Becoming a widow for the sake of good fortune? The short-lived prince lived a hundred years

Wu Yuxing was even more puzzled: "But now there is not even a splash."

Chu Jinxun placed another piece and said with a smile, "The less splashes there are, the more complicated it is."

His father, the emperor, wanted fame and respect, and wanted to leave his name forever. He weighed every matter carefully, always thinking like an emperor.

He did not appoint a crown prince for a long time, and indulged his sons in fighting for power and profit, fighting for the position of crown prince to the point of bloodshed. As soon as the second prince was driven out of the capital, he immediately supported the third prince.

As long as they don't touch his roots and don't touch his bottom line, he won't care no matter how much they fight!

He seems to be raising a Gu.

But if the poisonous insect has devoured its master, he will not stay.

For an emperor, raising private soldiers to prepare for rebellion is not just crossing the bottom line, it is already performing a big drama on his ancestors' graves.

His sixth brother was determined to seize the throne, so he made two preparations.

If he became the crown prince, these private soldiers would remain inactive and become his magic weapon to stabilize the country.

If he fails to become the crown prince, these private soldiers will become sharp swords in his hands.

If 20,000 elite soldiers sneaked into the capital without anyone noticing and suddenly launched an attack, how could the 3,000 guards in the capital be able to resist without being prepared?

But he probably never dreamed that such a secret matter, which had been going on quietly, had been thoroughly investigated by the secret guards sent by the emperor.

In the seventeenth year of Jingzhao of Southern Xia, the autumn hunt was approaching, and Emperor Yongxi suddenly decided on the crown prince at this time.

"Fengtian Chengyun Emperor, the imperial edict said:

I have received the mandate of Heaven and diligently worked to govern the country. Today, the four seas are at peace, the country is stable, and the people are well-off. However, the affairs of state are complex, and we need a virtuous and capable crown prince to assist us in governing, inherit the throne, and consolidate the foundation of our dynasty for eternity.

I have observed that each of the princes possesses strengths, and all share a heart dedicated to serving their country. However, the third son, Chu Feici, possesses a benevolent yet decisive disposition. Intelligent and studious since childhood, he has thoroughly read the classics, history, and collected works, and possesses a deep understanding of the principles of state governance and national security. In his participation in court discussions, he has articulated his views, often benefiting the people and the court. In his past work assisting in government affairs, he has also managed affairs with composure, assigning tasks appropriately and ensuring smooth progress, demonstrating his talent for coordination.

"You personally went to the disaster area, comforted the people, and spared no effort, earning their hearts with your benevolence. Such a man of both virtue and talent, with a heart for the people, is worthy of this great responsibility. I now appoint Chu Feici as Crown Prince, hoping that he will diligently cultivate himself, recruit talented individuals, continue the glory of our dynasty, and benefit the people. All officials in the court must faithfully obey the Crown Prince's orders and assist him wholeheartedly. Any slackness or disobedience will be met with no mercy. I decree this!"

As soon as the imperial edict was issued, the officials in the court reacted differently.

But since it had already been decided, even though some people felt it was inappropriate, and even more surprisingly, the emperor actually preferred the third prince instead of the legitimate sixth prince, no one said anything.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, at today's court meeting, the Emperor has issued an edict to establish a crown prince." Duke Dingguo didn't even bother with the rule that the prince and court officials should keep a distance, and personally went to Prince Ding's mansion.

His face looked extremely pale, and his entire state was not very good. His voice trembled, "The one standing was Chu Feici!"

Chu Yunyan was originally sitting on the carved chair in the study, reviewing a book. Upon hearing the news, the pen in his hand fell with a "click", and the ink splashed on the snow-white pages, creating a stain, just like his chaotic mood at the moment.

He was stunned for a moment, as if he couldn't believe his ears, then his face darkened and his hands unconsciously clenched the armrests of the chair, his knuckles turning white.

