Ru Chang and the others were currently feeling tense, worried, and somewhat excited.
These are all people who rose to prominence under the current emperor, who has shown them great favor. However, they were labeled long ago, a fact that is almost universally acknowledged.
Even though they are now high-ranking officials such as ministers or vice ministers, and are important ministers of the court, they still believe that they are the true heir apparent's faction. Their careers are actually closely tied to the heir apparent, and this is beyond doubt.
They've only gained favor with the current emperor in the last two years. Before that, they were merely being honed to make themselves useful to the Crown Prince and to ensure the Crown Prince's control of the court after his ascension. These people all understand that if they want to become truly important ministers, they really need to wait until the Crown Prince ascends the throne; only then can they realize their ambitions.
Now that the emperor is seriously ill again, it's impossible not to have these people start to have all sorts of thoughts and to consider a lot of things.
Ultimately, things are different now; it seems the Crown Prince could ascend the throne at any moment. Even though many things seem perfectly logical to everyone, it's hard not to feel some apprehension.
"There are many princes and dukes in Yingtian Prefecture now, and I think you colleagues are aware that quite a few of them are dissatisfied with His Highness the Crown Prince's succession to the throne," Lian Zining said worriedly to the people in the hall. "I'm afraid these few will cause trouble!"
Lian Zining's concerns were not unfounded. When Zhu Yuanzhang was alive, there were naturally no dissenting voices inside or outside the court. Zhu Yuanzhang's voice could completely silence any dissenting voices.
But once Lao Zhu is gone, some voices might emerge, which is not impossible.
After all, it's the throne, and most people obviously can't resist its allure. Moreover, even if everyone understands, it would be difficult for the princes to cause any trouble, given the immense power of the Crown Prince. Even if the princes wanted to stir up trouble, they wouldn't likely make much of a fuss.
The problem is that if those people really start making trouble, it's one thing if nothing gets done, but the main issue is that they'll be disgusting once they start. There will inevitably be some people with ulterior motives who will fan the flames, saying things like the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne was illegitimate. Or, if Zhu Xiong Ying punishes those princes, some will again say that the Crown Prince is heartless towards the imperial clan, and so on.
Success doesn't necessarily mean making a scene. Being disgusting is enough to leave people speechless and heartbroken.
Yan Zhenzhi was also worried, and he suggested, "Gentlemen, His Highness has always been kind and benevolent, especially towards the imperial family. Since we are paid by the Emperor, we should share his worries. Should we petition for his permission? It is not a good idea for the Prince to remain in the capital."
This is a fairly common viewpoint. Many people believe that it is not a good thing for the princes to stay in the capital. These people are likely to be unstable factors in the transfer of power, so it is necessary to send them to their fiefdoms and away from the center of power.
Zhuo Jing immediately objected, saying, "Ever since the late Crown Prince, I have not agreed with the practice of granting fiefs and land to the princes. In recent years, the princes of our dynasty have all been granted fiefs remotely. If we allow the princes to leave the capital now, it may become a hidden danger. In the future, we will have to take back their fiefs."
This caused everyone to fall silent. In the early days of the Ming Dynasty, several princes were enfeoffed, and everyone knew that the Zhu family's foundation was weak, so these princes were needed to contribute. However, in recent years, the court has been stable, and it may not be a good thing to let the princes be enfeoffed again.
Once a fiefdom is granted, taking it back is no easy task. Just look at the Kings of Qin, Jin, and Zhou; they all live a life of luxury and pleasure in their fiefdoms. Reclaiming these fiefdoms will be no simple matter, and the princes themselves will strongly oppose it, having already tasted the pleasures of being local emperors.
Having the princes in the capital naturally has some advantages. Sending them to their fiefdoms, of course, also has its disadvantages; it all depends on how the rulers who control the imperial power choose.
Zhu Xiong Ying's men were tense. They hoped Zhu Xiong Ying could ascend the throne smoothly and that they could minimize trouble. Otherwise, it wouldn't be perfect for them, and they would feel some regret.
As for Zhu Xiong Ying at this point, he only glanced at his daughter briefly before he couldn't stay any longer. After all, it was early winter, and it wasn't good for children, especially newborns, to be exposed to the wind.
Zhu Xiong Ying, wearing a cloak, headed towards the Qianqing Palace, but this time he didn't bring the little guy Zhu Wen Yin with him.
Upon seeing Zhu Xiong Ying approach, Shuang Quan immediately ran to announce, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived."
Old Zhu, having turned over, asked, "Just the Crown Prince alone?"
Shuangquan naturally understood and quickly said, "It's just Your Highness alone."
"That's fine then." Old Zhu coughed twice and said, "Have someone put up some screens outside the hall so the Crown Prince doesn't get cold. Let the Crown Prince talk to us outside the hall; this whole room is full of sickness."
Shuangquan readily agreed, and the maids and eunuchs of the Qianqing Palace immediately got to work.
Zhu Xiong Ying was not happy. Looking at the tightly closed palace doors, he knocked on them. "Grandfather, I didn't bring Yin'er with me. I'm all grown up now, what's there to be afraid of?"
Old Zhu's voice came from inside the hall, "Your father died from a cold. You can talk to us outside the hall."
As soon as Old Zhu finished speaking, amidst the commotion, Zhu Xiong Ying pushed open the palace doors. Even if those outside the palace wanted to stop Zhu Xiong Ying, they truly had no way, and dared not.
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