PFC Chapter 244 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince
Chapter 244 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince
Their desire to see the Emperor was merely an excuse to continue making things difficult for Ji Shuqin.
Instead of overthinking and making excuses, giving them more to say, it's better to just go along with them and let whoever wants to see them go.
Ji Shuqin looked somewhat melancholy: "If Father were to see people in his current state, wouldn't he be..."
Lu Liruan understood what he meant. The emperor must not look good in his current state, and he did not want the emperor to be seen like this.
The ruler of a nation, the master of the world. Now, in such a pitiful state, wouldn't he lose his dignity and fail to leave a dignified impression in the eyes of his subjects?
Lu Liruan also sighed.
If there are other methods, then we don't need to use our own.
“Since they want to go see it, it can be considered as fulfilling the bond between ruler and subject,” Ji Shumin suddenly said, his tone somewhat cold.
Over the years, there has not been much of a father-son relationship between him and the emperor.
On the surface, the emperor doted on him, granting him the highest status and allowing him free rein to grow. To others, the father and son appeared to be a loving and harmonious couple.
But only Ji Shumin knew in his heart that no matter what he did or how good he was, his father was always extremely wary of him.
The imperial physician who came to my palace back then, to be honest, never intended to cure my leg... Ji Shumin's words in the side hall that day were not false.
Although Ji Shumin was not an expert in medicine, he had some basic knowledge of it, so how could he not have noticed anything?
The emperor clearly felt that he was difficult to control, and this incident was just an opportunity to seize his power.
He knew perfectly well that once he became disabled, he would no longer be able to be the crown prince.
But there was one thing that Ji Shumin couldn't quite understand: when exactly did his father's madness begin?
When exactly did he begin to desire immortality? Occupying the throne, he even sought to absorb the fate and destiny of his princes to satisfy his own ambitions?
At first, Ji Shumin felt that he did not want to sit in the position of crown prince because he was forced to be made crown prince back then.
His relationship with the empress made him dislike himself as well.
Making himself the crown prince was merely a way to silence public opinion.
In truth, he favored his own brother, rather than the other princes.
But later, seeing the fates of one after another, the emperor had no one in his heart and loved none of his children.
Ji Shumin then had this question. ...
Even though Ji Shumin had guided and fueled the situation, the question remained in his heart.
But now the emperor is in such a state that he can't even speak a complete sentence.
This question will likely remain in my mind forever, and I will never find a solution.
Ji Shumin wasn't particularly curious, but inevitably, he felt a little wistful...
As a child, he did think that as long as he did well, as long as all the teachers praised him, and as long as he could share the emperor's burdens, he could gain recognition and favor.
But later it turned out to be wishful thinking...
Throughout his life, he had a distant relationship with his parents. Ji Shumin had no attachment to them.
That's just how he's always been; it's just that he finds it all a bit ridiculous when he recalls his youth.
Lu Liruan eventually learned that she had ultimately used her own method.
Seeing Ji Shuqin hesitate, the officials in the court became even more aggressive, and many opportunists, seeing this trend, turned around and joined them...
After all, it involves their own interests, so they'll try to take advantage of the situation and make as much money as possible.
Such is the relationship between ruler and subject: it's always a matter of the east wind prevailing over the west wind, or vice versa...
They still believed deep down that the eldest prince was a gentle person.
If they pressure him a bit more, they might just be able to get him to comply.
As for His Highness the Third Prince...
He's been staying home on sick leave lately, so if he's going to be sick, let him stay sick for a while. Don't let him recover too soon, so we can take advantage of his absence to launch an attack.
Many people cursed viciously in their hearts:
"Your body is so weak, it would be better if you really died of illness!"
"If it weren't for his interference, wouldn't the eldest prince have fewer ideas?"
……
Even they themselves didn't realize that they were actually more wary of Ji Shumin than of the eldest prince.
This apprehension was even more pronounced than when Ji Shumin was still the crown prince.
Several years have passed, and this former Crown Prince, now the Third Prince, has not diminished his brilliance in the slightest. His abilities and courage are as strong as ever, and have even become more formidable.
Like a sword honed to a gleaming edge by hardship and pain, it is finally ready to be drawn and see the light of day...
