Crown Prince
After Cui Sugong issued the decree appointing Cui Shenzhi as crown prince, the princes and ministers all breathed a sigh of relief.
It's finally settled, and they can finally relax.
Over the years, Cui Shenzhi has been studying under Huang Yuandao. While he may not be an expert in astronomy and geography, he is certainly well-versed in the classics and historical texts. Moreover, Cui Shenzhi's style of doing things is very similar to Fu Yunjin's, so his reputation is excellent both in the court and among the common people.
In addition, over the years, Cui Sugong has not had a son, nor has any of his concubines become pregnant. Therefore, the princes, ministers and common people naturally assume that Cui Shenzhi is the obvious choice for crown prince.
However, for some reason, Cui Sugong refused to issue an imperial edict.
Not only that, when Cui Shenzhi helped the people seek justice, Cui Sugong, as the emperor, not only did not reward him, but even reprimanded him for it, saying that he was just a prince who had just come into contact with politics, yet he couldn't wait to stick his hands into the court and stir up trouble.
The emperor, the sovereign and father of the people, accused his son, who was seeking justice for the people, of having ulterior motives and making unwarranted comments on state affairs.
What kind of nonsense is this?!
Moreover, the treatment Choi Suk-gong gave Choi Shin-ji deteriorated year by year.
At first, things were fine. Even before Cui Shenzhi reached school age, they found him a tutor early on. But after Cui Shenzhi studied with Huang Yuandao for a few years and started going outside the palace to help the poor people in the slums, Cui Sugong began to show his dissatisfaction with Cui Shenzhi.
First, they transferred Cui Shenzhi's wet nurse away, saying that he was too old to have a wet nurse by his side. Later, they reduced the number of palace servants serving him, so that Cui Shenzhi, a prince, could only have a handful of palace servants serving him.
Later, it was said that Cui Shenzhi had developed extravagant habits, so his monthly allowance was reduced, and he was forbidden from using gold or silver thread in his clothes. But everyone knew that Cui Shenzhi used all his money to help the poor, so where would he get the money to develop any extravagant habits?
Besides, aren't Cui Sugong and Shen Meiwu the most extravagant people in this palace?
However, Cui Sugong ignored all criticisms from the princes and ministers.
Not only that, Cui Sugong even interfered in trivial matters such as seating arrangements at banquets, saying that Cui Lingxian was the older sister and Cui Shenzhi, as the younger brother, should be ranked below her. Later, he even bluntly stated that Cui Lingxian should be the superior and Cui Shenzhi the inferior, clearly showing that he looked down on Cui Shenzhi.
As a result, the princes and ministers once thought that Cui Sugong was going to defy public opinion and make Cui Lingxian the crown princess. Fortunately, Cui Sugong did not lose his mind completely and eventually made Cui Shenzhi the crown prince.
The world is finally at peace.
*****
The first guest Cui Shenzhi welcomed after moving to the East Palace was neither Cui Lingxian, who was as close as a brother to him, nor Lu Fengping, his longtime friend, but Shen Meiwu.
Over the years, due to Cui Shenzhi's good reputation, his prestige has gradually surpassed that of Cui Sugong, to the point that more and more people have begun to say that the emperor Cui Sugong is not as good as the prince Cui Shenzhi, which is why Cui Sugong has become increasingly disdainful of Cui Shenzhi.
But Chen Meiwu is different.
The better Cui Shenzhi is, the better Cui Lingxian's husband is, and the better Cui Lingxian's future is. Therefore, the better Cui Shenzhi's reputation and the higher his prestige, the happier Shen Meiwu is. She even repeatedly speaks up for Cui Shenzhi in front of Cui Sugong, disregarding Cui Sugong's displeasure.
Therefore, although Cui Shenzhi's relationship with Cui Sugong has become increasingly distant over the years, his relationship with Shen Meiwu has become increasingly close. No matter how many people tell Cui Shenzhi how badly Fu Yunjin was harmed by Shen Meiwu, or how bad their relationship was, Cui Shenzhi does not believe them.
After all, if Fu Yunjin and Shen Meiwu's relationship was really so bad that they were irreconcilable, why would Shen Meiwu take such good care of him? Not only did she keep saying nice things about him in front of Cui Sugong, but she also warned the people serving him more than once not to neglect him just because he was a child and didn't know any better.
Moreover, Cui Shenzhi had inquired about Fu Yunjin's past. Fu Yunjin was always kind to others and never had any conflicts with anyone. Everyone said she was dignified, generous, gentle and kind. How could anyone not get along with such a Fu Yunjin?
Therefore, upon learning of Shen Meiwu's arrival, Cui Shenzhi put down what he was doing and went out to greet her with a beaming smile.
"Your Highness, what brings you here?"
Shen Meiwu looked at Cui Shenzhi's handsome appearance and the expression of admiration and trust on his face, and nodded in satisfaction.
A person who is both scholarly and martial, upright and prudent, kind-hearted and gentle, is qualified to be with her Ling Xian.
"Shenzhi, you really are something. I've told you so many times that you don't need to be so formal with me. Just call me Aunt Shen."
“Your Highness, it is your kindness that you asked me to call you Aunt Chen. However, etiquette must not be disregarded. If I were to call you that, it would be impolite and disrespectful to you.”
Hearing this made Shen Meiwu feel refreshed and happy, and her eyes narrowed with joy.
Her background wasn't good, and there were many people inside and outside the palace who looked down on her. Even now that Cui Shenzhi is the Crown Prince, he still treats her with great respect. After he marries Cui Lingxian, he will only be more filial to her.
