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

Chapter 537 is all about checking and balancing the princes' entry into the Southern Study.
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, outside the Qianqing Palace, civil and military officials arrived from all directions, forming a dense, dark mass.

However, the atmosphere outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony this year is quite different from that of previous years.

In previous years, the festival was a lively and joyous occasion, but this year it was a time of anxiety and unease as we "passed through a calamity."

The sky was as heavy as the sky before a storm, making it hard to breathe.

Why is that? The answer is simple: because the emperor is going to personally lead the army!

While the entire court may not be completely reshuffled, a major upheaval is likely inevitable.

The Crown Prince is overseeing the state! The Emperor is on a distant expedition!
Doesn't this mean the crown prince will be acting emperor for more than half a year?
Although the world still belongs to the emperor, the crown prince's influence is rising steadily.

Emperor Qianxi would definitely keep all officials of the third rank or above firmly in his own hands, and would not relinquish any power whatsoever.

But what about those below the third rank?

Don't underestimate those positions. Although their official rank is not high, they are quite lucrative and powerful, making them typical examples of low-ranking but high-powered positions.

How will this increasingly prominent crown prince conduct his at least six-month regency?
Is it to proceed cautiously, as if walking on thin ice; or to act boldly and decisively, like a tiger in action?

The lower-ranking officials had long been unable to contain themselves, and they gathered in twos and threes, whispering and gossiping among themselves.

The bigwigs at the top weren't idle either; they were making all sorts of calculations in their minds.

For example, outside Taihe Gate, Chen Tingjing quietly approached Zhang Ying and asked in a low voice:
"Brother Zhang, His Majesty is leaving the capital for a long trip this time. Do you have any plans for him?"

Zhang Ying shook her head, her face calm:
"His Majesty didn't say it explicitly, but I suppose he already had a good idea."

"As for us, we should just follow the instructions from above. The more we do, the more mistakes we make; the less we do, the better."

Chen Tingjing chuckled, then said calmly:

"Brother Zhang, that's true, but some things still need to be planned in advance. It's always better to be prepared."

"We can't wait until it's pouring rain before we frantically think about grabbing tiles to repair the roof, can we?"

"The Crown Prince has never had a good impression of Jiangnan."

He paused, then lowered his voice even further:

"No, it's not just Jiangnan he doesn't like; he doesn't have a good impression of us scholars either!"

"Otherwise, why would he have gone to such great lengths and dealt such a ruthless blow to the Kong family recently? They are descendants of a sage!"

"If they won't even give face to a sage, how can we face Confucius if he holds power for too long?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ying's expression changed slightly.

He has always considered himself a "great Confucian scholar of our time".

Of course, he only secretly indulged in this title when he looked in the mirror late at night, and never showed it off in public.

But at this moment, his heart was already in turmoil, yet he still forced himself to remain calm.

Chen Tingjing struck while the iron was hot, his voice barely audible, like a mosquito's hum:
"Prime Minister Zhang, if we want to put the Crown Prince in check, we need to support a prince."

“A few days ago, I met with the Eighth Prince. He felt that the taxes in Jiangnan were too heavy and that the court should be more lenient towards Jiangnan…”

"Especially since the culture and education in Jiangnan are so flourishing, they can be said to be unparalleled in the world, under such circumstances, shouldn't the number of Jinshi and Juren be increased?"

These words sounded light and casual, but to Zhang Ying they were like a thunderclap.

It was an open secret that the imperial court was wary of Jiangnan; everyone was aware of it without saying a word.

The Eighth Prince actually used this as a bargaining chip in a deal? It seems this lord's bottom line... is quite flexible.

This also shows that the Eighth Prince was really driven to desperation by the Crown Prince.

Zhang Ying pondered for a moment, then slowly said:
"The matters of Jiangnan, in the end, are not something that you or I can decide."

"Right now, the most important thing is to clean up the mess in Jiangnan."

"Those people in Taihu Lake... we still need to deal with them as soon as possible, so as not to leave any loose ends, lest they become a handle for others to use against us."

Chen Tingjing nodded with a smile and said:

"Minister Zhang, please rest assured. I have already conveyed your words to Brother Yushu. He said he has a plan and will handle it properly."

Just then, a loud, energetic laugh came from afar—

Tong Guowei swaggered over, surrounded by a large entourage, with Ma Qi following closely behind.

The two were chatting and laughing, and seemed very close.

Zhang Ying glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and whispered to Chen Tingjing:
"With Prime Minister Tong in court, do you really think we can reap any benefits?"

Chen Tingjing smiled like an old fox:
"Hmph, of course Tong Guowei doesn't want to share even a bite of meat with us, but he also doesn't want to lose so badly that he doesn't even get to lick the soup."

"Think about it, he himself doesn't think highly of the Crown Prince, and the Emperor clearly doesn't want him to follow the Crown Prince either..."

"He's been put on a tightrope for a long time, and he has no choice but to keep going, there's no turning back!"

Before he could finish speaking, Tong Guowei had already swaggered up to him, cupped his hands in a smile, and said in a hearty voice:

"Prime Minister Zhang, it's been a few days. How have you been?"

Zhang Ying quickly bowed in return, and said respectfully:
"Thank you for your concern, Tong. I am humbled, but everything is as usual. You look truly radiant."

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Tong Guowei suddenly became serious and said:
"Your Majesty's expedition has brought another turbulent time to the court."

"Our Southern Study must work together in harmony and without any worries for His Majesty!"

His words were delivered with force and grandeur.

Zhang Ying quickly chimed in:

"Prime Minister Tong is absolutely right!"

