Chapter 260 Mediation
After lunch, the Crown Prince left the palace.
The emperor, however, sat calmly to the side, drinking tea.
Qin Jinzhi was fiddling with the Luban lock on the side.
The emperor coughed as he watched Qin Jinzhi playing with great enthusiasm.
No one paid any attention.
The emperor coughed loudly again.
Qin Jinzhi looked up and asked, "Is the food too salty?"
The emperor rolled his eyes. "Why do you think the crown prince has suddenly changed like this?"
Qin Jinzhi continued to fiddle with the wooden strips in front of her.
"My struggle with Prime Minister Cui is almost to the point of no return. If the Crown Prince wants to win people's hearts, he will naturally protect the Cui family."
The Emperor looked at the Empress and asked, "Did Chengqian say anything to you today?"
The empress leaned against the soft couch and shook her head.
The emperor put the teacup aside, his face somewhat gloomy.
His son is cunning and resourceful, but he's never been very upright or honest.
Qin Jinzhi put the Luban lock together.
"I'm going back to the Prince's residence. I have something to do tomorrow and won't be back for dinner."
The emperor quickly said, "The transfer of officials hasn't been decided yet, where are you going?"
Qin Jinzhi was speechless. "You pick a few, I'll pick a few. My uncle, the Crown Prince, finally stopped acting with you and started being a good son again. You have to leave him a few to win people over. What else is there to decide?"
The emperor curled his lip, "You make it sound like the appointment of officials is as common as cabbage."
Qin Jinzhi threw the assembled Luban lock up and caught it again.
"I'm leaving."
When Qin Jinzhi left the palace, the carriage from the Eastern Palace was still there.
As soon as Wang Wei saw Qin Jinzhi come out, he immediately stepped forward and said, "Princess, His Highness has been waiting for you for a long time."
Qin Jinzhi raised an eyebrow, then followed Wang Wei into the carriage at the Eastern Palace.
The crown prince was sitting upright in the carriage.
"Uncle, why are you waiting here? Is there something you can't say to Grandmother?"
Qin Jinzhi sat down opposite the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince said to Wang Wei, "Send the Princess back to the Prince's residence."
Once the carriage started moving, the Crown Prince smiled and said, "Today, Father Emperor mentioned the appointment of officials. I do have some candidates, but today is my first day participating in politics, so it's not appropriate to mention it to Father Emperor. However, the most important thing is that it relates to you."
Upon hearing this, Qin Jinzhi laughed and leaned back, "Uncle, do all these people you've chosen have a grudge against me?"
Most of the people she had connections with in the capital were her enemies.
The Crown Prince smiled, "Jinzhi is indeed clever, but it can't be said that they have a grudge. It's just that these people all have some connection with Prime Minister Cui, and Uncle wants to employ them, but..."
Qin Jinzhi smiled and said, "But they are Prime Minister Cui's subordinates. Uncle has just entered the court and is in need of people. If Prime Minister Cui can communicate with them, Uncle will have some help in the court."
The Crown Prince smiled slightly, "Nothing can be hidden from Jinzhi."
Qin Jinzhi nodded. "Let me guess. If you want Prime Minister Cui to act as a go-between, you'll have to give him something in return. Now that our struggle is getting more and more intense, if you can mediate, that would be the best gift for the Prime Minister."
The Crown Prince looked at Qin Jinzhi and said, “However, your uncle wants to hear your opinion. It is a fact that Prime Minister Cui has taken action against you. If Jinzhi feels that these people are unusable, your uncle will never use them again.”
Qin Jinzhi smiled casually, then her smile deepened.
“Uncle has just entered the court. Since he has already spoken to Jinzhi, how could Jinzhi not offend him? I will not make a move against Prime Minister Cui until Uncle has established himself.”
The Crown Prince's smile widened. "Our Jinzhi really cares about her uncle. Don't worry, once the situation in the court becomes clear, her uncle will not let any of those who bullied you get away with it."
Qin Jinzhi smiled and said, "Then I'll thank you in advance, Uncle."
