The Prince Is Abolished

Chapter 12

'Xi Jiang got his favor and Xi Mang was beaten up at that sage's behest because Lu Ran said something?'

'Yes, empress. It is also said that the prince implicated himself on probing and was sued for killing innocent people and a horse.'

'This Lu Ran has got my son punished so badly. How will he ever live with respect again? Where is he now?'

'Empress the prince has been sent to his palace to get aid from the physician.'

'Then, let's visit my son first. I will speak to the master later.'

The maid led the empress to Xi Mang. He was lying on his bed and the physician was tending to his wounds.

Empress winced at the wounds and wailed but since Xi Mang was given drugs to numb his pain, he didn't hear it. In any case, his mother's wailing always made him feel irritated but he still had to pretend to be touched by her ostensible show of concern to make her support him more.

'What has happened to the majesty of the royal heir!'

The empress turned on her heels with tears in her eyes mostly because Xi Mang was not reacting and she always desired an audience during such time.

As she walked out of the mansion her mind was in the thinking mode:

There is no dearth of beautiful women around Xi Mang, why bother with the Lu family girl? Sure, she comes from a superior background in terms of wealth and power. But at what cost?

She was shaking with anger and to vent it out, she tried to get an appointment with the emperor. But despite waiting for an hour the emperor refused to give her even ten minutes. And why would he? The empress never made any good points. In his eyes, speaking to her was equal to having to hear same monotonous bawling that he heard every time something didn't go her way.

He went to sleep in his study and told the guards to ensure that the empress didn't disturb him.

While this was the case with the empress, Xi Jiang's palace was bustling with servants bringing fruits and other refreshments for the dignified master who had come to especially visit Xi Jiang. Even though no one else was allowed to meet the master personally, yet the royal courtiers and some of their family members had come to pay their respects and take his blessings. For once, Xi Jiang's palace was filled with so many people that the servants had to bring chairs from the court to accommodate everyone in the garden.

'I feel like they are here to see you, young man.'

'No master. They are here to see you. You are like their guardian.'

'No. They are here to see if you and I are close and to see if you will eventually become the emperor. You see with regards to your father's ascension; I was the one who told your grandfather. At that time, your grandfather didn't believe me and then it became true. I was also your father's tutor on matters of Dharma and taught him about justice.'

Seeing Xi Jiang look at his face quizzically, the master said:

'I see you are unhappy with the way this kingdom runs. You wonder if my teachings on justice system did any good to your father?'

'I don't want to sound impolite. But that's what I am thinking.'

'Impolite? Not when the critique is presented in a polite manner, and the reason behind is to merely improve. Your father indeed has not been a very good emperor. That is why when I met Lu Xang, I told him to donate 25 percent of his wealth for the people. This was when he barely made 100 gold coins in a year. But he went beyond my expectations. Started donating 60 percent and brought food security for humans and water security for the dried and parched lands. He did what a good king should do in terms of welfare projects. I expected your father to toe him even if just for rivalry, but he never bothered. So, you are not wrong. But as teachers, we can teach and guide. We are not despots, who you have to bow down to in fear and follow our every word.'