The King nodded at De Fu with satisfaction.

De Fu, who had been serving him for more decades, understood what he meant after he just narrated the general idea.

De Fu was the only person he could confess his true feelings to after so many years. He knew pretty well that De Fu was the most devoted person around him. It was very safe to reveal his true thoughts to De Fu, when he could not even reveal his innermost thoughts to people like the Empress Dowager, Honored Princess Jing, the Heir and even the late Queen.

The King had thought it through, thus being in a good mood. He pointed at the seat next to him. “Just take the seat. I need to have a chat with you.”

De Fu got frightened. He had sweat dripping down his forehead. He showed a polite smile with a bent back. “You are speaking highly of me, I am just a servant who has been working by your side for many years. Yet I am still a slave. I am not qualified enough to share a table with you. I know that you treat me well, but please do not speak so highly of me. I am listening right here, please, tell me what you want to say, and I am all ears.”

The King smiled involuntarily, after hearing what De Fu said.

He nodded, very satisfied.

“De Fu, you are a very understanding man. If everyone could be as clear-minded as you, then there would be nothing I need to be unhappy about.” The King sighed.

He dropped the idea of letting De Fu take a seat.

He had been in too good a mood to give that strange order. It would not have been very proper for De Fu to take a seat.

Rules were rules.

De Fu was devoted and a nice man, but he was, after all, a slave.

The Heir was devoted and showing him love, but he was, after all, just the Heir.

The King continued. “When the Queen was alive, Lord Huai was considered as the lineal son, and all the ministers in the capital thought that Lord Huai and the Heir shared the same status. So nothing happened. However, Lord Huai is no longer in an advantageous position any more, and I will never grant Lord Huai the throne either.”

“…”

“But there should always be someone who can counter the Heir…”

“King, have you thought about which lord to support?” De Fu asked.

The King nodded.

He did not have many sons, and he had the fewest sons in his generation. Therefore, the range was very limited. Apart from the Eighth Son, the Sixth and the Eldest ones were the only options.

However, even though he preferred his Sixth Son, he was used to travelling and doing different business, which was a taboo for imperial families. So even if he came back to court, he would not be that convincing either.

Therefore, the only option was the Eldest Son.

The Eldest Son had been stationed at the boundary for years, and he had been the Head of a land. Plus, he was the Eldest Son, which made him sound good.

“Bring the Eldest Son back, I believe that he is the right option.” The King made the decision directly.

The Eldest Prince…

De Fu thought for a while and believed that it was the best option. So he nodded.

“However, have you thought about who should bring him back? You can’t just let him return by himself, because he was not here for the New Year a while ago.”