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

Chapter 504 Watching him build a tall building, watching him entertain guests, watching his building collapse
When the Qianxi Emperor summoned his sons, it was usually a collective audience.

They wanted to meet everyone together, adhering to the principle of "equal distribution of benefits," and the scene was quite spectacular at one point.

If they were to meet separately, the first person chosen should logically be the Crown Prince.

This is the rule, and it's common sense.

But this time, the first person Emperor Qianxi summoned was actually the Eighth Prince!

Upon hearing this, the hearts of the gentlemen waiting outside the hall skipped a beat:
Something's not right, this is very unusual!

So, apart from the eldest prince, the others secretly glanced at Crown Prince Shen Ye out of the corner of their eyes.

Shen Ye had long seen through Emperor Qianxi's tricks—

It's just a deliberate attempt to intimidate him, to make him feel the heat under his butt so he'll behave obediently!
This is an old, overused tactic!

He smiled slightly, completely ignoring the remark, and continued chatting with the Fourth Prince and the others, creating a cheerful atmosphere.

After waiting for almost half an hour, the Eighth Prince finally swaggered out from inside, his face flushed, holding a scroll of calligraphy and painting as if it were a precious treasure.

He laughed so hard his eyes disappeared, and his voice rose an octave:

"An authentic work by Yan Zhenqing! My father saw that I liked it, so he bestowed it upon me!"

Shen Ye glanced at the painting and calmly said, "Eighth Brother, keep it safe and enjoy it slowly when you get back."

Just then, the eunuch Liang Jiugong came over, bowing, and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty invites you in."

Shen Ye nodded to him, then turned and went into the study in Qianqing Palace.

Emperor Qianxi was strolling around the room with his hands behind his back. When he saw him arrive, he didn't even raise his eyelids, and his words were somewhat sarcastic:

"I met with the Eighth Prince first. What are your thoughts?"

Shen Ye thought to himself, "Oh ho!"—So straightforward? No beating around the bush?

His smile remained unchanged: "Eighth Brother is currently in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, and the court is waiting for the funds."

"The affairs of state are of utmost importance. It is perfectly reasonable for Father to see Eighth Brother first. How could I possibly object?"

But secretly, he added to himself, "You just want to see me get angry!"
Hehe, I'm going to stand here perfectly still, so you'll be disappointed!

Emperor Qianxi snorted, it was hard to tell whether he was satisfied or even angrier: "It's best that you think that way."

The conversation suddenly shifted: "I heard that your Yuqing Bank... has issued gold notes of ten taels each?"

Shen Ye felt a chill run down his neck, and a sense of vigilance immediately arose in his heart—

This bank is his money bag, his guarantee for future living, and also his secret weapon, although it's not fully developed yet...

But on the surface, he still smiled calmly and said:
"That's right! Many people say that the face value of a hundred-tael gold note is too large and inconvenient to spend, so I had some ten-tael notes printed."

"With ten taels of gold notes, making change is much easier!"

Emperor Qianxi stared at the calm and composed Crown Prince for a few seconds, his mind repeatedly considering the words "printing silver."

He felt that something was wrong, but what exactly was the problem?
But you just can't catch it.

He always felt that there was something strange about the Crown Prince's seemingly reasonable explanation.

"Didn't you say there wasn't enough paper to print gold notes? How come you still have the capacity to print ten taels?"

Shen Ye's smile became more casual: "The paper used for ten taels is of slightly lower quality than that used for one hundred taels, and the process is also a little simpler."

"We can't print large denominations, otherwise it would easily lower the quality! So we might as well just print small denominations."

Emperor Qianxi did not press the matter further and waved his hand:
"Alright, kneel down and take your leave. You'll be paying your respects to your grandmother later, so don't be late."

As Shen Ye left the study, he felt a dampness on his back.

Although he answered fluently and flawlessly, Shen Ye could clearly sense that Emperor Qianxi's suspicions had been thoroughly aroused...

Hopefully the plan will proceed smoothly and there won't be any unexpected complications!
Greetings, burning incense, praying for blessings...

After completing the New Year's Eve routine, Shen Ye felt as if her legs were so numb they didn't even belong to her anymore.

But these are the rules for celebrating the Lunar New Year, who dares to break them?
Not to mention him, even Emperor Qianxi had to obediently complete the entire process.

After all, what we seek is peace and prosperity for the country and its people!
There will be a family banquet at noon on New Year's Eve.

Those who could come were all members of the royal family, and moreover, they had to be close to Emperor Qianxi.

Such banquets were not open to anyone who was not a member of the royal family.

Even the most favored officials, such as Tong Guowei, were not included in this meal.

In previous years, the banquet was held in the Qianqing Palace, but this year it was moved to the Taihe Hall!

The space is larger, the pillars are taller, and the atmosphere is more solemn.

When Shen Ye finished her work and rushed over, the hall was already full of members of the imperial clan.

Everyone bowed in unison: "Greetings, Your Highness!"

The former crown prince wasn't very warm towards these relatives, always feeling that all they wanted was official positions and money, and their faces were full of calculation.

But Shen Ye, who transmigrated from another world, is very worldly-wise—

Kind words are free and can boost your image, so they're very cost-effective.

He immediately smiled and helped up Prince Shun, who was at the very front:

"Fifth Uncle, please rise! How have you been lately? You look even healthier than the last time I saw you!"

Prince Shun was Emperor Qianxi's uncle. He was older and of higher seniority, and although he had no real power, his status was extraordinary.

Even the emperor greeted him with a smile; he was one of the more influential members of the imperial family.

Previously, the Crown Prince would only address him by his title indifferently, his formality revealing a certain distance. Now, a simple "Uncle" brings a smile to the old man's face, and the wrinkles on his face have smoothed out considerably.

