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

Chapter 347 With the Big Stick in Hand, Everything is for Father Emperor

The thirteenth prince's words, "We will all listen to you," really annoyed the eighth prince and his group.

They were seething with anger, wanting to grab the thirteenth prince, twist his ear, and yell at him: "What right do you have to represent us? You didn't even ask for our opinions before making these random pronouncements. Isn't that just utter nonsense? You are you, and we are us!"

But these words stuck in my throat, and I just couldn't get them out.

After all, given the current situation, all the brothers were filled with righteous indignation and were speaking out for their father.

Since we're going to stick together and stand up for each other, someone has to take the lead—the Crown Prince has already stirred things up, so if anyone goes against him at this critical juncture, wouldn't that be blatantly going against the Crown Prince?
So, are you against the Crown Prince, or are you against standing up for your father?
Even if you just don't want the Crown Prince to be the leader, if it gets back to the Emperor, it might become "the son is unwilling to share the Emperor's burdens."

The Crown Prince is indeed a brother, but he is also only half a ruler.

Father has been wronged. Shouldn't the brothers, under the leadership of the Crown Prince, unite against the common enemy?

At this time, anyone who disrupts unity is going against the Emperor and is an unfilial son!
The Eighth Prince was feeling incredibly stifled, but Shen Ye felt extremely relieved.

Doing things is sometimes like performing a comedy routine; whether or not there's a straight man makes a world of difference in the effect!

With a straight man, things go smoothly; without one, you might work hard for a long time only to find yourself performing a one-man show.

The thirteenth prince is quite good at playing the straight man; he should be properly trained in the future.

Shen Ye was pondering how to "cultivate" the thirteenth prince, while the fourth prince felt a pang of bitterness in his heart.

He had always been very careful to win over the thirteenth prince, and the two brothers had a good relationship.

However, ever since that incident at the Rehe Imperial Palace, the thirteenth prince has become indifferent to him, while showing great respect to the crown prince.

The Fourth Prince was fully aware of this change.

He couldn't hold a grudge against the thirteenth prince—after all, the crown prince had avenged the prince's sister.

However, looking at the situation before him, he still felt a tightness in his chest.

But at this point, he could only follow the crowd and listen to the Crown Prince's arrangements.

Shen Ye coughed lightly, his gaze sweeping over the eldest prince's face, and said, "Eldest brother, brothers, although Father is angry about the person who wrote this memorial, he is destined to become a sage ruler."

"He has a heart as vast as the sea and a capacity to forgive others!"

He didn't want to stoop to the level of this guy and planned to let it go with a laugh.

"But how can we, as sons, stand by and watch our father suffer such injustice?"

"The Jiajing Emperor's sons were incompetent, so he could only rely on his ministers, but those ministers were all outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant, each with their own agendas!"

"Therefore, Emperor Jiajing had nowhere to vent his anger when faced with this so-called number one memorial in the world."

“But our father is different. He has sons like us.”

"We have to show those ministers that Father Emperor isn't someone to be trifled with!"

At this point, Shen Ye waved the memorial in his hand: "I have already gotten Father's approval to let us princes meet with Zhen Yan, the one who wrote the 'Number One Memorial in the World,' and confront him face to face!"

"He spouted nonsense in his memorial, saying that Father Emperor indulged us and did not discipline us strictly, causing the people of the world to look down on Father Emperor!"

"What utter nonsense!"

“We brothers have always served the court diligently, and who among us hasn’t accomplished something? To say nothing of other things, our eldest brother has personally charged into battle in the Imperial Guard over the years.”

“My third brother’s scholarship is no less than that of these Hanlin scholars.”

"The fourth brother is meticulous in his work, and he's blocked a lot of Ma Qi's path to wealth in the Ministry of Revenue..."

Hearing the Crown Prince "praise" him like that, the Fourth Prince's lips twitched. He thought to himself: Aren't you pushing me into a fire pit? When did I ever cut off Ma Qi's source of income? You're just afraid that my relationship with Ma Qi will improve!
I was just doing my job diligently; I was too busy trying to win over Ma Qi!
But the Crown Prince's words were clearly meant to praise him, and if he were to refute them, he would appear ungrateful.

...Bear with it!
Shen Ye then praised the Fifth Prince and the Seventh Prince one by one, saying that they were reliable in handling their duties.

When it came to the Eighth Prince, Shen Ye said with an even more solemn expression: "The Eighth Prince is virtuous and obedient, which is recognized by governors and viceroys in various regions."

"Does Zhen Yan dare to say that his father can't teach his son? I don't believe he can find anyone in his family who is better than the Eighth Prince!"

Hearing the words "virtuous and obedient," the Eighth Prince felt uneasy.

Virtuous and kind is fine, but why add "submissive"? It makes it sound like I'm so obedient to you, the Crown Prince...

How could I possibly be virtuous and obedient to you? You wish!
The Eighth Prince was a little embarrassed, but he couldn't say anything—after all, the Crown Prince was "praising" him.

"Although the Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince are young, they are helping the court with important matters without costing the court a single penny..."

Upon hearing this, the Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince immediately straightened their backs.

They wouldn't dare to talk about anything else, but when it comes to making money, they're really good at it.

