Chapter 338: Chapter 305: Questioning Lien
The current situation is definitely the responsibility of Emperor Zhao Rui, but the real reason is that the Crown Prince could not produce an heir.
If the Crown Prince had borne him a grandson early on, he wouldn’t have to do this. What he is doing now is also for the continuation of the Zhao family’s Da Li Dynasty.
Of course, his vision is somewhat limited.
In fact, it is entirely possible to select a child from the royal offspring to be adopted by the Crown Prince, and the problem would be solved.
But no one can get over that psychological barrier. Having lost the throne struggle, how could one let descendants return to the supreme position in such a way?
Would the person sitting on the throne be content?
Moreover, when this child comes to power, will he establish his biological parents’ line as the legitimate lineage?
And one’s own line might thus become extinct, even if one does not choose a candidate with previous enmity against their faction for adoption.
But no one is willing to accept it; how many of those who ascend to this great position have broad minds? Suspicion and selfishness are most prevalent in emperors.
Not those emperors who fight to establish their kingdoms, but those raised in deep palaces, surrounded from childhood by luxury, everyone revolving around them, selfishness occupies the foremost place in their personal development.
Therefore, the method of "adoption" is something Zhao Rui will not choose unless absolutely necessary, because he is not without sons.
As long as there are sons and one that can produce a grandson, it doesn’t matter who sits in this position.
He needs to cultivate a reliable team for this successor to control the situation while he is still alive.
After the autumn hunt, he also moved from Ganlu Temple back to the palace.
Although the emperor returned, he did not remove the Crown Prince’s position as overseer of the state. He clearly enjoys this feeling of controlling things from behind the scenes.
The Crown Prince’s chances of siring a grandson are slim, but perhaps, with the previous issue with Consort Yi, it wasn’t really his lack of effort.
Prince Zhao Yuanchun has come of age, and after being conferred as a king, he can marry. He knows that Zhao Yuanchun has known women for some time.
It’s just that without full maturity, a woman cannot conceive from him, which is also normal.
In the Southern Study.
Zhao Rui summoned Prime Minister Lien Yanru.
"Your Majesty, long live the emperor," he said, bowing.
"Mr. Lien, please rise, someone bring a chair for Mr. Lien," Zhao Rui instructed the eunuchs nearby.
"If I am not mistaken, Mr. Lien, you will be seventy after the new year?" Zhao Rui asked slowly after Lien Yanru had seated himself.
"Yes, I will be seventy after the new year," Lien Yanru knew clearly in his heart that the emperor mentioning his age meant it was time for him to voluntarily step down.
At seventy, what business does one have remaining on the court? Neither energy nor strength is sufficient, and one occupies a position, not giving younger people a chance?
The Da Li Dynasty employs a cabinet system, with one First Minister, one Second Minister, and then three Assistants; all five are "Prime Ministers," but the First Minister holds the most power.
Lien Yanru is the First Minister, while the Second Minister is Tang Jing, only forty-five years old, elevated after Zhao Rui ascended the throne, coming from a humble background.
The three assistants are all from noble families, as is Lien Yanru himself.
Lien Yanru also started as an assistant and finally became the First Minister; he became First Minister at age fifty and has served for twenty years, second only to Li Changshan, who was the First Minister at the founding of the nation alongside the Taizu (founding emperor).
Among the three Assistants, there is a descendant of the Li family, named Li Songwen.
Ranked first among the three Assistants, Li Songwen, who also previously served as the Eastern Palace Chamberlain, is just over forty, still vigorous and strong.
Lien Yanru supported Zhao Rui’s accession, contributing greatly, which is why he enjoys such an honor; otherwise, how could he stand firm in the court?
In fact, over the years, the emperor has not trusted him as much because he had previous interactions with the Third Prince.
But he is the Prime Minister, and having interactions with princes is very normal, but their relationship was limited to public settings.
But Lien Yanru’s granddaughter almost became the Third Prince’s concubine, but as she was about to be canonized, she fell ill with a sudden strange sickness, and passed away.
Thus, the marriage did not happen.
Zhao Rui has always suspected that he was unwilling to form a familial bond with the royal family, but with the Third Prince’s house arrest, the Lien family was fortunate not to have become in-laws with him; otherwise, they also would have been implicated.
And this time, surely the Lien family cannot endure another tragedy?
"Lately, I have been considering the title for the fifth prince, and officials have been submitting memorials, some suggesting the title of King Song, others suggesting King Qi, and some King Yong. Mr. Lien, which title do you think is better?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the conferring of a royal title to a prince is a matter of the royal family, how could this humble minister dare to speak on it," Lien Yanru knew he would have to submit a petition to retire upon returning home, and wouldn’t dare involve himself in this matter?
Isn’t he afraid this old body might be shattered into pieces, better to shirk this responsibility if he can.
"Today, we’re just having a casual chat as ruler and minister, don’t take it seriously, just say what you think, about the fifth prince’s title, also the fief, I have selected a few places; help me consider them as well?" Zhao Rui waved his hand, instructing the eunuch to bring out a map and unfurl it before Lien Yanru. "The places marked with red dots are those I’ve selected, take a look, my dear minister."
Lien Yanru raised his eyes and looked at the three red dots on the map.
