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

Chapter 54 Filial Piety Gathers, Brotherly Love and Respect
Outside Qingyuan Study, there is a waterside pavilion.

Shen Ye then arranged to host the dinner at the waterside pavilion.

The sky is vast and boundless, a gentle breeze blows by my side, I drink and eat meat, it's truly a delightful experience.

Shi Jingrong took this dinner party very seriously.

After all, the guests were princes. Although none of them were as noble as the Crown Prince, each of them was still the Emperor's son.

Shen Ye sat in the main seat, looking at the princes who had already arrived, and an idea suddenly popped into his mind.

If a meteorite fell from the sky and killed all these guys, wouldn't Emperor Qianxi, as their father, be able to have a lot less to worry about?

This thought brought a smile to Shen Ye's lips.

Sitting next to him, the third prince, Yunzhi, smiled and said, "Second brother, the crown prince, we agreed to take turns treating, so this time it's on me."

"I was just deciding what to eat when your invitation arrived, Second Brother."

Looking at Yunzhi, who seemed to think, "You stole my chance," Shen Ye chuckled inwardly.

This third son is skilled in both literature and martial arts; he's quite a character.

However, this guy is a bit stingy in his dealings with people; in short, he's the kind of person who gets a good deal but then complains about it.

However, at this time, he was closer to him.

Whether this closeness was genuine or had ulterior motives, Shen Ye didn't care; none of that mattered anymore.

I've already given up, why should I care what he does?

Life is like a play, it all depends on acting skills. He likes to amuse himself, so let him perform, and just watch.

So Shen Ye smiled and said, "If Third Brother wants to treat us, there will be plenty of opportunities."

“We’ve been at Changchun Garden these past few days, you can invite them again at a later time.”

"I will definitely participate."

The Third Prince frowned slightly. He had thought that if he said a few words, he could justify omitting the blame!
Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince did not readily agree to treat us brothers together.

Instead, it means that he should attend whenever he has time.

Your Highness, I am your third brother who has always followed you!
"Alright, I'll make the arrangements and send you the invitation, Second Brother."

Seeing the Third Prince's cheerful demeanor again, Shen Ye smiled and said, "Third brother, you'd better get something good to eat."

“Among us brothers, only you and the eldest brother have high salaries.”

"Each person receives a salary of ten thousand taels a year."

Shen Ye's words were both a joke and a fact. Among the adult princes, only two were granted the title of Prince of the County, and the First Prince and the Third Prince received the highest stipends.

The Third Prince could only laugh awkwardly, "Since my Second Brother, the Crown Prince, has spoken, then I will certainly search for it thoroughly."

Shen Ye knew there was no point in continuing to argue with the Third Prince, so he turned to the Fourth Prince, who was sitting to the side, and asked, "How lively has Fourth Brother's eldest son been lately?"

Yunzhen always kept his mouth to himself and his nose to himself.

He has always been a serious person, so even at banquets, most of his brothers don't chat or laugh with him.

I was afraid that he would kill the conversation with just one sentence.

Yunzhen had no intention of changing this situation.

He was quietly observing the Crown Prince's black dragon-patterned robes, which were the same as theirs.

He wore this robe for many years, and only after being granted the title of Duke did he change into the Duke's robe.

The Crown Prince has always worn an apricot-yellow robe since he was a child, so why is he wearing such a robe this time?
Is the Crown Prince simply keeping a low profile? Or...?

Just as he was pondering this, Shen Ye unexpectedly spoke to him.

However, he usually sits quietly and chants scriptures when he has nothing to do, and he has basically developed a calm and unperturbed habit.

Upon hearing Shen Ye's question, he smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. This child is quite robust, but he likes to cause trouble at night."

Shen Ye waved his hand and said, "Fourth brother, let's not be so polite when we're having a meal and chatting!"

"Otherwise, even if you don't feel bad, I will."

