The struggle for the throne among nine princes—I really don't want to be the crown prince.

Chapter 102 Aren't you afraid I'll depose you, the crown prince?

The investigation of Jin Fu was essentially a reconciliation of accounts!
Check where all the funds allocated for river works over the years have gone.

After all, even Emperor Qianxi had to give an explanation to the people for the Yellow River's massive breach.

Once the accounts are reconciled, many things will become clear.

For example, the 100,000 taels of silver that Zhao Yongyan allocated to the former crown prince...

Shen Ye sighed upon hearing the news. He knew this day would eventually come, but it had just been delayed all along.

These past few days, he had tried to come up with some ideas, but faced with the fact that the former crown prince had embezzled 100,000 taels of silver, nothing he did would be of any use.

Because this cannot be hidden from discerning people.

Shen Ye finally decided to give up.

Struggling morning and night, wasting all your energy, you'll just end up as a deposed prince anyway, so what's the point of all that fuss!
So, after returning to Yuqing Palace, Shen Ye quickly washed up and then walked towards Qianqing Palace without looking back.

As the crown prince, he naturally had no restrictions on his actions within the palace.

Compared to the Crown Prince's leisurely lifestyle, Emperor Qianxi was extremely busy with state affairs.

He was in charge of all the world's affairs, so countless people revolved around him every day.

Although it was already afternoon, there were still many ministers waiting outside the Qianqing Palace.

As usual, Shen Ye waited for only one person before cutting in line to see Emperor Qianxi.

For him, cutting in line was normal.

The ice chest in the Qianqing Palace still kept the room cool, and Emperor Qianxi, dressed in a bright yellow robe, was leisurely drinking tea.

After Shen Ye bowed, he smiled and said, "I heard you're in a good mood today. Did you go home last year?"

Shen Ye was not surprised that Emperor Qianxi knew his whereabouts.

After all, keeping track of the crown prince's whereabouts was one of the emperor's essential tasks.

He smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I just feel that since someone raised my daughter for more than ten years and then gave her to me, I should at least express my gratitude."

Emperor Qianxi snorted and said, "You've put in a lot of effort, haven't you?"

"You know that raising children is not easy!"

Shen Ye picked up the teapot on the table and poured a cup of water for Emperor Qianxi. Then he solemnly said, "You don't know the kindness of parents until you raise a child. In recent years, I have come to appreciate more and more the hardships you have endured, Father."

"Therefore, I feel that I have not done enough as a filial son."

Shen Ye's words stirred countless emotions within Emperor Qianxi.

He raised the crown prince himself, and at the time he thought the little prince was so cute and adorable.

I felt a great sense of satisfaction teaching him to read and do things.

But how did he grow up so quickly?
Growing up can be a bit of a hassle.

"It's good that you know," Emperor Qianxi snorted. "As long as you don't come here to annoy me for no reason, I'll be content!"

Seeing that Emperor Qianxi's complexion had improved considerably, Shen Ye straightened his expression and said, "I'm afraid I'll have to upset you again, but I can assure you that this won't happen again."

Emperor Qianxi was taken aback!
He looked at the somewhat shameless Crown Prince and didn't know what to say.

You are the Crown Prince, how could you say such a thing?

However, he felt no anger; instead, he felt like an old father facing an immature son.

"Tell me, what's the matter?"

"You haven't set your sights on someone else's girl and are trying to test yourself, have you?"

Shen Ye thought to herself that if things went well, at least there would be some profit to be made.

He then said, "Two years ago, because I was a little short of money and was too embarrassed to ask Father for money, I asked Zhao Yongyan to help me embezzle 100,000 taels of silver from the Ministry of Revenue."

"It was supposed to be sent to the river works, but it actually ended up in Yuqing Palace, and I spent the money."

After saying this, Shen Ye deliberately lowered his head, looking as if he was sincerely admitting his mistake.

However, he felt a sense of relief. He couldn't avoid it anyway, so he might as well accept it. This was also the last time he would take the blame for the former crown prince.

This can be considered the price he paid for inheriting everything from the former crown prince.

After all, a beautiful wife isn't so easy to take on.

Emperor Qianxi did not fly into a rage, but looked at Shen Ye with a strange gaze.

The accounts for the river works were already laid out on his desk.

The 100,000 taels of silver that were not used for river construction were also highlighted.

He even knew about Zhao Yongyan's visit to the Crown Prince.

He remained silent, wanting to see how the Crown Prince would handle such a situation.

Should they find someone to take the blame, or try to find another way to cover it up, or...?

Emperor Qianxi had already taken this matter as a test for his crown prince.

He waited quietly for the crown prince's reaction, hoping to determine whether his son was capable of inheriting the throne.

However, to his surprise, the Crown Prince came directly to him and confessed the matter.

I had already planned how to deal with your sophistry, but you just handed the problem over to me directly. That's a bit unsportsmanlike!
"What did those 100,000 taels of silver go about?" Emperor Qianxi took a deep breath, pulling his wandering thoughts back to reality.

"It's all been spent. Some of it was used to buy supplies, and some was given as rewards." Shen Ye dared not say that the former crown prince had used the money to support his army.

"However, I now have the silver and have had Zhao Yongyan make up for the shortfall."

Emperor Qianxi glanced at Shen Ye twice before saying, "Didn't Zhao Yongyan want to take responsibility for this matter? Why don't you let him take it on?"

"That way, no one can cause you any trouble."

"At the very least, you won't make me angry!"

Emperor Qianxi asked this question in a very calm voice, as if he were asking it casually.

But upon hearing this question, Shen Ye felt a tightness in her chest.

He knew that this question was the one that truly struck at his heart.

He hesitated for a moment before saying, "Father, when I heard Zhao Yongyan say that he would take responsibility for this matter, I felt a sense of relief."

"However, just as I was about to agree, I thought of the consequences of this matter."

"Even if Zhao Yongyan is not sentenced to death, he will probably be exiled thousands of miles away."

"Actually, he did nothing wrong; he was just following my orders."

"Your Majesty taught me that everyone makes mistakes, but when you make a mistake, you must have the courage to face it and the determination and perseverance to correct it."

"As long as you can do these two things, even the biggest mistakes can be forgiven."

"But the biggest mistake is to keep making excuses."

Shen Ye's words were full of survival instinct. He didn't remember if Emperor Qianxi had taught him these words, but the main point was to treat Emperor Qianxi, his father, as a very important figure.

Whether Emperor Qianxi said it or not is not important.

After living for so many years, who can still remember what they said one or two decades ago!
Moreover, these are good words to teach a son; anyone who listens to them will be swayed.

Emperor Qianxi was also a little confused at this point. He couldn't remember whether he had said these words to the Crown Prince, but it seemed that he had indeed taught him in this way.

After all, these words provided the crown prince with the right guidance.

That's what I should be saying.

However, looking at the Crown Prince who was bowing his head and admitting his mistake, Emperor Qianxi felt that it was too easy to let him off so easily.

After a moment's hesitation, he said coldly, "Aren't you afraid that I will depose you from your position as crown prince if you say such things?"

　It's almost the end of the month, everyone, please give me your votes!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)