Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

In the capital, at Dengshikou, in the study of the Yan family mansion.

"Father, this is wonderful news!"

Yan Shifan's eyes lit up.

"Even Lu Bing and his mother, who had a close relationship with His Highness Prince Ying, have not visited the prince even once in order to avoid suspicion."

Now, we can finally have a legitimate reason to contact His Highness Prince Ying.

Just today, after the court session, the Jiajing Emperor summoned Yan Song alone and said some cryptic things.

Yan Song was most adept at deciphering the deeper meaning behind the emperor's words.

Although Emperor Jiajing did not say it directly, he was clearly implying to the Minister of Rites to find a way that would not violate etiquette to allow Prince Ying to meet several potential princesses in advance.

"His Majesty's favor towards Prince Ying is unparalleled among all the princes in the land."

Yan Song stroked his long beard.

"Back then, I suggested that His Highness Prince Ying should temporarily govern De'an Prefecture and reside in Chengtian Prefecture. De'an Prefecture is right next to Chengtian Prefecture. Prince Shou is already fifty-eight years old and has no sons. In fact, everyone knows that the extinction of the Shou clan is a foregone conclusion."

"This method was originally quite good. His Majesty almost explicitly stated that he hoped Prince Ying would stay in Chengtian Prefecture."

Yan Shifan nodded.

"Since Chengtian Prefecture cannot be sealed off, we can only try to target neighboring prefectures."

Of the four prefectures adjacent to Chengtian Prefecture, the other three were completely impossible, so De'an Prefecture was actually the most suitable.

The fact that His Highness Prince Shou is still alive is the perfect excuse for His Highness Prince Ying to stay in Chengtian Prefecture for an extended period of time.

Unfortunately, those pedantic fellows in the court insist on bringing up the issue of "unfilial piety and lack of brotherly love," failing to grasp His Majesty's deeper meaning.

Fortunately, we came up with another idea and chose Yunyang Prefecture, which His Majesty agreed to.

Although Yunyang Prefecture and Chengtian Prefecture are separated only by Xiangyang Prefecture, they are located deep in the mountains and were originally a gathering place for refugees. It was only during the Chenghua period that the prefecture was established and the people were registered. It has only been more than 60 years since then.

Although the large-scale peasant uprisings of yesteryear are no longer present in Yunyang Prefecture, small groups of bandits have never ceased to exist.

Many refugees and bandits still live hidden in the mountains that cover the entire Yunyang Prefecture.

This place is actually the least suitable place to enfeoff princes.

His Highness Prince Ying was tasked with overseeing the expansion of the Xianling Mausoleum. Even after the project was completed, he was still required to perform sacrificial rites at the Xianling Mausoleum on behalf of his brother every year.

However, His Highness is, after all, a prince who has already been enfeoffed, and it is inappropriate for His Majesty to directly issue an edict ordering His Highness Prince Ying to reside permanently in Chengtian Prefecture.

Ideally, His Highness himself would not wish to remain in the fiefdom.

Yunyang Prefecture, which was completely unsuitable for a prince to be enfeoffed, was the perfect place for His Highness Prince Ying.

As long as His Majesty does not force the Prince of Ying to return to his fiefdom outside of sacrificial rites, Your Highness may reside permanently in Chengtian Prefecture.

"Although Chengtian Prefecture is not officially the fiefdom of the Prince of Ying, in fact there is no difference."

Yan Song laughed.

"A prince who simultaneously governs two vassal states is unprecedented in the Ming Dynasty."

To put it bluntly, there was really no need to build a Prince's residence in Yunyang Prefecture. Even if it were built, His Highness Prince Ying would probably rarely go there to live.

Of course, whether or not one can reside there is one thing, but what other vassal states should have, His Highness Prince Ying's fiefdom must have, as this concerns the face of the royal family.

When I suggested this to His Majesty, I did not consider whether there was a place in Yunyang Prefecture to build a royal palace.

After the Ministry of Works went to survey the area, they found that there was no room inside the city and they had to choose a site outside the city.

I originally thought that His Highness the Prince of Ying would be displeased after learning about it.

Unexpectedly, His Highness even submitted a memorial requesting to personally participate in the site selection.

"Father, His Highness Prince Ying was raised among the common people. Now that he has become a prince, he will surely take great care of his royal residence."

Yan Shifan chuckled lightly.

"It would be good for Your Highness to go to Yunyang Prefecture in person to take a look."

Yunyang Prefecture is a remote and impoverished place, how can it compare to Chengtian Prefecture? His Highness has already stayed in Chengtian Prefecture for more than three months, and after seeing the situation in Yunyang Prefecture, he is even less willing to stay any longer.

The imperial edict to select a consort for the Prince of Ying from across Huguang had been issued to the Huguang Provincial Administration Commission for some time.

By this time, the notices may have already been distributed to various prefectures and counties, and the preliminary selection process will begin soon.

As the Minister of Rites, it was inconvenient for my father to travel to Huguang in person, let alone meet directly with the prince.

Let our son make the trip.

. . .

Two days later, in Fancheng, outside the Lin family mansion.

"Yunniang, you're not feeling well, so don't go. Take good care of yourself and rest."

Lu Chen looked back at Chen Yunniang, a hint of reluctance in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

I've given you a choice. If you choose the first path, I will absolutely keep my promise and let "Chen Yunniang" die suddenly, giving you a completely new identity.

After her own wedding, she became the first concubine in the Prince of Ying's mansion.

Before you were given the choice, you made it clear that if you chose the second path, you would never have children.

You chose this path yourself, so don't regret it.

Don't worry, the discomfort in your lower abdomen is caused by a minor, minimally invasive surgery, and you will recover quickly.

Lu Chen himself did not expect that the methods originally intended for Prince Yu would be used on Chen Yunniang.

Unfortunately, Chen Yunniang couldn't imagine what kind of power she would gain by choosing this second path.

Over the past year, Chen Yunniang has managed the industries in Biyang County very well. After receiving the letter from Qin Fang, she also made proper arrangements for purchasing property in Fancheng, demonstrating her considerable management skills.

These abilities are sufficient, after all, she is responsible for frontline management and on-the-spot decision-making, while she personally handles the overall direction and the appointment and removal of important personnel.

As her own concubine, she also had enough status to command the respect of the subordinates she sent.

At this moment, she felt grateful to herself, but because she was a female relative of a convicted official, she could never escape the status of a prostitute and dared not betray herself.

But once she begins to act as her own representative, managing the maritime trade department of the Prince of Ying's residence at the front lines, her power and resources will soon expand rapidly.

The human heart is the most uncontrollable thing.

Once she possessed power and resources, and was involved in maritime trade outside the laws of the Ming Dynasty, her status as a convicted official's wife and a woman of entertainer status, which had originally restrained her and prevented her from acting recklessly, became a trivial joke.

Although I haven't told her my true identity yet, she will find out sooner or later, and I can't keep it a secret forever.

A woman who holds great power will inevitably have selfish motives once she has a son.

When she learns that she is actually a prince, she will definitely try to grant her son a title, and may even use her power to help him seize the throne.

Once she ascends the throne, her motives will only intensify, and she might even cause social unrest.

This is something Lu Chen absolutely does not want to see.

Although Qin Fang's secret investigation in Biyang County revealed that Chen Yunniang had remained indifferent to all men who tried to approach her throughout the past year, she was indeed virtuous and self-disciplined.

But people change.

With her frequent absences and wielding considerable power, no one can guarantee what she will become in the future.

Lu Chen never, and dared not, place his hopes on people's hearts.