How can you rule the world if I'm just a substitute for you?

The steward bowed and accepted the order: "Yes, I will do it immediately."

After saying this, the butler bowed and left the study, heading out that very night to deliver the message.

The large study was now empty except for Qin Zhongshan.

He got up and walked to the window, gazing at the pitch-black night outside, his fists clenched tightly, his eyes filled with coldness and resentment.

He has endured until now, making concessions step by step, abandoning Manta and Kurota, all in order to wait for the changes in the capital.

Qin Zhongshan gritted his teeth and muttered to himself, each word carrying a chill:

"Crown Prince... Lin Xuan..."

"We'd like to see carefully what you have left to rival the Qin family in the capital, without any support from the imperial court!"

Undercurrents are surging in Jiangzhou.

The Crown Prince awaited intelligence from Qiyue Pavilion and Lin Mo, preparing to eradicate the Qin family's military power and settle scores with them.

Qin Zhongshan waited patiently for the unexpected turn of events in the capital's court.

A strange silence fell over both sides for a moment, and the tension was no longer palpable. But this was only a temporary calm. Once the two sides had news of each other, they would go to war.

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Study in the capital, candlelight flickered and danced.

Emperor Qian sat upright behind his desk, casually picked up a memorial, glanced at it briefly, and set it aside.

Then he picked up another book, read it, and put it down again.

He flipped through dozens of memorials, one after another, then pinched the space between his eyebrows, his brows furrowed with weariness and helplessness.

The chief eunuch, Li Fuquan, stood to the side, observing the emperor's expression, and quietly stepped forward to ask, "Your Majesty, have you encountered any difficulties in governing?"

Emperor Qian leaned back, slumped on the dragon throne, his face weary, and pointed to the mountain of memorials piled on his desk.

"Look at these, they are all memorials impeaching the Crown Prince."

Upon hearing this, Li Fuquan knew that this was a matter of great importance to the court, and as a eunuch, he could not presume to comment. He could only say in a low voice, "Your Majesty, would you like this old servant to brew you another cup of hot tea?"

Emperor Qian did not respond. After a moment of contemplation, he ordered, "Go and summon Fu Youde, the Minister of Revenue."

"This servant obeys the decree." Li Fuquan bowed and accepted the decree, then quickly withdrew.

Not long after, Fu Youde, the Minister of Revenue, hurriedly entered the Imperial Study, bowed, and said, "Your subject Fu Youde greets Your Majesty. May I ask why Your Majesty summoned me to the palace so late at night?"

Emperor Qian raised his hand and pointed to the pile of memorials on the table: "Take a look for yourself."

Fu Youde stepped forward, casually flipped through a few documents, and already understood the situation.

The memorials were filled with reports from various officials impeaching Crown Prince Lin Xuan.

They accused the Crown Prince of targeting local powerful families in Jiangzhou, distributing land to ordinary people, and disrupting local order.

It is also said that the Crown Prince disregarded the laws of the court in Jiangzhou and publicly beheaded Liu Chengzhang, the prefect of Jiangzhou, causing chaos in Jiangzhou.

A number of officials submitted memorials, imploring His Majesty to recall the Crown Prince to the capital and punish him.

Fu Youde closed the memorial, bowed, and replied, "Your Majesty, you summoned me here to hear my opinion on this matter?"

Emperor Qian nodded slightly: "Indeed, with so many officials jointly impeaching the Crown Prince, I expect they will definitely launch an attack in public at tomorrow's morning court. I would like to hear your opinion."

Fu Youde's eyes flickered slightly, his mind churning with thoughts.

A few days ago, he and Meng Yuanbao were discussing serious matters in a brothel, and Meng Yuanbao had given him some pointers, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

The Crown Prince is currently far away in Jiangzhou, not in the capital. We hope that Lord Fu will speak up for the Crown Prince in court.

The opportunity is right in front of him, and he must act cautiously.

Fu Youde composed himself, cupped his hands in greeting, and waited for Emperor Qian to ask his questions.

