Lord Yan quickly considered his words and bowed respectfully, "The First Prince, due to his birth mother's low status, has no support in court. He himself understands he cannot inherit the throne, so he has been honest and dutiful since childhood. However, he is too timid and fearful, revering Your Majesty more than being close to you.
The Second Prince has slight physical deficiencies and naturally cannot inherit the throne, so he dedicates excessive energy to eating, drinking, and amusement, wishing only to be a leisurely prince. He is somewhat distant from you.
The Third Prince, His Highness the Crown Prince, possesses a dignified bearing, deep thoughts, excels in strategy, and acts with prudence. As for you... at present, this humble minister... cannot judge.
As for the Fourth Prince, Prince Yu, his appearance is extraordinary, and he is intelligent and sharp-witted. His only flaw is that his emotions are evident, making him too direct and prone to acting on impulse. However, he alone is the most sincere and true towards you, without a trace of pretense.
The Emperor sneered, "Lord Yan Mingkun, you are truly becoming senile. You dare say that Fourth Prince is the most sincere towards me?
When he was in the palace, he couldn't wait to provoke me every day. Because of his mother's affair, he hates me so much, he has never shown any care or concern for me. How could he be sincere?
Even when writing a secret letter, he didn't forget to mock his own father."
Lord Yan chuckled ingratiatingly, "Your Majesty, forgive this humble minister's frankness, but His Highness Prince Yu indeed... hates you very much. Therefore, his outward expression is hatred, without any insincerity or false affection. He is what he appears to be. You only need to observe his words and actions to know his heart. Thus, this humble minister believes His Highness Prince Yu is the most sincere towards you."
"Hmph, this kind of sincerity, I would rather not have it!" A flicker of loss crossed the Emperor's eyes. Actually, he rather liked the Fourth Prince, but the Fourth Prince always held onto the matter of his mother. Every time, he opposed his own father, the Emperor, causing him immense vexation.
Lord Yan glanced at the Emperor's face and understood his mood. He immediately smiled and comforted him, "Your Majesty, there is a saying in the common folk that is quite good: 'Deep love brings sharp criticism.'
This humble minister believes that His Highness Prince Yu hates you so much because he loves you too deeply. Because he loves you too deeply, once you... you... disappoint him, he transforms his love for you into hatred.
Because he cannot bear for the person he loves to do things that disappoint him so."
Hearing Lord Yan's words, the Emperor glared at him menacingly. This scoundrel Yan Mingkun was becoming more and more presumptuous, daring to say his son was disappointed in him to his face!
However, the scoundrel Yan might be right. He did indeed owe a debt to Mei Fei, the Fourth Prince's mother, but what could he do? Looking at her face, he truly couldn't face it.
In truth, over the years, he had kept her deep within his heart. Even Yu Fei later was merely her shadow.
Yu Fei resembled her somewhat, which was why he was captivated the first time he saw Yu Fei.
Seeing the Emperor fall silent for a long time, Lord Yan immediately knelt, his face filled with remorse, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This humble minister deserves death. I should not speak whatever comes to mind. This humble minister... should say, His Highness Prince Yu does not understand Your Majesty's difficulties, hence his misunderstanding. After all, Your Majesty governs a nation and handles countless affairs; personal affections naturally hold less importance."
The Emperor rolled his eyes at Lord Yan, "Scoundrel, you know to be scared now? Get up and go back." The conversation could not continue any longer today.
"Yes, Your Majesty, please do not overthink. Your sons are all dragons, naturally they cannot be compared to ordinary people..."
"Enough, enough! Get out!" The Emperor impatiently waved his hand at Lord Yan. The scoundrel was poking him right in the heart!
Lord Yan also felt a bit wronged. He had tried his best to use tactful words, yet the Emperor still couldn't accept it. If he hadn't been tactful, he would have directly said the eldest was a good-for-nothing, the second a rake, the third power-hungry, and the fourth sharp-tongued and eccentric...
However, it was fine to feel wronged. It was also good not to have to continue being the Emperor's conversational companion.
Lord Yan showed concern and reluctance on his face, but his heart rejoiced. Ah, he could finally go back and get some sleep.
As Lord Yan left, dawn was breaking. An old wet nurse on duty in the Empress's palace saw him emerge from the Hall of Political Affairs, stretch languidly, and then walk quickly towards the palace exit with a weary expression.
The old wet nurse found it unusual for the Emperor to summon a minister in the middle of the night, unless there were important matters to discuss. Thinking this, she carefully reported the matter to the Empress.
The Empress frowned involuntarily upon hearing this. Lord Yan's schedule was very regular, known to everyone in court. If it were not for an important matter, he would certainly not appear in the Hall of Political Affairs, nor would he converse with the Emperor all night.
But what could it be?
The Empress ordered someone to prepare a bowl of lotus seed soup, intending to send it to the Emperor. However, she was stopped by Wang Chun at the door.
"Your Highness the Empress, His Majesty is resting at the moment. He specifically instructed this servant that he would see no one. Please return and rest. When His Majesty wakes, this servant will inform him."
A hint of suspicion flashed in the Empress's eyes, but she maintained a gentle smile on her face, "Then I will trouble you, Eunuch Wang."
Saying this, she turned and left, her face instantly turning somber.
Was the Emperor deliberately avoiding her?
Although she was no longer in her youth, the Emperor had still doted on her all these years. Because the Emperor favored beauties, and she was the foremost beauty in the capital, coupled with her excellent preservation, she looked very young. Even in that aspect, the Emperor and she were still quite frequent.
Therefore, ordinarily, if she came to see the Emperor, he rarely refused her.
Why would he today...
The Empress's doubts grew. She decided to see the Crown Prince.
Ten days later, the Emperor smashed several more cups. At that time, he almost roared for Wang Chun to quickly summon the Crown Prince to see him.
Wang Chun's legs went weak with fear, and he even stumbled as he walked. Upon reaching the entrance of the Hall of Political Affairs, he fell face-first, angering the Emperor, who then threw another cup towards the door.
What had happened today? Why was he being summoned to fetch the Crown Prince so urgently?
Alas, these recent days had been truly turbulent.
Upon arriving at the Crown Prince's mansion, Wang Chun quickly regained a composed demeanor and informed the Crown Prince that the Emperor wished for him to go to the Hall of Political Affairs immediately.
"Now, immediately?" the Crown Prince asked doubtfully. It was a holiday today, why would his Imperial Father suddenly summon him? And so urgently.
Wang Chun nodded obsequiously, "Precisely, right now. His Majesty is waiting, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Please hurry."
As the Crown Prince prepared to leave, he suddenly stopped and turned back to ask, "Does Eunuch Wang know why His Imperial Father wishes to see me?"
Wang Chun said faintly, "This servant does not know. Your Highness will know when you go."
He certainly wouldn't say that the Emperor was in a great rage. The Emperor's temper was the barometer for everyone. If he revealed it, wouldn't he be exposing the Emperor's information?
He, Wang Chun, was timid, but not foolish.