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◎Prince An's family moved out of the Eastern Palace, and the dust settled◎

After arranging a place for his eldest son and his family, Emperor Xingwu asked He Yuanjing to help him continue to lie down inside to recuperate.

The ministers were still stunned!

A crown prince who was in good health, deposed so easily? Was there really no room for maneuver? Furthermore, that was Princess Qingyang's residence. It was temporarily converted to Prince An's Mansion. So where would Princess Qingyang live after returning to the capital? The princess had just achieved great success in the Northern Expedition and had returned happily. How could she accept this? She discovered her residence was gone before she could even receive her reward.

However, at this time, the officials who were worried about Princess Qingyang losing her mansion were still a minority. Most officials still hoped that the emperor would withdraw the decree to depose the crown prince. In view of the fact that the crown prince had foolishly requested this decree and the emperor was also furious with the crown prince, the officials knelt in front of Qin Hong and begged the crown prince to apologize to the emperor and ask him to withdraw the decree as soon as possible.

Qin Ren also followed suit, his advice more sincere than any of the ministers. "Big brother is tired and doesn't want to be the crown prince anymore, so who will be the next one?" "Second brother is too impatient and isn't as suitable as the eldest brother." "I'm most afraid that the emperor will give him the crown prince position because of his sister's merits. He wouldn't be able to take the position. He doesn't have the skills to rule the country, nor can he handle the hard work of state affairs!"

Everyone knelt in front of Qin Hong.

Qin Hong smiled and said to the crowd, "The position of Crown Prince is like a deep-sea prison for an incompetent like me. Today, thanks to my father's help, I have been able to escape from this sea of suffering. I am now free and ecstatic. If you insist on forcing me back, why not just take my life?"

In the eyes of the ministers, the prince had his hands behind his back, his posture upright, his head held high towards the sky, and a carefree and unrestrained smile, like a wild goose that could fly away at any time.

There were many deposed princes in history, but all of them had a miserable end. The only exception was the first prince of the Qin family of the Great Qi State. He could not suppress his joy after being deposed. When you think about the time when the prince was not deposed, think about his haggard face and lifeless eyes, it really looked like he was in prison!

Qin Hong smiled as he looked at the cloudless blue winter sky, then at the palace walls and buildings in the distance. His gaze paused in the direction of Chongyuan Palace, and finally he said to the people kneeling before him, "Next time we meet, please address me as Prince An. If anyone mistakenly calls me Crown Prince again, I will personally file a memorial to accuse him of treason and disobeying the imperial order."

The country belongs to the emperor, and it is the emperor who decides who will be the crown prince. If a minister dares to randomly recognize the crown prince, what is that if not treason?

After making harsh remarks and expressing his attitude, Qin Hong strode away.

Qin Ren chased after him. Not to mention that the prince was no longer a prince, his elder brother was about to move out of the palace. As a younger brother, could he just stand by and watch?

Among the ministers, Yan Xizheng sighed deeply, hunched over, and walked out first, looking regretful and wanting to persuade the emperor, yet helpless. Right Prime Minister Dai Lun shook his head and followed behind. Nie Ao and Yang Zhimin also tried to follow, but were stopped by a group of civil servants. Some said that the matter couldn't be let go, while others pleaded with Yang Zhimin to go to the emperor and persuade him again.

Yang Zhimin smiled bitterly and pointed to the fine cloth robe on his body. He was dismissed from his post because Prince An's siblings abused their power for personal gain. How could he be qualified to persuade them?

The officials all looked at the Imperial Censor Nie Ao.

Nie Luo scowled, "Your Majesty went through so much hardship in founding the country, and he shed so much blood and sweat to achieve the peace and prosperity we have today. Qin Hong, instead of devoting himself to his country, treats the Majesty's high hopes as a prison. How can he, such a coward, inherit the great cause? I must push him back. I am ashamed of my position as a subject, and I am ashamed of the people of the world!"

To be fair, Qin Hong's fault this time was not serious. At least it was not an option for the emperor to depose the crown prince on this basis. Nie Ao would also firmly oppose it. However, Nie Ao saw clearly that Qin Hong really did not want to be the crown prince, and he really did not have the talent, courage and determination to inherit the throne. For such a crown prince who would have a headache at the slightest disturbance, it would be better to let him step down as soon as possible!

Nie Ao left angrily.

The officials were stunned for a moment, then most of them left, and the remaining few turned to look at Duke Cheng, the father-in-law of the former crown prince who had just been deposed.

