The story begins with a power struggle among nine princes, but the protagonist doesn't vie for

Let's rewind to three hours earlier, to the Imperial City, to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Before dawn, the Hall of Supreme Harmony was already brightly lit and solemn. Today was the Grand Court Assembly, and all the civil and military officials of the fourth rank and above in the capital, as well as several adult princes who had been assigned tasks and were qualified to participate in court affairs, stood in solemn order according to their rank.

A somber atmosphere filled the air, occasionally broken by soft coughs or the rustling of robes.

On the dragon throne, Emperor Xuanxi sat upright, his crown tassels hanging low, obscuring his expression, but the invisible imperial pressure silenced the entire hall.

As he grew older, he had recently been feeling unwell, but even now, sitting upright on his throne, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials in the hall was still so powerful that no one dared to look him in the eye.

Cao Jin, the Grand Eunuch of the Imperial Court, stood beside the imperial steps, holding a whisk, his eyes fixed on his nose, his nose seemingly indifferent to his heart, like a clay or wooden sculpture.

The court assembly proceeded as usual, with each ministry reporting its affairs in turn. When it was the Ministry of Revenue's turn, the Left Vice Minister of Revenue, holding a tablet, stepped forward, bowed, and spoke with a heavy heart:

"Your Majesty! Urgent dispatch! Due to the recent extreme cold and sudden drop in temperature in the north, a large area of ​​the Grand Canal in the north is frozen and blocked, with the ice layer reaching several feet thick!"

The grain transport boats were unable to move an inch. Hundreds of boats carrying tens of thousands of bushels of grain from the south to the north were stranded at river wharves in Dezhou, Linqing, and other locations, unable to reach Beijing on schedule!

These words, like still water and calm stone, instantly caused a suppressed commotion in the court! The Grand Canal was the lifeline of north-south grain transport, and the imperial court's tax revenue and the flow of goods between the north and south largely depended on it.

Especially with the year-end approaching, the salaries of officials in the capital, the supplies for the imperial family, the provisions for the border troops, and even the seeds for spring planting all depend on this batch of grain.

If the canal transport is interrupted for an extended period, the consequences will be unimaginable! At best, grain prices in the capital will skyrocket, causing unrest among the people; at worst, the border troops will be unstable, and the foundation of the nation will be shaken!

The minister continued, his voice trembling with tears: "Furthermore, the ice layer is blocking the flow of water from upstream, and several sections of the riverbank are already in danger of collapsing!"

Moreover, the weather was freezing cold, and tens of thousands of canal workers and porters were trapped along the river, suffering from hunger and cold. If not handled properly, it could lead to a popular uprising!

The Grand Canal Commissioner has urgently conscripted laborers to break the ice, but the ice is hard and thick, and the results have been minimal. He earnestly requests the court to quickly dispatch capable officials, carrying ice-breaking equipment, funds, and provisions, to supervise the dredging of the canals, appease the laborers, and reinforce any dangerous sections to prevent unforeseen circumstances!

"The Grand Canal is blocked...grain ships are stranded...river embankments are in danger...popular uprisings are frequent..." Each word struck the hearts of the court officials like a heavy hammer. This was no longer a simple natural disaster, but a matter of paramount importance concerning the national economy, the people's livelihood, and the stability of the state!

Emperor Xuanxi remained silent on his throne for a moment, the invisible pressure making it almost impossible to breathe in the hall. He finally spoke slowly, his voice, transmitted through the crown, carrying a chilling solemnity, as if a storm was brewing:

"The Grand Canal is the lifeblood of the nation and cannot be allowed to stagnate for long. The freezing weather and ice blockage are certainly natural disasters, but human negligence also bears responsibility. What do you all think we should send to oversee the dredging, the people's well-being, and the prevention of dangers?"

The emperor's words have characterized the matter as an urgent and complex comprehensive crisis, requiring the dispatch of a high-ranking official who can oversee the overall situation, possesses sufficient status, and has the necessary decisiveness.

