Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

Chapter 403 Provoking the Prince

The second prince looked at Chu Ning's departing back, and a hint of vigilance flashed in his eyes.

Although he was very disdainful of this illegitimate child, he was well aware of Chu Ning's cunningness and did not dare to look down on him in the slightest.

"Father, if my eighteenth brother goes to see my brother the Crown Prince, will he..."

"What can you do?"

The emperor looked at the second prince coldly and said, "Do you think Chu Ning can still make some waves now?"

"This……"

"enough!"

The emperor was full of impatience: "If I had refused just now, the Eastern Palace would have come to make trouble again once it ran out of refined salt. Do you want me to give the Eastern Palace refined salt?"

After saying this, the emperor waved his hand and said, "If there is nothing else, go down and make preparations for tomorrow's marriage. As for the betrothal gifts, you can help prepare some yourself."

The second prince was stunned.

The Zhao crown prince's betrothal gift was taken away, and my father actually asked me to provide the betrothal gift myself?

This is asking me to be the scapegoat.

Zhao Tianling's eyes lit up, and he stepped forward and said, "This betrothal gift will not be wasted on you, Second Prince. When I return, I will return it double!"

The second prince was secretly delighted. If there was such a good thing, the betrothal gift he would give would definitely be more generous.

"Brother Zhao, rest assured. I will let you take Princess Mingyue away in style tomorrow!"

After saying this, the Second Prince bowed to the Emperor and said, "Father, your majesty is wise. I will go down and prepare now."

Of course, we should make good use of such a good thing.

Once the marriage is successful tomorrow, not only will I be able to establish a good relationship with Zhao Tianling, I will also be able to receive double the betrothal gifts, and at the same time, I will be able to improve my status in the court, killing three birds with one stone.

As for Chu Ning...

Haha, no matter how cunning you are, you can still be fooled by me!

The delighted Second Prince took Zhao Tianling to his residence and let Zhao Tianling personally choose the betrothal gift.

At this moment, Chu Ning arrived at the East Palace escorted by a team of imperial guards.

"Your Highness, the King of Chu has arrived, and with him comes a team of imperial guards." The guards of the Eastern Palace came into the hall to report.

The prince raised his eyebrows and asked, "Why did he come to see me? And he brought the imperial guards with him?"

The guard hesitated for a moment and whispered, "Your Highness, it seems that the imperial guards are here to escort the King of Chu."

The prince's eyes lit up: "If that's the case, I'd like to see what he's doing here, let him in!"

A moment later, Chu Ning, looking dejected, came into the hall and said, "Greetings, Brother Crown Prince."

The prince raised his eyebrows and a look of surprise flashed across his face when he saw Chu Ning like this for the first time.

"Eighteenth brother, you have come here in person for the right purpose, so why are you so listless?" The prince asked with a puzzled look on his face.

Chu Ning sighed, "The Zhao crown prince's betrothal gifts were taken away, and my second brother thought it was my fault, so he asked my father to order me and all the guards in my house to be placed under house arrest.

Originally, we were supposed to deliver refined salt to the East Palace today, but now it seems that the Crown Prince will have to send someone to my house to get the refined salt."

The prince's heart moved.

Refined salt is a small matter, but the seizure of Zhao's betrothal gift is a big deal.

This time, not only did the emperor put Chu Ning under house arrest, but even the palace guards were under house arrest. It seems that the emperor is serious this time!

"As for the refined salt, I will send someone to get it!"

The prince had a playful look on his face: "But is Eighteenth Brother really willing to be confined by Father?"

If I could stir up a fight between my second brother and Chu Ning, the one who would benefit in the end would be the Eastern Palace!

But Chu Ning looked helpless: "What can I do if I am unwilling? Father has already issued an order, and I can't do anything now.

Brother Crown Prince, please be careful. It is getting late and I cannot stay here any longer. Goodbye."

After saying that, Chu Ning turned and left.

This piqued the prince's curiosity.