He inspires fear, and people dare not confront him, even resorting to underhanded tactics when he is not around, which is already a sign of his inferiority.
They were making a fuss about seeing the Emperor, and it seemed they were about to accuse the Crown Prince of imprisoning the Emperor and seizing power. Memorials were being sent up one after another, and even officials who had been sent to other places got involved. They kept saying they were loyal to the Emperor and loved the country. They would not be at ease until they saw the Emperor's face in person, and they would never give up!
These words reached He Diaoyu's ears. The usually taciturn Lord He put down the dossier in his hand and said in a cold voice, "With his ability and knowledge, he would never have the chance to meet the emperor. He just couldn't continue as an official and came back to cause trouble."
Many of those who said they wanted to meet the Emperor in person were the younger generation of aristocratic families. They appeared passionate and spirited, displaying the righteous indignation of young people who were not afraid of power and dared to speak out!
When Chinese and Japanese people gather together, they dare to say anything and act as if they are speaking out for justice.
As a result, these words reached He Diaoyu's ears.
Looking at the name, I realized he was just a scion of a prominent family who had to return to the capital a few days ago because his affair of buying an official position had been exposed.
The practice of buying official positions has indeed existed from the previous dynasty to the present. Although it is illegal and irregular, it is true that the law does not punish the masses. If they have not done anything immoral, and their clansmen protect them.
They were merely dismissed from their posts; nothing more was done to them.
Unexpectedly, after returning to the capital, instead of calming down, he actually uttered such treasonous words.
He Diaoyu meant these words to them, and they quickly reached their ears.
They were left red-faced and speechless, for even in the capital, they found it difficult to meet the emperor.
Such a commotion was merely to echo the elders in their families, but He Diaoyu so casually and directly exposed it, causing them to lose face. They were both ashamed and angry, and for a time they stayed at home, worried about being targeted by the Dali Temple.
Later on, they stopped causing trouble only in the imperial court. They gathered a group of people, knelt at the palace gate, and kowtowed outside the palace without even entering the main gate...
They keep saying they want to see the Emperor's face, they keep saying they want to see the Emperor's face.
If they cannot see the Emperor, they will not believe what the Crown Prince says or does...
It's obvious who this is meant to be seen with.
They had hoped that after making a scene for a few days, the eldest prince's reputation would suffer.
If the eldest prince can incite the people's hearts, can't they do the same?
In their eyes, the common people are nothing but ignorant fools who can be exploited by anyone who wants to.
So many years of being high above others have made them extremely complacent and arrogant. They only think about their own gains and losses, and they are pleased with themselves for belittling and trampling others under their feet.
But they didn't expect that they would treat others like fools, and others wouldn't think they were smart either.
This disastrous move left some courtiers, who already knew the situation, completely baffled...
What is this doing?
You aristocratic families are only thinking about fighting against the eldest prince.
You can fight for a while, but can you fight forever?
This open confrontation has a clear purpose: to cause the eldest prince to lose the support of the people. It's no longer a minor skirmish between the emperor and his ministers in the court.
Instead, they were genuinely trying to provoke the eldest prince!
Even the most good-tempered person can't stand being provoked like this.
Even if the eldest prince is made of clay, he still has some temper!
You're trying to ruin his reputation, so how could he possibly let you off easily?
Could it be that you have already made plans to support another prince to sit on the throne?
But what can we be sure of?
What, does this mean we'll end up fighting each other in the end...?
Outsiders couldn't understand what they were thinking. These aristocratic families were blinded by their immediate interests and so-called personal glory and honor.
They've gone too far; who do they think they are?
Just because His Highness the Crown Prince is now regent, they look down on him with such contempt, as if they've been bewitched...
I wonder if someone promised them something behind the scenes, otherwise they seem incredibly stupid!
Now it remains to be seen how His Highness the Crown Prince will respond!
Some neutral parties who were not involved are now quietly observing what the eldest prince will do.
One can also see what kind of personality this prince has from his way of doing things.
The more problems arise, the more they become apparent.
Outside, H remained kneeling, while in the imperial court, Ji Shuqin attended court as usual to listen to the government's reports.
