The struggle for the throne among nine princes—I really don't want to be the crown prince.

Chapter 515 The Crown Prince's Suppression: That's How Petty He Is
No enemy can be hated until the seas dry up and the rocks crumble, and no friend can be so good as to last forever.

The highest level of palace intrigue is always fighting without breaking down!
On the surface, they seem to be arguing fiercely, but underneath, the table is something that absolutely cannot be overturned.

Shen Ye knew very well:
If he continues to slack off now, his father, Emperor Qianxi, might really roll up his sleeves and overturn the chessboard if he gets angry.

If the emperor really loses his temper and acts recklessly, then the one who will suffer is definitely me, the crown prince.

Therefore, some things can be taken a little too far, but you have to be careful to find the right "degree" and not cross the line.

So he smiled broadly, his eyes crinkling: "Since Father Emperor has asked me to speak, then I will speak frankly."

"If you want me to help oversee the country, the first condition is—has the Eighth Prince been showing off too much lately? It would be better to keep him in check, it's good for everyone."

Emperor Qianxi was prepared for the Crown Prince to demand something substantial as soon as he asked for it.

For example, the arbitrary power of officials below the third rank, or the deployment of troops during the regency...

Upon hearing this, I was surprised to learn that was all?

So you just want Lao Ba to keep a low profile? That's easy!
In fact, as reports from Jiangnan continued to arrive, Emperor Qianxi began to discern the true cause of Ge Li's death—

Rather than dying in the chaos of war, it's more accurate to say that his harsh methods and the many people he offended led to his demise...

After considering the matter for a moment, Emperor Qianxi did not immediately nod. Instead, he slowly uttered a sentence:
"Old Eight is still your own brother, and he hasn't done anything seriously wrong. As the eldest brother, you're targeting him right away... Doesn't that seem a bit petty?"

Shen Ye's smile remained unchanged, and her response was incredibly smooth:
"Father, it is precisely because he is my brother that I must protect him!"

"As the saying goes, a tall tree catches the wind. I'm just worried that if he stands out too much, he'll be battered and bruised by the wind and rain."

"I'm doing all this for his own good!"

Well, to be able to describe "petty-mindedness" in such a refined and righteous way, Emperor Qianxi felt that he had truly broadened his horizons today.

He glanced at the prince, whose face was full of sincerity, and nodded:

"Alright, I agree to that. First, remove the Eighth Prince from his position as Minister of the Ministry."

"And using Ge Li's matter as an excuse, let's also strip him of his title of Prince of Doroi."

After a pause, a hint of mockery flashed in Emperor Qianxi's eyes:
"What, should we demote Consort Wei back to the rank of concubine as well?"

Shen Ye quickly waved his hand, looking completely disapproving:
"No, no, no! Consort Wei is gentle and virtuous; who in the palace doesn't praise her? Your Majesty, I wholeheartedly support her promotion to the rank of Consort!"

Emperor Qianxi gave a soft hum, somewhat satisfied.

Actually, if the Crown Prince really wanted to propose it, demoting Consort Wei back to her original rank wouldn't be impossible... and he could even agree to it.

Anyway, she was just a concubine, so he didn't really care.

"Speak, what is your second condition?" The emperor was too lazy to beat around the bush.

Shen Ye took a leisurely sip of tea and got straight to the point:
"I don't quite like Tong Guowei. How about... we send him home to retire?"

Tong Guowei?!

This was Emperor Qianxi's most trusted uncle and Grand Secretary, a pillar of stability in the court.

Moreover, if I were to personally lead the expedition, leaving the Crown Prince to oversee the country, and if the Grand Secretary were to become one of the Crown Prince's men...

Whether I can return after this battle is still uncertain.

Emperor Qianxi did not speak, but merely raised his eyelids, his gaze sweeping lightly over his son's smiling face, his attitude clear:
Kid, what are you thinking? Impossible!

Shen Ye wasn't annoyed; instead, her smile deepened, and she immediately changed her target:
“If Father Emperor is reluctant to part with Prime Minister Tong, then Ma Qi will also be acceptable.”

"As regent, my most important task is to raise military funds for Father Emperor and stabilize the rear!"

