Chen Yun's small face was stern, like an adult, as he meticulously analyzed the court situation.
At this moment, he already looked like an adult.
"Therefore, excluding other possibilities, there is only one last possibility: His Majesty does not want to change the Crown Prince. His so-called desire to change the Crown Prince is merely because he wants the Crown Prince to become more independent."
At this point, Chen Yun's small face wrinkled into a ball: "Crown Prince indeed lacks ambition, allowing His Majesty to scheme so much for him, yet he still hasn't changed his character."
He cupped his small face, saying with confusion and curiosity: "Why is Crown Prince like this?"
"It's truly perplexing."
In fact, it wasn't just Chen Yun who was perplexed by this matter; Chen Cheng, as well as Lü Zhi and Emperor Gaozu in the palace, were all perplexed, and even helpless, by it.
Especially Lü Zhi.
She wondered, how could her son be such a kind and simple person?
Sometimes, Lü Zhi even wanted to blame herself.
She and His Majesty, one was a red dragon who fought their way out of the common people, and the other was a black phoenix who flew out of countless misfortunes. Which of them didn't possess overwhelming means?
Emperor Gaozu could be ruthless enough to abandon his wife and children, and Lü Zhi could survive in a chaotic world with several children, even preventing Xiang Yu from killing her, and then ascending to this position.
Later, Lü Zhi could even use the dignity of Empress Dowager to preside over court affairs—this point was even more formidable than the so-called first female emperor in history.
Why?
Because even that female emperor only became emperor unexpectedly when numerous predecessors had fully established the credibility of empress dowagers "listening to court affairs from behind a screen," and then many aristocratic families wanted to spite the Li clan.
But what about Lü Zhi?
There was no such precedent before her! But she didn't even listen to court affairs from behind a screen; she directly presided over court affairs!
There was a huge difference between the two!
How could two people of such means give birth to a child with a pure white core?
Sometimes Lü Zhi even wanted to stuff Liu Ying back into her belly and remold him.
Looking at the gray hairs that had grown on her in the bronze mirror, Lü Zhi for the first time doubted herself.
Was her decision to oppose Emperor Gaozu and not change the Crown Prince truly correct?
But before she could think deeply, she immediately crushed this thought in her mind.
The position of emperor was indeed not a good one—but if her child, a legitimate Crown Prince who truly conformed to the imperial succession system, failed in the succession struggle, his fate would only be even more tragic.
A thousand times more tragic than the failure of other imperial princes in the succession struggle!
Why?
Because the person who became emperor afterwards would definitely not let Liu Ying go!
They would worry that Liu Ying's descendants would threaten their position with legitimacy, and even fear that Liu Ying, after returning to his fiefdom and losing the imperial position, would change and rebel!
This was something the emperor would definitely consider.
Lü Zhi had never doubted this, because the current Emperor Gaozu, after enfeoffing his elder brother's son as the King of Wu, had even repeatedly suspected whether the King of Wu would rebel….
This was even when Emperor Gaozu had personally conquered the empire, not inherited it from his elder brother!
Lü Zhi sighed deeply, looking at herself in the bronze mirror, her face quite sorrowful: "His Majesty's health is getting worse now. He wants to change the Crown Prince, but… how dare I truly let him change the Crown Prince?"
"If the Crown Prince's position is truly lost, how could the King of Zhao in the future spare Ying'er?"
She sat there in silence: "Why doesn't he understand this principle?"
.... .....
The principle Liu Ying didn't understand, Liu Heng did.
As time passed, Liu Heng became increasingly anxious. He began to think about how to leave the capital and go to his fiefdom.
Because he could clearly perceive one thing—as Emperor Gaozu came to his mother more often, that ruthless Empress also gradually noticed his mother, or rather, noticed him.
Liu Heng's eyes showed fatigue.
His elder brother was indeed benevolent, but his elder brother's mother, or rather, his nominal true mother, was not a good person!
Consort Qi and her son were so favored by his imperial father, yet didn't they still not dare to breathe loudly in front of Lü Zhi?
He must find a way!
Bo Ji, watching her child in this state, also sighed deeply in her heart. She slowly closed her eyes.
In fact, Bo Ji knew the Emperor's character too well.
It was impossible for the Emperor to truly depose Liu Ying, the Crown Prince—everyone else thought the Emperor didn't depose the Crown Prince because he felt guilty towards him, referring to the incident where he kicked him off the carriage three times, but she knew perfectly well.
The Emperor didn't depose the Crown Prince partly because, as a political animal, he truly had feelings for the Empress, but more importantly, Emperor Gaozu dared not set the precedent of "replacing the elder with the virtuous"!
Yes, this was the most important reason.
Everything needed a precedent. Once there was a precedent, one could follow it. The precedent of replacing the elder with the virtuous could absolutely not be set!
After all… who decided which imperial prince was virtuous?
The Emperor? The ministers? The common people?
Emperor Gaozu scoffed at this. If the ministers decided, wouldn't the future succession of emperors be decided by those ministers? This would be a heavy blow to imperial power! So, it absolutely could not be done this way.
As for the common people deciding?
This was the most ridiculous thing.
If it were truly done this way, then in the future, whether it be the imperial princes or the ministers, they would all start doing so-called "virtuous" deeds, regardless of the actual consequences of their actions.
There would only be more "face projects."
There would absolutely not be truly benevolent emperors.
Moreover….
Establishing the legitimate eldest was a standard, an unshakeable standard—from birth, your identity was decided: whether you were the legitimate eldest.
