Chapter 254 Chapter 254 Persuasion

When the third prince came out of the palace, he didn't look very good.

Everyone who saw this scene was secretly wondering if the old emperor was in poor health. However, there was no news from the palace, so he should be fine.

When the third prince returned home, he got angry again.

What made him angry, of course, was the old emperor's attitude. This damn old man, even though he had suffered a stroke and was paralyzed in bed, was still wary of his sons. He would rather let Princess Yuan'an take power and suppress them than openly support him.

The third prince gnashed his teeth. He went to the palace today to ask the old emperor for some advice, such as agreeing to make him the crown prince so that he would have a legitimate identity to fight against Princess Yuanan.

Otherwise, he really couldn't defeat this aunt.

After being angry at the old emperor for not changing his stubborn ways, the third prince started to hate Princess Yuan'an. She was obviously a dying person, so how come she suddenly became fine?

He said in hatred, "If I had known that she had taken refuge in the palace, I should have killed her to prevent future troubles."

It would be easy to get rid of a sickly princess imprisoned in a palace.

At that time, he thought that Princess Yuan'an was already a useless person and was not worth worrying about. He focused more on the court and fighting with those brothers.

Who would have thought that a princess who was about to die could return to the court, and she looked completely healthy, which made people wonder if she was deliberately lying about her illness.

"It shouldn't be." The staff said, "The Saint sent many doctors, and every doctor said that Princess Yuan'an was seriously ill and there was no medicine to cure her."

Even if Princess Yuanan could bribe a few imperial doctors, she couldn't bribe all of them, right?

Princess Yuanan doesn't have such great ability.

The third prince frowned.

In fact, he also knew that Princess Yuanan was indeed ill that year. Even if she didn't want to be sick, the saint would make her sick.

Princess Yuan'an's illness was very strange. She was imprisoned in the palace for several years. It was said that she was always bedridden, and her condition was sometimes better and sometimes worse. Later, he accidentally learned from his mother that the medicine Princess Yuan'an drank had been given a medicine that was incompatible with her for many years. Even a good medicine would become a poison, which had been corroding her body. She might not live for many years.

The only one who could do such a thing without anyone noticing was the one in the palace.

The Third Prince still felt something was wrong. "Why did Aunt Yuan An's illness suddenly get better? And she looked younger. Did she find some magic pill or something?"

Influenced by the old emperor, the third prince also has an inexplicable trust in elixirs.

If he wasn't afraid of offending the old emperor, he would have wanted to ask the imperial teacher for some elixirs.

Fortunately, his staff didn't know what he was thinking, otherwise they would definitely doubt whether it was a mistake to follow him.

The staff member said hesitantly: "Your Highness, I think this matter should be related to the Duke of Zhenguo."

"Fu Xiao?" The Third Prince was puzzled at first, but then he understood, "Could it be that Aunt Yuan An was cured by Doctor Xu from the Southland?"

I heard that Fu Wenxiao was saved by Doctor Xu back then.

The poison that Concubine Xian gave Fu Wenxiao was a secret palace medicine from the previous dynasty. No one knew where she got it from. It was said to be extremely toxic and there was no antidote.

Everyone thought that Fu Wenxiao was doomed. If the old emperor had not allowed the people from the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion to take him south to seek medical treatment out of consideration for their old friendship, he would have had to wait to die in the capital.

Even so, when Fu Wenxiao went south, many people secretly sent people to hunt him down. Unfortunately, they were all resolved by people protected by the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, allowing him to go south smoothly.

Anyway, he was a man who wouldn’t live long, so the Third Prince didn’t pay any more attention to him.

Who would have thought that he would actually come back alive, just like Princess Yuan'an who suddenly appeared, and both mother and son recovered their health.

The Third Prince regretted his decision so much that he should have killed Fu Xiao to prevent future troubles. However, due to a momentary thought, he allowed the mother and son to survive.

The staff member said confidently: "I think it should be possible. Doctor Xu can even cure stroke. He must be a miracle doctor."

