Chapter 81 First published on Jinjiang Literature City
After that incident, there were no further developments in the draft. Round after round of selection, only a dozen or so people remained until the end.
Of these dozen or so people, about ten will remain, while the rest, aside from those to be betrothed to a few princes, will likely all have to drop their betrothal gifts and marry on their own.
The Mu family daughter, unsurprisingly, made it to the end. Actually, this is a custom; Mu family daughters cannot be betrothed, but they also cannot be eliminated early on, otherwise it would be too embarrassing. After all, she is a lady of a prominent family, and she should at least be left until the penultimate or final round.
As the election drew closer, Fu Mingzhu grew increasingly anxious. Although she knew Mu Xuexi would likely be eliminated, she couldn't help but feel uneasy, fearing something unexpected might happen.
Fu Mingzi, on the other hand, went out early in the morning to inquire about news in the palace.
When he and Zhou Xiaoyan entered the palace, the emperor's entourage had already arrived at the Hall of Union, which was the place for the grand selection of officials.
Zhou Xiaoyan and Fu Mingzi didn't dare go to the back either, and just sat in the Ministry of Revenue where Zhou Xiaoyan worked.
The official on duty at the Ministry of Revenue today was very cautious and considerate in his presence with Zhou Xiaoyan. He even ordered someone to bring in a stove, and they sat and talked for a while before he took his leave.
Seeing this, Fu Mingzi couldn't help but laugh: "Your Highness is quite at home in the Ministry of Revenue."
Zhou Xiaoyan's eyes darkened. In his previous life, he worked in the Ministry of Revenue, but things were not like this. Back then, he was focused on making some achievements to impress his father and looked down on those trivial matters. In the end, due to the emperor's ulterior motives and his own self-destructive path, he couldn't even stay in the Ministry of Revenue. No one took him seriously, and no one dared to give him any chance to stand out. They just treated him like a Buddha.
He was finally able to compete with the fourth prince because he eventually realized his mistakes and made amends little by little, which earned him the approval of the officials in the Ministry of Revenue.
He is now able to settle down and do things properly because he learned his lesson in his previous life. He has come to understand the bitterness involved. The real politics of the court is not as dramatic as he imagined. More often than not, it is just about these trivial matters. And these trivial matters are what truly train people.
"I'm just learning little by little; I can't say I'm completely at ease," Zhou Xiaoyan said sincerely.
Although his situation in this life was indeed better than in the previous one, there were still many things he needed to do. In particular, the Ministry of Revenue was currently without a proper Minister, and the two Vice Ministers were engaged in open and covert struggles, causing unrest among the subordinates. In fact, it was not a good time.
The two chatted idly while waiting for news from the Hall of Union.
More than an hour passed, and finally a young eunuch ran along the palace wall to the outside of the Ministry of Revenue. Wei Baocheng, who had been waiting there, rushed to greet him when he saw him: "How is it? Did he come out?"
"They're out." The little eunuch was panting heavily. "The two young ladies of the Mu family, the eldest has been betrothed to the fourth prince as a concubine, and the second has been rejected."
Wei Baocheng's heart skipped a beat. What was going on? How could the eldest daughter be betrothed to the fourth prince?
His mind was a little confused for a moment, but he didn't forget the important matter: "What about our Fifth Prince? Who did His Majesty appoint for the Fifth Prince?"
The young eunuch looked slightly embarrassed and paused before saying, "His Majesty has not arranged a marriage for the Fifth Prince."
Wei Baocheng's face turned deathly pale instantly.
No arranged marriage? Is he dreaming? How could there be no arranged marriage? That's impossible!
Wei Baocheng's hands trembled slightly: "Our Fifth Prince has already been granted the title of King, how could there be no arranged marriage? Did you misunderstand?"
The young eunuch was also a little uneasy, but he didn't dare to lie. He firmly said, "Really, no. I listened for a while. His Majesty said that there weren't many good candidates this time. He will find better ones for the Fifth Prince next time. The Fourth Prince and the Sixth Prince haven't been chosen as their principal wives either."
Upon hearing this, Wei Baocheng felt a little calmer, but he still felt a pang of bitterness: "Even so, there shouldn't be no concubines at all..."
As soon as he said this, he realized something was wrong and quickly stopped talking. He then said, "However, His Majesty seems to be more thoughtful than us servants. I'll trouble you to make this trip." With that, he took out a purse from his sleeve and handed it over discreetly.
The young eunuch took it, and upon feeling it, he knew there was a lot of it. A smile appeared on his face: "Thank you, Eunuch Wei. I'll take my leave now." With that, he flicked his sleeve, bowed, and turned to leave.
Watching the young eunuch leave, Wei Baocheng's expression immediately turned bitter. How could he tell the Fifth Prince this? This whole affair had caused quite a stir, and the Fifth Prince was afraid he would look bad.
Wei Baocheng hesitated for a moment outside the door before finally steeling himself and entering the Ministry of Revenue's courtyard.
"Your Highness, this servant has something to report," Wei Baocheng said in a low voice from the doorway.
"Come in." The conversation between Zhou Xiaoyan and Fu Mingzi inside the room was interrupted. Zhou Xiaoyan paused for a moment before finally speaking loudly.
Wei Baocheng lowered his head and looked at his toes as he entered the inner room. Even after entering, he still did not dare to raise his head and whispered, "News has come back from Jiaotai Palace."
Zhou Xiaoyan and Fu Mingzi exchanged glances, and finally their gazes fell on Wei Baocheng, who immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
"Speak," Zhou Xiaoyan said softly.
Although he had expected it, Zhou Xiaoyan would only feel at ease after hearing the definite news.
