Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1107: Chapter 135: The Lost Crown Prince Position (Part 2)

"Do you understand now?"

Prince Dai looked confused: "Understand what?"

Noble Princess Consort Rong laughed angrily: "You just said yourself, this time the military achievements are bigger than ever, so have you lost your chance at the Crown Prince position?"

Upon hearing this, Prince Dai finally understood, and his face turned pale with a look of disbelief.

"Now you should understand why I didn’t want you to use your military achievements to trade for your uncle’s title."

"Mother Consort, did Father talk to you?" Prince Dai’s eyes turned red, looking like he was about to cry, "Did Father tell you that if I earned merit at the Northern Border, he would make me the Crown Prince?"

"The Emperor didn’t say that, but can’t you use your brain to think? With your achievements this time, plus your past military merits, who else deserves to be the Crown Prince besides you?"

Upon hearing this, Prince Dai’s previously panicked heart felt slightly reassured.

"Mother Consort, I wasn’t the only one who earned merit at the Northern Border. If you want to compare the size of military achievements, I’m not as good as General Chu." Prince Dai was not the commanding general in the defense against the Xiongnu; the commander was Chu Ying.

"Don’t mention General Chu. Are you not the one among the princes who has earned the most merit? Are you not the eldest son?" With the former Crown Prince gone, Prince Dai became the Emperor’s eldest son. "If you don’t trade your uncle’s title, the ministers will use your achievements at the Northern Border to build your reputation, and then everyone will think you are the best candidate for the Crown Prince position. But you exchanged your military achievements for your uncle’s title."

Noble Princess Consort Rong had previously feared that Prince Dai might really trade his military achievements for Marquis Xuanping’s title, and she had repeatedly warned him not to do so, but he foolishly did it anyway.

After hearing this, Prince Dai’s heart became anxious again.

"Mother Consort, I... this... what should I do now?"

"Now you know to panic, but why did you ignore my words before?" Noble Princess Consort Rong was seriously ill and had never asked the Emperor to summon Prince Dai back to the capital, nor did she ask the Emperor to restore Marquis Xuanping’s title, all to allow Prince Dai to earn more achievements at the Northern Border and return directly to the position of Crown Prince.

"Mother Consort, I was wrong, I shouldn’t have ignored your words." Prince Dai knelt by Noble Princess Consort Rong’s bedside, filled with regret. "Mother Consort, what should we do now?"

"What do you think can be done?" Noble Princess Consort Rong, who was previously angered by Prince Dai, had now calmed down. "Having missed this opportunity, we can only wait for the next one."

"Mother Consort, will there be a next time?" Now that Chu Ying was the commander of the Northern Border Camp, Prince Dai felt he would have no chance to fight the Xiongnu there again.

Noble Princess Consort Rong glanced at Prince Dai lightly and said with a flat tone, "What do you think?"

Prince Dai slumped to the ground in remorse, "I am foolish."

"It’s too late to say that now. Although you traded your military achievements for your uncle’s title, it doesn’t mean your achievements at the Northern Border have been erased. The ministers and the people will still remember your achievements there." With the matter already done, blaming Prince Dai wouldn’t solve the issue. "Your actions weren’t without any benefits."

Upon hearing this, Prince Dai’s eyes suddenly lit up with anticipation, and he asked, "What benefits?"

"Everyone knows you are grateful."

Prince Dai heard this and disapprovingly pouted, "What kind of benefit is this?"

"It gives you a good reputation." Noble Princess Consort Rong could only console herself this way, otherwise, she’d be infuriated.

Prince Dai said nothing.

"Alright, go back now." Noble Princess Consort Rong, tired from speaking with Prince Dai, felt exhausted.

"Mother Consort, are you okay?" Prince Dai had never seen Noble Princess Consort Rong so weak.

"If you didn’t anger me, my health would have recovered long ago." Noble Princess Consort Rong waved her hand dismissively at Prince Dai, "Go, go, get out, seeing you angers me."

"Mother Consort, I’ll leave immediately, don’t exhaust yourself." Before leaving, Prince Dai repeatedly instructed Jin Mei to take good care of Noble Princess Consort Rong.

After Prince Dai left, Noble Princess Consort Rong let out a long sigh, "Ah..."

"Consort, are you alright?"

"Forget it, I’m tired. Help me to rest."

"Yes, Consort."

Prince Dai returned to the Prince Mansion, where Marquis Xuanping and his son had been waiting for a long time. He didn’t tell them what Noble Princess Consort Rong had said.

Marquis Xuanping and his son came to see Prince Dai about the New Year’s Eve sacrifices. Although there was still some time until New Year’s, it needed to be discussed in advance.

When the former Crown Prince was still around, he oversaw the New Year’s Eve sacrifices each year. After the Crown Prince was deposed, the matter was left for Prince Dai and the other princes in the capital to host in rotation.

This year, it was Prince Dai’s turn to host the New Year’s Eve sacrifices.

Once the sacrificial matters were settled, Marquis Xuanping and his son left, and Prince Dai eagerly went to find his Beauty. He originally planned to make Beauty a concubine, but with Noble Princess Consort Rong being ill, he didn’t dare mention the matter for fear of aggravating her condition.

Just as he was fooling around with Yun Ji, Fu Zhong came to find Prince Dai, saying someone was looking for him. This person was sent by Prince Han.

Prince Han sent someone ahead to the capital to find Prince Dai about the matters they discussed at the Northern Border.

At the end of this year, not only Zhao Yao, but also Prince Han and Prince Yue, would return to the capital.

A few days ago, the Emperor decreed for all sons outside the capital to come back to celebrate the new year together.

Prince Han wanted to prepare everything in advance in the capital before returning.

Far away in Swamp Prefecture, Zhao Yao learned that Prince Han and Prince Yue would also come back to the capital this year and felt puzzled. He returned to the capital because he was getting married next year, but what was the reason for summoning Prince Han and Prince Yue back?

The Emperor claimed he missed his sons outside, but Zhao Yao didn’t believe this reason.

Zhao Yao felt a bad premonition in his heart, thinking the Emperor might be planning something significant by calling all his sons back.

If that’s the case, he would rather not return to the capital this time.