Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 293 The Struggle for the Crown Prince

The fourth year of the Qiming era, the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. Laba Festival.

As usual, temples and Taoist monasteries in Chang'an distributed porridge, and crowds thronged the East and West Markets, with the festive atmosphere growing stronger. The palace servants of Taiji Palace were also busy wiping lanterns, cutting paper-cuts for windows, and checking New Year's goods. The entire imperial city was immersed in a joyous atmosphere.

However, deep within the seemingly tranquil palace, some subtle changes are quietly taking place.

Wenhua Hall, afternoon.

Chen Xing was reviewing memorials, while Jia Wen stood by his side.

"Your Majesty," Jia Wen presented a memorial, "this is the 'Procedure for the Spring Sacrifice at the Imperial Ancestral Temple Next Year' submitted by the Ministry of Rites. According to custom, the Crown Prince should accompany the Emperor in the ceremony, but... since the Crown Prince has not yet been formally appointed, how should this procedure be written?"

Chen Xing looked up at him but didn't reply.

Jia Wen continued, "The Ministry of Rites says that according to the custom of the previous dynasty, the emperor should establish a crown prince within three years of ascending the throne. Now it is the fourth year of the Qiming era, and the princes are growing up, causing much discussion both inside and outside the court..."

"What are you talking about?" Chen Xing put down his pen.

Jia Wen carefully considered his words and said, "It's nothing more than... the foundation of the nation cannot remain weak for long, and the people's hearts cannot be left unsettled."

Chen Xing remained silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Prime Minister Jia, tell me honestly, how many people in the court are currently concerned about this matter?"

Jia Wen was stunned, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."

"Speak." Chen Xing's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable pressure.

Jia Wen took a deep breath and slowly said, "Your Majesty, I dare not conceal anything. Since last year, there have indeed been... some ministers discussing this privately. Some have praised the eldest prince, Chen Qi, saying that as the eldest son, he should be established as heir; some have admired the second prince, Chen Heng, saying that he is exceptionally intelligent, like Your Majesty; and others have said that although the third prince, Chen Ke, is young, his mother, Consort Xian, is a holy woman from Miao territory, and establishing him as heir would pacify the southwest..."

As he spoke, his voice grew softer and softer.

Chen Xing listened quietly, his face expressionless.

After a long silence, he asked, "Where did these words come from?"

Jia Wendao said, "I have investigated, and the sources are varied. Some were private discussions among court officials that were then spread; some were casual remarks made by officials from various regions who came to the capital to report on their duties at banquets; and some..."

He paused.

"There are also some that seem to have been deliberately spread."

Chen Xing's gaze sharpened.

"Did you find it?"

Jia Wen shook his head: "Not yet. But I suspect it's related to the Yangzhou salt case. After Qian Qian was escorted to the capital, he confessed to many things. He said that when he was in Yangzhou, he had dealings with some officials in the capital. Those people asked him to do things and also revealed some... the political climate in the court to him."

Chen Xing remained silent for a long time before slowly saying:

"Continue the investigation. Report back to me immediately upon discovering anything."

"Yes."

Imperial Academy, dusk.

Chen Qi did not return to the palace today, but stayed at the Imperial Academy to discuss his studies with several classmates. After class, he packed his books and prepared to return to the palace.

"Your Highness, the First Prince." A voice came from behind.

Chen Qi turned around and saw a middle-aged man in his early forties standing not far away, dressed in the robes of a fifth-rank official, with a smile on his face.

"Who are you?"

The man cupped his hands and said, "Your subject, Zhang Lian, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, greets Your Highness."

Chen Qi was taken aback for a moment, then returned the greeting: "What brings you here, Lord Zhang?"

Zhang Lian smiled and said, "I happened to be passing by the Imperial Academy and saw Your Highness here, so I came to pay my respects. I have long heard of Your Highness's studies. All the teachers at the Imperial Academy praise Your Highness for your diligence, and I admire you greatly."

Chen Qi frowned slightly, finding these words rather strange. Why would a mere official in the Ministry of Rites be bringing up such matters?

"You flatter me, Lord Zhang," he said calmly. "It's getting late; I must return to the palace."

Zhang Lian quickly replied, "Your Highness, I will see you off."

Chen Qi shook his head: "No need. The Imperial Academy isn't far from the palace gates, I can go back by myself."

He picked up his book box, turned around, and left.

Behind him, Zhang Lian stood there, watching his back, the smile on his face gradually fading.

Chengxiang Hall, night falls.

Su Xiaoxiao sat at her desk, a stack of account books spread out in front of her. But tonight she didn't use the abacus; she simply stared at the numbers, her brows slightly furrowed.

"Your Highness," the personal maid said softly, "why didn't you go see the Second Prince tonight? He asked about you today."

Su Xiaoxiao did not answer.

She recalled that the Vice Minister of Revenue had visited her that afternoon. He had ostensibly come to discuss next year's budget, but as the conversation went on, the topic turned to the princes.

"The Second Prince is exceptionally intelligent, and the Imperial Concubine has provided excellent guidance; he is destined for greatness," the man said with a smile.

Su Xiaoxiao only gave a few perfunctory replies and did not respond.

