CHAPTER 46: CHAPTER 46 DOES THE EMPEROR WANT TO DESTROY OUR KONG FAMILY?

In the carriage returning home, Kong Taichang’s expression was very grave: "Alas..."

Sitting beside him, his son could no longer bear it, so he interrupted his father’s sighing: "Father, please stop sighing and quickly think of a plan."

"What plan? We can’t defy the royal decree." At this moment, Kong Taichang’s mind was in turmoil, filled with chaos, losing all his usual calm and wisdom.

"Father, are you really going to watch as little sister marries Prince Dai as a concubine?" Kong Yuan, seeing his father’s resigned demeanor, said incredulously, "Are you going to drag our Kong Family into the royal power struggle again? To be cursed by the scholars of the world once more? Are we going to repeat the mistakes of the previous dynasty?"

Kong Yuan’s words deeply touched Kong Taichang’s sore spot, and his expression immediately became stern and fierce, "Our Kong Family must never repeat the mistakes of the previous dynasty, absolutely not!"

In the previous dynasty, the then Kong Family Head was deluded and supported Prince Yun, making him the first prince of the previous dynasty to be granted the title of an eight-jewel prince. Prince Yun was not the Empress’s child but the son of the favored Noble Princess Consort Lan. Noble Princess Consort Lan was arrogant and domineering, as was Prince Yun.

The Kong Family’s support of Prince Yun went against the Confucian principle of supporting the rightful and the elder son. Furthermore, Prince Yun at the time was extremely arrogant without any reputation for being virtuous. How could the scholars of the world not be infuriated when the Kong Family supported someone like that to fight for the throne?

With the Kong Family’s support, Prince Yun’s power grew larger and more autocratic. Prince Yun did many absurd things, causing complaints among the people. Moreover, during that time, many scholars were persecuted, and the scholars of the world deeply resented the Kong Family. It was then that the Kong Family’s reputation hit rock bottom.

After that, Emperor Xia Ling of the previous dynasty was reckless and indulgent, causing widespread suffering, and the people could no longer endure it, leading to successive uprisings. At that time, the former emperor was the most outstanding and righteous among the many uprising warriors.

The former emperor himself came from a farming background, suffered exploitation by officials of the previous dynasty, and deeply understood the hardships and difficulties of the people. Therefore, he always demanded that his soldiers treat the people kindly. Whenever his army reached a place, they never killed, burned, or looted but instead comforted and helped the populace.

The people viewed the former emperor as a benevolent ruler and held him in high esteem. Wherever the former emperor went, the people would warmly welcome him. At that time, although the people had little to eat, they actively provided food and drink for the former emperor.

Kong Taichang’s father saw the former emperor’s prestige among the people and his benevolent heart and decided to follow and support him.

The former emperor himself had little education but deeply understood the importance of learning. Kong Taichang’s father’s allegiance pleased the former emperor greatly, leading him to have Kong Taichang’s father teach his children and soldiers to read and write.

Kong Taichang’s father received important responsibilities from the former emperor, and with his integrity and respect for talent, the Kong Family’s reputation gradually revived. Later, Kong Taichang’s father, along with others like Prime Minister He, helped the former emperor establish Great Zhou and formulate its laws and ceremonial rules.

In the early days of Great Zhou, military officers were highly regarded and held high status, while the status of scholars plummeted. Through Kong Taichang’s father’s efforts, the former emperor began to value Confucianism, significantly elevating the status of scholars and gradually giving them important roles. Because of this, the scholars of the world no longer resented the Kong Family. After ten to twenty years, the Kong Family finally regained the respect of the scholars, but their status and reputation still did not match that of the Li Family.

Before his death, Kong Taichang’s father tightly held his hand, repeatedly urging him to abide by the family rules set by their ancestors and to never make foolish mistakes like the previous dynasty’s family head, which would ruin the Kong Family.

Kong Taichang swore before his father, promising not to let the Kong Family repeat past mistakes.

"Father, we can’t defy the decree, but if little sister can’t marry Prince Dai, the emperor can’t blame us, right?"

Kong Taichang understood his son’s intent, "You mean to sabotage this marriage?"

Kong Yuan nodded, "This marriage must be sabotaged."

"It must be sabotage, but we must think carefully about how to do it without angering the emperor."

"I said to arrange little sister’s marriage before she came of age, but you and mother said there was no hurry and wanted to take it slow. Now look, the emperor directly decreed the marriage to Prince Dai." Kong Yuan said, "If little sister’s engagement was already set, we could refuse the emperor’s decree today."

