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

Chapter 425 The Crown Prince is Disobedient, Your Majesty, I Am Willing to Share Your Worries

Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words, Shen Ye immediately understood!

Oh dear, the Empress Dowager is blatantly offering me a way out!

They downgraded my serious crime of defying the emperor to the level of "making a scene".

The word "闹腾" (nao teng, meaning to make a fuss or cause trouble) is so wonderful. It's light and fluffy, and compared to "忤逆" (du nü, meaning disobedience), which is a capital offense, it's like flying straight from the eighteenth level of hell to the ground.

It seems all that burning incense all this time wasn't for nothing; at this crucial moment, the Empress Dowager really came to the rescue!

Both Shen Ye and the Empress Dowager knew that every casual word they uttered here would be relayed verbatim to Emperor Qianxi the next second.

This inner palace was practically Emperor Qianxi's intelligence base. Every move within the palace could not escape his eyes.

The Empress Dowager's use of the word "making a scene" was ostensibly a criticism, but in reality, it set the tone—

This is essentially labeling the matter as: a family matter, please do not disclose!
After Emperor Qianxi learned of the Empress Dowager's attitude, even if he was unhappy, he would most likely follow the Empress Dowager's definition of the matter.

After all, he had to consider the Empress Dowager's feelings!

Regardless of whether Emperor Qianxi was truly filial, the high hat of filial piety is something only those who wear it know, and it's something that can't be taken off and will weigh on one's neck.

Shen Ye was so clever; as soon as he saw the steps were there, he immediately climbed down the pole:

"My grandson was a bit reckless!"

"But Zhang Yushu is infuriating; he's far too cunning."

"He's clearly just trying to avoid paying taxes, yet he keeps spouting nonsense about 'for the sake of all the officials and gentry' and 'for the sake of the imperial court'!"

"Pah! He's only after his own money! Being selfish is one thing, but he even flaunts it. He's really infuriating my grandson!"

"So at that time, my grandson couldn't resist!"

Upon hearing Shen Ye's words, the Empress Dowager's smile deepened.

When it comes to acting, the worst thing is when your co-star doesn't engage with you. The Crown Prince's level of cooperation is so high that he deserves an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor!
She deliberately put on a stern face: "If a minister has a problem, you should report it to your father, the Emperor."

"If you cause such a disturbance again, I will not let you off lightly!"

"The Emperor has ordered you to reflect on your mistakes here, so I will punish you by making you copy the Classic of Filial Piety!"

"You will copy the Classic of Filial Piety a hundred times for me, and bring it to me every day for me to check personally. Don't even think about slacking off!"

Upon hearing this method of punishment, Shen Ye thought to himself, "Brilliant!": How is this punishing me?
This is clearly a subtle way of reminding Emperor Qianxi through my actions: Your son has disobeyed you, and I'm helping you punish him by making him copy the Classic of Filial Piety.

But you yourself must also study the Classic of Filial Piety carefully, and never forget the importance of filial piety!

That's truly killing two birds with one stone!

"Your grandson obeys!"

After accepting the Empress Dowager's punishment without hesitation, Shen Ye did not leave immediately. Instead, he sat down on a stool and chatted with the Empress Dowager.

Although the Empress Dowager lived a comfortable life, it was also a bit boring. Every day, besides eating, drinking, and strolling around, she would play a couple of rounds of mahjong.

The Empress Dowager was very pleased that Shen Ye was willing to chat with her.

When the Empress Dowager mentioned that she was tired of watching plays because the troupes were always using old scripts, Shen Ye had a sudden inspiration:
I was copying books at the hot spring palace to reflect on my mistakes, but actually I was just bored out of my mind.

Since there are plenty of people available, why not turn the TV version of "The Legend of the White Snake" into a stage play?

Firstly, to repay the Empress Dowager for her help and to make her happy; secondly, to find some amusement for myself.

Anyway, I'm just idling around in the palace.

Anyone who dares to spout nonsense and say that doing this opera is a waste of their proper work, then sorry, this is to show respect to the Empress Dowager, and anyone who offers an opinion is being unfilial.

Thinking of this idea that would kill two birds with one stone, Shen Ye smiled and said, "Grandmother, all those operas I watch are the same few themes over and over again."

“In the past, my grandson had been thinking about revising some of the books.”

"However, in my grandson's adaptation, he doesn't sing, but performs by speaking."

"Please wait a couple of days, Grandmother. Your grandson will invite you to see a different kind of play."

The Empress Dowager didn't know what a play was, but seeing the confident-looking Crown Prince, she became interested: "Then I'll be waiting to see it!"

The grandfather and grandson chatted for more than half an hour before Shen Ye returned to his residence.

Shi Jingrong, who was already quite pregnant, noticed that Shen Ye didn't ask about the previous dynasty, but instead started chatting casually.

Although she didn't say it directly, she inadvertently offered some words of comfort.

Seeing Shi Jingrong carefully comforting him, Shen Ye chuckled and said, "Don't worry, I'll just take this opportunity to rest."

"Actually, it would be best if he didn't become the crown prince!"

"Wouldn't it be better if we just ate, drank, and had fun every day?"

Shi Jingrong walked up to Shen Ye and silently grasped his hand, everything understood without words.

The hot spring palace was warm as spring, but the Forbidden City was extremely cold.

Back in the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Qianxi, though sitting on a heated kang bed, still felt somewhat cold.

His face was cold, and the atmosphere in the entire Forbidden City was as cold as an ice cellar.

After all, being too happy when the emperor is in a bad mood is just asking for trouble.

