However, this trick is very effective, especially if the timing is right. When the emperor's birthday banquet is just around the corner, the emperor's anger will be doubled.
The infighting among the princes is not as simple as punishing each other with beatings or deducting their salaries; it is inevitably about vying for the position of crown prince.
Sure enough, at the morning court the next day, the Duke of Mao's men stood up again to ask the emperor to make the eldest prince the crown prince. Because the Prince of Jin had just been flogged and was still recuperating at home, even the Left Prime Minister was not confident enough to speak up for him. Who would have thought that the newly repaired Imperial Ancestral Temple would leak? The people from the Court of Judicial Review climbed up the ladder and removed the tiles. The evidence was conclusive. Even if the Prince of Jin would not have done such a small thing as buying tiles himself, he was in charge of this matter. If such a mistake happened under his nose, who else would the emperor blame but him?
In the past, when it came to choosing an heir apparent, the Duke of Mao and the Left Chancellor would argue endlessly. Today, the Left Chancellor has fallen silent, and the Duke of Mao's voice is becoming increasingly louder. The eldest prince is the legitimate son and the only choice for heir apparent.
In the early morning, Shen Wan woke up at the same time as usual, but today she felt lazy and didn't want to get up from her bed.
When Xie Jingyan returned from his morning exercise, he saw that Shen Wan was still not up. He sat down on the edge of the bed, pinched Shen Wan's nose, and asked, "Why aren't you up yet?"
He was met with a sharp glare from Shen Wan. Why hadn't she gotten up yet? Didn't this bastard have any idea at all?
Xie Jingyan recalled the tenderness of last night, touched his nose, and picked up Shen Wan to sit up. "Eat first, then sleep a little longer."
I can't sleep right now, so it's no wonder I'm not sleepy after breakfast.
However, it was indeed time to get up. Shen Wan threw back the covers and was about to get out of bed when Yin Shuang rushed in, her face full of excitement, "Your Highness, Your Highness, this morning at court, the Minister of Justice petitioned His Majesty to make Your Highness the Crown Prince..."
Shen Wan, “…???”
Xie Jingyan, “…???”
Clearly, what Silverfrost reported was more shocking than delightful to the two of them.
After Consort Chen's incident, the Minister of Justice was the second to request the Emperor to appoint Xie Jingyan as Crown Prince; the first was Prince Cheng.
But they all knew that Prince Cheng was not sincere. Prince Cheng just did not want to expose his secret support for Prince Jin, and used Xie Jingyan as a shield. But why would the Minister of Justice get involved in this mess?
Recently, Young Master Xu has been getting close to Tang Ze and the others, but the Minister of Justice wouldn't openly support Xie Jingyan just because his son has a good relationship with them. Especially since tomorrow is the Emperor's birthday, and Prince Cheng thinks Xie Jingyan is more suitable. The Emperor even angrily turned his sleeves and stopped attending the morning court. Prince Cheng is the Emperor's own brother, the kind of brother who is still connected by blood.
Prince Cheng couldn't even utter a single word about it. How dare the Minister of Justice bring it up? Wasn't he afraid that the Emperor would demote him in a fit of anger?
Shen Wan found the Minister of Justice's actions very unusual. During the morning court session, when the civil and military officials saw the Minister of Justice step forward and say that he agreed with Prince Cheng's opinion that Prince Ling was more suitable to be the crown prince, and then praised Prince Ling extensively, the first reaction of the civil and military officials was that the Minister of Justice had gone mad, and then they were sweating bullets for the Minister of Justice.
Is this something you can just say casually?
Given the Emperor's anger towards Prince Cheng just a few days ago, which led to the execution of the Minister of Justice, no one would be surprised.
The Emperor sat on the dragon throne, his face gloomy. Prince Yanping stepped forward and said that he also felt that Prince Ling was more suitable to be the Crown Prince.
After the Prince of Yanping came the Minister of Rites, then the Right Chancellor, followed by the Prince of An and the Marquis of Xuanping, among others.
The law does not punish the masses.
If it were just the Minister of Justice, the Emperor would have punished him severely. But with so many people suddenly supporting Xie Jingyan, the Emperor has no choice but to punish them all.
