Emperor Jingxi sat on the high dragon throne.
Hearing these words, the expression on his face instantly became a half-smile, and the light in his eyes was like a cold star in the cold night, which made people shudder.
He stared intently at the minister who was speaking and said slowly, "Then, in your opinion, who do you want me to appoint as the crown prince?"
The tone seems calm, but in fact it is like a volcano about to erupt, making people feel suffocated.
The minister suddenly felt as if something was choking his throat and he couldn't utter a word.
Isn't this an obvious question?
Now, the only princes still alive and eligible to compete for the position of crown prince are Prince Jing and Prince Yong.
If Prince Jing is not chosen as the Crown Prince, then the answer is self-evident. Prince Yong must be chosen as the Crown Prince.
However, no matter how brave the minister was, he really didn't dare to tell Emperor Jingxi directly about such direct and obvious disobedience to the emperor's wishes.
Just because he didn't dare to speak out doesn't mean no one in the court dared to speak out.
Those censors who were keen on making death-defying remonstrations and were known for their outspokenness and courage had never been afraid of authority.
At this time, an imperial censor named Du stepped forward.
He held his head high, his gaze firm and fearless, and spoke loudly, "Your Majesty, Prince Yong's achievements and performance in the northwest are obvious to all. He mobilized troops, resisted foreign enemies, and comforted the people, winning their love and support. Such ability and deeds are what our Great Xia urgently needs. I believe that Prince Yong should be elected as the Crown Prince."
His voice echoed in the court with great force.
Emperor Jingxi's gaze towards him instantly became filled with hostility and dissatisfaction, and he secretly guessed in his heart: It turns out that this is also Xiao Ba's man.
Emperor Jingxi's tone took a sharp turn, and he said "Oh" in a drawn-out voice.
The sound seemed to be squeezed out from between teeth, which made people shudder.
Then he asked coldly, "Who else has the same idea as him?"
The atmosphere in the court froze instantly.
The wise and sophisticated ministers, such as Prince Ningchuan, Prime Minister Xie and others, chose to remain silent at this time, motionless, and as steady as a rock.
However, there were also some ministers who were not smart enough or were stubborn and single-minded, and they stood up without hesitation to support Censor Du.
"Your Majesty, I believe that although Prince Yong previously remained inconspicuous in the palace and was often overlooked due to his frail health, after arriving in the north, he was able to quickly adapt to the harsh environment and demonstrated strong leadership and adaptability. This is sufficient proof that he possesses extraordinary potential and resilience. This is exactly the kind of wise ruler that Great Xia needs."
A minister was very emotional and spoke earnestly.
"Your Majesty, Prince Yong is of noble birth, and his mother's family has deep roots in the court. Moreover, judging by his abilities, he has achieved remarkable results in governance and actions in the northwest, surpassing the other princes. I believe Prince Yong should be chosen as the Crown Prince."
Another minister followed closely behind, stating his views passionately.
"Your Majesty, I second the motion!"
"I second the motion!"
“…”
For a time, voices of seconding the motion rose one after another in the court, people became increasingly excited, and the situation was almost out of control.
After listening to their words, Emperor Jingxi had no expression on his face and just nodded slightly.
Just when the ministers thought he had been persuaded and changed his mind, his face suddenly darkened and he shouted, "Come here, draft the decree!"
The ministers held their breath, waiting for the emperor's decision.
"What you said makes sense, so I will make Prince Jing the crown prince."
Emperor Jingxi's voice was firm and resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.
Upon hearing this, Censor Du became anxious and jumped out again, shouting, "Your Majesty! I think Prince Yong is more suitable."
Emperor Jingxi sneered, his eyes filled with mockery and anger, and shouted, "What? I'm not even dead yet, and you can't wait to buy it from the new emperor?"
These words were like a heavy hammer, hitting everyone's heart hard.
This is almost an open accusation that people like Du Yushi who spoke for Yan Cheng were secretly lured by Yan Cheng to form a clique for personal gain.
Censor Du was anxious and angry, his face flushed red, and he tried to defend himself: "Your Majesty, I..."
I am really not Prince Yong's man.
Emperor Jingxi interrupted him rudely: "You don't need to say anything. I am the emperor, and my decision is unquestionable. I will make Xiao San the crown prince, and Xiao San will be the next emperor of Daxia."
If you think about it carefully, Xiao San is actually the child who has the most similar personality to him when he was young.
They were all children who were neglected and ignored in the palace.
Perhaps it was precisely because of this similar experience that he was more inclined to make Prince Jing the crown prince.
There was a dead silence in the court, and some of the ministers looked disappointed.
In the Xian'ya Palace, Concubine Yun Shu heard the latest news about the appointment of the crown prince.
There was undisguised sarcasm on her delicate face, and the target was obviously Emperor Jingxi.
"As expected, he simply doesn't want to hand the throne over to the Yun family's bloodline."
Concubine Yun Shu's voice was full of sarcasm and dissatisfaction, and her eyes were sharp and cold.
"He has always been selfish and narrow-minded, and has always been wary of my Yun family. My father commanded a great army and made great military achievements for the Great Xia Empire, but in his eyes, he has become a thorn in his side, a threat to his throne."
She unconsciously clenched the silk handkerchief in her hand, and her knuckles turned slightly white from the force.
"Now, that child has inherited his father's talent. He's leading troops in the northwest, fighting enemies and defending his country, earning the heartfelt love of the people. He's starting to get restless again. I guess he's always wondering if that child will lead his troops to attack the capital."
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