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

Chapter 358 The First Sword After Reaching the Shore

Zhen Yan's expression kept changing, and she was struggling internally.

He knew, of course, that Shen Ye wasn't lying to him, but he also knew that if he took this step, the price would be very high.

But what if we don't take the step?

Not taking the step would likely lead to certain death.

Is it better to be a despicable person who seeks attention, or a hero who marches forward without hesitation?
He already knew the answer in his heart.

But he didn't rush to express his opinion. Instead, he glanced at Shen Ye and said, "Your Highness, if I were to wield this sword against all the officials and gentry in the world, the price I would pay would be extremely high."

"But what about you, Your Highness? The price you paid was not small either."

"You might not even be able to keep your position as crown prince!"

"Do you think it's worth it?"

Shen Ye understood perfectly well what Zhen Yan meant—he just wanted to test how determined he really was.

He paused for a moment, then said in a calm tone, "To be honest, I don't want to get involved in this."

"To be the crown prince in peace and tranquility, is easy and carefree."

"But my father has given the order, and I cannot disobey."

At this point, Shen Ye turned to look at Zhen Yan: "Zhen Yan, I know you're afraid I'll abandon you halfway through!"

But you have no choice now!

"Give it a shot, there's still a chance to survive!"

"If we don't fight, not only will those officials and gentry be spared, but even Father Emperor is prepared to sacrifice you to the sword!"

"Furthermore, it is of great importance to the imperial court to have officials, gentry and common people pay taxes together."

"Neither His Majesty nor I will give up unless it is a matter of life and death."

Shen Ye spoke frankly, and Zhen Yan listened and believed most of what he said.

If Shen Ye had started by enthusiastically painting a rosy picture of him, he would have had to think twice.

"Since the Crown Prince says so, then I'll join His Majesty and the Crown Prince in this gamble!"

Having made the decision, Zhen Yan breathed a long sigh of relief.

Although the road ahead was unknown, he felt completely relaxed.

"That's right. If you want to be the divine sword of the Great Zhou, you have to dare to be the first in the world."

"Now is the time for you to unleash your first sword strike upon reaching the shore!"

Shen Ye smiled and said, "I'll have someone bring over the paper and pen for writing memorials in a bit."

"Once the memorial is written, I will send it to my father for his perusal, and then you can go home."

At this point, Shen Ye seemed to see through Zhen Yan's concerns and added, "I have a small courtyard next to the Infantry Commander's Office. You can move there to live."

As Zhen Yan listened, a bitter feeling welled up inside him.

No wonder everyone says that the Crown Prince is exceptionally intelligent and has so many tricks up his sleeve.

Look at him now, the Crown Prince is both trying to win him over and giving him warnings. In the end, he just wants him to follow the path he has laid out for him.

The Crown Prince really has a firm and accurate grasp on her nose.

Unfortunately, she had no way to resist.

It seems that the Crown Prince is indeed extraordinary in his actions, always killing three birds with one stone.

Dealing with such a cunning and calculating person is like playing an invisible game of chess. You never know where he'll place his next move, and by the time you realize it, you've already fallen into his trap.

Although he thought this in his heart, he said it respectfully:
"Thank you, Prince!"

Shen Ye waved his hand and turned to walk towards the door.

Just as Zhen Yan was about to see him off, Shen Ye suddenly turned around and asked, "Who made you write that 'Number One Memorial Under Heaven'?"

Zhen Yan paused for a moment, then opened his mouth but didn't say anything.

Shen Ye smiled: "Lord Zhen, now that you are going to be the divine sword of my Great Zhou, there is no need to hide this matter."

"I believe His Majesty will ask you about it soon."

"If you still insist on not telling, it won't do you any good!"

Shen Ye said calmly, "Besides, once you become the Great Zhou Divine Sword, it won't matter who instigated that memorial."

Zhen Yan's heart was in turmoil.

It's not that he didn't want to talk about it, it's that he really didn't dare to.

The person who instructed him said that he had a powerful figure backing him up.

Based on the limited information he has, it's difficult for him to accuse that important figure.

But if he were to reveal it, he would likely face utter ruin and die without a burial place!

"Your Highness, I will finish writing the memorial."

Zhen Yan's voice was deep, yet it conveyed a sense of determination.

Shen Ye nodded and didn't press the matter further.

Zhen Yanke continued to submit petitions, and his goal had been achieved.

At this point, there's no need to create any further complications.

Besides, he already had a general idea in mind, and he only asked Zhen Yan to confirm it.

"Then I'll wait for Lord Zhen's good news." After saying that, Shen Ye turned and left.

Watching Shen Ye's departing figure, Zhen Yan gently shook his head.

He increasingly felt that his fate was no longer in his own hands!
But once the arrow is released, there's no turning back; he can no longer turn back.

Just then, a young eunuch walked in carrying paper and pen.

Zhen Yan took it, pondered for a moment, and began to write.

As he wrote, he thought to himself, "This is indeed a sword I'm wielding against the officials and gentry!"
But why did the prince say that this was the first sword strike after landing?

Does his saying "go ashore" mean he's seeking refuge with him?

Under the gentle moonlight, Shen Ye was busy, but others weren't idle either. For example, the Eighth Prince.

He was full of confidence in front of the Fourth Prince, but his face darkened as soon as he returned to his residence.

Zhen Yan was so frightened that she pretended to faint.

Would such a cowardly fellow, under the Crown Prince's coercion and enticement, betray him?

