Chapter 340 Dali Temple Shaoqing
As Xiao Yuncong spoke, he couldn't help but think of Chen Fenghe's heroic figure subduing a fierce horse and saving a child in the busy city, and he couldn't help but feel a little dazed...
However, he quickly recovered, cleared his throat, and continued, "However, no matter how powerful they are, they are only two women after all. Even if the five- or six-year-old Ninth Prince is added, the Crown Prince is dead, so what kind of trouble can they cause? Not to mention, many officials in the capital and outside the court who originally supported the Crown Prince are like headless flies submitting letters of invitation, hoping to change their ways! They will definitely not support a five- or six-year-old brat!"
Concubine Zhao frowned and glanced at him, saying:
"Cong'er, you will be the heir to the throne in the future. Why are you still so impulsive and naive? You only look at the surface and never consider the long-term. Look at what your father did.
Back then, a direct descendant of the Qin family died in the battlefield. The prince was still young at the time, and the only support behind him was the Qin family and a group of old ministers in the court who were stubborn and refused to depose the prince. Even I thought that the queen and the prince were about to lose power, and it was only a matter of time before they were deposed.
I wasn't the only one who thought this way. Mei Fei and Jing Fei, as well as the Sixth Prince's mother, Shu Fei, and even the Fifth Prince's mother, Duan Fei, who was only a concubine at the time, all thought the same way. And yet, what was the result? Not only did your father never mistreat the Empress or the Crown Prince, he even conferred the title of Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery upon the Qin family, and within the harem, he fiercely protected the Empress. And yet, Mei Fei and Jing Fei, both of whom attempted to frame the Empress, offending the Emperor, were sentenced to death and banished to the cold palace. Back then, didn't your mother even consider adding insult to injury, aiding and abetting the dethronement of your father? Fortunately, your grandfather dissuaded me from interfering, otherwise, the entire Zhao family would have been executed!
After this incident, everyone felt that your father must love the queen, which is why he protected her so much. Even the matter of deposing the crown prince was no longer mentioned in the court. Many ministers who were willing to change their minds with the wind also joined the crown prince. In the whole Dayu, who dared to say that the crown prince would lose power and be deposed in the future?
But was this really the case? If the Emperor truly loved the Empress, why would he reward the Fifth Prince and convict the Crown Prince without even investigating the matter, even going so far as to depose the Empress, the Ninth Prince, and the Crown Princess, demoting them to commoners and exiling them to a bitterly cold land?
Therefore, to be an emperor, one must be shrewd enough and have far-sighted thinking. Otherwise, your thoughts will all be reflected on your face, and even if you ascend to the supreme throne, you will still be manipulated and played around with by others.
Xiao Yuncong lowered his head, listening to Concubine Zhao's words of instruction. Then he said, "Your son has faithfully followed your mother's instructions. However, I still don't understand why your mother sent people to monitor the deposed empress and the deposed crown princess. Even if the ministers at court urged to overturn the crown prince's verdict, he's already dead. Even if they did, they wouldn't be able to stir up any trouble, right?"
Concubine Zhao sneered, her expression tinged with disdain, "Look at the contents of that secret letter. The Empress and Crown Princess are actually imitating the lowly craftsmen who are making bricks and tiles to rebuild their house? And they're even trying to compare bricks and tiles with a lowly village woman to see whose bricks and tiles are better? It's simply... a disgrace to the Dayu royal family! I heard that the Crown Princess was raised by Prime Minister Chen on a farm in another province since she was a child, which is why she has developed the unruly and vulgar demeanor of a village woman! Just rebuilding a house, acting like they're going to live out their lives as village women in exile, what kind of trouble can they possibly cause?"
Xiao Yuncong was now even more confused. "Mother, I agree with you. Since you also think they can't cause any trouble, why are you still keeping an eye on them?"
Concubine Zhao glanced coldly at the Second Prince, sighed, and said, "It would be better if they just accept their fate. I sent people to monitor them because I'm afraid they're just pretending to be content with their life of poverty and exile. In fact, they're lying low, waiting for their chance. If they really seize this opportunity, it will be troublesome..."
"The timing this time? Mother, do you mean... the matter of the old ministers in the court rehabilitating the prince..." Xiao Yuncong asked with a frown.
Concubine Zhao felt a little tired. She leaned sideways on the pillows on the chaise longue, nodded, and said, "That's it. The Crown Prince's military exploits over the years are illustrious, witnessed by the entire world, and he's beloved by countless people. How could a single sentence from the weak Fifth Prince suffice to condemn him as plotting rebellion? The motive of rebellion alone doesn't make sense. Although the people dare not speak openly about it, countless teahouses and marketplaces are spreading rumors that the Crown Prince was wronged. It's because his achievements surpassed his master's, which displeased your father, so your father secretly instructed him to send the Fifth Prince to slander the Crown Prince and frame him for treason. Under these circumstances, do you think your father can continue to favor your Fifth Prince and give the world an excuse to accuse him?"
