Chapter 404: Chapter 342: Establishing the Crown Prince (Part 2)
"How audacious! Naturally, the legitimate eldest son should be established! The Eldest Prince’s birth mother is the current Empress, so it must be the Eldest Prince!"
"How can the throne of Great Yu be taken lightly? It must be established with a wise and virtuous ruler..."
"Do you mean to suggest the Eldest Prince is not wise?"
"Nonsense! I did not mean that..."
The numerous courtiers argued noisily, but none spoke too loudly, and their ultimate gaze was directed towards Zheng Yi.
And onto Xu Mujun and others standing at the forefront.
Indeed, the Eldest Prince’s mother is the Empress and comes from the Lu Family.
However, after the noble family’s rebellion years ago, the Lu Family’s power diminished greatly, leaving them a shadow of their former self.
The critical fact was Lu Xiangqing’s retirement two years ago and his passing over a year ago.
Additionally, with Zheng Yi’s deliberate suppression, both the Lu Family’s and other noble families’ power significantly decreased.
The probability of the Eldest Prince Zheng Chengji becoming the Crown Prince also greatly reduced.
Now, throughout the court, the one deemed most suitable to ascend as Crown Prince is the Second Prince Zheng Chengwu!
Second Prince Zheng Chengwu was born to Consort Duann Xu Qingluan, devoted to Martial Dao from a young age, already well-versed in military strategy, bearing resemblance to Great Yu’s ancestors.
Most importantly... his grandfather is Xu Mujun!
With Xu Mujun’s influence, if he wishes to forcefully make his grandson the Crown Prince, there’s indeed a possibility.
Faced with over a dozen peculiar looks, Zheng Yi linked them to certain thoughts.
Regardless of future governance or the Crown Prince’s disposition, with the current situation, only by establishing the Crown Prince can his interests be best met.
Desiring seclusion, wanting stable governance, and hoping for Great Yu’s peace, only this path of appointing a Crown Prince exists!
However...
Seeing the silent courtiers below his seats, Zheng Yi spoke flatly: "The matter of establishing a Crown Prince is of great import to the Imperial Court and cannot be decided rashly; I need to deliberate."
"In that case, the Great Court in seven days will discuss the matter further."
"All fifth-grade officials residing in the capital must be present!"
"We shall heed the command!"
Zheng Yi looked towards Xu Mujun and said, "Xu Qing, Mr. Wang’s suggestion, what do you think?"
Xu Mujun replied respectfully, "Lord Wang, truly the embodiment of the Wenqu Star, as long as Great Yu’s governance is stable, I will support with all my might!"
"Good! Court dismissed!"
"We shall take leave...!"
After this minor court session ended, the matter of establishing a Crown Prince immediately stirred the entire Imperial Court!
Currently, the oldest of the princes is just over eight years old, and the youngest over five, too young to be suitable as Crown Prince.
However...
The imperative of urgency.
Your Majesty has critical affairs and cannot spare attention.
This Crown Prince... regardless of age, can indeed be appointed!
Two hundred years ago, the seventh emperor of Great Yu, Emperor Zhu Ying, ascended at the age of seven!
The entire Imperial Court, countless glances subconsciously turned towards Xu Mujun’s mansion.
Now among the ten princes under Your Majesty, only the Eldest and the Second Prince are qualified to be Crown Prince!
And the first action Xu Mujun took upon returning to his mansion was to strictly seal the premises, severing contact with anyone.
He even issued strict orders preventing anyone within from leaving the mansion.
Yet, unbeknownst to him, members of the Xu Clan and certain other officials started moving secretly.
Contacting officials privately, holding meetings, for purposes that were easily understood.
Aside from Xu Mujun, several other Cabinet Ministers also received visits.
Zheng Xuanyue, Li Changfeng, Kong Xiangsi, Wang Anshi, and even Zheng Zongbing and Yuan Qichang had others discreetly visit.
Late night, the Imperial Palace.
Inside Kunning Palace.
Lu Lin’er paced back and forth in the hall, her demeanor anxious.
The eunuchs and palace maids serving around her dared not even take a deep breath.
Sitting there as well were Consort Lan, Concubine Fang, and several other concubines.
They hailed from noble backgrounds, or were officials relying on such families, and now in the harem, also relied on the Empress.
Glancing at the time, Consort Lan cautiously said, "Empress, you’ve been walking for a tea’s time, perhaps you should sit and rest?"
"How can I have time to rest?"
Lu Lin’er furrowed her brows and said, "How long has Lu Fu been out? I haven’t seen him return yet?"
Lu Fu was the Chief Eunuch of Kunning Palace, wielding authority and standing second only to Lu Lin’er and the Eldest Prince.
