The King of Qin was the first to be excluded.
The King of Qin was an adopted son. Even though he had biological sons, no matter how generous he was, he did not want to pass the throne to his adopted son.
The fourth one - when thinking of Prince Qi, Emperor Jingming frowned subconsciously.
He attacked his first wife first, and then plotted against the Queen Mother. He didn't believe that such a person would be kind to his brothers if he sat on that throne.
The fifth brother is a fool. If he becomes the emperor... maybe the throne will be cheated away by someone and he will have to count money for others. How can he face his ancestors then?
The Sixth Prince is not bad, and Concubine Zhuang is also a worry-free person. However, the Sixth Prince has been married for two years and there is still no news of his wife, which is also a hidden concern.
As for the seventh son - Emperor Jingming subconsciously wanted to skip Yu Jin, but later he realized that the seventh son was no longer the poor little one who was sent out of the palace at a young age, but the son of the empress.
If you think about it carefully, apart from the fact that the seventh brother has less education, he is really not bad in other aspects. Now even the gap in status has been made up, no, it's even greater.
The Sixth and the Seventh...
Emperor Jingming hesitated for a moment.
After a while, Pan Hai came over worriedly and said, "Your Majesty, have a cup of tea."
Emperor Jingming took the teacup and took two sips, then glanced at Pan Hai with displeasure.
This Pan Hai is becoming less and less considerate. He only knows to bring him tea. Can't he peel a glass of chilled grape beads and bring it to him like the queen's maid did?
Pan Hai felt confused and aggrieved by the look on his face.
He just delivered a cup of tea and did nothing else, so why did he make the emperor unhappy?
Emperor Jingming put the teacup on the table and said calmly, "Ask Han Ran to find out what the King of Shu and the King of Yan are doing recently."
"Yes." Pan Hai stepped out.
Emperor Jingming didn't have to wait too long before Han Ran came back to report, "Your Majesty, the Prince of Shu has been competing with the Prince of Kang in cricket battles recently, while the Prince of Yan rarely goes out and spends most of his time reading in the study."
Emperor Jingming thought he had heard wrongly, and asked with wide eyes: "Tell me again, what has the King of Shu been doing recently?"
Han Ran lowered his eyes and closed his eyes, each word was clear: "Fighting crickets with Prince Kang."
Emperor Jingming clenched his fists and almost choked out his breath.
That shouldn't be the case. In his impression, Laoliu has always been a smart, hardworking and studious child. When did he develop into a cricket fighter?
Holding his breath, Emperor Jingming asked again: "What has the Prince of Yan been studying recently?"
"Yes." Han Ran answered whatever Emperor Jingming asked without saying a single word.
It was unusual for the emperor to ask about the princes' recent situation at this time, so it was better to say less.
Emperor Jingming pondered for a long time, then waved his hand and said, "I understand. You can go down."
After Han Ran left, Emperor Jingming took a few sips of tea and thought that the position of crown prince had to be decided as soon as possible, otherwise he would not be able to stand by any of this nonsense if it continued and would have to consider adopting a son.
"When he was young, the seventh grader neglected his studies due to limited conditions, but he knows that diligence can make up for lack of talent." Emperor Jingming murmured.
Pan Hai continued, "Your Majesty forgot that the Prince of Yan has an excellent memory and can remember everything he sees."
Emperor Jingming was startled and thought about it.
Yes, the seventh child had a photographic memory. At that time, he even thought that if the seventh child was well educated since childhood, perhaps the son of the Zhen family might not be able to surpass him.
So, as long as the seventh child is diligent and willing to learn, the gap caused by those few years of missing schooling should be made up quickly, right?
The eldest is an adopted son, the fourth is of bad character, the fifth is stupid, the sixth is obsessed with fighting crickets, and after searching around, only the seventh is able to pass.
Diligent in study, outstanding in martial arts, good at solving cases, the adopted son of the empress...Emperor Jingming suddenly felt that it would be unreasonable not to choose this son.
Emperor Jingming had a gentle temperament and usually seemed indecisive, but once he made up his mind about something, he could be extremely decisive.
He slammed the table with a determined look: It's settled!
Prince Yan's Palace, Yuhe Garden.
Yu Jin held a book in one hand and asked Jiang Si with a smile: "Ah Si, guess what's bothering father recently?"
Jiang Si's eyes flickered slightly: "This is not hard to guess, of course it's about the establishment of a new empress."
Yu Jin put the book down and asked Jiang Si to sit beside him: "Then take a closer look. Is there anything else that the emperor is not satisfied with me?"
Jiang Si looked at Yu Jian with her beautiful eyes, and pointed at the book he had just put down: "I guess you will dislike that you don't have much knowledge."
Yu Jin sneered.
Jiang Si pushed him: "Why, you're not convinced?"
Yu Jin glanced at her and said unhappily, "I accept it. So I have been studying hard these days. If it gets to the emperor's ears, it will be considered that hard work can make up for lack of talent."
What the hell is the hard work that can make up for one's shortcomings? Why does he need to make up for his shortcomings? Just act like a role model for the emperor so that he can make up his mind to appoint a crown prince sooner, and then everyone will be at peace.
He just didn't believe it. Not to mention the King of Qin and the King of Lu, only the Sixth Brother had a chance to compete. How could the Sixth Brother, who was obsessed with fighting crickets, compete with him?
"What if father likes the King of Shu?" Jiang Si asked with a smile.
Yu Jin raised an eyebrow and looked at her: "Blind?"
Jiang Si chuckled: "Don't rule out this possibility."
Yu Jin sneered: "Old Six has learned to be obedient. I don't want to kill him all. If Father doesn't have good eyesight and makes a random choice, then I will have to try harder."
Jiang Si shook his head: "The King of Shu is actually a smart man, and we may not be able to find any evidence against him."
"Being smart has its advantages. When people are smart, they tend to think more, and when they think more, they become less courageous." Yu Jinyun said indifferently.
If there is no leverage, he will create one. Since he has chosen this path, he cannot lose.
Taking one look at his wife with a beautiful smile, Yu Jin said in his heart: He can't afford to lose.
"Okay, let me take care of these things. I think there will be results soon." Yu Jin hugged Jiang Si and looked out the window.
There were clusters of flowers outside the window. Ah Huan, supported by a maid, was staggering as she chased a big dog.
Little Ah Huan took only two steps before he fell forward onto the big dog, giggling.
Erniu looked helpless and swung his tail to drive away mosquitoes for Ah Huan.
Yu Jin couldn't help but smile cheerfully, thinking that since Erniu was so skilled in taking care of children, it seemed like it was time to give Ah Huan a brother or sister.
Well, it’s better to have a son. If a daughter is born, his status will be moved back. It’s better to have a son to lay the foundation.
Erniu looked towards the window vigilantly.
Is the master up to something bad again?
Humph, I won’t do it if you continue like this!
Ah Huan stood up and staggered forward again.
When Erniu saw this, he didn't think about anything else and hurried after her to protect her, and pushed the maid aside with a look of disgust.
The result came faster than Yu Jin expected.
When he went to court the next day, Emperor Jingming announced a shocking news: in order to ensure the eternal stability of the Great Zhou Dynasty, he would appoint his seventh son Jian as the crown prince.
As soon as the imperial edict came out, all the civil and military officials seemed to be under a spell and forgot to react.
What did the imperial edict say? They must have heard it wrongly, right?
I had just urged the Emperor to choose a crown prince as soon as possible, thinking that there would be a tug-of-war that would last at least a few months or even several years. How come the imperial decree to appoint a crown prince was issued so quickly?