Kong Taichang also felt regret, "How could I have known the emperor would decree your little sister’s marriage to Prince Dai? Had I known, I would have arranged her engagement years ago and had her married once she came of age." His youngest daughter was the old-age daughter of him and his wife, exceptionally bright, obedient, and adorable. They both doted on her and were reluctant to marry her off early. They planned to keep her for another couple of years and slowly find a good husband for her during this time. Unexpectedly, the emperor suddenly decreed her marriage to Prince Dai as a concubine.

"When the former emperor reigned, he did not let our Kong Family’s daughters enter the palace as princess consorts. Even in the years since the emperor’s ascension, he did not let our Kong Family’s daughters enter the palace as consorts." Kong Taichang was full of confusion, "When the Crown Prince and Prince Dai got married, the emperor did not arrange for our Kong Family’s daughters to marry either the Crown Prince or Prince Dai. So why today, did the emperor suddenly decree that your little sister marries Prince Dai?"

"It’s simple; the emperor wants our Kong Family to support Prince Dai, so in the future, Prince Dai can rightfully become..." Kong Yuan abruptly stopped, not finishing his sentence.

Kong Taichang’s face suddenly turned somber again, "The emperor is..." He wanted to say how could the emperor make such a foolish decision.

"Father, we cannot support Prince Dai!"

"Naturally not!" Kong Taichang said resolutely, "Even if it means defying the decree, we must not let your little sister marry Prince Dai!" The Kong Family’s reputation could not be tarnished again, or they truly would have no face to meet their ancestors.

"We need to discuss this matter carefully."

Before Kong Taichang and his son returned home, everyone in the household had already heard about the marriage decree.

Mrs. Kong and Miss Kong anxiously awaited Kong Taichang’s return. Seeing him back, they hurriedly asked what the marriage decree was about.

Kong Taichang recounted what had transpired during the morning court session to his wife and youngest daughter. After speaking, seeing their panicked expressions, he quickly reassured them: "Don’t worry, Madam, I will not let Yao Er marry Prince Dai as a concubine."

"The emperor has decreed the marriage; how do we have the right to refuse? Are you going to defy the decree, my lord?"

"Besides defying the decree, there are other methods, but it will require Yao Er to make a sacrifice."

Kong Yao, seeing Kong Taichang looking at her with guilt, smiled sweetly at him, "Father, marrying Prince Dai as a concubine would be the true sacrifice for me. As long as I don’t have to marry Prince Dai, I’m not sacrificing."

"Yao Er, starting today, you must feign illness."

"Feign illness?" Kong Yao exclaimed, "Father, the emperor just decreed the marriage, and I suddenly fall ill; it’s too obvious, and the emperor will surely become suspicious."

"When the time comes, I’ll say you were frightened by the marriage decree." On the way back home, Kong Taichang and his son had already thought of several ways to refuse this marriage decree. "If feigning illness doesn’t work, then we will feign madness. I don’t believe the emperor would still let you marry Prince Dai if you went mad..." Before he could finish, his arm was sharply twisted by his wife.

"What kind of absurd idea is that?"

However, Kong Yao thought the idea was great, "Father, let’s do that. If feigning illness doesn’t work, I’ll feign madness." She would rather play the fool than marry Prince Dai as a concubine.

"Let’s try feigning illness first." Kong Taichang said, "Tomorrow, I will plead guilty before the emperor and gauge his attitude."

Beside him, Kong Yuan said, "Luckily, little sister hasn’t come of age yet, so we don’t have to worry that Prince Dai will return, and she’ll be immediately married off."

Mrs. Kong was surprised to hear her husband and son speak like this, "Are you serious about doing this?"

"Actually, there’s another way, which is to ruin little sister’s reputation, but that would be unfavorable for her," Kong Yuan said. "Currently, the best way we have thought of is to feign illness or madness."

"Father, eldest brother, my reputation being ruined is nothing, but the Kong Family’s reputation must not be tarnished again."

Seeing his daughter being so understanding, Kong Taichang felt very comforted, "Tomorrow, I will speak earnestly with the emperor, hoping he will rescind the order."

"Why did the emperor suddenly decree this marriage?" Mrs. Kong asked in confusion, "Does the emperor want to destroy our Kong Family?" Mrs. Kong also understood the true intent behind this marriage decree. The emperor wanted them to support Prince Dai, essentially destroying the Kong Family.