Chapter 18: The extermination of locusts is a big deal
The meaning of the two bracelets, carved from the same piece of raw stone, far exceeds the value of the bracelets themselves. Shen Yaochai was deeply touched and understood Shen Junheng's true intention in giving her the bracelets. The heavy stone in her heart suddenly fell. She finally smiled, opened her arms and gave Shen Junheng a hug, and said with a smile: "Thank you, second sister, I love it so much!"
After the meal, Shen Xiu called Shen Junheng and Shen Congting into the study alone.
Shen Xiu sat upright behind the desk, while Shen Junheng and Shen Congting stood straight in front of him.
"May I ask what teachings father has for me?" Shen Congting asked with a bow.
"Aheng, you haven't recovered from your serious illness yet, so just sit down." Shen Xiu didn't look at Shen Congting, but his eyes fell on Shen Junheng with a loving face.
"Thank you, father." Shen Junheng bowed slightly and sat on a chair beside him.
"Ah Heng, a few days ago you asked Xiaodie and Yufen to deliver a letter, saying that you wanted me to break off the engagement with Bizhu. Why did you have such an intention?" Chen Xiu looked at her, leaning forward slightly with a kind expression.
Shen Junheng said seriously, "Father, I have this idea not because of any personal feelings, but out of consideration for the current court situation and for the safety of the Shen family. The marriage between the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister is very likely to arouse the jealousy of the Emperor. It is better to cut the Gordian knot and end it once and for all."
Chen Congting thought that Shen Xiu called him here to instruct him on some matters concerning the disaster relief, but he did not expect that his sister would also talk about court affairs. He could not help but become interested, smiled, and listened attentively.
"Oh? I didn't expect my Ah Heng to still care about the situation in the court? Then tell me, you asked us to break up with the Crown Prince, but because the Crown Prince is often reprimanded by the Emperor, and the Prince of Yan is becoming more and more powerful, you want me to help the Prince of Yan?"
"Father, you are now the head of the Secretariat, in charge of military and national affairs. You hold a high position and great power. Do you still want to be promoted to a higher rank?" Shen Junheng asked with a smile.
"That's not necessary." Chen Xiu stroked his beard lightly, smiling, waiting to hear her opinion.
Shen Junheng continued, "Since you don't want to be promoted again, then don't get involved in party disputes and just be a loyal official."
Power is a double-edged sword. Since ancient times, how many people who are second only to one person can have a good ending?
It was good for Chen Xiu to hold such an important position. As long as he stayed in his position, fulfilled his duties, and was sincere but not overstepping his bounds, the current emperor would most likely not touch him. In the future, whether it was Xiao Lingyu or Xiao Linghe who succeeded him, they would not easily touch him before their foundation was stable. Even if he had to give way to a newcomer, it would be much easier for him to retire after achieving his goal.
Once he is involved in the fight for the throne, he will be feared by the current emperor if he is discovered. Moreover, if he stands on the wrong side in the fight for the throne, he will be the winner and the loser, and his fate can be imagined.
Now that Xiao Lingyu is alienated from the emperor, the position of the crown prince is in jeopardy, and the Prince of Yan is on the rise, many people have quietly turned to the Prince of Yan's party, openly or secretly.
Although He Ping's secret assistance to Xiao Linghe was extremely secret, Shen Xiu had placed spies in the border military camp ten years ago to protect him, so he naturally knew that He Ping had been secretly friends with Xiao Linghe for a long time.
Shen Junheng was He Pingzhi's legal wife, and she suddenly asked him to abandon his relationship with the prince and even break off his relationship with Shen Biju. Naturally, Shen Xiu thought she wanted him to secretly help Xiao Linghe.
Therefore, when Shen Xiu heard Shen Junheng tell him to just be a loyal minister, he was very surprised and could not help but nod in approval.
After all, if she really asked him to help Xiao Linghe, he would most likely agree.
