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

Chapter 244 The Attack on the Mind Begins with the Mutual Suspicion Between Ruler and Minister

"Fourth Brother, please continue with your work. I have some matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now." In the Ministry of Revenue's duty room, the Thirteenth Prince, with a resolute expression, solemnly bowed to the Fourth Prince.

The fourth prince said with concern, "Thirteenth brother, you don't need to worry too much about fifth sister's matter."

"Since Father has agreed to deal with Kezang, it's only a matter of time before we brothers lead the army and tear Kezang to pieces."

"Your fourth brother will go with you then."

The thirteenth prince clasped his hands in thanks and said, "Thank you, fourth brother. That day should not be far off!"

Watching the thirteenth prince leave in high spirits, the fourth prince's expression showed a hint of hesitation.

The reason for this was that he felt that his thirteenth brother, who was usually closest to him, seemed to have become estranged from him recently.

This kind of barrier is invisible and intangible, yet it can be truly felt.

That is precisely why this kind of estrangement is the most hurtful.

Just as the Fourth Prince was pondering, Wu Sidao walked in.

His expression was gentle, and he exuded a calm and composed aura.

"Why does the Fourth Prince look so worried?" Wu Sidao's relationship with Yunzhen had deepened after Yunzhen's sincere treatment of him.

Seeing his benefactor frown, he asked in a low voice.

“Mr. Wu, I feel that my thirteenth brother is starting to distance himself from me,” the fourth prince said hesitantly in a low voice.

For the fourth prince, the support of his brothers is essential if he wants to compete for the throne.

The thirteenth prince, who was skilled in both literature and martial arts, was someone he had always held in high regard.

He felt that as long as the thirteenth prince supported him, he would have an extra arm to lean on.

But today, when the thirteenth prince spoke to him, although his expression was normal, he could clearly feel that there was a distance between them.

The thirteenth prince was no longer as loyal and devoted as before.

Wu Sidao sighed softly. Although he was resourceful and extremely intelligent, there were still some things that were beyond his control.

For example, what can he say about brotherly affection?
"Fourth Prince, I think it's not that the Thirteenth Prince is no longer close to you, but that he has already made his choice."

"The Crown Prince's talent is truly admirable."

"His plan not only solved the current predicament of the imperial court, but also shifted the pressure to the Russian Kingdom."

"Rakshasa Kingdom is currently facing internal and external difficulties, and it will pay a heavy price to prevent the establishment of our alliance."

The fourth prince snorted and said, "If it were me, I would do anything, no matter the cost, to establish this anti-Rakshasa alliance."

“Once this alliance is established, the Rakshasa Kingdom will become a beast trapped in a cage.”

"And we can truly turn the north into our own territory."

Wu Sidao said, "Fourth Prince, your thoughts should be the same as His Majesty's."

"Therefore, what Your Majesty seeks now is an envoy who can go on a mission."

At this point, Wu Sidao pondered for a moment and said, "Since the Crown Prince has resolved the threat from the Rakshasa Kingdom, Kezang is naturally a minor issue."

“It is only natural that the Thirteenth Prince is grateful to the Crown Prince.”

Although the fourth prince felt uneasy, he knew it was the truth.

When the Fifth Princess passed away, he sincerely comforted his Thirteenth Brother, but there was really nothing he could do.

The Crown Prince, however, truly avenged his thirteenth brother.

From this perspective alone, it is perfectly reasonable for the thirteenth prince, who has always valued loyalty and friendship, to repay kindness.

But why was it my thirteenth brother who was "taken away" by the Crown Prince?

"Mr. Wu, is there really no hope for us?" The Fourth Prince asked this question with a sense of desolation in his heart.

He didn't want to ask such a weak question, but the Crown Prince's recent behavior made him realize that there was a huge gap between him and the Crown Prince.

This made him somewhat disheartened.

More importantly, he is not yet strong enough on his own. When he encounters a predicament, he still has to rely on this "outsider," Wu Sidao, to find a solution for him.

But looking at the Crown Prince, he was clearly more resourceful than his brothers and even his father.

Wu Sidao hesitated for a moment, but still honestly said, "Your Highness, in matters of the succession, until the very end, who dares to say they will definitely win?"

"Moreover, the Crown Prince is not without his own problems as well."

"It's time to report to His Majesty the matter we've uncovered—that the Suo'etu people were leading the theft of wild ginseng from Changbai Mountain!"

At this point, Wu Sidao said, "Your Highness, when reporting this matter, it would be best to subtly let Suo'etu get some information."

Upon hearing Wu Sidao's words, the Fourth Prince's expression changed.

In his view, such things should be done in secret.

"If people find out, wouldn't that be..."

Wu Sidao naturally understood what the Fourth Prince was worried about. He smiled faintly and said, "Fourth Prince, stealing ginseng is indeed a serious crime, but His Majesty may not necessarily punish Suo'etu because of this."

"But what if Songgotu finds out that His Majesty has discovered his theft of ginseng?"

"Also, when His Majesty asks, you can tell him about Songgotu's family background."

"Song'etu is not short of money!"

“Song’etu’s family has a considerable annual income.”

