resources and strike with leverage!"

Walid stated...

He was a little embarrassed by his grandfather's praise.

Old Master Taishang, if you can say a few more words, then say them.

At this moment, Prince Talal's eyes were filled with expectation and trust.
"Since the future of the Talal family now undeniably rests on your shoulders, from this day forward, the direction of this family's future will be decided by you!"

Upon hearing this, Walid was immediately terrified. "Grandpa...this...I..."

Has the Supreme Elder gone mad?

No... what happened to my life of luxury?!
He subconsciously glanced at the various rebel kings on the table.

Prince Alwaleed, the second uncle, chuckled and was the first to express his opinion, his tone relaxed yet firm.
"Nephew, don't look down on me. Your second uncle only likes doing business and making money. Need start-up capital or a business network? Just come to your second uncle anytime!"

He completely adopted a hands-off approach.

Princess Lamia, the aunt, smiled gently and said, "What I do is charity work, and the foundation needs a continuous stream of funding."

"Walid, you won't let your aunt's foundation run out of money, will you?"

Prince Khalid looked at his son with unwavering trust and encouragement in his eyes, his words concise and to the point.

"Go for it! The sky won't fall down."

Princess Mona, the mother, looked at her son with pride and said softly,
"You are my glory, Walid."

Luna sipped her ice cream and said dismissively, "Brother is the best!"

The full support of his family warmed Walid's heart, and his fear was gradually replaced by a heavy sense of responsibility and high morale.

Just then, Prince Talal winked playfully at Walid, lowered his voice, and spoke with a hint of mischievousness, as if they were kindred spirits.

"By the way, my dear grandson, I really admired your 'counting melon seeds' show-off style yesterday!"
So fresh and refined, truly extraordinary! Hahaha! No wonder it's from our Talal lineage!

Act the most arrogant, be the most haughty king!

He couldn't help but laugh out loud again.

This sudden shift in tone and playful banter instantly lightened the serious atmosphere considerably.

Princess Mona retorted with a hint of annoyance,

"Father! Just spoil him! What's so praiseworthy about such a bad habit!"

Prince Alwaleed immediately chimed in.
"Sister-in-law, Walid is still young, it's okay for him to be a little impulsive!"

Youthful spirit should be displayed! Especially when the effect is so good!

Princess Lamia smiled and smoothed things over, saying, "Even ostentation has its limits; when it's time to restrain him, someone has to be able to keep him in check."

"really!"

Princess Mona nodded in deep agreement, then turned her gaze to Walid with an earnest air, as if to say, "Finally, we're getting to the point."

"It's time to consider marriage. Settling down first, then building a career, will allow you to settle down."

Walid: "???"

He was completely bewildered, his mind unable to keep up with this sudden turn of events.

So sudden?

We were just discussing family power, life-or-death struggles, and desert wisdom, how did we suddenly jump to urging each other to get married?
That's a huge leap!
Prince Khalid coughed at the opportune moment, drawing everyone's attention. His face wore a serious expression, as if he were announcing important news.

"Speaking of which, there's something I need to discuss with everyone. Before lunch, Crown Prince Salman personally called me."

He paused, then looked at Al-Walid, "The Dubai royal family has proactively expressed their intention to form a marriage alliance with us."

"The Dubai royal family?"

Before Walid could say anything, Prince Talal frowned immediately, his brow furrowing with obvious doubt.
"A daughter of the Maktoum family? Don't they always claim that their princesses don't marry outside the family? Could it be..."

His sharp gaze swept over little Luna, who was sitting quietly eating dessert to the side. "They want to make a move on Luna? They want to marry Luna?"

"what?!"

Walid instantly bristled, a surge of anger rising within him, his voice rising eight octaves.
"Let them dream on! What does the Salman family mean by this?! Making such a connection?!"

He instinctively shielded his younger sister Luna behind him.

Prince Khalid couldn't help but laugh as he watched his son fiercely protecting his sister.
"Don't get agitated, Valid. It's not about marrying Luna off. It's about them proposing to marry you a princess."

"Marry me?"

Walid was taken aback.

Emmm...

So this is the surprise that Muhammad and Turki were talking about!
It's not that it's impossible; none of the Dubai princesses are bad-looking.

"Yes."

Khalid nodded. "Dubai has offered to marry their sixth princess, Sanama bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to you."

He glanced at Princess Mona, whose expression showed displeasure, and explained.

They believe that the Talal lineage originated from the Ajman tribe and belonged to the same clan as the Ajman Emirate.

The Al Bahrain and Ajman tribes, which belong to Dubai, are historically of the same origin, both belonging to the Banias tribe.

"Walid, you have the blood of the Ajman tribe flowing in your veins... therefore, the Dubai princess's marriage into our Talal family does not count as 'marrying outside the family.'"

Princess Lamia gracefully set down her silver coffee cup, letting out a barely audible snort, and replied with a hint of sarcasm,
"Ha, it must have been quite a challenge for them to translate this family tree."

The Ajman tribe and the Al-Bufalasi tribe... they separated in the 19th century, right?

Was it the schism in Abu Dhabi in 1833?

Princess Mona snorted, "Even earlier, the two clans actually lived in an oasis and were related by marriage in the 17th century."

Prince Khalid shrugged. "Of course, everyone knows these are just high-sounding excuses."

The truth is that, in the Bandar affair, the Dubai royal family, as a key supporter and participant, must provide substantial compensation to the Saudi royal family.

However, directly paying reparations or ceding territory would be too damaging to Dubai's national dignity and the face of Sheikh Rashid.

Therefore, they came up with the idea of ​​marrying off their daughter, using a generous dowry to both compensate us and save face for themselves.

Walid frowned. "Turki isn't married either, is he? Wouldn't it be more appropriate for Turki to marry her?"

He sneered inwardly; Muhammad's move was truly appalling!
Turki should marry the Dubai princess!

In this way, Turki's descendants would have mixed foreign blood, and according to Saudi Arabia's rules of royal succession, impure blood is tantamount to cutting off one's own path to the throne.

Some things are better done if you plan ahead.

For brotherhood to last, it must be bound by clear boundaries, which is good for everyone.

Marry me? What's the point?
Under those rules, I was never destined for the throne; I was just holding onto a hollow title!
At this moment, Prince Khalid's expression suddenly became somewhat subtle.

He coughed lightly again, "The sixth princess we are going to marry, Sanama, will only turn fourteen this August."

According to tradition and religious law, a formal marriage should not take place for at least four years.

Prince Turki...can't wait that long.

Upon hearing this, Walid's expression instantly became incredibly varied, as if he had swallowed a fly whole.

I just cursed Turki for coveting Luna as a beast yesterday, and now I'm about to become a beast myself?

but……

It wouldn't be bad if it were my turn!
The main thing is... I don't have to worry about birth defects in my offspring caused by Saudi Arabia's peculiar endogamy system!

Before he could even think it through, Princess Mona, her face already showing displeasure, firmly objected.
"No! Absolutely not! Walid is already twenty-three! To make him wait another four years? What kind of logic is that! I don't agree!"

……

(End of this chapter)