The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Grandmaster Fu rested against the carriage wall, eyes half-closed, as his eldest grandson draped a thin blanket over his legs, and then he opened his eyes.

”Have you spoken with the Crown Prince?”

Fu Xiuyuan smiled and nodded, ”Brother Huaiyu has already introduced me.”

With warmth in his eyes, Grandmaster Fu said with relief, ”Grandfather held you back from entering officialdom, only allowing you to participate in the examinations this year. Has this made you feel uneasy?”

Fu Xiuyuan sat cross-legged and calmly stated, ”Grandfather has great plans; every decision you make has its purpose.”

Grandmaster Fu sighed, ”Grandfather is getting old, and now insists on seeing things thoroughly. There was a time I held you back; firstly, it was because the timing wasn’t right, so you could better temper yourselves. Secondly, to avoid prematurely getting involved in the court’s succession battles; remember, the slightest blunder in the competition for the crown could lead to the ruin of our family.”

After a moment of silence, Fu Xiuyuan said, ”I see that the establishment of the Crown Prince was relatively peaceful. In the previous dynasty, the succession battles during the Xia Dynasty were tumultuous, full of bloodshed. Compared to that, Great Qing is a realm of tranquility.”

Grandmaster Fu remarked, ”That is the Emperor’s method of intimidation. On one hand, the princes are not yet fully-fledged and still young; he himself is in his prime. Even if courtiers have the intention to choose sides, they are wary of doing so without restraint.”

Without reservation—only the maternal clans of various concubines act this way. Other relatives perhaps maintain some caution, since if the Emperor remains healthy, doing too much could make them pawns to be discarded.

”Calls to establish a Crown Prince are made every year. Had the Emperor not fallen ill this year, it might not have happened so decisively,” Grandmaster Fu said, stroking his beard. ”Notice how the Emperor appointed the young legitimate Prince as Crown Prince; he refuses to acknowledge aging. Establishing the Crown Prince doesn’t mean ceding power prematurely.”

Once a Crown Prince is established, power must be shared. If the Crown Prince were an adult, the Emperor would have to relinquish some power. Even if he didn’t, an adult Crown Prince would be eager to form his own faction, rather than be a puppet Crown Prince.

But a young Crown Prince is different; he is still immature, and his primary focus must be on learning, not wielding power.

By establishing the Crown Prince, the nation now has a successor to silence bureaucrats and reassure the people, while the Emperor still retains power—it’s a win-win situation, so why not do it?

”This year, Grandfather let you take part in the autumn examinations because the timing was right. Firstly, with the Crown Prince established, the Fu Family can re-enter the center of the Beijing Circle’s power. If there’s a need to choose sides, there is now a rightful ruler. Secondly, considering the Crown Prince is young, if you pass the exams and start your official career, laying the groundwork is necessary. By the time the Crown Prince comes of age, you will have ample experience in governance and, being young, you’ll be even more adept.”

Fu Xiuyuan rubbed his fingertips, probing, ”Grandfather, your urgent letter asking me to immediately enroll for this year’s autumn exams—is it related to Prime Minister Song?”

Grandmaster Fu’s eyes flickered; he closed his eyes and said, ”That’s not important. What matters is that once you pass, you must succeed in next year’s exams too. The Fu Family has already entered the fray.”

Fu Xiuyuan’s heart stirred, and he bowed, ”Rest assured, Grandfather, I shall not fail your expectations.”

Grandmaster Fu curled his lips slightly.

Fu Xiuyuan lifted the carriage curtain, glanced towards the carriage carrying his mother and sister, then put it down and spoke softly, ”Grandfather, regarding Third Sister’s marriage—are you mindful of it?”

”Hmm?” Grandmaster Fu opened his eyes.

Fu Xiuyuan smiled and said, ”I see Huaiyu as an exceptional talent with the demeanor of his uncle, Prime Minister Song. The Song Family’s virtuous line makes it a worthy match.”