Read Novel Full Chapter 1686: Establishing the Crown Prince
Chapter 1686: Chapter 1686: Establishing the Crown Prince
Su Yuanyuan continued living her life as usual, as the Emperor had already told her that she should focus on being the Empress.
It’s not that she was cold-blooded, but she truly couldn’t help much.
The next day, the young ladies of the Imperial Palace came to say goodbye during their morning greetings.
Su Yuanyuan felt a bit regretful. Even though she hadn’t interacted with them, knowing there were people around made her feel like she was living in a normal environment. Now that the vast back palace had even fewer people left.
She wasn’t stingy and gave each person a set of jewelry, since they weren’t hers anyway.
At noon, Cui Shanggong quietly talked about the incident of the Princess’s assassination.
"It has come to light that the young lady of the Minister of the Ministry of Industry’s family had a close private relationship with the son of the Meng Family."
"What does the Minister of the Ministry of Industry say?"
"They will be implicated, but the Emperor never punished the former Empress’s family to such an extreme extent, the other two families were exiled, and it’s estimated they will face the same fate."
Su Yuanyuan nodded, thinking that sometimes such punishment could be more painful than losing one’s life.
Originally, she could have called Su Xing, but this time Su Yuanyuan didn’t invite him over as things were too chaotic. She just sent an eunuch to deliver the decree.
The previous matters were unrelated to her, so she resumed her former lifestyle.
Actually, she wasn’t confined; now, as the only master within the Imperial Palace, she could go wherever she pleased.
Su Yuanyuan had found something to do. She spent all day exploring the Imperial Palace with two palace maids.
She felt this lifestyle had added much richness.
Tan Shaoting was aware of the Empress’s actions but did not comment.
The Princess’s death caused quite a stir. The external public opinion was very poor, and there were many restless areas.
A month later, Su Yuanyuan learned that her thrifty father had left the border to quell the rebellious Dukes.
However, the Emperor’s current situation was unpopular, and the country could not go a day without a leader; the Crown Prince was extremely important.
Ministers submitted petitions every day.
Tan Shaoting suddenly issued a royal decree: All sons of ministers aged ten to twelve would participate in an examination in two months, regardless of whether they were legitimate or concubines, with the most outstanding one becoming the Crown Prince.
This caused a great commotion. All the ministers were intensely excited.
Having a daughter as an Empress mostly meant having a royal father-in-law, but if they had a Crown Prince, they could potentially outlive the Emperor, potentially becoming the Supreme Emperor, and the future Jiang Shan would become their own, enjoying the Emperor’s offerings.
Suddenly, all objections disappeared, and the Emperor’s reputation skyrocketed.
Everyone said the Emperor was truly a good ruler who loved his subjects like his own children.
Su Yuanyuan learned about this half a month after the decree was issued.
She contemplated whether she truly wished for Su Xing to succeed or not.
To avoid suspicion, she didn’t let Su Xing enter the palace, and sent the eunuch to deliver the decree again.
Su Wanshan frequently sent back victorious reports from outside, and now no one dared to make things difficult for Su Wanshan, as there was a lingering sense of luck that this might be their own Jiang Shan.
The examination questions were crafted by one minister from each of the Six Ministries; this was fair, right? No one had any cause for doubt. Twenty outstanding candidates would be selected, and the Emperor would make the final decision.
Su Xing also participated in the examination, realizing the questions weren’t an issue for him.
He wrote his answers with eloquence.
Upon returning home, he wasn’t bothered by the matter, especially since his sister advised that he still couldn’t enter the palace. Thus, he took the opportunity to check the state of their shop.
Out of over six hundred examinees, selecting twenty was quite challenging. The main examiners were ten people, and every exam paper had to be jointly approved by all ten.
Ultimately, they were undecided about Su Xing. His answers were impeccable, but they decided to give Su Wanshan face, making future dealings easier.
Everyone believed that Su Xing, as the Emperor’s young brother-in-law, couldn’t become the Crown Prince; that would disrupt familial order.
The ten officials worked day and night grading papers, and selected twenty outstanding candidates.
When morning court ended, the Prime Minister reported on the matter.
"Hmm, you all go ahead and notify. Tomorrow, have all twenty individuals present in the hall; their examinations have been sealed, and should also be brought over tomorrow."
Su Xing found the notification unbelievable, but he didn’t mind.
The next day, twenty individuals waited outside the grand hall. Following the court’s conclusion, they entered, and their exams were placed in a large cauldron in the hall.
"I trust your selection, they are all outstanding. I won’t even review the exams.
Now that the exams are here, I will select one; whoever is chosen will be the one. Any objections?"
Of course, no one opposed. Nineteen ministers silently hoped it would be their child.
"You ten shuffle the exams once more."
Tan Shaoting sat above and observed the officials below with various expressions—nervous, joyful, schadenfreude—every type was present.
The nineteen youths were tense, with only Su Xing remaining relatively composed.
Tan Shaoting descended from the throne and stood before the cauldron, swiftly drawing an exam.
Eunuch Meng took it, and the Prime Minister along with the other officials approached to keep watch as Eunuch Meng opened the exam.
"The selected candidate is General Su Wanshan’s son, Su Xing."
Everyone was dumbfounded. How could this be possible?
Su Xing was also taken aback. How could it be him? Him as Crown Prince? This wasn’t right, was it?
The Prime Minister pondered briefly, "Emperor, this?"
"Why?"
Tan Shaoting’s voice was soft, yet every minister felt a chill down their spine.
"You chose them, and you agreed when I said I’d pick one at random. So now that I’ve made my choice, it’s not good enough for you?"
Those not selected naturally felt relieved, knowing the Prime Minister and the other ten had chosen the remaining nineteen based on personal connections. Their selection was inherently unfair, and they felt the Emperor’s choice was just.
The Grand Tutor stepped forth, "The Emperor’s reasoning is sound. I find the Emperor’s choice reasonable."
"Indeed," many chimed in agreement.
The Prime Minister and the ten were already on their knees, terrified.
This person doesn’t kill, but he instills fear without effort.
Tan Shaoting returned to his throne.
"I hereby announce Su Xing as the Crown Prince. Ministry of Rites, prepare the ceremony.
From now on, Su Xing shall reside in the Crown Prince Palace."
Now the decision was final.
Su Xing was still in a daze; how had he become the Crown Prince?
The Imperial Attendant immediately began drafting the decree, and once elevated, a eunuch escorted him to the Crown Prince’s Chaoyang Palace.
Su Yuanyuan quickly learned this news.
She suddenly entertained an absurd thought—the Emperor intended Su Xing to be chosen from the start; why else would he have received a tutor?
Yet it was quite fitting, with her thrifty father striving outside with newfound vigor, ultimately defending Jiang Shan for his son.
Tan Shaoting was very pleased with Su Xing’s performance, with further tutoring his exceptional skills would only flourish.