Upon hearing the Eighth Prince's words, the Emperor frowned slightly, thinking, "The secret guards reported earlier that Hongshi and the Eighth Prince were very close. What is his purpose in praising Hongshi in front of me this time?"
Even though the Emperor was displeased with the Eighth Prince speaking up for Hongshi, he didn't show it on his face. He listened to the Eighth Prince's words calmly, then nodded and said, "The Eighth Prince is very thoughtful."
The Eighth Prince quickly replied, "This is what I should do."
He thought to himself, "The more you like Hongshi, the more it benefits me. Blame your son for being stupid!"
The more the Fourth Prince thought about it, the more uneasy he felt, which made him lose interest in court affairs. He didn't listen to the ministers' reports and kept thinking about the Eighth Prince and Hongshi. A bad feeling was growing in his heart.
After the court session, the Fourth Prince returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation and carefully considered the events that had occurred in court that day.
"Why has the Eighth Prince suddenly taken a liking to Hongshi? Could they be colluding in secret?" the Fourth Prince muttered to himself.
He then summoned his chief bodyguard and gave him some instructions, telling him to go to Kaifeng Prefecture to find out the specific situation and report back as soon as possible.
After giving his instructions, the guard got up and left, his actions swift and decisive, without any hesitation.
The Fourth Prince sighed. As the emperor, he could not be close to his own children, nor could he be respectful to his brothers. He had to understand and figure out the thoughts of everyone around him, otherwise he might be used or framed.
After all, he grew up in that kind of environment.
The Fourth Prince rubbed his temples. The Emperor felt very tired. As a father, he didn't want to doubt his child, but as an emperor, he had to ensure the credibility of those around him. Being an emperor meant being a lonely person all by himself.
Hongshi was overjoyed to receive the Emperor's praise, feeling that the position of Crown Prince was definitely his in the future. He immediately found Guan Bin and wanted to reward him handsomely.
Guan Bin said, "This humble official congratulates Your Highness, but this humble official has not contributed anything and dares not accept any reward."
"You're too kind, Lord Guan. Without your assistance, how could this plan have proceeded so smoothly?" Hongshi said with a smile.
“Your Highness, I believe the person you should truly thank is the Duke of England. This plan was conceived by the Duke of England, and I was merely following orders. I hope Your Highness will not fail to appreciate the Duke of England’s good intentions.”
Hongshi nodded: "I really have to thank Eighth Imperial Uncle this time. When I ascend the throne in the future, I will never forget him."
"The Duke of England will surely be happy to know the Second Prince's gratitude towards him."
Guan Bin added, "I have already sent people to prepare a banquet. I urge Your Highness to do me the honor of attending."
Hongshi said, "Alright, I'm just about to get really drunk today, lead the way!"
Guan Bin stepped aside and extended his hand, "Please, Your Highness!"
At the banquet, Hongshi asked Guan Bin what to do next. Guan Bin had already received the Eighth Prince's secret order. He told Hongshi, "Your Highness, next, we should go and appease the villagers of Geshan Village. As long as they see you as their savior, that will be another great achievement!"
This time, thanks to the success of his plan and the sycophancy of the officials, Hongshi drank even more than last time and spoke recklessly. The servants brought him back to his room. Linlang chased away the maids, smelled the strong smell of alcohol in the room, glared at Hongshi with disgust, then sat down in a chair and turned her head away from him.
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