Chapter 525: Battle of Words. Forced to an Impasse!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Once Wu Lie spoke, at least half of the officials who had appealed glared at him in anger.
Wu Lie looked unaffected as he continued in a low voice, "Perhaps only the one whom you sirs acknowledge can be recognized as royal blood? And whoever you sirs don't acknowledge will be a mere peasant?"
He exaggerated his words, openly hinting that they harbored ill intentions.
The old white-bearded official roared, "Wu Lie! How dare you have the audacity to decide what is right or wrong! Don't you know how serious this is? It will affect the very foundations of this country. How are matters pertaining to the royal bloodline ever solely personal? Yet here you are, feigning ignorance and trying to befuddle the emperor! I have always thought of you as impartial and loyal. But today I see the truth of who you are Wu Lie, a pandering, maniacal, unscrupulous person indeed!"
Wu Lie lifted his head abruptly, he focused squarely onto the old man's eyes and responded slowly, "Justice exists intrinsically in one's heart so much so that what should be considered right or wrong need not be argued about! This lower official has only said something fair but Old Sir Wang has accused me of something so severe with such inflated speech? This lower official won't be able to bear such a heavy crime nor is this official willing to bear it or even supposed to bear it."
"I'd just like to ask Old Sir Wang something – in the entire Empire of Yutang, who should be the one who is the most concerned about the royal bloodline? Is it you or me? No! The one who regards the bloodline most significantly can only be the current emperor! Since His Majesty now recognizes this grandchild in front of the imperial court, countless verifications must have already been carried out – do you think this decision was based on carelessness? I wonder, do you agree with me Old Sir Wang?"
Old Sir Wang was shaking as his face flushed with embarrassment. He said nothing for a long while.
To agree or not to agree? Who would dare to disagree? Disagreeing would be treason, resulting in beheading on the spot without a second word.
Furthermore, what Wu Lie said was indeed the truth. Anyone could suggest an heir who was beneficial to themselves for whatever personal gain. They might not even care if they knew that the identity of the heir they pushed forward was false. But the Emperor would never do so.
The Emperor's quest for imperial inheritance would be reserved solely for his direct descendant. No matter how lousy his heir was, it was still the continuation of his bloodline; even if there were bolder or wiser candidates out there, they would have no direct relation to the Emperor.
Therefore, it was true that only the Emperor would never show a descendant of suspicious identity to the public eye.
Wu Lie scoffed and said, "This lower official is a few years younger than Old Sir Wang but I'm fortunate enough to have seen the eldest prince a few times several years ago. I still remember the first time I met His Highness, the eldest prince was only five to six years older than this child before us. Old Sir Wang, forget about the others, this child's face alone is about eighty percent similar to the eldest prince, like as if they're from the same mold. Old Sir Wang has been an official for much longer than this lowly official, I believe you must have been younger than this lowly official when you met the eldest prince. This lowly official shall ask of Old Sir Wang again, is my judgement any different from Old Sir's memory?"
Wu Lie, who saw Old Sir Wang at a loss for words, continued speaking, "I hope Old Sir does not speak about how similar facial characteristics are not considered as substantial proof. There are two sides to a coin, so let us not only look at one side alone. I've only said that this child looks very much like the eldest prince but I did not make any concrete conclusion from it nor did I consider it as sole evidence. Compared to you sirs who argued without any verification or evidence and then firmly claimed that this child's background is unknown without any proof. Moreover, emphasizing that things must proceed with caution, I feel like I'm being more sensible in this situation..."
He raised his head, looked at all gathered officials, and said in a quiet voice, "This official shall ask Old Sir Wang and the other sirs again, on what basis have all of you decided that this child is of an unknown background? Or that this child is not of the royal bloodline? On what basis did you assume that His Majesty wasn't taking this seriously?"
"All your behaviour just now, the simultaneous kneeling and similar advice from many officials, how are these actions any different from coercing the ruler? These actions are too resolute and uniform!"
Wu Lie paused before he smiled faintly and finished, "This lower official thinks that, based on the violent reaction of my colleagues, you have so quickly forgotten that you have no evidence. In fact, even if you had concrete evidence, you should all be even more careful, don't you think so, Old Sir Wang?"
"Nonsense! The matters of a country should not be taken lightly at all!" Old Sir Wang finally got out of his daze and countered Wu Lie's words by changing the direction of his argument and basing everything on the concern for the nation.
