Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 774: Chapter 378: Liberation

The disposed Crown Prince moved from the Zongzheng Temple to the Prince Jin Mansion. However, he was still under soft imprisonment. Without the emperor’s permission, no one was allowed to visit the disposed Crown Prince at the Prince Jin Mansion.

Although the disposed Crown Prince remained confined to the Prince Jin Mansion, many officials in the court still supported his reinstatement.

During this period, the controversy over the establishment of the Crown Prince was heated and ongoing.

Many supported reinstating the disposed Crown Prince, some officials backed making Prince Dai the Crown Prince. Of course, there were others who suggested Prince Chu or Prince Jing be made Crown Prince. As for Prince Wei, naturally no one supported him.

In the morning court sessions, officials continually urged the emperor to promptly establish a Crown Prince. However, the emperor remained indifferent, which made many officials very anxious.

Seeing the emperor never paid heed to the matter of establishing a Crown Prince, the officials supporting the disposed Crown Prince thought the emperor intended to reinstate Prince Jin, which delighted them greatly. With the New Year approaching, they decided to pressure the emperor to quickly reinstate the disposed Crown Prince.

In the Prince Dai Mansion, Prince Dai was furious, yet his expression remained grim.

"Uncle, if it weren’t for you holding me back, Zhao Xuan, that good-for-nothing, would already be dead."

"Your Highness, the disposed Crown Prince cannot die yet," Marquis Xuanping also desired the death of the disposed Crown Prince, but now was not the time. "Once the disposed Crown Prince dies, everyone will suspect it was you who dealt the fatal blow."

Prince Dai replied dismissively, "Even if everyone suspects it was me, without evidence, what can they do to me?"

"Your Highness, do you not care about your reputation?" Marquis Xuanping advised Prince Dai, "The disposed Crown Prince is already a nobody, and on the surface poses no threat to you. If it’s rumored that you killed him, the whole world will think you are ruthless and heartless, and believe that your plea for him when he was disposed was just an act."

"I don’t care about reputation," Prince Dai was never concerned with how others viewed him.

"Your Highness, you must care about your reputation," Marquis Xuanping’s expression was very serious, "If you gain a reputation for being heartless, everyone will oppose you becoming the Crown Prince."

Prince Dai, hearing this, still remained indifferent.

"I don’t care."

"Your Highness, you may not care, but the emperor does." Seeing Prince Dai still unconcerned, Marquis Xuanping intensified his tone, "The emperor will never entrust the position of Crown Prince to someone who is devoid of brotherly affection and is cold-blooded."

Prince Dai was startled by Marquis Xuanping’s words, and his previously nonchalant expression disappeared.

"Uncle, are you trying to scare me?"

"Your Highness, why would I scare you?" Marquis Xuanping earnestly advised, "Your Highness, reputation is very important, and you cannot disregard it. Over the years, you’ve achieved many military successes for Great Zhou and have an excellent reputation among the people. If you kill the disposed Crown Prince, everyone will despise you."

Prince Dai remained silent, with a somber look on his face.

"Your Highness, at times like this, you must remain composed," Marquis Xuanping softened his tone, "As long as the emperor hasn’t announced the reinstatement of the disposed Crown Prince, you still have a chance to become the Crown Prince."

"Uncle, if we don’t do anything now and father reinstates Zhao Xuan, what then?" Prince Dai was anxious and angry, "Do you want me to watch Zhao Xuan become the Crown Prince again?"

"Your Highness, we can do anything except kill the disposed Crown Prince," Marquis Xuanping said, "Your Highness, impatience can foil a great plan."

"I’m afraid if I endure any longer, it will all be for naught," Prince Dai could not accept Zhao Xuan becoming the Crown Prince again.

"If the emperor really reinstates the disposed Crown Prince, we can kill him then, it’s not too late."

"Wouldn’t it be better to kill him now?" Only Zhao Xuan’s death could put Prince Dai’s mind at ease.

Seeing that Prince Dai still hadn’t heeded his words, Marquis Xuanping felt helpless but patiently reassured Prince Dai once more.

This time, Prince Dai finally listened to Marquis Xuanping but his expression remained grim.

"Father, I fear His Highness won’t endure for long," said Marquis Xuanping’s son, "I’m worried His Highness will secretly arrange for someone to kill the disposed Crown Prince."

"Ah, that’s what concerns me the most," Marquis Xuanping, who knew Prince Dai’s temperament best, replied, "As long as the emperor doesn’t reinstate the disposed Crown Prince, His Highness will be at ease."

"Father, what do you mean?"

