Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

The capital city, the residence of the Marquis of Wuding.

"You want me to host a banquet for His Highness the Prince of Ying?"

Duke Guo Xun looked at Duan Chaoyong with a puzzled expression.

"That's right."

Duan Chaoyong nodded.

"Only Lord Guo could persuade a prince who is the regent to serve the country."

"Since His Majesty went into seclusion to cultivate, you have been hiding in the West Garden refining elixirs for His Majesty and have never had any private contact with Prince Ying."

Guo Xun frowned.

"With your two-year term nearing its end and His Majesty about to emerge from seclusion, instead of thinking about how to cover up your lie and save your life in front of His Majesty, you're suddenly trying to curry favor with Prince Ying?"

"There's no need to worry about His Majesty."

Duan Chaoyong chuckled lightly.

"My 'Red Lead' elixir has miraculous effects. Master Guo has been taking it for the past two years, so he should know it very well."

If we can never get it again from now on, can Lord Guo accept that?

"Don't even mention that I'll never get it again. Even if I stop taking it for just one day, I'll feel anxious and restless."

Guo Xun glared fiercely at Duan Chaoyong.

"Do you think I haven't tried shutting down the service?"

Although I felt very anxious about taking the medication for a day, I could still bear it.

But on the second day, I not only became more anxious, but also felt inexplicably terrified, and had difficulty falling asleep, which was very difficult to endure.

If I really couldn't get it, I might just grit my teeth and get through it. But it's right next to me, within easy reach, so how could I possibly resist?

The longest I ever tried was stopping for two days, but I couldn't resist taking it again.

"They are all the same 'Red Lead' elixir. Whatever Lord Guo felt after taking it, His Majesty will naturally feel the same way."

Duan Chaoyong laughed heartily.

"To be honest, Lord Guo, His Majesty asked me yesterday whether it is truly possible to achieve immortality when the two-year period is about to expire."

My reply is that His Majesty has secluded himself from worldly affairs, practicing the "Red Lead" elixir daily, and has unknowingly attained the state of immortality.

"This is clearly just utter nonsense!"

Guo Xun was greatly surprised upon hearing Duan Chaoyong's words.

"You keep saying that His Majesty has attained immortality, but what evidence do you have to support that claim?"

"Your Majesty is both intelligent and suspicious; how could you not verify the truth?"

"But His Majesty actually believed it!"

Duan Chao's tone became increasingly smug.

"Whether Your Majesty truly believes you have attained immortality or is simply playing dumb because you can't bear to part with my 'red lead' elixir."

The fact that I am still standing here unharmed is the best proof, isn't it?

"You know what... you might actually be right!"

Guo Xun stared at Duan Chaoyong, gritting his teeth fiercely.

"Fine, even if His Majesty truly believes your nonsense, why do you insist that I host a banquet for His Highness Prince Ying?"

"Lord Guo, what do you think His Majesty will do with Prince Ying after his two-year term ends and he leaves the Western Garden?"

Duan Chaoyong continued to ask.

"After His Majesty resumed control of the court, His Highness Prince Ying, as a vassal king, naturally left the capital and returned to his fiefdom."

Guo Xun blurted out,

"As for whether to return to Yunyang Prefecture or Chengtian Prefecture, that depends on His Majesty's wishes."

This is not without precedent; the first King Xiang also served as regent on several occasions before retiring to his fiefdom after achieving his goals, where he was praised by the royal family and court officials as a wise and virtuous king.

"Lord Guo, you've guessed wrong this time!"

Duan Chaoyong laughed.

"Your Majesty has been in seclusion in the Western Garden for two years, without handling any state affairs. How has the court been operating during these two years?"

"Major state affairs are drafted by the Cabinet, initially approved by the Directorate of Ceremonial, and finally reviewed by His Highness Prince Ying. Everything is in good order and there have been no major problems."

Guo Xun thought about it carefully.

"Even in this war when Jinang and Anda invaded Shanxi, the court handled it properly."

