What Gu Lan didn't know was that on the second day after Prince Rui returned to the Capital City, a storm was stirred again in Taihe Palace concerning the matter of the companion for Prince Rui's princely heir.
The cause was related to the Prince of Wei Country captured by Prince Rui at the front line.
This time, Prince Rui's great victory over Wei Country's army of a hundred thousand led the Wei Emperor to cede land for peace, return Yunzhou City, which had been occupied for decades, to Yan Country, and even offered the captured Prince as a hostage.
In the court, the eyes of all the civil and military officials fell on Yuan Lang, the Prince of Wei Country standing in the center of Taihe Palace, with glances that were either mocking or proud. In any case, they were elated, with one word: satisfying.
The dignified Prince of a country, falling to such a state, was truly lamentable.
The Emperor said, "Since Yunhao is now of age to enter the Imperial Family studies, why not let the Prince of Wei Country be his companion?"
Hearing these words, Prince Rui, who had just returned to court yesterday wearing a python robe, stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty is benevolent, but the Prince of Wei Country is already close to the age of majority, with a significant age difference with my son, making him unsuitable as a companion for my son."
Rong Shuo knew that the Prince of Wei Country harbored deep hatred towards him, and he couldn't be at ease having him as Yunhao's companion.
The Emperor's gaze fell on the officials below, his voice slightly cold: "Prince Rui is right, but I don't intend to raise a son for the Wei Emperor for nothing; we must find some place for him."
Standing at the forefront of the civil officials was the current Prime Minister, Su Wenzhong.
Old Prime Minister Su, meeting the Emperor's gaze, immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, my grandson Zixiao is dull-witted and spends his days playing with weapons, truly unsuited to be the Second Prince's companion. I shamelessly request a guard position for him."
Prime Minister Su's grandson, Su Zixiao, is currently the Second Prince's companion.
The Emperor raised his eyebrows and said, "Zixiao, that child, is skilled in martial arts. If he doesn't like reading, let him first serve as my Imperial Guard."
There was a brief exchange of glances between sovereign and ministers, then the Emperor asked, "Since that's the case, Prince of Wei Country, are you willing to replace Zixiao as the Second Prince's companion?"
The fate of the Prince of Wei Country was unrelated to his own wishes.
Yuan Lang lowered his gaze, bowed, and said, "Yuan Lang is willing."
Whether he was willing or not was unimportant. Now in Yan Country, he was at the mercy of others, completely losing the pride of a Prince.
The Emperor smiled faintly and then said, "As for Yunhao's companion, let it remain a choice between Gu Lan, son of Dingyuan Marquis, and Qian Rui, the young son of Minister Qian. Prince Rui, how do you feel?"
Rong Shuo's eyes flickered, then he said, "I have no objections."
The Emperor seemed to remember something: "A few days ago, Gu Lan fell into the water."
A tall and handsome young man stepped forward and replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, my younger brother has been frail since childhood. Although he is now out of danger, he is still recuperating at the Marquis Mansion."
Speaking was Gu Changting, the son of Gu Lan's second uncle.
At this time, a graceful figure in indigo official robes stepped out from the ranks of the civil officials.
This figure was like a gentle breeze passing through the grand hall, bringing a quiet to the assembled officials, who then widened their eyes in surprise.
The one who stepped out was Xie Yun, the Crown Prince's Advisor.
Xie Yun and Gu Changting were both companions to the Eastern Palace Crown Prince before, and they had always been at odds. Now, as officials, they still often opposed each other.
This was going to be an interesting show.
Xie Yun had a gentle demeanor but spoke bluntly, "Your Majesty, I have heard that Gu Lan is illiterate, whereas Young Master Qian is renowned for his poetry and talent. Therefore, I believe Qian Rui should be the young prince's companion."
"My brother is clever and intelligent, just a little playful. How could he be illiterate?" Gu Changting snorted coldly, rolling his eyes fiercely.
The Emperor squinted his eyes and smiled, "Xie Zhan is the most renowned young master in the world. Is there anyone in the Capital City with more talent than you?"
"Your Majesty flatters me, I am unworthy."
Xie Yun replied humbly, his youthful figure upright, his handsome ethereal features like a finely drawn ink painting, standing like a noble orchid jade tree, radiant and godlike.
"Enough, once Gu Lan recovers, let him and Qian Rui be chosen by Yunhao himself." The Emperor ultimately did not decide on the young prince's companion.
