Chapter 199 - Argument
The news of Crown Prince having an extra eldest son spread out very quickly, causing the entire city to be shaken. The Imperial Court was even arguing about this matter.
“King, this official feels that this child's birth mother is low in status. South Jin has always been a place where the son is respected by the mother. It is probably a little too much for Your Highness to want this child to be recorded in the jade slip.” After a few months of silence, the young master's residence became lively again.
He was considered to be part of Third Prince's faction. He had been nervous for a few months because of Wang Zixian's disappearance. He had thought that the king would settle the score of those who supported Third Prince, but he did not expect the king to not have such plans.
State Duke Ann opened his sleepy eyes and sneered. “Lord Zhan, you are a civil servant in charge of the king's private treasury. Where do you get the right to decide the matter of the king's grandson?”
A few of the dukes who were close to Crown Prince Zhao glanced at him. The fierceness in their eyes made the young master's residence shiver.
Without Wang Zixian as their backing, it was too easy for them to pull him down.
“Xu Zongzheng, you are in charge of the royal family's memorial. Tell me, should this child give the jade token?” King of South Jin asked a white-haired official at the bottom left.
Xu Zongzheng took two steps forward and bent his back slightly. He said loudly, “King, I think that as long as this child has the royal bloodline, he has the right to give the jade certificate!”
Many ministers agreed. In their opinion, Crown Prince Zhao's son was hard to come by, and it was rare for one to appear, just like a pie falling from the sky. What reason did they have to refuse?
However, not everyone thought so. Some of the ministers felt that the child's background was unknown and could not prove that he was the Crown Prince's great-grandson. If he messed up the royal bloodline, wouldn't he be asking for humiliation?
A neutral official stood up and said, “King, why don't you drip your blood to test your kinship? If it's really the royal grandson and the eldest son of His Highness, he should naturally have the right to be the royal grandson.”
Dropping blood to test their relationship was the only way to appraise the relationship between father and son since ancient times. Although they had always said that this method was unreliable, everyone stubbornly believed that this method was useful.
Crown Prince, who was in the middle of the storm, did not say anything. He listened to the courtiers' discussion and only closed his eyes.
“Blood test?” King of South Jin frowned. He did not agree.
It was not because he did not agree with this method, but because he felt that this method was harmful to the dignity of the royal family.
If it was proven that it was not the royal bloodline, Crown Prince Zhao would definitely become a laughing stock. If it was verified that it was the royal bloodline, it would simply be a waste of effort and also a loss of face.
State Duke Ann sneered, “That's a good idea. If it was used by other people, it would be fine. However, that is the grandson of the king, the eldest son of His Highness. Although he is a concubine, he has a noble status. If others suspect his bloodline, wouldn't that make Crown Prince lose all his face?”
State Duke Ann's words had exposed the concerns in King of South Jin's heart. King of South Jin glanced at the Crown Prince. When he saw that the Crown Prince didn't seem to care about anything, he felt really angry.
If you can have a child with a woman, why would you marry a man? Wasn't this just asking for trouble?
After Third Prince's matter, King of South Jin had stopped suppressing Crown Prince Zhao. He had confirmed Crown Prince Zhao's right of inheritance and wanted to focus on nurturing him.
If he wanted the crown prince to ascend to the throne, he had to solve the problem of his son. He had even asked the queen to find a candidate in private. Soon, he planned to become the crown prince's concubine.
A woman who could become the crown prince's concubine must be of noble birth. Her royal grandson would also have the right of inheritance.
However, a concubine suddenly appeared out of nowhere and gave birth to her eldest son. This made King of South Jin feel troubled.
Holding his breath in his chest, King of South Jin glared at the indifferent Crown Prince and asked angrily, “Crown Prince, what do you think?”
Crown Prince Zhao glanced at the people in the hall and said in a deep voice, “Royal Father, I don't know why they are arguing. I have a son, and I am so happy. It is like a gift from the heavens. Is there anything else to argue about?”
As for some people who doubted this child's bloodline, this son was not a fool. Could it be that he would raise a son for another man? “Even if this son agrees, I'm afraid Crown Princess will not agree either.”
If Tang Yue was here at this moment, he would definitely laugh out loud. This Crown Prince Zhao did not even blink when he lied.
As for his last sentence, it was even more ridiculous. He, Tang Yue, would rather have another man take care of his son than take care of Crown Prince Zhao's son.
The officials all lost their voices because of Crown Prince Zhao's words. They lowered their heads and looked at the tips of their toes. They thought to themselves, “His Highness must have taken a liking to this son. After all, he came with such a pleasant surprise. If they continue to oppose him, won't that be going against Crown Prince?”
King of South Jin nodded. “Since he is the eldest son, then let him stay. However, this son's birth mother is too humble. I have decided to select a few virtuous concubines from the daughters of the second rank officials and above of the court to ensure the continuation of the royal bloodline.”