Consort Lan reassured, "Empress, worry not, as Your Majesty seeks to establish a Crown Prince, among ten princes, besides the Eldest Prince, there truly is no other."
"The throne has always been for the legitimate eldest son, rest easy~!"
"Hmph! What legitimate firstborn son?"
Lu Lin’er scoffed, "Emperor Wen, Emperor Guang, and Emperor Yingzong alike, which of them was the legitimate firstborn?"
"As long as Your Majesty is willing, the Crown Prince can be replaced or abolished at any time."
"What I must do now is secure the position of Crown Prince for my son!"
"Yes, Your Highness~!"
Lu Lin’er said anxiously, "If only Grandfather were here, alas... it’s a pity that all the men in my father’s group are useless, and no one can help relieve my worries and solve problems!"
Consort Lan’s expression changed slightly, while Concubine Zhen said calmly, "Your Highness, Sister Lan is right, you can rest assured about the position of Crown Prince this time, there’s a very high chance it will go to the Eldest Prince."
"Oh? Why?"
Lu Lin’er could afford to be blunt with Consort Lan.
But with Concubine Zhen, she had to be patient and listen.
Though Concubine Zhen’s rank wasn’t higher than Consort Lan’s, she hailed from the Kong Family.
Moreover, a niece of hers, endowed with a Spirit Root, had entered the palace as a consort, none other than Kong Qingrou, Consort Rou.
Her status had thus risen significantly.
"It’s simple; with Your Majesty in the prime of life, establishing a Crown Prince now is merely for preparation for his seclusion."
"Under such circumstances, Your Majesty likely doesn’t place much importance on the position of Crown Prince."
"In Your Majesty’s eyes, any of the ten princes could be made Crown Prince without threatening his throne."
Concubine Zhen said calmly, "So the position of legitimate firstborn becomes very important."
"Since any of the ten could be chosen, why not appoint the legitimate firstborn to stabilize the court and the world?"
"Moreover..."
"In the entire Cabinet and Imperial Court, I am confident that at least sixty to seventy percent of the officials would recommend the Eldest Prince as Crown Prince!"
"In this way, the Imperial Court will be stable."
"Really?"
Lu Lin’er exclaimed joyfully. With Concubine Zhen’s analysis, she immediately felt that Ji’er’s chances of becoming Crown Prince were solid, and she couldn’t help but smile and say, "Your analysis does have some merit, could it be that I was too anxious?"
Consort Lan, on the side, maintained a calm expression but couldn’t help feeling somewhat troubled and angry inside.
Concubine Zhen said, "Empress, there’s no need to worry so much about the position of Crown Prince; the real concern is Your Majesty..."
"Your Majesty?" Lu Lin’er asked curiously, "Why?"
Concubine Zhen then revealed a helpless smile and said, "Your Majesty has already announced that this time, establishing a Crown Prince is actually in preparation for his upcoming seclusion."
"Your Majesty is planning to seclude himself in the Celestial Longevity Mountain Palace for ten whole years!"
"Ten years... How should we, your sisters and I, endure these ten years?"
"Ten, ten years!"
Several consorts present all had a change of expression.
Among them, they were quite favored because of the Empress.
Yet even so, they could only attend to the Emperor roughly once every two months.
The women in the harem were just too many!
And Your Majesty was only one.
Moreover, as Your Majesty was a cultivator, frequently needing to seclude himself, such opportunities for them were rare.
Now, Your Majesty intended to seclude himself for ten years!
This...
In ten years, they would all have grown old and faded.
By the time Your Majesty emerged from seclusion, the chance to attend to him would not fall to them!
Younger and more beautiful women would have their turn.
Lu Lin’er’s face changed as well; she naturally knew of this matter, but as Empress, she could not influence the Emperor’s decisions.
For days, she had been deliberately avoiding this issue.
Unexpectedly, now that Concubine Zhen mentioned it, her expression turned even more sorrowful.
She smiled wryly, "What can we do... Can only blame ourselves for being ordinary, unable to become cultivators."
"Alas..."
As soon as she finished speaking, several consorts present all sighed inwardly, full of frustration.
Concubine Zhen also said sadly, "Why grieve, elder sister? Both you and Sister Lan have sons, and as Empress you even have a son and a daughter. In the days to come, you will at least not feel so distressed."
"As for us, with no children under our knees, we can only be confined in the Imperial Palace for a lifetime..."
"Concubine Zhen..."
Just then, Lu Fu hurried in, shouting before he even arrived.
"Empress! Great news!"
"Lord Lu has sent a message; Cabinet Ministers Zheng Xuanyue, Li Changfeng, and Wang Anshi have all expressed support for the Eldest Prince as Crown Prince...!"
