The Fierce Teacher of Zhenguan: Starting with Teaching the Crown Prince to Make a Comeback

Chapter 37 If His Majesty notices...

Su Xu leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice.

"This means that the Crown Prince has a highly skilled mentor. Moreover, this person has a thorough understanding of the rules of the court, the classics of sages, and even His Majesty's thoughts. The Crown Prince is no longer the ignorant young man he once was."

Cheng Mingzhen waved his hand impatiently.

"So what if he has a wise advisor? He's still just a crippled crown prince! His Majesty's heart belongs to the Prince of Wei! I think this kid is nothing but a grasshopper in autumn, he won't last long!"

"Master Cheng is mistaken."

Su Xu shook his head, his tone grave.

"It is precisely because His Majesty favors the Prince of Wei that the Crown Prince's actions are all the more meaningful. Think about it, why didn't the Crown Prince repent earlier or later, but only now? Why did he open the Eastern Palace and solicit opinions from all quarters?"

Yin Yuan's gaze sharpened: "What do you mean, sir...?"

“This is a setup,” Su Xu said decisively.

"A contest between His Majesty and the Crown Prince!"

"A match?" Cheng Mingzhen's eyes widened.

“Not bad,” Su Xu analyzed.

"His Majesty's growing dissatisfaction with the Crown Prince is common knowledge throughout the court and the public. It's no secret that the Prince of Wei is powerful and covets the throne. If the Crown Prince doesn't step up his efforts, his deposition is likely only a matter of time. At this critical juncture, if the Crown Prince has capable advisors, they will naturally advise him to take this risky step. Opening the Eastern Palace, seemingly placing himself in the eye of the storm, is actually a strategic retreat. First, it allows him to demonstrate remorse and ambition to His Majesty, gaining sympathy and even instilling guilt. Second, it provides an opportunity to gather diverse opinions, cultivate a wise image, and win the support of the hesitant faction in court. Third, it also serves as a demonstration to His Majesty—the Crown Prince is not without power; if pushed too far, the Eastern Palace can become a force to be reckoned with."

Yin Yuan took a deep breath.

"So, the Crown Prince isn't just sitting here waiting to die, but... he's going to take a gamble?"

“Exactly!” Su Xu nodded emphatically.

"Moreover, the Crown Prince's move was extremely brilliant. By placing himself in the open, he made it difficult for many covert actions to be carried out. His Majesty is now probably in a dilemma. Severely suppressing him would appear as punishing someone without teaching them a lesson, and might lose the support of the people; letting him run wild, on the other hand, might allow the Crown Prince to become too powerful and uncontrollable."

Cheng Mingzhen was a little confused, but he roughly understood what it meant.

He asked gruffly, "Then... what does this have to do with us?"

Yin Yuan and Su Xu exchanged a glance.

Yin Yuan sighed, his tone filled with dejection and resentment.

“Brother Cheng, we are both descendants of meritorious officials, or former officials who shed blood and sweat for the Tang Dynasty. But what about now? Do we have any say in the court? When my late father was alive, how glorious was the Duke of Yun’s mansion? Now… heh heh.”

He gave a wry smile and downed the cold wine in his glass in one gulp.

Cheng Mingzhen's face darkened as his thoughts were exposed: "Hmph! It's all because of that guy... who discards us after the birds are all gone! When he needs us, he calls us brothers; but once the world is at peace, he leaves us hanging! Those scions of Guanzhong and poor families from Shandong have climbed all over us!"

Su Xu spoke at the opportune moment, his voice carrying a seductive power.

"Gentlemen, this moment may be an opportunity."

"An opportunity?" Yin Yuan looked at Su Xu.

“Yes, it’s an opportunity to bet on the Crown Prince!” Su Xu’s eyes gleamed.

"The situation between His Majesty and the Crown Prince is still unclear. While the Prince of Wei is powerful, he is also a target of criticism, and His Majesty is a man of deep thoughts. He may not actually depose the eldest son and establish the younger one in favor, as that would be detrimental to the foundation of the state. On the other hand, the Crown Prince, though seemingly weak now, has gained considerable sympathy and expectation due to his actions. More importantly, if the Crown Prince wants to gain a foothold and ultimately prevail, he needs support! He needs power! Especially... he needs power like ours, who still have influence in the army and among the old officials!"