The carriage soon stopped in front of the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion.
Qin Jinzhi stepped down from the carriage, and the door behind her was pushed open.
The Crown Prince looked at Qin Jinzhi with some apology, "Tell Uncle Qin that I will personally visit him to apologize in a few days."
Qin Jinzhi raised an eyebrow. "Don't worry, I will definitely pass it on."
After saying that, she turned and went into the palace.
These days, Qin Jinzhi's every move is being watched.
Today, the Crown Prince suddenly entered the court, and after the court session, he actually rode in the same carriage as Qin Jinzhi.
They also sent the person back to the Prince of Zhenbei's Mansion.
Could it be that all those years of discord were just an act?
Upon hearing the news at the Sixth Prince's residence, Xiao Cheng could hardly believe it.
"You mean, not only did my elder brother send Qin Jinzhi back to the mansion, but the two of them were also chatting and laughing?"
The guard from the Sixth Prince's residence nodded in response: "Yes, I also heard that His Highness the Crown Prince said he would personally visit the residence to apologize in a few days."
Xiao Cheng laughed angrily, "Those uncle and nephew are quite the actors!"
He recalled how Qin Jinzhi had deliberately gotten close to him in front of everyone.
He encountered a constant stream of troubles during that period.
Looking back now, it was all a trap set by that brat.
"This boy is ruthless and vicious, making him difficult to guard against. Besides, the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion has always supported the Crown Prince, so you don't need to be angry."
Upon hearing the sounds coming from the inner room, Xiao Cheng quickly got up.
"Maternal grandfather".
Then Yang Xian came out of the inner room.
Xiao Cheng stepped forward to help Yang Xian.
"Grandfather is unaware that the Emperor suddenly summoned the Crown Prince to court to participate in state affairs today, and we received no prior notice whatsoever."
Yang Xian sat down on a chair to the side.
"The Crown Prince is now over thirty, and it is time for Your Majesty to guide him on his path."
Xiao Cheng frowned. "Now the Crown Prince is making it clear to everyone in the capital that he is inseparable from the Qin family. With Father Emperor orchestrating things behind the scenes and the Qin family supporting him, my elder brother will soon be able to gain a foothold in the court. Shouldn't we do something about it?"
Yang Xian's face was gloomy. "Haven't you realized it yet? The Crown Prince has been disguising himself for so many years. Compared to the Qin family, the Crown Prince is the real danger. He has been lying low for so many years. Now that he is willing to take off his disguise, he must be ready. If he really gains a foothold, you will probably have a hard time turning things around."
Xiao Cheng's expression turned even uglier upon hearing this.
The Crown Prince was the legitimate son of the Empress and the first son of the Emperor and Empress.
If all those years of being a good-for-nothing were just an act.
He possessed all the qualities of the eldest son and the most virtuous son.
As long as he doesn't stage a coup, His Majesty will never depose the heir apparent.
Xiao Cheng looked at Yang Xian, "So now we should deal with the eldest brother first?"
A ruthless glint flashed in Yang Xian's eyes.
"I've heard everything that's happened in the capital these past few days. Chanjuan is right. It's probably not Qin Jinzhi's intention to target the aristocratic families. Tomorrow, I will go to see Prime Minister Cui."
Xiao Cheng's eyes widened. "Grandfather wants to join forces with the Cui family? But Prime Minister Cui is currently under house arrest."
"Although Prime Minister Cui is confined to his home, his subordinates are still spread throughout the court and the country. After all, the main power of our Yang family is not in the capital. If we can join forces with Prime Minister Cui, Qin Jinzhi is not a three-headed, six-armed tiger. Even tigers have their moments of weakness. When the time comes, we will surely take her life."
Xiao Cheng was somewhat puzzled, "But didn't Grandfather just say that he wanted to deal with my eldest brother first?"
Yang Xian drank the tea that the Sixth Prince's Consort had sent him.
The Sixth Prince's Consort smiled gracefully, "Qin Jinzhi has always supported the Crown Prince, so conversely, the Crown Prince is also her weakness."
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