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

Chapter 211 To kill someone, you must destroy their spirit; Your Highness, please grant me a way out.

Sweet potato stew with braised pork!

Sweet potato and chicken stew!
Sweet potatoes dipped in white sugar!
Sweet potato pancakes, honey-roasted sweet potatoes!
……

As one delicious dish after another was served, the royal relatives who came to dig sweet potatoes enjoyed their meal immensely.

The Empress Dowager, in particular, was quite satisfied with the sweet potato stew with meat dish.

As children of the grasslands, we can't help but crave meat, but gradually, due to aging teeth, we can no longer eat some meat.

However, the amber-colored sweet potatoes stewed with meat were not only soft, tender, and melt-in-your-mouth, but also infused with the aroma of meat. After taking a few bites, the Empress Dowager still wanted more.

If Emperor Qianxi hadn't had someone stop her, she would have really eaten too much this time!
With the sweet potatoes harvested and the meal eaten, the next step for Emperor Qianxi was to send people to store the sweet potatoes properly and then discuss how to promote their distribution.

As for the Empress Dowager and the others, they naturally took a carriage back to rest.

Shen Ye, who was in charge of this trial planting of sweet potatoes, was also pulled into Emperor Qianxi's carriage on the way back, where he discussed with Tong Guowei and others how to promote sweet potatoes.

Emperor Qianxi was in high spirits!
Although Tong Guowei felt that this matter greatly enhanced the Crown Prince's prestige, Emperor Qianxi was in good health, so he was not too worried.

He is also very willing to promote sweet potatoes.

As a civil official and Grand Secretary, Zhang Ying had always attached great importance to establishing merit, virtue, and words, so he also valued this kind of good opportunity that was hard to come by.

With the addition of Ma Qi from the Ministry of Revenue, the group engaged in a lively discussion, proposing numerous solutions for promoting sweet potatoes.

For example, the promotion of sweet potatoes was incorporated into the major plans of local officials, which meant that local officials' performance evaluations were also affected; for example, regulations were set for each county to plant a minimum number of sweet potatoes; for example...

Each of these methods is effective.

Emperor Qianxi was very pleased to hear the advice of his trusted ministers.

He glanced at the Crown Prince sitting to the side, looking sleepy, and immediately became a little displeased!

I summoned you to discuss matters, and here you are, slacking off and sleeping.

What, you think your old man can't handle you?

He coughed and said, "Your Highness, you were the one who initiated the trial planting of sweet potatoes. Do you have any objections to its promotion now?"

Tong Guowei and the others immediately fell silent, knowing that Emperor Qianxi was testing the Crown Prince.

Shen Ye casually replied, "Father, all of you are veteran officials who have served for many years. Although I was the first to try planting sweet potatoes, I don't have a better way to promote it."

Emperor Qianxi nodded, thinking to himself, "You do have some self-awareness."

Just as he was about to speak, Shen Ye saw the First Prince and Yarjianga riding past on the fast track together.

This situation stirred something within Shen Ye.

That guy Yarjianga probably won't be on good terms with me.

Moreover, this guy is about to become the head of the Imperial Clan Court, and he's definitely a nuisance.

Thinking of this, Shen Ye continued, "However, I also have a humble opinion at this moment."

After seeing the yield of sweet potatoes, Emperor Qianxi pondered carefully how to promote them.

He knew that even with his strong support, it wouldn't be easy to fully promote the sweet potato.

It takes time.

We need to gradually build public confidence in sweet potatoes.

After all, many things require seeing to believe.

"Then tell me," Emperor Qianxi said calmly.

Shen Ye picked up his teacup and took a sip, which made Emperor Qianxi frown. In the past, it was always senior officials like Tong Guowei who drank tea here. The Crown Prince was being too casual.

But he also had a vague feeling that there was nothing wrong with the Crown Prince's actions.

After all, they were ruler and subject, and also father and son.

When father and son are together, there don't seem to be many rules of etiquette to follow.

"Father, some time ago, when I was listening to storytelling at Deqing Tower, I pondered something: why is a story told so quickly accepted by people?"

Upon hearing the Crown Prince's words, Emperor Qianxi was speechless.

When you're observing politics, go to the teahouse to listen to storytelling; that's enough for you to know, don't mention it here.

Although this is not the imperial court, there are still many important people here.

However, at this moment, he could not interrupt, so he could only listen quietly.

"Your subject has discovered that this is because storytelling is more engaging and easier to understand, which is exactly what ordinary people enjoy."

“We have seen the yield of sweet potatoes, but relying solely on the yamen runners or village chiefs to persuade them will not only slow things down, but may even have the opposite effect.”

"Your subject thinks that we can organize a group of storytellers and opera troupes to perform in various places to promote the production of these sweet potatoes."

"Of course, you still need to come up with a good story."

At this point, Shen Ye stood up and solemnly bowed to Emperor Qianxi, saying, "Your subject believes that the matter of my bet with Yarjianga can be reenacted."

"This matter has already caused a great stir throughout the capital. If it were made into a story, it would definitely spread rapidly throughout the country."

"The yield and benefits of sweet potatoes will resonate more deeply with the people and be firmly remembered by them."

"This is killing two birds with one stone!"

