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

Chapter 495 Is His Majesty Going to Change the Crown Prince?

Although Li Guangdi did not entirely agree with Emperor Qianxi's order, he had already said everything he needed to say.

When he left Emperor Qianxi's residence, he felt like a crab that had just crawled out of a steamer of scallions—

It looks intact on the outside, but it's actually overcooked on the inside!

Should he stand up for Shen Yeqiang and confront the emperor head-on?

He wouldn't dare even if he had ten times the courage!
He wasn't the kind of stubborn, straightforward official; his life motto was simple: self-preservation and survival are paramount.

Anyway, he'd given all the advice he could. Since the Emperor and the Crown Prince had already made their decision, he should just obediently follow it.

After all, compared to the Qianxi Emperor, his own bones were probably as hard as a freshly baked pastry.
It shatters with the slightest touch!

When the Ministry of Rites announced Emperor Qianxi's arrangements for the New Year's Day court ceremony, the entire capital city immediately erupted in excitement.

"I understand that things should be kept simple while fighting on the front lines, but why is there an extra prince for the New Year's Day court ceremony? What kind of operation is this?"

The speaker was Li Menglin, a scholar from Jiangnan. With the New Year approaching, he couldn't concentrate on his studies and was drinking tea and chatting with several fellow townsmen who were also taking the imperial examinations.

This guy usually loves to passionately and eloquently give his opinions on current affairs.

His catchphrase was "If I were prime minister"—even though he hadn't even passed the imperial examination.

Upon hearing this, the expressions of his companions changed.

A companion with a face as dark as an old farmer quickly interrupted with a laugh:

"Menglin, let's avoid discussing matters of the court; lest we bring trouble upon ourselves with our words!"

Li Menglin chuckled and lowered his voice: "Let's just talk quietly. We're all brothers, how could we let this get out?"

"Besides, my voice is quieter than a mosquito farting!"

Upon hearing this, the dark-faced companion didn't dare to say anything more.

If I say anything more, it will seem like I don't trust my other friends.

At this moment, a man with a sallow complexion interjected:

"Can't you see it? The Crown Prince moved from Yuqing Palace to the Prince's Mansion first, and now he's not even allowed to attend the New Year's Day court ceremony. This is clearly... a change of regime!"

He paused deliberately, looked around, and added mysteriously:

"Just wait and see, it won't be long before the Emperor makes his move."

Brother Cheng, who had been telling everyone to be careful with their words, couldn't help but chime in at this moment:

"It can't be that bad... The Crown Prince hasn't committed any major mistakes, and he's done a lot of practical things for the court by implementing policies like unified taxation for officials and gentry and fast-track channels."

The sallow-faced man shook his head: "Brother Cheng, I think the problem with the Crown Prince isn't that he does too little, but that he does too much!"

"A crown prince, so capable, even asked for the title of Grand General... I really don't know what he was thinking!"

"Does he really think he's some kind of high-ranking general?"

Li Menglin chimed in, "If the crown prince is really changed, I bet a lot of people in Jiangnan will set off firecrackers!"

"The Crown Prince doesn't have a good reputation in Jiangnan. Many people say that the Duke Yansheng's family is unlucky because they offended him."

Brother Cheng sighed: "The fact that officials and gentry pay taxes together is because the court is short of money. His Majesty needs silver to maintain the army. In fact, this is the inevitable choice for the court."

"The Crown Prince is taking the blame for the court!"

"Those officials and gentry really took too much advantage..."

After a few whispers among themselves, Li Menglin suddenly lowered his voice and asked, "Do you think the Crown Prince still has any hope of turning things around?"

Yellow-faced man: "I think it's a bit risky. Once the Sacred Heart is lost, how easy is it to get it back?"

Brother Cheng picked up his teacup: "Who knows? As long as he's not crippled, he'll still be the second best in the world..."

"Alright, alright, stop talking, let's drink!"

……

Unlike the common people's after-dinner conversation, the fact that "the crown prince did not attend the court ceremony" was a matter of life and death for high-ranking officials.

If you choose the right side, even your chickens and dogs will rise to heaven; if you choose the wrong side, your whole family will be ruined.

At this moment, Tong Guowei's study was crowded with people.

These people were all "Eighth Prince's Party" who came under the guise of delivering New Year's gifts, and the gifts they brought were piled up like a small mountain.

Kui Xu's voice boomed: "Prime Minister Tong, we must strike while the iron is hot and finish him off!"

"The Crown Prince has lost the Emperor's favor, Yuqing Palace has been lost, and he can't even attend the New Year's Day court audience—"

"This shows that the Emperor has long intended to change the Crown Prince, but he just needs a reason!"

"As long as we find someone to impeach the Crown Prince, the Emperor will just go along with it, and then... then it will all be settled!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, his spittle drawing a beautiful parabola in the air.

Kui Xu had a good relationship with the Eighth Prince, and he firmly believed that once the Eighth Prince became the Crown Prince, he could one day become a Grand Secretary like his father!
He plans to fill his study with calligraphy and paintings by famous people, and also keep a talking parrot.

Unfortunately, before he could finish speaking, he was coldly interrupted by Ma Qi, the Minister of Revenue:

"Kui Xu, if you don't understand, don't pretend to know! What makes you think His Majesty is going to change the crown prince?"

Ma Qi was already in a bad mood today. The accounts at the Ministry of Revenue didn't match up no matter what he did, and he suspected that his subordinates were too incompetent.

The Emperor was already somewhat dissatisfied with the Ministry of Revenue, so this was practically asking for a scolding!
Upon hearing this bright-headed but empty-headed fellow spout nonsense, his anger flared immediately. He tapped the table and said earnestly, "His Majesty is currently dissatisfied with the Crown Prince, but it hasn't reached the point of deposing him!"

