next day
The news of the Crown Prince's death shocked everyone.
Everyone knows that the Crown Prince is sickly.
But no one expected that the crown prince would die so quietly.
The Emperor decreed that the Crown Prince had passed away, and all the people of Daqing should observe three months of mourning for him.
For three months, one is prohibited from drinking alcohol, engaging in merrymaking, or getting married; violators will be severely punished.
White banners were hung in the Eastern Palace, and the emperor claimed illness and suspended court for a day.
The Empress was so devastated that she fell ill.
The other princes each had their own thoughts, and on the surface they all appeared to be deeply grieving. Prince Jin, in particular, put on a great show, crying loudly in the Eastern Palace.
Anyone with eyes could see that Prince Jin was secretly overjoyed.
Jiang Chuwei told Prince Yu everything that happened when the Crown Prince died.
Prince Yu: "Are you saying that the Crown Prince died from unresolved emotional distress?"
“Yes, he has a death wish,” Jiang Chuwei said definitively.
Someone who wants to live would never stop taking their medication on their own.
As the next emperor, the crown prince seemed to have no political achievements, rarely leaving the Eastern Palace. This passive approach was intended to make everyone forget about him as the crown prince.
"The Crown Prince suffered a lot when he was young, and the Empress had high hopes for him."
The crown prince cannot bear these burdens.
The empress is good for nothing but jealousy and rivalry.
The crown prince also lacked the support of his maternal family.
The emperor did not specifically groom a crown prince.
The ministers were all shrewd and astute.
How could they not know what the Emperor was thinking?
Not a single minister was willing to side with the crown prince.
Then she took out all the grievances she suffered at the Emperor's hands on the Crown Prince.
"Then how did the mother and son manage to survive in this cannibalistic harem?"
Jiang Chuwei was very surprised.
"Because of Father!"
Lin Muheng said.
"As long as Father Emperor holds these positions, the powerful families will be eager to make a move, but they won't dare to openly seize the positions of Empress and Crown Prince."
Jiang Chuwei said, "So it turns out that the two of them were just targets that the Emperor had put out."
“That’s exactly right,” Lin Muheng said.
"The court is in turmoil. With the Crown Prince gone, a new round of struggle for the throne is bound to come out in the open."
Jiang Chuwei said, "The prince will also become a target for the aristocratic families to choose sides."
"I will certainly plan carefully."
Lin Muheng stared intently ahead, knowing the situation would become even more dire. Jiang Chuwei nodded slightly, indicating her trust in him.
The death of the crown prince did not cause much of a stir.
The emperor, who had many sons, was heartbroken, but the grief did not last even a month.
*
Three months later
Lin Muheng and Jiang Chuwei are enjoying tea.
They now spend their free time getting together every now and then.
At this moment, a servant rushed over, knelt down and reported: "Your Highness, news has come from the palace that His Majesty intends to select a new crown prince from among the princes."
Lin Muheng frowned slightly, thinking: Just as we expected, everything is as we predicted. He turned to Jiang Chuwei and said, "It seems that this battle for the throne is about to officially begin."
We need more intelligence and support.
Jiang Chuwei smiled knowingly and said confidently, "Your Highness, rest assured, the General's Mansion will use all its resources to assist you. However... we need to be careful in dealing with various forces, especially those aristocratic families."
Lin Muheng gripped Jiang Chuwei's hand tightly and gave her a grateful look. Both of them knew that the road ahead would be full of challenges, but they were prepared to face the storm.
Lin Muheng nodded and said, "Thank you for your trouble, General's Mansion."
At this moment, another person came to report, "Your Highness, the Prince of Jin has sent an invitation to your banquet tonight."
Lin Muheng looked at Jiang Chuwei and asked, "Do you think there might be a trap at this banquet?"
Jiang Chuwei analyzed, "Prince Jin doesn't usually have much interaction with the Prince. This sudden invitation is probably not what it seems."
Lin Muheng pondered for a moment and decided, "It's alright. Since he sent an invitation, it would seem guilty if I didn't go. Make the arrangements, and we'll go to the banquet after nightfall."
Jiang Chuwei replied, "Alright, I'll make the arrangements right away. However, Your Highness should still be extra careful."
As night fell, Lin Muheng brought Jiang Chuwei to the Jin Prince's residence. At the banquet, everyone appeared to be chatting and laughing, but in reality, they were secretly competing with each other.
The three-month national mourning period passed in the blink of an eye.
The ministers were also eager to relax.
The banquet at the Prince of Jin's residence was attended by almost all the ministers.
Regardless of whether they were on the same side or not, Jin Wang came to show his support.
The banquet was approved by the Emperor.
The Emperor now firmly holds all power in his own hands.
Prince Jin and the other princes no longer pose a threat to the Emperor.
When Lin Muheng and Jiang Chuwei arrived, the Prince Jin's mansion was already bustling with activity.
King Jin treats everyone with warmth and hospitality.
Lin Muheng and Jiang Chuwei exchanged a glance, realizing that this banquet was definitely not simple. While conversing with the other ministers, they kept a close eye on Prince Jin's actions.
After several rounds of drinks, Prince Jin stood up, smiled, raised his glass, and toasted everyone. Everyone responded enthusiastically and drank it all in one gulp.
However, at that moment, a palace maid quietly approached Lin Muheng and handed him a note. Lin Muheng unfolded it and saw that it read: "Be careful with the wine." He was startled and immediately handed the note to Jiang Chuwei.
After reading it, Jiang Chuwei nodded slightly, signaling Lin Muheng not to make a fuss.
Let's see what the Prince of Jin is up to.
If the Prince of Jin dared to attack him, Lin Muheng would dare to make him suffer the consequences.
Lin Muheng pretended to drink, but secretly spilled the wine on his sleeve when no one was looking. After a while, he noticed that Prince Jin's gaze kept sweeping over him, which made him even more convinced that there was something wrong with the wine.
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