Because of King Dai's plea, Emperor Wu of Zhou not only issued an order to release Kong Taichang's family, but also canceled the engagement between King Dai and Kong Taichang's youngest daughter.
Whether Kong Taichang's youngest daughter wants to return to secular life and return home, or whether she wants to continue to practice in Bodhi Temple, it is up to her.
Not only did King Dai not hate Kong Taichang's family, he also interceded for them and did not mind the embarrassment and humiliation caused to him by the Kong family. This helped him regain his reputation among the people. As for the ministers, they are all human beings, and they don't know the true intention of Dai Wang's actions.
In just half a day, King Dai turned into a kind and generous prince in the capital. In order to please King Dai, some scholars even wrote poems to praise King Dai specifically for this incident, praising him as not only a brave and skilled general, but also a generous person.
Just before the morning court today, many people in the capital joked that the king wanted to marry a nun as his concubine. However, now everyone is praising the king for his magnanimity and saying that Kong Taichang's little daughter is not lucky. Apparently before, they also praised Kong Taichang's youngest daughter as worthy of being a member of the Kong family. She was strong-willed, not afraid of power, and would rather become a monk than marry the king.
Not only that, everyone also said that Kong Taichang's family was blind and ignorant. They would definitely regret it in the future if they missed such a good son-in-law as King Dai.
Others say that Kong Taichang's family is pretending to be noble and wants to use this incident to gain a good reputation for not fearing power. Of course, there are some people who don't think there is anything wrong with Kong Taichang's family doing this.
Ever since the fact that Kong Taichang's youngest daughter became a monk was exposed, Kong Taichang's family was said to be ignorant and contemptuous of the imperial power. Now, word has spread that His Highness Dai Wang ignored the past and interceded for them, and Kong Taichang's family was said to be ignorant again.
Kong Taichang's family has become a joke.
It is obvious that Kong Taichang's youngest daughter became a monk in order to preserve the reputation of the Kong family, but things went against her wishes. Not only was the reputation of the Kong family not preserved, it fell to the ground.
"Father, mother, I don't plan to return to secular life." In prison, Kong Yao had decided to return to secular life and marry His Highness the King of Dai. But now that the emperor has canceled the marriage, there is no need for her to marry the King of Dai. "If I return to secular life, it will only make everyone laugh at our Kong family even more. Besides, I really don't want to get married and have children."
"When I practiced at Bodhi Temple some time ago, I felt it suited me very well, and I didn't feel any pain at all. So, I want to continue to become a monk."
Kong Taichang and Mrs. Kong glanced at each other, and immediately said: "Yao'er, have you thought clearly?"
"Father, mother, I think very clearly."
"Yao'er, we don't need you to sacrifice your life's happiness again to preserve the reputation of your family." Kong Taichang looked very solemn, but his tone was full of love, "You have to think carefully about yourself and really want to continue to become a monk. ?"
Kong Yao said firmly: "Dad, I decided to continue becoming a monk not for my family, but for myself. I don't want to get married and have children. I just want to be with books for the rest of my life!"
Mrs. Kong nodded lightly to Kong Taichang, and Kong Taichang understood.
"Didn't the emperor say that if you want to continue to become a monk, no one will bother you anymore." He said, looking at his little daughter with loving eyes, "Father and mother will not stop you, as long as you think it is right." of."
Kong Yuan said hurriedly: "Brother also supports you!"
Kong Yao said with tears in his eyes: "Father, mother, brother, thank you..." After saying that, he couldn't help crying anymore.
Mrs. Kong hurriedly took her little daughter into her arms, patted her back gently, and said warmly: "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, everything is over."
Kong Taichang glanced at his son, and then the father and son went to the study.
"Dad, the Dai Wang begged the Emperor to let us go for his own reputation." Kong Yuan frowned, with a worried look on his face, "The Dai Wang won't do anything to us for the time being, but after a while, The acting king will definitely take revenge on us."
"You are right. We have caused such a big embarrassment to King Dai this time. It is impossible for King Dai to let us go because of his temper."
"Dad, we have to think about how to deal with King Dai's revenge."
"The king is a prince, and he is deeply favored by the emperor. It will be easy for him to take revenge on us." Kong Taichang said in a serious tone, "He will not retaliate against us openly, but he will deal with us secretly." It is easy to avoid open guns and hard to prevent hidden arrows. ah. "
"We don't know Dai Wang's methods." Kong Yuan said, "If we apply for external transfer, we may not be able to avoid Dai Wang's revenge. Maybe Dai Wang will retaliate even more when he sees us in other places. If we continue If we stay in the capital, the King's revenge on us will be restrained and we won't go too far." In just a long time, Kong Yuan thought about many things.
