Chapter 254: Chapter 254
In the study, for a moment, the sound of things hitting the floor could be heard.
Being named second on the list when he came of age clearly showed that although Yang Jin’an wasn’t outstanding in social dealings, he was by no means truly stupid. He understood in his heart that his father’s intention for him to remain in the Hanlin Academy was not to use it as a stepping stone for a future rise in government; it was to remain there permanently. For years to come, and likely even until the crown prince ascended or his nephew took the throne, promotion into the Six Ministries would be out of reach. The center of power would be beyond him; his current Ministry of Rites might already be better than what awaited him. For a long time in the future he would be nothing more than an idle scholar.
People—especially those in officialdom—who among them did not have ambition? The Hanlin Academy was undeniably prestigious, but its highest official rank was merely fifth rank. Although not being a Hanlin scholar could block entry into the Grand Council, staying a lifetime in the Hanlin Academy meant those Grand Council seats would be no dream at all.
For Yang Jin’an himself, all those years of hard work were supposed to be the path to the blue sky—this was the best decade of one’s life… Had his father really looked down on his abilities so much?
Thinking this, Eldest Brother Yang’s face grew increasingly stiff, a faint pallor edging it. After a long moment, he tentatively spoke, “Father—the crown prince’s initial investiture is a time for appointments. Your son…”
What his son? Yang Jin’an suddenly couldn’t finish the sentence, especially under his father’s gaze that seemed to see through everything.
On the desk, the exquisitely carved purple-gold agate incense burner continued to smolder.
Pinching the book in his hand, Yang Yuanze did not raise his head and said, “There’s an old saying: unfit virtue brings misfortune. Look at the example of the crown prince’s maternal family, the Xu family—is that not enough?”
“Father, back then the Xu family—” Yang Jin’an tried to probe.
Under this struggle for power, in some sense, lacking virtue and lacking ability are indistinguishable.
Watching his eldest son, who wanted to speak but stopped and clearly showed resentment on his face, Yang Yuanze raised his eyelids slightly and said, “Those years the princes fought among themselves, yet the crown prince, who was seemingly outside the fray from the start, quietly rose. Do you think those others are content with that? The Eastern Palace now has only your sister. Would those families who hope to advance via blood ties be willing to accept that?”
“You always pick the soft persimmon first. The official world is full of knives hidden and open—how much of that can you handle with your present talents?”
As if reading his son’s thoughts, Yang Yuanze lifted his gaze again: “Do not think that having a crown princess will secure you. If the family slips up, ministers will have reason to insert their people into the Eastern Palace, or if the crown prince harbors resentment and wavers—given what you’ve seen today, how long do you think your sister’s temperament and ability can hold up in the Eastern Palace?”
The system that had watched the whole thing from start to finish: “……”
Ahahahaha! Father Yang truly is a clever one—he stabbed straight at the heart.
“But host, aren’t you surprised?” the system asked.
“Feels old man decided quickly, huh!”
A single offhand remark and he’d ruin his eldest son’s future, yet he can casually sit here sipping tea and still spend the evening cozying up to his beauty of a wife. Although she didn’t much Eldest Brother, his face had gone ghostly pale…
Well… how to put it? Weren’t ancient families supposed to favor the eldest son?
“Actually, isn’t it unsurprising?” An Ning, teasing the new red-tailed sparrow sent to the bird-and-flower room, spoke in her usual light tone. “System, do you remember what Second Miss Yang said earlier when she accused Father of being biased?”
Even if some of it was performance, from start to finish the person Second Miss resented was only the original body. Why? Did the eldest brother and eldest sister not deserve resentment?
In truth, they didn’t—at least not truly. The eldest brother, as the legitimate heir, was cultivated by Father Yang as much as possible, but only to a point. As parental concern, there wasn’t actually much. Perhaps partly because he was a son—but the same applied to the eldest sister. For example, that old red jade bead box from years ago—Second Miss lacked it, and likewise the original body’s eldest sister lacked one as well.
An Ning propped her chin on her hand. “In a way, Second Miss saw clearly, so when she cried she never complained about legitimacy because she knew that wasn’t the real reason—or at least not the main reason.”
How to describe Father Yang? To An Ning, he had that emotional detachment common in many very intelligent people. A Tan hua scholar at nineteen with almost no backing who could nonetheless steadily rise to second rank showed both intelligence and social acuity; he saw people and matters too clearly.
