Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 761: Complex Web of Succession Strategies

"Hmm, at first His Majesty won’t agree so quickly, but after a few days, he will definitely consent." Marquis Xuanping smiled and said, "If His Majesty truly didn’t agree to depose the Crown Prince, Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu wouldn’t have raised the matter in the court today." It was indeed Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu who suggested deposing the Crown Prince.

"Then I’ll wait." He had waited so many years, he didn’t mind waiting a few more days.

"Your Highness, during this time, the ministers will keep pleading with His Majesty to depose the Crown Prince. Meanwhile, you should earnestly implore His Majesty to give the Crown Prince another chance."

Although Prince Dai didn’t want to plead for the Crown Prince, as a younger brother, he couldn’t just watch his brother get into trouble.

"I will beg Father daily to spare Zhao Xuan." He had just said Father was troublesome, but in truth, he was the same. Although he wished Zhao Xuan would be deposed immediately, for the sake of his reputation, he, the younger brother, had to plead for Zhao Xuan, so he would appear to respect his brother the Crown Prince.

"Your Highness, just endure for a few more days." Marquis Xuanping comforted Prince Dai, saying, "Now it’s truly just one step away."

"Uncle, rest assured, I will remain composed and absolutely won’t make any mistakes at such a critical moment." Prince Dai was anxious, but he knew clearly that the more crucial the moment, the more he must endure, so he could seize the Crown Prince’s position.

"After the Crown Prince is deposed, Your Highness will need to endure a little longer." Marquis Xuanping appeared thoughtful, "Once the Crown Prince is deposed, the ministers will definitely propose a new Crown Prince to His Majesty, but knowing His Majesty’s temperament, he will not immediately establish a new Crown Prince."

"The country cannot be without a Crown Prince for a single day, surely Father will not disagree."

"His Majesty will pretend to be heartbroken by the removal of the Crown Prince and temporarily unwilling to establish a new one, so the matter may be delayed for some time."

"Alright, I will wait a little longer."

"After the Crown Prince is deposed, I will let our people propose the issue of establishing a new Crown Prince, but the candidate will be Prince Jing."

"What?" Prince Dai was confused by Marquis Xuanping’s words, "Uncle, didn’t you just say we shouldn’t mention the new Crown Prince?"

"What I meant earlier was that Your Highness should not stand out, or your plea for the Crown Prince would seem insincere." Marquis Xuanping spoke seriously, "The matter of establishing a new Crown Prince must be brought up immediately, and the first candidate should be Prince Jing as the legitimate heir, making him the first to stand out."

"Why not Prince Chu?" Prince Dai understood the meaning of Marquis Xuanping’s earlier words.

"Because Prince Chu is neither the legitimate nor the eldest, we need to suggest Prince Jing as the new Crown Prince before Prince Chu’s faction proposes anything." Marquis Xuanping speculated, "If I’m not mistaken, Prince Chu’s people will propose you as the new Crown Prince because after the Crown Prince’s removal, you are the eldest, and you have the advantage of being the elder."

"So we’re just letting the fourth one off?"

"After a few days, we will have someone propose Prince Chu as the new Crown Prince." Prince Chu smiled meaningfully, "What we need to do is to muddy the waters."

Prince Dai was most impatient with these matters. He said with some frustration, "Zhao Xuan became the Crown Prince so easily, why is it so troublesome when it’s my turn."

"If it weren’t for the Xie family insisting on collaborating with the late Emperor back then, you would have been the Crown Prince long ago." Marquis Xuanping sighed heavily with a heavy tone, "It’s all because my Marquis Mansion lacked capability; we couldn’t make Noble Princess Consort the Empress, nor could we make you the Crown Prince." Mentioning this, Marquis Xuanping was filled with indignation, and certainly more hatred towards the Xie family, and grievance for Noble Princess Consort Rong.

Prince Dai said resentfully, "I must become the Crown Prince." Even if not for himself, for his mother concubine, he must become the Crown Prince because the position was originally his.

"Once Your Highness becomes the Crown Prince, the Noble Princess Consort will soon become Empress."

"That Xie woman’s not dead yet." As long as Empress Xie wasn’t dead, it would be difficult for Noble Princess Consort Rong to become Empress.

"Your Highness, once you become the Crown Prince, His Majesty will definitely deposed Mrs. Xie." Marquis Xuanping assured with absolute certainty, "Moreover, with the Duke Zhen Country Mansion in trouble, Mrs. Xie has no qualification to remain Empress."

"Uncle is right." Prince Dai laughed, "Once I become the Crown Prince, Mother Concubine will become Mother Empress." By then, his mother concubine’s long-standing wish would be fulfilled.

"Just one more step, and everything that originally belonged to us will be in our hands." Marquis Xuanping was very excited, but he knew at this time he must not make mistakes, and must not lose his mind out of excessive joy. "We must endure, otherwise all our years of planning will be in vain."