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

Chapter 52 These guys need to be taught a lesson.
After leaving the Empress Dowager's Chunhui Hall, Shen Ye headed towards the West Garden.

The West Garden covers a considerable area and has beautiful scenery. It was a place specially arranged by Emperor Qianxi for the Crown Prince to live in.

If we're just talking about the scenery, this place is even better than the Qingyuan Study where Emperor Qianxi lived.

Perhaps for the sake of symmetry, Emperor Qianxi named his son's residence Taoyuan Study.

The two bookstores, one to the east and one to the west, are quite pleasing to the eye.

Walking under the shade of the trees, feeling the moisture in the breeze, Shen Ye understood more and more why Emperor Qianxi liked Changchun Garden.

Or perhaps, I should build my own Crown Prince's residence here?
Shen Ye knew he didn't have the ability to get Changchun Garden back.

After all, Emperor Qianxi would spend most of his time living in Changchun Garden.

However, if I were to raise more money, it seems possible to build a garden next to Changchun Garden.

For example, the location of the Old Summer Palace.

Even if Emperor Qianxi were to depose him in the future, out of consideration for his father's reputation, he probably wouldn't take back his garden.

Living in the Old Summer Palace would be an absolute aesthetic treat!
But where can we get this money?

Asking Emperor Qianxi for money? A mocking smile appeared on Shen Ye's lips.

Emperor Qianxi probably doesn't have much money right now, otherwise the relief efforts for the disaster victims in Shuntian Prefecture wouldn't be so sloppy.

Earn your own money...

However, my main goal is to relax and not work. If I were to go to great lengths to earn money, wouldn't that go against my original intention and lead me further and further astray on the wrong path?
However, building a place where you can live comfortably is just as important!
While he was struggling with his decision, Shen Ye passed by a row of newly built courtyards.

This was a residence built by Emperor Qianxi for his sons, so that they could enjoy his company when they came to escape the summer heat.

"Who's come here to escape the summer heat?" Shen Ye asked Zhou Bao.

As the chief eunuch serving Shen Ye, Zhou Bao was quite clear about some things.

Upon hearing Shen Ye's question, he immediately replied quickly, "Your Highness, most of the princes have arrived."

Upon hearing this answer, Cheng Xuyuan thought of the matter of inviting the Fifth Prince for drinks.

If it were just the Fifth Prince, who knows what Emperor Qianxi would say!

"Where are the Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince?" Shen Ye asked Zhou Bao.

"Both princes are here as well." Zhou Bao was a little surprised by Shen Ye's question, but answered honestly.

Hearing that both the eighth and ninth brothers were there, Shen Ye immediately made up his mind.

These days, Shen Ye has been busy observing politics (playing around) and has no time to pay attention to the Ninth and Tenth Princes, who are staunch supporters of the Eighth Prince.

He submitted all the political observations he was asked to provide by Emperor Qianxi.

However, these two guys didn't submit a single reading summary of the "Veritable Records of the Ming Dynasty," even though they themselves had asked them to.

This time, we can't let those two get away!
Having already been a dutiful son to the Empress Dowager and Emperor Qianxi for far too long, it was time for him to act as a good elder brother for a while.

As for Prince Zhi, let's discuss the relationship between ruler and subject.

"Wait a moment and take my invitation to all the princes. Tell them I'm going to treat you all to barbecue and drinks outside Taoyuan Bookstore."

At this point, Shen Ye hesitated for a moment and said, "Also, go to Qingyuan Study again and tell them that I want to invite my brothers for drinks and a chat, and see if Father Emperor has time."

Zhou Bao was taken aback when he heard this arrangement.

Although he hadn't served Shen Ye for very long, he was promoted after Emperor Qianxi dealt with Shen Ye's previous personal eunuch.

However, he believed he knew the Crown Prince's habits very well.

The Crown Prince feared Emperor Qianxi as if he were a tiger.

In the past, the Crown Prince would generally avoid anything that Emperor Qianxi was involved in.

