bayedsolid Chapter 659 The Emperor's Heart is Unfathomable!
Chapter 659 The Emperor's Heart is Unfathomable!
As expected, the Crown Prince's actions did not disappoint Duanmu Chen. He immediately ordered the favored concubine to be brought over. In front of everyone, he took back the power from her and then ordered another concubine to take over.
And that person, coincidentally, was the Crown Princess's confidante.
She was a concubine personally trained by the Crown Princess, so naturally, her heart had to be with the Crown Princess; otherwise, the consequences would be predictable.
Duanmu Chen had only made a few casual criticisms, yet he had achieved this result, and in front of many servants no less. This was exactly the result he wanted.
He wanted everyone in the Eastern Palace to know that the Crown Princess was not someone they could afford to offend!
If he still wants to stay in the Eastern Palace, he'd better curry favor with the Crown Princess. Otherwise, Duanmu Chen isn't the Crown Prince, and he doesn't have the good temper to play along with them.
The Emperor threw his imperial brush on the table, shook his head, and after a long while, sighed heavily, "This Chen'er is really getting bolder and bolder, but he does have some guts."
"Your Majesty is absolutely right, Your Highness, I am becoming more and more like you."
Listening to the words of the eunuch beside him, the emperor smiled and shook his head, "He is only somewhat similar in temperament now, but his attitude towards things is not like mine. As for the fourth prince, I think that although he is not as stubborn as me, he is stronger than me."
The eunuch standing nearby dared not respond to this.
The meaning behind the Emperor's words is quite intriguing.
Could it be that His Majesty has other plans regarding the position of Crown Prince?
The chief steward immediately felt a chill run down his spine. Having served the emperor for many years, how could he not know what he should think about and what he shouldn't?
Besides, would an old eunuch like him even dare to think about something like this?
The emperor rose, his hair already showing some gray, which made him appear quite weathered.
The Emperor stood with his hands behind his back and looked at a painting that he had recently had hung in his study.
After a long silence, he said in a low voice, "I have only just realized that I really don't know much about the Fourth Prince. I never imagined he would have such talent. It seems that I haven't paid enough attention to him all these years."
The eunuch who followed the emperor saw the emperor's sentimental expression and understood that the emperor was getting old and his sons were not around, so it was inevitable that he would miss them.
"Your Majesty, didn't Her Majesty the Empress previously suggest that she summon several princes to the capital for this year's Mid-Autumn Festival?"
"Yes, that is indeed the case. Well then, let's do as she says. Now that only the Crown Prince is by her side, she is indeed too lonely. Moreover, the Empress has always doted on the Fourth Prince. If she knew that the Fourth Prince was being sent to the capital to see her, she would surely be happy."
"Your Majesty, in fact, it's not just the Empress who dotes on the Fourth Prince; haven't you also always been quite fond of him?"
The Emperor paused for a moment, then laughed loudly, “Never mind. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. I can’t predict everything. The fourth prince is already intelligent, and now he has married a sensible and virtuous wife, which is a blessing for him.”
The old eunuch nodded, bent down and extended his hand again. The emperor placed his hand on the eunuch's wrist and slowly walked to the soft couch beside him.
"I didn't know that Mu Xin Nuan was such a clever and mischievous girl, and that she had even started a girls' school. I heard that it's doing quite well, and that she has already enrolled sixty or seventy female students."
"Your Majesty, that's exactly what was written in Prefect He's memorial last time. I remember you even sighed at the time, saying, 'Unbelievable.'"
"Hmm. Actually, if they did nothing, at least they wouldn't have any complaints, and they wouldn't have given others an opportunity to attack them. But they just wouldn't settle down. To put it bluntly, in Fourth Brother's heart, he still cares about the people of Great Yanzhou."
"Your Majesty is right. Prince Chang Le has always been compassionate towards the people. I have heard that Chang Le Ward will be exempt from all taxes in the first year, collect 50% in the second year, and will only begin collecting taxes in the third year."
The emperor stroked his gray beard. Having such a clever and capable son, he was indeed somewhat conflicted.
If a crown prince has not yet been appointed, the emperor would not hesitate to appoint Duanmu Chuze as the crown prince.
It's a pity; the crown prince has been in office for over a decade, and at this point, it's absolutely crucial not to depose him. Otherwise, it will inevitably cause turmoil in the court and among the people.
Fortunately, although Duanmu Chuze was very talented, his heart was with the Crown Prince; otherwise, the Great Yong Dynasty would have really fallen into chaos.
The Emperor never took Prince Ming seriously. It wasn't that he looked down on Prince Ming, but rather that he had long known about Prince Ming's little schemes.
The main reason why Ming Wang was not punished in any obvious way was that he was her own son. In addition, after hearing the Empress talk about what happened back then, she felt a little guilty towards Ming Wang.
The Crown Prince's gentle and mild nature may actually be a good thing.
At least, when he ascends the throne in the future, he won't make things difficult for his own brothers.
But what about this Crown Princess?
A ruthless glint flashed in the Emperor's eyes.
For Duanmu Chen's sake, he naturally couldn't depose this woman. But then he thought, if it weren't for this woman, the relationship between the Prince Ming and the Crown Prince might not have developed into what it is now!
Presumably, Prince Ming must have thought that everything the Crown Princess did to Princess Ming was at his behest.
The Emperor took a deep breath. This kind of woman was truly hateful.
If it weren't for the fact that she still had some use, he would have already ordered that this vile woman executed.
"As the saying goes, when choosing a wife, one should choose a virtuous one. Among my sons, I think the wife of my fourth son is the most virtuous. Although my fourth son has always refused to take a concubine, as long as the couple is harmonious, everything will be fine."
"The emperor said so."
"Mu Xin Nuan is a good child. Back then, when Mu Xin Yao and Song Shi schemed against her and her daughter, I saw that she didn't go too far. I heard that Mu Xin Yao is still being raised by her in Yu County?"
"Your Majesty, that's right. I've heard that the Prince is also aware of it."
"Yes, to treat a woman who schemed against him like this shows that, on the one hand, he was concerned about the family's reputation, and on the other hand, it also shows that this child knows how to consider the bigger picture. Fourth Brother's pity for her was not in vain, not bad!"
Upon hearing this, the eunuch probably guessed that the emperor was about to send all sorts of rewards to Yan Prefecture again.
Sure enough, the emperor then began to announce the imperial edict.