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Chapter 28 The Emperor's Decline and the Prince's Power
In the blink of an eye, eight months passed by like a flash.

Deep in the solemn and dignified imperial palace, which was filled with an atmosphere of decay and majesty, the emperor had been lying on his sickbed for a long time.

His body was like an ancient castle that had been eroded by wind and rain and was slowly collapsing.

The eyes that once sparkled with life were now dull and sunken in their sockets, as if the candle of life was about to go out.

As the emperor's health deteriorated, many court affairs gradually slipped out of his control and were gradually handed over to the crown prince.

The prince is in his prime, full of vigor and ambition, and has his own ambitions and opinions.

In the process of handling government affairs, he gradually gained a firm foothold in the court and held great power with his own abilities and means.

At first, the prince maintained due respect for the emperor. Whenever there was an important event, he would go to the emperor's bedroom in person to report and listen to the emperor's will.

However, as the power in his hands continued to accumulate, the prince's thoughts began to change.

The prince vigorously implemented new policies within his sphere of influence, and his actions did bring new atmosphere to the court to a certain extent.

Some old laws were revised, and the official atmosphere also improved slightly due to his strict governance.

These new policies covered many aspects, from administrative rectification to economic reform. Each measure directly targeted the long-standing malpractices in the court and intended to fundamentally reverse some outdated situations.

However, the implementation of the new policy was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples and soon touching the foundation of the interests of the old forces.

Those old officials who had deep roots in the old system were accustomed to the previous way of doing things and the distribution of benefits. Now, with the implementation of the new policy, their power has been gradually weakened, and the benefits they can obtain are much less than before.

There were also many clan members who had always enjoyed generous treatment and privileges. Some regulations in the new policy restricted their behavior and even reduced some of their property.

This made them very dissatisfied, and the resentment in their hearts was like a volcano about to erupt, ready to erupt at any time.

In the court, they could often be seen questioning and opposing the prince's new policies for various reasons, trying to hinder the further implementation of the new policies. As a result, a tense atmosphere of confrontation permeated the court.

The prince was facing many obstacles in implementing the new policy, and he knew that if he wanted to implement it smoothly, he had to cultivate a group of firm supporters in the court.

Thus, subtle changes gradually occurred in the court.

Faced with those ministers who constantly opposed the new policies, he decided after careful consideration to adopt the strategy of supporting his confidants in order to enhance his voice and influence in the court.

Among his carefully selected confidants, a considerable number were relatives from his mother's clan. Due to their close blood relationship with the crown prince and the ties of mutual benefit, these people naturally became strong supporters of the crown prince's new policies.

The prince entrusted them with important tasks and handed over many important positions to them, hoping to use their strength to form a powerful force in the court that could compete with the opposition.

After the maternal relatives entered the court, they quickly gained a foothold with the support of the prince.

They actively responded to the prince's new policies in various affairs, cooperated with other close associates of the prince, and cheered and offered advice for the implementation of the new policies in the court.

This move changed the power structure in the court to a certain extent. The originally one-sided voices opposing the new policy were curbed, and the implementation of the new policy ushered in a relatively relaxed situation.

At the same time, the rise of political power, fueled by kinship ties, also triggered new undercurrents within the court, sparking concerns among many. A new political game was quietly unfolding. On one occasion, a veteran minister, highly regarded by the emperor, publicly questioned a crucial decision made by the crown prince. His words were vehement, accusing him of being overly aggressive and potentially posing a threat to the nation.

The prince's face darkened and he retorted without giving in. His eyes were sharp as he expounded his ideas clearly and logically, and he also hinted at his dissatisfaction with the old minister's abusive behavior.

The old minister was so angry that he was shaking all over, and he begged the emperor to intervene and seek justice, and let the prince revoke his decision.

After a long silence, the emperor slowly spoke. His voice was weak but contained a hint of unquestionableness: "We will discuss this matter later."

The ministers looked at each other, and the fierce confrontation temporarily subsided.

But everyone knows that the conflict between the emperor and the prince, as well as the undercurrents of the two forces in the court, will not stop there, and a bigger storm may be brewing quietly.

In the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince has rarely been seen in recent times.

Against the backdrop of the changing situation in the previous dynasty and the fierce competition among various forces, this invisible wave of struggle has quietly spread to the backyard of the East Palace.

The backyard, which originally seemed peaceful and tranquil, was actually turbulent due to the complicated situation of the previous dynasty, and was filled with a faint atmosphere of tension.

On this day, Mrs. Lin came to the East Palace specifically to visit Lin Yu.

After the mother and daughter exchanged pleasantries, Mrs. Lin's face showed a solemn expression. She lowered her voice and said solemnly to Lin Yu:
"The situation in the court is turbulent now, with various factions fighting openly and secretly. You must remain calm in the East Palace, be cautious in everything you say and do, and make no mistakes."
"As for the affairs of the previous dynasty, you must not mention them to the Crown Prince, lest you be accused of interfering in government affairs and bring disaster upon yourself."

Lin Yu nodded slightly, his eyes full of seriousness, and took his mother's words to heart.

Yunshan couldn't help but think of the incident at the Shangshu Mansion. She knew very well that in such a turbulent situation, the most important thing was to remain stable.

After Madam Lin left, Lin Yu, Yun Jin and Yun Shan, the master and servant, quietly discussed the recent developments in the Eastern Palace.

In this backyard, three women with special identities each represent a different faction.

The Crown Princess came from a prominent family, and behind her were old ministers who had deep roots in the court.

Lin Yu represents the newly emerging power of officials in the court.

As for Cui, she was born into a royal family and was born with a noble identity and special status.

In addition, there have been new developments in the East Palace recently.

Li was not very noticeable among the women in the Eastern Palace originally, but because she was from the family of the Crown Prince's mother, the gears of fate turned quietly, making her quite favored by the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace recently.

During the two rare days when the Crown Prince rested in the Eastern Palace, Li was always by his side.

Whenever the prince was handling affairs in the study, she would serve him in a gorgeous manner. Her every move was gentle and virtuous, and she took care of the prince meticulously.

(End of this chapter)