However, before he could order Zhao Bi to go to Jiangnan, a palace maid, extremely ignorant, shouted outside the door, "Let me in, let me in! Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Consort Ning has fallen into the water and miscarried, losing her little prince! Please go and see him, Your Majesty!"

Emperor Mingde frowned, his imperial face contorted with rage. "Take him out and execute him!"

Zhao Bi knelt down with a thud. "Father, please have mercy! My mother has suffered such a calamity, and I am deeply worried. I beg you to allow me to visit my mother before I go to control the flood!"

Any loving father would not have the heart to let Zhao Bi go to control the flood at this time, but Emperor Mingde was the emperor and father, and national affairs were the priority, so matters of women had to be put aside.

However, Zhao Bi's faction was clearly not going to let this opportunity slip by. What was the purpose of saying so many nice things just now? Wasn't it to endorse Zhao Bi? The Fourth Prince was originally going to control the floods, but his mother suffered a disaster. As a son, how could he not fulfill his filial duty at her bedside?

At this moment, Fu Boxing, the Minister of Justice, stepped forward and said, “Your Highness the Fourth Prince cares deeply for the people, which I admire. Since Her Majesty is ill and in distress, I suggest that Your Highness the Crown Prince and the First Prince go to manage the floods. It is merely to boost morale. I believe Your Highnesses will do so.”

Zhao Xiu glared fiercely at Fu Boxing. This scoundrel is hateful! Speaking of Yu the Great, he thought of Yu the Great's father. Yu the Great's father failed to control the flood and was killed. Not to mention the distant past, more than ten years ago, the Jiang family failed to control the flood and their family was wiped out. There are wolves in front and tigers behind. If he goes to control the flood, he will be demoted to a commoner if he returns, even if he doesn't die.

Historically, few people have escaped death while flood control efforts have resulted in large-scale deaths.

Unlike the eldest prince Zhao Xiu's resistance, the crown prince appeared much more indifferent, his handsome face showing little expression, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.

Fu Boxing suggested that he go to control the floods, so he stepped forward, threw off his robe, knelt down, and said loudly, "Your subject requests permission to go to Shu to control the floods."

Sichuan is much more impoverished than Jiangnan. At present, Sichuan has not yet become a land of plenty. If anyone disobeys, Emperor Mingde often thinks of exiling him to Sichuan.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Bi frowned almost imperceptibly. He knew that flood control was a thankless task, sometimes taking years to recover, by which time it would be too late.

However, this was also what he hoped for. No matter whether the Crown Prince went to Jiangnan or Shu, he would make him lose all his reputation. How could a disgraced Crown Prince inherit the throne? He could be raised as a useless person in the future.

With the eldest son gone, the rest would have to rely on their own abilities, and he was confident he could wipe out the other brothers in one fell swoop.

Of course, no one was stupid. The Crown Prince had barely finished speaking when the First Prince Zhao Xiu, before he could figure out how to refuse, heard a little eunuch outside the hall shout pitifully, "You dog servant, let me in! Consort De is seriously ill and unconscious, calling for the Emperor."

It seemed like a fight had broken out outside. The guards were Xiao Duzi and the Imperial Guards. The Imperial Guards stopped the eunuch sent by Consort De. Xiao Duzi hurriedly went forward to persuade him not to shout, but the eunuch was very fierce and actually hit him.

"Gag her!" Little Du was terrified and broke out in a cold sweat. The palace maid had been holding her there, and if the emperor didn't pardon her, she would be beheaded.

Emperor Mingde, standing in the palace before his ministers, felt utterly humiliated. Just moments before, he had thought Zhao Bi was a good son, understanding how to share his father's burdens, but now he felt that this son's heart was utterly despicable! Those despicable tricks of the harem had come right up to him!

Sensing something was wrong, Zhao Bi hurriedly said, "Please issue an order, Father, and I will immediately go to Jiangnan to manage the floods." He lowered his head, seemingly extremely sincere, not even caring about his mother, but his eyes glanced at Zhao Xiu out of the corner of his eye. Fool! But the fool's method worked. If you don't let me have a good time, you won't have a good time either!

Luo Hu arrived later, and when he came to the gate of Taihe Hall, he was covered in sweat. "Brother Huai Le, the palace servants said that there were floods in both Jiangnan and Shu. How come the urgent reports from these two places arrived at the same time?"

Prince Yong frowned. "Perhaps the messengers met at the post station and were too tired, so when they changed messengers, one of them delivered the urgent report to the palace?"

After hearing this, Luo Hu patted Prince Yong on the shoulder. He didn't want to say much to someone with a simple mind. "Brother Huai Le, please wait here for me to come out. We'll go back to the manor together later."

Even though he held the high-ranking positions of Grand Minister of the Palace and Minister of Personnel, he preferred to live in the Prince Yong's Mansion and never returned to the mansion bestowed upon him by Emperor Mingde.

When Xiao Duzi saw Lord Luo arrive, he almost cried as if he had seen his own father. Before Luo Hu could even speak, he had already gone inside to report, "Your Majesty, Lord Luo has arrived."

Emperor Mingde had a very good impression of Luo Hu. He was a wise minister whom Emperor Mingde had visited three times to obtain, so he naturally placed high hopes on him and also trusted him greatly.

"Since Consort Ning and Consort De are unwell, you may go and see them. There's no need to ask any more questions about the flood control. You may leave." Emperor Mingde felt utterly humiliated by this incident. The aristocratic families had never been able to recognize the true worth of the royal family, who came from humble backgrounds. And now, at this crucial moment, his son, on whom he had placed such high hopes, had played tricks on him! He was absolutely furious!

Zhao Bi knew that Emperor Mingde must be very disappointed in him. Since this plan had failed, he could only look for another opportunity and could not linger any longer. So he politely thanked the emperor and took his leave.

As for Zhao Xiu, he had no desire to manage the floods at all. He felt from the bottom of his heart that the floods were impossible to control and that he would have to take responsibility if he went. How could he bear that responsibility?

The two left the Taihe Hall with different thoughts on their minds.

Emperor Mingde felt pain in his chest, headache, and all over his body. He waved his hand and said, "Summon them."

Xiao Zhu Zi breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the Emperor did not blame him. He glanced at his master, Liang Yun Si, and saw that Liang Yun Si was looking down with his eyes closed and his face expressionless, but the whisk was swaying slightly.

Seeing the whisk sway slightly, he knew that he absolutely could not offend the Emperor at this moment.

After letting Luo Hu in through the door, he stood at the entrance waiting with a blank expression.

There was supposed to be another person on duty with him today, but the master said he wanted to train him, so the other person fell ill. Thinking about it, today is truly unforgettable.

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