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

Chapter 487 In this world, where are there so many loving fathers and filial sons?
After listening to Tong Guowei's "heartfelt words," Emperor Qianxi fell silent.

Tong Guowei, that old fox, was a master of the art of offering advice—

The most sophisticated form of deception is never about rambling on and on, but about subtly leading the emperor into your own mental trap.

I need to let him ponder this while he takes a walk; this idea just popped into my head on its own!
Only in this way can one subtly change the subject and perfectly transform one's own ideas into what the emperor desires.

After a long while, Emperor Qianxi uttered two words indifferently: "Let's go!"

Shen Ye had not received any information about just how much anger Emperor Qianxi was simmering in at the Dali Temple.

But as soon as he returned to Yuqing Palace, he sensed that something was off about the atmosphere!

Even the air seemed heavy, and it was difficult to breathe. There were also many unfamiliar faces wandering around the palace from time to time.

However, apart from these, nothing major happened, like the roof being blown off.

For Shen Ye herself, apart from not being able to go out for fresh air, her life was actually quite normal.

They can eat and drink as usual, but their range of activities has been passively reduced.

On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, Shen Ye was chatting with Shi Jingrong in the palace when Zhou Bao entered with a look of great unease:
"Your Highness, Erengtai requests an audience."

Erlengtai is Shen Ye's head bodyguard. Having followed the Crown Prince for so long, he has long been considered one of the people in Yuqing Palace.

Last time, Shen Ye was able to stop that old fox Tong Guowei, and Erlengtai deserves a lot of credit for that.

Shen Ye usually summons him, and if he comes looking for her on his own initiative, it means he's in trouble.

"What's wrong with him?" Shen Ye asked casually.

Zhou Bao's lips twitched, and he lowered his voice, saying:
"His Majesty's order was conveyed by the Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard. Erengtai has been transferred, and he has come to say goodbye to you."

The smile on Shen Ye's face vanished instantly.

He knows it!

Emperor Qianxi would never let that matter go unpunished.

Sure enough, retribution came, albeit late.

Presumably, this time, taking action against Erlengtai is just an "appetizer".

He thought for a moment and said to Zhou Bao, "Let him in."

Less than a minute later, Erlengtai, dressed as a guard, entered.

After performing the proper greeting, his voice was eight octaves lower than usual.
"Your Highness, I am being transferred and must leave the capital. I have come to bid you farewell."

"Where are you being transferred to?" Shen Ye's voice also turned somber, sensing something was wrong.

"His Majesty has decreed that I go to Qinghai to serve as a deputy commander of the infantry under the command of General Xining."

Erlengtai reported in a rigid and methodical manner, every word of which was filled with frustration.

Upon hearing the title, Shen Ye's eyes grew even colder.

He knew all too well Erlengtai's qualifications!
As a first-class imperial guard, even if he doesn't become a general guarding a region, he should at least be a commander with real power.
Now look what's happened! They've given him a deputy commander position, and he's on the front lines fighting against Arabtan, eating sand and drinking wind.

This is hardly a normal job transfer.

This is clearly a pretext for exiling people to the frontier!

Shen Ye was so angry his liver ached, but he didn't show it on the surface. He just waved his hand and said:

"You wait here, don't go anywhere! I'm going to see my father."

Upon hearing this, Erlengtai was so anxious that he knelt down with a thud:
"Your Highness, I appreciate your kindness and will be grateful to you for the rest of my life!"

"But you can't keep going against His Majesty!"

"His Majesty has sent me to Xining. I'm confident I can make a name for myself with my abilities!"

"If you were to contradict His Majesty again for the sake of this servant, I'm afraid it would be even more detrimental to our entire Yuqing Palace!"

Erlengtai spoke with heartfelt emotion, his eyes reddening.

Shen Ye remained surprisingly calm, and even smiled:

"Don't worry, I'm not going to confront them head-on, I'm just going to... strive for it, to negotiate amicably."

After saying that, he instructed Zhou Bao: "You chat with Erlengtai for a while, I'm going to Qianqing Palace."

Erlengtai tried to stop him, but Zhou Bao grabbed him.
"Once the Crown Prince has made up his mind, not even nine oxen could pull him back. Let's just follow his orders."

