"Jinghe, why didn't you go to the training ground for morning exercises today?" Ye Jingchen asked Ye Jinghe with a smile after glancing at Xie Chang'an.
"I'll go for my morning exercise after my brother goes to the morning court session," Ye Jinghe said, deliberately standing in front of Xie Chang'an, completely blocking his view of his brother.
Although Xie Chang'an didn't say a word to his brother after entering the bedchamber, Ye Jinghe found the way he looked at his brother very annoying.
"Fifth Prince, the day's plan starts in the morning. For those who practice martial arts, the most important thing is morning training. How can we be careless? I always go to the palace after my morning training," Xie Chang'an said.
"It's not too late for me to do my morning exercise after I go to court!" Ye Jingchen quickly said to Ye Jinghe.
After saying that, she glared at Xie Chang'an.
It's only the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), which is early enough. If Ye Jinghe's competitive spirit is aroused by Xie Chang'an's words, wouldn't he have to get up even earlier?
I might as well not sleep tonight!
Ye Jingchen had to rush to the morning court session and didn't have much time to deal with the power struggle between Xie Chang'an and Ye Jinghe.
After washing up, he ate a few pastries and drank a bowl of soup at a comfortable temperature before heading to the Taiji Hall.
Xie Chang'an followed him at a leisurely pace.
Ye Jinghe watched Ye Jingchen leave, then noticed that Xie Chang'an was still following, and quickly stopped him.
"Your brother goes to court, and you don't have to. What are you doing following him?" Ye Jinghe asked with an unfriendly expression.
"As the deputy commander of the Eastern Palace Guard, it is only natural that I must protect His Highness the Crown Prince's safety!" Xie Chang'an said matter-of-factly.
"What danger could my brother be in the palace? A few eunuchs and ordinary guards from the Eastern Palace can accompany him. Why does he need you, the deputy commander, to accompany him personally?!" Ye Jinghe said coldly.
"Fifth Prince, are you going to disregard His Highness the Crown Prince's safety for your own selfish reasons?" Xie Chang'an asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I didn't!" Ye Jinghe denied instinctively. How could he possibly disregard his brother's safety?
"Since His Majesty has appointed me as the Deputy Commander of the Eastern Palace Guard, it is naturally because His Highness the Crown Prince needs my protection. If the Fifth Prince has any doubts, he may as well go to His Majesty for verification!" Xie Chang'an said this and strode after Ye Jingchen, who had already walked away.
Ye Jinghe naturally couldn't ask the emperor why he had appointed a deputy commander for the Eastern Palace Guard. Xie Chang'an was right when he said that he was by his brother's side to protect him.
He had no right to stop Xie Chang'an from getting close to his brother, even though he always felt that the relationship between his brother and Xie Chang'an was unusual!
"Why didn't you wait for me?" Xie Chang'an asked somewhat unhappily after catching up with Ye Jingchen.
"I'm almost late for the morning court session," Ye Jingchen said.
Actually, he didn't want to be caught in the middle. One was the person he liked, and the other was his closest younger brother. It wouldn't be good for him to side with either of them, so he simply walked faster and pretended not to know anything.
He didn't actually want to hide his relationship with Xie Chang'an from Ye Jinghe, and he believed that even if he told Ye Jinghe that he liked Xie Chang'an, Ye Jinghe would definitely not tell a fourth person about it, but he would definitely feel uneasy.
Because he had always worried that the Eastern Palace would kick him out once it had a mistress, Ye Jingchen didn't want him to get involved with Xie Chang'an in leaving the Eastern Palace.
"Why don't I wake you up from now on? That way you won't be in such a rush!" Xie Chang'an said.
He arrived very early and stood outside the bedroom listening to Fangfei softly calling Ye Jingchen to wake up. It took at least a quarter of an hour to wake him.
If he were to come, he would be much faster than Fangfei.
"Not now!" Ye Jingchen refused without even thinking.
Xie Chang'an disregarded the fate of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, but he could not ignore it!
Hurriedly climbing the steps, Xie Chang'an stopped outside the hall, while Ye Jingchen straightened his clothes and entered the Taiji Hall.
"Your Highness!" As he walked forward, officials on both sides bowed to him.
Princes Ye Jingyu, Ye Jingyu, and Ye Jingming stood at the very front.
"Brother!"
"Brother Crown Prince!"
They greeted him, and Ye Jingchen returned the greeting with a smile.
At the very front were two important figures, Wang Xiang and Yan Xu, whom Ye Jingchen greeted.
"Prime Minister Wang, you look much more energetic than before, it's been two years!" Ye Jingchen exclaimed.
"Your Highness is joking!" The Prime Minister's smile was forced.
In the past two years, there has been no one in front of him who requires him to keep a close eye on them, so his mental state is naturally stronger than before.
However, his good days came to an end, and the people who tormented him returned.
Moreover, according to His Majesty's wishes, he also wants His Highness the Crown Prince to work with him after his coming-of-age ceremony, as he feels it is time for him to retire to his hometown and enjoy his grandchildren!
A single morning court session was enough to exhaust him; if they were to work together again, Prime Minister Wang dared not imagine how mentally draining it would be for him.
He was afraid he would die young!
Let the most capable person take this position!
Ye Jingchen stood at the front, and the next moment, Eunuch Zhang led the emperor out from behind the screen.
It seems his elderly father arrived early again, but didn't show up just to wait for him.
"Speak if you have something to report, otherwise the court is adjourned!" After the Director of Ceremonial shouted this at the top of his lungs, the morning court session began.
Wang Xiang, holding a tablet, stepped forward to request an audience.
He proposed that since the Crown Prince had already turned twenty, he should hold a coming-of-age ceremony and participate in political discussions.
As the head of all officials, Wang Xiang would not have made such a remonstrance in court without the emperor's instruction.
After he finished speaking, many officials echoed his opinion.
The emperor was very satisfied with this and immediately ordered the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to calculate the auspicious time for the coming-of-age ceremony based on the crown prince's birth date and time.
Subsequently, Minister of War Yun Yi raised the issue of retiring veterans of the Shenwei Army and the Border Defense Battalion.
The original retirement age for soldiers in Dayuan was fifty, but since the war in the Northern Frontier has temporarily ceased and there is no need for so many soldiers, the retirement age can be brought forward.
If the retirement age for soldiers is to be lowered, what age would be appropriate? What standards should be used to distribute resettlement allowances to retired soldiers? How should retired soldiers be resettled after being discharged and returning to their place of household registration?
Everything related to money was profitable, and the court officials expressed their opinions, which varied greatly.
The emperor ordered the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue to jointly discuss and formulate a reasonable set of regulations as soon as possible.
Subsequently, the Imperial Censor stepped forward and impeached Marquis Yun Yi for lax household management and improper family conduct. Yun Yi naturally denied the accusation, and the two sides began to argue in the main hall.
The Imperial Censor impeached Yun Shu, because he was famous and had a notorious reputation throughout the capital.
After listening for a while, Ye Jingyu couldn't help but speak up to defend his friend.
The Imperial Censor was a more tactful person, unlike the stubborn censors under him; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to reach the position of Imperial Censor.
He dared to attack the Marquis of Zhongyong, but dared not say anything to Prince Ye Jingyu. Moreover, Ye Jingyu had the Ji family as his backer, so after Ye Jingyu joined the fray, the impeachment quickly fizzled out.
Then, at the emperor's signal, the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs immediately shouted at the top of their lungs, "Court adjourned!"
Just as Ye Jingchen was about to go out, he was stopped by Eunuch Zhang, who told him that his father wanted him to have breakfast at Chengqian Palace.
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