Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

The old emperor took a deep breath and said to the commander of the Imperial Guard, “Go and summon the Crown Prince.”

---

“My father called for me?”

The Crown Prince shook his head, trying to dispel the shock of the phrase “abandon the court and the title of Crown Grandson” from his mind. He stepped forward a few paces, positioning himself conspicuously between the two rows of officials.

Usually, this was not a problem, but at this moment…

The Crown Prince’s heart suddenly sank, sensing an ominous premonition. “Let’s leave from the other side…” he muttered, intending to sneak away.

Before he could finish giving the order, he heard Xu Yanmiao’s voice:

[“Hmm? Why is the Crown Prince stepping out?”]

[“Probably summoned by the old emperor. Poor Crown Prince, he doesn’t even know yet that his eldest grandson is gone. He loves his daughters so much—he just bought them rouge and powder yesterday. It’s clear how much he cherishes his children. When he finds out…”]

[“Wait, what?”]

The Crown Prince raised his arm to cover his face.

It’s over. Father, that matter is probably going to…

[“If the Crown Prince loves his children so much, why hasn’t he tried to bail out his son all this time? Instead, his brother-in-law has been running around handling everything.”]

[“Let me think…”]

[“What?! The Crown Prince’s eldest son isn’t even the son of the Crown Princess?! He’s the son of a concubine, raised under the Crown Princess’s name?! The Crown Princess only has four daughters?!”] Xu Yanmiao’s eyes widened.

No wonder the Crown Prince hasn’t been concerned about the situation with the eldest son lately! He’s been roaming around gossiping!

So it turns out the Crown Prince is just like his father, only valuing children born of his legitimate wife!

The court officials were stunned.

An uproar broke out.

Years ago, the emperor had publicly announced that the Crown Prince had a son, explicitly referring to him as the child of the Crown Princess!

The old emperor: “…”

“Smack!”

The old emperor mimicked the Crown Prince’s gesture, raising an arm to cover his face.

I really… shouldn’t have summoned the Crown Prince at this moment!

The Crown Prince, sensing the escalating chaos, tried to make a swift retreat. Hobbling on his feet, he muttered, “Let’s leave quietly…”

But the Prime Minister Dou grabbed his wrist. “Your Highness!” He lowered his voice, his expression indescribable. “What is the truth about the Crown Grandson?”

His precious granddaughter was once destined to marry the Crown Grandson as his legitimate wife!

Although the Prime Minister didn’t particularly care about the legitimacy of bloodlines, as the Crown Grandson had been officially recognized under the Crown Princess’s name, he was still considered the rightful heir. However…

The Crown Princess is only forty! She could still give birth! If she were to bear a true legitimate son in the future, and the emperor decided to make the new son the heir, what would happen to his granddaughter then?!

The Crown Prince forced a sheepish smile. “Uncle… well, actually…”

Before he could explain further, a group of officials affiliated with the Crown Grandson surrounded him.

The Crown Prince: “…”

The Crown Prince: “…Oh no.”

These officials, while hesitant to show overt hostility, looked at him with teary, pleading eyes.

After all, their allegiance to the Crown Grandson wasn’t born of loyalty, but of pragmatism. The Crown Grandson’s stable position—as the first legitimate son, seemingly irreplaceable—was their basis for aligning with him.

However, with this revelation…

They recalled a similar situation in the Chu Dynasty.

Back then, Emperor Zhenzong of Chu had no sons and had to adopt a relative’s child as his heir—the future Emperor Zhongzong. But five years later, Zhenzong finally had a biological son and immediately sent Zhongzong back to his original family. Unfortunately, the prince later passed away, prompting Zhenzong to recall Zhongzong. Several years later, Zhenzong had another son, once again sending Zhongzong away. When this son also died, Zhongzong was brought back yet again.

This cycle of succession gave rise to the saying “Three in, two out,” a cautionary tale about hasty decisions.

These officials paled at the thought.

If the Crown Princess were to bear a son, the old emperor might send the current Crown Grandson back to his biological mother! What would become of us then? We’ve tied ourselves too closely to the Crown Grandson’s faction!

The Crown Prince wanted to wipe his sweat.

He mentally cursed Xu Yanmiao several times but maintained his usual frivolous demeanor, feigning nonchalance. “I understand your concerns. But think about it—if my wife and I were able to have more children, wouldn’t we have done so by now? Moreover, the emperor has vowed not to repeat the mistakes of Emperor Zhenzong. Even if another son is born, as long as Crown Grandson behaves appropriately, his position as heir will remain secure. The emperor has given his word, backed by an imperial decree. If you doubt me, you can ask the emperor yourself.”

“Where is the emperor?”

“He’s just…” The Crown Prince turned, only to find the imperial palanquin had disappeared down the corridor.

The Crown Prince: “???”

A string of expletives nearly escaped his lips.

---

“Whew, that was close.”

On the way to the Empress Palace, the old emperor reflected on the officials’ reactions and felt grateful for his swift… strategic departure. “The Crown Prince will handle this matter well. I have full confidence in his abilities.”

Yes, that’s it!

Reassured by his reasoning, the old emperor entered the Empresses’s Palace. Upon smelling the metallic scent of blood in the air, his expression turned grim. He quickly approached Empress Dou, his voice laced with concern. “Empress, are you all right?”

“I’m fine. She’s been stabilized. At first, she was still seeking death, but I managed to talk her down.”

“Oh. I wasn’t asking about her—I was asking about you, Empress. Are you unharmed?”

Empress Dou sighed. “I’m fine.”

The old emperor sat beside her, holding her hand as he began recounting the day’s events in detail—from why he had come to see her to the shocking revelations about the Crown Grandson.

When the empress heard that the Crown Grandson would rather forgo his position to be with Consort Qin, regardless of whether it was a heartfelt statement or a rash outburst, her brows furrowed deeply.

“I suspected as much,” she said.

“Oh?”

“That’s one reason I insisted on keeping Consort Qin here. Beyond sympathy for her plight, I wanted to see if the Crown Grandson could truly bear the weight of his position. Before meeting Consort Qin, he was a well-rounded talent—proficient in both civil and military affairs, sharp-witted, and composed in his actions. We all believed he would be the great leader of the third generation.”

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