Chapter 397 - 253: Political Affairs (2)
Ran Yan had never expected Xiao Song to so easily reveal such important matters to her and couldn’t help asking, "Do you really trust me not to leak this information?"
Even though court officials could guess the Xiao family’s stance based on this relationship and some moves by Duke Song, it was just speculation. After all, before a woman from the Xiao family became the wife of Prince Wu, Li Ke had a wife who bore his first legitimate son.
The attitude of the Xiao family largely depended on Li Ke’s stance. If he was willing to promise support from the Xiao family in exchange for appointing his second son as Crown Prince, they would likely give their full support. However, the attitudes of both parties were not clear. In terms of power, even blood brothers would kill each other, let alone relatives. Therefore, no one could be sure of what the Xiao family would decide.
Yet Xiao Song gave Ran Yan a definitive answer.
Xiao Song paused while sipping his tea and slightly raised his eyebrow, "Since I’ve resolved to marry you, I naturally won’t hide these matters from you."
There’s a saying: "Don’t doubt the people you employ; don’t employ the people you doubt." And what more for the person who you plan to spend a lifetime with, right?
He took another sip of tea and continued, "Over the years, the Crown Prince’s conduct has increasingly disappointed the Emperor, and His Majesty shows special favoritism toward Prince Wei, Li Tai. Everyone at court is speculating whether the Emperor intends to depose the elder in favor of the younger. However, as for Prince Wei, I have no intention of forming a close relationship with him, let alone support him as the Crown Prince."
"Why?" Ran Yan was surprised, as Prince Wei Li Tai was currently riding high.
Li Tai was hugely talented, extremely intelligent, and the most favored among all the princes. By custom, princes should depart for their fiefs upon reaching maturity and not stay long in the Capital, but Li Tai, favored by the late Emperor, was specially permitted to "avoid official duties." Not only did he remain in the Capital, but he was also allowed to set up a literary academy in his residence to attract scholars. If the Crown Prince was deposed, aside from Li Ke, he also had a high chance of obtaining the position of Crown Prince. Why then, under such circumstances, was Xiao Song reluctant to form close ties with him?