It’s clearly a conflict between you, Chu Ning, and Chu Ming, why are you asking me to be careful?

"Eighteenth brother!"

The prince reached out and grabbed Chu Ning's arm, his face full of curiosity, and asked, "Please explain clearly why you want me to be careful?"

Chu Ning glanced to both sides.

The prince understood and said in a deep voice, "All of you leave. No one is allowed to come in without my order!"

"Yes!" The guards and servants retreated one after another, leaving only the prince and Chu Ning in the hall.

"Can you tell me now?"

Chu Ning sighed and said, "Brother Crown Prince, have you ever thought that once my second brother arranges a marriage, your position will be threatened?"

The prince was shocked when he heard this.

Is this kid here to sow discord?

With a sense of vigilance in his heart, the prince pretended to be calm on the surface and chuckled, "Why do you say that, Eighteenth Brother? A successful marriage is a great thing for our Chu State. How can it threaten my position?"

"Brother Crown Prince, you are really generous."

Chu Ning looked compassionate and sighed, "It should have been you, my brother, who was the one to receive an envoy of Zhao's rank, but now it has been snatched away by my second brother.

Once the marriage is successful, the second brother's status in the emperor's heart will definitely be greatly improved, and some ministers in the court will also take the opportunity to side with the second brother.

In addition, my second brother has made friends with the Crown Prince of Zhao through this matter, which will be beneficial for their future interactions. When the time is right, I believe Zhao Tianling will not mind helping my second brother."

After hearing the first two sentences, the prince sneered in his heart, thinking that this kid was really here to sow discord.

But when the last sentence came out, the prince's face changed drastically.

The second prince personally facilitated the marriage between the two dynasties and made friends with Zhao Tianling. If the second prince wants to seize the position of crown prince in the future, will Zhao Tianling sit idly by?

Compared to the crown prince, with whom he had no friendship, Zhao Tianling would definitely support the second prince, with whom he had a deep relationship.

Anyone else would make the same choice if they were Zhao Tianling!

The prince was shocked when he finally reacted.

Originally, they wanted Chu Ning and the Second Prince to fight each other so that the Eastern Palace would benefit. However, they did not expect the situation to develop to this point, where the Second Prince benefited instead.

No, we must not let the Second Prince succeed!

This marriage must not happen!

Thinking of this, the prince narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice: "Eighteenth brother is exaggerating, your second brother is not such a person.

Besides, the marriage is a foregone conclusion, and no one can shake my father's decision."

In a word, I have the will but not the power.

Although I really want to ruin this, things have come to this point and no one can change the situation.

But Chu Ning shook his head and said in a deep voice: "Brother Crown Prince is right, the marriage cannot be changed.

However, if the prince can recover the Zhao betrothal gift, it will be a great achievement, and the second brother will not take all the credit!"

The prince was stunned, and then he understood Chu Ning's purpose of coming here.

It turns out that she didn't come to sow discord, but wanted me to get the betrothal gifts back.

Although I don’t know what Chu Ning’s purpose is, it would be a good thing for the Eastern Palace if the betrothal gifts could be recovered without destroying the marriage alliance.

"But... where can we find the betrothal gifts that were taken from the State of Zhao? It's only one day. Even if I have three heads and six arms, I can't find it in such a short time."

Although the prince wanted to make a contribution, he was not stupid and knew that this would be difficult.

Chu Ning suppressed his smile and said with a serious face: "There are so many betrothal gifts from Zhao State, whether they are transported into the city or outside the city, there must be traces.

Brother Crown Prince, you can ask the Ministry of Justice to mobilize all the yamen runners to cooperate with the East Palace guards to monitor the major forces in the city and see whose mansions have people entering and leaving to transport things, and then go and search them. "

The prince's eyes lit up: "Great, great!"

"Someone, please ask the Minister of Justice Ling to come here immediately!"

Chu Ning raised the corner of his mouth slightly and took the opportunity to leave.

The good show is about to begin!