Yin Yuan's heart skipped a beat.

Su Xu's words were like a spark falling into a heart already brimming with dry tinder. Was the Yin family truly destined to remain silent forever, until their title became an empty shell, utterly forgotten?

Cheng Mingzhen was also moved; though he was rough and uncouth, he was not stupid.

"You mean...we're going to find the Crown Prince?"

“It’s not a direct surrender.” Su Xu waved his hand shrewdly.

"That would be too conspicuous and could easily backfire. We can... express our dissatisfaction and our values ​​more tactfully."

"How can we be tactful?" Yin Yuan pressed.

"We'll take advantage of this opportunity to open the Eastern Palace," Su Xu said confidently.

"Didn't the Crown Prince set up the Consultative Hall, which allows officials of the fifth rank and above to pay their respects? This is the passage. We don't need to go in person. We can send reliable disciples, nephews, or contact middle and lower-ranking officials who have a history with us and share our discontent."

"What would you say if you went there?" Cheng Mingzhen asked.

"Let's not talk about the present, let's only talk about the past." Su Xu smiled sinisterly.

"Once you arrive at the Eastern Palace, you need not directly criticize the court, much less condemn His Majesty. Simply, at the opportune moment, confide in the Crown Prince—tell him of the achievements of our ancestors who followed Emperor Gaozu and His Majesty through countless trials to establish the Tang Dynasty; tell him of how our family sacrificed their lives for this Tang empire, resulting in the loss of many members; then lament how times have changed, how new talents have emerged in the court, and how we, descendants of old officials, have the heart to serve our country but find it difficult to find a way to do so, fearing only that we may disgrace our ancestors and bring shame upon our family..."

A glint of light flashed in Yin Yuan's eyes.

He understood Su Xu's intention.

This was a way of "recalling past hardships and appreciating present happiness" in front of the Crown Prince. On the surface, it was about reminiscing about a glorious history and expressing loyalty, but in reality, it was a subtle way of complaining about injustice and implying the current court's "mistreatment" of the descendants of meritorious officials.

These words will leave no room for criticism, because every word praises the achievements of the late emperor and the current emperor, as well as the loyalty of the ministers.

But to those who are interested, especially the crown prince who needs to win over more power, the deeper meaning is clear: we, the marginalized forces, can be used by you, as long as you are willing to value us.

"Wonderful!" Yin Yuan couldn't help but exclaim softly.

"This plan is brilliant! It leaves no trace while still conveying the message. If the Crown Prince truly has ambitions, he will not ignore our voices."

Cheng Mingzhen also figured it out, and grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth.

"Alright! Let's do it! I've been holding back my anger for a long time! Let the Crown Prince know that not everyone in Chang'an revolves around the Prince of Wei!"

Su Xu added, "In addition, we also need to secretly contact other former officials from families in similar situations, such as the sons of Zhang Pinggao, Shi Danai, and Liu Zhenghui. If we can form an undercurrent, even without openly supporting the Crown Prince, we can still make him feel our strength!"

Their gazes met in the dim light, and they all saw the ambition burning in each other's eyes.

They knew they were gambling, betting on a prince who had been underestimated by everyone.

However, their long-term repression and marginalization have made them dissatisfied with the status quo.

His Majesty's heavy reliance on the Guanlong Group and emerging commoners has severely damaged the interests of these early meritorious officials.

Now, the power struggle between the crown prince and the emperor is seen by them as a golden opportunity to break the existing order and redistribute power.

"But..." Yin Yuan still had one last concern.

"If His Majesty notices..."

　Thank you so much for your monthly tickets, dear readers!!! I bow in gratitude!!! I've recorded all your monthly tickets and am thinking of ways to repay you!!! Also, I should mention that I made a historical factual error in a previous article, which has been corrected! It won't affect your continued reading!!! Thank you so much for your monthly tickets, recommendations, and comments!!!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)