The Records of the Human Emperor

Chapter 4 : Wang Family’s Crisis

This was undoubtedly the happiest meal that they have had recently.

Laughter continuously sounded on the dinner table. Madam Wang, smiling brightly, was constantly putting food into Wang Chong’s bowl and dish until the food became a small hill almost unable to pile any higher.

Father was also not as stern as before. Under Madam Wang’s constant nagging, he grabbed food for Wang Chong.

“Bro, you are amazing!”

Seeing this scene, Little Sis had already become stunned. She gave him a wink from under the table in total admiration for her brother.

Originally, she thought that her brother was doomed to hell this time. Little Sis was already prepared to witness a tragedy of a lifetime. Unexpectedly, with only a few words, Father and Mother not only did not punish him, but also laughter sounded and Bro was rewarded instead. Father even grabbed food for him.

Even Little Sis could not hold in her jealousy. She hasn’t enjoyed this kind of treatment in this house ever.

“Father, I also want food!”

Little Sis, being grumpy, pushed her big bowl in front of Father.

“You’re a girl! Act more lady like!”

Father lectured with a serious face causing tears to well up in Little Sis’ little eyes. Seeing this scene, Madam Wang found it funny and joyfully consoled:

“Here! Mother will grab food for you!”

“Bro will also grab for you!”

Wang Chong was snickering from the sideline and gave Little Sis food.

“Thank you, Bro.”

Little Sis’ teary face smiled. She quickly began eating again completely forgotten what had happened.

The family happily ate a meal together.

“Father, I heard you are meeting with Official Yao?”

Wang Chong ate while pretending to inadvertently ask.

The atmosphere on the dinner table suddenly became stagnant. Madam Wang hurriedly winked at Wang Chong hinting him. Little Sis became scared holding her chopsticks that hanged in the air.

Everyone knew that Father disliked discussing official matters at home. He also dislike family members getting involved.

“Where did you hear this from?”

Father looked up and asked expressionlessly. Wang Chong could clearly see Father’s brows slightly narrowed when glancing across the dinner table. It was obvious that he was displeased by this topic.

Wang Chong’s heart skipped a beat, but he could only bite the bullet and continued the conversation. This matter was urgent. If he couldn’t change this destined event, then everything he had done so far would be in vain.

“I accidentally overheard this when Father and Mother were talking together.”

Wang Chong anxiously replied. Everything depended on the next few lines.

“Oh.”

Father’s eyebrows moved and remembered that he did somewhat mentioned this once to his wife, Zhao Shuhua. It was only once, but it was overheard by Wang Chong.

“Yes, it is true. Why are you asking about this?”

Wang Chong’s good behavior from before was having an effect. Father was not angry, but instead allowed him to continue talking. He was slowly starting to treat him like an adult now.

You really can’t continue to treat someone who is about to join a training camp to prepare for the battlefield as a little kid.

“Official Yao has always been on bad terms with Father. I believe that the fact that he scheduled a meeting with Father is a scheme or have some ulterior motives.”

Wang Chong earnestly advised.

Wang Chong knew that Father dislike family getting involved in official matters. Also, this discussion usually shouldn’t have been bought up by a fifteen-year-old kid, but Wang Chong didn’t have a choice.

In the previous life, Official Yao, Yao Guangyi, invited Father, who have no relations with him, to a meeting in the name of official business.

Father was cautious. If Yao Guangyi was planning to persuade Father to join his side, he would have firmly refused. However, Yao Guangyi was very cunning. He only spoke of irrelevant issues during the meeting and just drank alcohol with Father.

Later, Yao Guangyi deliberately let King of Song know of this meeting.

King of Song, who was an adviser in the Ministry of Defense, came from a royal lineage. He was one of the few royalties who had power and authority in the Ministry of Defense. Because of his relationship with Grandpa, King of Song looked at Father favorably and trusted him very much.

King of Song contributed very much to Father being able to reach the rank of military general at such a young age.

Father kept King of Song “in the dark” about attending a secret meeting with Yao Guangyi who was a loyal subordinate of his political opponent, King of Qi. How could King of Song not be angry?

It wouldn’t amount to anything if it was the usual circumstance.

However, King of Song and King of Qi have been fighting both secretly and openly in the Imperial Court like fire and water. Also, King of Qi had dragged King of Song’s students and followers to his side. These betrayals led King of Song to have very little allies in the Imperial Court causing his influence to decrease considerably.

This made King of Song very sensitive and very paranoid. It was very obvious how King of Song would feel if Father and Yao Guangyi met up privately at this time.

What was worse was that Father was straightforward and inflexible by nature. Knowing that King of Song would be suspicious, he still insisted that nothing was said during the meeting between Yao Guangyi and himself and just drank alcohol all afternoon.

How could King of Song believe that nothing happened during a private meeting between two opposing important court officials and were just drinking alcohol together?

Father’s reply not only failed to explain anything but also caused King of Song to believe that not only Father betrayed him and deflected to King of Qi’s side but also intentionally mocking him.

Plus, Yao Guangyi later intentionally mislead King of Song through a series of schemes at the border causing King of Song’s misunderstanding with Father to grow even bigger.

He also believed that the entire Wang Family had betrayed him and deflected to King of Qi’s side.

The deeper the love, the deeper the hate. King of Song and the Wang Family had a few generations of close relationship. Since their relationship was so close, the Wang Family received lot of support and attention. Because of this, he was unable to accept Wang Family’s betrayal.

