Chapter sixty-two: Schemes for benefit

The imperial court office was overflowing with petition. Ministers regardless of their faction believed that the previous day rainstorm was due to the anger of heaven on their land and submitted theirs hoping that the emperor will heed to it.

The premonition of war ignited and fueled the assumption making no leeway for the emperor.He asked for suggestions on how to curb this anger and pacify heaven and received many suggestions pointing to one thing. A happy event should be hosted to create positive energy thereby eradicating the dark energy flowing in the air.

"Your Majesty, the crown prince is of age to have a wife now, I beseech thee to proclaim a royal marriage for the good of the imperial family and our nation". The first official suggested.

"Yes your Majesty, I support the minister of taxation. During royal marriages, the commoners pray for the monarch and praying for the monarch is also praying for our nation". The second minister supported.

"Your Majesty, the crown prince should be married by now if not for his ambiguous and irrational excuses each time the topic is brought up, so I suggest royal marriage should be bestowed to create happiness and relief for the common people". The minister of culture interceded sarcastically.

The crown prince that was pretending to be deaf finally spoke out in anger. During the natural disaster, lives were lost. Properties too was destroyed. Instead of looking for solution to help alleviate the suffering of the people, the ministers are using the natural disaster for their own gain. Who said that royal marriage gives relief to suffering? Who proposed the law that after the survival of a rainstorm royal marriage is the solution to the problem? He inwardly cringed barely holding himself.

"Minister of taxation and other minister here in this hall , I have a question for you all. If I marry today because of the rainstorm of yesterday, what happens if another rainstorm comes, should I keep on marrying each thing a bad thing happens? For once , as the sensible ministers of these great nation, you should be proactive. look beyond your own greed and think of the good of others". He ended his speech fuming.

The ministers were clearly embarrassed .Did his highness call them senseless? Did he say they are shallow minded because they suggested that royal marriage as a happy event should be hosted and used to appease the heavens and the people. Who knew what sins they committed for ordinary rain that some lands are praying for should come and destroy their own land, making majority homeless and hopeless. Should they opt out for exorcism?

The prime minister saw that the crown prince was at his tactics of diversion and decided to steer back the ministers to the topic of discussion, the crown princess selection. "Your highness, we were all just worried that the gloomy atmosphere will affect the lives of our people. Currently, we are distributing relief material to the affected but we felt that a happy occasion is needed to make the atmosphere lively again". The prime minister has decided to stake everything. If his highness refuses to get married again then he will rally all the scholars and make them join in the protest. He made a mental note to visit the empress immediately the court meetings end.

The emperor's eyes lightened up in awe and admiration when he heard that the nobles are distributing relief materials to the victims. Looking at their faces, he knows that they are all scheming together. But if their scheme will bring benefit to his people then he don't mind at all.

The crown prince refused to back down and threw out his punch against the prime minister. "Prime minister Choi, my natal celebration is in one month's time. You are looking for a celebration? Well ,I will give you one. I am requesting royal father here and now to throw the biggest birthday celebration for me with the invitation of the whole official's families and the common people"

"But your highness, the commoners are never allowed inside the palace". One of the officials interjected .

"How dare you interrupt this crown prince before I'm done talking". He roared.

"Forgive this loyal official, your highness". The man pleaded while kowtowing, hoping against hope that the crown prince overlooks his mistake.

The crown prince ignored the man and continued listing his plans." For the birthday celebration, the officials have to pay double the tax of the common people. You said you want to host a celebration in honor of the people? This is how to show your sincerest felicity, loyalty and support for both the imperial house and the people as a whole."

The prime minister gritted his teeth. He knows that with the way the crown prince presented his point, it would be had to challenge him. Using his natal celebration in replacement for the crown princess selection is a strong move on his side. In fact, he made sure that they won't bring up the discussion again hence he decided to change his pattern of play. He is going blunt and shameless. This battle is something he has to fight for personally or the crown prince will win again .

"Your highness, you have a point... but the natal celebration and your nuptial ties are two different things. They are both happy things no doubt ,but the selection is more important for your crown stability and succession"

Threatening me now, old snake? If I don't get married, my crown shall be taken? The crown prince pressed his lips into thin line while squeezing his royal robe into a tight grip.

... The prime minister faces the emperor and kowtows "Your Majesty, this humble servant dare request that you put stability to the strength of the crown by bestowing a royal marriage for the creation of posterity."

The crown prince ground his teeth, fisted his hands and darted a venomous glance at the prime minister as the other officials joined in kowtowing and chorusing the prime minister words .

Old snake, how dare you back me into a corner? You are doing this to make your daughter my consort? Humph!Wait and see how I disappoint you.

The emperor watched his court turn into a rowdy market and ordered for silence.He watched his son boiling in anger but can't do anything for him as he is about to do something he should have done years ago.

"As the son of heaven, I hereby decree that the crown prince's birthday shall be hosted with the attendance of the official's families alone and that the crown princess selection shall commence one week after the celebration". The emperor announced his decree as the scribes and historians put it in the history book confirming it's authenticity thereby sealing the crown prince's fate. He looked at his son's face and felt nostalgic.Decreeing his marriage is for his own good eventhough his happiness is not in consideration.

The royal family has always thrived in political marriage or rather marriage of convenience but he had hoped that his son's case would be different. When he heard that there was a girl he fancied, he was happy and wanted to bestow marriage on them but since he wasn't sure on how he felt for the girl, he decided to let him come to him first. Who knew that danger lurked in the darkness for them.

Contradictory to the emperor's expectation, the crown prince bowed and accepted the marriage in good faith shocking both the monarch and the officials. Facing the prime minister that gave him a suspicious look , he smirked. Old snake, are you surprised that I accepted this time around without any fight? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. That's exactly how I want you to feel so that you will reveal all your hidden cards.

The prime minister saw him smile dangerously at him and felt uncomfortable, but one thing is for sure, the crown prince is now in his hands. Whatever it is that gave him the confidence to accept the selection easily is something he can handle as long as he uses the empress mother to move against him.

Your highness, I will surely have the last laugh. I promise.