"We can't leave the capital. We have to stay and continue to participate in the revision of history." Kong Taichang naturally thought of this, "Rewriting history is a major event that benefits the country and the people. Since we are involved, we cannot give up halfway." No matter it is for them. For the sake of the Kong family, the court and the people, the revision of history must continue.
"As you said, if we stay in the capital, the king's revenge will not be too serious."
"Then our family will continue to stay in the capital, and we will continue to participate in the history revision."
Kong Taichang nodded and said: "Yes. The emperor pardoned us, and the only thing we can repay is to write history well and live up to the emperor's trust in us."
Emperor Wu of Zhou did not disqualify Kong Taichang and Kong Yuan from compiling history, nor did he demote them. They could naturally continue to participate in compiling history.
"Dad, no matter what, our Kong family escaped, although our reputation is still..." At this point, Kong Yuan did not say any more.
Kong Taichang waved his hand and said: "This reputation is nothing." He smiled and said, "As long as our Kong family does not participate in the fight for heirs among the princes, we will not lose the reputation of the Kong family, and we will not repeat the mistakes of the previous dynasty. Same mistake."
"Father, I thought you..."
Kong Taichang smiled brightly and said: "This matter is nothing. As long as we don't destroy the rules set by our ancestors, we will not destroy the reputation of our Kong family. Do you understand?"
Kong Yuan nodded slightly and said, "I understand."
"Your Majesty is merciful and allows us to rest for three days. Then we will have a good rest for three days, so that after three days we will have better energy to write history. You should go back to your courtyard to rest."
"Dad, you should also have a good rest." Kong Yuan saluted and retreated.
In the Hulong Temple, the prince was drinking tea and chatting with the Duke of Zhen.
"Win over Kong Taichang and his son?" The prince asked with a surprised look on his face. "Kong Taichang and his son just don't want to get involved between me and King Dai, so they are unwilling to let his youngest daughter marry King Dai. How could he agree to our wooing?"
"Your Highness, there is a big difference between you and King Dai."
The prince was stunned for a moment, and then said: "Because I am the prince?"
"Yes, you were established as the crown prince in accordance with the rules set by Saint Kong for establishing heirs and eldest sons." Zheng Guo said, "Logically speaking, Kong Taichang and the others should support you as the crown prince. This is to safeguard the legacy established by their ancestors. rule."
"That's what they say, but they obviously don't want to participate."
"They have offended King Dai. King Dai will not retaliate against them for the time being, but after a period of time, King Dai will definitely deal with them." Duke Zhenguo said with a smile, "Besides, King Dai is not a truly generous person. He I will take revenge on Kong Taichang and the others a thousand times."
The prince understood what Duke Zhen Guo meant, "So we extend a helping hand to them at this time?"
"Not at this time, but when they were dealt with by Acting King Diao Na."
"Okay...cough cough cough..." The prince started coughing before he finished speaking.
When the Duke of Zhenguo saw the prince coughing, he asked with concern: "What's the matter? Are you suffering from the cold?"
"There was a little wind last night...cough cough cough..."
"Have you called the imperial doctor?"
"Uncle, there's no need to call the imperial doctor. It's just what I want now."
"Just what you want?" Duke Zhen Guo didn't quite understand what the prince meant.
The prince told Duke Zhen Guo about the suggestion that the eighth prince had made before. After hearing this, Duke Zhen Guo felt that the idea proposed by the eighth prince was a good one.
"Your Highness, the Eighth Prince, is thinking of you."
"Eighth brother, he always thinks about me...ahem..." the prince smiled, "this way I don't have to pretend to be sick."
"But you still have to take care of yourself."
"Uncle, I know this well and will not make fun of my own body."
"When you return to the palace after praying for blessings, spring plowing will begin in a while." Zhen Guogong warned seriously, "You know that the emperor attaches great importance to spring plowing. The king is back this year, so you can't miss this year's spring plowing no matter what. ,Understand?"
"Uncle, I have never missed spring plowing since I was a child!" As a prince, he knows better than anyone how important spring plowing is every year.
"After the spring plowing is over, it's time for spring hunting." The Duke of Zhen Guo said, "I'm sure King Dai wants to show off his skills in spring hunting, so you don't have to fight with him and let him take the limelight."
"Uncle, what do you mean?"
"I have arrangements for the spring hunt." Lord Zhen Guo lowered his voice and told the prince about his arrangements for the spring hunt.
When the prince heard this, he was shocked at first, and then admired.
"Ginger is still smarter with age, and uncle still has the skills."
(End of chapter)
