kingnovel Chapter 140: Seizing the power in front of the emperor
Chapter 140: Seizing the power in front of the emperor
King Kang was speechless and retreated aside in embarrassment without saying a word.
Seeing how majestic her elder sister was, the Ninth Princess quietly moved closer to the eldest princess.
At this time, Prince Jing took out a memorial from his bosom and handed it to Emperor Jingde, saying:
"My fifth and seventh brothers are still young, so it's inevitable that they'll be a bit playful. They also have little experience in handling government affairs, so naturally, as the older brother, I have to shoulder more responsibilities. Father, don't worry, everything in the city has been completed. I have properly settled the injured people, and public order in the capital has been restored."
Outside the curtain, Duke Qing immediately echoed:
"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness Prince Jing has made excellent arrangements and has handled the post-disaster work very well. Your Majesty can rest assured."
"Yes! I saw with my own eyes that His Royal Highness Prince Jing personally came to the scene and bandaged an old man's wound. His Royal Highness loves the people like his own children. It is truly commendable!"
"Your Majesty, Prince Jing has made an invaluable contribution!"
Prince Jing's supporters all echoed his words.
Duke Yong snorted coldly and suddenly said loudly:
"I've been going to Tongtian Tower every day these days, but how come I've never seen His Royal Highness Prince Jing? Instead, I see His Royal Highness Prince Su bare-chested, working with his men to lift wood and move stones, even digging out many buried bodies from the rubble."
As soon as Duke Yong spoke, the court officials behind him also spoke out:
"I saw it too. I also heard that Prince Su provided money and personnel from the palace, and mobilized a lot of medicinal materials from various major pharmacies to give them away free of charge to the injured people."
"Prince Su has also suggested to our Ministry of Revenue that the shops near Tongtian Tower that were damaged by the fire be exempted from taxes for one year. I am about to submit this petition and ask for Your Majesty's decision."
Duke Yong concluded, "It was clearly Prince Su who did all the work, so how come all the credit went to Prince Jing? This old minister is truly baffled."
Prince Jing's expression grew colder as he heard this.
Duke Qingguo hurriedly came to the rescue and said:
"Your Majesty, Prince Su has indeed worked hard. However, this is all thanks to the guidance of His Royal Highness Prince Jing. As the saying goes, brothers are always close when fighting a tiger. Under the guidance of His Royal Highness Prince Jing, Prince Su's recent behavior is still commendable."
Prince Kang was delighted to hear this and laughed, "Father, my seventh brother is so capable! He deserves a generous reward!"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingde lowered his eyes and remained silent.
Prince Jing quickly said:
"Father, my seventh brother has indeed made great progress and has helped me a lot this time."
Emperor Jingde then glanced at Concubine Jiang and said:
"You too, why didn't you tell me when Guo'er became successful?"
Jiangpin lowered her head and said:
"It is Prince Su's blessing to share His Majesty's worries, and I dare not take credit for it. Moreover, the Tongtian Tower Incident caused countless casualties and is heartbreaking. Prince Su and I are ashamed to claim credit for it."
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions on Prince Jing and Duke Qing's faces changed countless times.
King Kang said happily:
"Madam Jiangpin is right! Unlike some people, who haven't investigated the case thoroughly and haven't caught the culprit yet, they come to the emperor to claim credit for other people's achievements. How shameless!"
"You!" Prince Jing was furious.
"Fourth brother, why are you so anxious? I didn't say anything to you."
King Kang won back a game and felt extremely happy.
Prince Jing quickly lowered his head and said:
"Father, I did find some traces in the basement of an inn in the north of the city. Unfortunately, they had all fled by the time our people arrived. Father, the people of Beimang are treacherous and vicious. I was careless this time."
"Careless? Fourth brother, if you say they are from Beimang, then they are from Beimang. Where's the evidence? You didn't say it yourself. No one has been arrested. You can say whatever you want."
"Fifth brother, what do you mean!"
"Fourth brother, my people have investigated, and they all say it doesn't look like the work of the Beimang people. It looks more like your handiwork, Fourth brother. Why are you so anxious to make a conclusion? What do you want to do?"
"You fart!"
"Fourth brother, why are you so anxious? I'm just saying it casually!"
"Enough!" Emperor Jingde was so angry when he saw the two brothers quarreling like red-necked chickens.
"Everyone, get out! I'm tired and need to rest."
Prince Jing wanted to say something, but Concubine Wen had already shaken her head at him.
