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

Chapter 9 The frightened bird
After meeting the two highest-ranking people in the palace, Shen Ye returned to Yuqing Palace.

As he grew older, the area within the palace that he could move around in became smaller and smaller.

Putting aside everything else, the Qianxi Emperor's harem was not a place he could set foot in.

The atmosphere at Yuqing Palace remained somber.

Tong Mama had just been dismissed and sent home to recuperate, which made the palace maids and eunuchs in the palace not dare to utter a single breath.

They were terrified that they might accidentally stray from the right path and bring disaster upon themselves.

The tea in the East Study was ready. Shen Ye, who was a little thirsty, had just taken a sip of water when Zhou Bao nervously reported, "Your Highness, Ling Pu requests an audience."

Lingpu is currently a fifth-rank official in the Imperial Household Department, mainly responsible for the expenses of Yuqing Palace.

As Tong Mama's husband, Ling Pu was quite loyal to Shen Ye, the Crown Prince.

However, when they become greedy, they show no mercy whatsoever.

In their eyes, the prince's money is their money.

If Shen Ye is ambitious and wants to recreate the Xuanwu Gate incident, he will naturally need to use Ling Pu.

But now, he's ready to lie down.

Shen Ye didn't want to see Ling Pu anymore.

He knew what Lingpu wanted to say, but now that he had decided to give up, he could still afford to make a fuss over a case of cheating in the imperial examinations.

So he casually ordered, "I won't see you."

"Tell Lingpu that I am not seeing any visitors lately."

Zhou Bao agreed and quickly left.

He silently reminded himself of one thing: that Granny Tong and her husband had already lost favor with the Crown Prince.

Therefore, they should avoid mentioning their affairs in front of the Crown Prince in the future.

Shen Ye could refuse Ling Pu, but he could not refuse Crown Princess Shi Jingrong.

Just as Shen Ye finished drinking the tea in his cup, Crown Princess Shi Jingrong gracefully arrived at the East Study.

Although she was wearing loungewear, Shi Jingrong still exuded an air of elegance and poise.

Xiao Rou, who served by her side, was like an unnamed little flower. Although she was also beautiful, she could hardly compete with Shi Jingrong in any way.

"Greetings, Your Highness." Shi Jingrong performed a proper curtsy, her actions flawless.

Shen Ye waved her hand and said, "Your Highness, there's no need for such formalities."

"We're husband and wife, so there's no need for such formalities. It makes us seem too distant."

Shi Jingrong hadn't expected the Crown Prince to say that, and a strange tenderness welled up in her heart.

However, she still said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, etiquette must not be disregarded."

Shen Ye smiled and did not offer any explanation.

Once a person has formed a fixed idea in their mind, they won't waste time trying to change it. Besides, at this moment, he really just wants to live a leisurely life before being confined.

"Is there something you need?" Shen Ye asked casually.

Shi Jingrong sat down in the chair next to Shen Ye and said, "Your Highness, today Consort Yi sent someone to ask if our palace has any candidates for the upcoming selection?"

“If so, she can first ask the Empress Dowager for a favor.”

The imperial concubine selection was essentially a process of selecting women to fill the emperor's harem.

In the past, Emperor Qianxi, as a father, always let the crown prince choose first.

Although he had already decided to give up, Shen Ye couldn't help but be tempted by this benefit and immediately said, "I'll think about it first."

Upon hearing this answer, the Crown Princess appeared calm on the surface, but she felt a little uneasy inside.

Although everything she learned taught her that the Crown Prince needed to love all living beings and that she shouldn't be jealous.

But deep down, I was still incredibly jealous.

However, the Crown Princess was no ordinary person. She quickly calmed down and said, "Yes, I will have Xiao Rou bring you the list of candidates for the imperial concubine selection later." At this point, she hesitated for a moment and asked, "Your Highness, is what Granny Tong said really alright?"

When she said those words, a look of seriousness appeared on the Crown Princess's face.

Clearly, she was somewhat worried about this matter.

As a daughter raised in an official family, the Crown Princess naturally understood the seriousness of the imperial examination fraud case.

This can be described as a grand ceremony for selecting talent in a country, and according to many, it is related to the future of the empire.

If it weren't for the importance of the matter, and given her respectful relationship with the Crown Prince, she wouldn't have bothered to come and ask.

When asked by the Crown Princess, Shen Ye replied calmly, "It's nothing serious, it's alright."

Shi Jingrong knew about this because Ling Pu had someone tell her.

Although Lingpu did not say how much the Crown Prince was involved, she could tell from the words Lingpu had sent that the matter was serious.

After all, Lingpu and his wife didn't have a good relationship with her.

"Your Highness, His Majesty has always attached great importance to the imperial examinations," Shi Jingrong said softly but firmly.

In the past, the crown prince might have become somewhat exasperated upon hearing the crown princess's lecturing.

After all, he's a typical domineering CEO, and he hates it when people tell him what to do.

However, for Shen Ye, he had already settled into a passive, complacent approach. Listening to Shi Jingrong's words, he felt even more that this Crown Princess was a master.

They said quite a lot on the surface, and said everything that needed to be said.

However, the phrase "cheating in the imperial examinations" was not mentioned.

However, he was not going to mess around with this matter. The former crown prince had left him with an unsolvable predicament.

He can just lie down.

According to later recollections, Emperor Qianxi even tolerated the Crown Prince selling official positions, let alone the cheating in the imperial examinations.

What's the point of all this fuss?

Those who lie down will have big shots clean up their messes!

"It's alright!" Shen Ye picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then changed the subject, saying, "Today is my fourth brother's family's full moon celebration. What gifts have we prepared?"

Shi Jingrong was taken aback.

I'm talking to you about something important, and you're just pretending to be clueless, asking about such trivial matters!
Didn't the Crown Prince always ignore such matters in the past?

Despite her doubts, Shi Jingrong calmly replied, "According to past customs, our palace sends a gold necklace, a gold bracelet, a gold lock, and a set of gold tableware."

Upon hearing this, Shen Ye smacked his lips.

Giving gold as a gift is truly extravagant!

"Your Highness, is there something wrong?"

Shi Jingrong added the second sentence because the Crown Prince never asked about this matter.

"Nothing's wrong, it's just that we're going to a banquet, and everyone wants to see what gifts we've prepared," Shen Ye said casually, feeling a slight pang of regret for the gold he had given away.

Shi Jingrong was taken aback!
She and the Crown Prince were husband and wife, and she knew that the Crown Prince never participated in such trivial matters. What happened this time?
Is it that the Fourth Prince is different, or...?

Four words inexplicably came to mind for Shi Jingrong: a bird startled by the twang of a bow!
Was it because the Emperor executed several of his close attendants in the palace some time ago that the Crown Prince was frightened and did this?

Just as she hesitated, Shen Ye glanced at her and casually said, "It must be quite boring for you to stay in the palace all day long."

"This is a very good reason to leave the palace."

Let's go shopping together.

After saying this, Shen Ye felt a surge of anticipation.

He has already met Emperor Qianxi, and now he really wants to see his brothers who fought for the throne!

Seeking all kinds of support for my new book.
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(End of this chapter)