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

Chapter 261 The Invisible Blade: When Fortune Turns, Even Heroes Are Not Free
The moment his son grabbed his hand, Songgotu had already calmed down.

In his youth, he was capable of leading troops on horseback and governing on foot, making him a rare talent.

But now that he's older, he suddenly realizes that he can't even withstand his son's strength anymore!

In other words, he is no longer as strong as his son!
This made him feel a pang of sadness.

The surprise that flashed in Algishan's eyes, followed by ecstasy, made him realize that something even more terrifying had probably already happened.

Just as fear surged in Songgotu's heart, Argishan released his hand.

“Father, I hope you can calm down,” Algishan said calmly.

Soetu calmed down!

He realized that he couldn't afford to be calm at this moment!
Because the son before him was no longer the timid and submissive Algishan!

"What has happened these past few days?" Soetu's voice trembled slightly.

He hoped to glean something from his son's words that he wanted.

Argishan glanced at Songgotu, then solemnly said, "Father, His Majesty is deeply saddened by your 'death' and has bestowed upon you exceptionally great favors."

“In the past few days, all officials of the seventh rank and above in the capital have come to pay their respects to you.”

"Officials of the seventh rank and above who were not in the capital were also required to write a eulogy to mourn you."

……

Algishan calmly recounted everything.

Finally, he said in a deep voice, "Father, His Majesty the Emperor has bestowed upon you the highest honors."

“He ordered all the men in our family to stay home and observe twenty-seven months of mourning for you.”

"Now, the whole world knows that you are no longer here!"

Soetu's face was ashen, and he almost roared, "But I'm not dead!"

"As long as I go out, I will still be Songgotu!"

"The people I promoted are still here. They wouldn't dare betray me. If they dare to betray me, I will ruin their reputation at any time."

"I'm not dead yet!"

Looking at the agitated Suo'etu, Algishan pondered for a moment and said, "Father, just as I came to see you today, Peng Liu returned."

Although Peng Liu was a servant, he was not an ordinary servant.

He was a loyal servant of Songgotu.

What is a loyal servant? It is someone who grows up in the Hesheli family for their entire life, sharing their glory and disgrace. In fact, it can be said that everything they have is given to them by the Hesheli family.

Therefore, he was extremely loyal to Songgotu and the Hesheli family.

This is why Suo'etu sent Peng Liu out.

"Su Mole of Fengtai Camp killed Mr. Chen. If Peng Liu hadn't gone out to buy things, he probably wouldn't have escaped death either!"

"Peng Liu also said that all the people we sent there have been dealt with by Su Mole!"

Sumo was a deputy commander of the Fengtai camp.

Although his position may seem less important than that of a commander, he can play an unexpected role at crucial moments.

This person was fed silver by Songgotu.

It can be said that he was always loyal to Songgotu.

Mr. Chen, whom Songgotu sent, was Songgotu's advisor and confidant, specifically tasked with communicating with Sumole.

But unexpectedly, he also died!

And he died at the hands of Sommer.

The reason why Somol was so eager to take action against Mr. Chen was naturally because he wanted to sever ties with Suo'etu as soon as possible.

"That beast, I'll make him wish he were dead, I'll have his whole family executed!"

Soetu roared, waving his hands rapidly.

It seemed that only in this way could his determination be demonstrated.

Despite facing his enraged father, Algishan remained calm.

After Suo'etu finished venting, he said calmly, "Father, it's no use. You can't even leave our mansion now."

"Moreover, many people who were close to us before are now eager to distance themselves from us."

“Even the Buddha statue that used to follow you closely now seems quite casual when it comes to worship you.”

"I went to thank him, and he was very polite."

"However, it's just too thorough."

As his son recounted the changes, a fact that he was unwilling to accept, yet which was already a foregone conclusion, finally surfaced in Suo'etu's mind:
Everyone already considers him dead!
When the tree falls, the hozens scatter!

Those who were alive under his watch—no, merely living in his presence, and who dared not jump ship—had already begun to separate from their families.

And once he steps forward, he will likely be attacked by these people first.

In the past, it was difficult for these people to defeat him.

But now, it only takes a minor official to bring him down.

Because he no longer has his former identity.

If he really steps forward, how will Emperor Qianxi treat him?
This question churned in Songgotu's mind, making it difficult for him to calm down for a while.

"Algishan, please contact the Crown Prince for me!"

"Just tell him I want to see him!"

Soetu said to Algishan in a deep voice.

Songgotu had realized that in order to change his current situation, he still needed the banner of the Crown Prince.

His many years of success have all relied on the banner of the Crown Prince.

And now, he also needs the banner of the Crown Prince.

