Volume One, Chapter Nine: The Emperor Chu's Disdain

Su Ming wished he could just bury his head in his crotch; it was unbearably humiliating. These fools insisted on praising him, and he couldn’t even explain himself.

Now, his face was utterly lost! He couldn’t even show himself in public!

But soon, someone sensed something was amiss—especially Emperor Chu, who cast his gaze at the name Su Yuan.

Su Yuan—wasn’t that the name of his second son who had been disgraced? Could it really be him?

Emperor Chu was the first to realize the truth, his eyes scanning down to the contestant seats. Su Ming, along with the other princes, princesses, and concubines, all rose to look as well.

When they saw Su Yuan sitting there in ragged clothes, accompanied by the little maid, Emperor Chu instantly recognized him, a fierce gleam flashing in his eyes.

Others noticed too, turning their attention to Su Yuan, including Mu Yunchen and Lu Xingkui behind him. The two exchanged a glance, shock flashing briefly before it was replaced by deadly intent.

They had not previously paid Su Yuan any mind, since they never considered anyone in the contestant seats worthy of attention. Yet now, they recognized him.

Luo Changfeng and Gan Yunshen also looked at Su Yuan and recognized him at once.

Seeing the once dignified Second Prince, the two senior ministers’ faces lit up with joy—or rather, at least half of the court officials showed delight.

“Congratulations to Your Majesty! Congratulations! So it turns out the first place is the Second Prince! Haha, truly heaven’s mercy and the blessings of the heavens upon our great Chu…”

Luo Changfeng was the first to react, immediately falling to his knees.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty! The Second Prince truly lives up to being Your Majesty’s son—a tiger begets no dog!” Chancellor Gan Yunshen quickly followed.

With these two influential first-rank officials speaking up, nearly half the ministers knelt down immediately, offering their congratulations.

The others, upon realizing the truth, also hurried to kneel and congratulate, especially those eager to flatter the emperor.

At a time like this, failing to restore Emperor Chu’s dignity would have led to unknown consequences.

All these people kept repeating “Second Prince,” seemingly forgetting that Su Yuan had been disgraced.

He Yuanchen also offered congratulations, but his mind was still reeling. He never imagined the folk talent he had casually recruited was the disgraced Second Prince!

Yet, seeing the Second Prince’s extraordinary talents, he almost shed tears—this was the Second Prince they had always envisioned!

The eldest prince paled in comparison to the Second Prince by many lengths!

Emperor Chu looked at the sea of kneeling ministers with a scowl. His face was burning with embarrassment; he had originally expected his favored eldest son to take first place.

He had even put on quite the show, but in the end, he was the one who lost face so badly.

However, there was some consolation: his other son had taken second place, saving him some dignity.

Still, he bore no fondness for Su Yuan. Although Su Yuan resembled him to some extent, those eyes that looked like his mother’s and the eyebrows resembling the Duke of Zhenbei’s unsettled him deeply.

It reminded him of the Duke of Zhenbei’s family and his empress—although this family had helped place him on the throne, they also witnessed the most disgraceful chapters of his past.

Therefore, no matter what, he could never bring himself to like his second son.

Yet, facing the ministers’ support and Su Yuan’s first-place win in poetry, he could not easily maintain a cold demeanor.

At that moment, Su Yuan, holding the little maid, stepped forward to the main stage. The ministers had set a welcoming tone; he naturally had to reciprocate.

Otherwise, regaining his status as a prince would become even more difficult.

He knelt down with the little maid and said, “Your servant greets Father Emperor, wishing Your Majesty longevity and health, long live, long live, long long live!”

The little maid, having recognized the man before her as her imperial grandfather, echoed sweetly in babyish tones, “Wishing Grandfather Emperor longevity and health, long live, long live, long long live!”

Though she had met him only a few times, she remembered him well.

At their heartfelt greeting, the literary scholars who had mocked Su Yuan were stunned speechless. The scholars of Daqing wore looks of terror and dumbfounded shock.

Damn, they had just been ridiculing Su Yuan as incompetent, yet who would have thought he was first place—and the Second Prince of Chu to boot! How could it be possible?

A middle-aged clerk was even more dumbfounded, staring blankly at Su Yuan’s figure. He had just been chummy with the Second Prince, calling him “brother” and shoulder to shoulder. The thought alone sent chills down his spine.

Emperor Chu looked at the father and daughter before him, his emotions complex, especially when he saw his granddaughter—his eyes softened with a trace of tenderness.

Though he disliked Su Yuan, he still felt a measure of pity for this granddaughter.

“Rise! Since you came to compete in the literary contest, return to the contestant seats!” Emperor Chu frowned and said coldly to Su Yuan.

Su Yuan felt his heart chill, as if cut by a knife.

Though he had long suspected as much, seeing his father so cold toward him still caused a painful ache.

At this moment, they were so pitiful, yet his father seemed oblivious, showing no concern—only disdain.

His father’s warmth and fatherly love were all reserved for Su Ming. In his father’s eyes, perhaps only his favored eldest son existed.

Even now, he had not mentioned restoring Su Yuan’s status nor clearing his name.

Return to continue the literary contest? Was the emperor trying to smooth things over?

But what about Su Ming? The emperor regarded Su Ming with pride, giving him all the warmth and favor just shown.

“Your Majesty, since the Second Prince has returned, may I suggest issuing an edict to restore the Second Prince’s status?” Grand Tutor Luo Changfeng hurriedly said.

“Your Majesty, the matter regarding Consort Shu has been investigated, and the Second Prince was wronged. I implore Your Majesty to restore his status!” Chancellor Gan Yunshen added.

Their voices stirred about half the court officials to echo their calls.

“Your Majesty, your wisdom shines. Please restore the Second Prince’s status…”

Su Ming and Consort Lu’s faces darkened instantly.

Consort Lu clenched her hands tightly, her nails digging into her flesh until blood oozed through her fingers.

Su Ming’s eyes blazed with fury; his body trembled slightly, filled with deep rage.

He never imagined that once Su Yuan appeared, so many ministers would speak in his favor. Had he known this, he would have killed Su Yuan outright.

If Su Yuan returned, the crown prince position would naturally belong to him. Even without the Duke of Zhenbei’s estate or the empress, most ministers still favored Su Yuan.

After all, Su Yuan’s mother was beloved by the ministers and the people, and the Duke of Zhenbei’s character and prestige were unmatched in court.

Because of this, even when Emperor Chu wished to make Consort Lu empress, the ministers suppressed the idea.