Chapter 438: Fish Cannot Survive in Overly Clear Waters
Little Six shook his head, "It was bound to happen sooner or later. Eldest Brother and Second Brother have already lost their chances. Fifth Brother is destined to be excluded from that position due to his background. Now it's a contest between Third Brother and Fourth Brother. Neither of them can tolerate me, and they're more likely to join forces to eliminate me first before fighting each other to the death, just like what Fourth Brother and Eldest Brother did before. My only concern is my maternal grandfather's side."
Hua Zhi signaled Liu Xiang to brew fresh tea for Little Six. "General Sun only has you as his grandson, and he has never considered adopting an heir over the years. I've confirmed with your grandmother that they have no such plans for the future either. A border general with no successor poses a much weaker threat as a maternal relative than you imagine. I only ask you this - setting aside these external factors, are you willing to fight for it?"
"I didn't before." Little Six looked at Sister Hua who was frowning slightly. Knowing she had misunderstood, he wasn't anxious and spoke unhurriedly, "That day when Eldest Brother and Fourth Brother schemed against me like that, while hiding in the teahouse I thought: aren't they trying to eliminate me as a threat? If I survive, I should really fight for it. Even if I can't win, I'll definitely make them suffer. Sister Hua, don't think that you dragged me into this conflict. As a prince, I was destined to be involved anyway. Moreover, I'm not fighting alone now - I have you and Brother Yanxi. The situation is already much better than I expected."
"Not forced?"
"Not forced."
Seeing that he didn't seem to be lying, Hua Zhi set her mind at ease. If Little Six had no such intentions, she would find another way rather than drag him in.
She was overthinking it. Princes never had the right to refuse. Even if they had no intention to compete, they would still be drawn in. Who would believe that a prince had no interest in the throne?
After a warm meal, Little Six had no time to rest despite his exhaustion. He needed to immediately enter the palace and visit his maternal grandfather's house to discuss matters with his grandmother. Most importantly, he needed to ask the Sun family for personnel - he had too few people at his disposal now.
Hua Zhi didn't teach him step by step how to proceed, but instead explained their planned actions to him in as much detail as possible. As for how to deal with the Emperor, she believed he would know what to do.
Now that the most important person had returned, all the matters she had been handling needed to be set in motion.
After sending out several name cards, and considering the numerous female members of the Hua family, she arranged the meeting place at the Food Studio. She only invited three people: Zhu Bowen, Madam Sun, and Duke Anguo Lu Chenyun.
Hua Zhi hadn't originally intended to involve the Lu family. It was Gu Yanxi who suggested it proactively. Duke Anguo's main base was in Xuzhou, close to Qingzhou, and the Lu family had extensive connections that might help establish relations in Qingzhou, making operations there much more convenient.
Moreover, the Lu family had remained quiet for many years, and everyone knew they lived in straitened circumstances. Now that they were stepping forward to take charge again, even the Emperor couldn't easily refuse.
After his rounds, Little Six still stayed at the Hua residence. Hua Zhi treated him as usual. Seeing him so exhausted he could barely keep his eyes open, she restrained herself from asking about Berlin's situation and urged him to go to sleep immediately. Instead, it was Little Six who volunteered some information."That method for treating the plague was devised by Berlin. He said he once heard you mention it—the scene was unimaginable without seeing it firsthand. So many people were barely clothed, drinking copious water when hungry, their bodies swollen to the point where pressing left indentations. They claimed few died directly from the disaster, but many ultimately starved afterward, though likely no one dared report it."
Little Six's expression remained neutral, yet his eyes betrayed unconcealable sorrow. They had rushed about, pleading with wealthy households to release grain for relief, but no one paid them any heed. He had profoundly understood what it meant that "the rich feast while the poor freeze to death on the streets"—their powerlessness, their despair, the eyes they could not close even in death. He would never forget it in this lifetime.
"So then you revealed your identity?"
"I had no other choice. No matter what we said, they wouldn't listen. No matter how many doors we knocked on, they all pretended no one was home." Little Six smiled mockingly. "But the moment I revealed who I was, they voluntarily brought out the grain without me having to say another word. Matters we'd pleaded for until our voices grew hoarse were immediately delegated. How ridiculous."
Hua Zhi shook her head. "You simply haven't seen enough of the world. Such things are countless, yet those people rarely encounter a prince."
"If officials were honest and upright, why would they need to wait for a prince?"
"Honesty doesn't necessarily mean they are good officials."
Little Six was puzzled. "Why wouldn't an honest official be good? He doesn't even engage in corruption."
"Between an honest official who spouts sage teachings but accomplishes nothing, and a capable official who, despite personal biases and greed, gets things done for the people—which do you think benefits the populace more?"
Little Six bit his lip and fell silent. This contradicted what the Grand Tutor in the palace had taught him.
"Water that is too clear harbors no fish. However, I believe an official's mindset is absolutely tied to the ruler's disposition. If the ruler indulges in pleasure, officials will focus on devising ways to entertain. If the ruler favors military might, military officials will rise in status. If the ruler is weak, the peace faction will dominate court discussions. If the ruler loves his people like his own children, officials won't dare treat them lightly." Hua Zhi smiled. "If the ruler prefers a certain calligraphy style, the entire court will practice it to curry favor. If the ruler is broad-minded and inclusive, Little Six, what do you think would happen?"
Little Six's eyes sparkled, as if the fog in his mind was being steadily cleared away, revealing a bright and expansive world within.
"In Xiangyang, if you hadn't cared about the people's survival and only sought your own pleasure, you wouldn't have struggled to open the doors of the powerful. They would have entertained you lavishly, making you believe Xiangyang had never suffered a flood, and you'd never have learned about the people drinking water to fill their stomachs. Those people wouldn't have benefited from you. Don't think you're distant from the common folk—you're actually very close, and your fates are intertwined. When you have the power, a single word from you can determine whether their lives are good or bad, and they will repay you with a stronger Daqing."
Seeing the growing brightness in Little Six's eyes, Hua Zhi lowered her gaze. These stirring words weren't entirely spoken out of pure guidance. She wanted to ignite his ambition to strive, rather than passively accept others' arrangements. She didn't wish to control this initiative, nor could she, for the sake of the future. She hoped every step Little Six took would be his own, so that in years to come, he would never feel anyone had dictated his life.No matter how strong a bond may be, it cannot withstand suspicion—and suspicion is an emperor's chronic ailment, from which none are exempt.
The Hua family and Little Six are now bound together on the same boat. What she must do is leave no room for doubt from the very beginning—to protect both the Hua family and this fragile connection that may gradually fade in the future. She will nurture it carefully, at least until Little Six himself chooses to abandon it.
Of course, all of this hinges on the success of their plans.
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