The Prince Dai, who was on the minds of the Seventh Prince and others, was on the way back to the capital, still a hundred miles away from the capital city.
At this ti, he was leading the army to camp in the wilderness.
"Your Highness, a letter has arrived from the capital." Fu Zhong, holding the newly received letter, entered the main tent and handed it to Prince Dai.
Prince Dai took the letter, opened it, and imdiately frowned, his face turning very grim.
Seeing Prince Dai's darkened expression, Fu Zhong asked with concern, "Your Highness, has sothing happened in the capital?"
"Ninth brother's horse was poisoned and almost had an accident."
"What, Ninth Prince's horse was poisoned?" Fu Zhong asked, "Who poisoned it?"
"Mother Consort said Father Emperor dealt with several eunuchs from the Office of the Inspector of the Imperial Household." Prince Dai smirked coldly, "Where would eunuchs from the Office of the Inspector get the guts to harm the Ninth Brother."
Fu Zhong was very clever and imdiately thought of who it was: "It was the Crown Prince's people."
"If it wasn't the Crown Prince's people, Father Emperor wouldn't have stopped there." Prince Dai placed the letter over the candle fla, "Father Emperor, in order to protect the Crown Prince, doesn't intend to investigate this matter thoroughly."
"And what about Ninth Prince then?" Fu Zhong said with indignation for the Ninth Prince, "Ninth Prince almost got into trouble, doesn't the Emperor care?"
"Ninth Brother wasn't hard."
"Just because Ninth Prince wasn't hard, the Emperor won't investigate the true culprit?" Fu Zhong said indignantly, "Ninth Prince is the Emperor's own son, how can the Emperor treat Ninth Prince like this?"
Prince Dai tightened his brows, and with a serious expression, he said nothing.
"Your Highness, we must return to the capital quickly, or else Noble Consort and Ninth Prince will continue to be bullied." Fu Zhong said, "As long as you return to the capital, no one will dare to bully the Noble Consort and Ninth Prince."
"Sothing's off about this matter." Prince Dai said thoughtfully, "There should be more to this matter than ets the eye."
"Your Highness, do you an the person behind the plot against the Ninth Prince isn't the Crown Prince?" Fu Zhong asked, "If it's not the Crown Prince's n, then whose n is it?"
"This matter is not as simple as it appears." Prince Dai speculated, "Even if Father Emperor wants to protect the Crown Prince, he will punish the Crown Prince's people, it wouldn't just end like that. There must be sothing we don't know."
"Your Highness, who could the Emperor protect like this?" Fu Zhong said, "Besides the Crown Prince, who else can it be."
In Prince Dai's mind, many people flashed by, but none of these people were worth his father putting so much effort into.
"We can only discover the true nature of this matter when I return."
"Your Highness, do you think this matter is targeting you?"
"It's likely targeting both and the Crown Prince." Prince Dai said, "They want to pit against the Crown Prince."
"You and the Crown Prince are already at odds, who..." Fu Zhong imdiately thought of who, "Could it be the Wang Family, the Yuan Family, and the Xun Family?"
"It's not impossible." Prince Dai tapped his fingers lightly on the table and contemplated, "The matter with Ninth Brother is not urgent; right now, the issue about my title is more pressing. In a few days, we will reach the capital. Before returning, my title issue must be settled."
"Your Highness, you have always been deeply favored by the Emperor. In normal tis, whatever you ask of the Emperor, he will give you, but this ti regarding the title issue, he has been hesitant, could the Emperor be..." Fu Zhong didn't dare to finish his sentence.
"Duke Zhen and the Xie family are obstacles." Prince Dai thought for a mont and said, "I will personally write a letter to Father Emperor, expressing that I have no intention of gaining a title."
"Your Highness, are you planning to retreat to advance?"
"Exactly." Prince Dai ordered, "Grind the ink."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Prince Dai wrote a letter to the Emperor, expressing in sincere terms that he had no intention of claiming the title, and that leading the army was his duty, requiring no special reward.
He also wrote a letter to Noble Princess Consort Rong, telling her to be patient and wait for his return to the capital.
Fu Zhong took the two letters written by Prince Dai and had soone imdiately send them back to the capital.
Father Emperor, what are you thinking?
You have always said I am most like you, you obviously want to inherit your legacy, so why haven't you deposed the Crown Prince yet?
You clearly know that granting the title this ti would give more leverage to compete with the Crown Prince, so why haven't you agreed?
Even though Duke Zhen and the Xie family are obstacles, with your ability, there's no need to fear the Xie family. What are you really thinking?
This title issue was proposed by Prince Dai, and it was Prince Dai who had Marquis Xuanping and others propose it to the Emperor.
