Crown Prince's Guest Elder, Mister Wu

The next morning, as the first rays of dawn appeared.

Outside the long pavilion, by the ancient road.

The Left Prime Minister, dressed in a scholar's blue robe, was followed by several carriages, looking as if he were migrating.

Aside from the Left Prime Minister's family, there was an unexpected guest present.

The Right Prime Minister!

The Left Prime Minister's expression was complex.

He and the Right Prime Minister had fought their whole lives.

He hadn't expected that, as he left the capital, the one who came to see him off would be his nemesis.

On the other hand, none of his former subordinates showed up.

It truly was a case of "the tea cools before the person leaves."

"What, Brother Mobai, are you surprised to see me?" The Right Prime Minister chuckled, his voice clear and hearty.

"Indeed, I am surprised. I didn't expect it would be you, Brother Jingxing, who would see me off in the end." The Left Prime Minister's tone was quite complex.

"We served together for decades. Though we had our conflicts, they were always for the sake of the nation, not personal enmity."

"Today, as you, Brother Mobai, leave the capital, it's only natural that I come to see you off."

The Right Prime Minister sighed with emotion. He held considerable admiration for this rival who had overshadowed him for a lifetime.

"After I leave, how does His Majesty intend to handle the position of Left Prime Minister?"

"His Majesty has already appointed me to concurrently hold the position of Left Prime Minister."

Hearing this, the Left Prime Minister was stunned for a moment.

He hadn't expected Emperor Yuanchu to make such an arrangement.

To let Lu Jingxing concurrently hold both prime ministerial positions.

This truly amounted to wielding immense power over the court.

Emperor Yuanchu's arrangement was clearly intended to have the Right Prime Minister suppress the Crown Prince's faction.

The Crown Prince would probably...

Never mind!

What does that have to do with someone like me, who is about to leave the capital?

The Left Prime Minister couldn't help but scoff.

"That's good too!"

"With you, Brother Jingxing, in charge of the court, it won't fall into chaos."

The two exchanged pleasantries.

They had fought their whole lives, wishing to bring each other down.

Yet, at the end, they found a mutual appreciation.

"This journey concerns the National Destiny and the people's livelihood. I hope you, Brother Mobai, have a smooth journey and achieve success."

"Thank you for your kind words!"

Eastern Palace.

These past few days, everyone in the Eastern Palace knew that the Crown Prince was in a bad mood.

Several palace maids had already been beaten to death with sticks.

Even the Crown Princess's persuasion was useless.

The eunuchs and palace maids walked softly, terrified of angering His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Inside the study.

The atmosphere was solemn, so thick it seemed it could be wrung out.

Bang!

A loud sound came from the study.

The Crown Prince's palm slammed heavily onto the desk, his face contorted with anger.

"A rare treasure, as a gift for Ninth Brother's enfeoffment?"

"If Ninth Brother hadn't cultivated the Sacred Emperor Rice, would the Left Prime Minister have left the capital?"

"And I have to send Ninth Brother a congratulatory gift? This is outrageous!"

The Crown Prince's roar erupted in the study.

His questioning was laced with deep fury.

Even the beloved cat, usually pampered, was hiding in the corner of a bookshelf, trembling.

Eastern Palace Chief Scribe Zhou Rong wore a pained expression.

Of course, he understood the Crown Prince's anger and dissatisfaction at this moment.

The Sacred Emperor Rice cultivated by the Ninth Prince had led to the Left Prime Minister's departure from the capital.

Perhaps, this wasn't the Ninth Prince's intention.

But the reality was, all of this was caused by the Ninth Prince.

With one arm severed, the Crown Prince naturally harbored immense displeasure towards the Ninth Prince.

However, some matters of propriety, even if one didn't want to do them, had to be done.

The Ninth Prince was being enfeoffed as a king; as his elder brother, how could the Crown Prince not send a congratulatory gift?

If he didn't, it would certainly invite criticism.

At that time, rumors like "The Crown Prince is too narrow-minded to even tolerate his own brother" would likely spread throughout the capital again.

"Your Highness, the Second Prince has already sent a congratulatory gift."

"If you don't send one, won't you be pushing the Ninth Prince towards the Second Prince?"

Zhou Rong spoke earnestly, advising him repeatedly.

However, the Crown Prince was set in his ways and showed no sign of relenting.

"Hmph—what does it matter if I push him to my second brother?"

"I have countless capable civil and military officials under me; why would I lack one Prince of Dongdai Commandery?"