Erlengtai was deeply worried:
"I'm worried about the Crown Prince's temper. What if he clashes with His Majesty again?"

Zhou Bao looked around and sighed:
"Sigh, given the current situation, we can only trust the Crown Prince. Thinking about anything else is just scaring ourselves and is useless."

As soon as Shen Ye stepped out of Yuqing Palace, Orondai blocked his way like a dedicated gatekeeper:

"Your Highness, His Majesty has ordered you to study in the palace. Where... are you going?"

Looking at that irritating face, Shen Ye's anger flared up instantly!
He glanced at Orondai slowly, and began by questioning:
"Olundai, how's your reading of the Classic of Filial Piety that I asked you to do?"

"Your Majesty, I am working hard!"

"However, Your Majesty is very understanding and has instructed me to prioritize 'sharing the burdens of Your Highness the Crown Prince' for the time being!"

"So these past few days... I've studied a little less."

Orondai's words were incredibly smug; he was clearly trying to tell Shen Ye:

Your orders don't work anymore; the Emperor himself has exempted me from homework!
"What a disloyal and unfilial scoundrel!"

Shen Ye's voice suddenly rose, becoming extremely sharp:
"His Majesty governs the world with filial piety and educates all people. How could he easily ask you to give up learning the fundamental principles of self-cultivation and the way of filial piety and brotherly love?"

"I can clearly see that you're just being lazy and stubborn, and you have no intention of learning!"

"The imperial court has strict laws and regulations. How can it allow an unfaithful and unfilial person like you to cause trouble here?"

"Men, tie up this disobedient Orondai!"

The guards around looked at each other, none of them daring to move.

On one side was the powerful head of the guards, and on the other was the crown prince, who, despite being punished, remained the heir apparent.

Whose advice should we listen to?

Seeing the guards silent and trembling, yet daring not to move, Shen Ye let out a cold laugh:
"Anyone who disobeys the imperial decree will be stripped of their official post and reduced to commoner status, never to be employed again!"

"And immediately send them to the front lines to serve; whether they live or die is up to fate!"

Compared to Orondai's infamous reputation, Shen Ye was, after all, the rightful Crown Prince and heir apparent.

Even if he seems to have recently displeased the Emperor, in situations where the Emperor is not present, the Crown Prince is still the Crown Prince.

As soon as Shen Ye finished speaking, the few clever but cowardly guards exchanged glances and then walked towards Orondai with gritted teeth.

"I'm sorry, Lord Orondai. Please don't make things difficult for the brothers."

“The Crown Prince is in a bad mood. If things really get out of hand, you’ll suffer too.” Orondai was about to shout something when Tulishen came running over.

He had actually heard everything from a short distance away, and now he had no choice but to show himself.

"Greetings, Your Highness!" Tu Lishen bowed with utmost respect.

Shen Ye waved his hand at him: "Take Orondai to the side room and make him face the wall to reflect on his mistakes, so that he can continue to 'learn' the way of filial piety and brotherly love."

“When you learn to respect your elders and love your brothers, then you can come out again.”

“If you can’t even keep an eye on this, you shouldn’t be working at Yuqing Palace.”

Tulishen immediately replied, "This servant obeys."

After saying that, he walked to Orondai's side and whispered, "I am bound by your orders, my lord, and it is difficult to disobey the emperor's command, especially on such a matter of right and wrong."

At this moment, Orondai also calmed down.

He knew it didn't matter if his own father chased him with a knife; it was a family matter.

But if the crown prince tries to pin the "righteous cause" on him, he really has no way to deal with it.

If you try to force a connection to the imperial court's rules and regulations, that's like mud falling into your crotch—even if it's not shit, it'll still look like shit!

So he glanced at Shen Ye resentfully, then dejectedly headed towards the corner room.

Shen Ye didn't have time to pay him any more attention and walked straight out.

"Where are you going, Your Highness? We servants will prepare the ceremonial procession in advance." Tulishen moved closer, his face full of smiles.

Shen Ye waved his hand: "No need to prepare anything fancy, I'm going to the Qianqing Palace to see Father Emperor."