In the northeast, where Chongzhou meets Yanzhou, it is a bitterly cold place. Although Da Li citizens reside there, the population is sparse, the resources are not abundant, and the local customs are fierce.
Another place is Qing Province, not far from Li Jing, one of the capital’s granaries, densely populated and rich in resources, a rare fertile land in the world.
Moreover, it is very close to the capital, only three hundred li away, and the Qingzhou Army is also one of the finest military personnel sources in the world.
In the imperial guard, more than a quarter of the personnel come from Qing Province.
The final location is surprisingly the northwest Lanzhou, and the specific spot is Dongshan Prefecture. Isn’t this the hometown of Marquis Lingyang, Xue Chunlai? The fifth prince is his nephew, and this nephew’s fief is with his uncle’s?
What does the emperor mean by this?
Lanzhou is over seventeen hundred li from Li Jing, which is even slightly farther than Yanzhou.
If the emperor intended for the fifth prince to succeed the throne, he absolutely wouldn’t have been fiefed to such a distant place unless he never intended to make him take over the fief.
Just like the third prince back then, whose fief was in Suzhou, after his grand wedding, he never took over the fief, remaining in the capital.
In this case, it doesn’t matter where the fief is located.
But speaking of the fief’s income, Qing Province surpasses Lanzhou, and Lanzhou surpasses Yanzhou. If the emperor wants the fifth prince to contend for the throne, then choosing Qing Province could provide the greatest financial assistance, followed by Dongshan Prefecture in Lianzhou, his uncle’s bastion. To help his nephew ascend, he would certainly spare no effort...
If the emperor doesn’t want the fifth prince to have a chance, then it’s off to Chongzhou or Yanzhou, which can offer him very limited help.
Or, the emperor has his own plans.
"Your Majesty, the old minister believes the matter of fiefdom distribution is also a family matter for Your Majesty. Whatever Your Majesty decides, the old minister has no reason to oppose it."
"What if I were to grant the fief of Qing Province to Old Five?"
"Everything is at the discretion of Your Majesty."
"It seems it’s hard to extract a truthful word from your mouth today." Zhao Rui said, repeatedly emphasizing that this is an internal affair of the royal family and not something ministers should interfere with.
This is knowing that he’s about to retire, staying out of matters, and seeking to spend his later years peacefully.
"Your Majesty, every word of the old minister is from the heart."
"Alright, I won’t force you then. Let’s talk about the marriage of my old five to your grand-niece, shall we?" Zhao Rui lifted his head slightly, his nostrils facing Lien Yanru, with a hint of scrutiny in his gaze.
"To form a marriage alliance with Your Majesty, of course, the old minister would be delighted, but that girl is not my legitimate granddaughter. The old minister and my three brothers divided the family long ago. Some matters, I can’t make decisions on behalf of my younger brother without consent."
"Aren’t you the patriarch of the Lien Family? Can’t you make this decision?"
"If His Majesty asks in this way, the old minister can only say this." Lien Yanru said, "If His Majesty directly decrees the marriage, then whether it is the old minister or the minister’s brother, they would only comply."
"If I decree, is there no room for negotiation?"
Lien Yanru said nothing.
He had made it clear that the three brothers of the Lien Family had already divided the family. Even if he is the patriarch, this major matter of marriage has to be discussed with the girl’s parents. He is a generation apart, and not even the real grandfather.
"Since Mr. Lien is unwilling, let’s forget about this marriage. I will find another good match for Old Five." Zhao Rui realized that Lien Yanru used this excuse to disagree with the marriage.
Whether it was personal self-interest or not wanting the Lien Family to get involved in the struggle for the throne.
If a Lien Family daughter marries the fifth prince, it would inevitably involve in the struggle for the throne, and if things go wrong, the Lien Family could be completely buried.
Don’t be fooled by the fifth prince’s considerable influence; compared to the rightful position of the Crown Prince, he is far behind, unless he can produce an imperial grandson, then he might have a chance to compete.
Jumping forward now is simply foolish.
Is the Crown Prince a fool? Would he let the fifth prince safely have an imperial grandson?
Comparatively, though the third prince was forced to compete with the Crown Prince, in front of the Crown Prince, he was absolutely submissive and accommodating. He was respectful and courteous to the Crown Prince on all occasions, never stepping over the line.
If not for the third prince’s mother, Consort Yi, having her ideas, the third prince would never compete with the Crown Prince for the high seat.
The third prince was an individual uninterested in the throne.
It’s just that the emperor didn’t have a better candidate, so he was brought out as the most suitable at the time.
So, the third prince is a pitiful character, unable to decide anything independently, destined to be confined for life.
If the Crown Prince ascends to the throne, the third prince might have a day to see the light again. If it’s the fifth prince, I’m afraid neither the Crown Prince nor the third prince would survive.
On the surface, the fifth prince seems clever and alert, but his inherent selfishness and ruthlessness are evident, and as Lien Yanru, being the prime minister for so many years, has some insights into people.
The fifth prince’s misconduct, outsiders might not know, but as the prime minister, how could he not know?
This is just a fire pit, and his brother is still dreaming of being related to the royal family, thinking that it’s him stopping it. If he didn’t stop it, the Lien Family would eventually face total annihilation.
If not for bearing the surname Lien, he wouldn’t even bother with this matter.
