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

Chapter 198 A Rare Moment of Confusion: Waiting for the Right Timing

The cicadas know the dawn before the wind stirs!
For some people in high positions, they often don't even need to see the wind coming; they can tell a storm is coming just by a slight feeling.

Ma Qi is that kind of person.

His rise to his current position is undoubtedly due in no small part to his friendship with Emperor Qianxi.

But that's not the main thing.

This also reveals his foresight, his keen observation skills, and his...

The prince planted over a hundred acres of sweet potatoes, which wasn't a big deal in itself.

Compared to the several beautiful palace maids newly recruited by the Crown Prince's Yuqing Palace, none of them were as attractive as the latter.

Moreover, this thing called sweet potato hasn't even been planted yet, so who knows how much it will yield?

But now, some people are saying that 1,500 catties of land per mu (unit of land area).

That's utter nonsense!

As the Minister of Revenue, Ma Qi had never seen a grain yield exceeding 500 jin per mu in all these years.

1,500 jin? Absurd!
The fact that such words could circulate both inside and outside the capital city must be because someone was stirring things up.

As for who was behind it all, Ma Qi could guess without even thinking.

The eldest prince is ambitious!
This was partly due to the prince's nature, but it was also partly due to Emperor Qianxi's indulgence and encouragement.

Given his personality, he would never let this opportunity to make a move slip by!

There's also the Third Prince, who appears gentle and refined on the surface, but is actually eyeing the throne.

After all, he and the eldest prince were both princes, so how could they be willing to be subordinate to others?
There's also the Fourth Prince. Although he's a bit mean, he's serious about his work and doesn't hesitate to be firm when necessary!

How could such a decisive person remain indifferent to this high position?
And the Eighth Prince...

After several princes flashed through his mind, Ma Qi made a decision.

He coldly said to Fulton, "Just do your own thing and stop talking nonsense here."

"If I hear you spouting this nonsense again, don't blame me for breaking your legs!"

With that, Ma Qi threw down his chopsticks and turned to leave.

Fulton watched his father storm off, speechless.

His heart was filled with grievances.

Back in his study, Ma Qi decided not to pursue the matter any further.

For him, no matter how this matter is handled, it has nothing to do with him.

After all, he didn't choose to take sides.

He vaguely felt that the biggest crisis facing the court at present was neither the burden of taxes nor the problems of domestic affairs, but the growing Crown Prince and the other princes.

The Crown Prince had been in power for over twenty years, yet Emperor Qianxi remained vigorous and in excellent health…

Thinking this to himself, Ma Qi let out a sigh.

He can't change that.

Even as a subject, he couldn't even utter a few words about such matters.

For now, let's play dumb for a while!
Like Ma Qi, many people heard that the prince's sweet potatoes could yield 1,500 catties per mu, but like Ma Qi, many of them chose to ignore it.

After all, they also have to live the same kind of life as Maqi.

However, some people, after hearing about it, started to fuel the fire, causing the story to spread faster and faster.

Such a situation naturally did not escape Suo'etu's ears.

Although he was a farmer at home, he was able to know about any slight movement in the imperial court immediately.

He had received news that Wang Yan and others had gone to the Crown Prince to oppose the land tax reform, but he ultimately chose to ignore it.

He knew that he was under the surveillance of Emperor Qianxi, and that it was better to remain still than to make a move.

Moreover, in his view, this matter would not affect the crown prince's position.

To his surprise, the Crown Prince presented three memorials in court today!

The successive memorials, each linked to the next, demonstrated masterful planning, which greatly impressed Songgotu. The reform of the land tax system, a policy fraught with resistance and almost impossible to pass, was essentially approved thanks to the Crown Prince's three memorials.

While he admired the Crown Prince from the bottom of his heart, he also had a feeling that something was about to happen against the Crown Prince.

But I never expected it to happen so quickly!

"Father, someone is plotting something in this matter. Should we remind the Crown Prince to take precautions?" Algishan asked in a low voice.

Soetu waved his hand and said, "With the Emperor watching over this matter, we don't need to worry about it."

"What we need to do now is to do our own thing well."

"As for the rest, let's ignore them."

Although Algishan was somewhat puzzled by his father's attitude, he still obediently carried it out.

Just as he was about to convey Suo'etu's decision, he heard Suo'etu say, "Go tell your fifth uncle that this year's ginseng harvesting will be suspended for now."

Upon hearing this arrangement, Algishan's expression changed drastically.

He quickly turned around and said, "Father, this ginseng harvesting is of great importance and involves many people."

"If we rashly call a halt, then... then the other adults probably won't agree."

Soetu glared at Algishan. He was old and shrewd, and he saw through many things very clearly.

Among those who are unwilling to stop harvesting ginseng, there is probably one's own eldest son.

He said coldly, "You've already earned enough from all these years of secretly harvesting ginseng."

"Now that the Emperor has appointed the Fourth Prince as Minister of the Imperial Household Department, it is clear that he intends to thoroughly investigate the problems within the Imperial Household Department."

"If we continue as you say and don't know when to stop, we won't even know how we died."

"You give me the order, stop everything!"

Faced with the stern Suo'etu, Algishan dared not argue any further and quickly agreed.

With Argishan's retirement, Songgotu continued to work on the land that was already showing signs of a bountiful harvest.

However, at this moment, his eyes held more anticipation.

He's waiting for the right time!

He's waiting for his chance!

He was waiting for that person to make a mistake...

However, he was unaware that while he was waiting silently, Algishan had already changed his orders.

The complete halt has now become a partial halt!

This order was quickly relayed.

At this moment, Shen Ye was unaware that while he was vehemently supporting the "equalization of land tax and poll tax," his good brothers had responded so quickly.

His 100 mu (approximately 6.7 hectares) of sweet potatoes, in particular, have attracted the attention of countless people.

He rested in Nian Xinyue's room last night, where he not only received her endless gratitude but also enjoyed her tenderness.

With an added air of self-satisfaction, Shen Ye continued to follow his own rhythm, performing his daily greetings without fail. After completing all these procedures, Shen Ye prepared to deal with the matter of the three million taels of silver owed.

He couldn't accomplish this task from within the palace, so Shen Ye went to Daxing County first.

When Nian Dongliang saw Shen Ye approaching, his anxious expression immediately softened considerably.

His expression held a hint of excitement: "Your Highness, you've finally arrived! If you hadn't come, I would have stormed into Yuqing Palace to beg for an audience!"

Looking at the anxious Nian Dongliang, Shen Ye smiled and said, "Old man, it seems you miss me quite a bit!"

"Your Highness, it seems something bad is about to happen!" Nian Dongliang said quickly, disregarding pleasantries, "I have heard a lot of rumors today, all targeting Your Highness."

As he spoke, Nian Dongliang recounted what he had heard about sweet potatoes.

Looking at Nian Dongliang's anxious face, Shen Ye calmly asked, "Did they really say that my sweet potatoes yield 1,500 jin per mu?"

"That's right, quite a few people have already gone to secretly check it out." Nian Dongliang rubbed his hands and said, "Your Highness, this...this is someone with ill intentions!"

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(End of this chapter)