Although he did this through someone else, why would the Emperor need any evidence when dealing with matters?
As emperor, he preferred to trust his intuition and was more concerned about who posed the greatest threat to him...

The Eighth Prince became increasingly panicked as he thought about it, but he gradually calmed down.

There's someone between him and Zhen Yan!
Even if Zhen Yan speaks up, he can still insist that this matter has nothing to do with him.

Furthermore, if Zhen Yan truly became the "divine sword" the Crown Prince spoke of, then this memorial could only be a letter he wrote on a whim, and had nothing to do with anyone else.

However, this actor cannot stay!

The person who was ordered to deliver the message to Zhen Yan should also disappear!

Unfortunately, he can't do that now.

After much thought, he thought of Tong Guowei, but he was currently under the watchful eye of Emperor Qianxi and had no way to contact Tong Guowei.

The Eighth Prince sighed.

All he can do now is wait.

However, he believed that the Crown Prince's decision to have Zhen Yan write a memorial about officials, gentry, and commoners paying taxes together would certainly arouse the vigilance of the court officials.

These court officials also did not want to see this happen.

Therefore, they also do not want Zhen Yan to live!
The Eighth Prince was right.

While he was feeling anxious, Tong Guowei was chatting with Zhang Ying in the duty room.

Both were high-ranking scholars, but their personalities differed, and their relationship remained lukewarm.

They are usually very polite to each other and rarely argue in front of outsiders, but everyone knows that they are only superficially friendly.

At this moment, in the duty room of Xiaotangshan Imperial Palace, the two people were in a warm and cozy room, each holding a cup of warm tea, playing chess and talking.

"With the Crown Prince pulling this stunt, the capital inspection is going to be in trouble this time," Zhang Ying said casually as he placed a piece on the board.

Tong Guowei and Zou Wenjin, the Minister of Personnel, had a so-so relationship, but through this imperial examination, he managed to get Zou Wenjin to help him retain many of his cronies.

If the results of this inspection are overturned, he won't look good.

However, the evaluation form produced by the Crown Prince almost clearly indicated that Zou Wenjin had tampered with the results of this imperial examination.

If we don't give an explanation, we won't be able to get past Emperor Qianxi.

"Let's find a way to give His Majesty and his ministers an explanation," Tong Guowei said. "As long as nothing serious happens, His Majesty should be understanding."

Zhang Ying nodded.

Although Emperor Qianxi currently holds absolute power, he is also aware that the world belongs to one person, but the world cannot be managed by one person alone.

"Prime Minister Tong, what about the Crown Prince?"

Tong Guowei frowned when Zhang Ying mentioned the Crown Prince.

Although he dared not underestimate the Crown Prince, he also did not want the Crown Prince to interfere in the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel.

After all, the Ministry of Personnel is extremely important!
"I'm afraid the Crown Prince won't let this go easily," Tong Guowei said. "However, the operation of the Six Ministries has its own rules!"

Zhang Ying held the chess piece, not making a move for a long time.

He knew what Tong Guowei meant—to use the rules of the Six Ministries to exclude the Crown Prince from the capital examination.

The idea is good, but it's not that easy.

But he couldn't think of any other solution for the time being, so he said, "Let's try it first."

One by one, the chess pieces fell to the ground, and drops of candle wax piled up on the lampstand.

When the black and white pieces had almost filled the entire board, Zhang Ying finally spoke: "Minister Tong, tell me, is Zhen Yan awake now?"

Although Tong Guowei was playing chess, he was also thinking about Zhen Yan's matter.

He paused, then said in a deep voice, "He should be awake!"

Zhang Ying also sensed that he was awake, and after a moment of contemplation, she said, "It would have been better if he hadn't woken up."

These words sound like a suggestion that Zhen Yan should continue sleeping.

But Tong Guowei understood that Zhang Ying did not want Zhen Yanzhen to write the memorial to cancel the preferential treatment for officials and gentry, as the Crown Prince had said.

Once this memorial was submitted, with Zhen Yan's reputation as having written the "Number One Memorial in the World," coupled with the support of the Crown Prince and Emperor Qianxi, its momentum became unstoppable.

Tong Guowei did not earn his academic success through studying.

Therefore, Zhang Ying is more concerned about this matter than Zhang Ying.

However, he himself also receives a considerable amount of benefits each year because of his status.

Although the nobles were not as numerous as the officials and gentry, they were also unwilling to set a precedent.

Tong Guowei said, "After the Crown Prince's rebuke, I think Zhen Yan is just a cheapskate trying to attract attention!"

“We must not tolerate those who use His Majesty’s reputation to curry favor.”

His tone was filled with murderous intent: "I think we should make an example of him to deter others, so that no one will write such a memorial again in the future."

"That would cause unease in the court and unrest in His Majesty."

Zhang Ying placed a piece heavily on the board and echoed, "The Grand Scholar is right. The human heart is like a demon's den; we must be wary."

"We have a responsibility to His Majesty!"

Zhang Ying paused, then said, "Besides the censors who should step forward now, I think the Duke of Yansheng should also make an appearance."

"I heard that the Duke Yansheng has arrived in the capital to offer his birthday wishes to His Majesty. Why don't we ask the Duke Yansheng to lead the petition?"

"In that case, His Majesty will surely be very pleased."

Tong Guowei laughed upon hearing this: "With the Duke of Yansheng taking the lead, this matter will be much easier to handle."

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(End of this chapter)