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

Chapter 312 Reunion with Suo'etu, A True Account of the Officials

The Hesheli Palace was bustling with activity.

The reason for this is quite simple: the masters of the mansion are going to Shengjing to observe mourning for their parents.

This is not a good sign.

After all, one can observe mourning anywhere, but to leave the capital, where the imperial court is located, and go to Shengjing is itself a form of exile.

Moreover, this was an imperial edict personally issued by Emperor Qianxi.

Fortunately, the Crown Prince will come to see him off.

For the people in the palace, the Crown Prince, as the nephew of the Hesheli family, was their greatest hope.

If you were to ask them what their biggest wish is, they would undoubtedly tell you that their biggest wish is for Emperor Qianxi to die soon and for the Crown Prince to ascend the throne as soon as possible.

If this succeeds, the Hershey family will rise to great heights!
In the family ancestral hall, Algishan once again picked up three incense sticks, lit them, and respectfully inserted them into the incense burner filled with ash.

The deaf and mute old servant stood quietly to one side.

After Algishan finished offering incense, the old servant said calmly, "The Crown Prince's maternal grandfather, my brother has been dead for more than ten years."

"The Crown Prince is benevolent and filial; we should offer him incense!"

Algishan's expression changed, and he hesitated for a moment before saying, "The Crown Prince is surrounded by spies."

"If you expose yourself, then...the consequences..."

Algishan didn't elaborate on what the consequences would be.

He knew very well that, with Songgotu's wisdom, he could not have been unaware of such consequences.

Looking at the nervous Algishan, the old servant said calmly, "I'm just going to say a few words to him, you don't need to be afraid."

"Moreover, this may be the last chance."

"I'll go with you to Shengjing this time."

"As the saying goes, fallen leaves return to their roots. I was born in Shengjing, so I'll die in Shengjing too."

The old servant spoke solemnly, but Algishan was somewhat skeptical.

However, the fear instilled in him by the old servant was already deeply ingrained. After hesitating for a moment, Algishan said in a deep voice, "I can only say a few words."

"The Crown Prince should not spend too long offering incense."

The old servant nodded and remained silent.

After offering incense, Algishan hesitated for a moment, then suddenly asked in a low voice, "What do you think is the probability of the Crown Prince ascending the throne?"

"That depends on His Majesty's health. The better His Majesty's health, the less likely the Crown Prince is to ascend the throne." Although the old servant addressed him as His Majesty, there was no respect in his tone.

Algishan's face twitched.

Although he has gradually been marginalized, he still knows some things.

He knew that Emperor Qianxi was in excellent health. For example, during this hunt, His Majesty even personally shot and killed a bear.

With such good physical condition and expertise in health preservation, living to sixty years old should not be a problem.

If Emperor Qianxi lived to be sixty, then the next fifteen years would be a difficult time for the Crown Prince.

Moreover, as time goes by, more and more princes will grow up.

The Crown Prince's enemies are increasing.

The old servant sighed, then said softly, "The weather is unpredictable, and life is like a game of chess; who can say for sure what will happen?"

At this point, he smiled at Algishan and said, "You don't need to look so gloomy. If you hide in Shengjing, you might be slowly forgotten."

After a moment's hesitation, Algishan walked out of the ancestral hall.

As the sun rose higher and higher, time flew by. Half an hour before the appointed time, Algishan waited outside the gate with his brothers and relatives.

Although the crown prince is not the emperor, he is still a de facto ruler.

According to the etiquette established by Emperor Qianxi, one must be respectful when facing the Crown Prince.

"Algishan, are we really not going to ask the Crown Prince for help?" The speaker was a middle-aged man in his forties, who was fat and had a lazy appearance.

Algishan felt annoyed just looking at the person speaking.

Because the one speaking was his elder brother, Ejinbu, who was also Suo'etu's illegitimate son.

This older brother is mediocre and has nothing outstanding about him.

However, he was seven or eight years older than Algishan.

Although Algishan looked down on his older brother a little, he was still his older brother after all.

The respect that is due should still be shown.

What Ejinbu wanted to tell the Crown Prince was actually just one thing: to allow these people to continue to stay in the capital.

Ejinbu doesn't want to go to Shengjing!

It's not only cold and far away there, but it's also not as bustling as here.

Ejinbu, who had been spoiled by Suo'etu, did not want to suffer. The other brothers of Arjishan actually had the same idea: they did not want to suffer.

Faced with the brothers' requests, Algishan simply said, "Eldest brother, it is His Majesty's will that we go to Shengjing to observe mourning."

"His Majesty's decree cannot be disobeyed."

"Please don't make things difficult for the Crown Prince anymore."

As he said this, his expression shifted, "The Crown Prince has it tough too. No one is allowed to mention this to him or bother him with this matter."

"If we anger His Majesty, we might not even be able to go to Shengjing."

Argishan's words immediately silenced the brothers.

The group exchanged quick glances and then fell silent. Shen Ye's carriage arrived at the gate of the Hesheli Mansion on time. Led by Algishan, the group kowtowed to Shen Ye in unison.

