Yang Jian explained to the two of them why he had come. After hearing him out, Verdant Green Maiden looked utterly astonished.
"You want to replace the Crown Prince?"
"No, I don't! Goddess, please don't put words in my mouth."
Yang Jian hurriedly shook his head. He looked at Verdant Green Maiden, hesitated for a moment, then continued, "It's just that, in my eyes, Yong'er's abilities are nowhere near enough for the responsibility. Once I'm gone, if Great Sui falls into his hands, who knows what might happen?"
"...Isn't saying that just another way of saying you want to replace the Crown Prince?"
Verdant Green Maiden looked at Yang Jian, at a loss for words.
The only Crown Prince Verdant Green Maiden could recall who had still become emperor after his own father judged him incapable of succeeding him was Liu Xun's Crown Prince. But that was mainly because he was Xu Pingjun's son, and Liu Xun didn't want to see the Liu Family tear itself apart again.
But Yang Yong was different.
Yang Jian had many sons, all of them Dugu Galuo's children and legitimate heirs.
Yang Yong wouldn't get that chance just by virtue of his mother's standing.
Yang Jian fell silent. Verdant Green Maiden didn't press him. She brought out a plate of fruit and shared it with Hong Luan. A good while later, Yang Jian finally asked, "If I were to replace the Crown Prince, who do you think would be more suitable?"
At that, Verdant Green Maiden rolled her eyes.
"You're asking me?"
"You might as well ask Brother Ox, who was parked in my courtyard—Brother Ox... Hey, where is he?"
As she spoke, Verdant Green Maiden noticed the courtyard was empty. She had no idea where Old Yellow Ox had wandered off to. She