Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne
Chapter 45 The Crown Prince’s Wrath

Chapter 45: Chapter 45 The Crown Prince’s Wrath

"Mrs. Kong, congratulations."

The people of the Marquis Xuanping faction surrounded Mrs. Kong, congratulating him.

"Mrs. Kong, we will be in-laws in the future, let’s have more interactions." Marquis Xuanping said very politely to Mrs. Kong, "Mrs. Kong, if you don’t mind, why not come to my house for tea now."

Mrs. Kong said stiffly, "Thank you for the invitation, Marquis Xuanping, but I have matters to attend to today, so I must take my leave." Having said that, he hurriedly left.

The Heir of Marquis Xuanping watched Mrs. Kong’s departing back with dissatisfaction, furrowing his brows and saying, "Father, it seems Mrs. Kong is very dissatisfied with this marriage."

"What can he do if he’s dissatisfied?" Marquis Xuanping wasn’t angered by Mrs. Kong’s cold attitude; on the contrary, he was in a very good mood, with a constant smile on his face, "This is a marriage bestowed by the Emperor; whether Mrs. Kong is willing or not, he has to accept it, otherwise it would be defying the decree."

The Heir of Marquis Xuanping couldn’t stand Mrs. Kong’s earlier attitude and said resentfully, "His youngest daughter is marrying Prince Dai as a consort; it’s a blessing for their Kong family, and yet he’s unwilling!"

"The Kong family does not want to get involved in the struggle between Prince Dai and the Crown Prince and is unwilling to marry their daughter to Prince Dai as a consort." Marquis Xuanping spoke, showing a puzzled expression, "The Emperor didn’t want the Kong family involved in the Crown Prince and Prince Dai’s conflict before, so he didn’t marry the Kong daughters to the Crown Prince or Prince Dai when they got married. So why change his mind now?" Back then, when the Crown Prince and Prince Dai got married, the Kong family’s eldest daughter and second daughter were of similar ages to the Crown Prince and Prince Dai. The ministers all expected the Emperor to marry the Kong family’s eldest daughter to the Crown Prince and the second daughter to Prince Dai. Yet, the Emperor did not do so. Instead, he married the Duke Zhen’s daughter to the Crown Prince as the Princess Consort and the Marquis Xuanping’s daughter to Prince Dai.

Just last year, the Emperor bestowed Da Honglu’s daughter to the Crown Prince as a consort. Prince Dai only married a few years ago and has been stationed outside to quell rebellions, spending little time in the capital, which is why he has not yet taken a consort.

In these two years, many ministers have been eyeing the position of Prince Dai’s consort, hoping their daughters or nieces could become Prince Dai’s consort.

Although it’s the position of a consort and not the official wife, it’s quite desirable, and many ministers are willing to marry their daughters to Prince Dai as a consort.

In the eyes of the ministers, being Prince Dai’s consort is only temporary. One day, Prince Dai’s consort would become a noble princess and possibly even the Empress.

Noble Princess Consort Rong was very concerned about the selection of Prince Dai’s consort. For the past two years, she had been searching, and she finally set her eyes on Mrs. Kong’s youngest daughter, although she knew the Emperor wouldn’t agree. Prince Dai himself also favored Mrs. Kong’s youngest daughter. To be precise, he valued the Kong family.

Although knowing the Emperor would not agree, Noble Princess Consort Rong once mentioned it in front of the Emperor. At that time, the Emperor didn’t speak, merely glanced at Noble Princess Consort Rong. That glance made her understand the Emperor’s disapproval, and she never mentioned it again.

"To compensate Prince Dai," the Heir of Marquis Xuanping speculated, "Since the Emperor didn’t agree to promote Prince Dai, he granted Mrs. Kong’s youngest daughter to him as a consort."

"That seems to be the case. The Emperor has always favored Prince Dai." Marquis Xuanping said with a smile, "Marrying Mrs. Kong’s youngest daughter as a consort is more beneficial to Prince Dai than promotion."

The Heir of Marquis Xuanping laughed as he said, "With the support of the Kong family, it’s equivalent to gaining the support of a great number of scholars in the world. By then, Prince Dai..." At this point, the Heir of Marquis Xuanping did not continue.

