The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 540 - 507: Never Forget Your Original Aspiration (Second Update)
When Yuanbao was in Ningzhou, he liked to watch street performances, simple tricks that he could do himself.
If carefully prepared, it’s entirely possible to create an "auspicious" display, Yuanbao was quite confident, but seeing Zhao Xi’s expression, it was clear he didn’t agree, so he had to compromise, "Alright, no auspicious signs, let’s think of something else, okay? Or should we invite an illusionist to dazzle everyone?"
What is called illusion technique is actually advanced hypnotism; an illusionist can use various methods to make the viewers disoriented and have hallucinations.
Zhao Xi said seriously, "Illusion techniques have been lost for a long time, and even if they existed, the world is vast, and time is tight, where would we find one?"
Yuanbao was silent for a moment, and said, "Later, I will visit the Divine Soldier Bureau to ask my father if there are any clues."
Zhao Xi disliked those tricky schemes and stopped Yuanbao, telling him there was no need to go, saying he didn’t want to use such methods to present gifts.
Yuanbao sighed, "Your Highness, I feel that the Imperial Concubine was right, your excellence can gain the support of the court and the people, yet you alone cannot please the Emperor."
Zhao Xi said, "I just do my duty, why must I please my father?"
"Because he is the supreme ruler, the master of the Great Chu, everyone must submit to him. You are such an exceptional person, capable of amazing feats, yet you do not flatter or indulge in his presence. If I were the Emperor, I wouldn’t like you either." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖
"It has nothing to do with that," Zhao Xi shook his head, "Minister Song is even more straightforward with my father than I am, yet my father appreciates him, which proves your point is wrong."
Yuanbao said, "My father is a subject; he doesn’t have to become the Crown Prince and succeed him, so of course, he appreciates him. As an Emperor, he might like subjects like my father, but he certainly wouldn’t like a prince like him. There is an essential difference between the two; Your Highness’s identity is different from my father’s, you cannot compare yourself to him. If Your Highness could be more flexible here, I think it’s only a matter of time before you secure the position of the Eastern Palace."
Zhao Xi asked him, "For the sake of a position, to go against one’s inner will, when one becomes the Crown Prince or even Emperor, would he still be the same me?"
The young prince stood upright, with deep eyes and an expression of indescribable seriousness on his face.
Yuanbao thought some words might be too harsh, but he had to say them, "Your Highness, the struggle for power is a blood-soaked battlefield, if you don’t take the initiative, someone else will pre-empt you, every Emperor has stepped on corpses and rivers of blood to ascend to the Nine Dragon Throne. You wouldn’t not understand the principle of ’One general successful over ten thousand bones.’ Of course, given Your Highness’s current situation, it hasn’t come to that point yet, all you need now is to be a bit more adaptable, please the Emperor with a token of goodwill, how could such an easy opportunity be missed?"
Zhao Xi listened to these words, his fingers in his sleeve gradually clenched into a fist, and his lips tightened.
Yuanbao glanced at him, "I will still go to the Divine Soldier Bureau this afternoon to find my father, Your Highness should think about it carefully. If you truly wish for an illusionist to present a congratulatory gift to the Emperor, then my father and I will do our best to find one for you, and if we can’t, we can think of something else."
Having said this, he turned to leave.
"Song Hao."
Zhao Xi called to stop him.
Yuanbao paused, "Your Highness, is there anything else?"
Zhao Xi asked him, "For what reason did you willingly stay in the palace for two years?"
Yuanbao replied, "Your Highness embodies loyalty, righteousness, self-restraint, and adherence to etiquette, as a subject, I am deeply impressed."
Zhao Xi’s voice was slightly hoarse, "If one day, all of these were gone, if I no longer restrain myself, no longer stand apart, and become someone so different even you find unfamiliar, would you still be willing to follow, would you still admire and respect me?"
Yuanbao lowered his eyelids, unable to answer.
Zhao Xi took a deep breath, "You go and find the illusionist, if I find them, I will save them for my mother’s birthday to entertain her, as for my father, I will prepare another gift."
"Your Highness." Suddenly Yuanbao turned around, his gaze firmly locked on Zhao Xi.
"What is it?"
Yuanbao, after a long silence, suddenly smiled, "For a prince to remain true to his original intention is indeed a rare virtue. Your Highness may not be in the Emperor’s favor, but in my heart, you will be the most unique prince in history, and if possible, the most unique emperor as well."
"Stop talking nonsense, be careful of eavesdroppers. If you have business, attend to it. I should be going too." Zhao Xi urged him.
Yuanbao nodded, and after saying goodbye, he left the palace to go to the Divine Soldier Bureau.
Song Wei saw him alone and asked why the eldest prince didn’t come.
Yuanbao invited Song Wei to sit in the back garden privately and said to him, "Father, I’m here to discuss another matter with you today."
"Hmm, what is it, go ahead."
Yuanbao said, "I want to ask if when you previously sent people to gather talented individuals all over, whether you found any clue about an illusionist?"
"Why are you looking for an illusionist?" Song Wei was puzzled.
Yuanbao pondered for a moment, "It was originally intended as a birthday gift for the Emperor at the Longevity Festival, but later His Highness changed his mind and planned to invite one to entertain everyone at my mother’s birthday."
Song Wei squinted, "Since His Highness decided to offer congratulations to the Emperor, why did he suddenly change his mind?"
"This idea was mine," Yuanbao explained frankly, "My intention was for His Highness to think of a way to please the Emperor. Since many ministers would be present at the Longevity Festival, someone was bound to propose appointing a Crown Prince, then maybe the Emperor, in high spirits, would... But who could have thought, His Highness was entirely unmoved, he said he did not want to break his own rules, become someone else, or use flattering and ingratiating means that even he himself would not recognize."
With that, Yuanbao propped his cheek on his hand over the stone table, "Today I was taught another lesson by him."
Song Wei, after listening, smiled lightly, "That’s good."
"What’s good?"
Song Wei said, "A prince who grew up without the environment of sibling rivalry not only didn’t stray but also managed to conduct himself strictly and adhere to his principles year after year, not forgetting his original self, truly remarkable. That’s why I say, his rejection of your proposal is good."
Even a father believes so, Yuanbao now truly realized the difference between Zhao Xi and others.
But thinking about it, with such a personality aspiring to be an emperor, how difficult it must be, Yuanbao became anxious for him, "Father, don’t you think such an attitude without scheming or maneuvering keeps him far from that position?"
Song Wei smiled gently, "The so-called scheming and maneuvering, different people have different understandings and approaches, the Eldest Prince is not someone without ambition. He has his own depth, his own principles, and has always stuck to them, which makes him different from many you have seen. You should not think he is wrong just because his approach is not aligned with certain standards in the fixed pattern of your thinking.
As for that position, it’s not something you should worry about or involve yourself with nonsensically, mind your words to avoid causing trouble."
Yuanbao responded with an "Oh," "Then you still haven’t told me, do you have any clues about an illusionist?"
Song Wei replied, "There may be, or there may not."
"What do you mean?"
"I have information on three illusionists; two passed away a long time ago, and the last one has been reclusive for many years, whether alive or dead, remains unknown."
