CHAPTER 42: FORTY-TWO CHAPTERS: REVERSAL

Supporters of Prince Dai stepped forward one after another, requesting the emperor to add pearls to Prince Dai.

Supporters of the Crown Prince naturally stepped forward one after another, opposing the addition of pearls to Prince Dai.

Other ministers who supported the Third Prince, Fifth Prince, and Sixth Prince hoped for the pearls to be added to Prince Dai, so that when their own princes came of age, they would also receive pearls. However, today, they did not voice their agreement with Prince Dai’s faction but stood to the side, calmly observing the debate between Prince Dai’s faction and the Crown Prince’s faction.

The ministers of Prince Dai’s faction and the Crown Prince’s faction resumed their argument, albeit with less intensity than before.

The emperor sat on the dragon throne, resting his right hand on his cheek, watching the unending debate among the ministers with amusement.

The ministers debated in low voices, but their spit flew onto each other’s faces. Not only that, but their faces turned red and their necks bulged from the heated argument. Meanwhile, Marquis Xuanping and Duke Zhen, as leaders of Prince Dai’s faction and the Crown Prince’s faction, stood silently in their places.

The emperor looked at Marquis Xuanping and Duke Zhen, who seemed detached from the situation, and a faint, inscrutable smile appeared on his lips.

"Marquis Xuanping."

Upon hearing the emperor call him, Marquis Xuanping immediately bowed in salute, "I am here, Your Majesty."

"What do you think, should I add pearls to Prince Dai?" The emperor’s face bore a gentle smile, and his tone was casual, as if engaging in idle chatter after a meal.

Marquis Xuanping’s heart tightened, and his expression involuntarily became more serious.

"I dare not speculate on Your Majesty’s intentions."

The emperor was not surprised by Marquis Xuanping’s answer. He changed his posture, leaning slightly on the left armrest of the dragon throne, crossing his legs, and resting his right hand on his knee, appearing somewhat leisurely.

"I’m not asking you to speculate on my intentions; I’m asking your opinion on whether pearls should be added to Prince Dai."

Marquis Xuanping raised his head and glanced at the emperor. Seeing the emperor’s casual demeanor, he could not grasp the emperor’s intent.

The matter of adding pearls to Prince Dai had been debated for several days, yet this was the first time the emperor asked Marquis Xuanping this question.

Marquis Xuanping did not rush to answer but pondered for a moment.

"In response, Your Majesty, I believe pearls should be added to Prince Dai."

The emperor was slightly surprised by Marquis Xuanping’s direct response. Normally, in matters concerning rewards for Prince Dai, Marquis Xuanping would never advocate for Prince Dai.

"And the reason?"

Marquis Xuanping replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, the rebellion in Liangzhou has long been a significant problem for the court. This time, the rebels numbered in the hundreds of thousands. If not for Prince Dai quelling the rebellion, the consequences would be unthinkable." He stopped speaking there.

He did not, like other ministers, enumerate the battles won by Prince Dai, nor did he detail how dangerous and severe the rebellion in Liangzhou was, nor did he mention that if Liangzhou fell, the rebels would advance toward Yong State, putting the capital in jeopardy.

Marquis Xuanping did not wish to speak further, nor did he dare to. Speaking too much might not be wise. Moreover, these words should not come from him, as he was Prince Dai’s maternal uncle.

Traditionally, Marquis Xuanping would not have uttered such words about adding pearls to Prince Dai. Saying this was uncharacteristic. However, the emperor had not yet agreed to add pearls to Prince Dai, and with Prince Dai arriving in the capital that afternoon, Marquis Xuanping feared the matter would remain unresolved, prompting his unusual stance.

Marquis Xuanping was also waiting for the emperor to question him. Without being asked, he was reluctant to express his opinion so directly. Additionally, by giving such a straightforward answer, he made his stance clear to the emperor.

The emperor then looked at Duke Zhen, who stood at the forefront of the queue on the left, and asked, "Duke Zhen, what do you think about adding pearls to Prince Dai?"

Duke Zhen stepped forward, saluted the emperor, and respectfully said, "In response, Your Majesty, I believe pearls should be added to Prince Dai."

His words left the ministers in shock, and even the emperor appeared surprised.

The ministers wondered what had overcome Duke Zhen. Had he lost his mind? Otherwise, why would he agree to add pearls to Prince Dai?

Marquis Xuanping, initially surprised, frowned, casting a sharp and suspicious glance at Duke Zhen.

What was Duke Zhen plotting?

The emperor regained his composure, sat upright, and asked, "And why?"

"Your Majesty, as Marquis Xuanping just said, if it weren’t for Prince Dai quelling the hundreds of thousands of rebels in Liangzhou this time, Liangzhou would certainly have fallen. Once Liangzhou fell, the rebels would have inevitably attacked Yong State, making the capital extremely dangerous," Duke Zhen continued. "Moreover, in recent years, Prince Dai has quelled many rebellions, contributing significantly to the stability of the Great Zhou. Without Prince Dai, there wouldn’t be today’s stable Great Zhou. Both emotionally and rationally, pearls should be added to Prince Dai. I earnestly request Your Majesty to add pearls to Prince Dai." Having said this, he knelt down.