Wei Baocheng pursed his lips, reorganized his thoughts, and then relayed everything the little eunuch had told him to Zhou Xiaoyan. However, he put the news that the emperor had not arranged a marriage for Zhou Xiaoyan at the end, and tried to emphasize the emperor's good intentions, for fear that Zhou Xiaoyan would be angry.
After Wei Baocheng finished speaking, the room fell silent.
Wei Baocheng wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling immense pressure.
"Would the Fifth Prince take his anger out on me for this?" Wei Baocheng wondered, his mind racing. The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became, and he felt his breath catch in his throat.
Zhou Xiaoyan was unaware that Wei Baocheng had scared himself so much. He and Fu Mingzi exchanged a glance, and both breathed a sigh of relief. This time, at least the attack hadn't changed too much.
"I understand, you can leave now."
Wei Baocheng waited for a long time, only to receive such a bland remark. He himself could hardly believe it, and even looked up at Zhou Xiaoyan, only to see that Zhou Xiaoyan's expression was calm, as if he did not take it seriously at all.
Wei Baocheng finally breathed a sigh of relief, but couldn't help wondering if His Highness was worried about his marriage today.
However, Wei Baocheng did not dare to linger. He bowed and hurriedly withdrew.
After watching Wei Baocheng leave, Zhou Xiaoyan couldn't wait to speak up: "With Father's order, even the Crown Prince, who may be confused, should understand now."
Fu Mingzi smiled and nodded: "I suppose His Highness the Crown Prince has already inquired about the news from the Yuntai Camp."
At this moment, a rare smile appeared in Zhou Xiaoyan's eyes: "I hope so."
**
At this time, the Crown Prince's Palace also received the news, and in fact, the Crown Prince's Palace received the news even earlier than Zhou Xiaoyan and the others.
Inside Duanben Palace, the floor was littered with shattered porcelain. The Crown Prince sat in the main seat with a cold face, while several officials stood below, all looking trembling with fear.
"Father is truly cunning," the Crown Prince finally uttered after a long silence.
Even if he were stupid now, he would have seen through his father’s plan. The struggle between the legitimate and illegitimate children in Yun’an was known not only to his father but also to him. So when he learned that Fu Mingzhu had come to the capital, he thought of contacting Fu Mingzhu through Fu Mingzi, but in the end he gave up because he knew that the emperor was watching him all along. If he made any move, he would be in danger.
But he never expected that his good father would also set his sights on the Mu family and break ancestral rules by betrothing a concubine's daughter of the Mu family to the fourth prince.
Now, the fourth prince has two concubines: one is the legitimate daughter of the Xia family, the most prestigious family, and the other is the beloved concubine daughter of the Duke of Qian. With the emperor's actions, the crown prince hardly needs to think about where his sword is aimed.
"Has the matter of Yuntai been thoroughly investigated?" The Crown Prince asked one of his subordinates.
The man hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, we have investigated and found that Yuntai has indeed not been training troops these past few days, but rather practicing formations. Based on my guess, it is probably to reward the troops."
As expected, the Crown Prince understood.
At the same time, he began to speculate on the emperor's true purpose in suddenly rewarding the army. Now that the world is at peace and there is no need for soldiers, rewarding the army at this time is either because the emperor wants to show off or he wants to give someone a chance to advance their career.
The first one is impossible. The Crown Prince knows his father well; he has always followed the middle way and is not a person who is ambitious or fond of grand achievements. As for the second one...
The Crown Prince's eyes were deep and thoughtful. The Emperor wanted to pave the way for his beloved, but he would not let him have his way.
"I understand." The Crown Prince finally regained his usual composure and nodded slightly. "You may all leave. Do not let anyone know about what happened today."
The two subordinates felt a chill run down their spines, hurriedly nodded in agreement, and then withdrew.
The Crown Prince stood in Duanben Palace, looking in the direction of Taiji Hall, his eyes cold.
He had always known that he was not the emperor's favorite son, but he had always been conscientious in playing the role of a son and the crown prince. He felt that he had not done anything to wrong the emperor, but now that the emperor wanted to plot against him, he no longer needed to regard him as his father.
**
Regardless of how much the Crown Prince hated the Emperor and the Fourth Prince, the Fourth Prince, who had suddenly received this wonderful news, was completely dumbfounded.
After receiving the Xia family's daughter as his concubine, although he felt that his father's treatment was a bit stingy, he was relieved. After all, given the Xia family's background, if they had truly become his legitimate in-laws, he probably wouldn't have been able to control them. A concubine was a perfect solution, giving him more room to maneuver.
So the next morning he went to the Xia family to apologize. The Xia family naturally did not dare to offend him and treated him with great courtesy. They also apologized to him for their daughter's misconduct. For a time, the Fourth Prince himself was flattered and felt a little lightheaded.
However, he knew his own identity after all, and having gained such a great advantage this time, he no longer needed to think about the princess.
But to his utter surprise, while there was indeed no princess, the emperor sent over a concubine named Mu.
Although she was not the legitimate daughter and was only a concubine, she still caused a great shock to the fourth prince.
The Yun Anmu family is a family with a very special status. So special that even a concubine's daughter can be his secondary consort, which makes the Fourth Prince's imagination run wild.
What does Father Emperor really mean? Does he truly value me?
This is impossible. From childhood to adulthood, he has always cared for the other princes, but this time neither the fifth nor the sixth prince has been betrothed, only him...
The fourth prince's eyes flickered as he forcefully suppressed a hint of wild joy.
In any case, he finally had a glimmer of hope, and he would hold onto that glimmer of hope tightly.
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