He remained calm and composed, as if he didn't care about the people outside the palace at all, treating them as mere clowns.
Such composure is truly remarkable.
But we can't just keep pretending not to see it!
Everyone was wondering how the eldest prince would retaliate.
The weather is already quite cold now, and just yesterday, the first snow of the year fell.
The snowflakes were as big as duck feathers, knocking the last few withered yellow leaves from the branches to the ground.
When you kneel on the cold bluestone slab, no matter how thick your clothes are, the chill still seeps into your bones.
The elderly were filled with resentment, but now they were caught in a dilemma. They couldn't just slink back home in disgrace, lest they be defeated by the Crown Prince without a fight.
They had no choice but to endure it. Their voices had become hoarse from shouting these past few days, and some of the pampered ones even developed chilblains on their hands.
They were also very confused, not knowing how long they would be left hanging.
Some of those opportunists were already regretting their actions, as they had begun to realize that the Crown Prince had absolutely no intention of yielding to them.
Who knows what other tricks they have up their sleeves...
That day, despite being shivering from the cold, they still knelt at the palace gate as usual.
They thought today would be like any other day, and they could leave before the end of court...
Who knew the weather would be so unusually cold today? The wind was blowing fiercely, lifting the hair from people's temples and sticking it to their faces.
The sound of horses' hooves could be heard in the distance.
The ministers who are going to court should have arrived by now. Who is it at this hour?
Everyone turned their heads to look in the direction from which the sound came.
Then they saw a horse-drawn carriage moving slowly forward. The horseshoes clattered on the ground, and when they saw it clearly, it sent a chill down their spines.
The visitor was His Highness the Third Prince.
His unhurried demeanor was just like the Third Prince's usual casual, even somewhat negligent, expression.
As the carriage passed by, a corner of the curtain was lifted, and a fair, slender hand with a silver bell and red string hanging from its wrist peeked out.
With a gentle upward flick of his wrist, the Third Prince's beautiful eyes, as exquisite as a fine brush painting, drooped wearily, his gaze sweeping over us. He didn't even utter a single word, yet the difference between them was palpable.
He seemed to be walking on clouds, looking down at everything with a light and airy feel...
Why is this scoundrel here again? Wasn't he sick at home?
Judging from his complexion and appearance, he doesn't seem seriously ill...
While everyone inwardly grumbled, their bodies betrayed their true intentions as they bowed and lowered their heads, fearing they might become the one chosen by the Third Prince to stick their neck out.
But today, Ji Shumin isn't looking to pick a single scapegoat; rather, all of these people are his scapegoats.
"Everyone, please rise," Ji Shumin said calmly, his tone carrying a hint of a smile.
"Your Highness, we..."
"Want to see Father Emperor?" Ji Shumin interrupted them: "Father Emperor is truly fortunate to have such loyal ministers as you. I'm sure he would be willing to see you if he knew how persistent you are."
"Everyone, get up."
The crowd looked at each other, momentarily confused, not quite understanding what Ji Shumin was saying.
This means... they're being sent to see the Emperor?
How can it be?
Before they could finish exchanging glances, Ji Shumin clicked his tongue softly.
He bent his knuckles and tapped them a few times on the window frame, sounding very impatient: "What, do I have to go and invite you myself? In this cold and damp weather, aren't you afraid of ruining your knees?"
Before Ji Shumin could finish speaking, a eunuch stepped forward, looking as if he would forcibly lift them up if they didn't get up.
These people had no choice but to stagger to their feet: "What does Your Highness, the Third Prince, mean?"
"What do I mean? I'm just going along with your wishes..."
"Father's health is not good these days, and he can't see too many people at once. Why don't you all go to pay your respects on a set date? The ladies in the palace went to take care of Father a few days ago, and because they were so worried, they all fell ill..." Ji Shumin said in a low voice, his tone devoid of any sincerity.
"Since you all care so much about the Emperor's health, why don't you also come and attend to him on the appointed days? Your subjects are so loyal to your sovereign; I'm sure the world will praise you for your unwavering loyalty and courage. It would truly be a remarkable story!"
Ji Shumin seemed to be giving a passionate speech, but to everyone's ears, his words didn't sound quite right...