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

Chapter 230 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (130)

Ji Shuqin remained expressionless: "Your Majesty, I do not know what you are talking about?"

"My uncle sends a memorial to pay his respects, and my aunt comes to the palace to pay her respects to you. Is there anything wrong with that?" Ji Shuqin frowned slightly, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

The Empress understood his meaning. Since the An family members were allowed to enter the palace, and he had never stopped them or prevented them from saying anything, how could it be considered that she couldn't find out any information?

The empress choked for a moment.

Ji Shuqin's words left her speechless, but what she said was clearly not the same thing!

"Did your aunt say something to Mother that displeased you so much?"

Ji Shuqin didn't need to ask to know what the Empress would hear.

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review has already submitted a report on what the An family has done over the years.

After the passing of the old master and old lady of the An family, the family became even more desolate, but even a starved camel is bigger than a horse, although the business they did was not as glamorous.

Between the lines, one can sense what kind of person the eldest master of the An family is. When he openly and arrogantly requested an audience with the Empress in the court that day, Ji Shuqin was still somewhat surprised. How could he have lost all his caution and prudence over the years overnight?

Ji Shumin forgot the phrase "suddenly gaining power," and because it was his mother's maternal family, Ji Shuqin was unwilling to use the word "petty person."

But their actions this time are truly despicable.

Ji Shuqin never intended to suppress the An family or separate them from the Empress. There was no need for that. Right is right, and wrong is wrong. Just because he told his mother, did that make him feel justified?

"Why did you keep the matter of the An family a secret from me?" Seeing that Ji Shuqin remained silent, the Empress had no choice but to speak first.

"How exactly did I keep this from Mother Empress?" Ji Shuqin sighed, feeling that the Empress had done this on purpose.

"Why didn't you mention it to me when your uncle requested an audience with me? It's just a small matter, why did you have to make such a fuss... Where do you think you're putting the An family's reputation?" the Empress said sternly.

"It is already unreasonable to request an audience with the women of the palace in the imperial court. If I agree to the An family today, will I agree to the Liu family tomorrow, and the Wang family the day after?" Ji Shuqin was baffled.

"you--"

"From now on, will the court no longer discuss politics, but only who will come to the palace to pay their respects today?" Ji Shuqin felt a little aggrieved as he said this.

These days, it's not just An Jia who's trying to overstep boundaries.

As if they didn't take the young and gentle Crown Prince seriously, powerful families and court officials all came to test Ji Shuqin's limits...

They had served in the court for far longer than Ji Shuqin, and when they faced Ji Shuqin, they showed a hint of disdain and arrogance, as if they could suppress Ji Shuqin by working together.

Although throughout history, the relationship between monarchs and their subjects has always been one of either the East prevailing over the West or the West prevailing over the East, and there have been times of strength and weakness, this eagerness to intimidate Ji Shuqin is truly too much of a bullying act!

Ji Shuqin didn't fully understand the hidden rules and regulations they were talking about and doing. He only avoided being tricked by these old foxes because Ji Shumin told him everything one by one, but he couldn't help but feel annoyed.

Even a clay figure has a temper!

Moreover, Ji Shuqin was never a clay figure; he had his own unshakable rules and principles, and he was very stubborn about them.

"That's too arrogant!" Ji Shuqin frowned and lightly slapped the table with a displeased expression.

“They have been rampant for quite some time now. Their relationships with officials both inside and outside the court are complex and unfathomable. They are like a radish that has been pulled up and its muddy roots spread out. Even after all these years, Father Emperor has not been able to control them, he has only managed to maintain a balance.” Ji Shumin was not surprised.

It would be strange if he were truly obedient and easily manipulated. Ji Shuqin had no trusted confidants in the court, so it was normal for him to face difficulties.

He has not lost heart or gone mad so far, which, in Ji Shumin's view, is already a great deal of perseverance and patience.

"So we just let them go?" The more Ji Shuqin understood the court, the more helpless he felt. He had a lot on his mind, but little to do. He felt restricted and extremely uncomfortable...

"What does Your Majesty wish to do?" Ji Shumin asked with great interest.

“Naturally, this situation will be changed,” Ji Shuqin said firmly.

“This cannot be achieved overnight. Being able to deal with them now is already a last resort,” Ji Shumin shook his head.

"If Min'er were... what would she do?" Ji Shuqin asked curiously.