This incident was a huge blow to him. It was even harder to accept than the betrayal of tens of his trusted students and followers. King of Song was thoroughly disappointed in the Wang Family.

When Grandpa was alive, King of Song still cherished the past relationship and only deprived Father of his military authority. When Grandpa passed away, the Wang Family received the full impact of King of Qi’s suppression without King of Song’s protection.

Within a few years, the once prominent Wang Family was completely kicked out of the Great Tang Dynasty’s Imperial Court.

With the loss of King of Song, who actively led the warmongering side of the Imperial Court, there was no one to go against King of Qi’s influence. Tang Dynasty’s military affairs turned soft and dealt with only internal affairs which led to the dangers later to come.

This change not only impacted just the Wang Family and King of Song, but it also bought an incoming disaster to the entire Imperial Court!

All three parties were losers in this change, and even King of Qi himself, was not the final winner.

The impact of this event was very broad, so Wang Chong remembered clearly and deeply.

The fate of the Wang Family and the entire Imperial Court began to change from this point on. Even until Father’s death, he felt deep remorse for this event and that the biggest mistake he ever made was accepting Yao Guangyi’s invitation to that meeting and not clearly explaining the situation to King of Song.

In Wang Chong’s past life, he lived without any goals in mind, refused to accept his new environment, and had no feelings toward this family. It was only until the final moment that he cherished this family and wanted to change something but it was too late.

For Wang Chong, this event was also a deep regret of his.

He could forget about the past life, but this time, he knew how things will progress, and he will not turn a blind eye.

He must stop this event from occurring again!

However, for Wang Chong, it was difficult to clearly explain all of this to Father.

“Kid, you don’t need to get involved in this matter. I have my own consideration.”

Father lightly claimed without much expression.

There was discord between the ancestors of the Yao Family and the Wang Family, but that was during the previous dynasty. It was such a long time ago, and there were no disputes between him and Yao Guangyi.

Father knew about the relationship between King of Song and King of Qi. Even though he wanted to reject the invitation, he didn’t want to completely become enemies since both sides would see each other in the Imperial Court.

After all, there wasn’t much conflict between the two men.

The most that could happen was that Yao Guangyi would persuade him to switch sides. Then, he would declare his allegiance and firmly reject his offer to make him give up on the idea completely. This way, he would stop pestering him and avoid further troubles.

Wang Chong observed his expression and was deeply worried.

Father was a typical soldier whose ability to lead troops and sweep enemies on the battlefield was not necessarily inferior to Yao Guangyi. Yet, when it came to cunning and politics, Father couldn’t even compare to Yao Guangyi.

Both sides were just not on the same level!

Yao Guangyi dissected Father’s personality and designed this trap. If the father is still holding the “as long as I am open and honest, I have nothing to fear” belief, he would probably be caught off guard and suffer in the hands of Yao Guangyi.

At that time, it would be too late to regret it.

“Chong’er, your father already said that you don’t need to get involved. Just eat.”

“Mother knows best.” Madam Wang could figure out what Wang Chong was planning at a glance. She quickly hinted at him with a wink.

Her husband’s character was very apparent to her. He despised discussing political issues on the dinner table. When he tolerated what Wang Chong said on the dinner table, it was already forgiving enough.

His words ” I have my own consideration”” had already indicated his attitude. He had set the tone, and it should stop there. If Wang Chong continued, he would infuriate Father.

Wang Chong was secretly worried. He knew what Mother was trying to tell him, but this was no small matter. If worse came to worst, everything here, the great hall, the entire Wang Family, and Uncle would turn to ashes.

The entire Wang Family would be sweep out of Tang Dynasty’s political circle. Father didn’t know of Yao Guangyi’s schemes, so he was vulnerable right now. Wang Chong must alert him.

Even if he incurred the wrath of his father and was punished by him, this was something he must do.

“Father, this matter is very serious. I think you should notify King of Song and let him know in advance, so… it will be better this way.”

Wang Chong pondered about it for a long time. He finally decided to take a euphemistical approach to convey his proposal. He couldn’t directly prevent his father from going to the meeting. Father wasn’t a kid. Being too stubborn and blunt would just enrage him.

Wang Chong could only come up with an alternative; skipping Yao Guangyi and moving on to King of Song.

“You don’t need to muddle in adult’s business.”

Father with an icy face, stood up from the table:

“You guys eat. I have some business to attend to so I’m leaving. ”

After these words, he left without finishing his meal.

She gave Wang Chong a disapproving look. Wang Chong could only sigh in his heart. He knew it was impossible to fully win Father’s trust just based of his performance tonight.

“But at least he didn’t flip out.”

Wang Chong thought to himself.

From an onlookers point of view, this family dinner parted on bad terms, but But Wang Chong was well aware of Father’s personality. If Wang Chong contradicted him in the past, he would have been enraged already.

He only looked unhappy this time which was a huge improvement. From the looks of it, his suggestion had some effect and wasn’t completely ignored.

As long as Father notify King of Song in advance before meeting with Yao Guangyi, his effort would not have been in vain. Father must carry it out himself; Wang Chong cannot substitute for him.

“To accomplish this other task, Ma Zhou is necessary!”

Wang Chong was troubled.

Father was too headstrong; once he decided something, it wouldn’t be easily changed. It wasn’t possible to change his mind with just a few words.

This character of his was used by his opponent causing him a lot of suffering in the previous life.

Wang Chong failed in this experiment on the dinner table. He could only to think of an alternative. No matter what, this event must be stop.

Wang Chong gave a pretext, hurriedly said his farewells to Mother and Little Sis, and soon left the room.