The establishment of the Guandu Chen Clan did not attract much attention, as it was considered a minor matter.
The Dai Prince's affairs in the imperial court were the real major events.
In the autumn of the seventh year of Emperor Gaozu's reign, Emperor Gaozu's health gradually deteriorated, and debates about the Emperor's son, the Crown Prince, increasingly filled the imperial court.
The ministers in the imperial court generally believed that the Emperor's eldest son, Liu Ying, was unfit to be the Emperor because he was too timid and lacked any of Liu Bang's demeanor.
It was precisely for this reason that the factions in the imperial court gradually divided into three.
The first faction supported Liu Ying, which meant supporting the system of primogeniture in rites. This included the Confucians and the Four Graybeards of Mount Shang, with the meritorious official group led by Xiao He as their leader.
The second faction supported Zhao Prince Liu Ruyi. These people believed that Liu Ruyi greatly resembled the Emperor and should be chosen as the Crown Prince to inherit the great throne, in accordance with selecting the worthy.
The supporters of this group were more loosely organized and did not have a very clear leader.
The third faction was the largest and most mixed, consisting of the neutral faction that supported neither. Many in the neutral faction mostly just wanted to get things done and were not interested in vying for fame or profit.
Their leader, or rather the person with the highest status among them, was the Dai Prince, who was also one of the current Prime Ministers, Chen Cheng.
These three factions fought among themselves in the imperial court, each dissatisfied with the others' ideas.
.... .....
It was another noisy court session. Chen Cheng sat there, silently closing his eyes.
Many years had passed, and Chen Cheng's spiritual cultivation had become even more profound, making him seem like one of those venerable old ministers who could act superior in the imperial court.
However, Chen Cheng was not considered "old," nor was his host body, Chen Xi, considered old.
Ancients married and had children early. Although Chen Lang was already fourteen or fifteen years old, Chen Cheng was only thirty-four or thirty-five.
Chen Lang was Chen Xi's eldest son. At the time Chen Xi had Chen Lang, he was actually considered an older bachelor.
"Court dismissed—!"
Amidst a sharp voice, the chaotic court session finally ended for another day. Chen Cheng slowly stood up, his expression blank, simply nodding and perfunctorily greeting the ministers beside him.
It was only the autumn and winter of the seventh year of Emperor Gaozu's reign. Liu Bang's body seemed to be giving out, but in reality, Liu Bang could live for another five years.
In his original historical trajectory, he passed away in the twelfth year of Emperor Gaozu's reign.
It was as if Heaven wanted this man to enjoy the glories and riches of this world. He truly gained power in the first year of Emperor Gaozu's reign, having only been in rebellion for a few years before that.
In just five years, he swept across the land, reunifying the realm and establishing the Great Han Dynasty. After that, he sat on the throne for seven years, as if stabilizing all matters under heaven before finally letting go.
Therefore, Chen Cheng had also been enjoying an ordinary life all these years.
There wasn't much happening in this peaceful life.
"Prime Minister."
The Inner Attendant's voice was very soft, as if he was afraid that speaking too loudly would disturb this important figure in the imperial court.
Chen Cheng slowly turned his head and glanced at the Inner Attendant. He said nothing, but the majesty in his gaze already made everyone feel awed, and the Inner Attendant became even more cautious.
"Prime Minister, His Majesty has summoned you."
His Majesty?
Chen Cheng nodded, turned, and walked towards the rear hall of Weiyang Palace, while pondering the situation in his mind.
Why would the Emperor summon him at this time? Was there something urgent?
But... what urgent matter could there be now?
Chen Cheng had a bad premonition.
If there was a major event at this time, something that would make Liu Bang, as Emperor, personally summon him, it would probably be the dispute between the Crown Prince and the Zhao Prince...
Was he going to be forced to take a side?
Chen Cheng's brows furrowed deeper. He sighed softly in his heart.
In fact, he didn't want to side with anyone.
The unknown beyond time allowed him to know that the final victor was neither Liu Ying, who seemingly conformed to rites, nor Liu Ruyi, who was favored by Liu Bang.
It was... the Dai Prince, hidden in the palace, seemingly without any foundation, and very foolish!
Of course, at this time, the Dai Prince was not yet the Dai Prince; he was just an ordinary imperial prince.
.... .....
Weiyang Palace, Rear Hall
Liu Bang sat beside Liu Ruyi and Liu Ying. Logically speaking, Liu Ying, as the Crown Prince, should have been seated closest to the Emperor, but at this moment, it was Liu Ruyi who sat beside Liu Bang.
This was what Chen Cheng saw as soon as he entered. He sighed softly, shaking his head.
Indeed, it was as the historical records of later generations said: Liu Bang still favored this child named Liu Ruyi the most. Otherwise, how could his name be "Ruyi" (meaning 'as one wishes')?
From this name, one could see the Emperor's preference and affection for him.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty live long and prosper in Weiyang Palace—!"