"Your Highness, absolutely not!" Zhou Rong paced anxiously. "The Sacred Emperor Rice is a matter of great interest; we must contend for it."

"Your subordinate knows Your Highness harbors many grievances against the Ninth Prince, but a small impatience will ruin a great plan."

"Please, Your Highness, reconsider."

The more sincerely Zhou Rong spoke, the more frustrated the Crown Prince felt.

Just then, a servant reported from outside.

"Reporting, Your Highness, Mister Wu has returned."

Upon hearing the name Mister Wu, the Crown Prince's previously troubled brow instantly relaxed.

"Invite him in quickly!"

As the Crown Prince's words fell, a middle-aged scholar walked in.

The Crown Prince quickly rose and went to greet him.

Zhou Rong, standing nearby, felt his heart sink upon seeing the Crown Prince's high regard for Mister Wu.

"Your Highness, after completing my arrangements in Jiangnan, I heard about the Sacred Emperor Rice matter and rushed back to the capital..."

Before Mister Wu could finish speaking, the Crown Prince's face darkened, clouded with displeasure.

"Mister Wu, are you also here to persuade me to win over my ninth brother?"

"Not at all, not at all!"

"Quite the opposite, this old man believes that winning over the Ninth Prince is the worst possible strategy."

Mister Wu's words hadn't yet swayed the Crown Prince, but Zhou Rong, standing by, couldn't hold back.

"Nonsense!"

"Who doesn't know that the Seed Selection Department is now a hot commodity?"

"If we can win over the Ninth Prince, it will surely become a great asset to Your Highness."

Zhou Rong spoke with righteous indignation and a firm attitude.

Even the Crown Prince felt that Zhou Rong's words made sense.

It was just that he couldn't swallow the bitter pill of the Left Prime Minister's departure from the capital.

Mister Wu remained calm and composed, his expression unruffled, and he spoke softly.

"Your Highness, Chief Scribe Zhou only knows one side of the story, not the whole truth."

"Oh! What brilliant insight does Mister Wu have?"

"The Great Qian's Seventy-Two Commandery has countless citizens, and there are many secret realms where the land is vast and people are sparse."

"Your Highness, how much Sacred Emperor Rice do you think would be needed to satisfy everyone in the world?"

The Crown Prince pondered for a moment and then spoke.

"Mister Wu, you mean that in the short term, the quantity of Sacred Emperor Rice is limited and cannot satisfy everyone."

"Precisely!"

"With a limited quantity of Sacred Emperor Rice and too many wanting it, its distribution will become a hot potato."

"Which of the imperial family members, the court officials, the Ten Great Dao Courts, or the meritorious military generals is easy to deal with?"

"If the Second Prince wants to win him over, then let him."

"If this isn't handled well, it could lead to utter abandonment."

Mister Wu's words completely unburdened the Crown Prince's mind.

The relief he felt was like Zhu Bajie eating a ginseng fruit.

"Brilliant!"

"Absolutely brilliant!"

"Listening to your words for a moment is better than ten years of study!"

Zhou Rong saw that the Crown Prince had been swayed by Mister Wu, and he became utterly anxious, a wave of melancholy and worry washing over him.

Right now, there isn't enough Sacred Emperor Rice to go around, but what about the future?

Will there always be such a shortage?

These are words that will bring disaster to the nation and its people!

"Your Highness..."

Zhou Rong still wanted to persuade him, but the Crown Prince had already lost patience listening to him.

He waved his hand and said to Zhou Rong, "Chief Scribe Zhou, Mister Wu and I have important matters to discuss."

"Go to the treasury and get a thousand taels of silver, and send it to Ninth Brother. Consider it a token of goodwill from me, your elder brother."

Zhou Rong's face stiffened, and his eyes dimmed.

In his heart, there was an indescribable bitterness.

A thousand taels of silver?

That was far too meager!

Was this meant for a beggar?

This was clearly a slap in the face; it would be better not to send anything at all than to send a thousand taels.

"Your subject obeys!"

Zhou Rong cupped his hands, sighed, and left the study.

An hour later.

Mister Wu left the manor, only to find Zhou Rong waiting for him by the back gate.

"Chief Scribe Zhou, what can I do for you?" Mister Wu asked with a forced smile.

"You, Wu, you sycophantic scoundrels, you merely rely on flattery to deceive His Highness."

"If you don't repent, one day, justice will prevail, and you will surely face retribution!"

Hearing Zhou Rong's righteous reprimand, Mister Wu acted as if he hadn't heard a thing, a scornful smile playing on his lips.

"Tch!"

Zhou Rong was left behind, his face ashen.