Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

Shen Sihong's face was as gloomy as water, and his gaze swept sternly over the ministers and princes in the hall. His eagle-like eyes seemed to penetrate everyone's innermost thoughts. Seeing their reactions, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, forming a subtle sneer.

These people! On a daily basis, when vying for power and profit, they run faster than rabbits, fearing that if they fall behind, they'll miss out on the opportunity. However, when faced with something that requires real action and effort that might not yield any benefits, or even be thankless, they all become cowards, each one more powerful than the other in playing coward.

Shen Sihong slowly emerged from the neatly arranged ranks, his face solemn and his steps steady. Reaching the front, he respectfully cupped his hands and addressed the emperor seated directly above him, saying, "Father, I am willing to go to the northwest to guard the city and relieve you of your worries and difficulties!" His voice was loud and firm, echoing throughout the vast palace.

At this moment, the Second Prince, observing this, felt a surge of anxiety. He quickly stepped out of the procession, bowed to the Emperor, and said, "I, your son, am also willing to share your father's worries!" As he spoke, he glanced smugly at his younger brother, Shen Sihong. His eyes seemed to say, "Huh? How can you be the only one to take all the credit for such a good thing?"

For a moment, the atmosphere in the entire palace became a little subtle, and everyone's eyes fell on the two princes who volunteered.

Emperor Qian gazed solemnly at the situation before him, his mind involuntarily forming a completely different view of his fourth son. He had originally thought him to be an ordinary man without great ambitions, but now it seemed he had underestimated him. Who could have imagined that his seemingly reckless and impulsive strategy, which was actually a strategic retreat, could so cleverly draw out the hidden Second Prince.

Emperor Qian narrowed his eyes slightly, a thoughtful glint in them. At this moment, his heart was like a raging storm, with all kinds of thoughts flooding into his mind.

After pondering for a moment, Emperor Qian slowly said: "My sons are so thoughtful! The Khan of the Northwest is in crisis this time and we need to send people to rescue him. This is a matter of great importance to the safety of the country!" His voice was low and majestic, as if it contained endless strength and determination.

As the Emperor finished speaking, everyone saw the eldest prince step out of the neatly arranged procession with an upright figure. His expression was solemn and resolute, and he looked directly at the Emperor. He bowed and said loudly, "Father! The northwest is of vital importance to our Dashun! If the northwest is lost, the entire Dashun will be plunged into a great crisis." At this point, the eldest prince paused, took a deep breath, and continued, "Your Highness, I understand the interests involved and am willing to step forward to help you resolve your worries and difficulties. I only want to go to the northwest, and I hope that your Highness will fulfill this sincere wish!"

Emperor Qian sat upright on the dragon throne, his expression solemn as he gazed down at the three princes kneeling below. His gaze was sharp as a sword, as if he could penetrate their innermost thoughts. At this moment, it became clear to him that, despite his prime, the struggle for the crown prince's position was already beginning to unfold.

Emperor Qian had experienced this kind of situation before, but now, with this scene unfolding before his eyes, he couldn't help but fall into deep thought. On the one hand, he felt joyful, for it meant his sons and daughters were all ambitious, eager to inherit the throne and achieve their ambitions. On the other hand, he felt sorrowful. Just because he was still in his prime, these sons were so eager to compete. Was he already old in their eyes?

The atmosphere within the hall was tense and oppressive. The three kneeling figures had varying expressions. The eldest and second princes appeared somewhat uneasy. They lowered their heads, not daring to meet Emperor Qian's gaze. Beads of sweat even formed on their foreheads. Clearly, they were apprehensive about this audience with the Emperor, unsure how their father would handle this still-unclear conflict.

Only the Fourth Prince stood out. He knelt on the ground with a calm expression, his posture as straight as a pine tree, his expression as calm as water. He seemed to have anticipated everything that was about to happen and was simply waiting quietly for his father to speak. His calm demeanor made it difficult to predict his true intentions.

After a moment's silence, a suffocating stillness descended upon the palace. Emperor Qian's majestic gaze slowly swept over his three kneeling sons, finally breaking the brief silence. He spoke calmly, "I am truly pleased that you three brothers are so sincere. However, this disaster relief effort concerns the livelihood of the people and the stability of the country. We must not act rashly or make hasty decisions."

As soon as he finished speaking, the eldest prince was extremely anxious. He kowtowed and shouted loudly: "I am willing to do my best to work hard to seek welfare for the people affected by the disaster. Please believe in me!" He pressed his forehead to the ground and his body trembled slightly with excitement.

At the same time, the second prince was not willing to be outdone. He stepped forward, bowed, and said in a firm tone: "I will definitely not let my father down and will definitely save the people from the dire straits!" His eyes flashed with confidence and determination.

In contrast, the Fourth Prince appeared exceptionally calm and composed. He still knelt straight on the spot, his face as calm as water, and said slowly: "My two royal brothers are both talented and capable. I am willing to follow my father's will and obey his arrangements in everything." His words revealed respect and humility for his father and brothers.

