Jiang Shi was worried about both the country and the people.
“I once saw the lives of ordinary people in the countryside with my grandmother. Once a natural disaster or man-made disaster occurs, most people will lose their families and live in misery.
Natural disasters are unavoidable, but man-made disasters are. Those in power must be prudent in their decisions, so that the people can be prevented from being displaced and the national strength of Wanjin can grow stronger and stronger.
Gao Rui felt a little apologetic after hearing this: "Zi'an is indeed thoughtful. As a ruler, one should worry about the country and the people."
He secretly warned himself not to be blinded by power and honor and forget his original intention and the heart that an emperor should have.
"Zi'an is indeed a talented prime minister. If you can enter the court and become an official, I will be able to sit in that position one day. You assist me, and I will do my best to promote you. Wanjin will surely become more and more powerful."
The young man, dressed in luxurious brocade clothes, made no secret of his ambitions.
They were not worried about eavesdropping, as Jiang Shi's secret guard Xuan Yi and Gao Rui's personal bodyguard were guarding outside the door.
This restaurant is owned by Jiang Shi. When the two arrived, the private room they were in was empty in front, behind, and on both sides, so there would definitely be no one to disturb them.
Jiang Shi curled his lips slightly: "There will be such a day."
Gao Rui then thought: "But before that day comes, I have a small problem. Zi'an, you have to help me."
"What trouble?"
"Recently, not only my mother, but even my father has been urging me to get married quickly. However, I've looked at the scrolls of women that have been sent to me, and I don't like any of them. Marriage is a big deal, and I don't want to marry a woman I don't like. Zi'an, do you have any way to stop them from urging me to get married?"
Gao Rui is already 24 years old this year. Other men at his age not only have wives but also have several children running around, but he doesn't even have a concubine or a maid.
Jiang Shi said: "Men should marry when they are old enough and women should marry when they are old enough. Your Highness is not young anymore. It is time for you to get married and have children."
Gao Rui glared at him: "Why do you say that to me too?"
Gao Rui couldn't help feeling envious and jealous when he thought that Jiang Shi had a fiancée who was not only beautiful, well-educated, but also very intelligent and in love with him.
"You're just talking nonsense. You have a fiancée at home who's in love with me, so how can you understand my depression? If I happened to have a fiancée who's in love with me, I would have married her and had children with her long ago."
Jiang Shi couldn't help but curl his lips and said in a gentle voice, "Love and affection depend on fate, but you can also strive for it yourself. If Your Highness doesn't get along with women, how can you find a sweetheart who is in love with you?"
"It's not that I haven't been with women before. I also had so-called childhood sweethearts, such as Prince Shen's legitimate daughter Gao Shuya and the eldest princess's only daughter Zhen Youshan. There's nothing wrong with them, but I really find it hard to like them." Gao Rui sighed.
Jiang Shi thought for a moment and said, "There's no noble lady in the capital that His Highness likes. Perhaps we can try to find one among the common people?"
"Common people?" Gao Rui was startled and frowned slightly. "As for a commoner girl, I have never come across one before. However, there is no precedent in this dynasty for a commoner girl to become a prince's consort. Moreover, a commoner girl's background is too ordinary. She will not be of any help to my great cause."
Jiang Shi chuckled and shook his head: "No, a princess born from a commoner family can be of great help to His Highness."
Gao Rui looked at him and asked, "What do you mean?"
Jiang Shi said slowly, "Marriage requires a good match between the two families. You should marry a virtuous woman who suits your heart. The noble ladies of the capital are of noble birth, but they are not the kind that Your Highness would like. On the other hand, although the common people's daughters are of ordinary birth, their character is not necessarily inferior to that of the noble ladies."
"If Your Highness marries a commoner girl as your consort, not only will the world see your deep love for the prince's consort, but it will also set a precedent for princes to choose consorts from the common people, making the people more admired and venerated by the royal family. Your Highness will thereby win the support of the people. Why not do it?