But virtue was not like that. This standard could not be changed like "legitimate eldest"; it was changeable, it was… subject to human will.
This would breed the ambitions of other imperial princes, thereby making the dynasty even more unstable.
To stabilize the nascent dynasty!
Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, or rather, unless the Crown Prince truly committed an outrageous act, such as rebellion, the Emperor would not change the Crown Prince!
And for this reason, the more favor the Emperor showed them now, the more it would become their death warrant!
Bo Ji exhaled deeply, then made a decision in her heart.
Liu Heng, standing beside her, also slowly made a decision.
These mother and son… were both ruthless individuals.
.... ....
Empress's Palace
Lü Zhi's expression remained unchanged, but her heart was filled with shock as she looked at the person kneeling below: "You came here to tell me this?"
Bo Ji, kneeling below, slowly raised her head. A scar on her cheek made her otherwise beautiful face look somewhat distorted.
She said with some bitterness: "Reporting to Empress, during my sword dance, I accidentally injured my cheek. This is an offense to His Majesty, and even disrespect to the palace. With such a body, I can no longer hold the position of Lady."
Bo Ji bowed slightly: "My foolish child has angered His Majesty several times. I am even more worried that after losing this withered beauty, His Majesty will dislike my foolish child because of it."
"Therefore, I humbly request Empress to intercede for my child and me, and please allow my foolish child to go to his fiefdom."
"I am willing to cultivate myself in the palace and never leave Chunyi Palace."
Lü Zhi looked down at Bo Ji, her heart filled with melancholy.
She understood the reason for Bo Ji's decision; it was nothing more than to secure a path to survival for her child. For this purpose, she even dared to disfigure something extremely important to a woman, especially a woman in the palace—her face.
What was most important to gain the Emperor's favor?
Talent? Family background? Emotional value?
None of them.
It was the face, a beautiful face.
If one had an ugly face, no matter how talented, it would be impossible to gain the Emperor's favor. After all, too many people wanted the Emperor's favor, and among them, too many were talented and virtuous. Who were you?
If the Emperor didn't even want to look at you, how could you gain his favor?
Dreaming?
Even someone with the abilities of "Zhong Wuyan" in folk tales couldn't gain an ounce of affection from King Qi, let alone in real life?
For a moment, Lü Zhi felt a little pity for the woman kneeling on the ground.
She saw her own shadow in Bo Ji—both selflessly devoted to their children, both willing to sacrifice everything for their children.
Lü Zhi slowly closed her eyes.
This Empress, who had been ruthless her entire life, finally softened a little when she saw Bo Ji, who was also a mother, knew when to advance and retreat, and would not pose a threat to her.
"You can go to the fiefdom."
She said softly: "Let him marry a daughter of the Lü Clan as his primary consort, and I will intercede with His Majesty to let him return to his fiefdom!"
Although Lü Zhi was soft-hearted, she was not foolish.
Even if the Emperor truly wanted to change the Crown Prince in the future, or if Dai Prince somehow suddenly became Emperor, the son of Dai Prince would still have the Lü Clan's bloodline flowing in his veins!
In this way, the Lü Clan would still not fall.
And if the Lü Clan did not fall, they would protect Liu Ying, who had lost the Crown Prince's position or the Emperor's position, even for their own power and prestige!
Lü Zhi's ultimate goal was still for her child!
A parent's heart knows no bounds!
Bo Ji didn't hesitate at all and immediately agreed: "I accept on behalf of my foolish child!"
.... ....
Almost at the same time.
In Weiyang Palace.
Looking at Liu Heng, who had just nearly crippled himself, Emperor Gaozu's eyes finally showed a hint of anger. He looked at Liu Heng and said: "Is this all your teacher taught you?!"
"Your body, hair, and skin are received from your parents. Can you do this for your own thoughts and selfishness?"
Liu Heng knelt on the ground, saying nothing.
He whispered: "Since Imperial Father has no intention of changing the Crown Prince, doesn't he know that such actions will make my Imperial Mother even more ruthless?"
"You say that body, hair, and skin are received from parents, but can parents thus toy with and slaughter their own children?"
Emperor Gaozu listened to Liu Heng's soft and subtle accusation, feeling a little guilty for a moment.
Indeed, although he felt Liu Heng was a good successor, he still had no intention of changing the Crown Prince. After all, the Crown Prince had made no mistakes; he couldn't find a flaw!
Looking at the stubborn Liu Heng in front of him, Emperor Gaozu slowly closed his eyes.
Forget it.
Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. How much could he manage after he died? Anyway, Lü Zhi was still alive, and Le Zhi was still alive.
Let them do as they pleased when the time came!
He immediately stood up and walked away, flicking his sleeves, his expression showing a hint of anger and dejection: "Dai Prince is unruly and has offended the Emperor. Let him return to his fiefdom immediately!"
Incidentally, Emperor Gaozu added: "Take your equally foolish mother with you!"
Evidently, Emperor Gaozu at this time already knew about what Bo Ji had done in Lü Zhi's palace.
.... ....
Wei Prince's Residence
Listening to the news from the palace, Chen Cheng's brows furrowed even deeper with fatigue.
It seems… the Lü Clan's rebellion is coming?
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"Book of Han, Annals of Emperor Wen": "At this time, Emperor Wen was in the capital, often concealing his sharpness. At the end of Emperor Gaozu's ninth year, he angered Emperor Gaozu without reason, and Emperor Gaozu ordered him to return to his fiefdom, thus becoming Dai Prince."