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

Chapter 98 I am not a qualified crown prince
From Zhao Yongyan's expression, Shen Ye instantly understood: this matter was not as simple as just making up the money.

Actually, if you think about it, you can understand it.

The money allocated for repairing the river embankment has yet to reach the river management department.

Someone naturally needs to be responsible for this.

There are two people who should be responsible now: one is Zhao Yongyan, who is the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and he was the one who handled this matter.

The other person in charge was the Crown Prince!

After all, the money was misappropriated by Zhao Yongyan at the Crown Prince's behest.

Zhao Yongyan was simply following the Crown Prince's orders.

When the sky falls, it's naturally the taller ones who have to hold it up.

In this matter, the crown prince was undoubtedly the tallest.

However, Zhao Yongyan felt that it was unlikely that the Crown Prince would bear the responsibility, and he dared not say so.

To him, the crown prince was, after all, the emperor.

So, after a moment's hesitation, he solemnly said, "Your Highness, if the deficit is made up, this matter will end here."

"It is due to my negligence in handling the matter that the funds have not been disbursed for so long."

"Your Majesty, I will apologize."

"Please take good care of yourself, Your Highness!"

Zhao Yongyan's voice was not loud at the beginning, but it was full of determination at the end.

Of course, this determination also carried a hint of resolute resolve to face death.

Looking at Zhao Yongyan's appearance, Shen Ye felt a pang of emotion.

The memories of this money in the former crown prince's mind have become more and more numerous.

In his memory, Zhao Yongyan was originally unwilling to misappropriate the money, but the Crown Prince's repeated pressure made it unbearable for Zhao Yongyan, who had served as the Crown Prince's tutor.

In the end, he still got it done.

At the time, he thought that since the money was being used by the crown prince, there shouldn't be any major problems, so he proceeded with the matter.

Now that the Yellow River has breached its banks and the disaster is immense, the Censorate has begun investigating the accounts of the river works, and this money will naturally not be concealed.

Looking at Zhao Yongyan's sincere expression, Shen Ye inexplicably recalled the former crown prince.

According to the former crown prince's memories, he would have been extremely distressed in such a situation.

Then, after saying a few words of encouragement, Zhao Yongyan finally took the blame.

He is the crown prince, that's only natural.

Although the former crown prince was a bad person, he still had a good memory. Therefore, Shen Ye knew very well that if Zhao Yongyan admitted his dereliction of duty, it would not be as simple as just asking for money back.

The worst-case scenario might be that this Vice Minister of Revenue would be beheaded.

The most likely outcome for his family members was that they would be sent away to serve as slaves.

Because of the Crown Prince's willful insistence, this promising Mr. Zhao's family was ruined and he died, which Shen Ye found somewhat unbearable.

Although he doesn't consider himself a great person, he can't be inherently cold-hearted.

I cannot harm others for my own benefit, nor can I remain indifferent.

From this perspective, he should not be considered a good crown prince.

He was just an ordinary mortal.

Although he hasn't come up with a good solution yet.

However, after a slight hesitation, he solemnly said to Zhao Yongyan, whose expression was gloomy, "Mr. Zhao, I will make up for the embezzled money within three days."

"As for other issues, you don't need to think about them too much."

"You are responsible for the embezzlement."

"But the main responsibility does not lie with you."

"Just relax."

Upon hearing Shen Ye's words, Zhao Yongyan immediately raised his head.

Before he arrived, his greatest hope was that the Crown Prince could make up for the money, so that his own guilt could be lessened.

At the very least, it would give his family a chance to survive.

He never expected that the Crown Prince would come forward and admit to it.

After all, the crown prince cannot afford to make mistakes. Regardless of whether he had ever taught the crown prince, he had to protect the crown prince's reputation.

Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince said those very words.

The crown prince's meaning was clear: he would not let him bear the main responsibility.

If he doesn't take responsibility, the Crown Prince will have to find a way to resolve the matter.

Alternatively, the crown prince could take responsibility for this matter.

Currently, many people in the Censorate and the Court of Judicial Review are investigating the income and expenditure of the river works funds, so it will not be easy to suppress this matter.

If it can't be suppressed, could it be that the Crown Prince will actually take responsibility?

If you can live, who would want to die!

Zhao Yongyan hesitated for a moment, then stammered and couldn't speak.

"Mr. Zhao, if there's nothing else, you should go back now."

"I'll have Zhou Bao send you some money later."

Shen Ye looked at Zhao Yongyan and said in a deep voice again.

"Your Highness, if this matter is truly unavoidable..."

"Let me take responsibility, after all, I am the one who made the mistake."

"Moreover, you are of inestimable value; you absolutely cannot afford to be harmed!"

Zhao Yongyan then realized what was happening and knelt down on the ground, speaking to Shen Ye.

Shen Ye waved his hand and said, "Mr. Zhao, let's do things the way I say."

"If other circumstances arise, we'll reconsider."

Because there were many gossipy people in Yuqing Palace, Shen Ye and Zhao Yongyan didn't argue much and sent Zhao Yongyan out of the palace.

Watching Zhao Yongyan leave, Shen Ye, sitting in the study, felt a little irritated.

This is just one wave after another!
It was something that seemed to have nothing to do with him, but because of the former crown prince, he couldn't ignore it.

How should this be handled?
Did they directly confess to Emperor Qianxi?

Based on his understanding of Emperor Qianxi, even if he were furious, he would still give the Crown Prince some face and not make things too difficult for Zhao Yongyan.

However, the Crown Prince's unauthorized misappropriation of funds from the Ministry of Revenue is no small matter.

What would the Qianxi Emperor do?

He was confident that the prince wouldn't depose him, but those thorns he had just removed might...

Yuqing Palace is a sieve!
Moreover, Zhao Yongyan's whereabouts were already being watched by many people.

Among those who paid attention to Zhao Yongyan was Suo'etu.

After hearing that Zhao Yongyan had gone to Yuqing Palace, Suo'etu summoned his son, Algishan.

When facing Suo'etu, Argishan was like a mouse seeing a cat.

His timid and hesitant behavior naturally displeased his father, Songgotu.

After all, everyone hopes their son will be like them, not timid and submissive.

"Go and request an audience with the Crown Prince in a moment." Although Suo'etu was somewhat disappointed in his son, he did not neglect to give any of the necessary instructions.

He said calmly, "Tell the Crown Prince that I can help him handle Zhao Yongyan's matter."

Algishan didn't understand his father's meaning, and he couldn't help but ask, "What about Zhao Yongyan?"

If it were Yin Jishan, Suo'etu might have explained what happened.

He coldly replied to his son, "You don't need to know that!"

"You just need to pass on my words and then tell the Crown Prince that we are just waiting for his instructions."

Algishan hesitated for a moment, but finally said, "Alright, I'll go see the Crown Prince now."

"Father, we've done a lot for the Crown Prince in the past, so why do we need his orders this time?"

Hearing Arjishan's question, Soetu sneered inwardly, but on the surface, he simply waved his hand and said, "Just do whatever I tell you to do!"

"Do as I say, you don't need to ask so many other questions."

　The first update of the day is here! Please support me at the end of the month, everyone!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)