“There are only two kinds of people who can truly enter the eyes of such a man: either those who are not clever but pure and transparent, like the beautiful mother and the original body; or those as clever and sharp as he is—unfortunately…” An Ning couldn’t help sighing. To be honest, in that family, not one child truly inherited Father Yang’s mind.
“Actually, clever people might not hate fools, but most won’t like those who think they’re clever when their ambition doesn’t match their ability.” Frankly, from that perspective, the previous few candidates had more or less tripped themselves up.
If Eldest Brother were truly clear-headed he wouldn’t still cling to illusions. Besides the reasons Father had just stated, why do people advise imperial sons not all be chosen from the same family? Beyond the need for heirs, another reason is the maternal family. With Father Yang standing at the front, Eldest Brother’s generation of comfortable wealth was the best and most secure. That way, present and future rulers wouldn’t resent the Eastern Palace having no concubines. Even the court wouldn’t be so wary…
An Ning wasn’t worried that the day might come when, on a whim, someone would point to them in the palace. It was more likely that this person would die first…
Indeed, having clever allies is always comfortable!
She sipped the fruit wine brought to her lips and squinted in contentment. Then she suddenly remembered something: they had moved here a while ago, yet Yunjia hadn’t come to find her.
In fact, Mu Yang was now brightly asking around for news from their little circle. “Mother, about what happened back then—what actually happened? How did Little Uncle suddenly…?” She also wanted to know about maternal grandmother…
At the Princess’ residence, Mu Yang held her birth mother’s hand tightly, unusually anxious. On the soft couch, the Grand Princess gently stroked her daughter’s long hair. In the large room, her usual stern voice carried a wearier tone. “I know why you ask these things…”
“Over the years you’ve always wondered, Yunjia, why despite you and your maternal grandmother being mother and daughter, why has your grandmother treated me well yet remained so distant in her relationship with you…”
Fearing she would touch a tender wound, Mu Yang instinctively grabbed at her mother’s sleeve and was about to speak, but the Grand Princess shook her head. “You’re older now, there are things you must know.”
Her hard features suddenly clouded with fogginess. “They say your uncle respected your eldest aunt because when she was young, by accident she drank the wine meant for her younger brother, your imperial uncle, and almost died at the table.”
“But in truth?” she continued. “There are no accidents—someone did it on purpose. Because of that, the former Empress was deposed. A year later, with the aid of the Emperor, your maternal grandmother became the new Empress.”
“It wasn’t until later that I learned the wine that had been meant for your imperial uncle was, by your grandmother’s order, switched into my twelve-year-old hand…”
It was because the former Empress had already resolved to kill her brother; instead of waiting defensively, she struck decisively. Compared to her brother, the daughter was merely a sacrificial pawn.
“Mother—” Mu Yang trembled as she hugged her mother. She could never have imagined that the usually gentle and perceptive maternal grandmother, who had doted on her, could be capable of such things.
“It’s okay. It’s all past now…” The Grand Princess stroked her daughter’s thick hair and her tone softened. “Once I thought it was because I was a daughter that I could never compare to my brother in Mother’s eyes—until later…”
Her voice faltered slightly. “Yunjia, do you know why that plan back then was flawless and no one in the palace or court suspected? It’s because that child really existed—the Emperor’s posthumous son…”
“So where is that real Little Uncle?” Seeing the expression on her mother’s face, Mu Yang suddenly dared not ask further.
Outside the window, a breeze stirred. The Grand Princess’ voice took on a chill. “When Mother conceived that child, she was already advanced in years, and the Emperor’s health was poor. That child was not likely to be healthy. When the fetus was three months along, the imperial physician warned that continuing the pregnancy might endanger the mother. But Mother had always been healthy; it wasn’t impossible to save the child…”
The Grand Princess smiled softly. “You know how imperial physicians are—if there’s a three-point risk they’ll make it sound like seven. They could speak that way when a child was still likely to be saved. But at that moment…”
Even after many years, Rongxian could not forget that person’s expression that day: a kind of resolute decision without hesitation. “No need for more words, Physician Zhou—prescribe the medicine!”
“It was then that I understood: the one Mother could not surpass was not your uncle but the Empress Dowager herself…”