The emperor listened to Huang Guoâs opinion.
âNinth prince is intelligent, humble and patient,â Huang Guo praised. âThat year in Xuan Qing, he worked tirelessly day and night to find ways to prevent severe floods and saved the livelihoods of many citizens. But he humbly gave the credit to others. In Southern Jiang, his strategies helped to subdue the rebels. Everyone here can clearly see that ninth prince is a selfless and diligent person.â
The other court officials thought Pei Jin deserved Huang Guoâs praises. In the past they didnât acknowledge Pei Jinâs achievements because they knew the emperor didnât favor Pei Jin.
The emperorâs expression darkened. No one dared to dispute Huang Guoâs words. It implied everyone hid the extent of his ninth sonâs contributions to the Dian Kingdom and his court officials deceived him!
âEveryone here also knows ninth prince is a gentle and kind person,â Huang Guo said. âHe is respectful and compassionate toward citizens. If he becomes the crown prince, itâll be a blessing for all the citizens.â
The court officials who supported the empress and Pei Zhang kowtowed in front of the emperor and agreed with Huang Guoâs recommendation to make Pei Jin the crown prince. After the empress and Pei Lam died, they were scared Consort Mu and Pei Zhang would eliminate them. So Huang Guoâs words gave them a chance to live.
âYour majesty, seventh prince is the most suitable candidate to be the crown prince,â Official Zai Ci said. âYour majesty, you also need to consider your grandchildren.â
âYour majesty, I agree your majesty should consider your grandchildren,â Huang Guo said.
âHuang Guo, what are you saying?â the emperor asked.
âCongratulations your majesty,â Huang Guo said. âIn a few months your majesty will have a grandson.â
âHuang Guo, why are you the only one congratulating me?â the emperor asked.
âRecently my daughter-in-laws visited ninth princeâs wife and accidently found out ninth princeâs wife is pregnant,â Huang Guo said.
âTruly?â the emperor asked.
âYour majesty, if you donât believe me then your majesty can send your imperial physicians to examine ninth princeâs wife,â Huang Guo said.
The emperor wasnât certain if Huang Guoâs words were true, but his fingers trembled. He was angry why his ninth son didnât inform about his ninth daughter-in-lawâs pregnancy.
Pei Zhang was shocked to hear his ninth brotherâs wife was pregnant. His motherâs imperial physician reported that Yan Shi Ning had a chest infection and he knew Gentleman Zheng wouldnât dare lie to him and his mother.
The loud commotion in the imperial court made the emperor angrier. The emperor dismissed everyone and he summoned Official Hu to the imperial calligraphy room.
Inside the imperial calligraphy room the emperor sat on the highest chair and he gave permission for Official Hu to sit.
âHu, between seventh prince and ninth prince who do you think is more suitable?â the emperor asked.
âYour majesty is wise and knows who is more suitable,â Official Hu said.
âI donât want to hear pleasantries!â the emperor said. âI wonât punish you if you give me your honest opinion.â
âYour majesty, I believe ninth prince is more suitable,â Official Hu said.
âWhy?â the emperor asked.
âYour majesty, truthfully Iâm not close to neither seventh prince nor ninth prince,â Official Hu said. âYour majesty, forgive me for my ignorant thoughts.â
âAlright,â the emperor said. âYouâre free to speak your thoughts.â
âYour majesty, ninth prince is truly someone who is fair and merciful which makes him more suitable to be the crown prince,â Official Hu said.
The emperor silently reflected Official Huâs words. He knew citizens of the Dian Kingdom needed a ruler who was fair and merciful to guide the kingdom through calamities and peaceful periods.
âI understand,â the emperor said. âHu you can leave first.â
Official Hu bowed to the emperor and left the imperial calligraphy room.
On the way back to the Hu Manor, Official Hu remembered his daughterâs shame six years ago. That year he and Pei Jin caught his daughter seducing Pei Zhang when his daughter was betrothed to Pei Jin. Pei Jin didnât expose his daughterâs shame in front of the emperor. If it wasnât for Pei Jinâs mercy and forgiveness then he would have lost his position in the imperial court six years ago. So he wanted to repay Pei Jin for sparing his reputation.
Official Hu thought his dead daughter was foolish while alive. If his daughter was wise then she would be alive and become the empress. Even though it wasnât certain Pei Jin would become emperor, he didnât know why he felt it was inevitable Pei Jin would become emperor. He admitted in the past he didnât expect the carefree and powerless Pei Jin would one day have many court officials support Pei Jin to become emperor.
***
End of Chapter Fifty-Nine