Xiao Yuncong suddenly looked up at Concubine Zhao. "Mother, are you saying... that we should support those stubborn old ministers in the court and redress the Crown Prince's injustice?"
Concubine Zhao nodded and said, "That's right. Now that the Fifth Prince is in power, he's sent his minions everywhere to slander and defame the ministers. Many ministers have been imprisoned, and some have even died because they couldn't bear the humiliation. Do you think your father condoned this? In fact, I'm afraid your father is deliberately condoning the Fifth Prince's tyranny, and only then will he intervene to punish him when he incurs public wrath."
"But didn't Mother say that Father dislikes the Crown Prince? How could he vindicate him?"
"Your father was wary of the living prince! The dead prince poses no threat, so why doesn't your father like him?"
"So, what Mother is saying is that we should follow Father's wishes. If he reveals his intention to clear the Crown Prince's name, we will be the first to stand up and support him!"
Concubine Zhao nodded and said, "This is also what your grandfather meant. The Emperor must find a way to end this matter and to establish solid evidence of the Fifth Prince's guilt."
Xiao Yuncong understood and continued, "When the deposed Empress and Crown Princess Ninth Prince were exiled to Youzhou, I received a secret letter listing the Fifth Prince and Prime Minister Shen's collusion to embezzle treasury silver and taxes, sell official positions and titles, and other crimes, along with related account books and evidence. Is your mother suggesting that now... is the time to use this evidence?"
Concubine Zhao nodded and said, "Now is probably the best time. This anonymous evidence was probably sent by Prime Minister Chen or an enemy of the Fifth Prince. I'm afraid it's not just you, Cong'er, who received it. If the Sixth Prince also received it and exposed it before us, then we would have lost the initiative in front of your father!"
Xiao Yuncong cupped his hands and said, "My mother is right. The timing of releasing this incriminating evidence is indeed crucial."
If he was released earlier, he would not be able to deal a fatal blow to the Fifth Prince, and his importance would not be demonstrated. If he was released too late, this great achievement would not be his.
Concubine Zhao sighed and said, "After rehabilitating the Crown Prince, we still have to be wary of the deposed Queen and the deposed Crown Princess, the Ninth Prince, causing trouble."
Xiao Yuncong's heart trembled, thinking of Shen Fenghe's voice, appearance and smile. He was afraid that Concubine Zhao would harm Shen Fenghe, so he subconsciously said: "Mother, they are just a woman and a child, they shouldn't..."
Concubine Zhao interrupted him sternly, saying, "It's better to be prepared for the worst! If the Crown Prince is rehabilitated and the Empress, the Crown Princess, and the Ninth Prince are deposed, will your father just sit there and do nothing? What if the ministers in the court petition your father to exonerate them and bring them back to the palace? Don't forget, even though the Crown Prince is dead, the Ninth Prince is the Empress's child, the legitimate second son of Dayu! If the Ninth Prince returns safely to the palace, which of the other princes has the qualifications to compete with him for the position of Crown Prince?!"
Xiao Yuncong broke out in a cold sweat on his back, and Chen Fenghe's beautiful face appeared in front of him again. He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, there was only determination in his eyes.
After meeting Shen Fenghe in Dingzhou City, he could not forget her. He had thought that after he became the crown prince and then the emperor, he would pardon her and take her into the palace as a concubine.
But if he had to choose between the throne and her, he would undoubtedly choose the throne.
"Mother, I was soft-hearted for a moment. I understand that if the deposed Empress, the deposed Crown Prince, and my ninth brother ever thought of returning to the palace, I would immediately send someone to kill them!"
Seeing him like this, Concubine Zhao finally felt relieved and her tone softened. "Cong'er, that's right. Mother knows you have a kind nature, but if you want to inherit the throne, you must abandon kindness. Anyone who is an obstacle must be ruthlessly eliminated! Even your own brothers are no exception. Don't worry, your mother will make arrangements and will not let you bear the accusation of harming your fellow brothers. Just pretend you don't know."
Concubine Zhao did not know that Xiao Yuncong was attracted to Shen Fenghe, and she thought that he was thinking about the brotherhood between him and the Ninth Prince, so she said this.
Xiao Yuncong nodded without explaining, indicating he understood. He then discussed with Concubine Zhao how to implement the plan, how to rescue the courtiers imprisoned by the Fifth Prince, and how to win over their hearts, before returning to his own prince's residence.