Moreover, the Crown Prince also said that they were doing important things for the court—what's wrong with making some money?
Shen Ye praised every prince present without missing a single one, even the usually quiet twelfth prince received a few more compliments.

However, when it came to the mischievous fourteenth prince, Shen Ye was at a loss for words and had nothing to praise, so he just forced a compliment: "innocent and cute."

After saying this, he feigned indignation and said, "His accusations against us only show our brothers' shortcomings, not our strengths. This time, in the confrontation, we brothers must let him know that any one of us princes is a hundred times better than that pedantic scholar! He's simply incomparable!"

The eldest prince now fully understood the crown prince's intentions, and he had no objections to the matter.

Of course, even if there is one, you can't say a word.

Under the banner of "Everything for Father Emperor," anyone who opposes it is considered ignorant.

"Your Highness, what exactly is written in this memorial? Should we analyze it first, so we can know our enemy and ourselves?"

The eldest prince's words made sense, so naturally no one objected.

Shen Ye then opened the memorial and said in a deep voice, "I won't repeat those treasonous words in his memorial, I'll just get to the point!"

"He focused his criticism on the fact that our father had not disciplined us sons properly, saying that we brothers were interfering in politics and causing chaos, and that we brothers should be disciplined more strictly."

Upon hearing Shen Ye's words, the Tenth Prince, knowing his own worth, was instantly enraged and exploded: "Bullshit! He's spouting pure nonsense!"

"This man has ulterior motives. He clearly wants to set up a Ten Princes' Palace like Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, and raise us brothers like pigs in a pen."

"This is intolerable!"

The Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince had always been on good terms. As soon as the Tenth Prince finished speaking, the Ninth Prince coldly replied, "That Zhen Yan is deliberately trying to sow discord among our imperial family. His intentions are despicable!"

"Your Highness, this matter cannot be left unresolved. We must report to the Emperor about Zhen Yan; he must not be let off lightly."

Shen Ye nodded: "Of course."

He turned to look at the eldest prince and said in a calm tone, "He also accused us brothers of forming cliques and engaging in corrupt practices, saying that some princes and ministers had close relationships and were getting too close."

"Brother, you haven't been to Mingxiang's place lately, have you?"

The eldest prince's face stiffened, and he thought to himself that the memorial probably didn't explicitly mention his name.

But the Crown Prince's words made it seem as if Zhen Yan was specifically naming him in his impeachment.

I am a legitimate relative of Mingzhu, and we have normal interactions. How did that become collusion?
He immediately retorted angrily, "Your Highness, this is utter nonsense!"

“Mingxiang and I are legitimate relatives, how could that be considered collusion? Even if I hadn’t visited Mingxiang recently, it would have been perfectly aboveboard. I have nothing to hide!”

"Please, Father Emperor and Crown Prince, make the judgment."

Shen Ye smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Big brother, don't worry, Father and I both believe in you."

"That's why I said that Zhen Yan's memorial is just making baseless accusations."

At this point, his gaze fell on the Third Prince again: "Third Prince, you have a good relationship with Li Fu and the others from the Hanlin Academy, right?"

The Third Prince was taken aback when he realized that the fire had spread to him. He then honestly admitted, "Your subject is indeed friends with Li Fu."

“But I absolutely did not collude with them. We...we are just friends. We only discuss academic matters when we are together.”

Shen Ye waved his hand and said, "Third brother, I trust your character."

"Besides, I am aware of Li Fu's and the others' scholarship. It's no big deal for you to say a few words for them during the capital inspection."

"But some people just won't let it go, believing everything they hear, which is really despicable."

At this point, his voice turned cold: "Which of those Grand Secretaries and Ministers doesn't have relatives and friends? In the capital examinations, who hasn't pulled strings for others?"

"Now, all the third brother did was say a few words for a friend, and they're making a big deal out of it. They're utterly despicable!"

The anger in the Third Prince's heart slowly dissipated.

At that moment, he suddenly wanted to say something: "They're impeaching you, the Crown Prince, what does it have to do with me?"
But the words stuck in my throat, and I couldn't say them out.

After all, he had indeed spoken up for Li Fu and the others during the imperial examination.

When the fourth prince saw Shen Ye looking at him, he unconsciously shrank back. It wasn't that he had any leverage over Shen Ye, but rather that the experiences of his two older brothers made him a little uneasy.

"My fourth brother is a good person in every way, except that he is too serious."

"However, seriousness is a matter of personality, but in some people's eyes, fourth brother's seriousness becomes arrogance."

"Where can we go to reason with this?"

At this point, Shen Ye waved his hand at the Fourth Prince, who was about to speak, and said, "Fourth Brother, there's no need to explain. We all know what kind of person you are."

The fourth prince's lips twitched, but he ultimately swallowed his words.

Just as the princes were waiting for Shen Ye to continue calling out names, he put down the memorial and said solemnly, "This time, Zhen Yan is not only impeaching Father, but also targeting all of us brothers."

"Therefore, this time, we must work together to refute Zhen Yan and leave him speechless."

"Otherwise, in the future, no one, not even a human being, will dare to shit on our heads!"

　The second update for today is here! Please support me, everyone, and vote for me!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)