"The court’s writings are about to be sealed; before that happens, we need to ensure the disposed Crown Prince never has a chance to be reinstated."

"Father, do you have an idea?"

Marquis Xuanping nodded slightly, "Yes, but it needs proper arrangement."

At the Prince Jing Mansion, the same thoughts prevailed. Prince Jing and his supporting ministers decided that before the court sealed the writings, the disposed Crown Prince must never have the possibility of being reinstated.

The same was true for Prince Chu.

On the surface, Prince Wei of course supported reinstating the disposed Crown Prince, but secretly he was also planning to block any chance of reinstatement.

At the Prince Jin Mansion, Prince Jin was reciting scriptures in a small Buddhist room.

Lv Cong quietly entered, "Your Highness, Lord Wei is here."

Prince Jin stopped what he was doing, stood up, and went out.

Lord Wei was waiting for Prince Jin in the study. Upon seeing Prince Jin, he quickly stood up and respectfully greeted him, "Elder brother."

Prince Jin gestured for Lord Wei to sit down, "How many times have I told you, not so many formalities in private."

Lord Wei asked with concern, "Elder brother, how have you been these days, still eating well and sleeping well?"

Prince Jin smiled at Lord Wei’s concern, "I’m fine, you don’t need to worry about me."

"Elder brother, don’t hide anything from me, if there’s anything in the mansion, you must tell me."

"Why would I hold back from you?" Ever since he was deposed, only his eighth brother continued to care for him as always, which deeply moved him. "Ah, you should come less often."

"Elder brother, what kind of talk is this?"

"Father forbade anyone from seeing me, you always come to see me secretly, I’m afraid if people find out, you’ll be implicated."

"Elder brother, it’s fine," Lord Wei said with a smile, "Even if people find out, I don’t mind."

"I mind, I’m now a fallen person, I can’t protect you like I used to," said Prince Jin, "Eighth brother, you cannot get into trouble."

"Don’t worry, elder brother, I will be careful," Lord Wei said seriously, "I still need to help elder brother get reinstated, so I cannot afford trouble."

At the mention of reinstatement, Prince Jin’s expression remained very calm.

"Eighth brother, Father won’t reinstate me."

"Elder brother, I feel Father will reinstate you; otherwise, he wouldn’t delay in naming a new Crown Prince."

Prince Jin shook his head, "Father’s delay in naming a new Crown Prince isn’t because he wants to reinstate me, but because he’s very disappointed in me as the former Crown Prince."

"Elder brother..."

Prince Jin interrupted Lord Wei, "Eighth brother, I don’t want to be Crown Prince again; I’m very satisfied with my current life." Since being deposed, his life had become very peaceful. He no longer had to be constantly worried, nor did he need to envy Prince Dai. "Eighth brother, I’ve always known I’m not suited to be Crown Prince, and this outcome is very good for me."

"Elder brother, have you given up so quickly?" Lord Wei was somewhat anxious, "Elder brother, you were Crown Prince for over twenty years, there’s no one more suitable than you..."

Prince Jin raised his hand to interrupt Lord Wei again, "Eighth brother, I wasn’t joking when I said those words; I truly feel my current life is good." At first, when he was deposed, he was filled with anger and resentment, but soon, he felt it was good. "To be honest, I feel relieved." Being Crown Prince was like a shackle that not only tightly bound him but also forced him to do many wrong things. As the heir apparent, he committed many acts that harmed the people, leaving him with guilt toward the people and even more so toward his father.

Lord Wei was very surprised when he saw Prince Jin looking relieved while saying these words. He could tell Prince Jin was not lying.

"Elder brother, won’t you feel unwilling?"

"I used to feel unwilling, wondering why Father favored Prince Dai even though I was the Crown Prince. But now, I don’t care anymore," Prince Jin smiled slightly, "Eighth brother, I have no desire to be Crown Prince again, so don’t try to help me anymore."

"Elder brother, to me, you are the best Crown Prince," Lord Wei said, his eyes slightly reddened as he thought of the past, "Elder brother, if you hadn’t saved me back then, I would have died long ago."

"Eighth brother, you’ve done so many things for me over the years, you’ve already repaid the debt of saving you," Prince Jin advised Lord Wei, "Don’t take risks for me anymore; Father now values you, so you should focus on doing well and not disappoint him. Trying to help me get reinstated will only anger Father, and it’s not worth it."

"Elder brother, I think it’s worth it!"

Seeing that Lord Wei wasn’t listening to his advice, Prince Jin sighed inwardly with helplessness. It seemed he had to take some action to make his eighth brother completely give up the idea of reinstating him.