The other side.
Late at night, at the Dali Temple in the capital.
Chu Ming, the Junior Official of the Dali Temple, was at his desk reviewing the files when suddenly a dark shadow passed by the window!
"who!"
Although Chu Ming is a civil servant, few people know that he has a meaningless life.
While he was shouting, he had already quickly gone out through the window and climbed onto the roof as light as a swallow.
Sure enough, there stood a dark figure in night clothes on the roof ridge. It seemed as if it was waiting for him. After seeing him climb the roof ridge, it used its lightness skills again and in an instant had already crossed several roof ridges.
Chu Ming saw that the man's figure was very familiar, and he couldn't help but have an idea in his mind. He lightly tapped the tiles with his toes and the man caught up with him.
The two of them jumped up and down on the roof several times and arrived at a corner of West City.
All kinds of people gather here. Although it is late at night, the place is still bustling with noise and music.
Chu Ming became alert and stopped in his tracks, whispering, "Who are you? Why did you lead me here? What is your intention?"
The person in front finally stopped and turned around to say, "Master Chu, my master would like to see you for an important matter. He is in the Zhongqiu Gambling House in Tongqian Hutong. I wonder if Master Chu dares to come?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Ming sneered and said, "Your master is quite bold. He knows I'm an official, yet he still dares to lure me to the gambling house? If I don't go, won't it seem like I'm afraid of him?"
Seeing that he agreed, the man in black made a gesture of invitation, then jumped up first and landed on the roof of one of the two-story buildings.
"Oshida!"
"Buy it and leave it!"
The sound of bustling voices came from the building.
The man in black did not go through the main door, but instead jumped in through an open window on the second floor.
Seeing this, Chu Ming sneered and jumped in through the window in the same way.
The room on the second floor is simply furnished, but it gives people a very noble and elegant feeling. If you ignore the sound of gambling downstairs, you really wonder if this is really a room on the second floor of the gambling house?
In the room, a man was standing in front of another window with his hands behind his back, looking outside.
When Chu Ming saw this figure, his heart skipped a beat.
"Your Excellency is..."
The tall man standing with his back to him smiled faintly and said, "It seems that Lord Chu is still as self-disciplined and cautious as ever, and he has a strong dislike for the Chu House gambling house."
Hearing this voice, Chu Ming's whole body trembled and his eyes suddenly widened!
“Your Excellency is…!”
At this time, the man in black who led him here also took off the black cloth covering his face.
When Chu Ming saw the face of the man in black, shock, disbelief and...surprise flashed in his eyes.
The man in black was Yuan Xu.
With a "thump", Chu Ming suddenly knelt on one knee and said in a trembling voice with a little sob: "Your Highness!"
The man turned around. Who else could it be but Xiao Yunshuo?
When Chu Ming saw the man's face clearly, his eyes suddenly turned red. He grinned, wanting to laugh but also wanting to cry, and said in a trembling voice, "Your Highness, I knew you were still alive!"
Xiao Yunshuo walked over and pulled him up, then hugged Chu Ming tightly.
Chu Ming excitedly raised the wide sleeves of his official robe and wiped his eyes fiercely.
"You're already grown up, but you're still as crybaby as you were when you were little? If someone saw me, they'd think I was bullying you, Master Chu!"
Chu Ming punched Xiao Yunshuo on the shoulder and laughed angrily, "Your Highness, we've been friends for so many years, and it's all because of you... It's so rude of you to tease me now!"
Although Chu Ming's current official position as the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple is a civil official position, he originally came from a family of marquises. In his generation, he has an older brother who will inherit the title in the future. As the second son, he has no burden on his shoulders, so no one has restrained him since he was a child.
When he was five or six years old, he and his brother were selected by the emperor to enter the palace to serve as tutors to the princes.
Because of this, Chu Ming became familiar with Xiao Yunshuo.
Xiao Yunshuo has been proficient in both literature and martial arts since he was young, but Chu Ming has always been more interested in literary skills, bow and arrow shooting, etc.
However, although the Chu family was a military marquis and had a hereditary marquisate, it was actually just a sinecure and they did not lead troops.
Chu Ming's father even warned his descendants that except for the eldest son who needed to inherit the title, other sons were not allowed to practice martial arts and join the army.
Chu Ming didn't understand it when he was young, so he practiced secretly by himself.
Later, when Xiao Yunshuo was fifteen years old and led his troops to war, Chu Ming used a pseudonym and pretended to be Xiao Yunshuo's personal shadow guard. He left a letter and disappeared for several months. Together with Yuan Xu and others who were also shadow guards, he followed Xiao Yunshuo to the border to fight!
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