The prince loves me like his life, but I force him to rebel

"Mr. Gu, after seeing what happened in the court today, how do you think our father will deal with this matter?" After returning to the mansion and sending everyone away, Sima Yao only kept Gu Nian by his side and asked her for her opinion.

Although the plot in the original book is quite different from the current one, Gu Nianzhi can already make a preliminary judgment on the emperor's attitude from the fact that the emperor avoided talking about the difficulties encountered by the prince and his entourage on the way.

"This matter is very difficult even for the emperor." Gu Nianzhi analyzed: "The four of us entered the palace in such a mess, and we needed the help of the queen mother to see the emperor. It is obvious that someone is secretly blocking us. The emperor is so smart, he should know that everything is caused by the second prince."

"But my father stopped us from telling the court about the hardships along the way..."

"This really explains his attitude." Gu Nianzhi said.

Sima Yao was not unaware of what Gu Nianzhi said, he just didn't want to believe it. His father knew the truth but deliberately avoided the question.

"Why? Why is Father like this?"

"The power behind the Second Prince may have reached a level that even the Emperor is wary of." Gu Nianzhi analyzed, "If they confront each other in the court today, the relationship between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince will not even be able to maintain a superficial peace. Once they fall out, based on their current strength, the Crown Prince will be more likely to suffer."

"You mean... the Second Prince is nothing to be afraid of, and it's the people behind Queen Xian that are making Father afraid to act rashly?"

"Perhaps even the emperor himself did not expect that there would be so many people in the court who support the second prince to be the crown prince?"

-----

Just as Gu Nianzhi analyzed.

The emperor knew very well the mastermind behind the prince's near-death experience.

The prince has a mild personality and no support from his mother's family, so he only has the title of prince.

On the other hand, the second prince, although his grandfather, General Dingxi, retired and returned to Beijing over the years, still enjoys supreme voice in Dingxi Prefecture. Several of the queen's brothers are also important officials in the court, and he has many supporters in the court.

If today's incident were to be brought to light, the emperor would have to choose between the two sons, and at that time, there would be no room for maneuver.

Nearing bedtime, the Emperor went to the East Palace in person and asked the Crown Prince about the entire wedding process. He did not say much, but suddenly said that he wanted to play chess with the Crown Prince.

Although the prince was confused, he had no choice but to accompany her.

As the dish was almost finished, the emperor spoke.

"Are you blaming your father for not being able to seek justice for you and Yao'er in the court today?"

The emperor's seemingly casual words made Sima Hui feel extremely nervous.

"I don't dare."

"It's just that I don't dare, not that I don't have one." The emperor put down the chess piece in his hand. He looked up at Sima Hui and asked, "Do you know why you lost?"

Sima Hui looked at his father, unaware that what he was talking about was not just about the outcome of this game, but also the competition between himself and the second prince.

"You were the first to strike, but you tried to use defense as offense, giving in step by step. Eventually, you were forced into a corner by your opponent, so you will naturally lose."

It seems to be talking about a chess game, but it also seems to be talking about the relationship between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince.

"Your Majesty, I am a stupid son. Please enlighten me." The prince knelt on the ground.

"Today, we are not talking about the king and the minister, but only about the father and the son." The emperor held out his hand and helped the prince up. "I came here today just to talk to you about what is in my heart."

"Son, I'm all ears."

"Today, the four of you appeared in the court under the escort of the Queen Mother. Someone must have maliciously tried to stop you, which forced you to resort to this desperate measure. Father knows this."

"Father is wise."

"As for who is behind this, Father knows it clearly. But..."

"It's just that, Father, are you reluctant or unable to do so?" Sima Hui finally blurted out. "Father, my son and my third brother almost lost their lives! You are the Son of Heaven, as long as you give the order..."

"Hui'er..." The emperor interrupted Sima Hui. "Do you know that before you showed up, almost all the people in the court were supporting the Second Prince, and they all asked me to appoint another Crown Prince as soon as possible?"

"Second brother and the Queen's family have always been buying people's hearts. This is nothing new."

"But this time, almost all of them." The emperor sighed, "I know you suspect that the Second Prince is behind this, but even father has to act with caution now. If one thing is linked to another, the whole body will be affected. Dasheng can't stand it."

"Father's intention..." The prince looked at the emperor, "Is it for me to keep quiet?"

"Although I am the emperor and you are the prince, we seem to be high up in the court, but there are many relationships that need to be weighed. Neither of our positions is easy to sit in."

The emperor stood up and let out a long sigh.

"There are too many things that are beyond your control. Maybe you will understand later."

The prince was a little disappointed, but did not refute.

"I can only say these words to you. I can't speak directly to Yao'er. You have to persuade him not to mention the things that happened during the wedding procession and the people he suspected to anyone else."

The emperor at this moment actually looked a little cowardly.

The prince cupped his hands and said, "I will obey your Majesty's will. I will keep my mouth shut."

------

Yanxi Palace.

The Emperor came to meet the Queen Mother to explain what happened today.

"These children have suffered such a great injustice. They are all hot-blooded men. If you let them swallow their anger, I'm afraid..." The Queen Mother looked worried.

"Who in the imperial family has not suffered a lot of injustice? If he can't even understand this truth, he won't be able to sit firmly on the throne even if he sits on it."

"Hui'er is calm and steady, and Yao'er has been able to read people's expressions since he was a child. I am worried about Huaiyuan. He was born into a military family and went to the military camp after only a few years with me. Unlike Hui'er and Yao'er, who grew up in the inner courtyard of the imperial palace, they have seen a lot of these power schemes and intrigues, and can more or less understand your difficulties. We haven't lived together for so many years, and I am a little unsure about Huaiyuan's temperament. Do you think I need to remind him about this matter?"

"If the child comes to pay his respects to you, it would be good to give him some appropriate advice. If there is no right time to speak, just pretend you know nothing." The emperor was simply sighing endlessly today.

"If his father and brother were still here, stationed in one place, they could have somewhat contained the forces behind the queen, and your Majesty wouldn't be in such a dilemma now." The queen mother looked even more worried, blaming herself: "To be honest, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have been soft-hearted and agreed to let Queen Xian raise Concubine Cao's son. If she had never had a child, she wouldn't have had such unreasonable ambitions for the throne..."

"Mother, you don't have to worry about it. It's all my son's incompetence that has caused the political situation to become so controlled by others. Father is right. As an emperor, I still lack some decisiveness in killing."