"Once the court stabilizes, we'll find a way to disrupt the situation, in the way I want it to be disrupted. Without chaos, there's no movement; without movement, there's no progress. Right now, they're all secretly watching in groups. We'll only make them act when we're affected," Ji Shumin said slowly and deliberately.

"I was just saying it casually..."

Ji Shuqin, however, appeared to be deep in thought.

The Empress was unaware of what Ji Shuqin and Ji Shumin had discussed. When she heard Ji Shuqin use such high-sounding words to fob her off, her face turned even more unpleasant.

“If it hadn’t escalated so much… how could your uncle have…” Her tone was harsh: “Why did you allow the Dali Temple to investigate the An family?”

"Why not investigate?" Ji Shuqin's tone also became indifferent.

The Empress has always had mixed feelings about the An family.

She had resented her parents back then, wondering why she had to enter the palace, and whether her life would have been smoother if she hadn't.

After the passing of the old master and matriarch of the An family, the Empress almost completely severed ties with the An family. Over the years, she and her elder brother, the eldest master of the An family, only exchanged a few letters.

The Empress was unwilling to maintain contact, because her pride prevented her from letting go of the past.

She was once so self-possessed and noble, but she became the one who dragged the An family down... She couldn't bring herself to face the An family, nor did she want to face them.

Now she finally has the power, but she still can't do anything for the An family.

It wasn't because she had any deep feelings for her brother and sister-in-law, but simply... she was eager to get rid of the past and wanted the An family to be proud of her again, just like when she first entered the palace as Empress.

Ji Shuqin's actions not only caused the An family to lose face in the court, but also made her lose face in the An family. Her son did not listen to her and did not even follow her wishes on such a small matter!

"Qin'er, why are you so fixated on this? There are more than just the An family in the capital..." The Empress wanted to ask which family was clean.

"Didn't your uncle and cousin do anything wrong?" Ji Shuqin interrupted her, looking intently into the Empress's eyes.

"I did not say they were without fault." The Empress felt that Ji Shuqin was making a mountain out of a molehill and getting stuck on a trivial matter.

"Your Majesty once told me that the reason you wanted me to follow the path you wanted me to see was so that I would not let down the court or the people, to be upright as the ruler, to do no wrong, and to prevent a repeat of what happened to Your Majesty back then." Ji Shuqin repeated the Empress's words almost without missing a single one.

The Emperor opened her mouth, and as she suddenly opened her eyes wide, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes trembled slightly. She seemed to know what Ji Shumin was about to say.

She wanted to stop her, but the words stuck in her throat, and she didn't know how to say them.

Hearing Ji Shuqin's clear and bright voice, he asked clearly, "The An family is at fault, but Mother Empress wants me to do nothing and not restrain them. The Minister of War's family has nowhere to seek justice, no place to appeal in court or in front of me. How is this any different from what happened to Mother Empress back then?"

The Empress wanted to ask how today's events could be compared to her own predicament of being attacked from both sides and struggling to move forward. But she couldn't say it. Her chest heaved violently as she looked at Ji Shuqin as if she didn't recognize him.

"Qin'er..."

"Mother, tell me, what's different!" Ji Shuqin had been relatively calm, but as he spoke, a hidden anger and resentment, which he could not swallow, accumulated in his chest and throat.

"Your son has listened to your teachings and done as you said, so why are you still not satisfied?" Ji Shuqin asked in a hard tone, "What exactly do you want from your son to be satisfied, or will you never be satisfied?"

"Qin'er, your mother doesn't mean..." The Empress was stung by Ji Shuqin's words. She murmured, unsure of what to do. She had never considered how Ji Shuqin could be a flawless monarch, what flawless behavior meant...

Ji Shuqin used the Empress's words to shut her down.

However, I didn't feel any sense of joy. If I had to describe my feelings, it would be a slight sense of helplessness and weariness.

"I have kept in mind everything that Your Majesty once said to me, and I hope that you will also remember what you said." Ji Shuqin bowed to the Empress and left without lingering.

The Empress sat alone in the main hall, weeping, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

She felt a burning sensation on her face. She hadn't thought about what Ji Shuqin had just said when she heard Chen tell the story.

But it's just a small matter...

Her own child dared to show her such disrespect.

How will she face the An family in the future?

The Empress still harbored some affection for the An family and wanted to make amends. After all, they were brothers who had grown up together since childhood, and although they had been separated for many years, they still shared a familial bond.

But Ji Shuqin was different.

Ji Shuqin grew up in a mountain temple and never even settled down.

To this day, apart from meeting him in the imperial court, he doesn't know what his uncle looks like.