In spite themselves, plenty of opposing officials, using Wu Lie as a rallying point, stepped out to accuse Old Sir Wang and his colleagues of treason. On the other hand, those who followed Old Sir Wang began to counter them with examples from history.
This went on for some time until hundreds of people were now arguing in the court. It was noisier than a market. Almost everyone's faces were flushed from arguing, glaring at each other as they exchanged verbal daggers.
His Majesty sat on his throne, watching them argue for close to two hours before he finally landed a harsh slap on his armrest in rage.
"Enough!"
The civil and military officials shut their mouths immediately, bringing an abrupt halt to the heated war of words.
The emperor looked infuriated, standing up with arms against his back. "Yun Xiaoyao!"
"Here."
"My eldest grandson, Yu Qiankun, shall be assigned to your teaching. Do not lead him astray."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Any matters pertaining to the actual conferring of titles will be discussed in the future!"
"Brilliant, Your Majesty!"
Observant officials had long noticed that His Majesty's hand had been gently holding onto the child's tiny hand all this time, never once letting go. It had been this way for the entire two hours of the morning assembly.
Especially when the argument was getting really heated, the child was obviously frightened, pale-faced and brimming with fear. However, the emperor occasionally squeezed the child's hand or patted the child's shoulders or head to comfort him, as if saying, "I'm here! No one can lay a finger on you, don't be scared."
It could be said that the emperor had not paid any more attention in the morning assembly arguments after the few words he had spoken in the beginning when he tossed the topic to the officials.
Wu Lie was left to engage in the verbal battle against the officials while the emperor was invested in caring for the child. The loving sentiment was expressed clearly and openly, distinguishable to anyone who noticed it.
The newly appointed King Xiaoyao, Yun Xiaoyao, also did not speak a word throughout the entire assembly. He obviously expected today's episode; maybe he had even long ago already guessed what would happen!
Until later, when everyone was tired from their war of words, the emperor tossed his final decision out. By the looks of what he said, it seemed that he was resigned but everyone instinctively knew that this was definitely not the case.
It was because of another litigant – King Xiaoyao. He was the biological younger brother whom the Emperor had openly recognized in terms of identity, background, and royal blood! Placing the child at King Xiaoyao's home and placing him in the palace did not mean the same thing but its significance was similar!
Taking it a step further, was His Majesty's surprising conferring of nobility titles earlier paving the way for today's action?! More so, not only was King Xiaoyao a very skilled individual of noble descent, there was an abundance of experts in his residence. It was even safer than the palace!
There might still be danger for the child to stay in the palace but to go to Residence of King Xiaoyao, it was safe and sound, as secure as a mountain!
…
The crown prince's gaze was sinister. With a sullen face, he was the first to leave.
Even before he exited the palace, murderous intent was already surging through him. Since the assembly commenced, the emperor's every move had fallen into the crown prince's attention. This was how he clearly knew that he was doomed; there was no more hope for him!
As long as Yu Qiankun was still in existence, he would never ever be able to succeed to the throne. It was impossible to fight over the throne with this child. The child didn't even need to lift a finger to fight because their father would have already fought for him, paved the way to the throne and securing the crown for him!
The weight of this crisis swallowed His Highness, the crown prince.
Previously when his father was dissatisfied with him, there was a series of similar comments he made, "If your big brother was still here…"
Or, "If only you could be just one-tenth of your big brother, I'd be without regrets!"
"Why are you such a disappointment? Look at your elder brother, at your age, he was already…"
When he listened to his father comments in the past, he did not feel too affronted in spite of the harsh words. After all, his elder brother was dead! No matter how mighty a dead person was, he would never crawl out of the earth and fight him for the throne!
Therefore, the crown prince did not worry about it. As time passed, he forgot the comments as soon as they were made; no longer affected by them. More so because his other brothers were lacking even more than him and his father was all the more disappointed in them, so much so that he was disgusted with them.
He was the best choice among the royals. Who else but him to succeed the throne?
But now…
His contender, his greatest opponent, had finally emerged!
His elder brother's son!
Yu Qiankun.
Actually, since the moment the child came into view, the crown prince had already come to a conclusion. That was his elder brother's son! There was simply no doubting it.
Not only did the child look almost exactly like his eldest brother, but some of his actions and even his general vibe were basically the same. It would be ridiculous if he were not his eldest brother's biological son!
Yu Qiankun, his father's eldest grandson, his eldest brother's son, his direct nephew!
So what now?
He had been forced to an impasse!