Should We Tell Prince Alexander
The master and disciple sat in silence for a long time, the cold wind whistling through the ruins of South Hill Temple. It was as if they could hear the mournful cries and screams all around them, and that great fire which had destroyed everything seemed to have crossed twenty years of time, burning in the hearts of both master and disciple.
After a while, Simon Yu spoke: "Master, so according to what you said, only Marquis Valor and Madam Lou know Prince Alexander's true identity?"
Dr. Rowan Lin nodded, "What really happened at South Hill Temple back then, only Madam Lou knows. When I traced my senior brother's clues, the trail stopped at South Hill Temple. After the fire, my senior brother disappeared—I don't know if he died in that blaze or managed to escape and went far away to avoid disaster."
Simon Yu sighed, "If only Madam Lou were willing to tell us what happened back then."
Dr. Rowan Lin glanced at Simon Yu, "If you were Madam Lou, would you dare to speak?"
Simon Yu quickly shook his head, "No way, no way. Saying it out loud would be a crime that could wipe out your whole family and implicate nine generations. I'd rather take it to the grave."
"Exactly." Dr. Rowan Lin glared at Simon Yu. "Marquis Valor and Madam Lou may not be good people, but at least they're not stupid—they'll never say a word."
"So, the clues to our senior uncle's whereabouts are gone again?" Simon Yu groaned, tugging at his hair. "But by accident, we've dug up the mystery of Prince Alexander's origins."
"You need to keep this buried in your heart," Dr. Rowan Lin said seriously, looking at Simon Yu.
"Why? Master, aren't you going to tell Prince Alexander about his true origins?" Simon Yu asked anxiously. "He always thought Marquis Valor and Madam Lou were his real parents, and their coldness really bothers him. If he knew they weren't his birth parents, he wouldn't be so hung up on it."
"Are you stupid!?" Dr. Rowan Lin suddenly flicked Simon Yu hard on the forehead. "I swear, the cold wind must've blown out your brains! If you tell Prince Alexander now, what do you expect him to do? His enemies—the ones who killed his real parents—are sitting on the throne in the imperial city! Chu and Jin have been at war for years, and Jin is exhausted. The people finally have a bit of peace, but it hasn't lasted long! Prince Alexander commands the nation's armies—if you tell him now, do you want him to march on the capital for revenge, spark a civil war, let Chu invade, and bring ruin to everyone?"
Simon Yu yelped, clutching his head, "Master, why'd you hit me so hard? I was just saying—I'm not really going to tell him!"
Dr. Rowan Lin folded his hands behind his back and said, "I will choose a suitable time to tell him about his origins, but now is not the time. You and I are both physicians, and as doctors, we feel a parent's compassion—we cannot bear to see the common people suffer the horrors of war. What happened to the late emperor was twenty years ago; bringing it up now won't win much support in court. The emperor is backed by the great families, and the power between nobles and generals is balanced. Even though Prince Alexander holds military authority, if war breaks out, his chances of victory are slim. If Chu takes advantage, everyone will be doomed. In short, letting him know now will only harm him."
Simon Yu nodded obediently, "Yes, yes, yes, I'll keep my mouth shut. But Master, when do you plan to tell Prince Alexander the truth?"
Dr. Rowan Lin looked out at the ruined temple, his voice low and thoughtful: "When he has children of his own. Once he becomes a parent, both he and Lily will think things through more carefully. Even for the sake of their child, he can't afford to act rashly. Sigh, you young people without kids just don't understand a parent's heart. And you—you're still a lifelong bachelor, haven't even got a wife, so why am I telling you all this?"
Simon Yu thought: Seriously, just because I'm single, do I have to listen to all this parental advice?