"Alright, since you put it that way, I won't force you. Actually, I didn't come here for anything else, I just wanted to see you. I was afraid that the people in the Imperial Household Department would take advantage of the Empress's absence and the fact that you don't have any knowledgeable people around you, and just give you some old things to fob you off."
Cui Shenzhi cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am now the Crown Prince. Although my mother is gone and my father doesn't like me much, my status is what it is, and the Imperial Household Department will not dare to treat me perfunctorily."
"That's hard to say," Shen Meiwu said as she stepped into the East Palace. "There are many twists and turns in this place. You wouldn't understand until you're married and in charge of a household."
“For example, this white jade vase looks fine, but the style was popular several years ago. It’s obvious that the Imperial Household Department didn’t pay attention and just picked an old one from the storeroom to deal with you.”
Shen Meiwu turned her head and ordered, "Yanzhi, take this white jade vase to the Imperial Household Department and teach the person in charge a good lesson. Shenzhi is now the Crown Prince. Who gave them the audacity to send such a worthless item to the Eastern Palace?"
Cui Shenzhi quickly stopped Yanzhi's actions.
"Your Highness, you misunderstand. I picked out this white jade vase myself. I found all the trendy ornaments sent by the Imperial Household Department to be too flashy and didn't really like them. I asked them to pick out some plain-colored ones for me, and that's why they sent me this one. It's not just to appease me."
Shen Meiwu gave Yanzhi a wink, and Yanzhi understood that this meant she should secretly go to the Imperial Household Department to give her a warning behind Cui Shenzhi's back. She nodded imperceptibly.
Then Shen Meiwu turned to Cui Shenzhi and said in a gentle tone, "Is that so? Then I did misunderstand the Imperial Household Department. Rouge, you can put it down now."
Then Shen Meiwu began to adjust the furnishings of the East Palace for Cui Shenzhi without his consent. Cui Shenzhi did not object and obediently followed behind Shen Meiwu, talking to her.
Shen Meiwu appeared to be focused on directing people to change the positions of the ornaments and chatting casually with Cui Shenzhi, but in reality, her entire attention was on the palace servants coming and going in the East Palace.
She rushed to the East Palace not to help Cui Shenzhi, but to prevent any potential problems.
*****
Since Cui Shenzhi became the crown prince, he hasn't visited Cui Lingxian at Chengqian Palace for a whole month. This made Shen Meiwu worry that there might be some troublemakers in the palace who, seeing that Cui Shenzhi had become the crown prince, had shamelessly sneaked into the East Palace and tried to seduce him, thus hindering Cui Shenzhi's progress.
You have to know how much effort and thought she has put into Cui Shenzhi over the years. It was not easy to train Cui Shenzhi to this point. She can't let someone who comes out of nowhere take the credit!
However, Shen Meiwu did not find anything wrong among the palace servants in the East Palace. All the servants here were sent to the East Palace by the Imperial Household Department according to her requirements. They were all older, of average appearance and honest in character. She did not find any of them to be unruly.
Shen Meiwu frowned and thought for a moment before saying, "Shenzhi, there's something I almost forgot to tell you."
"What's up?"
"What else could it be?" Shen Meiwu seemed nonchalant, but she actually observed Cui Shenzhi's expression with a keen eye: "It's Ling Xian."
“You haven’t visited Lingxian at Chengqian Palace for a whole month since you became the Crown Prince. Although you are both in the palace, she still has to go to the Imperial Study, while you have started to participate in court affairs. How can you say a few words? So these days she has been nagging me about you, saying why you haven’t gone to see her yet, that she is so bored by herself.”
Upon hearing this, a hint of apology appeared on Choi Shin-ji's face: "It was indeed my fault."
"After I became the Crown Prince, my teacher came to me and said that he had only treated me as an ordinary prince before, so he hadn't taught me many things. He taught me a lot of things and assigned me a lot of homework. In addition, I have only been involved in court affairs for less than a year, so I was really too busy. That's why I didn't go to see Ling Xian. It wasn't intentional. I would like to ask Your Highness to help me explain to Ling Xian."
Seeing that Cui Shenzhi's face was calm and composed, without the slightest hint of guilt, Shen Meiwu finally felt relieved and was able to joke around.
"Me? I'm not going to explain for you. You two should talk about your own business. I'm not getting involved. Otherwise, Ling Xian might even blame me and say that I'm biased towards you, acting more like your mother than her."
Cui Shenzhi smiled as he imagined Cui Lingxian angrily saying those words.
Seeing Cui Shenzhi like this, Shen Meiwu felt even more at ease.
"Alright, I've tidied up the furnishings here for you. When you pick out the head maids who serve you, just let me know, and I'll have Rouge teach them the proper way to arrange things. Then I won't have to bother with that anymore."
"Thank you for your trouble, Your Highness."
Before he could finish speaking, Cui Shenzhi respectfully bowed to Shen Meiwu, who quickly helped him up.
"This is such a small matter, there's no need to use the word 'trouble'. If it weren't for the Empress's favor back then, how could I have served His Majesty, and how could I have the glory of being a Noble Consort today? It's just a small favor to help you, you don't need to be so polite."
Hearing this, Cui Shenzhi smiled slyly and said, "Since Your Highness says so, then I will not stand on ceremony. There is something I would like to ask Your Highness for help with."
"Oh? Tell me about it."
"I would like to trouble Your Highness to pass on a message to Lingxian, saying that I will definitely take her out of the palace for a walk during the next day off. I will accompany her no matter what she wants to do. Please don't be angry with me."
"I can help spread the word."
Shen Meiwu smiled broadly and agreed, then left with Yanzhi.
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