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

Chapter 17 No Merit is Greater Than Following the Dragon
The palanquin was an upgraded version of a sedan chair, but this palanquin was carried by four people.

Sitting in her palanquin, the Crown Princess frowned slightly.

At this moment, the Crown Princess was filled with worry.

The Crown Princess was well aware of the Emperor Qianxi's arrival.

Not only that, she also learned that Zhang Xuezan had died at Dali Temple.

She was already deeply worried about the cheating in the Shuntian Prefecture provincial examination, not to mention that Zhang Xuezan had now died in the Dali Temple!

Crown Princess Shi Jingrong is not only exceptionally beautiful and elegant, but also incredibly intelligent and perceptive. Furthermore, having grown up in an official family, she possesses unique insights into many matters.

She felt that Zhang Xuezan's death had a greater impact on the Crown Prince than the cheating in the imperial examinations.

Because of Zhang Xuezan's death, people will think that the Crown Prince is irresponsible and ungrateful, which is clearly a case of murder to silence a witness.

How can a mean-spirited, ungrateful, and irresponsible person inherit the throne?
She looked at Shen Ye and found him casually looking around, seemingly relaxed and enjoying the scenery.

Is he faking it, or does he genuinely not care?
The moment this thought popped into Shi Jingrong's mind, she felt she already had the answer.

After all, the Crown Prince has lived here for over twenty years.

He'd seen enough of even the most beautiful scenery!
The way she's acting now is probably because she's trying her best to hide her unease.

Although the people around her were all the couple's trusted confidants in Yuqing Palace, Shi Jingrong didn't say a single word to Shen Ye the whole way.

However, after returning to Yuqing Palace, Shi Jingrong followed Shen Ye to the East Study.

Shi Jingrong's guess seemed logical, but in reality, she was wrong.

Shen Ye's behavior while admiring the scenery wasn't feigned; he was genuinely interested in the Forbidden City.

As for Zhang Xuezan's matter, he didn't take it too seriously.

This kind of thing doesn't threaten his position as crown prince, so why should he bother with it? Anyway, he can't become the crown prince.

"Is there something you need, Crown Princess?" Shen Ye asked casually as he looked at Shi Jingrong who had followed him in.

Shi Jingrong said, "Your Highness, I heard during my meal today that Master Zhang died at the Dali Temple."

Zhang Xuezan had served as a lecturer at Yuqing Palace, so it was only natural that he was called Master Zhang.

Upon hearing Shi Jingrong's words, Shen Ye immediately understood her meaning.

He casually remarked, "Master Zhang's death has nothing to do with me."

Looking at Shen Ye's composed demeanor, Shi Jingrong felt a hint of suspicion rising in her heart.

She had a feeling that the person in front of her wasn't lying.

But after so many years of marriage, she felt that killing Zhang Xuezan seemed to be the way this person did things.

Believe it or not?

As a woman who knew the bigger picture and how to advance or retreat, Shi Jingrong did not dwell on this matter. Instead, she calmly said, "Your Highness, I believe the key to this matter lies with His Majesty."

“If His Majesty is willing, he can find out everything.”

"How this matter will be handled depends on His Majesty."

She hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "His Majesty has always valued the Crown Prince the most."

Shi Jingrong spoke subtly, but Shen Ye understood the meaning behind her words.

Shi Jingrong was telling him that as long as he explained the matter to Emperor Qianxi, even if Emperor Qianxi was angry, he would still have to clean up the mess for him, the crown prince.

This is a very smart woman.

But she hasn't figured it out yet. The biggest problem right now isn't the cheating scandal, but that the crown prince is growing up too fast.

But Emperor Qianxi was not old yet!
This is an irreconcilable contradiction!

When there is a conflict between imperial power and the power of the prime minister, the prime minister is no longer needed!

However, if a conflict arises between imperial power and the crown prince's right of succession, then...

Faced with the choice of explaining, getting a scolding, and having Emperor Qianxi cover it up, or conducting a random investigation only to have Emperor Qianxi ultimately deal with it, Shen Ye chose the latter. The outcome was already predetermined!

Effort is useless anyway, and he doesn't want to waste his time.

So, in response to Shi Jingrong's warning, he calmly replied, "I understand."

Shi Jingrong was greatly disappointed to see Shen Ye's indifferent reaction.

She sighed, but didn't say anything more.

As a wife, she had done her best, but the prince wouldn't listen, so she couldn't be blamed.

Not wanting to linger any longer, he was just about to leave when he suddenly remembered the report from the eunuch in charge of the Crown Prince's daily life. So he solemnly said again, "Your Highness, you have been staying in the East Study for many days. This is not conducive to the balance of Yin and Yang."

After saying that, Shi Jingrong walked out.

The Crown Princess's last words startled Shen Ye.

Only after Shi Jingrong walked out did he understand the meaning of those words.

That is because he hadn't had anyone to sleep with him these past few days, so the Crown Princess came to advise him.

This...this is really...

Having transmigrated into Yun Ye's body, Shen Ye has been living in the East Study, partly to familiarize himself with everything, and partly for psychological reasons.

He felt that he was Shen Ye, only he had inherited everything from Crown Prince Yunye.

However, I should take the Crown Princess's reminder to heart. After all, if I act too strangely, who knows what kind of trouble it might cause!
Since you've inherited Yunye's identity, then inherit everything from him!

After all, he can't defy this fact now.

Thinking this to myself, I then thought of Zhang Xuezan's death!

Who exactly killed Zhang Xuezan?
Several names came to mind. Although he wasn't sure which of these people it was, he knew that an even bigger storm was about to sweep in with Zhang Xuezan's death.

Just as Shen Ye had guessed, as the city lights began to twinkle that evening, Zhou Bao, the eunuch serving him, carefully handed him a slip of paper.

Shen Ye opened the note and saw that it read: Ling Pu is in prison and knows nothing about anything.

The note contained only eight characters and left no mark to prove its identity, but Shen Ye could tell that it was written by Suo'etu, the former Crown Prince Yunye's biggest supporter.

Besides telling Yunye the latest news, he also told Yunye one thing: to push everything forward.

At most, he was simply misjudging people and was deceived.

This could be a viable solution.

Shen Ye casually lit the note on the lantern and waved for Zhou Bao to leave. But as soon as Zhou Bao left, the eunuch in charge of his daily life came over again.

Upon seeing the young eunuch, Shen Ye gently tapped his forehead and said, "Tell the Crown Princess that I'll be staying at her place tonight."

The young eunuch was taken aback, then respectfully replied, "This servant obeys."

Watching the young eunuch leave quickly, Shen Ye gently shook his head. This was a step he would eventually have to take.

……

Xicheng District, Tiesuo Hutong!
Under the dim light of a single lamp, Yu Hualong, an investigative censor of the Censorate, was writing furiously.

As he wrote each word, a surge of pride filled his heart.

For some reason, the words his teacher had spoken to him that day came to mind.

There is no greater merit than following the emperor, and now, his memorial is a great merit of following the emperor.

Although this memorial may not be able to bring down his target, it can at least damage that person's reputation!

When his benefactor ascends to the throne, that will be the day he soars to great heights!
My new book needs your support! Recommendations, favorites, and continued reading are very important to this book, so please support me!



(End of this chapter)