Quick Transmigration: What to Do When the Male Supporting Character You Saved Becomes Obsessed with

Chapter 238 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (138)

Only a few hours had passed, and Ji Shuqin was already worried that Ji Shumin would think his reply was fast enough, fearing that Ji Shumin might think he was being negligent. He must have been struggling with how to bring it up with Ji Shumin these past few days.

Ji Shuqin's letter was written with great sincerity.

Every word he uttered revealed his true feelings. He recounted his conversation with Granny Ma without offering any commentary, simply stating the facts as they were.

“Perhaps you don’t want to know, Min’er, but I will still tell you everything I’ve heard.”

When Lu Liruan saw the conversation between Granny Ma and the Empress, she felt a tightness in her chest.

If I were in the position of Empress, constantly suppressed, neglected, and humiliated, how would I feel? Would I have done nothing? Would I not have wanted to retaliate?

Revenge should be directed at whoever wronged you, not indiscriminately targeting everyone, whether related or unrelated, simply because you are unhappy.

"How is Min'er's health? Is there anything I can do for you?"

Ji Shuqin asked earnestly.

"Should we tell him that the poison in your body has been cured?" Lu Liruan frowned.

If Ji Shuqin found out, Lu Liruan worried that he might say to Ji Shumin, since he and the Emperor were poisoned by the same poison, if his poison was cured, could his father's poison also be cured?

Ji Shumin and Lu Liruan had always thought the same thing. After a moment of thought, he shook his head and said, "Don't give him any hope... My brother loves to take responsibility upon himself. If he knew this, he would probably feel guilty and remorseful."

Lu Liruan nodded, thinking to herself, "You really do care about him. I wonder if the Crown Prince can tell?"

Ji Shuqin has been so busy lately that he's practically glued to the palace. He goes to bed in the middle of the night and gets up again at the crack of dawn.

Let alone coming to Ji Shumin's place, even having a cup of tea is considered a relief.

When the report from the supervisory commission arrived, Ji Shuqin read it over and over again.

He had been flipping through the pages so many times over the past few days that his fingers were wrinkled from holding them so tightly. Finally, he ordered someone to send the memorial to Ji Shumin along with the paper.

The letter that arrived with it read: "Min'er, I can't watch this go on any longer!"

When he received Ji Shumin's reply, it was a thin sheet of paper with only a few lines of text.

The last line reads: No need to worry, what's wrong with doing it?

Ji Shuqin let out a long sigh of relief. He had discussed this with his ministers over the past few days.

Even those close to him and whom he trusted, after hearing his words, frowned and bowed: "Your Highness, please reconsider! This is not a simple matter to resolve. A single move can have far-reaching consequences. If it is touched, it may cause turmoil!"

The issues on both sides are things that Ji Shuqin wants to resolve, and they cannot be completed in a day or two. They involve too many people and too many interests, and any contact with them will inevitably lead to a major upheaval.

After listening to their explanation, Ji Shuqin felt even more confused and bewildered.

These stubborn problems didn't develop overnight; it takes more than one cold day for ice to freeze three feet deep. But why wait until it's frozen solid?

Out of fear of unrest, we are unwilling to address this issue, choosing to let things slide, and then what? Were we to pretend we didn't see it and allow this chronic problem to continue to develop?

When will this end? When will it be resolved? Who will resolve it? Why is everyone stammering and no one able to answer this question?

As they said, this matter could not be discussed openly in the imperial court.

Because who knows how many people in the imperial court might also be deeply involved...

But when faced with Ji Shuqin's questions, they all remained silent, unsure how to answer.

They hung their heads, silent, staring at their toes. Each of these usually eloquent ministers now looked troubled.

There are no longer any long, eloquent essays or well-reasoned discussions.

Can we curb its development by doing nothing today, nothing tomorrow, and ignoring it? Can appeasement lead to its self-destruction? That's certainly not the case!

It will only get worse and worse, eventually leading to an absurd and chaotic situation where subjects can challenge the monarch. If subjects are powerful and the monarch is weak, won't the world fall into chaos again?

"Your Highness, this will likely fail to win over the people!" someone cried out, seemingly concerned for his sake. "By creating such unrest, I fear that later..."

His implied meaning was: Although you are now in power as regent, you are not without worries.

That spot is being eyed covetously by others...

If you stir up trouble at this time and cause such a big incident, incurring public wrath, and people discover that you are so restless, your path to succession will likely be even more difficult!