He has always been determined to win the position of crown prince. Over the years, with the help of his mother, uncle and grandfather, he has secretly cultivated his power and won over court officials, spending a lot of effort.

When he was in court, he often talked about state affairs with advisers such as Mr. Yu, and his words were always meaningful, and he was even praised by Emperor Yongxi.

He fully expected that his father would favor him, but he didn't expect this sudden blow to catch him off guard.

"Why!"

Chu Yunyan suddenly stood up, swept all the books on the table to the ground, and roared angrily.

He paced back and forth in the room, breathing rapidly, his chest heaving violently, his eyes filled with resentment and anger. "What virtue and ability does Chu Feici possess? He only put in a few superficial efforts, using false benevolence and righteousness to win over the people. How could Father be deceived by him?"

Duke Dingguo sighed deeply, "Your Highness, it's useless to get angry right now. The most urgent thing is to remain calm and find another way out. Although the imperial decree has been issued, the situation at court is changing rapidly, and the Crown Prince's position may not be secure."

He stepped forward, bent down to pick up the scroll on the ground, dusted it off, and put it back on the table, trying to calm Chu Yunyan down.

Chu Yunyan paused, took a deep breath, his chest still rising and falling violently. He gritted his teeth and said, "Grandfather, please go back and calm the people in the mansion. Don't let them panic and reveal their true intentions. I will immediately gather my trusted advisors to discuss the next countermeasures. Since we have lost this round, every step forward from now on cannot afford to make mistakes."

Duke Dingguo took the order and left, while Chu Yunyan quickly sent someone to invite Mr. Yu and other counselors.

Soon, the counselors filed in, and the atmosphere in the study suddenly became solemn.

Mr. Yu spoke first, "Your Highness, the news of the crown prince's appointment has spread, and there is a lot of discussion both inside and outside the capital. In my opinion, Your Highness's top priority is to stabilize the people's hearts and not let the people below panic."

"Mr. Yu is right." Chu Yunyan's face was gloomy. "Chu Feici has secretly won over quite a few forces in recent years. He has many retainers in his house, and the people who come and go are a mixed bunch. They will definitely find an opportunity to take advantage of them!"

Everyone was talking at once, the discussion was in full swing, and before they knew it, it was getting dark.

Chu Yunyan rubbed his temples and concluded, "Everyone, today's discussion must be kept strictly confidential. We will proceed in several steps: First, keep a close eye on the Crown Prince's residence, record every person entering and leaving, and gather intelligence; second, start with the guests at Prince Qi's residence, not missing a single detail; third, test the attitudes of the other princes and try to win them over. If that fails, we must also understand their bottom lines. This prince simply does not believe Chu Feici can secure the throne of Crown Prince without any flaws."

After the counselors dispersed, Chu Yunyan sat alone in the study, the flickering candlelight illuminating his gloomy face.

He still has a trump card, a trump card that even his chief strategist, Mr. Yu, doesn't know.

When that time really comes, he will go all out!

At the same time, there was jubilation in the Prince's Mansion.

Chu Feici, dressed in the crown prince's regular attire, sat in the center of the main hall, accepting congratulations from his guests and subordinates.

"Congratulations, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince! Congratulations, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

There was a constant stream of congratulations, and Chu Feici thanked everyone one by one with a humble smile on his face.

"Everyone, I am grateful to my father for his kindness and for being appointed Crown Prince. Fei Ci will work diligently and live up to everyone's expectations."

Chu Feici raised his glass and said loudly, "However, I also know that the road ahead is long and full of challenges. I hope that you can continue to assist me as always and work together to ensure the stability of our dynasty."

Everyone responded by raising their glasses and pledging their loyalty.

Chu Feici didn't have to stay until the end of a banquet.

He left the table midway.

Avoiding the crowd, a guard hurried in and whispered a few words in Chu Feici's ear.

Chu Feici asked gloomily, "Is the news confirmed to be true?"