Chapter 653: Chapter 652: 652: Is the Emperor this Benevolent?

Li Hongyuan looked at her for a moment, saying, “Didn’t Li You just remind you to keep your distance from the Silla people?”

“Li You? Why should I listen to him?”

“Because I can tell, you admire him to some extent.”

“Admiration doesn’t mean I trust him, nor does it mean I will listen to him.”

“Hmm, good point.”

Li Hongyuan shifted his gaze to the dancing women in the palace.

After the banquet, Jiang Ning hurried to see off Jiang Ruobai and Lin Zizi.

Lin Zizi was once again tearful, saying she had lost weight, and looked absolutely heartbroken.

Jiang Ruobai started to feel bad. After much pleading, he promised to take his daughter home for a few days, which finally pacified Lin Zizi.

Even though Lin Zizi was emotional, she knew that father and daughter would have some things to talk about in their fleeting encounter. She then struck up a conversation with another wife.

Jiang Ning laughed, “Dad, did you see that man?”

“Such a big person standing there, how could I miss him? Two years apart, but the lad hasn’t changed much.”

“He just got back, and the Emperor couldn’t wait to confer him as the Prince of Zhao. What’s your take on this, dad?”

“It shows that the Emperor’s heart has softened.”

“Is it?”

“The Emperor might feel indebted to Li You, so this opportunity was a good occasion to compensate him. To make him a prince indirectly confirms his identity.”

Jiang Ning laughed., “Just because of indebtedness? I didn’t think the Emperor was so benign.”

“What else do you think is behind this?”

“The Emperor’s health isn’t doing well now. Dad, you should know this from the Imperial Court. Since the Late Empress passed away, the Emperor has not attended court. All the affairs are now managed by Crown Prince, the Regent. This morning, when I saw the Emperor, he was indeed in poor spirits, looking twenty years older than before.”

“Daughter, some things can’t be openly discussed.

“I understand,” Jiang Ning whispered, “Maybe in the Emperor’s mind, the Crown Prince is not the only option.”

Jiang Ruobai glanced left and right, then strolled with Jiang Ning to a secluded place, whispering, “Imperial strategy is never that simple.”

“Not that simple? It’s just for one word – power,” Jiang Ning said with a low and cold laugh, “Does the royal family ever have true affection? When the Emperor’s other sons died, he didn’t seem to be that heartbroken. Even if he truly loved the Late Empress, and therefore had some preference for Li Hongyuan because of her, that was under his absolute control.”

“Do you think the Emperor fears the Crown Prince?”

“Hard to say,” Jiang Ning frowned, “If there’s anyone I can’t see through, the Emperor would certainly be one.”

“Who else can you not see through?”

“And you, dad.” Jiang Ning grinned, “Who doesn’t know that Prime Minister Jiang has profound schemes, he’s a cunning fox?”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“You little fox!”

“Dad, on a serious note, what if the Emperor’s grief is an act? What if he’s actually testing the Crown Prince? The Crown Prince has been ruling for so long and has increasingly gained the approval of nobles and ministers. In the long run, he’s inevitably a threat to the Emperor. I don’t believe that the Emperor, who had no guilt for more than twenty years, has suddenly found his conscience and wants to legitimize his illegitimate son.”

Jiang Ruobai looked at his daughter’s slightly naive face and smiled, “In your opinion, is the Emperor truly heartbroken, or is he pretending?”

“The grief is real, but the illness might not be.”

“Those words, we dare not speak at random,” Jiang Ruobai said leisurely.