“Your Highness, long live the Emperor!” Zhang Fang respectfully bowed deeply to the emperor. The emperor adjusted his emotions and got up to help Zhang Fang rise. “Zhang Qing, you may stand.”
Zhang Fang looked up in surprise, their eyes meeting. The emperor smiled and said, “Zhang Qing, I have decreed that you shall be appointed as a court lecturer to accompany me.”
The decree was given, leaving Zhang Fang no choice but to accept it!
Zhang Fang sighed helplessly, lowering his gaze to respond, “I obey the decree.”
Seeing Zhang Fang’s unwilling expression, the emperor was not offended. He trusted Zhang Fang—who reluctantly entered the court—more than those who schemed to get close to him.
The emperor sat down with Zhang Fang, and they played chess casually. The emperor complained, “I have been feeling weak lately; I really am getting old.”
Normally, one would refute such a statement, insisting that the emperor was still strong and young.
However, Zhang Fang remained silent, ignoring the emperor’s words.
The emperor glanced at Zhang Fang, and after waiting for a while without hearing a response, continued calmly, “The third prince has gone to the temple to pray for the country; I wonder how he is faring.”
The implication was obvious, and the emperor believed Zhang Fang understood his intent.
Zhang Fang focused intently on the chessboard, showing no signs of wanting to speak.
The emperor was at a loss; Zhang Fang could undoubtedly gauge that he wished to bring the third prince back before the birthday banquet. Why wouldn’t he just say so?
Now, the emperor needed a way to summon the third prince back, waiting for Zhang Fang to provide that opportunity.
“Zhang Qing, are you truly so engrossed in your game that you didn’t hear what I just said?” The emperor gazed deeply at Zhang Fang.
Zhang Fang lifted his eyelids and met the emperor’s gaze, calmly placing his piece. “Replying to His Majesty, I heard you.”
The emperor thought, ‘So why don’t you voice your opinion!’
With a calm demeanor, the emperor asked, “What do you think, should the third prince come back?”
“Your Majesty, I recently wrote a story about the Wang family,” Zhang Fang replied absently, fiddling with his chess piece.
“The story of the Wang family is indeed interesting. Why are you so certain that the eldest son should inherit the family business?” This outcome was one the emperor could not accept, making him feel uneasy.
“It is only natural for the eldest son to inherit the family business. However, the eldest son is too impatient, resorting to the unnecessary act of harming his siblings and going against his father’s wishes, which is absolutely unacceptable.” Zhang Fang nodded toward the emperor, indicating for him to place his piece.
The emperor stared keenly at Zhang Fang and asked, “How do you think the old master can prevent the eldest son from making further mistakes?”
“When writing this, I considered having the old master feign illness to test his two sons. This way, he could control the situation. However, I eventually deleted that portion.” The emperor delayed making his move, leaving Zhang Fang to toy with two pieces in his hands.
Although Zhang Fang appeared to speak carelessly, the emperor paid close attention. It was indeed a good idea! If the crown prince lost his composure, he would surely err, providing the emperor a reason to reprimand him. But this also meant the crown prince’s position would be unstable.
Dethroning the crown prince would only temporarily subdue the officials. With the East Palace empty, the court would ultimately remain unsettled.
The emperor was still unsure which son should ascend to the position of crown prince. The second prince was completely dismissed from consideration. The emperor feared the third prince might become the next crown prince, dominating the court after being established as heir. The other princes were still too young; it would take several more years before they could participate in court affairs.
While the emperor was deep in thought, Zhang Fang suddenly smiled at him, complimenting, “Speaking of which, my father and Your Majesty are of a similar age, enduring years of hard labor in farming, and now he has become a frail old man. Yet Your Majesty looks at least twenty years younger and stronger than my father!”
The emperor squinted and immediately understood what Zhang Fang meant.
He, too, felt his health was quite good; living another twenty or thirty years was hardly a problem.
The emperor suddenly relaxed his worries. After all, he wasn’t old or weak enough to not be able to stand. His health was good enough to have more sons and wait for the others to grow! He could gradually cultivate the children he favored into capable individuals!
With a smile, the emperor continued to make his moves while speaking to Zhang Fang, “I thought you were not the sort to flatter or butter up to people.”
Zhang Fang shook his head, saying seriously, “I do not flatter. What I say is the truth.”
The emperor felt relieved, as the gloom in his heart gradually dissipated. He decided to keep Zhang Fang for dinner and no longer rushed to bring the third prince back. He planned to adopt Zhang Fang’s suggestion and feign illness to test the crown prince after some time. After dealing with the crown prince, the emperor would reorganize the court. As for the third prince, he could remain at Lushanshan Temple for now, at least for another year and a half, until the emperor was done restructuring the court, before considering letting him return.
Zhang Fang was of noble character, a point widely acknowledged. The emperor’s decision to name him a court lecturer was a testament to his wisdom! Once the news spread, many felt joy for Zhang Fang and praised the emperor.
The emperor was very pleased with the reaction outside.
The only person who was displeased was the crown prince! Once Zhang Fang entered politics, he immediately supported the second prince.
This was also the emperor’s intention. As an object of admiration for the second prince, Zhang Fang would oversee the second prince’s affairs, encouraging him to compete with the crown prince’s faction for power. The second prince did not disappoint Zhang Fang and became significantly more proactive in court.
In the court, it had now turned into Zhang Fang leading the second prince to oppose the crown prince and his allies. The emperor was quite satisfied with this development.
As the year’s end approached, the emperor suddenly caught a chill and postponed court for several days. This made the officials anxious, and the atmosphere in court grew heavy.
The emperor had the second prince take charge of the Jinwu Guard, while Zhang Fang took control of the Qian Niu Guard. When this news reached the East Palace, the crown prince could no longer sit still!
The emperor’s actions were clearly a precaution against him, the crown prince! The crown prince had to think more deeply, suspecting with the utmost malice that the emperor was unwell and perhaps secretly sending someone to bring back the third prince, preparing to dethrone him and establish the third prince as heir.
Once suspicion arose, it only deepened. The crown prince ordered assassins to head to Lushanshan Temple and take action against the third prince.