At this point, he smiled and said, "Children are precious, Fourth Brother, you should pay more attention to them." Hearing these seemingly casual words, the Fourth Prince's mind was in turmoil.

What's wrong with the Crown Prince?
Why are they suddenly becoming so concerned about their own family affairs?

In the past, the crown prince would only talk about things that interested him.

As for what happens to others, that's not even within the Crown Prince's concern.

"Your Highness, the Prince Zhi has arrived," Zhou Bao reported as he approached.

Shen Ye smiled and said, "Then I'll go greet Prince Zhi."

As he spoke, he stood up and walked out of the waterside pavilion.

At this moment, under the bright palace lanterns, Prince Zhijun Yunshi walked in.

At this moment, Yunshi walked with light steps, giving people a feeling of heroic spirit.

Upon seeing Shen Ye, he quickly bowed and said, "Yunshi greets Your Highness!"

As the Prince of Zhi bowed, Shen Ye gently helped him up, saying, "Brother, come quickly, we brothers have been waiting for you."

As they spoke, she naturally took the arm of Prince Zhi and led him toward the middle of the waterside pavilion.

The three princes sat below, watching Shen Ye and Prince Zhi walk back to the waterside pavilion in a friendly manner. The three of them smiled at each other but did not speak.

Although even the usually fearless Fourteenth Prince sat obediently, most of the people who came to eat this meal were guessing what Shen Ye wanted to do.

The young master wouldn't invite people to dinner for no reason.

Shen Ye picked up his wine glass and said, "The last time we brothers drank together was for our fourth brother's family's happy occasion."

"More than half a month has passed in the blink of an eye. All the brothers have been busy observing politics and haven't even had time to get together."

"I think the weather is nice today, so I'd like to have a couple of drinks with everyone."

"Come, let's have a drink first, wishing the Emperor and Empress Dowager long life and good fortune."

No one would dare to refuse Shen Ye's polite words.

After all, this was a blessing for the emperor and empress dowager.

The chilled wine was incredibly refreshing. And right after that first sip, the roasted lamb was served.

Tender lamb paired with special spices, one bite is truly delicious and juicy, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, very satisfying.

Eating freshly cooked, sizzling lamb, paired with a refreshing sip of chilled wine, is truly an incredibly enjoyable experience.

Moreover, the princes present were all shrewd and capable individuals, so the gathering was filled with laughter and brotherly affection.

After drinking three or four glasses of wine, Shen Ye gently put down his glass and then said, "Fourteenth Brother, you've started reading the Doctrine of the Mean recently. How's it going?"

"Your Highness, I have just learned to recite the Doctrine of the Mean. My teacher says I am still far from proficient."

Looking at the solemn-looking Fourteenth Prince, Shen Ye thought to himself, "He was cuter when he was little."

As you get older, you start to have more thoughts on things.

He smiled and said, "I'm not afraid of almost it. As long as I'm willing to work hard, I think my fourteenth brother will definitely be no worse than those scholars."

At this point, he said with a touch of emotion, "Observing the government these past few days has given me many insights."

"Although the knowledge in books may not be applicable, reading more books is still very beneficial."

"You only realize how little you know when you need to use it, so don't follow my example."

At this point, his gaze fell directly on the Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince.

While Shen Ye was concerned about the Fourteenth Prince's studies, the Ninth and Tenth Princes' expressions changed drastically.

They all had a strong premonition that something was wrong!
The Crown Prince has spoken about the Fourteenth Prince's studies, so the next thing to focus on is their studies.

In particular, they did not write down their thoughts on the "Veritable Records of the Ming Dynasty," nor did they take it to heart.

Just as they were anxiously trying to figure out how to explain themselves, the Crown Prince's questioning came as expected: "Ninth Brother, Tenth Brother, I've been busy with state affairs these past few days, so I haven't had time to teach you about studying the 'Veritable Records of the Ming Dynasty'."

"How are you all doing with your studies?"

(End of this chapter)