The ministers supporting the Crown Prince looked on in amazement at Duke Zhen, unable to believe that he "betrayed" them as well as the Crown Prince.

The ministers supporting Prince Dai were also utterly astonished, unable to believe Duke Zhen supported adding pearls to Prince Dai. There was indeed something peculiar about Duke Zhen today—he must have lost his mind!

Marquis Xuanping’s face changed dramatically, cursing Duke Zhen inwardly. He knew Duke Zhen was up to no good.

Though Duke Zhen’s words seemed to support adding pearls to Prince Dai, they actually elevated Prince Dai.

Marquis Xuanping was preparing to step forward and refute Duke Zhen’s words. At that moment, the Crown Prince suddenly spoke, "Father, I also believe pearls should be added to Prince Dai."

The Crown Prince’s statement caused a tremendous uproar in the court. Ministers from both Prince Dai’s faction and the Crown Prince’s faction were stunned.

What was happening today? Had Duke Zhen and the Crown Prince lost their minds?

Had Prince Dai somehow bewitched the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen into agreeing to add pearls?

The emperor was amused by the ministers’ expressions of utter disbelief. He asked the Crown Prince with interest, "Crown Prince, do you truly believe pearls should be added to Prince Dai?"

"Father, Prince Dai deserves to be adorned with pearls..." The Crown Prince recounted the victories Prince Dai had previously achieved with great sincerity. "Father, Prince Dai is our Great Zhou’s War God. With him, the Great Zhou will become more secure. Merely making him an ordinary prince would be a great injustice."

The emperor felt no surprise at the Crown Prince’s words. Having heard Duke Zhen’s statement earlier, the Crown Prince’s words did not shock him. If the Crown Prince had spoken before Duke Zhen, the emperor might have been taken aback.

"Then how many pearls do you think should be added to Prince Dai?"

The Crown Prince replied, "I recall that in the previous dynasty, Prince Yun was adorned with eight pearls. Prince Yun did not achieve the distinguished military merits that Prince Dai has, so Prince Dai should also be adorned with eight pearls."

Add eight pearls to Prince Dai?!

The ministers collectively gasped in disbelief. They could not believe their ears; the Crown Prince had actively requested that eight pearls be added to Prince Dai!

Adding eight pearls would make him equal to the Crown Prince! With eight pearls, Prince Dai could stand on equal footing with the Crown Prince!

The Crown Prince was actually willing to have Prince Dai equal him, leading them to conclude the Crown Prince must truly have lost his mind, and quite seriously!

Duke Zhen immediately concurred, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is correct. Given Prince Dai’s contributions, he deserves to be ennobled as an Eight-Pearl Prince!"

Marquis Xuanping hurriedly knelt down, "Your Majesty, this cannot be!" At that moment, Marquis Xuanping fully realized the ploy being played by the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen.

Duke Zhen looked at Marquis Xuanping in confusion, "Marquis Xuanping, didn’t you just say pearls should be added to Prince Dai? Why now do you say it cannot be done?"

"Marquis Xuanping, Prince Dai has made numerous contributions to the stability of the Great Zhou and deserves to be adorned with pearls."

Marquis Xuanping paid no heed to Duke Zhen and the Crown Prince, instead hastily addressing the emperor, "Your Majesty, quelling rebellions was Prince Dai’s duty. As a prince, he should alleviate the emperor’s burdens. I misspoke earlier; pearls should not be added to Prince Dai."

Some ministers, upon hearing Marquis Xuanping’s words, immediately understood the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen’s intentions. They were startled and quickly knelt down, "Your Majesty, the practice of adding pearls is a custom of the previous dynasty and is not customary in our court. We must not use the previous dynasty’s custom to adorn Prince Dai."

The ministers of the Crown Prince’s faction also came to realize the situation at this moment and hurriedly knelt down, pleading with the emperor to add pearls to Prince Dai.

Mere moments ago, the ministers of Prince Dai’s faction supported the addition of pearls, while those of the Crown Prince’s faction vehemently opposed it. Now, however, the tables had turned with the Crown Prince’s supporters backing it, while Prince Dai’s supporters vehemently opposed it, a twist no one expected.

Prime Minister He and Song Dekang, among others, did not foresee such a reversal in the matter of adding pearls to Prince Dai. This was beyond their imagination.

The emperor, however, seemed unsurprised by this reversal. Nonetheless, he was amused by the drama of the reversal.

He deliberately pointed to the ministers who had previously clamored for the addition of pearls to Prince Dai, "Weren’t you just supporting the addition of pearls to Prince Dai?"

"We are foolish, Your Majesty, please punish us!"

"It was you who wanted me to add pearls to Prince Dai, and now it is you who oppose me doing so," the emperor said as he slowly rose and walked to the front, looking at the kneeling ministers with a smile, and asked, "Are you playing with me?"

These words caused the ministers to tremble with fear, and they hurriedly kowtowed to plead, "We would not dare!"