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

Chapter 20 Your Fire is Too Small

Emperor Qianxi sat on the Nine-Dragon Throne, bathed in sunlight streaming through the window, making him appear like a god, so much so that no one dared to look directly at him.

He remained calm in the face of Yu Hualong's report.

However, he knew that the attack on the crown prince was about to begin!

After all, when the censors speak at the grand court assembly, they are almost always impeaching people.

Compared to impeaching someone in a written petition on ordinary days, this is much more powerful and influential than impeaching them directly at a grand court assembly.

Emperor Qianxi asked calmly, "What is it?"

"Your Majesty, recently, students from Shuntian Prefecture caused a disturbance at the examination hall due to unfairness in the provincial examination. Your Majesty has ordered a thorough investigation. Just yesterday, the chief examiner of the provincial examination, Zhang Xuezan, died in prison at Dali Temple."

"It is rumored that Ling Pu, a secretary in the Imperial Household Department, charged five thousand taels of silver per person, and all those who paid the money were on the list."

"As far as I know, Ling Pu and Zhang Xuezan have no relationship, but now the two have joined forces to cheat in the imperial examination. This is really suspicious."

"Furthermore, the Dali Temple prison is known for its strictness, yet it allowed a wanted criminal to die at a critical moment."

"All signs indicate that someone is manipulating all of this behind the scenes."

After saying this, Yu Hualong's voice suddenly became much louder.

Upon hearing this, many people in the court looked in Shen Ye's direction.

Everyone here is smart; they all know perfectly well who Ling Pu works for and who Zhang Xuezan works for.

Yu Hualong's demand for a thorough investigation into the cheating in this imperial examination and the person who killed Zhang Xuezan was practically a direct attack on the Crown Prince.

Although no names were mentioned, those who need to know, know.

Prince Zhi did not look at the Crown Prince, but he felt a sense of relief.

Although he was the eldest prince, because he was a county prince, his rank in the court was after that of Prince Zheng.

But the crown prince was able to sit high on the throne.

Why should I have to stand up?!

Emperor Qianxi did not speak, but someone said, "Your Majesty, I believe that Yu Hualong's explanation is far-fetched and nonsensical."

"The provincial examination in Yingtian Prefecture was clearly orchestrated by Zhang Xuezan and Ling Pu, who were audacious enough to collude in private."

"After the incident, Zhang Xuezan took his own life to avoid physical pain."

“The facts have been established, yet Yu Hualong is spreading alarmist rumors here.”

"Your Majesty, I beg you to punish Yu Hualong for his false statements!" The speaker was a middle-aged man in his forties, dressed similarly to Yu Hualong, with a hint of ruthlessness in his expression.

Upon hearing this person's words, Shen Ye glanced at Suo'etu.

Soetu stood calmly at the head of the civil officials, as if it had nothing to do with him.

Seeing this scene, Shen Ye felt even more that his choice was absolutely right.

Neither Emperor Qianxi nor Suo'etu could be easily defeated by a nobody like me who had transmigrated here.

After all, if he couldn't even beat the low-level workplace version of office politics where everyone was vying for credit, let alone the hellish version like the struggle for succession among the princes.

Lying down obediently is the wisest choice for yourself.

Before Yu Hualong could speak, someone continued, "Your Majesty, I believe that Yu Hualong's speculation is not baseless, but rather based on fact."

Following this, another minister replied, "Zhang Xuezan is a Hanlin scholar, and has always been of noble character."

"I have heard that he has always abhorred cheating in the imperial examinations."

"But this time, in the Shuntian Prefecture provincial examination where he was the chief examiner, he actually colluded with someone like Ling Pu, which I find highly suspicious."

"I'm afraid Zhang Xuezan isn't working with Ling Pu, but rather he's forced to conspire with Ling Pu."

The fact that they had to conspire is even more clearly directed at themselves than Yu Hualong's case.

As Shen Ye listened to the three censors' arguments, which sounded like a debate, a strange feeling arose in his heart: the second person who suddenly appeared might not necessarily have been arranged by Suo'etu.

Perhaps the three of them were originally in cahoots.

They are using this method to expose themselves as the people behind the scenes. After all, during a debate, some things that are not easy to say in formal reports can be said unintentionally.

This series of punches almost revealed to Ling Pu that his master, Zhang Xuezan's loyalist, was none other than himself, the crown prince!

"The imperial examination fraud and the murder committed by the Court of Judicial Review are truly appalling. Your Majesty, I implore you to investigate thoroughly and reveal the truth to the world!" Yu Hualong knelt on the ground as he spoke, holding the memorial in his hands.

As he knelt down so solemnly, many more people stepped out from the queue.

"Your Majesty, I, the Imperial Censor of Jiangnan Circuit, earnestly request that Your Majesty investigate this matter thoroughly and without delay!"

"Your humble servant, the Imperial Censor of Guangdong and Guangxi, second this proposal!"

"Your subject, the Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy, second this proposal!"

……

In just one minute, more than twenty ministers knelt on the ground.

Although none of these people were high-ranking officials at the ministerial level, there were nine vice ministers from the six ministries alone.

The power of such a silent confrontation is enough to shake the imperial court.

A fine layer of sweat appeared on Songgotu's forehead.

Although he had prepared many plans, it was simply impossible to turn the tide when someone had caught him red-handed.

What he needs to do now is protect the crown prince.

As for what happened to Zhang Xuezan and Ling Pu, he didn't care at all.

So, after a moment's hesitation, he said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, Zhang Xuezan and Ling Pu are guilty of heinous crimes, truly unforgivable."

"I am willing to preside over the trial of Ling Pu and reveal the truth to the world."

Generally speaking, Suo'etu, as a Grand Secretary, would not personally participate in the event.

But under the current circumstances, he no longer has any intention of shirking responsibility.

Only by taking on this task can we secretly manipulate things and remove the crown prince from the picture.

Their greatest victory would be simply to protect the crown prince.

Just as Suo'etu was asking for the order, Mingzhu, who was standing in the middle, said calmly, "Prime Minister Suo, this is a task that His Majesty has entrusted to me, Mingzhu."

"Are you asking me to do this because you think I can't find out the truth, or is there something else going on?"

In response to Mingzhu's questioning, tinged with dissatisfaction, Suo'etu smiled faintly and said, "Prime Minister, it's not that I don't trust you, it's just that this matter is of great importance."

"I think it's safer for me to host."

Upon hearing what Suo'etu said, Mingzhu bowed to Emperor Qianxi and said, "Your Majesty, I have already investigated this matter thoroughly and will report the details within three days."

"Please wait three days, Your Majesty."

Before Songgotu could speak, Emperor Qianxi waved his hand gently and then glanced down at the ground.

These few glances immediately silenced the previously noisy court.

Having held absolute power for so many years, his authority was deeply ingrained and firmly planted in the hearts of his subjects.

As he slowly withdrew his gaze, Emperor Qianxi's eyes fell on Shen Ye, who was sitting to his left.

He hesitated for a moment, then said calmly, "Your Highness, what do you think of this matter?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Ye almost instinctively thought of the idea Shi Jingrong had given him:

Everything is up to Your Majesty to decide.

However, looking at the censors and civil officials still kneeling on the ground below, a strange anger rose in his heart:

These guys are really taking advantage of me!

"Damn it, the bird flies upwards; if it doesn't die, it'll live forever. Anyway, I'll never officially become the crown prince, so what am I afraid of!"
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(End of this chapter)