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

Chapter 53 Why be afraid of him?
The news that the Crown Prince was hosting a banquet quickly spread throughout Changchun Garden.

The first to receive the news was naturally the Qianxi Emperor.

The reason for this was that Zhou Bao immediately went to Qingyuan Study and told Liang Jiugong about it.

Regarding the matter of the Crown Prince, Liang Jiugong naturally dared not delay and immediately took Zhou Bao to report to Emperor Qianxi:
The Crown Prince invited the princes to dinner!

Emperor Qianxi was stunned when he heard the news. He never expected that the Crown Prince, who had just redeemed the Tong family's crimes with an apricot-yellow robe, would still have the mind to invite guests to dinner.

Moreover, all the adult princes were invited.

It's useless to ask if someone is underage.

As a wise and benevolent ruler, Emperor Qianxi naturally demanded of his sons that they be kind to their fathers and filial to their sons, and that they be friendly and respectful to their brothers!
What he disliked most about the Crown Prince in the past was that the Crown Prince was a bit arrogant and treated his brothers as if they were his subjects.

While there's nothing inherently wrong with that, these sons are all his own flesh and blood.

He doesn't even treat them as his subjects. How can the Crown Prince do this? Where did he learn this arrogant sense of superiority from?

Now that the Crown Prince has invited his brothers to dinner, it seems he has begun to mend his relationship with them.

Thinking of these things, Emperor Qianxi felt a strange sense of joy.

He immediately said calmly, "Why does the Crown Prince invite all the princes to dinner?"

Although Zhou Bao often served Shen Ye, he was filled with fear of Emperor Qianxi.

He hurriedly said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, when the Crown Prince went to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager, he encountered the Fifth Prince."

"I've not seen you brothers for many days, and since I have some free time today, I'd like to invite you princes to have some wine and chat together."

Upon hearing this reason, Emperor Qianxi's mind was in turmoil.

Could it be that the Crown Prince lost his imperial yellow robe and wants to complain to the other princes?

still is……

However, since the crown prince is invited to dinner with all the princes, he probably won't do anything too outrageous.

He said calmly, "I'm a little tired today, so I won't go."

"Tell the Crown Prince and the others that they can drink and chat, but they are not allowed to drink excessively!"

Emperor Qianxi waved for Zhou Bao to leave, and the pen he was using to review memorials stopped in his tracks.

When the sons get together, will they speak ill of their father?
I probably wouldn't dare, but I'll still feel a little uneasy if I don't go and check.

But, to go or not...

Just as Emperor Qianxi was hesitating, Liang Jiugong led the eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department in carrying a tray full of green plaques.

The eunuch from the Imperial Household Department knelt respectfully on the ground and presented the tray with both hands.

Originally, Emperor Qianxi planned to rest alone today, but looking at those plaques, he inexplicably thought of the Crown Prince's words:
Your son wants to challenge his weakness.

What a rebellious son!
With a sigh in his heart, Emperor Qianxi pointed to the plaque of the most beautiful Consort Wang.

The eunuch from the Imperial Household Department acknowledged the request and respectfully withdrew.

In the western third courtyard of Changchun Garden, the fourth prince, Yunzhen, who had already been granted the title of Duke, frowned slightly as he looked at the invitation sent by Zhou Bao.

Why is the Crown Prince hosting guests on such an inauspicious occasion?

He is meticulous, even somewhat rigid.

These days at the Ministry of Revenue, although he doesn't manage much affairs, even the senior officials are somewhat afraid of him when they face him.

However, despite his doubts, he still honestly replied to the Crown Prince's invitation, "I understand. I will arrive on time, Your Highness."

After putting down the invitation, Yunzhen gently pinched her forehead.

Although he did not yet organize the infamous Sticky Rod Bureau, he had always had people carefully gathering information.

The Crown Prince was observing government affairs in Daxing County; this matter could not be kept from him.

He also knew that Wanfu Garden was the work of the Crown Prince.

When Wanfuyuan started selling, he considered buying a few sets, partly to please the Empress Dowager and partly to please the Crown Prince. But in the end, he decided to pretend he was deaf and dumb.

The books he had read over the years had taught him a lesson:
Making a move too early is not beneficial.

Only the one who laughs last laughs best!
Father is in good health; he has plenty of time left...

Compared to the quiet and deserted residence of the Fourth Prince, the Sixth Residence of the West, where the Eighth Prince Yunsi lived, was quite lively.

The Eighth Prince was not yet married. Although he had beautiful women serving him, their status meant that these women were at most just servants.

When Zhou Bao ran over to deliver the invitation, the Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince were playing chess in the courtyard of the Sixth Palace in the west, while the Eighth Prince was leisurely watching the game.

Upon receiving the invitation from Zhou Bao, the Eighth Prince casually said, "Eunuch Zhou, please thank the Crown Prince for me and tell him I will arrive on time."

Zhou Bao felt a sense of closeness to the Eighth Prince, who had a smiling face and a warm and welcoming demeanor.

Of course, this closeness is only superficial.

His only loyalty was to the Crown Prince.

"Thank you, Eighth Master. This servant will take his leave now."

Seeing Zhou Bao about to leave, the Eighth Prince instructed, "See Eunuch Zhou off."

The young eunuch serving him nodded slightly and then followed Zhou Bao out.

In just a short while, the little eunuch came in.

"Master, this servant gave Zhou Bao a five-tael purse, which Zhou Bao accepted." The little eunuch said in a smooth voice, "This servant then asked him why the Crown Prince was hosting a dinner party, and Zhou Bao said that the Crown Prince had moved into Changchun Garden today and felt that it had been a long time since he had gathered with the princes, so he invited everyone to a meal."

That's all, nothing more.

The Eighth Prince frowned, waved to the eunuch to leave, and then muttered, "Inviting guests for drinks, this isn't like the Crown Prince."

“Normally, even when his brothers invite him to dinner, he acts like a prince.”

"How could I possibly lower myself to treat you all to drinks now?"

The Ninth Prince casually said, "Eighth Brother, why don't we go eat and find out?"

"We'll meet force with force and water with earth. Are we afraid of him?"

Upon hearing this, the Eighth Prince glared and said, "Ninth Prince, don't talk nonsense."

"If word gets out that the Crown Prince is only half a ruler, Father will be furious."

At this point, he suddenly slapped his forehead and asked, "How are you two doing with your reading of the 'Veritable Records of the Ming Dynasty'?"

"Have you written the reading notes that the Crown Prince requested?"

The Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince, who were holding chess pieces, exchanged a glance and remained silent for a moment.

In fact, their silence says it all.

The Eighth Prince said in a tone of disappointment, "How could you ignore the Crown Prince's arrangements?"

"You guys!"

The tenth prince threw down the chess piece in his hand and said, "He made the two of us read the 'Veritable Records of the Ming Dynasty' purely to seek revenge."

"He has no right to punish us!"

"If we are to be punished, it should be by the Emperor, not by him! When did he get a chance to interfere?"

Seeing his two brothers who seemed completely unconcerned, Yun Si swallowed the words he was about to say.

His two younger brothers are with him, which is his source of confidence.

If things fall apart, he will have much less to rely on.

Besides, things have come to this point, and there's no point in saying anything now.

Moreover, what the tenth prince said is also true. Disciplining the princes is the emperor's responsibility. Would the crown prince overstep his bounds?
(End of this chapter)