Shen Ye knew very well that Emperor Qianxi had always been wary of Suo'etu.

However, since this was the Crown Prince's maternal clan, after some thought, Shen Ye decided to proceed according to etiquette.

The respect due must be given in the slightest.

Although Emperor Qianxi was an emperor and could sometimes act unscrupulously, he was still bound by the rules of etiquette in many ways.

So after Algishan and the others bowed, Shen Ye smiled and helped them up, saying, "Uncles, there's no need for such formalities."

"We're all family, no need to be so polite."

Helped up by Shen Ye, the Hesheli family members felt proud and looked at Shen Ye with even more affection.

After all, the death of Songgotu made them experience the harsh realities of life.

The crown prince was their only hope.

Now that the Crown Prince treats them so kindly, how could they not treat him with the utmost sincerity?
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Shen Ye was ushered into the main hall of the Hesheli family home.

As a Duke's mansion, this living room is indeed grand, with all the tables and chairs made of rare huanghuali wood, showing its profound cultural heritage.

Shen Ye sat in the center of the hall, casually asked a few questions about the health of the elders of the Hesheli family, said some farewell words, and then prepared to end his visit to the Hesheli family.

He came to see them off!
After he left, Algishan and the others were able to set off with their luggage.

Therefore, he had to leave first.

However, to Shen Ye's surprise, just as he was about to leave, Algishan suddenly spoke up: "Your Highness, we will be gone for ten years, and I'm afraid we will not be able to return to the capital."

"We also plan to bring back some ancestral tablets from our family to Shengjing for worship."

"This includes my uncle's!"

"Your subject takes the liberty of requesting that Your Highness offer incense to my uncle."

As soon as Algishan uttered those words, Shen Ye felt a chill run down his spine—Algishan's request definitely had another purpose.

However, Shen Ye couldn't refuse such a request.

The reason is simple: Algishan's uncle was the maternal grandfather of the former crown prince.

My maternal grandfather's memorial tablet is going to Shengjing, so it will be difficult to offer incense there in the future.

Offering incense at this time is a filial duty that children and grandchildren should fulfill!
At the height of imperial power, the only things that could restrain it, besides the system of rites, were filial piety.

Whether it was Emperor Qianxi or the previous emperors, they always touted themselves as filial sons.

He always insisted that he governed the world with filial piety.

If the crown prince were to refuse to offer incense to his maternal grandfather in public, he could be impeached by the censors.

Disrespect for one's parents is enough to threaten the position of the crown prince.

Shen Ye gave Algishan a meaningful look, then said in a deep voice, "I came here this time intending to offer incense to my maternal grandfather."

As they spoke, Shen Ye headed toward the ancestral hall of the Hesheli family.

For a family, the ancestral hall is a very important place!

Ordinary people are generally not allowed to enter other people's ancestral halls, and Zhou Bao falls into the category of such people.

At first, Algishan and several of his brothers accompanied Shen Ye, but once they entered the ancestral hall, only Algishan remained by Shen Ye's side.

The ancestral hall is solemn and majestic, and the wisps of smoke still hint at its former prosperity.

Looking at the layers of memorial tablets, Shen Ye felt a pang of emotion. He slowly picked up an incense stick, silently murmured a few words, and then placed it in front of the incense burner.

As the crown prince, even when Shen Ye is in the ancestral hall, he only needs to offer incense and does not need to kneel.

While Shen Ye was offering incense, Algishan had already quietly retreated to the doorway.

An old servant, dressed in a blue robe and a small hat, who looked old and ugly, quietly came to Shen Ye's side.

Before Shen Ye could speak, he respectfully said, "Your Highness's benevolence and filial piety are truly admirable."

Shen Ye recognized the slightly hoarse voice as belonging to Suo'etu.

He said calmly, "I dare not claim to be benevolent and filial; I am merely doing what I should do."

"For example, as a son, one should be filial; as a father, one should love and care for one's children!"

Shen Ye didn't say a word, but he believed that the people around him could definitely understand what he meant.

That is, as a deceased person, since you are no longer "there", you should stop causing trouble.

Soetu naturally understood Shen Ye's meaning. Although he harbored some resentment towards the Crown Prince, he had no choice but to say, "Your Highness is right."

"This old minister had originally planned to spend the rest of his life in quiet contemplation with a Buddhist lamp and ancient Buddha, but there are some things he just can't let go of."

"Now that these things have been returned to their rightful owner, this old minister can rest easy."

As they were talking, Suo'etu took out a book from his sleeve and gently handed it to Shen Ye.

Shen Ye took the book and saw two words written on it: The Analects!
The reason why Songgotu risked so much danger to come see me was definitely not to give me a copy of the Analects.

After all, books like the Analects are all too common.

Shen Ye opened the book and saw on the first page that it read: "...Your subject, Ma Lihu, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Rehe, is willing to devote his loyal heart entirely to His Highness the Crown Prince..."

After reading the first page, Shen Ye quickly turned to the second and third pages, only to find that the content was largely the same.

The only difference is the name and official title!

This is actually a true account of the conduct of officials!
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(End of this chapter)