"What, you have an opinion?"

Upon hearing that they were going to the Qianqing Palace, Tu Lishen secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The Emperor only said that the Crown Prince was not allowed to leave the palace, but he didn't say that he was not allowed to see the Emperor.

He immediately replied respectfully, "How dare this servant have any objections! This servant will accompany you so that you won't be left without someone to serve you."

Looking at Tu Lishen's honest-looking face, Shen Ye patted him on the shoulder:

"Old Tu, you're good with words and have a good eye. You have more potential than Orondai."

Tu Lishen followed behind with his head down, not saying much, looking honest and unassuming.

They soon arrived outside the Qianqing Palace.

A group of officials waiting to be received in the corner room quickly stood up and bowed when they saw the Crown Prince arrive.

Shen Ye waved his hand, indicating that everyone should dispense with formalities, and then said to Liang Jiugong, who was standing to the side:

"Chief Steward Liang, please inform the Emperor that I request an audience."

Liang Jiugong inwardly groaned; he didn't want the father and son to meet while they were both angry.

But since the crown prince had spoken, he had no choice but to comply.

"Your Highness, please wait a moment, this servant will go and report this immediately."

After saying that, he quickly went into the Qianqing Palace.

Upon hearing Liang Jiugong's report, Emperor Qianxi, who was in conversation with someone, understood why Shen Ye had come.

He transferred Erlengtai, the crown prince's confidant, to teach this unruly son a lesson.

I'd also like to warn those around the Crown Prince:
All of you better behave yourselves!

"Tell the Crown Prince that I am busy today and do not have time to see him. Tell him to go back and study hard."

Emperor Qianxi didn't even bother to lift his eyelids, and said indifferently, "When the time comes, I will see him."

Having received instructions, Liang Jiugong quickly came out to reply:

"Your Highness, His Majesty said that he is very busy today and will summon you after he is done. Please return to Yuqing Palace first."

Shen Ye sneered inwardly, knowing that this was a deliberate attempt to leave him hanging.

He said calmly, "Thank you, Steward Liang."

Seeing that the Crown Prince was so understanding and obedient, Liang Jiugong felt a great weight lifted from his heart.

I almost burst into tears: Thank God, I finally got through this ordeal today.

Unfortunately, he let his guard down too soon.

Shen Ye did not leave; instead, he slowly turned around.

He approached a high-ranking official of the second rank who was waiting, and asked him in a kind and polite manner:

"I have urgent business to report to His Majesty. Could you please come to see me again tomorrow?"

The minister trembled with fright and quickly stood up:

"Your Highness is too kind! This servant will obey Your Highness's decree."

Although he didn't know what had happened, what smart person would want to get involved in the affairs between the Crown Prince and the Emperor?
Moreover, it was the Crown Prince himself who sent him away, "inviting" him to leave.

The power of example is endless.

With the first sensible minister in charge, the corner room, which had been bustling with people just moments before, became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Liang Jiugong stared in disbelief at the corner room, which was even cleaner than if it had been robbed.

He looked at Shen Ye, hesitated, and finally could only shake his head before bracing himself and entering the Qianqing Palace again.

After Emperor Qianxi finished speaking with the minister he had just spoken with, he stretched his limbs and said to Liang Jiugong:
"Let the next one in."

"Your Majesty, there are no ministers waiting to see you outside."

Emperor Qianxi was taken aback, not expecting that he would be so efficient today, finishing the meeting in just one hour.
That's not right. At least a dozen people submitted their name tags today requesting an audience, and I've only seen four or five of them.

"What's going on?" He stared at Liang Jiugong, his eyes turning cold.

Under pressure, Liang Jiugong said cautiously:
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince... has arranged for all the people you were supposed to see today to be seen tomorrow."

He said he had something to discuss with you today and asked the adults to come back tomorrow.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qianxi was first taken aback, then felt his blood rush to his head and his ears ringing.

This traitor!

That bastard!

He actually dared to drive away all the ministers? This is more than just audacious!
He was so angry that his molars were grinding together, his chest heaving violently, and finally he squeezed out a few words through his teeth:
"Let him get in!"

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(End of this chapter)