"If we want to help the Eighth Prince ascend the throne, we need to remain calm and let the Crown Prince lose some of his favorability. Only then will things fall into place naturally!"

"Impeaching him now might backfire!"

Kui Xu always looked down on others and didn't take Ma Qi seriously at all.

How could she bear his condescending criticism?
He then slammed his hand on the table:
"Hmph! I may not understand, but unlike some people who sit in the position of Minister of Revenue and can't even raise enough funds for a military expedition—"

He deliberately dragged out his words, "He's a complete piece of trash!"

"It's obvious they're just occupying the position without doing anything!"

That's a bit like killing someone's spirit, stirring up a hornet's nest.

Ma Qi was known for his fiery temper, and he lived not far from Kui Xu.

Upon hearing that he dared to mock him so brazenly, he jumped up and grabbed Kui Xu by the collar:
"Say that again, you fucking bastard, you try!"

The scene was chaotic for a while.

Tong Guowei, who had been calmly watching the show, quickly coughed when he saw that a full-blown fight was about to break out:
"What are you doing? Want to fight?"

"How about I report to His Majesty and send you to the Qianqing Gate for a proper contest?"

"A minister and a vice minister, both of them are not young, yet they act so impulsively and recklessly! Should I be the referee for you?"

Ma Qi quickly let go of his hand, bowed to Tong Guowei, and said apologetically, "Lord Tong, I wasn't targeting you, it's just that this kid has a sharp tongue."

"Like a rock in a latrine, smelly and hard. Who could resist getting angry after hearing that?"

Kui Xu straightened his clothes and said, "Lord Tong, I didn't intend to take action. It's just that someone was too barbaric."

Tong Guowei waved his hand: "What you two said makes some sense. How about this, I'll go to the palace tomorrow to see the Eighth Prince and ask him what he thinks."

His words temporarily quelled the conflict, and the two of them stopped arguing.

Tong Guowei thought to himself, "You two dare to fight in front of everyone? You have no manners at all."

And you even dared to offer your opinions so self-righteously. I was just giving you face, and I can clearly point out that what you two are saying makes no sense at all.

They're all incredibly stupid!

With things having come to this point, Ma Qi's interest had waned, and he was about to get up to take his leave when Tong Guowei's personal butler, Tong San, suddenly rushed in, covered in sweat:
"My lord, His Majesty has sent imperial guards to request your immediate entry into the palace!"

Because he was running too fast, Tong San tripped hard on the threshold and almost bowed deeply to everyone in the room.

Tong Guowei's expression changed - the emperor usually sent eunuchs to deliver messages, but this time he sent a guard directly to find him, so something urgent must have happened!
"What happened?"

"The guard said he didn't know either, but His Majesty is in a hurry and wants you to come immediately."

Tong Guowei quickly got up:
"I'll change my clothes and leave now." He then cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to the crowd, saying, "Excuse me, everyone."

Kui Xu was still there, looking excited:
"Prime Minister Tong, His Majesty is in such a hurry to see you, could it be that he wants to change the heir apparent? If so, you must seize this opportunity!"

Tong Guowei hadn't initially thought of it that way, but after hearing his words, his heart skipped a beat:
What could be more important than changing the crown prince if this is an emergency summons during the Lunar New Year?

He was preoccupied and didn't dare to reply rashly. He turned around and quickly followed Tong San away.

As soon as Tong Guowei left, the murmurs inside the room grew louder.

"His Majesty's urgent summons of the Grand Secretary must mean something very important has happened!"

"It's almost Chinese New Year, what major event could possibly happen? I don't think there's anything else besides a change of heir!"

Kui Xu insisted on his own opinion.

Ma Qi didn't refute this time, but his brows were furrowed:
Although Emperor Qianxi did not like the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince had not committed any major mistakes, and the time was not yet ripe for changing the heir apparent.

Emperor Qianxi could create trouble for the Crown Prince under various pretexts, but changing the heir was no easy task.

No matter how much he wanted to, he had to be patient and wait.

But if it's not easy to store, what else could it be?
Just as he was pondering this, his nephew, Fuheng, came running in, panting:
"Uncle, we've finally found you! The imperial guards came to our house, and His Majesty urgently summoned you to the palace!"

Ma Qi's heart skipped a beat—he'd even been summoned? Something truly terrible must have happened!

He hurriedly bowed to the crowd, then turned and walked out.

The envious gazes of everyone in the room were practically drilling holes in his back.

It's normal for Emperor Qianxi to need Tong Guowei when he has something to do, but sending Ma Qi over inevitably leads to speculation!
Ma Qi is deeply favored by the emperor!
Perhaps after Tong Guowei retires, he will become a candidate for Grand Secretary.

Right now, the Emperor has urgently summoned both Tong Guowei and Ma Qi. Is he about to make a big move?
Kui Xu both envied Ma Qi and felt smug about his own uncanny ability to predict the future:
"See? I told you so! Let's just wait and see what happens!"

He looked around, lowering his voice, but everyone could hear him:
"I reckon we'll hear the news by tomorrow at the latest. Then we all need to get ready."

"What are you preparing?" someone asked.

Kui Xu smiled mysteriously: "Preparing for the new one... no, no, I mean, preparing for the New Year! What else could I be preparing!"

Everyone smiled knowingly.

Only one person, who had remained silent until now, timidly asked, "Um... what if it's not a potential heir?"

The room fell silent instantly.

Kui Xu glared at him: "If I'm not the heir apparent, I'll eat this table!"

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(End of this chapter)