It is normal that such a miracle doctor could save the Duke of Zhenguo and Princess Yuanan.

The Third Prince was filled with hatred. Could it be that he had asked someone to bring Doctor Xu to the capital and actually helped Princess Yuanan to be rescued?

He even began to hate Doctor Xu. This damn old man didn't treat his son's leg, but instead went to save Princess Yuan'an. He was really ungrateful.

The third prince hated everyone and even the heavens and the earth. He cursed the ants that passed by.

Recently, his people have been suppressed by Princess Yuan'an, who has been pressing him step by step and does not take him, the "eldest prince", seriously at all.

What he was most worried about was that if the old emperor passed away, Princess Yuan'an would find an easy-to-control grandson to take the throne and depose all the princes.

Given Princess Yuanan's strength and ruthlessness, it is absolutely possible.

The staff waited for him to calm down a bit, and then said, "Your Highness, the only thing you can do now is to be on guard against Princess Yuan An, and never let anything happen to the Saint. At the same time, you must also find a few more allies."

"Who are you looking for? The seventh prince?" The third prince looked disdainful.

He never took the Seventh Prince seriously. Even after the Sixth Prince got into trouble, the old emperor specifically pulled out the Seventh Prince to challenge him. Although he was angry, he still didn't care about the Seventh Prince.

"Your Highness, you can go to Prince Rui and Prince Yue." The staff whispered, "Prince Rui and Prince Yue both have real power, and they are members of the royal family, so they will naturally stand on your side."

As men, I guess Prince Rui and Prince Yue wouldn't want a woman to step on their heads, right?

In fact, the royal family did not want Princess Yuanan to take the throne, but unfortunately they could not suppress her.

The Third Prince nodded. He naturally understood this. He then asked, "Where is Xuan Huaiqing? What is his attitude?"

He sent people to win over Xuan Huaiqing, but Xuan Huaiqing had ignored him before. But now the old emperor is paralyzed. If Xuan Huaiqing had been sensible, he would know what to do.

The staff member said helplessly: "General Xuan confiscated the gifts we sent. He was promoted by the saint and he must be loyal to the saint. I am afraid it will be difficult to win him over."

Xuan Huaiqing's mentality is understandable. He is loyal to the saint and will not accept anyone's enticement. He has a bit of naive and pure stubbornness in his nature.

This is also a characteristic of some military generals.

The third prince frowned for a moment, but soon didn't care. Although Xuan Huaiqing was the commander of the imperial guards, he had been back to the capital for too short a time. If something really happened to the saint, he would be unable to help.

On the contrary, it is Weiyuan Hou, the commander of the Imperial City, who will have to come forward when the time comes.

After discussing with his staff, the Third Prince quickly came up with an idea and planned to test the attitudes of Prince Rui and others first.

He wanted to win the support of the royal family. With their support, he might be able to compete with Princess Yuan'an.

**

Chu Shaoyu just came back from outside and heard that the third prince had arrived.

He was a little puzzled, and because he disliked the Third Prince, he did not go.

After the third prince left, he went to the study in the front yard and found that several of his half-brothers were also there. The father and his sons were discussing something, as if they had left him out.

When Chu Shaoyu saw him coming, they shut up and seemed to be on guard against him. He couldn't help but sneer.

When Prince Rui saw his legitimate son coming, he thought he had something to ask him, so he asked his illegitimate sons to leave first.

Even he himself did not realize that when his legitimate son and illegitimate son got together, he would subconsciously separate them to prevent them from killing each other.

"Brother Yu, what's the matter?" asked King Rui.

Chu Shaoyu didn't beat around the bush and asked directly, "Father, when the Third Prince came over just now, he didn't mean to win you over and ask you to help him deal with Princess Yuan An, did he?"

King Rui was a little surprised. When did this silly son become so perceptive?

"Father, please don't be confused!" Chu Shaoyu hurriedly advised, "The Third Prince is stupid and vicious. You will end up in trouble if you follow him."

King Rui suddenly laughed angrily, "What do you know?"