If those whose interests you have affected turn around and support your opponent, wouldn't that be a losing proposition?

You should think about it again... I'm doing this for your own good!

The person who said these words claimed to be a loyal minister, wholeheartedly devoted to Ji Shuqin and thinking of him with utmost care.

Ji Shuqin frowned even more: If we don't act now, when will we?

After returning to the palace, the first task assigned to him by his father was to investigate the robbery of government silver with the Dali Temple. As for who the mastermind was, there's no need to elaborate...

Although the Emperor has already punished him, everyone knows perfectly well that now that he has been released, he will certainly not stop causing trouble.

If we're talking about who in the court is most deeply involved with that faction, who else could it be but the Second Prince?

If I leave him alone, will he stop causing me trouble? If I don't clear things up, he'll probably become even more entangled and cause trouble everywhere, trying to put the second prince on the throne.

Just as Ji Shuqin had always thought, he felt that Ji Shuling was not a good ruler, being stubborn and unaware of his own limitations.

When he colluded with those factions, he only thought about the immediate situation.

Have you ever considered that even if you were to be supported to sit on the throne, how could you be at peace? Would you be a puppet who is manipulated and sidelined?

With wolves in front and tigers behind, there's no way to stay safe. So why be so hesitant and afraid of everything?

Ji Shuqin silently tossed the memorials handed to him by the inspectors in front of them.

Everyone looked down and saw what was written there. Some people looked reluctant, while others were indifferent.

Regardless of whether they were moved or not, they did not take these tragic events that were actually happening to heart.

Before becoming an official, when he was studying, he was full of sages' grand principles: to be an official is to serve the people, and to be honest and upright.

In the end, who actually succeeded?

Could it be that he was just talking back then? Now it's all gone, and he's completely forgotten about it...

Ji Shuqin didn't say it that harshly, but the meaning he subtly conveyed was enough to make one blush.

Those who chose Ji Shuqin were mostly those who wanted to uphold justice and were unwilling to compromise their principles.

Even though the eldest prince never forms factions, they are now willing to pledge their loyalty to him as regent.

They couldn't persuade Ji Shuqin, and Ji Shuqin couldn't easily gain their approval.

As everyone left with their own thoughts, Ji Shuqin looked at He Tiaoyu, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, who remained standing in the same spot, silent since earlier.

He always had a cold and stern expression, and during trials, his cold and serious face alone could exert immense psychological pressure on the prisoners.

Having spent so many years at the Dali Temple, he exudes an immense aura of power.

Seeing Ji Shuqin looking at him, he stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Your subject agrees with what Your Highness the Crown Prince said and is willing to serve as a foot soldier and do any job!"

Ji Shuqin was somewhat surprised. Everyone knew that this Lord He never pledged loyalty to any of the princes.

Back when he was at the Dali Temple, he investigated cases with him, and this Lord He never flattered him in the slightest.

His status as a prince, or his favor with the emperor, did not change in the slightest...

In the end, the two became both teacher and friend. The teacher was more important than the friend; Lord He taught him many things, which Ji Shuqin would never forget.

As if he hadn't seen through Ji Shuqin's thoughts, he continued, "What the Crown Prince wants to do is the foundation of the country, to bring peace and well-being to the people, and his merits will last for generations."

Hearing his affirmation, Ji Shuqin was somewhat moved: "Lord He, don't you think I'm indulging in wishful thinking, like an ant trying to shake a tree, only to suffer for myself?"

"Why do you belittle yourself? It's still too early to tell who is the mayfly and who will suffer the consequences. But your heart is set on the right path of justice, so why doubt it?"

After Lord He left, he thought it over and over, and finally got up.

"Why did Your Highness order the First Prince to do this? Wasn't this something you planned years ago?"

He Diao entered the Third Prince's residence through the side gate and stood in front of Ji Shumin, asking a question.

“Whether I do it or not, it’s the same thing, so what’s the difference? What we’re waiting for is the right opportunity, not the right person,” Ji Shumin said calmly, putting down his pen and looking at He Diaoyu.

The thorough investigation of the southern faction was something that had been decided several years ago when Ji Shumin made his southern tour on behalf of the emperor.

At that time, it was truly a solid block of wood, without the slightest gap.

Because they were linked together by shared interests, no one dared to divulge a single word.

Even if the Crown Prince or the Emperor himself went there, they would still try to fool him.

The saying "the emperor is far away and the sky is high" perfectly describes this situation...