As soon as everyone left, Emperor Jingde cursed:
“No one is worry-free.”
After leaning on the bed and sighing for a long time, Emperor Jingde said to himself:
"I'm afraid my time is running out."
Upon hearing this, Shunda knelt down hastily and said, "Your Majesty is at the peak of his power, how can you say such depressing words?"
Emperor Jingde smiled, stretched out his wrinkled hand and waved it nonchalantly, saying, "No one can escape birth, old age, sickness, and death, and I, the Son of Heaven, am no exception. There is no need to avoid taboos."
"It is this throne..."
Shun Dajian quickly lowered his head and listened silently.
"I thought of giving it to the eldest son before, but he died. Now I think of giving it to the second son, but he has a broken leg. Sigh, this throne is really not a good thing."
When Shun Dajian heard Emperor Jingde mention the eldest prince Li Qian, he was shocked and lowered his head even more.
"You don't have to be so flustered. It's been so many years, there's nothing that can't be mentioned. Hey, Boss!"
Emperor Jingde sighed deeply and stared at the curtain above the bed in a daze for so long that Shun Dajian thought he was asleep. He raised his head and took a peek, only to see Emperor Jingde in tears, having cried like a tearful man.
He quickly stepped forward and handed over the handkerchief, saying:
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Physician said that Your Majesty should not be worried."
"Xiao Shunzi, why can't he wait so long? He is my eldest son and the one I value most. The throne will be his sooner or later. Such a good child, why would he..."
Thinking of his eldest son Li Qian, Emperor Jingde actually cried out loudly. He cried for a long time and choked with sobs:
"They put the evidence before me, but I didn't believe it. I wanted to ask him face to face and hear his own story! But he refused to see me and admitted everything without a single explanation. He even set himself and his family on fire. Even the Queen committed suicide..."
"Xiao Shunzi, after all these years, I still can't believe that he and the Queen could do such a thing. But the evidence is irrefutable, and he has confessed his guilt!"
"Perhaps, after I die, I can go down and ask him in person why he hates me so much."
"Hey, if Qian'er were here, I wouldn't have to be so embarrassed."
He dreamed of Li Qian and the Queen every night these days.
One of them felt like his whole body was burning with fire, and he cried out, "Father, it hurts!"; the other one stuck out his tongue and cursed him as a tyrant, making him restless every night and giving him a splitting headache.
Shun Dajian said: "Your Majesty, Prince Jing, Prince Kang, and Prince Su are all good."
"Bah! Seeing the Fourth and Fifth brothers fighting each other like dogs is giving me a headache! Could it be that my kingdom can only be passed on to such bastards?"
Emperor Jingde fell into deep thought.
Shun Dajian really wanted to remind him, "Your Majesty, you have a son," but after thinking about it, he swallowed his words.
If eunuchs interfere in politics, he will have more lives than they deserve.
"Ah, I will die with my eyes wide open!"
Emperor Jingde sighed again.
After a long while, he continued, "Go back and find the eldest princess. She has been raised by the empress since she was young and has a very close relationship with Qian'er. Ask her to go to the Huguo Temple and offer a tablet for them."
"Yes!"
There was another long silence, and Emperor Jingde said:
"Draft an edict. Concubine Jiang has taken care of me day and night during this period. Thank you for your hard work. Confer the title of Concubine Jiang."
Shun Dajian was stunned and quickly agreed.
When the decree reached Concubine Jiang's palace, she was stunned for a moment and then quickly expressed her gratitude.
"Congratulations, Madam Jiang."
Everyone knelt down.
Shun Dajian looked at Concubine Jiang with a smile and said, "Your Majesty, I have long said that your good fortune is yet to come. It has come true."
Concubine Jiang said, "I appreciate your kind words."
After sending Shun Dajian out, Concubine Jiang's face darkened.
The nanny asked in confusion, "Your Majesty, being crowned a consort is a happy occasion. It means that the Emperor values you and His Highness Prince Su."
"Good fortune and misfortune go hand in hand. There will be no easy days ahead."
As he spoke, he picked up the needle and thread and continued to sew a blanket. He carefully gathered the thread and handed it to the personal nanny along with a pair of knee pads that had already been sewn beside him. He said:
"The weather is getting colder. Send this blanket to Prince Heng at his mansion. His mother passed away long ago, and Princess Heng also fell ill due to this sudden change. Prince Heng's wound cannot be exposed to cold. Please ask those around him to take good care of him."