Liu Bang merely waved his hand, allowing Chen Cheng to sit down casually. He himself leaned back diagonally, without the demeanor an Emperor should possess.
His manner of speaking was also very ordinary.
"Le Zhi, there's no need for such formality."
He yawned, casually spat out the small stick he used to pick his teeth, and then smiled at Chen Cheng, saying, "Le Zhi, my children are grown now, and I can't control them."
"The Empress also said it's time to find a teacher for this child."
Liu Bang pointed at the two children in front of him, who were clearly very different, and said to them, "Look, this is the Dai Prince who could kill Xiang Yu amidst an army of ten thousand, and he is also the one who saved me twice."
"With his abilities, he is more than capable of being your teacher."
"Although I am the Emperor, I cannot bear to force my old subjects and subordinates. So, later, you two will speak to the Dai Prince yourselves about becoming his disciples. If the Dai Prince agrees, there's nothing more to say. But if the Dai Prince does not agree, you are absolutely not allowed to pester him further!"
"Do you understand?"
The two children sat there, their faces showing some excitement.
From a young age, they had heard the old story of Chen Cheng killing Xiang Yu amidst an army of ten thousand, so they regarded him as a hero. Liu Ruyi's eyes, however, flashed with a hint of "calculation" that did not fit his era or his age.
Liu Ruyi knew very well that this time, while seemingly finding teachers for both of them, it was actually finding a teacher for him alone.
Why?
Because Crown Prince Liu Ying already had Confucian scholars teaching him, and he had also taken the Four Graybeards of Mount Shang as his teachers, receiving classical studies from these hereditary great Confucians.
Therefore, the Crown Prince's position was very stable.
But he, Liu Ruyi, was different. Ultimately, even among the meritorious officials, few supported him. These were all signs of looking down on him! Otherwise, given the Emperor's favor for him, how could no ministers come to fawn over him?
In Liu Ruyi's view, everything under heaven belonged to their Liu family, including those who had already served under his father as generals.
Why did these meritorious officials look down on him?
He was the dignified Zhao Prince!
Therefore, after discussing with his mother, his mother Consort Qi whispered in the Emperor's ear, leading the Emperor to agree to her request to secure a teacher for him.
Looking across the entire imperial court, who was most suitable if not this Dai Prince?
With the Dai Prince's help, how could so many things in this world still be so difficult? If the Dai Prince expressed his stance, a large portion of the meritorious official group might agree, which would greatly boost his supporting power!
At this moment, Liu Ruyi put on the image of a very obedient and cute child, with a touch of well-placed mischief: "Are you the Dai Prince whom Father Emperor often talks about?"
Liu Ruyi tilted his head, smiling at Chen Cheng.
"Then, are you willing to be my teacher?"
Teacher?
A hint of helplessness flashed across Chen Cheng's mind. It seemed things were just as he had guessed: the Emperor, or rather this Zhao Prince named Liu Ruyi, wanted to drag him into this muddy water!
And just at this moment, Liu Ying, who had always been unassuming, slowly spoke, his voice equally gentle and refined.
In fact, Liu Ying didn't really want to come. After all, he felt his current teachers were already good enough. To take another teacher just to compete for the Emperor's succession was something Liu Ying found very perplexing and unsatisfactory.
However, Liu Ying was Liu Ying after all, benevolent at heart, so he still did not make things difficult for Chen Xi. Instead, he poured him a cup of tea and said, "Prime Minister, please have some tea and think it over slowly."
Chen Xi sat there, holding half a pastry in his hand, feeling as if he was about to explode.
In fact, he really was about to explode.
Who would dare to have the Crown Prince personally pour tea? Did the Emperor receive such treatment?
But at the moment, he wasn't thinking about such things. He immediately knelt down on the ground, then looked at the Emperor, and said without looking away, "Reporting to Your Majesty, this old subject is old and infirm, unfit to be the Zhao Prince's teacher, for fear of teaching him incorrectly."
"As for being the Crown Prince's teacher, I dare not even consider it. If there are no accidents, the Crown Prince will succeed to the throne. What virtue or ability do I possess to teach a future Emperor, the current heir apparent?"
His words were very standard and restrained. Even though Liu Bang had guessed what Chen Cheng would say, he still found it amusing at this moment.
He immediately sighed helplessly, rubbing his forehead, and said, "You, you are just too rigid. There are no outsiders here, only two children, you, and I."
At this point, Liu Bang's eyes welled up with tears, looking very pitiful.
"Does Le Zhi also want to leave me, like Zifang, and run away?"
Looking at Liu Bang like this, Chen Cheng's expression showed helplessness and speechlessness.
He naturally didn't believe Liu Bang's "tears," but he understood that perhaps... there really was no good path left to take.
Just unwilling to take disciples, and it could be twisted into wanting to leave him.
Chen Cheng rubbed his forehead, only sighing, "Your Majesty, what virtue do I, this old subject, possess to be a teacher to the Crown Prince or the Zhao Prince?"