The Emperor asked, "What do you think, Crown Prince?"
"Your subject believes that General Ji is capable of undertaking this important task."
The emperor and the fifth prince both thought he would recommend one of his own, but to their surprise, the crown prince recommended Ji Baichuan, who had no connection with him whatsoever.
The emperor recalled this man. Ji Baichuan's great-grandfather had fought alongside the emperor to establish the empire. In his early years, he promoted Fan Yuanxin and gradually took back the military power of the Ji family and gave it to the Fan family. Ji Baichuan only held a sinecure in the capital and did not go to the border.
The Ji family has always been independent, neither currying favor with any powerful figures nor taking sides; they are definitely neutral, making them a good candidate.
The emperor stroked his beard, feeling that his son had become much more reliable lately. "Then promote Ji Baichuan to the rank of Second-Rank Imperial Guard Commander, and transfer the military power in Fan Yuanxin's hands to Minister Ji as soon as possible."
Ji Baichuan stepped forward to express his gratitude, saying, "Your subject receives the decree and thanks Your Majesty for your great favor!"
After Fan Yuanxin was dismissed from his post, the Second Young Master Li ordered the steward to set off firecrackers at the gate of his house to celebrate, and also ordered two strings to be set off at the gate of Fan's mansion. This angered Fan Yuanxin so much that his blood rushed to his head, and he collapsed with his vision going black.
The doctor came over, took a look at Fan Yuanxin, whose mouth was crooked, and concluded: General Fan has suffered a stroke and can only rest in bed from now on!
...
The letter from the Princess of Zhenbei reached the Prince of Zhenbei, who was far away in the northern frontier, in just four or five days.
The Prince of Zhenbei first read what his wife had written. The Princess of Zhenbei dared not hide anything and wrote down the general process of how the Crown Princess had harmed herself instead of others. She also specifically told the Crown Prince what to say.
The Prince of Zhenbei cursed inwardly the Crown Princess for being an ignorant woman who had ruined his good life and tarnished his reputation!
Suppressing his anger, he opened the Crown Prince's letter, which contained only one sentence: "Return to the capital secretly to discuss this matter."
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