Your Highness can tell His Majesty your needs and the pros and cons of selecting a concubine from the people. I think His Majesty will not refuse. If Her Majesty agrees and Your Highness insists, His Majesty will probably agree in the end. When others hear that Your Highness wants to select a concubine from the people, they probably won't stop it."
Gao Rui was lost in thought. "Zi'an's words have really enlightened me. I'll tell my father, the emperor, and my mother this when I enter the palace today."
Jiang Shi said gently, "I hope I can help Your Highness."
Gao Rui continued, "Ever since Yan Sheng sent his legitimate daughter, Yan Qingyu, into the palace to become Consort Hui last year, Consort Hui has become the second Noble Consort Wang. This Yan Sheng seems to be Yun Xuan's man. I wonder if the emperor has noticed that Yun Xuan is trying to seize power and usurp the throne."
Gao Rui only learned about Yun Xuan's intention to seize power and usurp the throne through Jiang Shi. He was extremely shocked at first, but after a careful investigation, he found that the Yun family had changed over the past hundred years and he actually understood it to some extent.
Anyone who followed the founding emperor to conquer the world and was then abandoned, whose companions of the same period were exterminated one after another, and who tried hard to compromise but was still suspected, would also be unable to resist the urge to seize power and usurp the throne.
But Gao Rui understands Yun Xuan, but he will not support her. On the contrary, as a prince, he will try every possible way to suppress Yun Xuan, even to the point of killing him.
Because once Yun Xuan succeeds in seizing power and usurping the throne, the Gao family will be the ones to be wiped out.
No one wants to die, and no one wants to fall from a high position and become a prisoner.
Throughout history, the succession of imperial power has always been accompanied by blood and gore. It is either you die or I live. Those who are too kind are destined not to survive to the end.
Jiang Shi lowered his eyes slightly and whispered, "I think His Majesty should have anticipated this."
"What do you mean?" Gao Rui looked curious.
Jiang Shi pursed his lips slightly, the veil covering his face, but he could see Gao Rui's face clearly.
The young man in elegant attire had a face similar to the current emperor, young, handsome, and unparalleled in his nobility. He had a good character, cared deeply about the country and the people, was both civil and military, and was gifted with extraordinary talent, making him the most suitable candidate for the crown prince.
But precisely because Gao Rui is the most suitable person to be the crown prince, there are some things that Jiang Shi cannot say out loud.
Serving the king is like serving a tiger, so you must always be on guard against him.
Facing a man who is destined to become an emperor, Jiang Shi's years of caution made him always pay attention to what he said to Gao Rui. He must not say the wrong thing, lest Gao Rui remember it at some point in the future and it become a thorn in his heart.
Therefore, he said: "The emperors of Wanjin must have passed down secrets that are unknown to the public. Otherwise, the emperors of each generation would not have kept a close eye on the kings and aristocratic families of different surnames, constantly suppressing them and not allowing them to intermarry. This is to prevent them from colluding to seize power and usurp the throne, and to make them check each other."
"Your Majesty is suppressing kings of different surnames. He previously favored Consort Wang but ignored the Third Prince. Now that Your Majesty favors Consort Hui, it's just to paralyze Prime Minister Yan and Yun Xuan and let them down their guard."
Gao Rui's eyes flickered slightly: "Yes, Zi'an is right."
He smiled and praised: "Zi'an is worthy of being the child of Marquis Wu'an and General Lan. He is really smart."
"Your Highness is so kind."
"I should be able to enter the palace now and have dinner with my mother. I can talk to her about the selection of concubines from the people. I'll be leaving now."
"Your Highness, there is no need to be so anxious. It's not too late to leave after dinner."
"No, I have to talk to the Queen Mother right away to avoid any complications."
Gao Rui got up anxiously and walked out the door.
Jiang Shi had no choice but to say, "Your Highness, take care."
After Gao Rui left, Jiang Shi sat in the box and was in a dilemma.
Is he going back?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
