amaotonovel Chapter 141 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (55)
Chapter 141 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (55)
The officials in charge of escorting the goods were all in an inn not far away.
The guards took turns protecting the area, but even so, they couldn't prevent it from being stopped.
When An returned to the capital at top speed to report, the emperor was immediately furious upon hearing the news.
If this were done by officials from the Southern faction, it would be tantamount to trampling on the dignity of the emperor!
This behavior damages the emperor's authority. The emperor will not be able to swallow this insult until the mastermind is found.
The reason I summoned all the princes here today is to decide who will be in charge of this monumental case.
The princes had all learned of the news in advance, and each had their own thoughts.
People like the Seventh Prince wanted to take the blame for themselves.
After all, such an important task as inspecting and supervising the south fell to the second prince.
He was in charge of some trivial matters in the capital. After the Crown Prince became crippled, the government affairs that the Crown Prince was in charge of were divided among several older princes.
The seventh prince felt he hadn't received enough and was constantly resentful.
He often spoke with Consort Rong, hoping she would whisper in the emperor's ear and help him make more plans.
Consort Rong also loves her son dearly, but unfortunately, the Emperor's temper has been unpredictable these days.
She was even punished recently, which made her lose face.
In particular, the fact that the emperor had not set foot in Consort Rong's palace for half a month made her both anxious and angry, and she racked her brains to think of ways to please him.
During the period when Consort Rong was trying to win back the Emperor's heart, the affairs of the palace were managed by the Dowager Consort.
This left Consort Rong feeling frustrated and helpless.
Although the Empress Dowager was not the Emperor's biological mother, she was highly favored in the palace.
It was precisely because the Empress Dowager did not have her own biological son that the Emperor trusted her quite a bit.
Even on the days when Consort Rong was most favored, the Emperor would not easily strip the Empress Dowager of her power and give it to Consort Rong.
Consort Rong secretly resented Consort Tai. Among the emperor's concubines, she was the only one who enjoyed such favor, but what good was it?
They actually have to be suppressed by a woman like the Dowager Consort!
Consort Rong was unwilling, yet helpless. This delicate balance of power had been a struggle that had lasted since the Seventh Prince was a child…
A concubine who is favored today may be left alone in the cold palace tomorrow.
But the Empress Dowager was different; the Emperor treated her with respect.
With the Empress Dowager standing firm and things going more smoothly in the palace, it's unlikely that the situation in the palace can be easily changed.
Consort Rong and her son appeared to be living a glamorous life and were deeply favored by the emperor, but this favor was based entirely on the emperor's mood.
Both of them, along with the faction behind them, were quite uneasy, fearing that they might anger the emperor one day.
Seeing that his second elder brother had spoken first, the seventh prince's eyes lit up: "Father, why don't I investigate this case with my second elder brother? Such an important matter should be handled sooner rather than later. Your son is willing to share your burden!" He spoke with a firm and sincere tone.
The second prince stood to the side with his head down, wanting to refute but not daring to speak.
Although he himself did not go, once this incident occurred, the emperor would surely blame him.
He gritted his teeth and said he would thoroughly investigate the matter and try to atone for his crime through meritorious service.
The second prince dared not speak carelessly, for fear of incurring the emperor's wrath.
The atmosphere between them was heavy. Ji Shumin sat in his wheelchair with his eyes slightly closed, looking as if it were none of his business.
The fourth, fifth, and sixth princes stood in the shadows to the side.
He kept his head down, staring at his toes, without saying a word, as if trying to minimize his presence.
The fourth and fifth princes are the same age, and neither of them comes from a high-status family.
The fourth prince was naturally overweight, and his appearance stood out from the group of handsome princes.
As a result, he was quiet and reserved from a young age. He neither competed nor fought for anything, and his presence was very subtle.
The fifth prince, on the other hand, seemed engrossed in calligraphy and painting, showing no interest in court affairs.
He submitted several memorials to the emperor expressing his desire to travel, but each time the emperor rebuked him for neglecting his duties.
The sixth prince has just reached the age of twenty this year. His mother is the daughter of a military general, and he has been training in the military since he was a child.
The sixth prince was burly and sturdy but not good at speaking. The emperor valued civil affairs over military matters, so the sixth prince did not achieve much.
Before they came today, all three of them shared the same mindset: the gods up there are fighting, and they can just watch from below.
They won't get to show off, nor will they get to suffer...
Ji Shumin remained silent, which drew the emperor's attention.
"Your Highness, what do you think of this matter?" the emperor asked in a deep voice.
When asked about himself, Ji Shumin pondered for a moment, and under the unwavering gaze of the Seventh Prince, slowly said, "What my Seventh Brother said makes a lot of sense."
The seventh prince was taken aback, not expecting the crown prince to affirm his statement.
The emperor also looked at him with a deep gaze.
"Now that the account books have been destroyed, it is impossible to quickly ascertain the specific losses. We can only try our best to find out the identity of the perpetrators and make the best possible recovery," Ji Shumin said reasonably.
"In that case, the sooner the better. Your Majesty, I think that not only should the Second Prince and the Seventh Prince investigate this matter, but we should also send more people."
Before he finished speaking, the Second Prince and the Seventh Prince both frowned.
The Crown Prince's words clearly implied a desire to divide the credit...
If the two of them were to oversee this matter, the Emperor would only see the two of them. But Ji Shumin's meddling allowed others to get involved as well.
The final credit may not necessarily go to anyone...
What is Ji Shumin trying to do?
Is he planning to plant his own people in there?
This was the sentiment of several princes present.
The seventh and second princes were anxious and resentful, while the other princes pondered deeply, some even harboring a desire to watch from the sidelines.
The Seventh Prince was furious: Even crippled, they still wouldn't behave!
"Why didn't I die that day instead of living a miserable, wretched life?" he cursed inwardly.
Ji Shumincai didn't care what others thought of him. He clasped his hands on his lap and waited for the emperor's reply.
The emperor pondered for a moment: "Does the Crown Prince have any recommended candidates?"
He asked this question while observing subtly.
"Your subject has no nominee. Since we are to manage affairs together with the Second Prince and the Seventh Prince, it would be better for them to make the recommendation. This way, our collaboration will be smoother."
Ji Shumin pushed these words out.
The two of them gritted their teeth inwardly, for Ji Shumin had handed them a hot potato.
The position of crown prince will inevitably be abolished. Any action they take now could be seen by the emperor as factional infighting in the court.
If the emperor takes it to heart, one's future will be difficult.
The two of them were punished by the emperor a few days ago for overstepping their bounds, and now is the time for them to keep a low profile...
As expected, the emperor turned to the emperor and asked, "Do either of you have anyone to recommend?"
Ji Shumin had already declined once; if the two of them continued to avoid answering, the emperor would certainly be displeased.
The two of them had no choice but to bite the bullet and mention a few names.
The second prince was filled with unease. This matter was originally his fault, and whatever he did could be blamed by the emperor.
The Seventh Prince, on the other hand, was slightly more relaxed, as the person he recommended was quite suitable.
The emperor's fury gradually subsided, and his gaze fell on the faces of each of his sons, but he said nothing.
However, in the end, he did not appoint the two people recommended by the princes...