Wuxia Tale: Hua in Bloom

The Third Prince

(EMPEROR SHEN)

As I listen to the Head Council and my former brother in law after listening to what the First Minister, my current father in law, yesterday, I realized something. It will never end. This battle they have to take the Crown Prince title to the Prince who is blood related to them.

My poor sons. Jin and Guo.

"You Majesty, I implore you to think carefully of Prince Jin's merits to be the Crown Prince of this land. He is your first born son. Your true first born son. He..." the Head Council is passionate in promoting Prince Jin.

I raised my hand to stop him. "I heard enough, my good man. Stop now." I wave my hand to dismiss him. "Rest assured that I have been thinking of the heir issue. And you must know how much I love Jin."

The Head Council smiled and nodded. "I know. And I know how much his Majesty cherished my sister. She had been wronged in so many ways. I hope we can all redeem some of her pride by giving the Crown Prince title to her son."

"I am taking that into consideration," I said to the Head Council before dismissing him.

When he left, I also dismissed most of the servants from my private quarters. I want some alone time to think. This cannot go on. Countless of meetings and listening to the two side whine about who I will place in the Crown Prince throne.

The stability of my reign will be determined on who I will place in that throne. With the Crown Prince place empty, people are starting to worry about the stability of my reign. I have been a reliable Crown Prince to my father. That is why he can abdicate without any worries, because he trusted me and I have been a strong ally to him.

But Jin and Guo are both not ready for the Crown Prince title. As I look at the scroll of paper hidden behind me, the one I am reading before the Head Council arrive to start pestering me about putting Prince Jin on the empty Crown Prince throne, I was truly bothered by the report.

It says that both my first borns from my two wives are not interested in the Crown Prince title. It even said that Jin is quite happy to be disowned by the Royal Family so the Wangs can absorb him in their family while Guo, and this is more worrying than Jin wanting to be disown, preferred to run away just to escape the pressure of being the Crown Prince.

My two sons. What should I do?

"Your Majesty, Prince Han is here to visit you..." the herald situated outside of my chamber bellowed.

Han. My third son. The joy of my life. Is here to visit me. I smiled. "Send him in. And send some refreshments as well." I ordered. I saw a eunuch quickly following my order.

A few seconds later, the door of my private chamber opened and in came my third and youngest son.

Han. A boy filled with energy, entered my room in a rush. An indication that he is excited to show me something. My third son is my active boy. Guo is active as well but my second son preferred to be active elsewhere and not in the Palace. If Guo thinks that his sojourns outside are being remissed by me, well he is mistaken. I always keep tab of where my children are. Giving them enough freedom but making sure they always have their guards with them.

I am maybe a lousy father in some ways, but I don't want to lose any child. That is why I will never forgive the Empress and the First Minister for putting Jin's life at risk by that attack. But without any physical evidence or even one witness that will say that the attack was plotted by the Empress and her father, I cannot callously accused them of trying to kill my first born. The Empress is still the mother of my three other children, once her name got tarnish, our children will be put at risk as well.