However, the other party acted recklessly and without restraint, trying to manipulate and use him. This was not clever at all, and even seemed impatient and lacked any shrewdness.

But Ji Shuqin was also feeling bad.

He hadn't even sat in that seat yet; he had only stood next to it for a short while, and he already felt like he was all alone.

Who can he confide in?

With whom to consult, and with whom to be close, who can remain true to oneself and unchanged when facing oneself...

Ji Shuqin felt he couldn't tell the difference, and even if he could, he wouldn't want to face it.

Once or twice, if each time, each one gradually changes, Ji Shuqin doesn't know how to adjust his mindset to face it.

He was a sincere and open-minded person. He was not good at scheming or deceiving others.

He would feel guilty towards others and ponder it for a long time; if others wronged him, Ji Shuqin would also find it difficult to let go.

In the end, the matter was resolved with the An family apologizing to the Minister of War, and the Minister of War, considering the Crown Prince's impartial handling of the matter, relented.

An Jia was fined for gambling. Several纨绔子弟 (sons of wealthy families) had caused trouble at a casino, but since no one was killed, they were let off lightly, and the money was confiscated.

Madam Chen was so angry at home that she cried, "That day, Her Majesty clearly..."

"You woman, you're good for nothing but causing trouble!"

At this moment, Master An had no time to care about his youngest son's petty affairs.

What he's worried about now is whether this treatment has angered His Highness the Crown Prince.

Otherwise, why would the Empress's words still have no effect whatsoever?

Thinking about this, he became increasingly uneasy.

I only regret that I was so reckless that day...

Thinking about it now, I realize I shouldn't have done that.

But it's too late to say anything now. He's like an ant on a hot pan, hoping that he can find a way to speak with His Highness the Crown Prince someday.

But deep down, resentment gradually grew, not only towards Ji Shuqin, but also towards the Empress.

The An family has been dragged down for so many years without any improvement. Who are you trying to impress with this iron-fisted and impartial act?

Other prominent families are all doing well and making a fortune, so why is it that the An family is doing so well?

The more he thought about it, the more upset he became.

"The Empress Dowager has discovered that I... I deliberately kept her from knowing about court affairs." Ji Shuqin took a sip of the flower tea that Lu Liruan had personally mixed.

"My sister-in-law is such a thoughtful person; she remembered that I don't like the smell of osmanthus," Ji Shuqin said with a smile.

He has been alone for so many years and has never thought about being with anyone.

But now, seeing how well Ji Shumin and Lu Liruan understand each other, and how they are so compatible.

The two were like trees with their roots intertwined, relying on and supporting each other, which was truly the envy of others.

Once you're married...

Ji Shuqin looked at the teacup, and this thought arose in his mind.

But in an instant, he deliberately ignored it again.

If one has feelings for a girl simply because one is lonely and longs for someone to be with him, wouldn't that be too selfish?

In his current state, he has no mind to think about anything else.

Ji Shuqin shook his head inwardly. He felt that he was thinking too far ahead.

"Did your mother scold you?" Ji Shumin asked.

"No, I feel a little uneasy myself," Ji Shuqin admitted.

"It's alright. We're not plants or trees. My brother is more affectionate and righteous than I am," Ji Shumin said self-deprecatingly.

"I thought that my mother must be furious right now, and I felt a little happy."

“Min’er, you…” Ji Shuqin knew that he was deliberately teasing him with his words, and felt quite helpless.

“Min’er, you shall take my place as regent.” Ji Shuqin sighed deeply.

He didn't speak impulsively; he had thought about it for a long time.

He was unaware of Ji Shumin's ambitions and strategies; he simply felt that if Ji Shumin were in that position, he would certainly do a better job than himself.

And he can also be freed.

"Doesn't Your Majesty have something you want to do?"

“But I think Min’er would do the same in this position, and even better than me,” Ji Shuqin said frankly.

Ji Shumin remained silent.

"Is that really what you think, Your Majesty?" After a long while, he asked quietly.

Ji Shuqin seemed surprised: "I'm still able to stay here safely thanks to Min'er's guidance. Why wouldn't I think that way?"

He walked over to Ji Shumin and put his hand on Ji Shumin's shoulder: "Min'er, do you want that position? If you're willing, I..." He didn't finish his sentence.

But the meaning is clear: as long as Ji Shumin is willing to fight, he will fully support and assist him.

The once pristine and untouched prince was ultimately drawn into the fray.