The struggle for the throne among nine princes—I really don't want to be the crown prince.

Chapter 166 A Stick in One Hand and a Sweet Treat in the Other: You're Overthinking It
After settling everything with Yu Chenglong, Shen Ye wanted to have a meal at Yu's house before leaving.

After all, Yu Chenglong was a well-known incorruptible official, and he was a little curious about what this Lord Yu would use to entertain him.

Unfortunately, Yu Chenglong had developed a serious wariness of him and had no intention of inviting him to stay for dinner, simply sending him out.

Under these circumstances, Shen Ye could only return to the palace somewhat disappointed.

Everything in Yuqing Palace was supplied by the Imperial Household Department, so no matter when Shen Ye returned, there was always a hot meal waiting for him.

Just as he had taken a couple of bites of his side dish, he noticed that the clock in his study seemed to have been replaced.

It is not only larger than before, but also more ornately decorated.

He glanced at the clock, then turned to Xiao Rou, who was serving him, and asked, "Xiao Rou, where did this clock come from?"

Xiao Rou glanced at the clock and said, "Your Highness, this was sent by someone from the Imperial Household Department."

"They say it's a new trinket sent from the West, for Your Highness to enjoy."

The clock, made of gold, was inlaid with dozens of gems of varying sizes. Although Shen Ye was not familiar with the price of gems, he knew they were not cheap just by looking at their size.

Moreover, it is inlaid in a gold-plated clock.

This chiming clock alone will cost a lot of money.

Although the money belonged to Emperor Qianxi, the clock was, after all, personally delivered by the Imperial Household Department.

By sending such a clock, Tuoheqi certainly didn't mean to send Shen Ye off at his deathbed.

His approach was like slapping someone in the face and then giving them a sweet treat, telling Shen Ye, the Crown Prince, that there's a long road ahead between them, and they should try to get along better in the future.

We have the upper hand this time, and we'll give you a way out.

You remain the crown prince, and we will continue to serve you as your servants.

Just don't get in my way of making money.

If it were the former crown prince, upon seeing the gifts sent by the Imperial Household Department, he might have pondered the matter carefully, weighed the pros and cons, and then swallowed this bitter pill.

After all, the Imperial Household Department was of great importance, and he was determined to win it over.

However, the current Crown Prince Shen Ye doesn't think that way. He will move out in a few days and won't indulge these big shots in the Imperial Household Department.

Seeing that Shen Ye's expression was not good, Xiao Rou hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Highness, if you don't like this clock, I will have the servants move it out."

"Why move it? This clock is perfectly fine!"

Shen Ye said calmly, "Xiao Rou, remember this: if someone gives you something, let them give it to you. You should accept it, but you should do whatever you need to do yourself!"

At this point, he continued eating.

Tuoheqi has been paying close attention to the movements at Yuqing Palace.

Tohqi was not too afraid of the young crown prince.

After all, he was Emperor Qianxi's confidant, and now he had the support of the entire Imperial Household Department, while the current Crown Prince was just a heir apparent, nothing more.

The current crown prince can't do anything to him yet, and who knows when the crown prince will ascend the throne!

Based on his understanding of Emperor Qianxi, he felt that it was still unknown who would ascend the throne next.

Moreover, he has already given the Crown Prince a way out. If the Crown Prince accepts it gladly, then they might even become friends after a fight.

Furthermore, as the head of the Imperial Household Department, he simply couldn't bear to give up this lucrative opportunity.

Not to mention the old and young men of the Imperial Household Department who are eyeing this area, even he himself doesn't want to give up hundreds of thousands of taels of silver a year.

Hearing that the Crown Prince had not taken any action after returning to the palace, Tuoheqi felt much more at ease.

In the past, when the Crown Prince tried to win him over, he ignored him. Now that he has given the Crown Prince a gift, the Crown Prince might see this as an opportunity!

As for whether the crown prince will hold a grudge later, we can just coax him a bit more...

With his worries put aside, Tuoheqi waved to his butler and said, "Continue to acquire shares in Shiban Road, but lower the price for me again."

"My lord, how much should we reduce it?" the steward asked cautiously.

"Eight hundred taels, take it or leave it!" Tuoheqi said in a deep voice, "Send someone to spread the word that this matter has been settled." "The nobles in the palace don't have time to deal with such trivial matters."

The steward hesitated for a moment and then asked, "Sir, should the shares in other mansions also be collected at eight hundred taels?"

Tohqi glared at his steward and said, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

"You should still buy those shares at the original price."

"Even if we're going to eat up the cobblestones, we can't let people think that we're doing it in a bad way."

The steward had warned Tuoheqi because he was afraid Tuoheqi would be too flamboyant, and when he heard Tuoheqi say this, he was immediately relieved.

The crown prince remained silent, and Tuoheqi had a considerable number of shares acquired, which led many to believe that the matter was now settled.

Despite Yu Chenglong's influence, some people couldn't hold on and sold their shares to Tuoheqi.

This includes shares held by some nobles.

Of course, they didn't lose money; Tohchi still made them a lot of money.

Upon hearing this, Shen Ye acted as if he hadn't heard anything and continued to leisurely enjoy his life in Yuqing Palace.

Emperor Qianxi, residing in the Qianqing Palace, seemed completely unconcerned about the matter.

He continued to review memorials and attend to his own affairs as usual, seemingly unaware of the matter at hand.

However, Liang Jiugong, who had been serving him for many days, discovered that Emperor Qianxi had spent that day reading the memorials that Zhao Chang had sent over three times.

The contents of these memorials mostly pertained to the Crown Prince and the Imperial Household Department.

In Emperor Qianxi's view, whoever was in charge of operating the stone-paved road was still under his control. The Imperial Household Department was his servant, obeying him in everything, and truly his own people.

As for Shuntian Prefecture, it was also his own people, but in terms of relationship, it was not as close as that of the Imperial Household Department.

Moreover, the Crown Prince has a good relationship with Yu Chenglong.

If the crown prince were to run the stone-paved road, that wouldn't be out of the question.

But now that the crown prince has backed down, his father can't even try to take sides.

Although he thought this way, Emperor Qianxi really didn't know whose side he would be on when the time came.

The fact that Tuoheqi sent a large self-ringing clock to Yuqing Palace naturally did not escape the notice of Emperor Qianxi.

Emperor Qianxi was not angry about this situation; he simply laughed it off.

Tuoheqi is quite good at dealing with people.

But will the Crown Prince really back down like this? If so, what about the Crown Prince's character...?

Emperor Qianxi felt a vague sense of unease.

There was no morning court session that day. After paying his respects to the Empress Dowager early in the morning, Emperor Qianxi began to eat and work.

However, as soon as he sat down in the Imperial Study, he saw a memorial from Yu Chenglong of Shuntian Prefecture.

"Table of Price Changes in the Capital"
Upon seeing this memorial, Emperor Qianxi felt a slight smile. This must have been an idea suggested by the Crown Prince to Yu Chenglong.

He opened the memorial and saw that it read: "September 20th, 37th year of Qianxi's reign, prices in the capital city..."

One liter of polished rice costs seven coins, one coin less than yesterday!
Wheat was 1.6 cents per liter, unchanged from yesterday.

An egg costs 3 coins, the same as yesterday.

……

Looking at the table, Emperor Qianxi initially smiled, thinking that Yu Chenglong knew what to do. But gradually, a cold look appeared on his face.

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(End of this chapter)