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

Chapter 94 There's Always a Traitor Trying to Harm Me

The crown prince should be a wise ruler upon ascending the throne!

At first glance, this statement seems to make no problem.

After all, the crown prince is the heir apparent.

The purpose of the crown prince is to ensure that the dynasty has a successor.

Saying that the crown prince will be a wise ruler sounds perfectly reasonable.

However, upon closer examination, the underlying meaning becomes clear!
For example, if you think the crown prince's ascension to the throne makes him a wise ruler, then do you think the current emperor is not wise enough?

Do you think the crown prince's ascension to the throne indicates a wise ruler, and are you eager for the current emperor to abdicate so that a wise ruler can take the throne?

Another question is whether this rumor spread spontaneously among the common people, or whether the Crown Prince deliberately sent someone to say it.
Is the Crown Prince trying to be promoted to the position ahead of schedule...?

Thinking of Emperor Qianxi's thin, somewhat cold face, Shen Ye felt as if a venomous snake was crawling coldly across his back.

His first thought was that someone wanted to harm him!
Because such evaluations of the crown prince are something that ordinary people would not dare to make lightly.

It's unbelievable that someone would talk about you like that in a teahouse; there must be something fishy going on.

Zhou Bao, standing next to Shen Ye, was also a little nervous.

Although he was a junior eunuch and could not be said to be knowledgeable, as someone close to the crown prince, he had his own judgment on some matters at this time.

His immediate thought was to take down the person who said that.

Regardless of the reason, we must thoroughly investigate the person who spoke to see if they have been misled!
He gave Erlengtai a wink, signaling for Erlengtai to take action.

However, at that moment, Shen Ye shook his head at Erlengtai.

The noisy restaurant was still bustling with people chatting enthusiastically.

Most people don't realize that the statement just now actually contains a significant problem.

In their view, this statement is perfectly normal.

After all, the crown prince is the heir apparent, and in the future, he will be the emperor.

Shen Ye glanced at the man who claimed he would become a wise ruler in the future, then smiled at a middle-aged man beside him who was drinking tea and listening to a storyteller, and said, "Greetings, brother."

Seeing that Shen Ye was well-dressed and had an extraordinary demeanor, the man smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Brother, you're too kind."

"Brother, I've been staying home reading these past few days. Today, after coming out and listening to everyone's conversation, is the Crown Prince really that wise?"

The middle-aged man smiled and said, "The Crown Prince is indeed wise."

"Putting aside other things, just take the recent period of time when the Crown Prince provided relief to the disaster victims around the capital. Not only did it not cost the court a single penny, but he also built the Wanshou Garden and a stone-paved road leading to Tongzhou."

"And those disaster victims not only survived, but many of them also saved some money by working."

"Once this stone-paved road is completed, these people will be able to take the money back to their hometowns."

"Many disaster victims say that they are doing better working on the stone-paved roads than they were back in their hometowns."

"Tell me, when all the ministers were at a loss, what else could the Crown Prince's idea of ​​such a three-pronged disaster relief method be but wisdom?"

Listening to the middle-aged man's words, Shen Ye suddenly felt that he was indeed wise.

"No wonder someone just said that the Crown Prince is wise and will surely become a wise ruler in the future!" Shen Ye said casually.

The middle-aged man didn't seem to care and said, "Yes, many people say that nowadays."

"Especially the disaster victims, many of them are keeping the prince's memorial tablet in their shacks!"

Hearing this, Shen Ye was speechless.

What's the point of offering sacrifices to ancestral tablets? You don't need incense to become a god yourself.

After internally chuckling to himself, Shen Ye smiled and ended the conversation.

From the middle-aged man's words, Shen Ye sensed that it was no longer just one or two people who believed the Crown Prince would be a wise ruler; rather, many people were beginning to say so.

In this situation, there's no point in grabbing the person who just said that.

It's probably true that the disaster victims are grateful to me.

However, the statement that the successor should be a wise ruler was definitely made intentionally by someone.

Shen Ye knew quite a bit about the crown prince who was rumored to be a wise ruler after succeeding to the throne and had the support of the people, but ultimately did not succeed to the throne.

For example, Fusu, Liu Ju, and so on...

These guys have a much better reputation than he does now.

Many say they were wise rulers after ascending the throne, but ultimately, both of them died before taking the throne…

But how can we dispel these rumors?
Shen Ye's mind raced, but for a moment, he couldn't come up with any good ideas.

According to his estimation, even if Emperor Qianxi heard about this, he probably wouldn't say anything.

If there were ministers nearby to chime in, Emperor Qianxi might even say that the Crown Prince is benevolent and virtuous, closely resembling himself.

But what he really thinks, no one knows!

According to Shen Ye's estimation, this rumor will likely remain a thorn in Emperor Qianxi's side.

A thorn that you never know when you might remember!
Being the crown prince is difficult, being the crown prince of a wise ruler is even more difficult, and being the crown prince of a wise ruler with an exceptionally long reign is the most difficult of all!

Thankfully, I managed to lie down and not lie down, otherwise, I really don't know how I would have gotten through the next twenty years!

Just as Shen Ye was feeling sentimental, Zhou Bao, after hesitating for a moment, came over and said, "Your Highness, the steward of Li Xu, the Suzhou textile commissioner, came over yesterday and said that the opera troupe that Li Xu prepared for Your Highness is now being housed in a courtyard next to Chaoyang Gate."

A theatrical troupe?

Shen Ye knew that Li Xu was very eager to curry favor with the former crown prince, which was normal. After all, Emperor Qianxi was already forty-five years old, and people like Li Xu, who held lucrative positions, were thinking about finding a future patron for themselves.

The crown prince, on the other hand, is their natural choice.

However, Li Xu was also a "master" of investment, first following the Crown Prince and then the Eighth Prince.

Even before the Crown Prince fell from power, she had already begun flirting with the Eighth Prince.

It's fair to say that this Li Xu is no good person.

In the end, he was exiled by the fourth brother and died of cold and starvation.

Seeing Shen Ye hesitate, Zhou Bao hesitated for a moment, but still said, "The steward of the Li family said that this opera troupe was carefully selected by Li Xi in Jiangnan."

“Every single person in the opera troupe is a girl who has been trained since childhood.”

"Not only does she sing well, but she's also very good-looking."

"This small opera troupe has a total of twelve people."

Upon hearing this, Shen Ye felt a surge of interest.

Although he prided himself on having seen many grand occasions, the gift he received was truly extraordinary.

Are these the Twelve Beauties of Jinling?

Who could possibly refuse that!

If Li Xu had used this gift-giving skill on his future fourth son, even the cold-faced fourth son would probably have to give him a way out.

Should I go see for myself, or go see for myself?
With that thought in mind, Shen Ye's gaze fell on the idle people who were discussing how much money they could make in a year after the stone-paved road was completed.

These people kept mentioning the Crown Prince, which immediately chilled Shen Ye's restless heart.

Even when he occasionally went out for a stroll, he would hear people saying that he had succeeded to the throne as a wise ruler. Could such a statement have been kept from Emperor Qianxi?

Does he already know this claim?
　Chapter 3 is here today! Please support me and vote!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)