When Xiao Lingyu was able to do something like the Shen family's betrothal, Shen Xiu felt that he was brainless and that his position as Crown Prince would not last long. Meanwhile, the Prince of Yan had been secretly accumulating power over the years and was deeply popular among the people. Now that the Emperor had begun to depose the Crown Prince, the possibility of Xiao Linghe ascending the throne was very high.
But as Shen Junheng said, he was already in a high position, so there was really no need for him to take the risk of following the dragon.
"Heng, I didn't expect that a girl like you could have such a clear understanding. What you said is like a revelation to me."
Shen Junheng smiled indifferently and said, "Brother, please don't laugh at me. I don't know anything about the court. I was just saying it casually."
"Well said, but it would have been better if you had said it earlier." Shen Xiu sighed lightly, and Shen Congting couldn't help but shook his head.
"Why do you say that, Dad?" Shen Junheng asked.
Chen Xiu said in a deep voice, "Ever since the Crown Prince married Bizhu, His Majesty has grown wary of him and our Shen family. Although I've tried my best to avoid him, he still harbors uncontrollable feelings for you... As a result, Cong Ting's position has been demoted in name only this year, and the Crown Prince has often been criticized by His Majesty. This time, His Majesty sent the Crown Prince to Qiuci to manage the drought. I'm afraid he's using this opportunity to depose the Crown Prince and suppress our Shen family."
When talking about the fact that the prince still had no idea how to restrain his feelings for her, Shen Xiu couldn't help but look at Shen Junheng. Seeing that she looked normal, he continued.
The book describes how, even after the original owner married He Pingzhi, Xiao Lingyu still refused to give up, often deliberately "running into" her, causing the original owner to rarely go out. He even went to a restaurant to get drunk, and when he was drunk, he kept calling out the original owner's name...
His absurd behavior made He Pingzhi a laughing stock even in the military camp. He blamed the original owner for this crime, so as soon as he returned from the border, he asked to marry Zheng Caiyi as his concubine based on his military merits. Although it was also to piss off Xiao Linghe, it was more to embarrass the original owner.
As the crown prince, he was so love-sick that even Shen Xiu couldn't stand it. Naturally, the emperor would be angry at his lack of fighting spirit and would want to depose him.
Shen Junheng was also helpless about this. It was too late when she traveled through time, and she could only try her best to make amends.
Shen Junheng asked weakly, "If my brother and the Crown Prince can successfully resolve the drought in Qiuci, will His Majesty not depose the Crown Prince for the time being?"
Shen Congting shook his head, his expression somewhat heavy as he said, "Qiu Ci's disaster is not simple, otherwise, why would the King of Yan have his people recommend the Crown Prince to go?"
Shen Junheng asked, "After a severe drought, there might be a locust plague, but is it difficult to eliminate this locust plague?"
Shen Congting was shocked when he heard this, and quickly lowered his voice and asked, "Have you ever told this to anyone else?"
Shen Junheng shook his head, and Shen Congting breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat off his face.
Chen Xiu asked doubtfully, "Ah Heng, how do you know all this?"
Shen Junheng said calmly: "I'm sick, so I can only read to kill time. I accidentally came across a book about locust plagues."
Shen Xiudao said, "Locust plagues were seen as 'a disaster sent by heaven to warn the emperor,' and the emperor was required to issue a self-repentance edict and retreat from the main hall to demonstrate his moral cultivation. Furthermore, the common people viewed locusts as the 'Insect King' and established temples to worship them. If the emperor forcibly ordered locust extermination, he feared it would anger the gods. Therefore, even if there was a locust plague in Qiuci, the prefect would conceal it to avoid being held accountable for his 'unending benevolent policies.' The emperor also did not want local officials to report the locust plague, and the people, fearing 'blasphemy against the gods and causing disaster,' resisted the extermination."
Chen Congting said, "If the people obstructed the locust extermination, His Majesty would be wronged; if he allowed the disaster to spread, he would also be held accountable. If Qiu Ci really caused a locust plague, the Crown Prince would be in danger."
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