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

Chapter 3 Watching the Mountain Collapse

"Xiao Rou, don't talk nonsense!" The cold voice carried a hint of severity: "How dare you discuss the Crown Prince!"

"If you can't control your mouth again, next time you'll be leaving Yuqing Palace and going home to take care of your mother!"

Upon hearing this, the woman who had just spoken ill of Shen Ye hurriedly begged for forgiveness, saying, "Your Highness, I was too talkative... I will never dare to do it again!"

"I just feel that the Crown Prince seems to have calmed down a lot."

A cold voice rang out again: "Shut up! The Crown Prince has just fallen ill and is currently resting."

"If I hear anyone discussing the Crown Prince again, they will be punished according to palace rules!"

Hearing this voice, Shen Ye felt a pang of emotion.

Although he was just an insignificant figure in his previous workplace, he knew that the whispers of his subordinates were not a good sign for the leaders.

If you are talked about too much, your authority will be lost.

As the master of Yuqing Palace, he was frequently discussed by those below, and he would suffer the same fate.

It seems that the Crown Princess is a capable person who is also of one mind with the Crown Prince.

Yun Ye is truly blind to have such a good assistant.

Gently pushing open the door, Shen Ye coughed and said, "Just don't do it again."

Shen Ye's sudden appearance surprised everyone in the room. The Crown Princess Shi Jingrong, who was sitting on the brocade couch, quickly rose and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness."

When she was sitting, Shi Jingrong wasn't that noticeable, but the moment she stood up, Shen Ye realized that this Crown Princess was indeed quite tall.

In his intuition, the Crown Princess was about 1.7 meters tall. Although she was dressed casually, she looked graceful and elegant when she stood up.

The Crown Prince Yun Ye's memory of the Crown Princess was that she was respectful and courteous.

It seems that no matter what, this Crown Princess has never done anything impolite.

The others in the room also bowed, but they all remained silent.

In fact, Shen Ye was not very comfortable with this kind of situation.

However, the original crown prince's memories allowed him to wave his hand with practiced ease and say, "Everyone, step back. I want to have a word with the crown princess."

Upon hearing this, the palace maid who had just delivered ginseng soup to Shen Ye and was standing next to the Crown Princess immediately changed her expression.

She quickly said, "Your Highness, how can you and the Crown Princess be without anyone to serve you? Why don't I stay and make you some tea?"

Shi Jingrong glared at her trusted maid, and was about to speak when Shen Ye said, "That's fine too."

"Make me a cup of tea first."

The servants in the room quickly left, and Shen Ye, following the original crown prince's memory, sat down directly on the brocade couch.

Although he had already planned what to do before he arrived, when he got to the Crown Princess's room, Yun Ye suddenly felt like he didn't know how to start the conversation.

Just as he was pondering how to speak, Shi Jingrong said softly, "Your Highness, I was reading a book some time ago and I remember a saying: 'The deeper the love, the harsher the criticism!'"

"Just relax."

Xiao Rou, who was making tea for Yun Ye, couldn't help but tremble slightly.

She knew that the Crown Prince before her was the least likely to listen to advice. For her mistress to say such things at this crucial juncture would only invite trouble.

This……

Just as she was thinking about how to persuade him, she heard Shen Ye say, "I've seen this saying before: 'Parents love their children, and this is true of all parents.'"

As he said this, he looked over at Shi Jingrong and found that the beautiful Shi Jingrong was staring at him intently.

His surprised expression was rather cute.

Thinking of Shi Jingrong's age, Shen Ye sighed. She was only eighteen or nineteen years old. Although she was the Crown Princess, in later times, she would just be a girl who had just started university. Her life should be carefree.

With that thought in mind, Shen Ye continued, "Jingrong, I plan to study hard during this time."

"The affairs of Yuqing Palace are now in your hands!"

If Shen Ye's honest advice had surprised Shi Jingrong earlier, then Shen Ye's words now made her almost unable to believe her ears.

The Crown Prince wants to entrust the affairs of Yuqing Palace to me?

Although she was the mistress of Yuqing Palace, she knew very well that she couldn't control what happened there.

Tong Mama, the head of the inner palace of Yuqing Palace, was the Crown Prince's wet nurse and had long been deeply entrenched in the palace.

Not to mention, Tong Mama's husband was a doctor in the Imperial Household Department.

Although she was only a fifth-rank official, all expenditures of Yuqing Palace had to go through the hands of Granny Tong and her husband.

With the support of the Crown Prince above and a full complement of trusted confidants below, even if Shi Jingrong had some skills, she could not interfere in the affairs of Yuqing Palace.

“Your Highness, Granny Tong is already very adept at managing the affairs of Yuqing Palace. I think it would be better to continue as usual.”

Although Shi Jingrong's voice was gentle, there was a hint of determination in her tone.

Clearly, she is a person with her own ideas in this matter.

She didn't want to be taken advantage of in a position that only held the title but had no real power.

Hearing Shi Jingrong say this, Shen Ye calmly replied, "Granny Tong raised me, so she deserves all the credit."

"I can't bear to keep her busy every day."

"Tomorrow, Jingrong will tell Granny Tong to rest at home and that she can come to Yuqing Palace to pay her respects during festivals."

Shi Jingrong's eyes lit up immediately.

Although she didn't concern herself with matters big or small in Yuqing Palace, she was, after all, the Crown Princess and the nominal mistress of Yuqing Palace.

They had a clear understanding of what was happening at Yuqing Palace.

She knew very well that there had always only been one person in charge of Yuqing Palace: the Crown Prince, not herself.

Without the Crown Prince's support, he could not control Yuqing Palace.

The Crown Prince had always treated her with utmost respect, and the possibility of him supporting her was practically zero. So she didn't waste her time and simply lived her life observing from the sidelines.

Now, the Crown Prince has allowed Granny Tong to rest and recuperate. Could it be...?

Amidst a flurry of thoughts, she readily replied, "Your Highness, rest assured, I will certainly manage Yuqing Palace well."

After exchanging a few words with Shi Jingrong about trivial matters in the palace, Shen Ye felt speechless, since he and Shi Jingrong were really not familiar with each other.

Just as he was hesitating about whether he should rest in the back hall tonight, Shi Jingrong stood up respectfully and saw him off with utmost courtesy.

Just as Shen Ye returned to the East Study, in a dimly lit room in the capital, a voice with a cold edge said, "Indulging the servant's reckless behavior is already a transgression."

"If the candidates from Shuntian Prefecture cause a disturbance at the examination hall tomorrow, the Crown Prince's manipulation of the provincial examination will be exposed!"

"Then His Majesty will be even more disappointed."

Even the best divine heart will weaken!

"The position of the crown prince may seem unassailable, but under the overwhelming pressure of a united front, it will eventually fall into the hands of the common people."

"Eighth Master, you can sit and watch the mountain crumble!"

(End of this chapter)