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The next morning, the twenty-four princes were summoned to the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

They got up before dawn.

The main reason was that I was too excited and nervous. With such a vast empire, who wouldn't want to sit on the emperor's throne?
After putting on their court robes and tidying their appearance, they boarded a carriage and headed to the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

No one spoke the entire way.

Everyone was wondering, "Who will be the crown prince today?"
The Imperial Ancestral Temple is located east of the Imperial City, covering an area of ​​100 acres. With its red walls and yellow tiles, it is solemn and majestic.

Two rows of imperial guards stood at the entrance, their armor gleaming, motionless.

Further in, there is a long passageway lined with lush pine and cypress trees on both sides.

At the end of the passageway is the main hall of the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Incense smoke filled the main hall, where the memorial tablets of Emperor Taizu Guo Wei and Emperor Shizong Chai Rong stood quietly.

Those members of the Guo family who died in the massacre were also watching all of this from beyond the grave.

The sandalwood incense in the incense burner burned, and the wisps of smoke rose up, enveloping the memorial tablets in a hazy glow.

Su Ning stood in front of the memorial tablet, with her back to them.

The twenty-four princes knelt behind him, not daring to utter a sound.

From the eldest, Guo Wen, to the twenty-fourth, Guo Sheng, they were arranged in three rows according to age, kneeling neatly.

Su Ning asked, "Are you all here?"

"Reporting to Father Emperor, they have all arrived," the eldest son, Guo Wen, replied.

Su Ning turned around and looked at her sons.

His gaze swept across the eldest son's face, then over the second, third, and fourth sons... all the way down to the youngest, the twenty-fourth.

He looked at each person for a long time with a complicated expression.

The reason I've been going through all this trouble is to ensure the stability of my empire.

In order to ensure the longevity of his empire, Zhu Yuanzhang, the future Ming Taizu Emperor, specifically designated the line of the Crown Prince as the legal heir.

However, it was all to no avail; his princes and descendants still couldn't resist launching the rebellion.

Therefore, Su Ning painstakingly came up with another method: a small-scale pseudo-democracy to silence the princes and grandsons of the emperor.

"I have called you all to the Imperial Ancestral Temple today because there is an important matter to be decided."

"Crown Prince."

The moment those two words were uttered, the atmosphere in the Imperial Ancestral Temple instantly became solemn.

Some people held their breath, some clenched their fists, some lowered their heads, and some raised their eyes.

"You all know the results of the evaluation. Sixteen are excellent, and eight are good. Everyone did a good job, and I am very pleased."

"But there can only be one crown prince."

"I have thought about this for a long time. How should I choose? If I choose myself, I will inevitably be biased; if I let the ministers choose, they will inevitably have their own selfish motives; if I let the people choose, they will only hear rumors; and if I let foreigners get involved, it will be pure nonsense."

"So I came up with a solution."

The princes pricked up their ears, waiting for him to continue.

"You can choose for yourselves."

The princes were stunned.

Choose for yourself?
The Imperial Ancestral Temple was deathly silent.

Some people opened their mouths wide, some stared wide-eyed, some glanced at each other, and then quickly lowered their heads.

"The cabinet and officials from the six ministries will first evaluate the work of the twenty-four of you and select the best and worst performers."

"And from the sixteen excellent evaluations, I have selected the six most outstanding ones—the eldest, the King of Qin; the second, the King of Jin; the third, the King of Zhao; the fourth, the King of Yan; the fifth, the King of Chu; and the ninth, the King of Song."

The six people whose names were called felt a chill run down their spines.

The eldest brother, Guo Wen, remained calm, revealing nothing; his anxiety had long been worn away over the years.

Guo Zhi, the second brother, had a bright look in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it, trying to hide his eagerness and excitement.

The third brother, Guo Wu, clenched his fist, then relaxed it, suddenly thinking, "If I gain it, I am fortunate; if I lose it, it is my fate."

The fourth brother, Guo Gong, had his head down, seemingly lost in thought.

Guo Qian, the fifth brother, frowned slightly, then returned to normal, knowing that his chances of being chosen were very low.

Guo Jing, the ninth brother, was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly, realizing he really hadn't expected to rise to the top in one step.

"These six people are the candidates."

