Jiaojiao is getting married, and the male leads fall for her and fight over her.

Chapter 307 Assisting the Crown Prince, Serving as His Tutor

Many people at the scene were opportunists; seeing that Li Yi had become the crown prince, many immediately turned around and tried to curry favor with him.

Seeing how quickly these people changed their tune, Li Yi missed Pei Dongzhou even more.

Before today, no one had a good chance of him becoming the crown prince. But Pei Dongzhou was different; he had long believed that he could win without lifting a finger.

Compared to these opportunists and armchair critics, Pei Dongzhou is far better than them.

However, he still had to put on a show, so he gave them a few perfunctory words to get rid of them.

Afterwards, Pei Nanzhou also came to congratulate him. Judging from his expression, Pei Nanzhou really couldn't see anything wrong.

But Li Yi knew that Pei Nanzhou must hate him to death.

And yet, even so, Pei Nanzhou still managed to congratulate him. It just goes to show that Pei Nanzhou is destined for great things.

After exchanging a few insincere pleasantries with Pei Nanzhou, Li Yi said he had something to do and left the group.

The news of Li Yi being named Crown Prince quickly spread throughout the capital, and soon the Marquis of Pingyang's residence also received the news.

Pei Dongzhou remained silent for a long time after hearing the news, feeling as if the tension he had been holding in had finally eased.

Seeing Pei Shizi's expression, Shen Shu found it amusing: "Cousin Shizi, you haven't recovered yet, have you?"

The next moment, Pei Dongzhou hugged her tightly: "You've come to your senses now."

Shen Shuyi was speechless. He was indeed afraid that Pei Nanzhou would become the crown prince.

Although Li Yi becoming the crown prince was indeed something to celebrate, she still reminded him, "This battle has only just begun, and it's not time to let our guard down yet. With Pei Nanzhou's ruthlessness, he might find another way to deal with Li Yi... Your Highness the Crown Prince."

That's right. Now that Li Yi has become the crown prince, if he successfully ascends the throne, his status will be different, and she can no longer casually call Li Yi by his name behind his back.

Recently, Pei Dongzhou has been spending all his time with her, but he hasn't been idle. He has selected most of the officials who assisted Li Yi after he became the crown prince.

This shows that Pei Dongzhou was quite confident that Li Yi would be chosen as the crown prince.

Now that Li Yi has become the Crown Prince, all the vacancies in the Crown Prince's Palace must be filled. A group of strategists and advisors must be selected for Li Yi, and a group of highly skilled guards must be selected to protect Li Yi.

Li Yi has a lot to learn next.

Who told Li Yi to learn nothing but debauchery all these years?

“What you say is true, Madam.” Pei Dongzhou finally let go of Shen Shuyi and asked with burning eyes, “Does Madam think I should enter the Crown Prince’s residence to assist the Crown Prince?”

Shen Shuyi had never thought about this issue before, but now she had to.

If Pei Dongzhou were to enter the Crown Prince's residence to assist Li Yi, it would be tantamount to declaring war on Pei Nanzhou. If he didn't enter the Crown Prince's residence, could Pei Dongzhou still remain hidden in the shadows?
Perhaps it's better to stay hidden in the shadows?

Just as she was about to reply, Pei Dongzhou suddenly said in a calm voice, "I'd rather go to the Crown Prince's residence to assist him."

"Why?" Shen Shuyi asked, puzzled.
Pei Dongzhou suddenly gave her a meaningful look, which made her even more confused: "What kind of look is that, Cousin Crown Prince?"

It can't be that his appointment as an official in the Crown Prince's residence has something to do with her, can it?
“If I become the Crown Prince’s tutor, then you will become his teacher. In this way, the Crown Prince will have no reason to make any further advances towards you, as that would be against all moral principles.” Pei Dongzhou concluded, “It is decided then.”

Shen Shuyi: ... Shouldn't this person prioritize the overall situation?
"I think it would be more advantageous for Cousin Crown Prince to remain hidden in the shadows," she offered her suggestion.

Pei Dongzhou lifted her chin and gave her a light kiss: "Wrong, everything should be for the sake of the lady."

Shen Shuyi was too lazy to persuade him anymore. Pei Shizi was always a man of his own mind. Judging from Pei Shizi's tone, he really wanted to enter the Crown Prince's residence to become Li Yi's teacher.

After returning to the Prince's Mansion, Li Yi longed to share his joy with Pei Dongzhou, but he didn't know if he could approach Pei Dongzhou now.

Just then, Consort Xian also arrived at the Prince's residence, her face contorted with grief.

"Why don't you go and tell your father that you don't want to be the crown prince?" Consort Xian had no desire for her child to become the crown prince.

Li Yi chuckled upon hearing this: "Mother, it's too late. I've become the target of everyone's criticism, so what I need to do is hold onto this position and protect myself."

Consort Xian wanted to refute, but she also knew that her son's words made sense.

Before today, no one considered Li Yi a rival, but now things are different; the whole world is watching Li Yi's every move.

Seeing the Consort Xian's worried expression, Li Yi reassured her, "Mother, please don't worry, I can protect myself."

"Just think about Li Hong, and you'll know how dangerous it is to be the Crown Prince." Consort Xian could not smile.

Her wish was for her child to live a life of leisure, peaceful and happy, but now that wish is no longer possible.

Li Yi had thought the same way before, but now he felt it was more dangerous for him not to be the crown prince, so he said with a grin, "That's why I need to find capable people to assist me. By the way, what do you think, Mother Consort, about having someone from Xizhou assist me?"

Consort Xian frowned upon hearing this: "You're asking Xizhou to assist you, is it so he can take you to the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion for a life of debauchery? You might as well ask Prince Pei instead!"

Li Yi had been waiting for Consort Xian to say these words, and he said with great interest, "Then I'll go ask my father and see if he'll grant my request!"

"You are in charge of the affairs of the Crown Prince's residence. You can make your own decisions and don't necessarily have to ask your father, the Emperor," Consort Xian said, then sighed again.

Li Yi, however, couldn't wait and still planned to go to the palace.

Because Pei Dongzhou had been avoiding suspicion recently, if he were to seek Pei Dongzhou's help as soon as he became the crown prince, he didn't know if his father would become suspicious. So he still had to go to the palace to ask.

Under the pretext of escorting Consort Xian back to the palace, he sauntered directly to Emperor Jinglong.

He didn't mince words and stated his purpose directly: "Your Majesty, I just escorted Mother back to the palace. During that time, I asked Mother if Xizhou could assist me. Mother scolded me for being foolish and said that Xizhou was not as reliable as Dongzhou. She told me to ask Dongzhou for help. Does Father think Dongzhou is a suitable person?"

Emperor Jinglong's feelings were somewhat complicated upon hearing this.

He'd ask him about something like this, and it just so happens he'd gone to Pei Dongzhou. He'd only recently been neglecting Pei Dongzhou, and now Li Yi was going to him—could he really say no?

In terms of ability, Pei Dongzhou is indeed capable, and among the younger generation, he is undoubtedly the most outstanding. As the crown prince, Li Yi does need to find a capable and trustworthy minister to assist him.

This is for the sake of the fate of the Great Qi Dynasty; his personal preferences are not important.

But the thought that the crown prince he had chosen had been replaced by a minister he had just neglected made him somewhat suspicious.

“The Western Continent is indeed no good; he knows nothing about officialdom, and seeking his help would be foolish. But why the Eastern Continent?” Emperor Jinglong probed casually.

(End of this chapter)