"Moreover, since Songgotu became a Grand Secretary, he has received a considerable amount of bribes."

"With such a vast amount of silver, the Suo'etu family couldn't spend it all in many years. Why would he steal ginseng?" "What did he do with all that silver?"

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince's face immediately darkened.

He naturally understood the meaning behind Wu Sidao's words.

He knew that once this suspicion took root in Emperor Qianxi's mind, Emperor Qianxi would do everything in his power to resolve the issue.

The emperor's suspicions are never so easily dispelled.

If Songgotu knew that Emperor Qianxi already knew about his illegal ginseng harvesting, he might take a risk out of guilt.

Although on the surface it seems that the Crown Prince and Suo'etu have parted ways, who can really say what the situation between them is?

In Yunzhen's view, the Crown Prince would never lose such a great helper as Suo'etu.

They may appear to have stopped interacting, but in reality, their connection is probably still strong.

Between them...

A series of thoughts popped into his head, instantly lifting the Fourth Prince's spirits, which had been somewhat low.

He said in a deep voice, "Mr. Wu, with you by my side to help me, I feel like a fish in water!"

"I will go and report the findings of the Imperial Household Department to my father right now."

Wu Sidao did not stop the Fourth Prince from being so eager.

He knew that the Crown Prince was currently riding high, and if the Fourth Prince didn't take any action soon, he might lose even the will to compete.

Why not let him throw out what he's already prepared?

He secretly hoped that the Crown Prince would do something if Suo'etu's affair came to light.
Should he protect Songgotu to the death, or sever all ties with him and draw a clear line? Or... as he suspected, should he take Songgotu and the others to do something unpredictable?
If that happens, it's hard to say who will ultimately prevail!

When the fourth prince arrived at Qianqing Palace, Emperor Qianxi was quietly listening to Zhao Chang's report.

The part I listened to most carefully was the part where the thirteenth prince went to see the crown prince.

Emperor Qianxi was prepared for Yunxiang to be grateful to the Crown Prince.

After all, Yunxiang and the Fifth Princess were very close siblings. Now that his sister has been killed, he is unable to avenge her. One can imagine his grief and anger.

In truth, didn't he also yearn for revenge?
But the affairs of the entire court weighed heavily on his shoulders, making it impossible for him to do things as he pleased.

If he were truly so willful, how could he possibly let Kerzang go?
If he were truly reckless, he would have already chopped off Kezang's head with a single stroke!
"What was the Crown Prince's reaction when the Thirteenth Prince knelt down?" Emperor Qianxi asked softly.

Zhao Chang served Emperor Qianxi for many years and was deeply trusted by him. He had a thorough understanding of the emperor's temperament.

He knew that many problems lay hidden in the details.

Emperor Qianxi, on the other hand, loved to ask about details.

But despite his guesses, Zhao Chang couldn't help feeling apprehensive when the emperor actually asked him so seriously.

But he still answered honestly, "Your Highness quickly helped the Thirteenth Prince up."

"He also sympathized with the Fifth Princess's situation."

“The Fifth Princess is not only the Thirteenth Prince’s older sister, but also his younger sister. It is only right that he should do his part.”

"The Crown Prince also said that the person who should be thanked the most is Your Majesty."

"They said you were the reason they were able to avenge the Fifth Princess."

"I also mentioned that you've been pushing for revenge."

Emperor Qianxi remained expressionless upon hearing Zhao Chang's reply.

Although Zhao Chang didn't embellish the story, sweat involuntarily beaded on his forehead.

Just when he was about to give up, Emperor Qianxi suddenly waved his hand, telling him to step down.

Zhao Changda breathed a sigh of relief and obediently withdrew.

But his expression became even more serious.

He felt that the tasks ahead would become increasingly difficult.

But the emperor was suspicious, so what could he do?
After Zhao Chang left, Emperor Qianxi took out a red box, opened it with a small key he always carried, and found a memorial inside.

The memorial clearly stated the contents of Zhao Chang's report from a few days prior.

Among them was a conversation between the Crown Prince and the Thirteenth Prince.

Zhao Chang was not lying.

The crown prince was quite sensible.

But the thought of the thirteenth prince kneeling and bowing to the crown prince still left Emperor Qianxi with a bitter feeling.

Although he believed he was the key to dealing with Kerzang, he ultimately chose to prioritize the greater good in the face of pressure from the Rakshasa Kingdom and the tragic death of his daughter.

The crown prince, however, tried every means to force the Rakshasa Kingdom to submit before dealing with Kerzang.

Does the student surpass the teacher?
As emperor and father, he naturally hoped that his successor would do better than him and have stronger methods for handling state affairs.

Yet, as a wise and benevolent ruler, he felt a faint pang of jealousy.

He knew he shouldn't be like this, but some emotions were beyond his control.

"Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince requests an audience," Liang Jiugong respectfully announced as he approached the palace.

Upon hearing that the Fourth Prince had arrived, Emperor Qianxi put the memorial he was holding back into the box and calmly instructed, "Let him in."

　The first update of the day is here! As we enter the latter half of the month, everyone, please support me and vote!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)