Chapter 1482

"When young people act recklessly, it's considered youthful exuberance, as it should be. When I act recklessly, it's considered having no self-awareness; how unreasonable."

Lord Cao was full of anger, with a strong desire to vent.

He was full of grievances and had too many things he wanted to say.

He stood in the prison cell, as if pointing out the landscape:

"I ask you, regarding the matter of establishing a Crown Prince, among those young people in the court, who dares to step forward? Over these years, because of submitting memorials requesting the establishment of a Crown Prince, how many officials have been thrown into prison? People have to learn their lessons.

But I am not afraid. I am at a great age; even if I am disliked by His Majesty, or even abandoned by His Majesty, at most it's just death. I have lived for decades; I am not afraid of death! Furthermore, to die for the country is to die for a worthy cause.

Young people haven't lived enough; it's only right that they cherish their lives. I have lived for decades; what does it matter if I die sooner or later? Besides, based on my friendship with Minister Sun, no matter what I say, I know deep down that he won't turn against me."

Chen Guanlou had truly underestimated the old man; in a few words, he had cleared his name.

He was even better at bluffing than him.

"Do you genuinely support the Third Prince, hoping he will inherit the throne?"

"Nonsense!" Lord Cao puffed out his beard and glared. To dare to question his motives—how preposterous.

"Just because the Third Prince is the legitimate son, you support him."

"Of course!" Lord Cao didn't sugarcoat it and answered very directly.

"If the Third Prince were a fool, would you still support him just because he is the legitimate son?"

"Your hypothesis is invalid." Lord Cao glared, snorted coldly, and looked on with contempt and disdain. "I know what you want to say. I've heard similar things so often that my ears are almost calloused.

From a realistic perspective, the Third Prince's chances of winning are not high. After all, the Hou Fu has been like this for so long, and has never publicly or even privately indicated support for the Third Prince. It's clear they aren't taking sides.

But... as a subject of the Great Da Qian, I should uphold orthodoxy and maintain the order of the moral code; this is the foundation of the dynasty, how can I act willfully? Do you know that once the rules of primogeniture are broken, what a great disaster it will bury? From now on, don't expect a moment of peace in the court, and the common people of the world will also suffer!

You all say I am an old stubborn fool, not knowing that maintaining order is maintaining the country. The reason Great Da Qian is Great Da Qian is because it has a set of effective rules and a set of moral order recognized by the world. Once this foundation is destroyed, how many days can Great Da Qian last!

You young people are always impulsive and always imagine things for the better. However, in the world, most things are ordinary, neither good nor bad, and the rest are getting worse and worse. Only in very individual cases do things develop in the good direction imagined.

This kind of good, if it happens once or twice, can determine the overall situation, so it won't happen often. Prison Warden Chen, you understand probability; I understand it better than you! I have read through the history books, and countless emperors failed precisely because of the matter of establishing a Crown Prince! Delaying the decision is the beginning of chaos!

It spreads rapidly from the court to the local officialdom, and from the officialdom to the heads of the common people! In the end, the common people bear everything!

Do I not know that the Third Prince's aptitude is ordinary? But no matter how ordinary he is, he is the legitimate son, the orthodoxy we need to uphold. On the throne, who is sitting there—do you really think the difference is that great?"

Speaking of this, Lord Cao gave a self-deprecating laugh, his eyes becoming even more contemptuous. A moment later, he looked at the high skylight on the wall of the corridor, his gaze deep.

Only hearing him continue: "What is a wise monarch, what is a foolish emperor? In my view, the difference is not great! Foolishness has its way of playing, wisdom has its way of playing! The so-called regret of a capable minister not meeting a wise monarch has only one reason: the capable minister is not a true capable minister.

If a capable minister truly has ability, mere foolishness is not worth mentioning; by uniting and maneuvering, one has ways to balance imperial power and achieve one's goals. In the end, those so-called regrets are because they aren't ruthless enough, their hearts aren't dark enough! If you are dark and ruthless enough, even if it's a tyrant, you can achieve your goals. Look at Xie Changling; how smoothly he plays this game!"

"You understand the principles, yet you still couldn't become a powerful minister, couldn't achieve your goals, and now you've been thrown into prison." Chen Guanlou knew how to mock and how to twist the knife!

He was like a cold spectator; Lord Cao spoke with great enthusiasm and intense emotion, but he had no reaction at all, his emotions without a ripple.

He was just an emotionless robot!

Lord Cao's expression froze instantly; how embarrassing!

The little thief surnamed Chen didn't understand what it meant to chat at all; one opening of his mouth could kill the conversation!

It was infuriating!

Lord Cao took several deep breaths, finally suppressing the desire to kill in his heart.

"That's right, I understand the principles, but I'm still not ruthless or dark enough; often when I act, I hesitate for two points, causing the opportunity to slip away!"

After speaking, Lord Cao gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"Are you mocking my powerlessness?"

Chen Guanlou shook his head. "Not at all! On the contrary, I feel deep admiration! If there were a few more officials in the court like you who know it cannot be done but do it anyway, perhaps the world would be in a different situation."

"There wouldn't be a different situation. You are still too young, subconsciously fantasizing in a good direction." Lord Cao said with a smile that wasn't a smile: "Whether it's me or Xie Changling, the things we do lead to the same destination: all for the sake of maintaining! Maintaining the current situation, maintaining the country so it doesn't fall, maintaining the livelihood of the common people, not to increase taxes again and force people to rebel! It's just that we used different methods.

Too many people hit the south wall; it's nothing more than changing the way of maintaining. The Dao of Heaven has its own laws of operation; there is no permanent prosperity, and in the end, it will go downhill. I only ask that the downhill road be walked a little slower and steadier, don't be so urgent, don't lose control of the pace, and don't lose your composure. We are all paper-hangers!"

After speaking, he sighed with emotion, his mood quite heavy.

Chen Guanlou suddenly realized that the Lord Cao before him was worthy of being a top scholar. Just this level of cognition surpassed ninety-nine percent of the officials.

"You want to maintain this stability, so even if the Third Prince's aptitude is average, you still want to firmly support him in ascending the throne. Even if His Majesty abandons you, you won't change your original intention!"

Chen Guanlou understood the other party's words and actions; everything had traces to follow.

"That's right! Stability is very important! Only with stability can the common people live and produce in peace, can the court operate well, and the country of Great Da Qian won't fall! The Third Prince is that stability, the future of Great Da Qian! What reason do I have not to support him!"

Truly high-minded and selfless, all for the public good.

Chen Guanlou was both admiring and sighing. "Do you know that people like you are actually very annoying? You make others look like clowns, like rotten people who are scheming and petty! Everyone, no matter how rotten they are inside, wants to maintain the appearance of a 'gentleman.' And you, with your actual actions, expose them. No wonder the Emperor would abandon you, Xie Changling would suppress you, and throw you into prison!"