"Among the twenty-four princes, including the eight who were rated as good, each has a vote."

“One person, one vote. Choose the person you think is most suitable to be the crown prince. These six people can also choose yourselves. This is your right as princes of the Great Zhou.”

"However, I have given you the right to elect someone, and everyone must accept the result. If you disagree, you can speak up now."

The Imperial Ancestral Temple was deathly silent.

No one spoke.

Su Ning waited for a while, then said, "Since no one is saying anything, let's assume you all agree."

Then he looked at the eunuch beside him.

The eunuch immediately brought over a wooden box with a small opening in it, and it was empty inside.

The wooden box is made of rosewood and carved with cloud patterns, giving it a dignified and elegant appearance.

Then twenty-four sheets of paper were brought out, one for each person.

The paper was made of Xuan paper, about the size of a palm, and had a subtle pattern printed on it.

"Write down names," Su Ning said. "Write down the name of whomever you want to vote for. No discussion, no whispering, no looking at other people's names. The election will be conducted entirely anonymously."

The twenty-four princes took the paper and picked up their pens.

The seventh prince, Han Wang Guo Wan, took the paper, looked at it for a while, then picked up his pen and finished writing in a few strokes.

He folded the paper and put it into the wooden box.

The eighth prince, Guo Dai of Wei, wrote very slowly.

He held up the pen, hesitated for a long time, and finally finished writing, stroke by stroke.

The tenth prince, Guo Guo of Lu, wrote the fastest.

He took the note, didn't even look at it, wrote a name on it, and put it in the box.

Eleventh, King Guo Ji of Zheng wrote it down, then crossed it out, then wrote it down again, repeating this process several times.

People around him looked at him, and he blushed. He quickly finished writing and put it in.

Twelfth Prince Guo Shi of Chen, thirteenth Prince Guo Yong of Cai, fourteenth Prince Guo Gu of Wu, fifteenth Prince Guo Chang of Yue, sixteenth Prince Guo Qing of Xu...

They were all handed in, one by one.

Regardless of how fast or slow they were, they were all handed in in the end.

As for the six candidates, they wrote down their names with mixed feelings, never expecting that their father would let them choose the crown prince themselves.

They stood aside, watching their brothers vote.

Some were nervous, some were calm, some had their heads down, and some were looking at the box.

The eunuchs placed the slips of paper into the wooden box one by one, then opened the box in front of everyone, took out the slips one by one, and began to count the votes.

"King of Qin." The first picture is of the King of Qin.

The eldest brother, Guo Wen, remained calm.

"The Prince of Jin." The second one is the Prince of Jin.

The second brother, Guo Zhi, had a brightening eye.

"King of Qin." The third picture is of the King of Qin again.

"King Zhao." The fourth picture is of King Zhao.

The third brother, Guo Wu, nodded slightly.

"King of Qin." The fifth image is still of King of Qin.

"King Song." The sixth image is of King Song.

Guo Jing, the ninth brother, paused for a moment, then gave a wry smile.

"King of Qin." The seventh image is still of King of Qin.

"The Prince of Yan." The eighth image is of the Prince of Yan.

The fourth brother, Guo Gong, raised his head, glanced at the box, and then lowered his head again.

"King of Qin." The ninth image is still of King of Qin.

"King of Chu." The tenth image is of the King of Chu.

The fifth brother, Guo Qian, frowned slightly but remained silent.

"King Qin." The eleventh image is still of King Qin.

"King of Qin." The twelfth image is still of King of Qin.

"King Qin." The thirteenth image is still of King Qin.

"King of Qin." The fourteenth image is still of King of Qin.

"King Qin." The fifteenth image is still of King Qin.

"King of Qin." The sixteenth image is still of King of Qin.

"King of Qin." The seventeenth image is still of King of Qin.

"King Qin." The eighteenth image is still of King Qin.

"The Prince of Jin." The nineteenth image is of the Prince of Jin.

"King Song." The twentieth image is of King Song.

"King Song." The twenty-first image is of King Song.

"The Prince of Jin." The twenty-second image is of the Prince of Jin.

"King of Jin." The twenty-third card is King of Jin. "King of Song." The twenty-fourth card is King of Song.

After all twenty-four votes were counted, the results were announced.

King Guo Wen of Qin received thirteen votes.

