As Yan Lun's words fell, the civil and military officials in the grand hall all looked towards the three princes standing in front of the civil officials. However, because Prince Hui sat in a wheelchair, only some of the officials in the front rows could see Prince Hui's profile or the back of his head; the officials further back couldn't even see the wheelchair.
The ones who truly felt these gazes were Prince Kang and Prince Qing, standing on either side of the wheelchair.
Prince Qing was just shocked, shocked that Di Xian was actually a talent recommended by his second brother, and shocked that his second brother had also made contributions to the canal repair!
Prince Kang was also surprised for a moment, but as someone who had just received credit for the acceptance of the canal, Prince Kang inevitably thought more.
He was able to achieve this merit because Di Xian had first repaired the canal, and Di Xian's ability to stand out was actually due to his second brother?
So, whose contribution was greater, his or his second brother's?
Without even thinking much, Prince Kang came to a conclusion: his inspection was only a minor contribution, while his second brother's recommendation of talent was the primary contribution. His second brother was the Bole who selected the winged steed, while he was just the one helping to check for omissions and fill in the gaps after the winged steed had galloped and achieved merit. Both Bole and the winged steed were indispensable, but he was not the only one capable of checking for omissions and filling in the gaps.
Emperor Yongchang sat high on the dragon throne, quickly sweeping his gaze over the expressions of the eldest and third princes, his eyes landing on the second prince's face, his tone full of the surprise of hearing this matter for the first time: "Prince Hui, is what Minister Yan said true?"
When the Emperor asked a question, the answering official, regardless of rank, should stand in the center of the hall.
Prince Kang noticed his second brother reaching to push the thin wooden wheels of the wheelchair. This action made him temporarily suppress the murky feeling in his heart, and almost subconsciously, he grasped the handles on the back of the wheelchair and pushed his second brother to the center of the hall.
When the wheelchair came to a steady stop, Emperor Yongchang's dragon throne on the imperial dais and Prince Hui's golden silk nanmu wheelchair below the dais unexpectedly aligned on the same axis. The dragon throne was resplendent with golden light, noble and majestic, while the golden silk nanmu wheelchair, comparable to gold, had the same floating luster.
Although the civil and military officials had attended morning assemblies with the recovered Prince Hui for a year, it was the first time they had seen such an eye-catching and dazzling Prince Hui at a morning assembly.
Bearing the gazes of the officials, Zhao Sui faced his imperial father's downward gaze head-on.
Others did not know the inside story, but his imperial father must have known for a long time. Making it clear like this today was definitely not just to praise him for his merit in recommending talent.
With the crown prince undecided, in June, his imperial father publicly reprimanded Prince Qing, which was equivalent to completely kicking Prince Qing out of the selection for the crown prince.
The fourth prince was lazy and unmotivated, and his imperial father would not consider him either, so only Prince Kang was left.
But on the hunting ground, his imperial father embarrassed Prince Kang in front of the important civil and military officials and hundreds of young military officers, and granted a marriage between Prince Kang's wife's clan and his own wife's clan...
If Zhao Sui only had a fifty percent suspicion that his imperial father might choose him back then, today's coordinated act between his imperial father and Yan Lun made that fifty percent turn into ninety percent.
If this were not the case, his imperial father's actions would only draw resentment from Prince Kang and Prince Qing towards him, and his imperial father would not do useless work.
"Yes."
The facts were as such, and Zhao Sui had no need to deny it anymore. If his imperial father truly wanted to choose him, Zhao Sui dared to accept this heavy responsibility.
Emperor Yongchang asked Yan Lun to rise first, then asked Di Xian next to him, "Since it was Prince Hui who recommended you, have you and Prince Hui ever met?"
Di Xian did not understand the Emperor's deeper meaning, but he knew he could not deceive the sovereign: "Reporting to Your Majesty, on the evening of the day the palace examination results were announced, Prince Hui summoned this humble official to the princely estate for questioning."
Emperor Yongchang: "What did he ask you?"
Di Xian recalled for a moment and recounted everything one by one. Even if it was not verbatim, he conveyed the general meaning.
Emperor Yongchang asked Prince Hui, "When did you notice Di Xian?"
Zhao Sui could only answer truthfully. First, he saw Di Xian's name on the list of metropolitan examination results copied by the princess consort, which reminded him of Di Yong's canal repair proposal from many years ago. Then, he went to the Ministry of Works to check Di Yong's old files. After inquiring, he found that both Di Yong and Di Xian were from Rao'an County, Ji Prefecture, and deduced that the two must be related.