“If the Minister of Revenue falls behind, the front lines will be in dire straits, and the rear will be in dire straits too. We’ll both be starving. So, shouldn’t we move up Ma Qi’s position as Minister of Revenue?”

The moment the idea of ​​reforming the Ministry of Revenue was mentioned, Emperor Qianxi frowned.

Tong Guowei is untouchable, but Ma Qi... is not out of the question.

But if Ma Qi is removed from his post and replaced by a new person, wouldn't the Ministry of Revenue become the Crown Prince's money bag?
This Ma Qi has a bad temper and occasionally makes mistakes in his work, but he is extremely loyal.

He was biased towards the Eighth Prince, and he would never collude with the Crown Prince.

With him firmly stationed in the Ministry of Revenue, the key to the national treasury was firmly in his own hands.

You can't fight a war halfway through and then turn around to find that all the gold in your backyard has been transferred to the "crown prince's" name, can you?
Emperor Qianxi paced back and forth a couple of times, his tone suggesting deep thought:
“Ma Qi may have a bad temper, but he’s reliable in his work and he’s familiar with the Ministry of Revenue’s procedures.”

"Changing commanders at this critical juncture will not only cause instability, but may also do more harm than good."

He looked up and offered a compromise:

"How about this, I can issue a decree ordering him to fully cooperate with your regency affairs, but as for replacing him... we'll talk about that later."

Judging from his tone, Shen Ye knew it was hopeless.

The Ministry of Revenue was indeed the emperor's "money lifeline," and he was unwilling to relinquish it easily.

However, Shen Ye was only testing the waters—it would be best if they agreed, but it wouldn't be a loss if they didn't.

This bargaining is like a tug-of-war; every time the other party refuses, you become more confident in your next offer.

So he made his next move:

“Since Father says so, Ma Qi will stay a while longer.”

"But if the Ministry of Revenue can't do its job, the position of Director-General of the Imperial Household Department... will have to be replaced."

"Why not let me take charge of the Imperial Household Department and ensure that all its affairs are well managed while you are away on campaign?"

The Imperial Household Department!
That was Emperor Qianxi's private treasury and the source of his confidence when facing his court officials!

The Crown Prince made the request, and Emperor Qianxi's first reaction was almost to blurt out: "Don't even think about it!"

But the words stuck in his throat and he swallowed them back down.

Two conditions have already been rejected; if the third is rejected outright as well… the negotiations are likely to collapse.

Although his mind was in turmoil, Emperor Qianxi did not show it on his face.

If we don't give it to him, I'm afraid the Crown Prince will really back down.
Giving it to them would be like cutting off your own arm...

Seeing his hesitation, Shen Ye remained calm and waited patiently. Emperor Qianxi pondered for a moment:
"You may temporarily take charge of the Imperial Household Department, but it has always had three chief stewards. You can assign them tasks, but you cannot replace them."

Shen Ye laughed upon hearing this:

"Since Father Emperor has said so, then... I have no other conditions."

These words sound polite, but in reality, they were telling Emperor Qianxi that there was nothing left to discuss and it was time to part ways.

Looking at the Crown Prince's flawless smiling face, Emperor Qianxi felt a surge of anger rising within him.

He knew that his offer was a bit stingy, which put him on a tighter footing.

But that's the Imperial Household Department!
If you hand it over to the Crown Prince, it's his private treasury!

I really... can't bear to part with it!
Taking a deep breath, the emperor conceded half a step:

"If there is indeed a steward who outwardly obeys but inwardly defies your orders, you may punish him according to the rules. However, he must be replaced."

He stared at Shen Ye and said, slowly and deliberately, "There must be a legitimate reason, and it must be approved by me."

"This is my bottom line. If it still doesn't work, then forget it."

Shen Ye glanced at her father, whose face seemed to say, "Take it or leave it," but her smile remained unchanged.
"Even a skilled cook can't make a meal without rice. Being constrained and hesitant will only make things worse. Father, the responsibility of overseeing the country is heavy. You should... find someone more capable."

"By the way, I've made some new and interesting things in the courtyard."

"If Father is feeling troubled, why not take a walk to clear your mind and see something new?"