Prince Guo Zhi of Jin received four votes.

Zhao Wang Guo Wu, one vote.

Prince Guo Gong of Yan, one vote.

King Guo Qian of Chu, one vote.

Song Wang Guo Jing, four votes.

The Imperial Ancestral Temple was so quiet that you could hear the incense ash falling.

Everyone looked at the leader, Guo Wen.

Guo Wen stood there, his face expressionless.

He was dressed in a simple robe, standing straight with a calm gaze.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, bathing him in a golden glow.

“Thirteen votes…” Su Ning read it aloud, then looked at the princes who had voted. “It seems you’ve all chosen the eldest son?”

No one spoke.

But silence is the answer.

Su Ning then looked at the five kings of Jin, Song, Zhao, Yan, and Chu, "Second brother, didn't you vote for yourself?"

Guo Zhi lowered his head and said in a muffled voice, "Your subject... pledges allegiance to your elder brother."

Su Ning looked at him, "Why?"

Guo Zhi raised his head, glanced at Guo Wen, and then lowered his head again. "Eldest brother is the eldest son and has taken care of us since we were little. When we were young, he helped us with our studies. When we grew up and gained experience, he wrote us letters to give us guidance. When we went overseas, he shared whatever good things he had with us. Your son... Your son thinks that eldest brother is the most suitable to be the crown prince."

Su Ning nodded. "What about you, third brother?"

Guo Wu said, "Your son also submits to the eldest brother. The eldest brother is capable in battle and also patient. He was able to keep things stable in Constantinople, such a chaotic place. Your son admires him."

"Fourth?"

Guo Gong said, “My elder brother is steady and reliable. When I was in Cairo, I would write to him for advice whenever I encountered a problem, and he would always give me suggestions. I feel that everyone can rest assured with my elder brother as the crown prince.”

"Fifth brother?"

Guo Qian said, "Brother, you are impartial and treat everyone the same. When I was in Jerusalem, all the forces were difficult to deal with. Brother, you taught me how to balance them. I submit to you."

"Ninth Brother?"

Guo Jing said, “When I was in Fusang, the local natives rebelled fiercely and wrote to my elder brother asking what to do. My elder brother said, ‘Kill them if they should be killed, don’t hesitate.’ I listened to him, and it worked. I think my elder brother has great courage.”

Suning remained silent for a moment.

Then he smiled. "Good. Very good."

He looked at his sons with a mixture of relief, emotion, and something else he couldn't quite put his finger on. "You have surprised me. You know how to exercise your power."

"I don't mind if you have ambition or selfishness. As long as you have the ability, I will give you opportunities."

"However, now that the Crown Prince has been chosen, I hope that you will all be well and work together to assist him."

"Yes, Father! We will certainly do our utmost to assist the Crown Prince and Father." The twenty-three princes immediately responded in unison.

Su Ning walked up to Guo Wen and asked, "Boss, what do you want to say?"

Guo Wen knelt down, “Your subject… Your subject only did what he was supposed to do. In Constantinople, your subject did not slack off. As for your brothers, your subject did not mistreat them. As for why everyone chose your subject…”

He raised his head and looked at his brothers. "Your subject thanks you for your trust, brothers."

He kowtowed heavily.

His forehead hit the ground with a dull thud.

Su Ning looked at him and nodded. "Get up."

Guo Wen stood up.

"Boss, remember this! The election is anonymous. You don't need to worry about who didn't vote for you. It just means you haven't done well enough. You need to work harder in the future. You need to constantly push yourself to improve."

"Yes, Father."

Su Ning turned around and faced all the princes. "You all saw what happened today. The eldest prince was chosen by you yourselves. It wasn't something I forced upon him."

"From this day forward, the eldest son is the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou. When you see the eldest son, you must perform the rites of a ruler and his subjects. You must listen to what the eldest son says and support what the eldest son does."

"Is there anyone who disagrees?"

"..." No one spoke.

Anyone want to cause trouble?

"..." Still, no one spoke.

"Alright." Su Ning nodded. "I like it this way."

He paused, then said, "There's one more thing I need to tell you."

"From now on, the crown prince of the Great Zhou will be selected using this method."

