Chapter 53: A Burning Urgency

"Congratulations, Your Highness! Splendid news! The Emperor has summoned you!"

As soon as Wang Ji'en stepped into the residence of Zhao Dezhao and caught sight of him from afar, he immediately began offering his congratulations, his demeanor exceptionally ingratiating.

"What is the occasion for such joy?"

Zhao Dezhao's heart skipped a beat. He seemed to sense something, yet dared not quite believe it. Suppressing the sudden surge of joy and expectation within him, he forced himself to ask with a calm expression.

"His Majesty has sent this humble servant to summon Your Highness to the palace to discuss the conferment of your title as the Prince of Qin. I offer my premature congratulations, Your Highness!"

Wang Ji'en smiled so broadly that the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes could have crushed a fly. Normally quite respectful whenever he faced Zhao Dezhao, he was now more deferential than ever.

Zhao Dezhao felt a jolt in his chest, and the breath he had been holding suddenly rushed out. Alternating between shock and delight, he clenched his right hand into a fist, barely restraining himself from punching the air twice to vent his overflowing joy.

He was going to be granted a princely title!

His Imperial Father was finally going to bestow a title upon him!

He had longed for this day for who knew how long, especially after his Third Uncle had been created the Prince of Jin. That desire had only grown more urgent with each passing moment.

Yet, regretfully, his Imperial Father had never shown the slightest inclination toward it. This had left Zhao Dezhao intensely anxious, yet entirely helpless.

Before today, he had thought that even if not a princely title, if his father were merely to enfeoff him as a marquis, it would still be acceptable. At times, he had even feared that his father might never grant him a princely title for the rest of his life.

Who could have imagined that today, such a monumental surprise would suddenly fall upon him?

Not only was he receiving a princely title, but the title bestowed upon him was none other than the Prince of Qin!

The Prince of Qin! This was the Prince of Qin! The significance was extraordinary!

Could his Imperial Father be... preparing to establish him as the Crown Prince?!

Zhao Dezhao felt as though his soul was soaring into the clouds, completely overwhelmed by this immense wave of joy and bliss!

He stood frozen in place for a good while, taking a few deep breaths in secret to beat down the intense elation and prevent himself from losing his composure.

Zhao Dezhao straightened his robes and took a sip of tea.

"Trouble you to lead the way, Superintendent Wang, so that I may pay my respects to His Imperial Father."

Right now, he was bursting with impatience to see his Imperial Father and receive the definitive confirmation from his own lips. As for Wang Ji'en—a senior eunuch close to the Emperor—he naturally had to treat him with utmost courtesy. Firstly, Wang Ji'en was a trusted confidant of the Emperor; secondly, he had brought such wonderful news. How could he not treat him with respect? Besides, Wang Ji'en had always been a decent sort.

Before long, escorted by Wang Ji'en, several imperial guards, and the personal garrison of his own estate, Zhao Dezhao strode out of his mansion and hurried toward the inner palace.

Watching the retreating figure of Zhao Dezhao on horseback ahead of him, a flash of complicated emotion crossed Wang Ji'en's eyes...

***

"Your son pays respects to Imperial Father."

Inside the Wansui Hall, Zhao Dezhao bowed deeply to greet Zhao Kuangyin.

Zhao Kuangyin nodded. Observing Zhao Dezhao, who had managed to maintain his composure upon receiving such sudden news without acting overly eager or letting his tail curl up into the sky, the Emperor nodded in internal satisfaction.

His temperament was passable.

"Very well, stop putting on a stiff front. Come and sit by my side."

A smile broke across Zhao Kuangyin's face as he reached out and pointed to a chair beside him.

The tense look on Zhao Dezhao's face instantly dissolved. Wearing a broad smile, he obeyed and sat down next to his Imperial Father. He felt a mixture of novelty and wonder; it was rare indeed for him to be treated with such warmth by his father.

"Has Wang Ji'en told you everything?"

"He said that Imperial Father summoned me to the palace to discuss conferring upon me the title of the Prince of Qin."

Zhao Kuangyin nodded. "He spoke correctly. I am indeed going to make you the Prince of Qin. On the twenty-sixth of this month, we shall hold the grand ceremony of investiture and make it official."

