CHAPTER 295: CHAPTER 295 NIU FAMILY BORN FOR DINGBEI

Emperor Chu watched as Prince Dingbei left the hall, and let out a sigh.

"That old fox has finally left."

Eunuch Zhou also sighed, "This servant has never seen anyone who can talk like Prince Dingbei."

"You don’t understand. Cunning and calculating, that old fox knows very well in his heart." Emperor Chu scoffed lightly.

Eunuch Zhou said, "No matter what, he is a hero in his twilight years. This servant noticed that Prince Dingbei looked much older since the last time."

Emperor Chu paused while fiddling with his prayer beads, "I heard that today, when the Commandery Princess went out of the city to welcome Prince Dingbei, that fourth son from the Song Family went too?"

Eunuch Zhou felt a shiver in his heart and replied, "Yes, Prime Minister Song’s youngest brother is fond of pleasures. It’s said that after leaving the city and returning, he headed straight to the cockfighting arenas and pleasure boats, only returning to the mansion by nightfall."

Before Emperor Chu could speak, he quickly added, "This servant also heard that today the elder Madam Song invited the Shen Family to the Prime Minister’s Mansion, and there is a niece of Madam Shen that the elder Madam took a liking to. She intended to propose her for Song Si, sent someone to meet her, yet she was evaded. By now, the elder Madam Song must be quite infuriated."

"The Shen Family?" Emperor Chu showed interest.

"Yes, it’s the wife of Vice Minister of Rites Shen Qing. Her niece is apparently the daughter of the Deputy Magistrate of Guangling."

Emperor Chu acknowledged with a hum and asked no more, only gifting some herbal supplements and other items to Prince Dingbei’s Mansion, as a gesture to comfort the heart of an old minister.

...

When Prince Dingbei left the palace, he did not ride a horse but got into a carriage, threw his plume hat inside, and sat down boldly, his old face covered with a beard, far removed from the weeping and muddle-headed pretense in front of Emperor Chu.

His face hidden in the shadows was full of exhaustion, with brows and eyes laden with weariness.

Few who hold high positions of power are truly foolish. Even if he is not well-educated or understanding, having lived through two reigns, he naturally knows what it means to have merit that threatens the ruler.

It is precisely this reason that he lays bare his weaknesses, to let that person know he has no reason to rebel.

"Alas!"

Cold is the loneliness at the height of power.

Prince Dingbei dozed lightly to the sound of the carriage wheels until the carriage stopped, only then opening his eyes. When the curtain was opened, it was his trusted aide Niu Cheng.

"What’s the matter with the Commandery Princess and that young Song?" Prince Dingbei jumped down from the carriage, walking toward the gate, and asked as he did.

Niu Cheng replied respectfully, "In response to Your Highness, it is the youngest brother of Prime Minister Song, sixteen years old this year..."

He reported the findings without reservation.

"So, he is Song Yunzhi’s youngest brother." Prince Dingbei rubbed his thumb against his finger, standing before the gate, gazing at the Prince Dingbei’s Mansion plaque above, lost in thought.

"Father, why don’t you go inside?" Niu Pan’er came out and saw him standing at the gate, then walked down the steps to stand by his side, looking up at the plaque with him, "What’s wrong with our mansion’s plaque?"

Prince Dingbei pointed to the plaque and said, "Daughter, do you know what I was thinking when I first received and personally hung this plaque?"

"Please enlighten me, Father."

Prince Dingbei said, "I was thinking of keeping this plaque with our Niu Family for generations, passed down forever. Dingbei, Dingbei, our Niu Family was born for this."

Niu Pan’er pursed her lips, "Father..."

Prince Dingbei turned his head and patted her shoulder, saying, "I wonder how long our Niu Family can keep this plaque?"

Niu Pan’er looked at the plaque, licked her lips, and said in a heavy voice, "I do not know, Father, but... I will do my utmost."