Since the main character has already run away, there's no point in the guards staying.
In the blink of an eye, the uninvited guest was gone.
Chang Yan breathed a sigh of relief and waved to the aunts and uncles at the wedding banquet, "Everyone, please eat as much as you like."
Those icy, venomous gazes vanished, replaced by a passion for food.
In the hearts of ordinary people, princes and crown princes are all fleeting; what matters most is being able to eat meat while it's still piping hot.
The entire courtyard was bustling with activity, chopsticks moving like dragons, going back and forth.
As soon as Chang Yan returned to his seat, he heard Jiang Sheng praising him without reservation, "Fifth Brother is really amazing. He chased away the bad guys with just a few words, saving us from the pain of bowls and chopsticks flying everywhere and tables and chairs breaking."
His lips curled up, then slowly drooped down.
Zheng Ruqian burst into wild laughter, "Xiao Wu thought it was a real compliment, but it turns out this girl is happy because she saved money."
If there's no fight, there's no need to damage anything; if nothing is damaged, there's no need to buy new things.
It's not like we saved money, is it?
Jiang Sheng's cheeks puffed up with anger, and Wen Zhiyun next to her couldn't help but poke them with her hand.
While his younger siblings were playing, Xu Mo looked at Chang Yan and asked, "What do you think of this matter?"
They all knew that some people would be unable to contain themselves, and they also knew that the wedding banquet was a breakthrough point.
But to their surprise, the person who came was the eldest prince, and they were easily swayed by a few words and forced to retreat in a sorry state.
“I’m not surprised that Zhu Changhong could do these things,” Changyan said calmly. “I’m also not surprised that I could drive him away with my words.”
Surprisingly, the purpose was unclear.
With the investiture of the crown prince imminent, those who covet the throne will no longer hesitate.
In conventional logic, both the eldest prince and the second prince should have made their own plans and taken action.
If they don't act, then they are brewing an even bigger scheme, comparable to a rebellion.
"Looking at the trends over this period, both princes have been cautious and taciturn, but today the eldest prince provoked us in such a clumsy way." Xu Mo pondered and analyzed, "Doesn't it seem like the person behind it is showing weakness to make us lower our guard?"
After exchanging glances, the two brothers both nodded in agreement.
But with such a simple answer, don't the people behind it know that they could guess it?
When it comes to matters involving imperial power, one must always be extra careful.
“It looks like the Ju family is pulling the strings behind the scenes,” Changyan said softly. “After all, it was the eldest prince who took the initiative to provoke us, and he is the only one qualified to compete for the position of crown prince.”
But what if this is just what the person behind it made them see?
"You mean, the First Prince and the Ju family made someone a scapegoat?" Xu Mo narrowed his eyes. "The Second Prince, who has been keeping quiet, is the mastermind behind it all?"
“That’s impossible.” Changyan shook his head directly. “The First Prince and the Second Prince have always been at odds. How could they possibly take the initiative to help each other?”
A person who considers himself an elder would never allow someone who is neither the eldest nor the legitimate heir to serve him.
Even with Zhu Changhong's shrewdness, he couldn't keep such a big thing a secret.
Although their current goal is the Long Banquet, they are still competitors for the position of Crown Prince and it is difficult for them to conspire together.
"Is there no other possibility?" Xu Mo frowned.
Chang Yan thought for a moment, then hesitated and said, "Unless... unless Zhu Changhong himself doesn't know either."
But that didn't work either.
The eldest prince was unaware that he was being used as a scapegoat, but how could the shrewd and calculating head of the Ju family not know? How could he not stop it?
Their thoughts were blocked, and neither of the brothers could eat.
Unable to find a solution or grasp the situation, yet the appointment of the crown prince was imminent, and everyone knew that something big was about to happen.
This feeling is really unpleasant.
Changyan tilted his head, his gaze fixed on his chattering family.
Zhang Xianglian seemed to be talking about what happened to her aunt in the workshop. Jiang Sheng listened with great interest and occasionally interrupted to ask questions.
"Auntie, is what you're saying true? Was that auntie really betrayed by her sisters?" The little girl asked with great curiosity. "They used to be best friends, how could they suddenly betray each other?"
"Before marriage, we were best friends, but after marriage, our focus shifts to our families. When it comes to making choices, our sisters always come after our husbands," Zhang Xianglian said with emotion. "In the end, what we value most is our family."
A married woman is like water spilled from a cup; she is no longer there.
The words may be harsh, but the focus has definitely shifted.
Just like Consort Ju cared about her maternal family, but she cared even more about the eldest prince.
So, does the Ju family care more about the prince and his nephew, or about the Ju family's wealth and status?
Chang Yan's heart skipped a beat, and cold sweat broke out on his back.
He couldn't quite tell whether he was relieved or regretful. He calmed himself down and said, "We were stuck in a dead end just now, thinking that the Crown Prince had to be tied to the Ju family."
Actually, that's not the case. The two families will only become very close after the eldest prince ascends the throne.
If the eldest prince loses the competition for the throne, won't the Ju family find a new way out for themselves?
“The biggest connection between a nephew and his maternal uncle lies in their mother, but Consort Ju is unconscious and her life hangs in the balance.” Xu Mo suddenly realized and continued, “Without Consort Ju’s resistance, even if the Ju family had chosen someone else, the eldest prince would have had no choice but to accept his fate.”
And that other person could only be the Second Prince Zhu Changyu, who hid in the prince's residence and never even showed his face.
This person is highly skilled in scheming and strategy, but his background is a drawback, and he was short-sighted in choosing Fang Jia as his supporter.
Given his background, he had no right to be chosen in Fengjing.
Perhaps the Fang family was already his best choice at that time.
"First, let the eldest prince distract us and make us try our best to guard against the Ju family. By the time we realize something is wrong and start guarding against him, the Ju family will become a sharp knife again," Xu Mo said in a deep voice. "No matter which one we guard against, as long as we don't associate the Ju family with him, we will suffer a heavy blow sooner or later."
So what can the Ju family do?
I still remember that the Ju family had two Grand Secretaries in the Cabinet, and they had the potential to be promoted to Second Grand Secretary in the future.
But scholars didn't play a significant role at this time.
On the contrary, it was the military generals...
“I remember now, Consort Ju’s nephew is a guard in the palace.” Chang Yan suddenly raised his head. “It’s just that his status is too low, he’s just a mere soldier, which is why he has been overlooked time and time again.”
Even if one is not in command, one should not be underestimated in critical moments.
It seems that this second prince has a grand scheme with the Ju family.
"Is it worth it? To gamble to this extent for that position?" Xu Mo made a rough estimate.
"Perhaps some people are destined for the victors and the vanquished, unwilling to settle for mediocrity." Chang Yan remained unusually calm.
Zhu Changyu is really amazing and very capable.
But this person has a fatal flaw: he likes to use underhanded tactics.
So much so that we overlook the fact that secrets are always revealed in actions; every action leaves a trace.
"And thank you for his unwillingness and his actions," Chang Yan murmured, "which made me change my original plan."
He remained seated, and in the blink of an eye, his jade crown transformed into a golden crown, and his clothes changed into a gleaming golden robe.
The ceremony to appoint the crown prince is about to begin.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