The Emperor said coldly, "Why are you in such a hurry for me to establish an heir? Do I not have many days left to live?!"
The officials were immediately terrified and knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty is in the prime of life, may you live a long and healthy life."
At this point, no one dared to mention establishing an heir, otherwise they would truly be suspected of not wishing the emperor a long life.
The debate over the succession was put to rest during the morning court session, and other matters were discussed until the session ended.
But today, the Minister of Justice stepped forward, and a bunch of ministers who were on good terms with Xie Jingyan echoed his request to make him the crown prince, which still greatly shocked the Left Chancellor and the Duke of Mao. The thing they feared most had finally happened. These forces that they could not win over had all been won over by Prince Ling.
Both the Left Prime Minister and the Duke of Maoguo wanted to mention Consort Chen. Prince Ling was not qualified to be made Crown Prince, but considering that tomorrow was the Emperor's birthday, they both held back and did not dare to mention it, or rather, they hoped that the other party would provoke the Emperor.
After the court session, the Left Prime Minister and the Duke of Maoguo confronted the Minister of Justice from both sides, saying, "Regarding Consort Chen's case, others may not know, but the Minister of Justice knows it best. You should know that Prince Ling is not qualified to be made Crown Prince, yet you dare to ask the Emperor to make Prince Ling the Crown Prince?!"
The Minister of Justice said, "There are still doubts about Consort Chen's case. Putting aside Consort Chen's troubles, Prince Ling is the best candidate for the crown prince in terms of talent, courage, and strategy."
"Can the calamity of Consort Chen be ignored?" the Left Prime Minister said coldly.
The Minister of Justice said, "What if Consort Chen was framed?"
The Duke of Mao's eyes narrowed. "Has the Minister of Justice found evidence to overturn Consort Chen's case?"
The Minister of Justice said, "I don't need to explain this to you two so clearly."
After saying this, the Minister of Justice left.
The Left Chancellor and the Duke of Maoguo were left staring intently at the departing figure of the Minister of Justice.
The Minister of Justice has already sided with the Left Chancellor and the Duke of Maoguo by standing up for Xie Jingyan today. It's no big deal that he treated them poorly. But when the Prince of Yanping and his entourage came to greet him, the Minister of Justice felt exhausted.
Prince Yanping had long wanted to do this, but he dared not easily offend the emperor's majesty. His relationship with the emperor was not as good as that between the emperor and Prince Cheng. He did not expect the Minister of Justice to take the lead without saying a word, which made him feel very ashamed.
Prince Yanping invited the Minister of Justice to dinner, but the Minister declined, citing matters at his residence that day. Prince Yanping then suggested that the dinner be held after the Emperor's birthday banquet, leaving the Minister with no choice but to accept.
Before the Minister of Justice had even returned home, news of his petition to the Emperor to appoint Xie Jingyan as Crown Prince reached his residence, nearly scaring Madam Xu to death.
When the Minister of Justice returned, Madam Xu asked him, "When Prince Cheng said that Prince Ling was suitable to be the crown prince, the Emperor was so angry. How dare you say that? Aren't you afraid that the Emperor will do something to you?"
The Minister of Justice said, "The Emperor won't do anything to me."
Madam Xu couldn't stand the Minister of Justice's nonchalant attitude. To defy such imperial authority was a mistake; losing his official position would be the least of his worries, but he feared the whole family would be implicated.
Madam Xu, her heart pounding, asked, "Is Master so certain?"
There was no one else in the room, so the Minister of Justice didn't hide anything from her and told her the truth, "It was the Emperor who ordered me to do this."
Madam Xu was utterly shocked and incredulous, thinking she had misheard. "The Emperor? Why would the Emperor order you to do this?"
The Minister of Justice shook his head, "How would I know? I dare not ask any more questions. Just do as instructed."
"It's not like I can't refuse the Emperor's orders," Madam Xu said worriedly. "By opening his mouth, Master has completely sided with Prince Ling. What if things happen in the future..."
The Minister of Justice was well aware of Madam Xu's concerns, and he had given it considerable thought: "There are many suspicious points in Consort Chen's case."
“Before the Emperor decides to establish an heir, Prince Ling may not be unable to overturn the case against Consort Chen.”
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