But now, what is the Crown Prince doing...?

Despite his doubts, Zhou Bao still respectfully agreed. When he returned to Taoyuan Study, Shi Jingrong was arranging for the palace maids and eunuchs to settle the items she had brought. Seeing Shen Ye arrive, Shi Jingrong respectfully bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Highness."

Shen Ye was taken aback when he saw the respectful Shi Jingrong.

His relationship with Shi Jingrong had been very close these days. Although Shi Jingrong would greet him when she saw him, she did not show any distance in her greetings as she did now.

If you were the original crown prince, and you distanced yourself from me, I would also become indifferent to you.

However, Shen Ye was not the original crown prince. He walked straight to Shi Jingrong, leaned over, supported himself on the table with one hand and put the other hand on the back of the chair, presenting a seemingly embracing posture, and said affectionately, "Jingrong, you have had a hard journey. You can leave these chores to Xiaorou. You should rest more."

With so many people around, and Shen Ye showing off their affection like this, Shi Jingrong blushed with embarrassment.

As the Crown Princess, she always presented herself with grace and poise in front of others, so the Crown Prince's treatment of her left her somewhat at a loss.

In the end, she tightened herself up like a clam, pulled away from Shen Ye's embrace, and said meaningfully, "It's only right that others have to work hard. I haven't even had a chance to congratulate the Crown Prince on finally getting what he wanted."

"Not only did he win over the eldest daughter of the Cao family, but he also gained a beautiful young woman!"

Got what you wanted?
Shen Ye was taken aback for a moment after hearing this, and then said, "Didn't you say that this matter hasn't been decided yet?"

"Just now, His Majesty sent a message."

Shi Jingrong gave a soft snort and said, "Isn't this exactly what the Crown Prince wants?"

He was just saying he wanted to resolve the issues with Granny Tong's family, but he ended up getting two beauties for himself.

If men were reliable, pigs could fly!

Shi Jingrong thought to herself with a sense of grievance while trying to hold back the tears in her eyes.

At this moment, Shen Ye had already understood.

He looked around, then waved his hand and said, "You can go down now."

Although Xiao Rou and the others did not know the reason, they dared not disobey Shen Ye's orders, and left respectfully after bowing.

Shen Ye, holding Shi Jingrong's hand, said, "Do you know why Father Emperor is so magnanimous?"

Is this the atmosphere?

Shi Jingrong grumbled inwardly but dared not voice it, after all, Emperor Qianxi was not only her father-in-law but also the ruler of the world.

Some things are better left unsaid than understood.

Seeing that Shi Jingrong remained silent, Shen Ye said solemnly, "Just now, I handed over the Crown Prince's apricot-yellow robe."

"They said it was to pay for the lives of Granny Tong's entire family."

"His Majesty has agreed."

Upon hearing this, Shi Jingrong was startled.

The apricot-yellow robe was a symbol of the crown prince's status; in everyone's eyes, it was an outfit only slightly inferior to the emperor's dragon robe.

Even when the crown prince, dressed in an apricot-yellow robe, walked in from afar, everyone who saw him had to bow respectfully as if they were seeing the emperor.

The Crown Prince's act of giving the Tong family an apricot-yellow robe to atone for their sins was one gesture, but the Emperor's decision to take the robe back was another.

These two beauties are probably just an extra.

Looking at Shen Ye, who was dressed in ordinary prince's robes, Shi Jingrong's tears finally fell.

She murmured with some sorrow, "The Crown Prince has been wronged, but as long as he works hard, I believe that the apricot-yellow robe will definitely be returned."

Upon hearing this, Shen Ye thought to himself, "How can I possibly want that thing again!"

If I must, I'll wear the imperial robe; otherwise, I'll wear the prince's robe, which will be more comfortable.

He looked at Shi Jingrong, who seemed to be defending him, and smiled, saying, "Alright, it's all in the past now."

"Hurry up and make the arrangements for me, I'm treating all the brothers to dinner tonight!"

(End of this chapter)