"Although my abilities are limited, I will follow in the footsteps of Prime Minister Tong and dedicate myself to His Majesty and the court without any disloyalty!" The two men spoke more eloquently than they could sing, and their words were all impeccable platitudes.

But when their eyes met, they both understood the unspoken meaning in each other's words.

Just then—"Slap! Slap! Slap!"

The whip cracked three times, the sound so crisp it felt like it was striking a nerve in everyone.

The heavy Taihe Gate creaked open slowly, revealing eighty-one gleaming golden door studs on the door panel.

Eunuchs led the way with lanterns, and the officials quickly put aside their ulterior motives, lined up according to rank, and filed in one after another.

For most officials, today's court audience was purely for creating a festive atmosphere:
They could only line up in the square outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Then, listening to the sounds inside, they would occasionally shout "Long live the Emperor!" but they couldn't even see the Emperor's face.

Only high-ranking officials of the third rank or above and imperial relatives with hereditary titles could stride confidently through the palace gates.

Perhaps because the Emperor was about to go on a campaign, the atmosphere in the palace was unusually solemn today; you could hear a pin drop, and not even a cough could be heard.

No one dared to offend the Emperor at this critical juncture.

Crown Prince Shen Ye, dressed in a bright yellow robe, stood before the steps of the throne, his expression calm and undisturbed.

Under the direction of the master of ceremonies, all the officials knelt down in unison and shouted "Long live the Emperor!" The sound reverberated throughout the surrounding area.

Emperor Qianxi was in high spirits. He first read a New Year's greeting that he had written long ago, and then glanced at Liang Jiugong.

Liang Jiugong understood immediately, stepped forward, and unfurled the first imperial edict:
This is a passionate and impassioned manifesto.

He denounced the crimes of Arabtan and the Russian Empire, and announced that the Emperor would personally lead 300,000 Green Standard Army soldiers on a campaign!
Everyone was already mentally prepared for this, so they weren't surprised. In fact, some military officers were quite excited when they heard about it.

Everyone was listening intently, waiting for the next personnel arrangements made by the imperial court.

Although Tong Guowei, Zhang Ying, and the others had already guessed this, their palms couldn't help but sweat a little at this moment.

Only Shen Ye remained calm, as if this matter had little to do with him—it was just supervising the country, not a direct succession.

He had his own plans in mind, and being regent was just a convenient favor.

Liang Jiugong cleared his throat and began to read the second imperial edict:
"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: During my campaign, Crown Prince Yunye shall oversee the state..."

There was no suspense about this; it was only natural for the Crown Prince to stay home while the Emperor went out.

But the next sentence left many people stunned:
"...The third prince, Yunzhi, and the eighth prince, Yunsi, have been appointed to the Southern Study..."

What? The Third Prince Yunzhi is skilled in both literature and martial arts. Logically speaking, he should be the only choice to accompany the Emperor on the expedition.

After all, he was skilled in both literature and martial arts and could also serve as a royal bodyguard, so why was he inexplicably kept in the capital?

Needless to say, the Eighth Prince, Yinsi, has always been a "hot rival" of the Crown Prince, and they have competed with each other openly and secretly.

Now, stuff both of these brothers into the South Study...

This is clearly putting two tight reins on the Crown Prince, intended to restrain him!

Countless gazes were suddenly cast toward Shen Ye.

There was sympathy, there was inquiry, and there was schadenfreude.

Shen Ye remained expressionless, but he knew very well that his father wanted to use him but also guard against him.

If one were to be completely open and honest with one another, it wouldn't be a true friendship between ruler and subject, but rather a sign that the emperor is incompetent!
The Third Prince remained calm, but the Eighth Prince couldn't suppress the upward curve of his lips—

Although he didn't become the regent, he entered the Southern Study, which was a legitimate way to share the crown prince's power!
Then, Liang Jiugong continued reading:
"...Grand Secretary Tong Guowei was of noble status and had made outstanding contributions. He remained in the capital to assist the Crown Prince in overseeing the country..."

"...Grand Secretary Zhang Ying was a man of high moral character and profound learning. He remained in the capital to assist the Crown Prince in overseeing the country..."

"...Minister of Revenue Ma Qi..."

As appointments were made one after another, the political situation gradually became clear:

The Crown Prince oversaw the state affairs, while the two princes entered the Southern Study to assist in governance. Veteran officials such as Tong Guowei oversaw the operation of the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers.

After the imperial edict was read, Emperor Qianxi surveyed his ministers and said in a deep voice:

"The court is currently in a time of great turmoil. During my campaign, I hope that all my ministers will work together with one heart and one mind to assist the Crown Prince."

Tong Guowei and the others quickly bowed, their voices loud and clear:

"Your Majesty, we will certainly not fail in your trust!"

Emperor Qianxi then looked at Shen Ye, his tone gentle yet undeniably authoritative:

"Your Highness, both Chancellor Tong and Chancellor Zhang are veteran officials, loyal and devoted."

"During your regency, you should listen to their opinions. If you are unsure about anything, report to me immediately."

He paused, then added meaningfully:
"Remember, governing a large country is like cooking a small fish—the timing and heat cannot be rushed."

Shen Ye smiled slightly and cupped his hands in response:

"My son, please remember your father's teachings."

But in my heart I thought: Don't worry, I'll just cook my own dish. I'm too lazy to touch someone else's pot.

Just as Emperor Qianxi was feeling smug and pleased with himself for his flawless arrangements, a clear voice suddenly rang out from the ranks:

"Father! Your son is also willing to share your burdens!"

"I beg Your Majesty's permission to also serve in the Southern Study!"

The hall fell silent instantly.

　The second update for today is here! Please support me and vote!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)