Prince Dai was dissatisfied with just being a prince. He considered his significant military achievents for the Great Zhou, and the prince status was no longer befitting him. Only the title of Crown Prince was suitable, but since he couldn't beco the Crown Prince at the mont, being titled a titled prince was barely fitting for him.
He wanted to first beco a titled prince and then the Crown Prince. Once he beca a titled prince, he could naturally beco the Crown Prince in the future.
Moreover, he wanted all ministers and the people of the world to know about his achievents over the years. He also wanted everyone to know that the Crown Prince had not made any military contributions to the Great Zhou. This way, when he replaced the Crown Prince in the future, the people would think it was deserved.
In fact, Prince Dai had long wanted to beco a titled prince, but could never find the opportunity. The great victory in Liangzhou was the perfect chance.
If he missed this rare opportunity, who knows how long he'd have to wait to propose the title again. Therefore, it was imperative to succeed in gaining the title this ti.
If the title couldn't be settled before returning to the capital, the matter would be half lost.
Hopefully, Father Emperor will agree to the title after seeing his letter.
Prince Dai himself was anxious for the title, and Marquis Xuanping and Noble Princess Consort Rong were even more anxious than he was.
These days, Marquis Xuanping constantly had ministers supporting Prince Dai pressing the Emperor, and they also united ministers supporting the Third Prince and others, forcing the Emperor to agree to the title for Prince Dai.
In Chengguang Hall, in the Imperial Study, the Emperor was drinking tea with Pri Minister He, Grandmaster Liu, and Song Dekang.
"Pri Minister He, do you think I should grant Prince Dai the title?"
Pri Minister He put down his teacup, stood up, and saluted the Emperor: "Your Majesty, giving a prince a title is a rule of the previous dynasty, not of our dynasty."
The Emperor looked at Grandmaster Liu: "Lao Liu, what do you think?"
Grandmaster Liu stood up and said, "Whatever Your Majesty decides is good."
"What about you, Mr. Song?"
"Your Majesty, I also believe that granting a prince a title is a rule of the previous dynasty and has nothing to do with our dynasty. Our dynasty doesn't need to follow the rules of the previous dynasty." Song Dekang was much more straightforward than Pri Minister He and Grandmaster Liu, "Besides, Prince Dai has received a lot of rewards, there's no need to make any more titles. Also, the things from the previous dynasty aren't auspicious, it's better for our dynasty not to use them."
"Mr. Song, you're straightforward." The Emperor said, looking at Pri Minister He and Grandmaster Liu disdainfully, "Unlike those two schers."
Song Dekang said, "Your Majesty, I've always been honest and upright."
Pri Minister He and Grandmaster Liu glared at Song Dekang, but Song Dekang pretended not to see.
"Pri Minister He, Lao Liu, you two have beco more and more cunning over these years, always playing tricks with ."
Pri Minister He said, "Your Majesty, regarding whether or not to grant Prince Dai the title, you had already made a decision in your heart, hadn't you?"
"When did I make a decision?" The Emperor looked innocent, "I have no ideas, which is why I am asking for your opinions. You should give a definite answer like Mr. Song."
Pri Minister He, having followed the Emperor for many years, understood the Emperor's thoughts sowhat. He knew the Emperor was deliberately saying this.
"Since Your Majesty has said so, I will speak frankly. I believe the title should not be granted to Prince Dai." Today, if he didn't give a concrete answer, the Emperor wouldn't let him go.
Seeing Pri Minister He speak out, Grandmaster Liu could only speak out as well: "Your Majesty, I also believe the title should not be granted to Prince Dai."
"Why didn't you two just say so earlier?" The Emperor said, "You two are really wishy-washy."
Being called wishy-washy, Pri Minister He and Grandmaster Liu could only plead guilty: "We are guilty, please punish us, Your Majesty."
"Don't be wishy-washy like that in the future."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Since you all feel that the title should not be granted to Prince Dai, then what reward should I give him when he returns to the capital, given his significant achievents?"
"Your Majesty, the rewards should be as usual, there's no need to specially reward Prince Dai." Song Dekang said, "Also, Prince Dai simply can't compare with Your Majesty back then. Your Majesty achieved far more than Prince Dai, and yet we never saw you ask for titles. Prince Dai is nowhere near that, yet he wants a title."
"Your Majesty, Mr. Song is right, there's no need to specially reward Prince Dai, proceed as usual." Pri Minister He said, "Giving the title to a prince cannot be opened."
Grandmaster Liu sharply said, "Your Majesty, if we give Prince Dai another special reward, it will only make his ambitions grow greater."
Pri Minister He, surprised by Grandmaster Liu's directness, glanced at him unexpectedly.
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