Looking at Suo'etu's resolute expression, Algishan hesitated for a moment before finally nodding and saying, "Father, I'll try to contact the Crown Prince."

"However, for the time being, you should not go anywhere and just stay here."

"Some time ago, I overheard some of my uncles talking over drinks..."

Arjishan's uncles were Songgotu's brothers. They could be considered the backbone of the Songgotu family.

Hearing his son's hesitant words, Suo'etu asked in a deep voice, "What did they say?"

“My uncles said that it’s already quite good that our family was able to land safely!” Arjishan said, looking at Suo’etu, and then, as if remembering something, added, “My son thinks so too.”

These words momentarily broke Suo'etu's guard.

He never expected that his own son would say the same thing.

This left him momentarily speechless.

Anger, resentment, and a whole host of other emotions...

In the end, everything just turned into a sigh.

He glanced at Algishan and then said indifferently, "I understand. Continue to help me contact the Crown Prince."

"He should understand my worth!"

"Without me, he probably wouldn't be able to hold onto his position as crown prince!"

Algishan suddenly realized that his wise and mighty father, whom he had always seen, was actually getting old.

At the very least, some of his perceptions are wrong.

If the Crown Prince truly needed you, he wouldn't have done it before...

"Father, I've heard something else."

Now that many things have been made clear, Algishan was ready to continue.

He felt that some things were better said than kept bottled up.

Seeing his hesitant son, Suo'etu grew increasingly irritated, but he suppressed his displeasure and coldly said, "Speak your mind."

"What kind of behavior is this, stammering like that!"

As he said this, he waved his hand slightly, but in the end he slowly withdrew his hand.

He didn't want to accept it, but he had no choice!

Algishan is now his last hope.

It seems that all he can rely on now is his father-son relationship.

When Algishan saw Soetu withdraw his hand, a strange glint flashed in his eyes.

He cleared his throat and said, "I heard that this blessing ceremony for you is the result of the Crown Prince's request to His Majesty."

"Many people say that the Crown Prince values ​​you highly."

After saying this, Argishan began to observe Songgotu's reaction.

Soetu was stunned for a moment, then a trace of sadness flashed across his face. He tried to smile, but the corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.

At that moment, he simply couldn't bring himself to smile.

Just as he was feeling a mix of emotions, Algishan suddenly said, "Father, do you think we should still contact the Crown Prince?"

Soetu murmured, "No matter what, we have to see him."

"He knew I wasn't dead!"

"That's why he wants me to die so badly!"

"Heh heh, what a qualified crown prince!"

"They killed me without my even realizing it, without me even knowing I had been killed!"

Looking at his father, who was acting somewhat erratically, Algishan sighed, but also secretly felt a sense of relief.

He was the one who knew all of Songgotu's plans.

So he was very worried.

After all, this matter is very risky, and the chances of success are very small.

He never wanted to take the risk, but he didn't dare to object at the time.

Looking at the current situation, the result is actually not bad.

Although his family's status was not as high as before, he was also aware that his family was being suspected by Emperor Qianxi.

Being able to land safely is already the best possible outcome.

Argishan eventually followed Suo'etu's instructions and requested a meeting with Shen Ye.

When Shen Ye saw a piece of white paper with a few ink stains in his study, he casually threw it into the wastebasket.

He had completely disregarded the invitation to meet with Songgotu.

The changes in the situation during this period were basically within Shen Ye's expectations. Those who originally depended on Suo'etu began to distance themselves from him.

Although some people do it very discreetly, they can't hide it from discerning people.

However, what's giving Shen Ye a headache now is that those ministers who used to contact him through Suo'etu are now starting to come to him on their own initiative.

After all, in their eyes, they were not siding with Suo'etu, but with Shen Ye, the crown prince.

Now Songgotu is dead.

Naturally, they wanted to contact Shen Ye, the person in question, directly.

In their view, only by clinging to the crown prince's coattails could they avoid becoming rootless duckweed!

Some of these people have very secretive connections, while others have very direct ones.

However, Shen Ye rejected all of these offers.

He had finally managed to defuse the huge bomb that was Suo'etu, so how could he possibly create another one for himself to play with?
"Your Highness..."

Zhou Bao respectfully approached Shen Ye to report, but before he could finish speaking, Shen Ye waved his hand and said, "I won't see you."

Helpless, Zhou Bao said, "Your Highness, His Majesty sent someone to convey an imperial decree, requesting that you attend today's hearing at Qianqing Gate. It is said that the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner is required to attend."

"Also, I heard that His Majesty is going to decide on the people who will accompany him to Rehe this time."

Shen Ye didn't care much about the first thing discussed; however, he was very concerned about the second.

This represents Emperor Qianxi's attitude after Songgotu's death.

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(End of this chapter)