The matter of the companion remained a choice between Gu Lan and Qian Rui.
Just as the Emperor was about to inquire about the next matter, an elder dressed in a heavy official robe with graying hair suddenly walked out from the sidelines, trembling slightly.
"Your Majesty, I believe it may be inappropriate for the Prince of Wei Country to be in close daily contact with the Second Prince. It might be better for him to be Rong Heng's companion."
As the words fell, the Emperor's eyes narrowed slightly, deeply scrutinizing the elder, his peach blossom eyes containing an unfathomable depth and obscurity.
Inside Taihe Palace, there was a sudden deathly silence.
Rong Heng's name had been a taboo in the court for the past seven years.
Unexpectedly, today, under the pretext of selecting a companion for the young prince, it was brought up again.
The one who spoke was Old Minister of Rites Rong Mu.
In Yan Country, the Minister of Rites was held by the Imperial Family, responsible for the rituals and ceremonies of the Imperial Family.
Rong Mu was the Imperial Uncle of the former Emperor, of high seniority. Besides him, no one dared to mention Rong Heng.
And precisely because it was him, since the matter was raised, there must be a conclusion.
Rong Mu finished speaking and stepped back, standing like a clay statue.
His cloudy old eyes lowered, echoing with the instructions of the Ghost Doctor in his mind.
Only the Ghost Doctor could cure his grandson's illness, and the only request of the Ghost Doctor, who was known for reviving the dead and regenerating flesh and bones, was to have him mention "Rong Heng" in the court.
Seated on the throne, the Emperor gently turned the jade thumb ring on his thumb.
Zhang Fengcai, familiar with the Emperor's habits, knew this was an action the Emperor did when deep in thought.
Having the Prince of Wei Country as Rong Heng's companion indeed served to humiliate Wei Country to the core.
But the crucial point is, Rong Heng had not even entered the Imperial Family studies these years.
Since the former Emperor's death, Rong Heng had been implicated in Pingnan Marquis's rebellion and relocated to live in the Imperial Court. It's been seven years now.
Seven years, enough to clip the wings of any favored child of heaven.
No matter how strong the bone, it could be ground to dust in the lonely deep palace.
After a moment, the Emperor asked, "My beloved officials, what do you think?"
"Rong Heng is the grandson of a criminal, how can he enter the Imperial Family studies!"
"However, he is after all of the Imperial Family bloodline, living in the Imperial Court is improper..."
"Rong Heng is already sixteen and should be ennobled and relocated."
"The former Emperor's last will decreed, the Xiao Family's crimes were to exterminate the Nine Clans, how can Rong Heng still be considered a Prince, how can he be ennobled."
"The Prince of Wei Country and the son of the former Emperor being together, inappropriate, inappropriate!"
The officials discussed fervently.
Prince Rui, with a tense expression, stepped forward again: "Your Majesty, Rong Heng is now sixteen and, according to ancestral laws, should be ennobled and relocated."
In Yan Country's laws, a Prince who is ennobled at the age of sixteen should head to his fief, and if there is no fief, he should establish a residence and government outside the palace.
Rong Heng had not been ennobled nor entered the Imperial Family studies, living like a ghost in the Imperial Palace all these years.
The memory of young Rong Heng surfaced in Rong Shuo's mind, causing his hand at his side to tremble uncontrollably.
He was the eldest son and had left the palace early, seeing little of his fifth brother, yet could still recall the boy looking up and innocently calling him "Imperial Brother."
Rong Shuo remembered when their father favored his fifth brother, he had told him to protect his younger brothers, especially after becoming the Great General.
He thought that living in the Imperial Court for a lifetime was worse, even sending him to a bitter cold place would be better, than enthroning him as a minor Prince.
After Rong Shuo finished speaking, he silently looked at the Emperor—his second brother.
He did not know whether the Emperor would agree to his suggestion, as the loyalty between ruler and subject always surpassed the brotherly bond.
The current Emperor Rong Jing had been on the throne for seven years now, yet still very young. His features were strikingly beautiful with a pair of clear peach blossom eyes, making him appear less like an Emperor and more like a romantic nobleman.
However, this seemingly gentle Emperor, yesterday when he returned to the Capital City, forbade the Princess Consort and princely heir from greeting him, thus reminding him with one sentence:
Those who follow him thrive, those who oppose him perish.