After a brief silence, several capable vice ministers and ministers in the civil service were about to step forward to recommend suitable candidates when a slightly anxious, even somewhat deliberate, voice rang out before anyone else:

"Father! Your son recommends someone!"

Everyone turned their heads and saw that the tenth prince, Prince Dun, Luo Zhaotang, who was standing at the back of the princes' procession and dressed in the robes of a prince, had stepped out of the line with an excited expression of "sharing the burdens of the country" on his face.

He had recently been sent by the emperor to the Imperial Clan Court to observe government affairs, and he was eager to make a name for himself.

Luo Zhaotang’s voice was loud and clear, as if he wanted to suppress all possible competitors: “Father! The obstruction of the canal transport involves river works, civil administration, military affairs, and finances. Only a high-ranking member of the imperial family with noble status and the ability to intimidate local officials can take charge of the overall situation and coordinate all parties!”

Your subject believes that your eleventh brother, Zhaoheng, as a prince of the highest rank and noble lineage, possesses a sufficiently prestigious status! Moreover... your eleventh brother is calm and composed, and will surely remain composed and handle the situation properly in a crisis!

Recommending the eleventh prince, Luo Zhaoheng?!

Many princes and ministers in the hall, including some shrewd and calculating ones, couldn't help but frown upon hearing this. Some even twitched their lips and almost sneered out loud.

Send that "Prince Yu" to oversee the canal transport, break ice and clear waterways, appease tens of thousands of laborers, and defend against potential dangers to the riverbanks? What a joke!

Who doesn't know that guy's "great achievements"? In his early years, his reputation as a "charlatan" resounded throughout the capital, and his "fondness for meditation" and "ascension to immortality" were the talk of the town.

After the grand wedding, he went into seclusion and rarely even left the palace. How could he be tasked with dealing with the several-foot-thick ice on the canal, appeasing the hungry and cold-stricken grain transport workers who might riot, and handling the dangerous river embankment that could collapse at any moment?

This isn't solving the problem; it's making things worse, and might even be sending them to their deaths! Prince Dun's recommendation is incredibly malicious! It's practically pushing his own brother into a fire pit.

"Your Highness Prince Dun, the matter of transporting grain is complex and far from ordinary, not to mention the freezing weather and the arduous journey. I fear Your Highness Prince Yu may not be able to withstand such a long and arduous journey and the hardships of wind and frost."

"Yes! Prince Yu..."

Opposition voices rose in turn throughout the court.

"To ensure the smooth operation of the Grand Canal, the safety of the people, and the prevention of dangers, we need a minister who is familiar with river engineering and water transport, knowledgeable in civil administration, and capable of handling the task. The eleventh prince... is not suitable!"

Emperor Xuanxi, with his golden words, directly rejected Prince Dun's recommendation, expressing his displeasure with this clearly ill-intentioned "recommendation."

Luo Zhaotang reluctantly returned to the train.

Finally, upon the recommendation of court officials, Emperor Xuanxi selected a Vice Minister of Works with experience in river management to go to the capital.

The crisis of blocked canal transport has temporarily found a suitable person to handle it.

However, Prince Dun did not give up. He stepped forward and strongly recommended Luo Zhaoheng for any difficult job that could be assigned to him.

Many officials in the hall were already showing impatience, and some even whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with undisguised contempt and mockery as they looked at Prince Dun.

This Prince Dun is far too straightforward and shallow in his thinking; he practically has "wanting to cause trouble for the eleventh prince and push him out to take the blame" written all over his face.

Emperor Xuanxi, who had been sitting upright on his throne and listening quietly most of the time, finally showed a noticeable reaction.

"Snapped!"

A sound that wasn't loud, but was clearly audible, struck the armrest. It wasn't loud, but it made the entire Hall of Supreme Harmony instantly quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

Emperor Xuanxi slightly raised his hand, causing the beads on his crown to sway. His eyes, which were full of majesty and now clearly displeased, shot like lightning towards Prince Dun, who was still standing in the hall, secretly pleased with his "cleverness" and "thinking of his brothers".