"Why are you here?" During the few days of confinement at the First Prince's residence, Jiang Jin had nothing to do but draw up maps based on the messages sent back by his third and fourth brothers. Before he finished drawing, Jiang Ming walked in.
Jiang Ming went in to take a look, and then helped him grind the powder: "We can't go in to visit the Empress Dowager yet."
Jiang Jin paused with his brush: "With Heaven's blessing, Mother should be at ease."
Jiang Ming looked at him seriously: "Big brother, I will not compete with you for the throne."
Jiang Jin smiled slightly: "I know, I have no objection to whoever sits in that position."
"But it's only safest when you sit on it."
“As long as we don’t fight among ourselves, it’s useless no matter which side the ministers take. So it doesn’t matter who comes to power, as long as that person can govern Xuan Kingdom well as the Empress Dowager wants and let the people live a good life without worrying about food and clothing.”
“But I don’t want to be stuck in that position.” Jiang Ming looked at the blank space on the map. “I want to go and see these places, to see how vast the world is beyond the map. So, brother, you should take that position.”
Jiang Jin shook her head and chuckled: "If Father Emperor saw us passing the buck like this, I'm afraid he would get angry again."
"The emperor, who does not care about the people, but only focuses on immortality and the infighting in the court, is no longer fit to be the emperor."
"Second brother, what are you going to do? Don't be impulsive."
“But look at him, brother. He’s only been out of seclusion for a short time, and the court is already in chaos. It was Mother who helped him clean up the mess. If it weren’t for Mother, Xuan Kingdom wouldn’t be so peaceful, and we brothers wouldn’t be so harmonious. He thinks he’s so great, he thinks everyone wants his position. What is he?”
Jiang Ming's face was full of disdain. He used to want to compete with his eldest brother, third brother, and fourth brother, but now it seems that he was raised to be too narrow-minded.
Back then, everyone told him he had to compete and outdo everyone else, as if his only goal in life was to reach that position. But now, it seems ridiculous.
Is being born into royalty enough to justify sacrificing everything for that position? No, there's more to his life than that, and sacrificing innocent people for that position is simply not worth it.
So now Father Emperor still wants him to have a fighting spirit? Sorry, he doesn't care anymore. He doesn't want to be used, he doesn't want to be a pawn. What he wants to see is the peaceful and prosperous world that his mother talks about, and he wants to conquer a more distant world.
Now, the land of Xuan Kingdom is enough for the eldest brother alone, and I believe the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth brothers think the same way.
Jiang Jin remained silent, and seeing his mother's hard work being gradually undermined, he felt heartbroken. His father was indeed far inferior to his mother.
"Big brother, I'll do whatever you say."
Jiang Jin sighed. Was he too indecisive?
"In that case, let's move the plan forward. I'm sure everyone has been living very cautiously these days. The Empress Dowager shouldn't be kept locked up any longer. Delaying it will only cause more innocent people to suffer."
Jiang Ming felt relieved. It was good that his elder brother had made up his mind. He rarely smiled and said, "Brother, then I will go back and prepare."
"Um."
Jiang Jin began writing letters. The plan was something that he and his brothers had come up with long ago to prevent turmoil in the court. They hadn't even told their mother about the plan because they weren't sure if she and the other concubines still had feelings for their father.
Now it seems there isn't much affection between them. Even if there is, once things are over and Father is free of trouble, Mother and the other concubines can keep him company however they want.
They had agreed that they would not take action even if their father did not act, but now, just as they had predicted, he was going too far. So they shouldn't blame him for being so rebellious.
At this time, Song Xia was unaware that the children she had raised had already begun to act for her and for the sake of the world. She was still planning to wait a few more days before sending the emperor to his death.
Jiang Jin had his servants deliver the secret letter. By this time, Jiang Ming's transfer was basically complete, and the two met at the Prime Minister's residence.
"Your Highnesses, what is this...?"
"Prime Minister, what are your thoughts on Father Emperor assuming personal rule after eight years?"
"This..." The old prime minister looked embarrassed; he couldn't possibly say anything.
At this moment, Song Wencan walked in, followed by the ministers of the Six Ministries. He was also confused and was about to pay his respects to the two princes when the steward told him that the ministers had arrived and that the First Prince and the Second Prince had sent them.
Everyone gathered together, their hearts pounding as they watched the two princes. What were the two princes up to?
Jiang Jin looked at them and said, "Now you adults should all see clearly what Father has done. If this continues, I'm afraid Xuan Kingdom will be in danger."
"Do Your Highnesses have any instructions?"
"Make Father abdicate."
Although there were already suspicions, hearing the eldest prince say it aloud was still somewhat frightening. And how did the two princes reach this consensus? Was the second prince truly willing to relinquish the throne? Even if the second prince was unwilling, what about the third and fourth princes? Although these two princes are currently far removed from court, they still wield significant military power. What if in the future…
"My lords need not worry. Today's matter is something that my brothers have all agreed to."
The ministers were still somewhat dazed. Throughout history, there had only been internal strife among royal brothers, but they had never seen such a unified opinion, to the point that they were willing to relinquish the throne. However, if what the two princes said was true, it would truly be a blessing for Xuan Kingdom!
Some of the more impulsive ones immediately declared, "We would gladly die to serve Your Highnesses."
However, some thoughtful individuals voiced their concerns: "But His Majesty is recognized by the immortal sects after all. What if Heaven punishes us if we force His Majesty to abdicate?"
Jiang Ming snorted coldly: "That Daoist Qingfeng only said that Father Emperor has entered the Immortal Sect of Longevity, that's nothing else. If he wants to cultivate, of course it's better to focus on quiet cultivation and not let politics bother him."
That made some sense, and they all nodded in agreement, then exchanged awkward glances and coughed.
"My lords need not feel guilty. If it weren't for the Emperor's absurdity, neither I nor my brother would have acted this way. If we do not make a decision today, and the court falls into chaos in the future, we will be the ones who fail the people of the world!"
"Your Highnesses are acting for the greater good of the nation and for the common people. We, your subjects, swear to follow you to the death."
Once someone uttered these words, the other ministers seemed to have no reason to refuse. It would be impossible for them not to have a desire to make a name for themselves in history after rising to their current positions.
If Your Majesty continues to reign, and Xuan Kingdom falls into chaos in the future, they will be nothing but mediocre ministers. However, if the eldest prince succeeds to the throne, and is assisted by the other five princes, Xuan Kingdom will definitely become strong. Perhaps they can even achieve the long-cherished unification. If history records a sentence about them, then they will have no regrets even if they die.
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