Emperor Qian listened to his sons' statements and nodded in approval. He mused to himself that this relief mission might be the perfect opportunity to test the princes' abilities and character. With this in mind, he made a decisive decision, declaring, "Since that is the case, the three of you will travel together to the northwest. Each of you will demonstrate your abilities to see who can truly shoulder the heavy responsibility. Remember, on this journey, you must be united in purpose and work together to overcome this difficult time."

When the ministers heard Emperor Qian's decision, they were all dumbfounded and looked at each other in bewilderment! You know, letting three princes go to the northwest together, how could this be possible? For a moment, the court was full of discussions and the noise was endless.

At this moment, an elderly minister with a white beard slowly stepped out. He first bowed respectfully to the Emperor Qian, then spoke in a clear voice, "Your Majesty, I believe that if the three princes were to simultaneously head to the northwest without a single leader, this would lead to a situation where both ends would be difficult to manage, and the situation would become unbalanced and out of control. In my humble opinion, I hope that the Emperor Qian could dispatch one prince as the chief commander, with the other two princes assisting. This arrangement would be more appropriate."

After listening to the minister's words, Emperor Qian nodded slightly in agreement and began to ponder the matter. After all, the minister's words made sense. If the three princes were to go to the northwest together as he had previously planned, it would indeed cause many problems and chaos.

Emperor Qian nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping majestically across the crowd before he slowly spoke, "Since that's the case, then act as I say. First Prince, you will quickly begin gathering the necessary silver; Second Prince, you will be responsible for collecting sufficient food; and Fourth Prince, you will personally travel to Northwest Town, carrying this food and money to provide disaster relief. This mission is of paramount importance, and it must be carried out thoroughly and beautifully. If we can successfully quell the drought in the northwest and stabilize the border situation, I will certainly credit all three of you with merit!"

Upon hearing this, the ministers and the three princes were overjoyed. They immediately knelt on their knees and shouted in unison, "Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace! Your Majesty, Your Majesty, is wise and powerful!" The sound echoed throughout the court, resonating for a long time.

The eldest prince stood up and bowed, saying, "I obey your order and will do my best to raise the money to live up to your trust!" After saying this, he turned and left with firm and powerful steps.

The second prince also saluted and said in a loud voice: "I obey your command. I will collect food as soon as possible to relieve the difficulties of the people in the northwest!" After speaking, he also hurriedly retreated.

Finally, the Fourth Prince kowtowed respectfully in thanks, then stood up, his eyes revealing a look of determination. He said in a deep voice, "I will definitely fulfill my mission and will definitely alleviate the drought in the northwest and ensure peace and stability on the border. Please rest assured, father!" Then, he straightened his clothes and strode out of the palace, heading northwest...

Emperor Qian walked slowly and steadily back to the Imperial Study, gently pushing open the heavy and ornate door. After entering the study, he sat quietly on the Dragon Throne, a symbol of supreme power, his eyes unconsciously falling on the portraits of his children placed beside the desk.

Looking at those innocent, beaming faces, the Emperor felt an indescribable joy well up in his heart. Time flew by, and the children, like seedlings thriving in spring, grew into adults day by day. Every bit of progress they made, every smile they made, was like a ray of warm sunshine that penetrated the heart of the Emperor, burdened by the heavy work of government.

Yet, beneath this joy lay a deep sadness. Whenever Emperor Qian recalled his childhood, he felt a pang of heartache. Since childhood, he had never received the slightest favor from his father, as if he were just a passing guest in the palace, forgotten in a corner. Yet, all his father's love and affection were unreservedly bestowed upon his younger brother.

During that time, Emperor Qian silently endured loneliness and neglect, watching his younger brother enjoy endless wealth and fatherly love. But fate is always unpredictable. With the unfortunate death of his younger brother and the passing of Concubine Qiao, the entire palace underwent earth-shaking changes.

From then on, his father's actions made Emperor Qian and his mother the objects of public ridicule. The ridicule and contempt pierced the Emperor Qian's heart like sharp thorns. But precisely because of these hardships and setbacks, Emperor Qian became exceptionally diligent and hardworking after ascending the throne, diligently handling state affairs.

He toiled day and night, not daring to slack off for even a moment, fearing that a moment of negligence would cause this great country to fall apart, thus becoming a target of attack and ridicule. Meanwhile, deep down, Emperor Qian was holding his breath, determined to prove to his late father that choosing him as the heir to the throne was not a mistake!

He firmly believed that with his wisdom and talent, he would be able to elevate the Dashun Dynasty to the pinnacle of history, making it a prosperous and flourishing nation where the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. To this end, Emperor Qian devoted unimaginable effort and sweat, just to realize the dream that had been hidden in his heart for many years: to make the Dashun Dynasty shine brightly under his rule and be recorded in history forever.