I heard from Grand Secretary Cui that His Highness Prince Ying is intelligent and understands the bigger picture; even when he rejects a draft proposal, the cabinet can still find that there are indeed inappropriate aspects.

In matters of national importance, His Highness has never interfered.

"His Majesty is obsessed with cultivating Taoism and has no interest in handling state affairs, let alone attending court."

Duan Chaoyong continued,

"Since the court has been operating smoothly for the past two years, why disrupt it?"

His Majesty said yesterday that he plans to continue having Prince Ying oversee the country after he leaves the pass, so that he can have more time to cultivate.

Moreover, His Majesty intends to allow His Highness Prince Ying to truly exercise the power of regent.

The Prince of Ying handled all the day-to-day affairs of the court; only matters of great importance, such as military or national affairs, that were difficult to decide were brought before the Emperor for His Majesty's wise judgment.

"How could Your Majesty do such a thing?!"

Upon hearing Duan Chaoyong's words, Guo Xun's jaw nearly dropped in shock.

"Since the founding of our Great Ming Dynasty, only two people have ever held this power!"

Could it be that His Highness Prince Ying will become the third person?!

"I thought this was a one-of-a-kind thing."

Duan Chaoyong showed a surprised expression.

"Is there any precedent for this?"

"Of course!"

Guo Xun's voice trembled slightly as he spoke.

"The first one is Crown Prince Yiwen!"

Emperor Taizu once issued an edict that all matters of state, large and small, should first be discussed with the Crown Prince before being reported to the emperor!

From the tenth year of the Hongwu reign (1380), Crown Prince Yiwen listened to and judged reports from various departments every day until his death in the twenty-fifth year of the Hongwu reign (1381).

The second one is Emperor Renzong!

Emperor Chengzu was a military emperor who personally led many expeditions to the northern deserts. During his absences, Emperor Renzong, who was then the crown prince, oversaw the country.

Emperor Renzong served as regent for a period of seven or eight years, intermittently.

During the Jingnan Rebellion, he also remained in Beiping for a long period of time as the heir apparent to the Prince of Yan.

But both of them are crown princes, the heirs to the throne on whom great hopes are placed!

Your Majesty has already appointed the second prince as the crown prince. If the Prince of Ying is allowed to oversee the country for a long time, how will His Highness the crown prince conduct himself in the future?

Could it be that His Majesty intends to abandon his own son and pass the throne to His Highness the Prince of Ying?

"Although I am unaware of any precedent in our dynasty where a crown prince has served as regent for an extended period, I do believe that Your Majesty may be considering changing the heir apparent."

Duan Chaoyong nodded.

"After all, His Highness Prince Ying's face looks so much like His Majesty's; he's practically His Majesty himself, but ten years younger."

Not only that, but their voices are almost identical.

I have only ever seen this situation with twin brothers.

It's strange, really. The Prince of Ying is clearly Your Majesty's half-brother, so how could things have come to this?

"Could it be that His Highness Prince Ying is not actually the son of Emperor Ruizong, but rather His Majesty's eldest son?"

After a moment of silence, Guo Xun suddenly spoke.

"If that's the case, then everything makes sense!"

The birth mother of the Prince of Ying, Lady Wang, was a maidservant of "Lady Yousheng". Back then, it wasn't just Prince Xing who had the opportunity to sleep with her; the Crown Prince of Xing could have been as well!

However, Lady Yousheng informed His Majesty that it was Prince Xing who had slept with Lady Wang.

If Your Majesty were to admit that you also had relations with Lady Wang, wouldn't that be considered a son having an affair with his father's concubine?

Your Majesty is a person who places great importance on filial piety, how can you bear such a crime of being unfilial?

They'll probably have no choice but to reluctantly accept their son as their younger brother.

His Majesty's favoritism towards Prince Ying is indeed excessive when applied to his own brother!

But if it's his own eldest son, then it's perfectly normal!