As soon as these words came out, the civil and military officials one after another praised Prince Hui's good memory.
Emperor Yongchang looked at the two prime ministers and the Minister of Personnel, Shen Shiyan: "Back then, when Di Yong was transferred to serve as the magistrate of Qingxia, all three of you handled the transfer memorial. Later, when Di Yong submitted a memorial proposing to repair the canal, all three of you also participated in the court discussion of the matter. Including the announcement of the results of the metropolitan and palace examinations this year, Di Xian's name passed before you. I am busy with myriad affairs every day and inevitably have omissions, but why did none of you three important officials assisting me think of Di Yong's excellent plan to repair the canal from Di Xian?"
The Left Prime Minister, the Right Prime Minister, and Shen Shiyan hurriedly stood behind Prince Hui, one after another expressing shame that their memory was inferior to Prince Hui's, and their concern for the people was also inferior to Prince Hui's.
Emperor Yongchang did not really want to reprimand them for this matter. He waved his hand, signaling them to return to their original positions, and said to the civil and military officials: "I am very gratified that I still have a son and subject like Prince Hui, who is knowledgeable and has a strong memory, can recognize virtuous talents, and cares for the common people, daring to recommend virtuous talents for the imperial court. Without Prince Hui, who knows when Di Xian would have had the opportunity to go to Qingxia to take up his post and petition again to repair the canal. Without Prince Hui, who knows when the Fengyan Ancient Canal would have been able to divert water again to benefit the local people. Therefore, with the completion of the Fengyan Canal, Prince Hui and Di Xian share the primary merit, and are awarded a thousand taels of silver."
For Prince Hui, a reward of a thousand taels of silver was nothing, but the imperial diarist sitting on one side of the grand hall recorded this matter. Thus, Prince Hui's primary merit in recommending Di Xian would be recorded in the annals of history, just like Prince Qing's crime of losing a thousand soldiers and enraging the emperor in June, to be passed down through the ages. Whenever future generations mentioned the Fengyan Canal, they would mention the father and son Di Xian, as well as Emperor Yongchang and Prince Hui, father and son.
Today's morning assembly ended here.
Prince Kang pushed his second brother out, and wherever they passed, the civil and military officials looked at Prince Hui in the wheelchair with admiration.
Prince Hui's expression was as usual, while Prince Kang tried hard to maintain a look of joy for his second brother.
Out of the grand hall, Prince Qing was about to say a few hypocritical words, and Prince Kang was about to push his second brother down the slope, when Emperor Yongchang sent a eunuch to invite Prince Hui to the imperial study.
Qingai then timely took over the wheelchair, bowed to the two princes, and pushed his own prince away.
Surrounded by officials, Prince Qing first walked down the long white marble steps with Prince Kang. When they had distanced themselves from the officials behind them, Prince Qing gloated at Prince Kang's long, square face: "Who would have thought that Eldest Brother worked so hard outside for two months, finally completing the errand and coming back, only to have the limelight stolen by Second Brother."
Both older brothers had merits, and he was the most awkward one. But thinking carefully, didn't Eldest Brother seem even more awkward, having done a lot of things but having less merit than Second Brother?
As long as he wasn't at the bottom, Prince Qing felt much better in his heart.
Prince Kang was truly in a bad mood and couldn't pretend anymore. He glared coldly at Prince Qing and strode towards the Ministry of Revenue where he worked.
.
In the imperial study, after pushing Prince Hui in front of Emperor Yongchang, Qingai retreated along with Eunuch Wang.
Emperor Yongchang sat on the dragon throne, not in a hurry to speak, only silently observing his son opposite him.
Zhao Sui suddenly thought of the princess consort at home. Sometimes when the princess consort wanted to see his embarrassment, she would deliberately stare at him like this.
After a moment of silence, Zhao Sui glanced at his imperial father and said, "Regarding the matter of repairing the canal, this son indeed has some merit, but as the princess consort said, the primary merit for the completion of the canal should go to Imperial Father."
Emperor Yongchang said in surprise, "To me?"
Zhao Sui then repeated the Princess Consort's words on the distribution of merit, including the credit she attributed to the laborers who built the canal.
Emperor Yongchang nodded with an ambiguous expression. "You really tell her everything."
Zhao Sui replied, "...The Princess Consort is inquisitive. That day, I merely glanced at Di Xian's name a few extra times, and she asked if I had thought of something."
Emperor Yongchang said, "I am also inquisitive. Let me ask you now, what were you thinking when I praised you in the great hall?"