Lü Zan: “…”

When his son-in-law read out his confession of guilt, Lu Zan admired his son-in-law's courage to admit his mistakes. When his son-in-law knelt in the hall to resign as the crown prince, Lu Zan suddenly felt as absurd and shocked as if a thunderbolt hit his head while he was walking on the road. When the emperor really fulfilled his son-in-law's wish, Lu Zan's heart felt like it was soaked in ice water.

As a duke who rose to prominence by following the emperor and came from a common background, Lu Zan enjoys the current life of luxury and power, but he keeps in mind that all of this is a reward from the emperor for the Lu family's contribution to founding the country. After they accepted the reward, the Lu family and the emperor only had a relationship as monarch and subject, and at most they had an additional friendship as old friends compared to ordinary officials. However, if they relied on their previous contributions and friendship to bully others, then the good days of the Lu family would be over.

Before his father died, he told him to be loyal to the emperor, no matter if it was Emperor Xingwu or the future new emperor, no matter if the new emperor was his son-in-law or another prince appointed by the emperor. Lu Zan was surprised that his father had anticipated this day, and he would follow his father's teachings and his own wishes to be loyal to the emperor.

The problem is, he is the father-in-law of the deposed crown prince. Emperor Xingwu should trust him, but can the next new crown prince trust him?

Lu Zan was worried and unable to take care of himself. He didn't want to bother with these officials who thought he was not troublesome enough!

What a joke. The son-in-law himself doesn't want to be the crown prince. It's useless for him to persuade the emperor. If he persuades his own son-in-law, wouldn't he be telling all the civil and military officials in the court and the next crown prince that he, Lu Zan, is reluctant to give up the honor of being the future father-in-law of the emperor?

"Whether you want to establish a crown prince or depose him, I, Lü Zan, only know how to be loyal to the emperor and obey his orders. You may leave or stay as you please. Forgive me for leaving."

After saying this, Lu Zan left at the speed of light.

.

At Chongyuan Palace, after Qin Hong came back, he asked his wife to quickly arrange for the palace servants to pack up the things, mainly the daily necessities that would be used tonight. Other books, collections, etc. that could not be moved in one day could be moved tomorrow.

Lu Wenrong was well prepared. He smiled and said sorry to Qin Ren, then went to make arrangements.

Qin Ren stared blankly at his sister-in-law's back.

Qin Hong explained, "I had a hard time before, and your sister-in-law was also trembling with fear with me, so when I said I wanted to resign, she understood me better than anyone else and supported me."

After confirming that his brother and sister-in-law's joy and relief in escaping the suffering were not fake, Qin Ren lowered his head, not knowing what to say. It would be inappropriate to persuade his elder brother to change his mind, and it was even more impossible to congratulate him on getting his wish.

Qin Hong patted his third brother on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Big brother knows that you are more courageous than me. You are just used to being lazy. You are still young, and it is not too late to change now."

Qin Ren covered his head and squatted down: "Brother, don't tell me this, I don't want to hear it, I have a headache too!"

The emperor hadn't said anything yet, it was just a guess, but Qin Ren had already felt the shadow of Mount Tai about to fall on his head, and he could empathize with his elder brother's previous suffering and tiredness!

Qin Hong laughed and changed the subject, "Okay, there are too many things and I don't have enough manpower here. Can you help me pack all the books in the study?"

Qin Ren went there in a daze.

Qin Hong said to the eunuch Dequan beside him, "You go to Chongwen Pavilion and keep an eye on it. Let Zheng'er study peacefully. Don't let anyone spread rumors about what's happening outside. I'll pick him up before he leaves the palace."

Dequan walked away with a serious expression.

After working hard for more than an hour, the boxes and cages in Chongyuan Palace were already filled with four carriages. Qin Hong drove away his third brother, who must have cried secretly several times and had a red face. He asked Lu Wenrong to take the four carriages to the mansion that originally belonged to his sister and settle them there first. He went to Chongwen Pavilion alone to pick up his son.

Although Zheng Ge'er was only six years old, he lived in the palace and the palace servants who took care of him were all smart. Just like the little princess who was six or seven years old back then knew everything that happened in the palace, Zheng Ge'er, who lived with his father and mother, knew even more about his family's affairs. So he knew that his aunt was punished for accepting bribes, and that his father was involved and was scolded by the emperor's grandfather, and had to write a letter of apology.