Fu Youde cupped his hands and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I believe we should strongly support the Crown Prince."

Emperor Qian raised his eyes to look at him, his gaze deep, and slowly asked, "Tell me your reasons."

"Your Majesty, the fact that so many officials have jointly impeached the Crown Prince proves just one thing."

Fu Youde said with certainty, "The Crown Prince has already found a breakthrough in Jiangzhou. The local powerful families, led by the Qin family, are afraid, so they colluded with officials in the court to submit a memorial to impeach the Crown Prince."

Your Majesty should be well aware of the relationship between the Qin family of Jiangzhou and Duke Qin Lie. Although the Duke has not personally intervened, the fact that so many officials have banded together to launch this attack suggests that Qin Lie is undoubtedly behind it all.

Emperor Qian nodded slightly, inwardly agreeing.

If the Crown Prince had gained nothing in Jiangzhou, these officials would never have made such a fuss.

He raised his hand, signaling Fu Youde to continue.

Fu Youde continued, "Your Majesty, it was you who issued the decree ordering the Crown Prince to go to Jiangzhou to investigate the case. Both in terms of sentiment and reason, Your Majesty should support the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince is recalled to the capital now, not only will the Crown Prince lose face, but Your Majesty's prestige will also be damaged. Jiangzhou has been suffering from tax deficits for many years. It would be better to take this opportunity to let the Crown Prince completely eradicate the chronic problems in Jiangzhou."

Emperor Qian sighed and said, "I understand what you've said, but putting everything else aside, the fact that the Crown Prince publicly executed Liu Chengzhang, the Prefect of Jiangzhou, without trial is something that the officials in the court will definitely hold against us."

After a moment's thought, Fu Youde replied, "Your Majesty, what's the harm in that? When the Crown Prince went to Jiangzhou by imperial decree, Your Majesty had already issued an imperial edict granting him supreme military and political power over Jiangzhou, with the authority to execute first and report later. Although executing Liu Chengzhang in public was against the usual rules, it did not constitute a violation of the imperial decree."

Emperor Qian lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded.

He knew perfectly well that sending the Crown Prince to Jiangzhou was to thoroughly investigate the tax deficit and the theft of salt silver.

The powerful families of Jiangzhou were arrogant and domineering, not only embezzling taxes but also daring to plunder silver from Yan.

Using the crown prince as a weapon to warn the powerful families was his original plan.

"Very well," Emperor Qian said. "You know how to handle things at tomorrow's morning court session, don't you?"

Fu Youde bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, I understand."

As soon as he finished speaking, Emperor Qian took a memorial from the table and handed it over: "Take a look, this is a memorial submitted by the Crown Prince."

Fu Youde stepped forward, took the memorial, and began to read it carefully.

In his memorial, Crown Prince Lin Xuan earnestly requested His Majesty to appoint Liu Huai'an as the Prefect of Jiangzhou and to grant him the authority to decide the promotion and dismissal of officials.

After reading it, Fu Youde put the memorial down, his expression solemn.

He secretly pondered whether the Emperor was testing him or genuinely seeking his opinion.

It was he who suggested to His Majesty that we go to Jiangzhou to investigate the case, and he just now tried his best to defend the Crown Prince.

He felt a vague sense of unease, fearing that the Emperor Qian would consider him part of the Crown Prince's faction.

After much deliberation, Fu Youde dared not express his opinion rashly, and could only play it safe, bowing and replying, "Your Majesty, this matter pertains to important personnel matters in the court, and it is inappropriate for me to make any unwarranted comments."

Upon hearing Fu Youde's excuse, Emperor Qian's gaze swept over Fu Youde with a scrutinizing look. After a moment, he suddenly chuckled softly.

"You old geezer."

Fu Youde forced an awkward smile and quickly bowed, "Your Majesty, if there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

Emperor Qian had no intention of letting him off so easily, and called out, "Wait, I really want to hear your opinion. Just tell me the truth."