stonecrandall Chapter 1015: There are some spots you absolutely must grab!
Chapter 1015: There are some spots you absolutely must grab!
But how easily can a personality formed over a long period be changed? Every time Gao Yao casually asked Gao Lin what he liked and what his thoughts were, Gao Lin would always respectfully answer that he "liked studying national policies" and "was concerned about national affairs and people's livelihood." These answers were not faulty in themselves, and could even be considered "standard," but to Gao Yao, they were full of rigidity and perfunctoriness, lacking the vigor and genuine feelings that a young person should have. This made Gao Yao feel that his son was stupid and incapable of being of great use.
After Gao Yao repeatedly reminded her, Lü Zhi did try to restrain herself somewhat, but it was only to a certain extent. Her ingrained mindset and desire for control caused her to unconsciously tighten the reins again after a period of relaxation. By the time she truly realized the seriousness of the problem, Gao Lin's personality had already taken shape.
Now, looking at her son before her, whose even breathing seemed to follow a certain rhythm, Lü Zhi felt a surge of intense regret. It was as if a highly skilled craftsman had poured his heart and soul into creating a masterpiece, only to discover that his excessive refinement had stripped away the work's core soul, turning it into a beautifully crafted puppet. And now, with the situation turbulent, it was precisely the time for this "puppet" to stand up, to fight, to seize power. How could she not feel utterly helpless and powerless?
"You..." Lü Zhi suppressed the surging emotions in her heart, knowing that further regret would be useless at this moment. The most urgent task was to deal with the current crisis. "Your father has encountered some changes and is temporarily unable to return to court. You must have heard some rumors about the specific reasons. As the eldest son, you are the eldest in rank. In this critical moment, how should you conduct yourself? How should you shoulder your responsibilities?"
Upon hearing this, Gao Lin's face instantly drained of color, turning deathly pale. He abruptly raised his head, his eyes filled with disbelief and panic: "Mother! What... what are you talking about? Father... he is a peerless warrior, wise and mighty. He has already conquered most of the world, and it will only be a matter of time before he wipes out the remnants of the six kingdoms. He is on the verge of establishing an eternal imperial dynasty. How... how could he not return? This must be a rumor! Yes, it must be a rumor spread by villains!" His tone carried an almost stubborn refusal, unwilling to believe, and even more unwilling to face this possibility.
"Enough! Lin'er!" Empress Lü Zhi finally couldn't hold back any longer. Her voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable sternness, interrupting Gao Lin's self-deception. "Even now, are you still going to run away? Rumors are already rampant inside and outside the palace. Are you really unaware of them? Or would you rather plug your ears and pretend that everything is peaceful?!"
Faced with his mother's sudden outburst of anger, Gao Lin trembled and almost reflexively knelt down on the ground with a "thud," his forehead touching the cold gold brick floor. His voice trembled as he said, "Mother, please calm down! Your son...your subject...your subject..." He stammered "your subject" for a long time but couldn't utter a complete sentence. He was gripped by immense fear and confusion.
He had certainly heard the rumors about his father's attack on the shores of the East Sea and his disappearance, which had been circulating secretly among the powerful and influential in Xianyang. But deep down, he refused to believe it, or rather, he dared not believe it.
His father, Gao Yao, was like a mountain in his life, the ultimate direction of all his actions and thoughts. If this mountain were to collapse, his life would lose all direction. Therefore, he selectively ignored those voices, burying himself in books, trying to numb himself with familiar "lessons" and maintain a superficial calm.
Looking at her son kneeling on the ground, unable to even offer a defense, Lü Zhi's heart sank deeper and deeper. She closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, her gaze had returned to calm, but beneath that calm lay a resolute determination.
“I can tell you clearly,” Lü Zhi’s voice was low and clear, each word like a hammer blow to Gao Lin’s heart, “your father has indeed encountered great trouble, and he probably won’t be able to return to the court in the short term. Even… whether he can return safely in the future is uncertain.”
She paused deliberately, allowing this cruel reality to fully impact Gao Lin's senses. "However, a country cannot be without a ruler for a single day! The court's operation and the world's affairs will not stagnate because of one person's absence. As the eldest son, you should step forward, both publicly and privately, to inherit your father's unfinished great cause! First, stabilize the court, ascend the throne, then sweep away the rival warlords, unify the country, and ascend the imperial throne! This is your duty as a son, as the eldest son!"
"Mother! Your son...your subject..." Gao Lin abruptly raised his head, his face drained of color, his lips trembling, his eyes filled with terror and helplessness. Becoming king? Ascending the throne? These words were far too heavy for him, far exceeding his psychological capacity. He had never truly considered himself in that position; that position meant supreme power, but also immense responsibility and risk. He instinctively felt fear.
"Stop stammering! What kind of behavior is this!" Empress Lü shouted sternly. "Stand up! Straighten your back! You are the future ruler of a country, the sovereign of the world. How can you expect your officials to be convinced by such a cowardly demeanor? How can you win the hearts of the people?"
Her words were like a whip, lashing at Gao Lin. "You must understand, your father did not leave any clear edict of succession! What does this mean? It means that besides you, Gao Zhe, Gao Ning, and even the young Gao Chen all have a chance! Do you think their mothers, Yu Shu and Bo Ji, will sit idly by? If other brothers ascend the throne, what do you think will become of us, mother and son? Will there be a place for us in this deep palace? Do I need to list the fates of those who lost the struggle for the throne throughout history?"
Empress Lü's words couldn't have been more direct or cruel. Even if Gao Lin was unwilling to face it, he now fully understood the gravity of the situation. It wasn't that he didn't understand history or political maneuvering; it was just that he had been too well protected for so long that he had lost the courage and instinct to use this knowledge to fight and strive.
At this moment, his mother laid bare the bloody reality before him. The possible tragic end—being imprisoned, deposed, or even "dying of illness"—was like a cold, sharp blade pressed against his throat, filling him with unprecedented fear and... a sliver of desire to survive.
He slowly stood up. Although he was still a little unsteady, the blankness in his eyes had faded, replaced by a heavy pain of being forced to accept reality.