Zheng Ge'er was very angry. His father was the most honest man in the world. It was all because of his aunt's greed for money. His father was too soft-hearted to help his aunt.

But he was still a child and no one would listen to him. Zheng Ge'er could only secretly make up his mind that when he grew up and became the crown prince, he would definitely stand in front of his father and reject his aunt's unreasonable wishes, and no longer let his aunt cause his father a headache.

"Father!"

Seeing his father standing outside Chongwen Pavilion in a dark blue uniform, smiling and looking pleased, Zheng Ge'er ran out in surprise, "Father, why are you here?"

Qin Hong picked up his son and explained in a gentle voice, "Father has asked the Emperor for mercy and will take you to play at your aunt's house this afternoon. Do you like it, brother Zheng?"

Zheng Ge'er: "..."

My father must be worried about my aunt who is under house arrest, so he wants to take him with him.

Zheng Ge'er didn't want to go, but he would not refuse his father. If he went, perhaps he could help his father when his aunt lost her temper.

In this way, Qin Hong smoothly took Zheng Ge'er across the Donghua Gate and left the palace.

At this time, there was only one carriage outside Donghua Gate, and Zheng Ge'er had not noticed anything wrong.

The carriage moved smoothly and soon arrived at the Yongkang Princess's residence, which was guarded by a team of imperial guards. Qin Hong got off the carriage and carried his son down. The imperial guards had not received any news from the palace, but Qin Hong could get through unimpeded with this face.

Yongkang still felt bad for the 60,000 taels of silver she had handed over because her brother was unwilling to cooperate. In order to avoid forcing his brother, Yongkang had only helped six officials in total. Some stayed in Beijing, while others were sent to other places. Not every one of these six was as sensible as Fang Ji, who gave her filial gifts every year. Two officials were even demoted and dismissed for making mistakes.

Anyway, Yongkang didn't make enough 60,000 taels from the six people, and now she has to pay more than 20,000 taels at once, and her title and salary has been reduced by half. How can she not feel aggrieved?

No matter how aggrieved he felt, Yongkang still forced himself to come and see his brother and nephew.

Qin Hong dismissed all the servants, sat on a chair, and calmly told his elder sister and son that he had resigned from the position of crown prince.

Qin Hong used to be afraid of his elder sister and couldn't bear to refuse her, but he had long known that it was wrong. Now that the dust has settled, he will listen to his elder sister's cries and will not fight back if she hits him. If his elder sister wants to blame his father or others, he will explain it clearly in person.

Yongkang was going crazy because of this useless brother, but no matter how she beat and scolded him, he would not hide, but would sit there upright. Seeing that there was no hesitation or retreat in her eyes, Yongkang knew that it would be useless even if she beat his brother to death.

In the end, Yongkang sat on the ground dejectedly, with disheveled hair and all hope lost.

Zheng Ge'er witnessed his aunt's madness and also witnessed his father's unrepentant behavior.

Even my aunt couldn’t wake my father up, so what can Zheng’er do?

He only asked his father one question: "Father, since you don't want to be the crown prince, have you ever considered me?"

Qin Hong called his son to his side, looked down at his eyes that were filled with anger and unwillingness, and said word by word: "The crown prince is not someone who can be chosen by anyone. From ancient times to the present, whoever the emperor wants to be the crown prince will become the crown prince."

"Before my grandfather appointed me as the Crown Prince, I never considered the position of Crown Prince a sure thing. My father's thinking was, 'If my grandfather wants me to be the Crown Prince, I will do my best. If he doesn't want me to be the Crown Prince, it means my talents and virtues are not enough for the position. If my father insists on being the Crown Prince, it would be like my father trying to make decisions for my grandfather, which would be like my father being disloyal and unfilial."

"For the emperor's son to covet the throne is disloyal and unfilial, and for the emperor's grandson to have such thoughts is even more treasonous."

"You shouldn't have such thoughts, and you don't have to have any delusions. If the emperor wanted to give you that position, he wouldn't let me take you out of the palace."

"Now that you've left the palace, you'll only be the Crown Prince of Prince An's Mansion. If you dare covet that position again, you'll be courting death, and even your father won't be able to save you."

Zheng Ge'er, who was standing in front of his father, heard it, and Yongkang, who was sitting on the ground and had regained a wisp of soul, also heard it.

Neither the aunt nor the niece said anything else.

【Author’s words】

Okay, the next chapter will be about Qingyang returning to Beijing. 100 little red envelopes. See you tonight~