Hearing Shen Ye's words, Emperor Qianxi's expression tightened slightly. Although he didn't know how to portray it, once it was adapted into a script and performed by actors or storytellers to promote it among the people, the effect would be far better than officials forcing people to plant it.

However, if the story is told to unfold as the Crown Prince suggested, then Yarjana will have completely lost face!

He had read history books and knew the power of folk tales—how the legend of General Yang had ruined the reputation of a perfectly good woman like Pan Mei.

The Crown Prince is trying to wipe out Yarjianga completely!

The thought that if the story were to be over-dramatized, Yarjan would be turned into a clown, left Emperor Qianxi speechless.

He pondered for a moment and said, "Your method isn't entirely unworkable."

"But when you're performing, I don't care what you do, but you absolutely cannot have Yarjan's name appear."

"Furthermore, none of the civil and military officials are allowed to appear in your interpretation."

Shen Ye smiled and said, "Father, rest assured, I would never allow Yarjiang A to actually appear. It's just a story."

Looking at the smiling Shen Ye, Emperor Qianxi hesitated again.

Although he thought the idea was good and wouldn't cost much, he was always worried that it might have a negative impact on Yarjan.

The crown prince's assurance made him somewhat hesitant to believe it.

However, in the end, Emperor Qianxi thought of the benefits of the rapid promotion of sweet potatoes, and he said, "Then you shall be in charge of this matter."

"But I need to take a look at the script after it's finished."

"It's not suitable, I absolutely cannot act in it."

Looking at the solemn-looking Emperor Qianxi, Shen Ye thought to himself, "Even if I don't mention Yarjianga's name, the whole capital knows about my bet with Yarjianga."

In time, smart people will make the connection themselves.

"Father, rest assured, I will never make things difficult for you."

Looking at the serious-looking Crown Prince, Ma Qi felt a chill run down his spine.

The Crown Prince is ruthless!
Not only did they win the manor, but they also created this scenario to launch a second attack.

Although Yarjan A's name won't appear in the script, he will probably feel heartbroken every time he sees the play.

Even he felt sorry for Yarjan in this situation!
It seems I've offended the Crown Prince too!

The money that was supposed to be used next year was now being returned to him this year. Although the Crown Prince withstood the pressure from Emperor Qianxi, no one dared to say that the Crown Prince wouldn't hold a grudge.

If the crown prince incorporates himself into his story, then things will get complicated.

Shen Ye had no idea what Ma Qi was thinking. He turned his head and saw Yarjianga and the First Prince riding over again, and he even waved gently to Yarjianga.

Although Yarjianga didn't know what had happened, he waved back when Shen Ye waved.

However, Yarjianga and the Crown Prince went straight for the carriage that was moving forward.

The guards controlling the eight horses pulling the carriage carefully slowed it down. The eldest prince nimbly dismounted and bowed, reporting, "Father, the Minister of the Court of Colonial Affairs, Aling'a, has important matters to discuss with me."

Upon hearing that Aling'a was requesting an audience, Emperor Qianxi frowned slightly.

He knew perfectly well that unless something serious had happened, the usually composed Aling'a would never have come to see him at this time.

"Summon him over!"

In just a quarter of an hour, Aling'a, dressed in a first-class duke's robe and with a solemn expression on her fair face, ran over.

As the maternal uncle of the tenth prince, Aling'a was also Emperor Qianxi's brother-in-law and had always enjoyed Emperor Qianxi's deep trust.

"Your humble servant Aling'a greets Your Majesty." Aling'a quickly bowed as he boarded the carriage.

Emperor Qianxi waved his hand and said, "Ah Ling'a, what happened that made you come here in such a hurry?"

“Your Majesty, an hour ago, a conflict broke out between the envoys of Keleng Temple and the envoys of Zhedan Temple. We servants were unable to stop it in time, resulting in four casualties on both sides.”

At this point, Aling'a said to Emperor Qianxi, "We have failed in our duties, and we beg Your Majesty to punish us."

Upon hearing the report, Emperor Qianxi frowned.

Emperor Qianxi was fully aware of this matter.

Keleng Monastery and Zhedan Monastery are both major monasteries in Ü-Tsang. Some time ago, the previous Dharma King passed away, and the two monasteries each claimed to have found the reincarnation of the Dharma King.

With neither side able to convince the other, both sides wanted the imperial court to decide who had found the reincarnated body to succeed the Dharma King.

He was also finding it difficult to make a decision on this matter.

These two major temples, belonging to the same sect, were already somewhat at odds, and now they are even more unwilling to give in to each other.

If the imperial court cannot come up with a good solution, it may provoke war, since the two major temples are not only powerful in themselves, but also have the support of many tribes.

Emperor Qianxi pondered for a moment before turning to Aling'a and saying, "Send people to separate the residences of the two temple envoys. Also, have the Infantry Commander's Office send people to protect both sides."

"Avoid arranging meetings between the two parties unless absolutely necessary."

At this point, Emperor Qianxi's voice became more solemn: "Aling'a, your Court of Colonial Affairs should come up with a feasible opinion on this matter as soon as possible."

Aling'a verbally agreed, but her face was full of worry.

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(End of this chapter)