"Why don't I understand?" Chu Shaoyu snorted, "The Saint has always been on guard against you, and the stupid and vicious Third Prince may not believe you. Even if he does... what good do you think you will get? You might as well support Aunt Yuan An. With her broad mind, as long as you work hard, she will definitely not target you."

King Rui slammed the table and said sternly: "What nonsense are you talking about?!"

Is this something that can be said directly? This silly kid is outspoken. If he gets drunk and talks nonsense outside one day, the heads of his whole family will be chopped off!

Chu Shaoyu was not afraid of him at all, and retorted: "Where did I say that? I am afraid that you will go against Aunt Yuan An, and our whole family will be implicated by you in the future, right?"

Prince Rui was so angry that he wanted to beat him, but Chu Shaoyu would never stand still and let him beat him. He jumped up and down and yelled, which finally attracted Concubine Rui and Princess Rui. The two women hurriedly pulled Prince Rui back and even blamed him for his bad temper and beating the child at the slightest disagreement.

Concubine Rui picked up the feather duster handed to her by Princess Rui and tried to hit him, "If you dare to hit my grandson, I will fight you!"

King Rui: “…”

Prince Rui sent his mother back in a gentle manner, and then sent his angry wife back to her room. Finally, he wiped his face and called the rebellious son back into the study.

He looked at his unrepentant legitimate son and felt exhausted.

"What do you know?" He sighed, "Do you think Yuan An just wants to be regent? She..."

She wants to ascend to that position and become the queen herself!

Throughout the dynasties, which woman would dare to think and do this?

If Princess Yuan'an only intended to support a puppet emperor and rule the country behind the scenes, he didn't think it was a big deal. That was what the Empress Dowager did back then. People like them who had experienced the Empress Dowager's rule were used to it, and it wasn't so unbearable.

During the reign of the Empress Dowager, she promulgated many policies that benefited the country and the people, and she even planned to clean up the bureaucracy.

Unfortunately, she died of illness before she could start.

Princess Yuan An did do this when she was in power, but the time was too short and she encountered too much resistance. In addition, the old emperor wanted to take back power and secretly planned to suppress and undermine the policies she set...

Princess Yuan'an has too many things to do, and being regent can no longer satisfy her. Only by ascending to that position can she realize her ambitions and achieve her ideals.

Prince Rui had a complicated expression and was very conflicted.

How can a woman be an emperor? Isn't this like a hen crowing at dawn?

Putting all this aside, Princess Yuan'an is indeed very suitable. She inherited the empress dowager's governing methods and ideas. She is more suitable than the old emperor who only cares about grabbing power but doesn't care about the lives of the people, and she is more suitable than those stupid and bad princes.

But……

It’s still the same reason, she is a woman, just a princess!

Chu Shaoyu looked at him blankly, then said, "What's the big deal? Whoever is suitable to be the emperor should take the throne. Isn't that the way it should be?"

King Rui was startled, and seeing that he acted as if it was a matter of course, it was as if he didn't even know his son.

Chu Shaoyu said again: "Father, don't look down on women. Grandmother is also a woman. You won't look down on her, right?"

It was such a huge accusation that even King Rui was confused by him.

Listen to what this is saying? The son is actually controlling his father and putting labels on him.

He was so angry that he wanted to hit the child again.

Chu Shaoyu ignored his expression and continued, "Look at my cousin's wife. She is so powerful. I'm afraid there is no one in this world who can beat her!" Thinking of something, he said, "Father, with my cousin's wife here, nothing will happen. Just listen to me."

Prince Rui didn't care. The wife of the Duke of Zhenguo was just a woman. Even if she had some special abilities, how could she influence the situation in the court?

Could she possibly be able to hold off a massive army?

He felt that his son might have been brainwashed by the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo, which was why he was so blind to her.

**

On the other side, the Third Prince had just left the Prince Rui's Mansion when a subordinate came over.

"Your Highness, the Prince of Yue County invites you to the teahouse for a chat."

The Third Prince was delighted when he heard this and turned around without hesitation, "Lead the way!"