With the conversation reaching this point, Fu Zhen had no choice but to nudge Pei Zhan.
Pei Zhan cleared his throat, took a few steps forward, and stood by the writing desk, gazing at the painting: "Your Majesty, your mastery of painting is truly extraordinary. This soaring eagle truly resembles the majestic and valiant demeanor of the Grand His Highness on the battlefield."
"You evidently have something to say." The Emperor carefully depicted the eagle’s feathers, "What about him? All is well, yesterday the choice I gave you, have you made up your mind?"
Pei Zhan glanced at Fu Zhen, then said: "Last night, after returning home, I discussed at length with my wife and felt that neither of the two strategies suggested by Your Majesty aptly suits the current situation."
The Emperor looked up towards Fu Zhen, who stood three steps away, before turning his gaze back to Pei Zhan: "You really follow whatever your wife says, do you not have your own ideas?"
Pei Zhan deeply bowed: "I remember well the teachings of Your Majesty from before, prioritizing conjugal harmony as the foremost principle for maintaining household stability and cultivating oneself, always taking Your Majesty’s respect for the Empress as a golden rule."
The Emperor let out a hum.
Pei Zhan, while still bowed, exchanged looks with Fu Zhen.
Fu Zhen moved to the other side of the writing desk: "Your Majesty, the first person the Grand His Highness sought in the capital city was my wife, the second person was my mother. The duties you gave Ming Zhi, even if I’m not his wife, he wouldn’t bypass me!"
The Emperor ignored her, continuing to intricately paint the eagle.
Fu Zhen had no choice but to continue: "Your Majesty, both my wife and the Pei family wholeheartedly support the Grand His Highness in returning to the palace to acknowledge his kin, but given His Highness’s disposition, he cannot be coerced into submission through intimidation.
"Only he who ties the knot can untie it. I wonder if Your Majesty has considered, putting aside the majesty of the Emperor, and simply speaking to the Grand His Highness as a father?"
"I have not considered it."
Fu Zhen was momentarily at a loss. She asked: "May I ask... why?"
The Emperor did not straighten his posture until he finished delineating the eagle’s eye, then put down the brush.
"Because he is my son, I am the Emperor, and he is the Prince. Even if I had many sons now, and he was but one of them, as long as he is my son, regardless of whether he becomes the Crown Prince, the future Monarch, he is destined to bear his responsibility."
The Emperor cast a sharp glance at both of them after which he slowly walked to the window and sat on the brocaded couch, then lifted his gaze to look at the two who followed him:
"Back then, the matter in Huzhou, I assume you both know it thoroughly.
"I also know the righteous indignation in your hearts, and how unjust you feel it was for him. To have your support, I feel lucky for him.
"If I weren’t sitting on this throne, if my heart weren’t tethered to the vast expanse and the people of the nation, I would become this humble father.
"But I am an Emperor, and he is destined to be a Prince; thus, there are things he must endure."
Fu Zhen took a deep breath: "Your Majesty, you and the Empress have been loving for many years, you’ve always cared deeply for us ministers. This makes the world believe you are a king of sentiment and righteousness.
"Words like ’the Imperial Family is devoid of true affection,’ I refuse to believe they will hold true in the palace of Great Zhou. So, over the past twenty years, the Grand His Highness has already endured so much suffering, and now that heaven has returned him safely yet he still cannot receive affection from his kin, it is not fair.
"I implore Your Majesty, for the bond of flesh and blood, to be more compassionate towards the Grand His Highness. So that the people of Great Zhou may soon welcome a new Crown Prince."
The Emperor’s expression grew somber: "The Imperial Family does have true affection, but it cannot be overused. You think it is within my Emperor’s role to invite him back to the palace, not wrong, but if his heart truly considers the people nationwide, does he need me to invite him?
"Moreover, do you think that lowering myself can regain a son?"
This question indeed rendered Fu Zhen speechless.
"I cannot possibly regain my son." The Emperor somberly gazed ahead at the ground, and spoke softly, "Twenty-four years ago in Huzhou, from the moment I saw him appear at the gates, and personally stopped the general I wanted to call him back, I had already lost him.
"I personally killed him in that war, with his ten-year-old body paving my path to establishing Great Zhou. I can never call him back again.
"You thought I forced him back to the palace in such a domineering manner because I stood on the name of a father? You’re sorely mistaken.
"Now I am a Monarch.
"He is the firstborn of Great Zhou, the legitimate eldest born of the Empress, it is righteous and justified for him to be the future Monarch of Great Zhou.