Hearing this, Zhao Dezhao was struck by a tumult of surprise and joy. Although he knew Wang Ji'en would never dare fabricate such a matter, how could one truly set their mind at ease without hearing it confirmed? Hearing it from the lips of his Imperial Father carried a weight entirely different from hearing it through Wang Ji'en.

"Imperial Father, isn't this... a bit too swift? Imperial Father always wished for me to progress steadily and firmly tread every single step of the way. To suddenly grant a princely title now, isn't it somewhat..."

Upon hearing these words, Zhao Kuangyin felt a slight tremor in his heart, followed by a gentle warmth. So Jixin had understood his painstaking efforts all along! He had not been entirely oblivious, nor had he misunderstood his intentions!

"I have changed my mind now. My previous considerations were somewhat flawed. You are no longer a child; you are twenty-five this year, and will turn twenty-six soon. As my eldest son, it truly defies reason for you not to hold a princely title. As for whether your steps are steady or not... with your father backing you, even if they aren't steady, they will have to be!"

Having said this, Zhao Kuangyin added, "Of course, you must still put in the effort, my boy. As a father, I can only exhaust every means to pave the path for you, but I cannot pave it forever. The road ahead is one you must walk yourself."

Hearing his childhood nickname used by his father, Zhao Dezhao froze momentarily, his nose stinging slightly. That pet name had been given to him by his mother, and ever since he had received his formal style name, his Imperial Father had not used it for a very long time...

"Imperial Father, this son will definitely exert every ounce of strength to handle matters properly, to walk each step with absolute firmness, and I will never let Imperial Father down! I shall live up to your painstaking devotion!"

Zhao Dezhao stood up, his expression solemn and collected as he gave his pledge.

"I believe in you. My son will certainly not disappoint me. A heroic father begets a fine son; our Jixin has grown up and can now hold up half the sky!" Zhao Kuangyin said with a smile, waving his hand to signal Zhao Dezhao to sit back down. There was no need for such rigid formality between father and son.

As Zhao Dezhao took his seat, a figure involuntarily floated into his mind—none other than young Master Li.

He was hardly a fool. From the shifts in his Imperial Father's attitude toward him over this period, he could easily deduce that his father must have visited young Master Li once again, learning much about the future from him. His father must have also inquired about his own future and learned from young Master Li that he would eventually ascend the throne as emperor and govern quite commendably, without tarnishing his father's illustrious reputation. Under his leadership, the Great Song would forge ahead steadily.

Otherwise, his father would never have chosen him so decisively over his Third Uncle.

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, apart from feeling deeply grateful for young Master Li's immense benevolence, he could not help but be filled with overwhelming curiosity about his own future. He must find an opportunity in the future to properly question young Master Li and discover what manner of magnificent achievements he would accomplish after becoming emperor—achievements great enough to make his father cast aside all hesitation and choose him without delay.

Presumably, it would give him a tremendous surprise!

***

Meanwhile, at the Prince of Jin's mansion, Prince Zhao Guangyi leaned back in his chair, his leg twitching slightly.

He was reviewing his actions over the past period, feeling quite smug about his own clever maneuvering. The very words he had spoken and the acts he had performed before the bier in the mourning hall on the day of his wife's passing were enough to stabilize his situation and render him invincible. Not to mention that afterward, he had deliberately gone to weep at the tombs of his parents and his eldest sister-in-law, even collapsing into a faint that left him bedridden to this day.

Under such circumstances, even if Zhao Pu were to return, he would no longer be a match for him.

The full-force punch thrown by his swine-like eldest brother had hit nothing but cotton. And that dog Zhao Pu, who had undoubtedly been grinding his teeth in eager excitement upon learning he was to be re-appointed as chancellor, had been thoroughly blocked and choked with frustration by his own stratagems.

As for Zhao Dezhao's ambition to become the Crown Prince, that was even more impossible!

Compared to him, those people were simply too far behind!

Just as he was indulging in these smug reflections, Cheng Dexuan rushed into the Prince of Jin's residence as if his tail were on fire...