As long as the people are peaceful and the emperor is of good character, he shouldn't do anything to them.

Over the years, they've basically figured it out...

Upon seeing that it was His Highness the Crown Prince, they became even more disrespectful.

His Highness the Crown Prince is only a few years old. How could he possibly fight them? He's nothing but a mere child!

Ji Shumin did not make a fuss about it that day, but he remembered it all.

After returning to the capital, he secretly sought opportunities to mobilize his connections in the court and place them at the key points he needed.

This is not something that can be accomplished overnight; it requires a gradual process and a step-by-step approach. When the results will be seen is also unknown.

But Ji Shumin was very patient, and very few people knew about this matter, He Diaoyu being one of them.

Just as the time to close the net was approaching, Ji Shumin relinquished control and handed the matter over to someone else.

He Diaoyu was puzzled and couldn't figure it out no matter what he did, so he finally went to visit her in person to ask her.

He was willing to follow Ji Shumin because he believed that His Highness the Crown Prince would be a wise ruler after ascending the throne.

He still asks the same question: Is he really going to hand over the throne and the world to someone else?

Ji Shumin did not answer him: "I have my own plans."

"Yes." He Diaoyu didn't press further; the Third Prince's thoughts were beyond any of their comprehension.

After He Diaoyu left, Ji Shumin picked up his pen again; he had just been writing a letter to Ji Shuqin.

"There's no need to look back or forth, just keep moving forward," Ji Shumin said.

Despite witnessing the countless crimes committed, Ji Shuqin was unable to reach a verdict for a long time.

Unlike the princes who grew up in the palace, whether it was the Second Prince who shot the Seventh Prince or Ji Shumin, they had been accustomed to life and death since childhood.

In this highest place of power, treacherous hearts and defeats in struggles are commonplace.

When the emperor is enraged, many families are raided, their members executed, and their entire clan exiled. Today's prosperity and splendor can turn into tomorrow's decay and desolation, a testament to the ever-changing nature of fortunes.

But Ji Shuqin had never seen it. He was devoted to Buddhist principles and had a compassionate heart. With one stroke of his pen, he would take a life...

He was not unaware that the perpetrator had committed an unforgivable act.

However, he could unjustly impose his fate on others and cut off their path to survival, which Ji Shuqin could not get over for a while.

When I received Ji Shumin's reply, it seemed like there was something inside...

When it was opened, a delicate jade thumb ring fell out, which Ji Shumin usually carried. It was translucent and landed on the table with a "clink".

"If Your Majesty cannot bring yourself to do it, then wear my ring and consider it... that I was the one who committed the crime. I am not afraid of this bloodshed; I am only afraid that such a wicked beast will continue to wreak havoc on the world!"

Ji Shuqin was taken aback, and a surge of emotion welled up in his heart.

He did not wear Ji Shumin's thumb ring, but placed it on the pen holder on his desk, looked at it deeply, and then pressed his own seal on it.

Kill without mercy, execute on the spot!

He Shaoqing presided over the cases in the Censorate, and sent them to the capital one by one. Ji Shuqin then reviewed each case.

The officials, who had initially thought that Ji Shuqin's men would return empty-handed and unable to uncover anything, were surprised to find that things were not as they had imagined.

Some wavering neutrals, seeing this, also turned around and praised the Crown Prince's wisdom.

News from the south gradually reached the ears of the people in the capital.

Even the common people in the capital began to talk about how the Crown Prince was so discerning and how the Junior Minister and the Censor were so brilliant in solving cases, as if they were upright and just officials in the world!

The story was so widely circulated that it kept the storytellers in the capital busy once again.

Each of them spoke with great detail and conviction, as if they had been there themselves.

The gavel slammed down with a resounding "thud," drawing cheers from the onlookers and instantly dispelling the gloom of spring and summer.

When the matter was brought up again in the court that day, the praise was endless.

The usually calm and composed Crown Prince listened to the whole thing today, which was quite unusual.

He nodded: "This action was not my idea alone."

The crowd was puzzled, not knowing what he meant by that. Did he intend to promote one of his own people?

"The reason we were able to investigate so quickly is because of the several account books that the Dali Temple seized last year, along with the news that the former Crown Prince brought back during his southern tour."

His words caused an uproar among the officials!

They all knew what the case was about, but the former crown prince...

Why bring this up again?

Upon closer reflection, the robbery of the government silver is also somehow connected to the former crown prince!