Chapter 425 Pure Oxen and Horses
"Your Highness, it's time to rise for court."
While the couple was eating crabs by the sea, His Highness the Crown Prince had to get up for court again.
Still not enough sleep, Murong Yuanzhou pulled the blanket over his head. "What kind of court is this? I have to go to it myself. Can't we have a morning court that doesn't start so early? I don't want to go."
The people serving His Highness the Crown Prince acted as if they hadn't heard a word. From childhood to adulthood, His Highness the Crown Prince would always complain when he got up, but he would still get up anyway.
Sure enough, the person in bed got up the next second.
"Oh, when will my brother and sister-in-law be back? I'm practically a beast of burden."
Murong Yuanzhou washed his face and then came to his senses.
He heard the term from Huang Jingyu, and he used to laugh about it, but now he can't laugh anymore. He's a complete idiot.
Being the crown prince and being the emperor are definitely different, especially since he's just starting out in many things and is so busy he doesn't even have time to eat. And being a young man, how can he possibly get enough sleep?
Murong Yuanzhou had just finished washing up when another servant came in and said, "Your Highness, Lord Lin is already waiting outside the hall."
"Let him come in and have breakfast with us."
Lin Mingqian didn't stand on ceremony and sat down to eat as soon as he came in. He and His Highness the Crown Prince had grown up together since childhood, and eating at the same table had become a habit.
"Your Highness, it's almost time for the morning court session. You should attend."
Lin Mingqian bowed to Murong Yuanzhou, and he followed Murong Yuanzhou to court. No one questioned anything about it.
He was just a young boy with no official power or position, and those seasoned veterans wouldn't offend Lin Anyuan for that.
Moreover, Lin Mingqian is already a successful candidate in the imperial examinations at a young age. If he obtains official rank next year, he will be more likely to stand in the imperial court legitimately.
"Hey nephew, there's no one else here right now, so don't do this." Murong Yuanzhou looked like he hadn't fallen asleep.
However, once he entered the main hall, he immediately regained his composure and displayed the dignity of a crown prince.
This is something he inherited from his father, the emperor, and his elder brother, Lin Anyuan. The two of them are very proper in public, but unkempt in private.
"Your Highness, you are now fifteen years old. Shouldn't you decide on a Crown Princess?"
A member of the royal family brought up the matter.
"Logically, that's how it should be, but it's an arranged marriage, so let's discuss it when my brother and sister-in-law return," Murong Yuanzhou said, thinking he could just brush it off and postpone it as long as possible.
Getting married too early is not good for either the man or the woman.
"This... His Majesty said in court before that the Crown Prince would decide on the Crown Princess."
"His Majesty said the Crown Prince should make the decision, and the Crown Prince said His Majesty should make the decision. This is not a trivial matter, and we hope His Highness will take it to heart."
The censor also spoke up, saying that in order to ensure the stability of the country, it is also important to have an heir. If the crown prince can get married and have a legitimate son, they will feel more secure and motivated.
What if the crown prince dies one day and there's no one to inherit the throne? Although the probability of this is relatively low, it's not impossible.
"You've said it yourself, this is no child's play. I will consider this matter carefully."
Murong Yuanzhou suppressed a yawn, talked about other things, and then left the court.
Lin Mingqian followed Murong Yuanzhou and asked, "Your Highness, do you intend to select concubines for the palace?"
The fact that the Crown Princess has not been decided yet makes it possible that a talent show will be held, since emperors before Emperor Jing had always held talent shows.
Emperor Jing and his father were the only exceptions. They had originally seized the throne through rebellion, and because they were both love-struck, they did not hold a selection of concubines.
"That would be too wasteful and harmful to the people. There are plenty of good women in the world; I can't have them all by myself," Murong Yuanzhou said, showing no such intention whatsoever.
But marrying the Crown Princess is necessary. I'm thinking that when my sister-in-law returns, I'll have her host a banquet and choose one of the ministers' daughters.
"Your Highness is truly insightful," Lin Mingqian praised.
Murong Yuanzhou rolled his eyes at him, "That flattery was a bit too perfunctory."
Lin Mingqian then proceeded to use elaborate and complimentary language, saying, "This time you won't be perfunctory, right?"
His Highness the Crown Prince chuckled. "You must have learned that from your sister-in-law. She always has a unique and wonderful way of praising people. But shouldn't you be getting married soon?"
"I am still young, Your Highness. Let's discuss this matter later."
Murong Yuanzhou rolled his eyes. He made it sound like he was younger than him, but he was only a year younger than him in terms of seniority.
Lin Mingqian smiled and said, "Your Highness, my three older sisters got married late, so there's no reason for me to get married so early. Besides, getting married isn't like picking cabbages; you can't just grab any one and bring her home. This is someone you'll spend your whole life with."
Murong Yuanzhou twitched the corners of his mouth, unable to manage a smile. These words sounded so familiar; it seemed like he had said them before.
As they talked, the two headed toward the Ministry of Works, where they were to inspect the newly manufactured cannons.
"Chen Sixu, can you please stop attracting so many suitors? With your looks, why are you doing this kind of hard work at the Ministry of Works? You should just marry some rich merchant's son; it would be better than suffering here!"
The carpenters recruited by the Ministry of Works were all together, and at this moment, one of them was full of resentment and cursing.
A person next to him chimed in, "That's right. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't all be punished here. Some people have an advantage just because they're good-looking. Even Lord Ge is biased. It's clearly none of our business, but we still have to be punished together."
The flower patterns they had drawn were all destroyed by someone else because of Shen Sixu, so the girls wouldn't be able to go back tonight.
Shen Sixu looked apologetic. "Sisters, it was my fault. I will pay attention in the future. You go home first, and I will make up for these."
"What's the use of your apology? Those people are like flies that smell meat, constantly flocking to you."
"Besides, can you finish it all by yourself? If you can't finish, everyone else will get scolded too."
The women were furious, and their cursing was overheard by the Crown Prince and Lin Mingqian, who were passing by.
The two of them were just passing by when they stopped to pick up two glass items.
I heard that freshly fired ones are especially beautiful.
"What happened?"
Those following her hurriedly inquired and learned that Xiao Cheng from the Ministry of Works would come to see Shen Sixu from time to time. Today, he brought her something, but Shen Sixu refused it. When he tried to force it on her, he accidentally destroyed the drawings that Shen Sixu and several other female workers had been working on for several days.
Murong Yuanzhou frowned. No wonder these female workers were so resentful.
“Go tell Cheng Rui that if he doesn’t want to work at the Ministry of Works anymore, he should go home as soon as possible. The Ministry of Works is not a place for him to flirt.”
A servant went to deliver the message.
Lin Mingqian chimed in from the side, "The Ministry of Works recruited more female workers last year and this year, and some of them who weren't married started to have designs on her. But this is the first time I've seen someone so shameless."
"But this lady is indeed very beautiful."
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