Peace Order

Chapter 1841 - 91: Emperor

But Prince Jiang Yuan was extremely sorrowful, weeping multiple times, overwhelmed by grief, to the point of fainting. Only then did the people realize his sorrow. Jiang Yuan drove away the beautiful maidservants in the Prince Mansion, smashed the ancient zither, stayed away from music and wine, dressed plainly, and abstained from meat.

The people praised him as virtuous and filial.

After returning to his residence, Jiang Yuan entered through the inner door. From the outside, the entire mansion appeared very simple, with few beautiful people, but inside it was filled with beautiful maidservants, concubines, and delicacies.

Jiang Yuan changed his clothes, and a beautiful maid came to serve him, with lavish enjoyment. He said, "Hateful Yuwen Lie, relying on his martial prowess, dares to disregard me. When I defeat Li Guanyi, my majesty will spread throughout the Four Seas."

"At that time, the nation will have no use for you, kill to settle the score!"

"To avenge today’s humiliation!"

The maidservants and concubines around him appeased the prince with soft and charming voices. However, someone came to report good news, saying that the beauty sent last year, favored and delighted, was now with child and had just given birth.

Jiang Yuan was overjoyed at first, holding the child and caressing its face.

The people around congratulated him.

But then Jiang Yuan’s face showed a twisted expression.

His hand caressed the child, lamenting, "What a pity, what a pity, good child, you came at the wrong time. The people congratulating him, along with the beauty who had just given birth, were stunned.

Unable to believe what they were hearing from Jiang Yuan.

Jiang Yuan watched as the child’s instinctive hand grasped his palm.

A glimmer of reluctance was in his eyes.

But when he thought of the lofty Dragon Chair and the throne, that trace of reluctance and the mourning for his deceased father, as well as the blood ties with his elder brother, all dissipated. He handed the child back to the beauty, saying:

"Take your daughter and leave."

"With father just passed away, if I were to have a child born now, it would be said by scholars and gentry that I’m not filial."

The beauty was stunned for a long time, unable to believe the words she heard, yet she still held the child with tears streaming down her face, bowing in gratitude for the prince’s grace, while Jiang Yuan also sighed, sadness in his heart.

So today he favored the sister of the maidservant and the two of them one last time.

After the rain and cloud, he sent the two beauties away, suddenly realizing that if one day he ascended the throne, and this woman appeared with the child, would his reputation not be ruined then?!

At that time, being held accountable would be extremely disgraceful.

In those days, being an emperor.

An emperor is like a deity in the human world, ruling over all, being the supreme of the mortal realm.

How could an emperor commit such a mistake!

So, after struggling for a long time, he summoned the hidden guard, saying: "Go, silence this woman and her child."

The hidden guard was stunned for a long time, but eventually carried out the order. When he returned to report, Jiang Yuan rewarded him with a considerable bounty. But when the hidden guard was leaving, he suddenly drew his sword, piercing the hidden guard’s back with one swift strike.

An explosive true qi tore the guard’s internal organs to bits.

The hidden guard fell to the ground; Jiang Yuan wiped the blood on the guard’s body, kicked him, and cursed: "Vile traitor and villain!"

"How dare you kill my wife and child."

Jiang Yuan swung the weapon, hacking the loyal hidden guard into a bloody mess, then stopped. He exhaled a breath slowly, and the pang of conscience in his heart ceased.

He lifted his head, looking out at the distant heavens and earth, murmuring: "Child, you won’t resent your father; it’s the throne, the most powerful position in the world. To achieve this position, any sacrifice is worth it."

"You’ll help father too, won’t you."

"You won’t hate your father."

As for the beauty, she was not in his consideration.

He had already forgotten her appearance.

Because of this event, Jiang Yuan, with pain and reflection, scrutinized all the beauties in the other courtyard, but such matters, ultimately, could not be kept entirely under wraps; it was still recorded in official history.

[As for Yuan, he was keen on disguising, and all children that might be in the rear courtyard did not survive]

This is the equivocal style used in history.

Royal sons, having them, but not rearing them.

If they weren’t killed, they were sent away.

It was also said that starting a few years ago, Jiang Yuan already [hid beautiful maidens in separate rooms, only leaving old and ugly ones, dressed in robes of woven silk, to serve by his side; he replaced drapes with plain silk, and the world thought him uninterested in beauty and melody]

Prince Jiang Yuan, with a handsome appearance, was intelligent, deep, serious, fond of learning, skilled in writing, respectful in socializing with courtiers, and extremely humble and respectful;

Thus, his reputation soared, crowned throughout the world.

But Jiang Gao did not care about these superficial things.

He valued practical matters more.

In the court, and even around the Capital City, Prince Jiang Yuan’s support and public opinion vaguely surpassed Jiang Gao, and on this day, after handling court affairs, Wei Yiwen was invited by Grandmaster Jiang Su.

Jiang Su’s mansion was rather clean and simple, with the austerity of a famous general, yet lacked much lavish entertainment. Upon entering, Wei Yiwen saw Grandmaster Jiang Su boiling tea alone, playing a chess game filled with intense battle, a game reflecting the whole world.

Wei Yiwen calmed himself down, walked forward, and smiled: "Grandmaster, such leisure!"

Jiang Su said indifferently: "It’s not leisure, only that I’m witnessing the world’s warfare."

Wei Yiwen looked at the situation, also thinking of the current world. It was already late autumn, and Jiang Wanxiang’s passing still had not faded away from the court and Ying Country’s populace.

Wei Yiwen said: "With Military God Jiang Su here, we Daying can stand firm in the world, rest assuredly."

Jiang Su, however, shook his head, his voice solemn and quiet: "No longer."