In the Imperial Study, Prince Chu was voicing his grievances on behalf of Zhao Yao. He believed Zhao Yao should not marry a peasant girl as his official wife. If they insisted on having their brother marry a girl of peasant origin, she could be taken as a concubine.
Prince Chu argued that a girl from a peasant background was unqualified to bee the official wife of a Prince. Leaving aside her family background, even if a peasant-origin Princess Consort could read and write, could she master the arts of zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting? Could she handle social situations? Could she understand the etiquette and protocols of the Royal Family? Could she manage the Prince Mansion...
A girl from a peasant origin is far inferior in knowledge, experience, and skill pared to girls from aristocratic and official families.
Prince Chu still felt that the Emperor arranging for a peasant girl to bee Princess Han was an insult to Zhao Yao. He did not dare question why the Emperor was treating Zhao Yao so harshly, but he could speak up for Zhao Yao.
He started by recalling Zhao Yao’s achievements since childhood, such as inventing the stirrup, and listed many things Zhao Yao had done, as well as the impact of Zhao Yao’s creations on the mon people and the Great Zhou.
He also spoke of what Zhao Yao had done in Swamp Prefecture. Every one of these things was remarkable and had drastically changed the lives of the people in Swamp Prefecture. Furthermore, Zhao Yao had also brought Annan and Johor closer to Great Zhou.
Sun Kui, waiting by the side, felt a twinge of anxiety as Prince Chu grew increasingly emotional, angry, and tearful. He was genuinely worried that Prince Chu would, in a moment of rage, directly question the Emperor as to why he was treating His Highness Prince Han in such a manner.
The Emperor, with his hands crossed under his chin, listened leisurely to Prince Chu’s accusations.
As Prince Chu spoke, he also observed the Emperor’s expression. Seeing that the Emperor had no reaction to all the praise of Zhao Yao’s deeds, he felt a mix of anger, frustration, and heartache.
He truly could not understand why the father treated the tenth brother this way.
The tenth brother had always been obedient and never did anything to anger their father, nor did he ever mit any heinous act. However, he had never received affection or attention from their father from childhood.
Even though he was not favored since childhood, the tenth brother never resented it. He always understood the responsibilities of a prince and consistently worked for the people.
The tenth brother went to Lingnan without ever plaining or seeking pity from their father. Single-handedly, he transformed the impoverished Swamp Prefecture, turning it from an isolated and primitive place into the most important port of Great Zhou.
For over a year, the tenth brother frequently sent things to their father. The tenth brother even risked his life for the peace of the Great Zhou. All these years, he did so much for what? Just to make their father look at him properly, just to receive a single word of praise, yet what did he ultimately get in return? His father’s humiliation.
Even after being humiliated by their father, the tenth brother did not plain and spoke well of their father, saying it was his duty as a prince.
Such an obedient and understanding tenth brother, why does their father...
As Prince Chu spoke, he cried from anger.
Standing by, Sun Kui was also moved to tears by Prince Chu’s words. Even though he knew the Emperor did not intend to humiliate Prince Han, hearing Prince Chu’s grievances on behalf of Prince Han made him feel sorrowful and indignant for His Highness Prince Han.
The Emperor, seeing Prince Chu moved to tears, felt a pang of emotion.
He never expected his usually stoic fourth son to cry, and over that little rascal, the young tenth.
Prince Chu’s accusations made him seem less than human as a father.
Why was letting the young tenth marry a peasant-born girl as Princess seen by Prince Chu as such an unforgivable act? As if he was torturing and humiliating the young tenth?!
In Prince Chu’s eyes, he, as a father, had been mistreating the young tenth since childhood.
"Father, is the tenth brother not your biological son?" For the first time in his life, Prince Chu lost his posure. His eyes were red, filled with tears, his expression angry and sorrowful. It was his first time being so disrespectful in front of the Emperor.
"Of course, he’s my biological son." The Emperor, questioned angrily by Prince Chu, was led to inwardly reflect, wondering if his facade of indifference towards the young tenth had been too convincing, making everyone believe that he loathed this son.
Sun Kui silently sighed in his heart: His Highness Prince Chu truly loves His Highness Prince Han.
"Then why do you treat the tenth brother like this?" The tenth brother, as a son, has never been unfilial. As a prince, he has done many things beneficial to the country and its people. Regardless of his role as a son or courtier, he has performed mendably.
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