Although he did not support the crown prince, he did not oppose him either, and his main approach was to help whoever won.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I'm in good health! It's just that I have so many young children at home, I have so much to worry about..."

What do imperial relatives want from meeting the emperor and crown prince? They just want to find ways to gain some personal advantage!

Emperor Qianxi always adhered to one principle: Want power? No way!
However, if you want money, I can express my gratitude by giving you some appropriate compensation.

Shen Ye smiled and replied, "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings; the most important thing for you is to take good care of your health."

"Spoil the children more if they are obedient, and discipline them less if they are disobedient."

"If this is really outrageous, then let the Imperial Clan Court do something about it for you?"

Prince Shun smiled and said, "Your Highness is kind and considerate of this old minister. I am deeply grateful!"

She continued, "But my children are quite filial... As parents, we love our children who are filial, don't we?"

Prince Shun's words clearly had a hidden meaning...

Shen Ye's smile remained unchanged. He glanced around the hall and saw the Eighth Prince, Yun Si, sitting at the head of the lower seat, surrounded by a group of obsequious members of the imperial family. It was a lively scene, with everyone fawning over him.

The seat that should have been next to the Crown Prince was empty, while the Fourth Prince's seat was further back, making him look somewhat lonely.

Shen Ye knew perfectly well that Emperor Qianxi was putting in all his effort to support the Eighth Prince!

He nodded to Prince Shun, his smile remaining impeccable:
"Fifth Uncle is right, filial children are never bad."

But in his heart, he added, "I wonder if this filial piety is for the sake of face or for the throne?"
Just then, a loud announcement rang out: "The Emperor has arrived!"

Everyone quickly stood in line according to their titles, their movements perfectly synchronized, and bowed in unison.

Emperor Qianxi, dressed in a bright yellow casual robe, strode in and waved his hand, saying:

"Relax, everyone. It's a family dinner today, so there's no need to stand on ceremony."

That being said, who dares to really relax?
Everyone had a smile on their face, their cheeks were sore, and they were all on edge.

Liang Jiugong directed the palace servants to begin serving the dishes. Exquisite bowls and plates were placed on the table, creating a grand display and filling the air with fragrance.

But most people's minds are not on the delicious food at this moment.

Shen Ye sat below the emperor, silently watching the Eighth Prince sitting upright not far away—

The Eighth Prince remained calm and composed, his back ramrod straight, a perfectly measured smile playing on his lips.

He appeared both respectful and approachable, without showing the slightest hint of pride or arrogance despite his front-seat location.

Emperor Qianxi chatted with several elders for a while, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.

Suddenly, as if he had just remembered something, he called out a name:

"Crown Prince, Yunsi, you two should offer a toast to our elders on my behalf."

The hall fell silent instantly!
In previous years, this was a task exclusively performed by the Crown Prince, a fixed event showcasing his status as heir apparent. Now, out of the blue, the Eighth Prince has also been added...

The group exchanged glances, their thoughts swirling beneath the surface.

The eighth prince became a minister in charge of the ministry!

The Eighth Prince's mother was promoted to Consort Wei!

The eighth prince was bestowed with the same number of "Fu" characters as the crown prince!

They were seated right next to the Crown Prince, and now they were toasting together...

This series of signals makes one wonder!

Could it be that Emperor Qianxi is really planning to replace his predecessor?
Just as everyone was surprised, the Eighth Prince respectfully stood up and said, "Your subject obeys the decree."

The voice was so steady that it was completely calm.

Countless gazes instantly focused on Shen Ye's face, some inquiring, some worried, and some simply watching the spectacle.

Shen Ye, however, smiled broadly, steadily raised his wine glass, and began toasting Prince Shun. He walked with ease, chatted and laughed freely, as calm as if he were strolling in his own backyard.

The tenth prince in the back row secretly tugged at the ninth prince's sleeve: "Ninth brother, what is Father Emperor doing? Isn't he deliberately trying to embarrass the crown prince?"

The Ninth Prince's eyes swept warily around him, and he whispered:

"I heard that the Crown Prince upset the Emperor recently... Let's talk less and eat more later, so as not to cause trouble for the Crown Prince."

The tenth prince pouted, looking unconvinced: "I just can't stand the eldest prince's smug attitude, as if he's already the crown prince!"

"Look at him, he's sitting even straighter than Lao Ba, and his mouth is practically stretched to his ears!"

At this moment, Shen Ye and the Eighth Prince presented a toast to the First Prince, who raised his cup and smiled, saying:
"I must drink this cup of wine from the Crown Prince! I hope that I can drink this cup of wine from the Crown Prince on behalf of my father every year from now on!"

Shen Ye looked up and smiled: "Don't worry, brother, at your age, you'll definitely be able to drink."

The eldest prince's face stiffened—the words sounded like a blessing, but upon closer inspection, they were sharp and cutting, yet there was nothing wrong with them!

Does this mean he's in poor health? Or is it a curse that he won't live long?
He chuckled twice: "With Eighth Brother helping out today, Your Highness must be feeling much more relaxed, right?"

Before Shen Ye could speak, a eunuch rushed in, his face pale and his steps unsteady.

"Your Majesty! An urgent message from the Governor-General of Liangjiang!"

Emperor Qianxi frowned, then forced a smile, feigning ease.
"That servant Ge Li certainly knows how to time things; he doesn't forget to report good news to me even during the New Year?"

Unexpectedly, the eunuch knelt down with a thud, his forehead touching the cold floor tiles, his voice trembling and choked with sobs:

"The report says... that Governor-General Ge Li of Liangjiang... was stabbed to death by mutinous soldiers!"

(End of this chapter)