After reading some of the memorials reviewed by the Crown Prince, Emperor Qianxi began to ponder the events of the day.

In the eyes of the Qianxi Emperor, what the Crown Prince did today was truly rebellious.

However, he could vaguely understand the Crown Prince's extreme motives.

He had ruined more than half of the Crown Prince's efforts right from the start. If this happened to him, he would probably feel bad too. However, disobedience was disobedience, and he couldn't just let him off the hook.

Otherwise, with so many sons, it would be really difficult to manage them.

Just as Emperor Qianxi was pondering how to deal with his son, Liang Jiugong cautiously approached him and said, "Your Majesty, the eldest prince requests an audience."

Upon hearing the name of the eldest prince, Emperor Qianxi knew that he must have come for the sake of the crown prince.

Although this son's foolishness has dashed any chance of him becoming the crown prince, it seems he still refuses to give up!
The thought of the eldest prince filled Emperor Qianxi with vexation.

I thought to myself, if you don't have the skills, don't try to take on a job you're not qualified for.

Emperor Qianxi waved his hand, as if to say he would not see him.

But then I thought, no matter what, they are still my own children. If I don't see them, it would be too heartless of me to be a father like that.

It's also a good opportunity to see how the eldest prince treats his brothers.

He immediately said, "Please invite the eldest prince over."

In just half a minute, the eldest prince, Yunshi, came running in, all excited and eager.

Although the eldest prince looked somber, his light and quick steps revealed that he was in a good mood.

Emperor Qianxi glanced at the eldest prince, his tone tinged with disdain: "What brings you to Qianqing Palace?"

"Your Majesty, I have come to pay my respects!"

The eldest prince said respectfully, "Father, Yunye has gone too far! Such disobedience must not be tolerated."

"But please take care of your health, Father, and don't let this matter upset you."

Hearing this, Emperor Qianxi felt a little better.

Although the eldest son had other intentions when he came over, the fact that he cared about his father's health was a sign of filial piety.

At that moment, Emperor Qianxi said calmly, "I understand."

Seeing that Emperor Qianxi's attitude had softened considerably, the eldest prince hesitated for a moment and said, "Father, Yunye has disobeyed His Majesty, and I am also at fault in this matter."

“It’s my fault as the older brother that I failed to discipline my younger brother.”

Emperor Qianxi's lips twitched slightly. He was quite disdainful of the eldest prince's roundabout way of complaining.

Can you discipline the crown prince?
"This is none of your business," Emperor Qianxi said impatiently, waving his hand. "If you have nothing else to say, then take your leave."

"I still have some memorials to review."

The eldest prince gritted his teeth and said, "Father, the Crown Prince is extremely rebellious and shows no respect for you. Such a disobedient person is really... really cannot be let off lightly."

"Your Majesty knows that you love your son dearly, but if the Crown Prince continues like this, I fear that our family will produce a... a Li Heng!"

"Therefore, I believe that Yunye should be disciplined more strictly."

Emperor Qianxi snorted and said, "How exactly are you disciplining him? You've already said he can't be forgiven."

The eldest prince wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a slight tremor, "Father, I am willing to share your burdens in dealing with such a rebellious person as the Crown Prince."

Emperor Qianxi was stunned!
He never expected that his brainless son would say such a thing.

He seemed to be just there to express his opinion.

But this "sharing of burdens" could really be fatal! Is he planning to send the crown prince on his way?

Emperor Qianxi trembled with rage, and in his fury he laughed, "What a fine son who can share my burdens!"

"you you……"

Emperor Qianxi was about to continue asking questions, but he swallowed his words.

If the questioning continues and the eldest prince says something he shouldn't, then the father will truly be unable to handle the situation.

Is it acceptable for the Crown Prince to say such things so casually?
"Get out of here!"

"I haven't wanted to see you lately!"

When Emperor Qianxi said these words, his whole demeanor seemed to be filled with a sense of gritted teeth.

The eldest prince was happily awaiting his father's praise, but instead, he was met with his father's face changing in an instant—

Goodness, his face changes faster than turning the pages of a book!
Looking up, I saw that my father's face was so distorted that it resembled the Vajra Arhat in a temple, and my heart skipped a beat.

Before the words "Your subject takes his leave" even finished, he had already slipped away.

Emperor Qianxi clutched his chest and gasped for breath!

Originally, the intention was just to slightly curb the arrogance of the Crown Prince, but unexpectedly, the eldest prince appeared out of nowhere, sincerely saying that he wanted to "share his father's burdens."

You're not here to share my burdens, you son of a bitch!
This guy has been professionally sabotaging his father for twenty years, trying to push me, the father, into a dramatic scenario of "killing his own son"!
Emperor Qianxi was so angry that his face turned ashen. It seemed that his eldest son's head had really been kicked by a donkey.

He paced around the hall like an enraged lion, finally roaring towards the door:

"Liang Jiugong!"

Liang Jiugong, who was waiting, scrambled in and heard the Emperor grit his teeth and say, "Go! Strip the First Prince of all his duties!"

"Send him back to his residence to reflect on his mistakes. He is not to leave without my decree!"

Liang Jiugong shuddered upon hearing this—this punishment was no light matter; it was practically half the life of the eldest prince!
What on earth did this unlucky eldest prince say that made the emperor so angry?
He muttered to himself as he slipped away faster than a startled rabbit.

Emperor Qianxi plopped back down on the dragon throne, touching the cold golden seat, and suddenly felt a chill run through him.

Sigh, having too many sons is a burden. In just a few days, two rebellious sons have emerged!

(End of this chapter)