But she knew in her heart that the man was testing her.

She looked out the window. Outside, the night was deep, and the lanterns of Chengxiang Palace swayed gently in the wind.

"Aheng is only seven years old," she murmured, "What's the rush for these people?"

Qiyun Pavilion, late at night.

Lin Wan'er was still reviewing the manuscript of "Qiming Leishu" under the lamp. She had to go through it again before sending the printed volumes to be sent tomorrow.

"Your Highness," a maidservant announced as she entered, "the Crown Prince has arrived."

Lin Wan'er was stunned for a moment, then quickly got up.

Chen Qi walked in, still wearing the black cloak, his little face red from the cold.

"Your Majesty," he said softly, "I...I want to speak with you."

Lin Wan'er looked at him, her heart tightening. This child never came to see her at night unless—he needed something.

She dismissed the maid and personally poured Chen Qi a bowl of hot tea.

"What's wrong?"

Chen Qi held the teacup, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly asked:

"Your Majesty, someone came to see me today. He said he was a secretary in the Ministry of Rites and that he admired my studies. But I feel... that's not what he meant."

Lin Wan'er's gaze sharpened.

"What did he say?"

Chen Qi repeated what the man had said.

After listening, Lin Wan'er remained silent for a long time.

"Qi'er," she said softly, "what do you think he's trying to do?"

Chen Qi thought for a moment and said, "Your subject does not know. But your subject feels that he did not come to praise your subject. He... he wanted your subject to remember him."

Lin Wan'er nodded.

"It's good that you can tell."

She paused, then took Chen Qi's hand.

"Qi'er, you're still young, so there are some things you don't need to think about too much right now. But you must remember one thing—if you encounter someone like that in the future, no matter what they say, don't respond. Just politely and politely send them away. Understand?"

Chen Qi nodded.

"Your subject understands."

Fangzhixuan, before dawn.

Lan Fenghuang emerged from the Gu chamber and yawned. She had stayed up all night, finally sorting out the newly cultivated Golden Thread Gu, and was so sleepy that her eyelids were drooping.

Back in her bedchamber, she was about to collapse into bed when she saw that Chen Ke had woken up sometime earlier and was sitting on the bed, staring at her with wide eyes.

"Mother, where have you gone?"

Lan Fenghuang walked over and hugged him.

"Mother went to check on the little bugs. Why are you awake?"

Chen Ke blinked: "Mother, someone came to visit me today."

Blue Phoenix was taken aback: "Who is it?"

Chen Ke said, "An uncle in red clothes gave me candy and asked me if I liked my mother and if I liked the Moon Goddess."

Lan Fenghuang frowned.

"and then?"

Chen Ke said, "Then I said I liked it. He smiled and said, 'Good boy, I'll come to play with you often in the future.' Then he left."

Lan Fenghuang was silent for a moment, then hugged her son even tighter.

"Ke'er, from now on, if someone gives you candy, you must ask your mother first if you can eat it. Do you understand?"

Chen Ke nodded: "I've got it."

Lizheng Hall, dawn.

Murong Mingyue did not sleep all night.

She sat by the window, watching the eastern sky gradually lighten. The maids dared not disturb her, but quietly added a few pieces of charcoal to the brazier.

Footsteps sounded outside the door. She turned around and saw Chen Xing push the door open and come in, still covered in night dew.

"His Majesty?"

Chen Xing walked over to her and sat down on the couch.

"I couldn't sleep," he said. "I came to see you."

Murong Mingyue looked at him without saying a word.

Chen Xing was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Zitong, have you heard anything?"

Murong Mingyue nodded.

"I've heard about it. Some people are eyeing Qi'er, and others are eyeing Heng'er. Even Ke'er has been probed by someone."

Chen Xing frowned.

"Have you found out who it is?"

Murong Mingyue shook her head.

"We can't find anything. Those people are too cautious; they speak ambiguously and do things without leaving a trace. Even if we catch them, we can't convict them."

Chen Xing remained silent for a long time.

"I knew this day would come sooner or later."

Murong Mingyue gently took his hand.

"Your Majesty, what do you intend to do?"

Chen Xing looked out the window. Outside, the sky was gradually brightening; a new day was about to begin.

"Do what needs to be done," he said. "I will establish the rules that need to be established. I will guard against the people who need to be guarded against. I will educate the son who needs to be educated."

He paused, then turned to look at Murong Mingyue.

"But what I fear most is not those people. What I fear most is Qi'er, Heng'er, and Ke'er, because of these people, they have become suspicious and wary of each other. They are brothers, not adversaries."

Murong Mingyue nodded, tears welling in her eyes.

"That's what I think too."

Chen Xing gently put his arm around her shoulder.

"Zitong, let's keep an eye on them together. Anyone who dares to sow discord behind our backs will be dealt with. Anyone who dares to reach into the palace will have their hands chopped off."

He paused, then lowered his voice.

"But we also have to teach the children how to deal with these things. They will grow up sooner or later and have to face them on their own."

Murong Mingyue leaned on his shoulder and softly hummed in agreement.

Outside the window, the first rays of dawn shone on the glazed tiles of the Lizheng Hall, turning them a golden-red hue.

A new day has begun.