Looking at his legs, Zhao Sui replied, "I thought that the Princess Consort was sent to me by you, Imperial Father, and the position in the Ministry of Works was an exception you willingly made for me. My ability to recognize Di Xian's talent relies first on the Princess Consort curing my heart's ailment, and second on your willingness to still employ this half-crippled body of mine. Therefore, for every day you employ me, I will dedicate myself fully and not dare to slack off."
Emperor Yongchang knew then that his second son understood his meaning.
As for his second son's self-deprecating words, Emperor Yongchang said, "Those in high positions rely on their brains. As long as one has a brain, there are plenty of subordinates beneath them to run errands. Having legs without a brain means either being driven by others or running straight into trouble."
Zhao Sui could only remain silent.
Emperor Yongchang asked, "How is your wife's health?"
Zhao Sui said, "With Nanny Jin caring for her, the Princess Consort is doing perfectly well."
Emperor Yongchang nodded. "She must be starting to show, right? It's freezing cold, and the ground outside is slippery. Have her walk around outside less."
Zhao Sui said, "Rest assured, Imperial Father. Since winter began, she hasn't liked going out. At most, she invites my mother-in-law and others to the estate to chat and relieve her boredom."
.
As night first fell during the hour of You in winter, Zhao Sui, draped in a heavy cloak, was pushed out of the Ministry of Works in his leather-upholstered wheelchair by Qingai.
On the palace road leading outside, he encountered Prince Kang and Prince Qing waiting for him side by side.
A day had passed, and Prince Kang had calmed down. His second brother indeed had great merit, and it was only right for their Imperial Father to praise him. As the eldest brother, he could not be so petty toward his wheelchair-bound second brother. Therefore, when Prince Qing egged him on to treat his second brother to drinks, Prince Kang readily agreed, refusing to give his third brother a chance to laugh at his two older brothers.
Upon learning of their intentions, Zhao Sui asked, "To Eldest Brother's estate?"
If they went to a restaurant, he could only stay in the first-floor main hall. The Princess Consort liked pretending to be a commoner in the main hall to enjoy the bustling atmosphere, but Prince Kang and Prince Qing probably wouldn't want that.
Prince Qing clicked his tongue and said, "Second Brother received more reward silver than Eldest Brother. No matter how you look at it, we should go to your estate, right?"
Zhao Sui replied, "The Princess Consort is pregnant, and I don't want to disturb her by making her come out to greet you."
Prince Kang glared at Prince Qing and made the decision, "We will go to my estate."
Zhao Sui sent someone to inform the Princess Consort, lest she wait for him to eat.
Upon arriving at Prince Kang's estate, Chen Ying brought the children over to greet their two royal uncles. After exchanging pleasantries, they returned to the rear courtyard.
With only the three brothers left in the hall, Prince Qing felt sour in his heart, and most of what he said was unpleasant to hear. Zhao Sui neither drank the wine he offered nor engaged in his meaningless chatter, instead taking the initiative to ask Prince Kang about his experiences in Liangzhou.
Prince Kang also enjoyed discussing these serious matters with him, and the two older brothers gradually left Prince Qing out in the cold.
Finding it terribly dull, Prince Qing filled his stomach and prepared to take his leave.
Prince Kang wanted his second brother to stay a little longer; after all, it was rare for him and his second brother to chat for so long in one sitting.
Zhao Sui said, "It's getting late. I'm heading back to spend some time with the Princess Consort."
Prince Kang: "..."
.
By the time Prince Hui finally cleaned himself up and came to his Princess Consort's side, Yao Huang was already feeling a bit sleepy.
"Out of the blue, why did the First Prince invite you all to drink?"
She leaned against Prince Hui, sniffed, and surprisingly didn't smell a trace of alcohol.
Zhao Sui explained, "Eldest Brother had merit in inspecting the canal, so Third Brother made him treat us. Only our own brothers were at the banquet. When I said I wouldn't drink, they didn't force me."
Children shouldn't drink alcohol, and an unborn child should be even less exposed to the smell of it.
Yao Huang hummed and muttered, "You clearly had merit too, Your Highness."
Zhao Sui held the Princess Consort's soft hand. "I have already received the top merit from you; the ones outside are not important."
Yao Huang knew that Prince Hui did not covet fame or fortune, and smiled. "Then let me reward you with something more substantial, Your Highness."
Saying this, she hooked her arms around Prince Hui's shoulders, urging him to lie down a bit. Once the distance was closed, she slowly kissed him.
