novelraw Chapter 1045 - 1034: The Ever-Victorious General
Chapter 1045 - 1034: The Ever-Victorious General
"Shang Wenjun and the Crown Prince have a secret relationship?" Tong Yingxin exclaimed.
The Princess covered her ears slightly and reprimanded, "What’s all this fuss about? If the Crown Prince and Shang Wenjun were not in a secret relationship, would Minister Shang so readily agree to this marriage? Would he agree to them marrying so quickly?"
"Mother, how do you know?"
The Princess let out a small snort, "Do you think your mother could still be living so freely after your grandfather passed away for so many years just by chance? I have spies in the palace. The Crown Prince has privately met with Shang Wenjun more than once outside the palace."
Tong Yingxin suddenly stood up, "Then why didn’t you tell me before, Mother?"
"What good would it do to tell you? With your temper, I’m afraid the moment I told you, you’d be out causing trouble for Shang Wenjun. Besides, young people having secret meetings are quite normal, it’s no big deal," said the Princess indifferently.
"But... but..." Tong Yingxin stammered, but ultimately couldn’t say anything more.
"Alright." The Princess blew on her nails, "Stop worrying about the Crown Prince. There are plenty of good-looking and talented men in the world. Why are you fixated on just one? If you truly can’t let go, when the Second Prince ascends the throne, I’ll speak on your behalf to bring the Crown Prince into your household."
A dignified Crown Prince, to become her confidant?
Though offensive, why did it sound so thrilling?
Just the thought that the husband Shang Wenjun painstakingly obtained in autumn could fall into her hands effortlessly, deciding on his status as she pleased, filled Tong Yingxin with pride.
Regardless of her smugness, the usual high and mighty attitude Shang Wenjun displayed, acting as if no one was worthy of her, was amusing considering she secretly had dealings and seemed pleased with herself while circling around her cousin.
She was determined not to let her have the grand marriage she hoped for. The capital’s first talented woman was actually an indiscreet woman. Would she still remain as composed when the news spread?
Tong Yingxin, driven by her malicious intent, didn’t care whether she had proof in hand, openly claiming that the Crown Prince was secretly collaborating with the Prime Minister’s heir to gain support, with an imminent marriage foretold by the Observatory not due to fate, but because Shang Wenjun was already pregnant.
The rumors were quite detailed, and on the day of the ceremony, all the ladies and noblewomen looked at Shang Wenjun differently.
In truth, this rumor could be easily debunked, as long as Shang Wenjun didn’t conceive shortly after entering the palace, the rumor would naturally collapse. But Tong Yingxin didn’t care how long the rumor persisted, as long as it disgusted her on her wedding day.
It spread so widely with the Second Prince acting as the driving force because only through defaming the Crown Prince could he justify to officials to remove him.
Given it was baseless and only spread among the aristocracy, both the old Emperor and the Crown Prince had no means to suppress it, forced to swallow their indignation.
Ultimately, the Crown Prince and Shang Wenjun successfully married, and the benefits immediately came to light. Previously, the Second Prince had the support of his maternal family and the Third Prince, never losing in court debates.
But now, the reputation of Minister Shang as an old fox wasn’t undeserved, and the old Emperor had reason to fear him. In just a few days, civil and military officials were saying the Crown Prince, being the legitimate heir with no major faults and guidance from learned tutors, should simply learn and grow, questioning the motives of those wishing to dethrone him.
The situation quickly reversed. Imperial Censors fiercely condemned Noble Princess Consort Zhang as a treacherous consort, accused the Second and Third Princes of disrespecting their legitimate brother, compromising their morals, and colluding with the Zhang Family of the Marquis Mansion in royal affairs with treasonous intentions.
"An old fox is still an old fox," the old Emperor sighed, "Son, remember, once you succeed the throne, the first one to deal with is the Prime Minister."
The Crown Prince, having seen Minister Shang’s cunning over the years, nodded deeply, "I understand, Father."
Saying this here, yet returning to tenderly coax Shang Wenjun, his affection has never been false, though his fear of Minister Shang was genuinely real.
He had already decided, Minister Shang cannot stay, but to compensate Wenjun, he would appoint their child as the Crown Prince, ensuring her lifelong honor.
His ideas might seem perfect, but he didn’t realize that Minister Shang had foreseen these developments from the moment he agreed to the marriage, and the future was uncertain!
"That old fox, who would’ve thought he’d truly commit to assisting the Crown Prince wholeheartedly," Noble Consort Zhang cursed fiercely inside Changchun Palace.
"Mother, what do we do now? If things continue like this, the Crown Prince will legitimately ascend the throne," the Second Prince said anxiously.
Noble Consort Zhang’s eyes grew sharp, "He won’t have the chance."
Then, she instructed a Palace Attendant, "Someone, go and invite Daoist Gong for me."
While Ye Qiu was engaging in guerrilla warfare with Zaha, he received news that the old Emperor had fallen gravely ill, losing consciousness, with the Crown Prince acting as regent and the Prime Minister assisting, though rumors in the capital suggested that the Emperor’s illness might not be accidental and could very well be the Crown Prince’s doing.
"General, there’s a letter for you, sent by the Crown Prince, asking you to return to the capital with your army to aid him."
Ye Qiu didn’t even give the letter a glance, "Burn it," he said without looking up.
"Yes, sir." Luo Xiao didn’t hesitate to toss the letter into the brazier, yet curiously asked, "General, are we really going to pretend we know nothing?"
"Yes."
"Aren’t you afraid the new Emperor will hold a grudge?"
"General Luo, who do you think is most likely to ascend the throne?" Ye Qiu asked with a light laugh.
"The Crown Prince, of course. After all, he is the legitimate heir with the Prime Minister’s backing. With the Emperor gravely ill, it’s only a matter of time before the Crown Prince ascends."
"But what if something happens to the Crown Prince now?"
"With the Prime Minister’s protection, what could possibly happen to him?" Luo Xiao shook his head in disbelief.
Ye Qiu chuckled, "Just wait and see. Soon, there’ll be reports of disasters or epidemics from the provinces, followed by rumors that the Crown Prince is a jinx, bringing misfortune to his parents, and now about to bring calamity to the world."
"But the Emperor has lived to such an old age. How can that be seen as jinxing his father? And disasters or epidemics can’t just be conjured up at will, can they?"
"Indeed, sometimes, many situations arise only once reported; if not reported, they don’t exist. Can the Crown Prince personally investigate everything?"
"And as you say, wouldn’t the Prime Minister protect him? Wouldn’t he thoroughly investigate?"
"What if even the Prime Minister is unable to act?"
"Can Noble Consort Zhang and her faction really achieve this? The Prime Minister is a seasoned mastermind."
"Sometimes, to deal with an old fox like him, the simplest and most direct methods are effective."