Cui Xiaoqiu had always known that Yanran was oblivious.
But that's fine too. Hopefully, she'll never figure it out until he's capable of it.
"Alright, go back to your studies. Don't work so hard for so many years, only to be outdone by someone else who crammed at the last minute." Yanran smiled.
You go first.
"I'll go first, you can get down!" Yanran rolled her eyes, came over and hugged Cui Xiaoqiu, and jumped down with him.
"Alright, I have to go now."
She waved her hand, grinned, and jumped over the wall to leave.
Cui Xiaoqiu smiled, looked up at the lanterns on the tree, stood there for a while, and only went back into the house when she could no longer hear Yanran's footsteps.
Although it was late at night, the candles in the main courtyard were still lit.
Tang Zhuyun reached out and stopped the Prince of Jin from pressing down on her, scolding, "Stop fooling around, you still have to go to court tomorrow!"
Upon hearing the word "attend court," the Prince of Jin felt immediately disappointed. He turned over and lay down outside the curtains, looking at the curtains, taking a deep breath to calm himself down.
"I just don't understand," Tang Zhuyun said, "What was he thinking, actually going to complain to the Emperor?"
The person was what he wanted, and he got him.
Now that he's contracted the disease, he has the audacity to go before the Emperor and complain that the Prince of Jin is plotting against him?
How shameful!
How did they murder you? Did they force you to take women as concubines?
This kind of fool is unworthy even to be used as a stepping stone for the Prince of Jin.
"Actually, it wasn't him, it was someone else." Prince of Jin played with a small lock of Tang Zhuyun's hair with his fingertips. "Father is getting old, and he always has a sense of crisis about being replaced."
Therefore, he constantly supported different people to restrain himself.
In this process of mutual competition, the emperor can act as a referee, further solidifying his authority.
However, the emperor also thought about choosing the most outstanding successor after his death.
This kind of contradiction, this art of imperial power, is actually not sophisticated, but it is common.
"You mean, even if he makes such a foolish mistake, the Emperor will let it go easily, and might even actually blame you?"
"It's true that I put it down gently, but it's not necessarily my fault."
The Emperor's health will likely only last for another year or two.
Now, he's started coughing up blood at night, and his heart condition is extremely precarious.
A dying man's words are often good.
The Emperor has also softened considerably. Recently, when he summons Prince of Jin to the palace, his speech is mostly filled with reminiscences and reflections, more like a summary and handover, with few reprimands.
No wonder he wasn't nervous at all about attending court tomorrow...
"Then we don't need to do anything now, we can just wait."
"More or less." Prince of Jin put his arm around her shoulder. "But A-Yun, when it really came down to it, I realized I wasn't looking forward to the future."
The emperor's "threat" may be gone, but the mess that was once the country was now completely in his hands.
What kind of good thing is that?
Is being an emperor free from helplessness?
He could almost foresee the many difficulties ahead, and even the tender moments they shared now would become a luxury.
"Yesterday, my father told me he wanted to see the three brothers," said Prince of Jin. "He wants to see them."
Tang Zhuyun remained silent.
She understands, but she doesn't want to take the risk.
Who knows how the Emperor will feel tomorrow?
"I made up an excuse to brush it off," said the Prince of Jin. "I didn't want to bring it up with you, but I was afraid someone would tell you that you're soft-hearted."
Tang Zhuyun hooked her little finger around Prince of Jin's finger.
She knew that this decision was not easy for the Prince of Jin either.
The Prince of Jin seemed to know what she was thinking and said calmly, "It's alright. My father has always been both protective and wary of me. I appreciate his kindness, but I won't let my child be caught up in that kind of struggle."
Tang Zhuyun felt inexplicably sad, but didn't know what to say to comfort Prince of Jin.
He had never received unconditional love from childhood to adulthood.
"Why don't you try again?"
The Prince of Jin suddenly laughed, "Since you've asked me, I'll reluctantly agree."
That scoundrel!
The next day, the emperor reprimanded Prince of Ding for his absurd behavior in court, but surprisingly did not scold Prince of Jin.
However, after the court session ended, he left the Prince of Jin alone.
"Have your wife cure the Eighth Prince," the Emperor said bluntly.
"He's unworthy." Prince of Jin didn't give the Emperor any face either. "He coveted my sister, and I want him dead!"
His words revealed an undisguised ruthlessness.
Mingzhu's affair was kept secret from the world, but he didn't expect to be able to completely hide it from the Emperor.
Just as the emperor felt conflicted about him, so did he about the emperor.
There was both admiration and respect for her father, as well as a deep sense of estrangement and wariness.
"Who is that your sister?!" The Emperor's expression changed drastically.
"Father, that's my half-sister. If you're unhappy, I can disown her, but I can't let others hurt her. He clearly knows she's my sister, yet he deliberately tries to disgust me; I can't tolerate that."
You think you're all grown up now!
The Prince of Jin knelt down, his attitude respectful.
"As I've said before, as long as you are here, you are my heaven," the Prince of Jin, neither humble nor arrogant. "But if anyone else tries to use you to step on me, they are dreaming!"
Is it possible for him not to seize this world?
No, he can.
He had already gained complete control over the military forces throughout the land, except for those in Liaodong.
The Prince of Liaodong is a muddle-headed fool. He has no ambition, is cowardly and afraid of trouble, and only follows the crowd. He certainly doesn't have the courage to confront the other three families.
Throughout history, the only thing that has restricted the Prince of Jin has been external threats, not internal troubles.
However, some things cannot be said outright.
The Emperor was dejected. After a long while, he said in a hoarse voice, "He is still your own brother. Spare his life. I will let him leave the capital. He has never been a threat to you. I just wanted to test you, and test him too."
This was an unprecedentedly softened attitude.
The Prince of Jin refused to budge.
"I hereby appoint you as the Crown Prince."
"Father, the empire is yours. I dare not object to who you pass the throne to. But that scoundrel must be punished!"
The Emperor sneered, "With him dead, who else can compete with you?"
"Father, whether he lives or dies, no one can contend with me."
The emperor was speechless.
After a long pause, he sighed and said, "What if I abdicate in your favor?"
"Father, I dare not bear the infamy of history. Besides, I am now the father of four sons! I hope that we can be a loving father and filial sons, so that they will not question me in the future about why I was disrespectful to my grandfather."
The emperor's body trembled.
"Father, perhaps there is another path to take besides killing one's own siblings."
"You're too foolish. How can a child like that hold onto the throne?" The Emperor shook his head.
"Is this why you intend to bestow a marriage upon Linlin?" The Prince of Jin's smile turned cold.
"You, you actually planted someone by my side?" The emperor's face quickly contorted with rage.
The Prince of Jin felt a chill run down his spine; it was just as he had expected.
Today is merely another test by the Emperor.
The abdication, the crown prince—it's all a sham.
The emperor merely wanted to test him to see if he harbored any ambition to usurp the throne; nor did he abandon his intention to "test" his descendants.
"Your subject dares not."
"What if I insist on marrying Linlin anyway?" The Emperor's authority was immense.