After reading my mind, Daddy, why don't you smile?

Emperor Jianxi first talked to a few cabinet ministers to test the waters, but he found that all the three dukes, six ministries and the prime minister disagreed.

Emperor Jianxi was a little confused. The crown prince had been deposed, and he had few sons to begin with, and now there are only a few left. Zhao Xi was the legitimate son of the empress, and was better than Zhao Cong in every aspect. Why were they stopping him?

Emperor Jianxi looked at Shangguan Shu expectantly, thinking that Shangguan Shu would say something he would like to hear, but he was the one who opposed it the most!

Shangguan Shu said that the third prince had no experience or resume, and had not received any education as a crown prince since childhood. Let alone other things, could he recognize all the civil and military officials?

What's more, we still don't know what his character is like.

All the ministers in the cabinet echoed this idea. It was not that they were all bribed by Shangguan Shu, but they really had this idea. As old ministers, they always relied on their seniority to think more and take charge of more matters.

Emperor Jianxi did not get angry with these old ministers, but reprimanded and punished Shangguan Shu.

Nothing else.

No matter how much the civil officials opposed, they would not listen to them. However, Shangguan Shu was a military general, a powerful general with great achievements and great prestige, and he actually held the military power in his hands.

If Xier wants to keep the throne and go to jail, she must have the support of Shangguan Shu.

Shangguan Shu was a smart and decent man who knew his limits. Although his achievements surpassed his master's, he never did anything out of line. Shangguan Shu was also a man he had grown up with, and Shangguan liked him very much, so he was unwilling to touch him unless it was too much.

Shangguan Shu knelt down and confessed his crime, as respectful as ever.

Emperor Jianxi thought that Shangguan Shu had always been loyal, and now he was like this, could it be that he had other thoughts? Could it be that he still supported Zhao Cong?

Emperor Jianxi quickly rejected this idea, saying that Runzhi would not be so stupid.

So you listened to King Liang's instigation and wanted to support King Liang?

Emperor Jianxi quickly rejected this idea. One was Prince Liang who scolded his child for being ugly, and the other was Cheng Qian's biological brother. Naturally, he would not choose Prince Liang.

Why?

As Emperor Jianxi thought about it, he calmed down a little and began to feel that what they said made sense. Although Xi'er was intelligent, he had only been in office for a short time. Pushing him to the position of crown prince would not convince the public, and he had not cultivated his own power. Forcibly enthroning him would be tantamount to making Zhao Xi a target of public criticism. If he lost his reputation and royal prestige during this period, it would be even more difficult to regain them.

After careful consideration, Emperor Jianxi agreed and named Zhao Xi the King of Ding, with the intention of pacifying the world and bringing peace to the four seas.

The former Prince's Mansion was changed to Prince Ding's Mansion. It can be said that Zhao Xi has already sat halfway on the throne of the Prince.

No, his whole butt was sitting on it, but Shangguan Shu pushed half of it down.

After the discussion, Emperor Jianxi drove the others away and left Shangguan Shu alone, hinting that he should support Zhao Xi. However, Shangguan Shu lifted his robe and knelt down, asking, "Your Majesty, I dare to ask what your Majesty thinks of the national policy of the Great Chu, 'Equal Rights for the Chu People'?"

Emperor Jianxi frowned. Although this proposal was proposed by Hyomin, he naturally agreed with it.

"'Equal rights for the people of Chu' simply means that all men, women, old and young in the Great Chu enjoy equal rights from birth."

"If that's the case, why doesn't Your Majesty treat the princess and the prince equally?"

How could Emperor Jianxi not understand what Shangguan Shu meant? He only had one daughter, Cheng Qian. Could it be that Shangguan Shu felt that Cheng Qian was wronged and that Shangguan Shu was treating her harshly?

The wrinkles between Emperor Jianxi's brows grew deeper. Shangguan Runzhi, this young boy, was talking nonsense. Everyone in the world knew that he loved Cheng Qian the most. If he didn't treat them equally, then he favored Cheng Qian!