"What Prince Dai needs most is the support of scholars, and now this problem is solved by the Emperor." Recently, Prince Dai wrote a letter, saying he would go to Yangzhou to quell the chaos, mainly to meet with the scholars there. But now that the Emperor granted Mrs. Kong’s daughter to Prince Dai as a consort, it is unnecessary for Prince Dai to go to Yangzhou for this purpose."

The Heir of Marquis Xuanping commented, "Father, Prince Dai should still go to Yangzhou; otherwise, how could he face the Xie family with our strength?"

Marquis Xuanping seemed to have forgotten about this: "You’re right."

"Father, even if Mrs. Kong is unwilling, we have to build good relationships with the Kong family."

"That’s only natural." Marquis Xuanping nodded, "When we return, ask your mother to write an invitation to Mrs. Kong and Miss Kong to visit our residence."

Meanwhile, while Marquis Xuanping and his son were happily discussing how to establish good relations with Mrs. Kong, the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen were furious in the Eastern Palace.

As soon as the Crown Prince returned to the Eastern Palace, he couldn’t restrain his anger, smashing many items.

This time, Duke Zhen did not stop the Crown Prince from venting his anger; he sat on the side, frowning, with a gloomy face.

The eunuchs and palace maids serving in the Eastern Palace were terrified at the sight of the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen’s dark expressions, daring not to utter a sound.

After smashing things for a while, the Crown Prince’s anger slightly diminished, but his face remained grim.

"Uncle, what does Father mean? Is he finally impatient to let Prince Dai replace me?"

Duke Zhen did not speak. The Emperor suddenly granting Mrs. Kong’s youngest daughter to Prince Dai as a consort was something he hadn’t anticipated. He couldn’t fathom the meaning behind this imperial decree.

"Uncle, it’s the Kong family." The Crown Prince’s anger rose with his thoughts, twisting his handsome face. "Prince Dai has never been supported by civil officials, yet Father has given Mrs. Kong’s daughter to him as a consort, isn’t it to make the scholars and learned men support Prince Dai to replace me?"

The Crown Prince sneered, "For Prince Dai to rightfully replace me as the Crown Prince, Father is really painstaking. I should be sensible enough to take the initiative to tell Father I won’t serve as the Crown Prince, and allow Prince Dai to take the position."

Duke Zhen raised his gaze, his eyes turning sharp as he sneered, "The Emperor wants Prince Dai to replace you; it’s not so simple."

Upon hearing Duke Zhen’s words, the Crown Prince’s eyes brightened, and he hurriedly asked, "Uncle, have you thought of a way?"

"It’s simple, just disrupt the marriage." Duke Zhen spoke with a cold face, "The Emperor wants Prince Dai to marry Mrs. Kong’s youngest daughter as a consort; then we won’t let her marry Prince Dai."

The Crown Prince instantly understood Duke Zhen’s implication, "Uncle, you mean..."

Duke Zhen replied meaningfully, "I think Mrs. Kong does not want his daughter to marry Prince Dai as a consort; we can cooperate with him."

"Uncle, Mrs. Kong should understand why Father is marrying his daughter to Prince Dai. Do you think he would be unwilling?" The Crown Prince doubted that Mrs. Kong would be willing to cooperate with them and reject the marriage.

"Mrs. Kong does not want to be involved in your struggle with Prince Dai." Duke Zhen stated confidently, "He cannot accept this marriage, just like us."

"If the Kong family successfully helps Prince Dai replace me and ascend to the Crown Prince’s position, his daughter and the Kong family’s status will become honorable. Do you think he would refuse?" If it were him, he wouldn’t refuse.

"Anyone else would undoubtedly refuse, but Mrs. Kong would definitely find a way to refuse."

Seeing Duke Zhen so resolutely assert this, the Crown Prince asked in surprise, "Uncle, why are you so sure?"

"Because Mrs. Kong highly values the reputation of their Kong family." Duke Zhen chuckled, "If he supports Prince Dai to become the Crown Prince, he betrays their Kong family’s ancestral teachings and destroys their hard-won reputation."

Listening to Duke Zhen, the Crown Prince found it very reasonable.

"Most importantly, during the previous dynasty, their Kong family did something very ridiculous, disgracing the Kong family. Many still remember that incident." Duke Zhen continued, "The Kong family’s reputation gradually improved by supporting the previous Emperor, and they’ve finally regained the respect of scholars. Mrs. Kong wouldn’t dare to support the illegitimate Prince Dai."