Crown Prince Zhao suddenly raised his head and said, “Royal Father, this son has just gotten a son. I am pleasantly surprised and deeply ashamed of Crown Princess. This son has not been married for two years. Can you bring up the matter of the concubine in two years?”
King of South Jin's brows were tightly knitted, and he said in a dignified manner without getting angry, “The bloodline of a son is a national matter. How can I allow your son to have a daughter?”
Crown Prince Zhao sighed deeply, “Crown Princess is very unhappy about this. I don't want to make her sad anymore.”
The officials all cursed in their hearts, His Highness and Crown Princess really have deep feelings for each other. It is unknown whether this is a good thing or a bad thing.
After all, it is not good for the ruler of a country to have too much affection.
“Then this emperor will summon him into the palace later and discuss with him personally. If he agrees personally, the Crown Prince will not find an excuse to delay anymore.”
King of South Jin dared to say these words. Clearly, he had already made up his mind to use means to get Tang Yue to agree. In his opinion, allowing him to become Crown Princess was already a long story. If it was because of him that the Crown Prince's son would be affected, then he, Crown Princess, would be crippled.
Yueyang Marquis had been silent all this while. When he heard King of South Jin's words, he could not help but say, “King, this official only has one child. If he is unhappy in the Crown Prince's Palace, this official sincerely requests Crown Prince to write a letter of divorce and allow my son to return home.”
How nice was Crown Prince Zhao's request to marry Tang Yue? In less than two years, a eldest son had appeared and he even wanted to marry a concubine. Where did he put Tang Yue?
If Tang Yue had not sent a letter home to calm him down, he would have rushed to the crown prince's residence with his sword when he heard the news about the child.
The people of the royal family were not allowed to touch them. If the king summoned a concubine, Tang Yue would not be able to go against the decree.
Yueyang Marquis's words were unyielding. A few officials who had a conflict with him berated in unison, “How dare you! Is Master Hou threatening the king and Crown Prince?”
King of South Jin's face darkened. He stared at Yueyang Marquis silently.
Crown Prince Zhao sneered at those people. “This is the agreement between me and Yueyang Marquis. If I marry a concubine within five years of marriage, I will let Crown Princess go back to Yueyang Marquis's Mansion. Lords, please do not interfere with my family matters.”
The officials looked at each other. How could there be such an agreement? They had never heard of it.
It was not just them, even King of South Jin had heard of it for the first time. He asked Yueyang Marquis with an unfriendly expression, “My dear subject, is there such a thing?”
Yueyang Marquis did not dare to act presumptuously in front of King of South Jin. He just nodded and replied, “There is indeed such a thing.”
“Why do I not know?” King of South Jin turned the gun to Crown Prince Zhao. “When you got married, you never said there was such an agreement. Who allowed you to make a decision on your own?”
Crown Prince Zhao did not panic. He spoke calmly. I was only fourteen when I got married. Even after five years, I was only nineteen. There are many people who got married when I was nineteen. I don't think there is any violation of the law or ancestral rule.
King of South Jin was so angry. He was not angry about this bullshit five-year agreement. He was angry that Crown Prince Zhao did not tell him in advance.
This act of acting on his own initiative clearly challenged his authority. How could he not be angry?
“This agreement is invalid!” King of South Jin said angrily, “I don't care what conditions you agreed to back then. You must marry this concubine!”
“King…” Yueyang Marquis looked at King of South Jin in shock.
State Duke Ann, State Duke Heng, and the other ministers who had dealings with Tang Yue also stood up and shouted, “King, think twice!”
Obviously, not everyone was willing to see Tang Yue go down the hall.
Speaking of which, Speaking of which, Tang Yue's importance was gradually revealed in these two years. He had magical medical skills, a kind heart, and many wonderful inventions. Just the paper alone had brought countless benefits to South Jin.
“Great King, Crown Princess's talent is obvious to all. Great King must not disappoint everyone in the world!”
“That's right. Crown Princess is not at fault. Even if it was a normal family, they would have to come to a conclusion three years later. It is too early to say it now.”
“Crown Prince and Yueyang Marquis have already made an agreement. Their words carry weight. Breaking the agreement now is too overbearing.”
All the ministers defended Tang Yue with their words. They had forgotten that they were still fighting over the child's problem.
King of South Jin gradually calmed down. He knew that he had been a little impulsive. Regardless of the wealth of Yueyang Marquis's Mansion, Tang Yue's medical skills would always be useful to him as he grew older.
Offending a godly doctor was equivalent to losing half of his life. It was impossible for King of South Jin not to understand this principle.
In his opinion, no matter what identity Tang Yue had, it was impossible for him to refuse the treatment of the ruler of a country. However, it was hard to say whether he would do his best or not.
King of South Jin's expression relaxed slightly. He waved his hand and said, “Let's discuss this matter again… Withdraw from the court!”
“Withdraw. The court…”
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