Emperor Qianxi usually loved tinkering with ingenious objects, but right now, he had no interest in doing so.
Seeing that the crown prince was really planning to quit, he had no choice but to soften his tone and start playing the emotional card:
"Yunye!"

That call was full of deep meaning.

"I remember you once said that among all the civil and military officials, the only ones who are truly devoted to the Great Zhou Dynasty are my father and I."

"The Northwest is now in dire straits, and Alabtan harbors wolfish ambitions."

"If we do not take advantage of their unstable foothold and the fact that the snowy regions and the northwest still have a sense of awe and dependence on the imperial court, we will surely defeat them with swift and decisive action, and they will become a great threat in the future!"

"Even if you inherit the throne in the future, you will have to guard against their harassment day and night, and you will never have a peaceful day."

He turned around, his gaze fixed intently on Shen Ye, a mixture of worry, expectation, and a hint of barely perceptible helplessness in his eyes.

"A battle opportunity is fleeting and concerns the fate of the nation. How can you... how can you nitpick with your father over such a trivial matter and jeopardize the overall situation?"

Oh ho, unable to reach an agreement on interests, they're resorting to moral blackmail?

Shen Ye wasn't afraid of that.

He immediately became serious and said:

"Father, if I didn't care about the court and the long-term prosperity of the Great Zhou Dynasty, why would I have taken on this heavy responsibility of overseeing the country at this crucial moment?"

“But what about you? The Southern Study remains untouched, the Ministry of Revenue refuses to release you, and now even the Imperial Household Department wants to tie my hands and feet.”

"With such constraints and limitations, even if I have the will to turn the tide, I cannot perform any extraordinary feats!"

"Knowing that I will definitely fail and cannot accomplish it, why should I force myself to agree?"

Shen Ye took a half step back, bowed deeply, and spoke with unwavering resolve, leaving no room for negotiation:
"Wouldn't that be a complete waste of time? Your Majesty, I would never dare to delay your important matters!"

Emperor Qianxi's face grew increasingly grim, and after a long while, he gritted his teeth and said:
"If I were to entrust the Imperial Household Department entirely to you, could you truly guarantee the supply of military provisions and provisions?"

Shen Ye immediately continued:

"As long as the Imperial Household Department allows me to manage it freely, I dare not say anything else, but the provisions and supplies for the army dispatched by the court will definitely be in place!"

Emperor Qianxi slammed his fist on the table:
"Fine! The Imperial Household Department is under your jurisdiction!"

"But if the provisions and supplies are lost, I will hold you responsible!"

Shen Ye smiled and cupped his hands in greeting:
"Father, rest assured, I will keep my word."

"Besides, once you return in triumph, taking back the Imperial Household Department will be a piece of cake!"

Emperor Qianxi found it reasonable, but he still felt that something was amiss...

He waved his hand:

"Stop with the formalities. Do you have any other conditions? State them all at once!"

Shen Ye thoughtfully handed him a cup of tea:

“Father, it is imperative for the Ministry of Taxation to be separated from the Ministry of Revenue. I believe that this should be decided before you go on the expedition.”

Emperor Qianxi hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded:

"Separating the tax department from the household registration department is acceptable."

"Furthermore," Shen Ye added, "after you go to war, I hope that my elder brother can return to his study to continue his studies."

"His fighting skills are mediocre; going with him might just be a hindrance. He'd be better off studying and causing less trouble."

Emperor Qianxi originally intended to keep the eldest prince to check the crown prince, but his son took the initiative to bring it up.

His lips twitched, and he finally said:

"Well, he really didn't read the book thoroughly."

"Springtime is the perfect time for reading."

Having agreed to the matter concerning the eldest prince, Emperor Qianxi, without waiting for Shen Ye to speak, said solemnly:
"I have already agreed to four of your conditions. As the saying goes, things shouldn't be done more than three times. You don't have any other requests, do you?"

"Father, most of my requests are for the sake of the court."

"Only this last one is for myself, so please grant my last request, Father."

Shen Ye ignored Emperor Qianxi's hints and said with a smile.

　Hey everyone, here's the second update for today! It's the first day of the new year, and I'm still working hard to write, so I'm asking for your support!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)