“Every prince must enter officialdom upon reaching adulthood, rising step by step from the bottom. Then, the cabinet and the six ministries will conduct an evaluation every three years until the best and most capable princes are selected. The emperor will then select a few candidates from among the outstanding princes, and then all the royal family members will vote anonymously. Whoever gets the most votes will be the crown prince.”

"From today onwards, this rule shall be established as an ancestral system."

The princes looked at each other in bewilderment.

Let the royal family members choose their own crown prince?
This...this is unprecedented.

But thinking about it carefully, it doesn't seem so bad.

A choice made by oneself is always more convincing than one forced upon one by the emperor.

What you choose yourself is always more secure than what you fight and struggle for.

The seventh son, Guo Wan, asked in a low voice, "Father, in the future, will those of us who vote be able to vote for ourselves?"

Su Ning glanced at him. "Yes. But do you know how?"

Guo Wan thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Your subject doesn't know. Your subject knows his own limitations."

Su Ning smiled and said, "Good that you understand."

Then he glanced around and asked, "You've memorized everything?"

"I've got it!"

"Okay." Su Ning waved his hand. "Go back and rest, everyone! Boss, stay."

The princes filed out.

Only Su Ning and Guo Wen remained in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The father and son stood in front of the memorial tablets, silent for a long time.

The sandalwood incense in the incense burner was still burning, and wisps of smoke rose up, enveloping the memorial tablets in a hazy glow.

“Boss,” Su Ning finally spoke, “do you know why they all chose you?”

Guo Wen thought for a moment, "Your subject... roughly knows."

Tell me about it.

“Your son is the eldest son, hence the title ‘eldest.’ I have done a good job in Constantinople, and my performance evaluation is excellent. I am never harsh on my brothers, and I help them whenever I can. I do not compete or fight, and I do not form cliques.”

Suning nodded. "There's still a little bit left."

"Please enlighten me, Father."

"You don't scare people."

Guo Wen was stunned. "People may respect someone who frightens them, but they won't truly support them. People will feel safe following someone they trust. That's the most important thing for a crown prince."

"The second son is talented, but he's too calculating and hard to understand. The third son is decisive, but he's too ruthless and frightening. The fourth son is strategic, but he's too profound and unapproachable. The fifth son is wise, but he's too detached and hard to grasp. The ninth son is decisive, but he's too young and unreliable."

"And you? You have a little bit of everything, but you never stand out. Yet when others need you, you help them. When others are in trouble, you take care of them. You're someone people can trust."

Guo Wen remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Your subject understands."

Su Ning looked at him and said, "Being the crown prince isn't easy. You'll face far more challenges in the future. The ministers will be watching you. Your brothers will be watching you. The rulers of foreign kingdoms will be testing you."

"One wrong step and the whole game is lost."

Are you ready?

Guo Wen knelt down, "Your subject is ready."

Su Ning nodded. "Get up! I will issue the edict at the morning court tomorrow."

Guo Wen stood up, but did not leave immediately.

"Father, were you... also chosen as the crown prince in this way back then?"

Su Ning was silent for a moment, then said, "Back then, it was the founding emperor who made the decision. There was no vote, no candidates. It was just a single sentence."

Guo Wen asked, "So, which one do you think is better?"

Su Ning thought for a moment, "Each has its own advantages. The one decided by the founding emperor was decisive and efficient, without any trouble. The one you chose is something you accept wholeheartedly and won't cause any problems."

"However, I prefer that you choose."

"why?"

"Because you have shown me that all these years of teaching you have not been in vain. The Great Zhou's territory is now too vast for one emperor to rule the entire world. Therefore, more talented princes are needed to assist you. Civil and military officials can be used, but they cannot be completely blindly trusted. The proper introduction of imperial power is also a precaution against powerful ministers. I established the Privy Council and the Grand Secretariat to disperse the power of the prime minister and control the military."

Guo Wen looked at him, her eyes stinging with tears, "Father..."

"Go on!" Su Ning waved his hand. "You have to attend court tomorrow."

Guo Wen nodded and left the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Su Ning turned around and looked at the memorial tablets in front of her. "Father, eldest brother, the crown prince has been chosen. Eldest brother."

"May you all bless him from over there!"

The smoke curled upwards, as if something in the darkness was nodding in agreement.

...(End of this chapter)