"Ding-ling-ling."
Li Jing was stunned when he saw the bell beside him ringing.
There was a rope in the main hall that connected to the bell. As long as it shook, it meant that His Majesty was calling him. He quickly got up and trotted over.
"Please take a seat."
"yes."
Li Jing responded by moving a chair over, and then he left tactfully.
The conversation had just officially begun when Song Chi realized that Emperor Yuan Jing had been fooled by him.
Emperor Yuan Jing was suspicious by nature. He didn't trust anyone and felt that everyone approached him with a purpose. However, he had never heard what Song Chi said before.
This is not flattery, it is just the heartfelt words of a seventeen-year-old boy.
Just before appointing Song Chi as the No. 1 Scholar before the Imperial Examination, Emperor Yuan Jing had already learned about Song Chi's experience. He relied on himself to get to where he is today. Song Shiwen even wanted to kill him. Lu Taiyuan only used him and did not give him any substantial help.
As Song Chi said, he has been able to reach where he is today because of his writing.
Therefore, the person he is truly grateful to is himself.
It makes sense.
Emperor Yuan Jing gave an interview question with a full score of 100, and Song Chi scored 200.
He is really excellent, Emperor Yuan Jing sighed in his heart. Now he regards Song Chi as his own. Others are subjects, but he is my student.
Therefore, he spoke more casually, asking in a way that was both a test and a casual conversation: "Can the Great Zhou attack the Northern Wei and win?"
This was the first question he asked.
"We will definitely win!" Song Chi said in a deep voice, "The Great Zhou Dynasty dominates the Central Plains and is the true overlord. The Northern Wei Dynasty is just a vassal state. Two years ago, the Northern Wei Dynasty invaded the Great Zhou Dynasty and was defeated. As a result, they suffered heavy losses. I'm afraid they don't even have the strength to resist. How can they stop the mighty army of the Great Zhou Dynasty?"
Emperor Yuan Jing nodded with satisfaction. This was what he thought.
With the strength of the Great Zhou, wouldn't it be easy to crush the Northern Wei? He often stayed in the palace and had no idea of the chaos outside. He was still living in a dream, thinking that the Great Zhou was still the Great Zhou that once dominated the Central Plains.
"I will ask you one more question, and you must answer truthfully."
Song Chi said: "Students must tell you everything they know, without reservation."
Emperor Yuan Jing leaned forward and asked, "People say that I have already appointed a crown prince, but I still sit back and watch Prince Qing compete for the throne. This is a foolish act. What do you think?"
This guy spends the whole day in seclusion, but he knows everything that happens in the court.
Song Chi said directly: "Your Majesty has done a good job."
Emperor Yuan Jing was stunned and asked, "What's good about it?"
"Long live Your Majesty! You will cultivate the Dao and live forever, becoming the emperor for eternity. What use is there for a crown prince?"
Emperor Yuan Jing's expression was dazed. He stood up and paced back and forth, as if he had encountered something exciting. After a long while, he turned around and pointed at Song Chi, "You are the only one in the world who understands me!"
There were only three words expressed in his eyes: You understand me.
Throughout the dynasties, there were few emperors who practiced Taoism, and even fewer who could face death calmly.
The Qin Emperor, Emperor Wu of Han, and Emperor Taizong of Tang also sought the art of immortality.
The same was true of Emperor Yuan Jing. He wanted to live forever, and he even felt that he had already lived forever.
If he doesn't die, he won't abdicate.
Then the crown prince would threaten his throne, so he let Prince Qing compete with the crown prince for the throne. He put pressure on the crown prince all the time, making the crown prince feel that his position as crown prince could be abolished at any time.
This is what Emperor Yuan Jing intended.
He was fighting for the throne because he didn't want to abdicate.
With such an emperor, why would the Great Zhou Dynasty worry about its demise?
Song Chi sneered in his heart, but he kept adding fuel to the fire. He glanced at Li Jing in the side hall and whispered, "I have something to say, but I don't know if it should be said."
“Just speak frankly.”
Emperor Yuan Jing had completely regarded Song Chi as his own.
Song Chi grasped his thoughts and prescribed the right medicine. "In my opinion, neither the eldest prince nor His Royal Highness Prince Qing is suitable to be the crown prince."
It is a taboo to make irresponsible remarks about the crown prince. Even Song Shiwen did not dare to do so openly, but Song Chi said it out loud.
He knew that this was in line with Emperor Yuan Jing's wishes. Not only would Emperor Yuan Jing not blame him, but he would also be looking forward to it.
"Then who do you think is suitable to be the crown prince?"
"Sixth Prince."
"Sixth Brother?"
Emperor Yuan Jing laughed and said, "You saw him at the dinner that day, didn't you? He's a complete fool. How could he be the crown prince?"
"If the Sixth Prince becomes the Crown Prince, you can remain the Emperor forever."
Emperor Yuan Jing fell into deep thought. This made sense.
He is fifty-three this year, and the crown prince is already thirty-six. As he grows older, he will become more and more unwilling, and the criticism in the court will also increase.
If the fool Lao Liu became the crown prince, a fool certainly could not become the emperor, so he would not have to consider anything else. In fact, it was very simple, just to get rid of his competitors.
There is no family affection in the royal family.
The emperor and the prince have never been father and son, but rivals!
The prince is a potential rival.
Throughout the dynasties, there have been many princes who rebelled. Why did he rebel when he was obviously the heir to the throne?
There are many tricks involved.
Song Chi remained silent. He could give advice but could not make decisions. This was the basic principle of being a minister. However, he was thinking about Emperor Yuan Jing, and Emperor Yuan Jing would definitely accept his advice.
This was done to make Emperor Yuan Jing trust him more and to make the court more chaotic.
The fight for the throne between the Crown Prince and Prince Qing has thrown the court into chaos. What will be the consequences if neither of them becomes the crown prince?
Another reason is to build up power for himself.
Emperor Yuan Jing could not easily appoint a fool as the crown prince. The only way was to have someone support the Sixth Prince, and he was the most suitable person.
This is a fight for the throne, a struggle in which one could lose their life if they are not careful.
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