However... since he feels that Cheng Qian has been wronged, then maybe there are things that he, as his father, cannot see, so let him speak first!

Emperor Jianxi lowered his voice, "What do you mean?"

Having said that, Shangguan Shu no longer intends to hide it.

In fact, this is just a piece of window paper. Before it is broken, the emperor will definitely not think about it, not even think about it, let alone do it? But once it is broken, even if it is thundering with anger, it will always leave a shadow in the emperor's heart.

Shangguan Shu's voice rolled slightly, and he spoke in a clear voice, "I think, if Your Majesty treats everyone equally, why didn't you give more consideration to the princess when you were appointing the heir?"

As soon as Shangguan Shu finished speaking, it was like thunder breaking through the sky. Emperor Jianxi looked at him in astonishment and said subconsciously, "Nonsense!"

"Since ancient times, how can the throne be held by a woman? Runzhi, you have great talent. Have you ever heard of a hen crowing at dawn?" He said solemnly, "Such a rebellious and unethical statement, please do not mention it again!"

Shangguan Shu was neither humble nor arrogant. "I have heard of the hen crowing at dawn, and I have also heard of the Queen Mother Xuan of Qin competing for supremacy in the Spring and Autumn Period. I have heard of Empress Lü and Empress Deng's reputation for governing the country with virtue. It can be seen that women are not inferior to men."

Emperor Jianxi narrowed his eyes and murmured, "Oh... No wonder, no wonder Cheng Qian wanted to interfere in state affairs recently..."

Emperor Jianxi sneered and asked, "Did Cheng Qian tell you this?"

"Your Majesty, that is not what the princess meant. Your Majesty understands the princess's character. I am the princess' abandoned husband. How could she tell me these things? Moreover, the princess knows what the emperor is thinking. She deeply cares about the relationship between father and daughter, brother and sister, and will never go against the emperor's wishes."

"I have been working with the princess recently and I feel that her talent is no less than any man in the world. Moreover, how can any man in the world match her for her endurance and perseverance?"

Emperor Jianxi was so angry that he laughed. He knew the advantages of Cheng Qian. Why did he use Shangguan Shu, an "abandoned husband", to praise his daughter?

"Since you are speaking for Cheng Qian, let me ask you, you just said that Xi'er being made the crown prince is not enough to win the trust of the world and the respect of the officials. Then can Cheng Qian, a woman, be made the crown prince?"

"Men are superior to women, and the husband is the head of the wife. This has been a principle for thousands of years. Was it established by me? It is the eternal and unchanging way of heaven! I can certainly include Cheng Qian in the list of heirs, but will anyone obey? Will all the men in the world allow a woman to become emperor? Three years after I ascended the throne, I held an imperial examination and selected a female champion. Just because she was a woman, scholars all over the world criticized her, questioned her knowledge and ability, and even suspected that I had conflicts with her. If a champion is like this, how would you treat an emperor? Do you want her to be a king with an empty crown? Or do you want the whole world to regard me, who appointed her, as a tyrant and think that I treat state affairs as a joke?"

This was the first time that Shangguan Shu was left speechless.

Emperor Jianxi stood up upon seeing this, waved his hand at him, and said, "Your idea is good, but don't mention it next time."

Shangguan Shu refused to give up, and before leaving, he said, "Then your majesty should give the princess a chance to prove herself..."

Emperor Jianxi interrupted with a cold face, "Pass on my order. Shangguan Shu's words offended me. He is demoted one level and temporarily serves as the Grand Tutor."

Shangguan Shu was demoted.

All officials speculated why Emperor Jianxi demoted his favorite minister. The old ministers in the cabinet connected the cause and effect and came to the conclusion that Emperor Jianxi wanted to appoint Prince Ding as the crown prince but was obstructed by Shangguan Shu. Perhaps when Shangguan Shu was left alone for a talk, he said something that the emperor didn't want to hear, so he was demoted.

The old ministers felt regret and sympathy for Shangguan Shu, but also felt a sense of empathy.