The emperor faked his death? Never mind, I will ascend the throne directly!

Song House.

In the spacious and open courtyard, two figures, one old and one young, were sitting at a stone table.

There is a chessboard on the stone table.

The two are playing chess.

The old man was none other than Song Zelin, the left prime minister of the dynasty and the teacher of the princes.

And sitting in front of him was a young girl.

The girl's name is Song Yuwei. She is Song Zelin's biological daughter and a talented woman who is well-known throughout the capital.

Song Zelin had a daughter in his old age. It was so hard to have such a child, so naturally he loved her very much.

Therefore, he never opposed his daughter's learning to read and write, and studying state governance strategies.

She never used the standards of a lady from a noble family to demand Song Yuwei.

As she grew older, Song Yuwei really understood a lot of strategies for governing the country, and her reputation as a talented woman spread throughout the capital.

While Song Zelin felt proud, he couldn't help but sigh secretly.

My daughter is so outstanding. If she could become an official in the court, she would surely achieve great things.

It’s a pity that, let alone the Daqian Dynasty, there has never been a precedent of women serving as officials in the previous dynasties.

This opening is really hard to make.

Over time, this matter became a source of worry for Song Zelin.

"Father, I heard that the Crown Prince has been hanging out with you quite often recently. Have you made up your mind to fully support him?"

Song Yuwei put down a chess piece and asked curiously.

"Lets see."

Song Zelin shook his head and his expression became serious:

"The current Daqian Dynasty was created by Your Majesty from the chaotic times.

The princes who followed Your Majesty to conquer the world in the past now each hold heavy troops and are stationed in local areas, ready to suppress the remnants of the previous dynasty who may make a comeback at any time.

In other words, since His Majesty is still alive, those princes dare not act rashly.

But once His Majesty leaves, I don't think the Crown Prince's tactics will be enough to suppress the situation."

"But do we have any other choice besides supporting the prince?" Song Yuwei said.

No matter which dynasty, the crown prince is the only choice for the future emperor.

Anyone else who wants to be emperor is rebelling.

Song Zelin was silent for a moment, then shook his head.

He also served as a teacher to all the princes, so naturally he was very clear about their abilities and character.

It can only be said that it is a pity that Emperor Jianwu had great talent and strategy, but none of his descendants were capable of shouldering the heavy responsibility.

In fact, just for a moment, the figure of Li Chengfeng flashed through Song Zelin's mind.

But he soon denied it.

If we really talk about the hierarchy between legitimate and illegitimate children, the Third Prince should actually be the Crown Prince.

However, this is not important anymore.

In any case, in Song Zelin's opinion, the Third Prince is not someone who can be relied upon.

Just when the father and daughter were playing chess.

A servant from the Song Mansion trotted in and reported, "Master, someone outside the mansion wants to see you. They claim to be from the Third Prince's residence."

"Your Highness?"

Song Zelin was stunned when he heard this, and then he laughed.

I just thought of the Third Prince, and the other party immediately sent someone over?

This is too coincidental.

"Let him in." Song Zelin waved his hand and said.

He was actually a little curious. Why did the Third Prince, who was usually so useless that he couldn't even do a fart, come to find him?

Soon, Eunuch Wang came in, led by the servants of the Song Mansion.

"Left Prime Minister, Miss Song."

"I, the old servant Wang Fuquan, am a servant of the Third Prince's residence. Today, I have been specially ordered by the Third Prince to come and pay him a visit."

Seeing the two people in the yard, he hurriedly bowed, but his attitude was neither humble nor arrogant.

After all, he represents the face of his own Third Prince and cannot be too humble.

"So it's Eunuch Wang. Tell me, why did the Third Prince come to see me?"

Song Zelin narrowed his eyes slightly and asked calmly.

Song Yuwei also cast a curious look.

Being stared at by the two, Eunuch Wang straightened up and said calmly:

"Your Highness has asked me to come here for three reasons. The first is that I am here to hand in my homework for Your Highness."

"Oh? Hand in your homework?"

Hearing this, Song Zelin was amused and said casually, "In that case, Eunuch Wang, please tell me what the Third Prince's answer is."

Two days ago, he was teaching several princes in the palace.

After the class ended, the princes were given a question to think about.

Song Zelin remembered that the question he left behind at that time seemed to be... What should be the core of governing the country?

In other words, it is roughly about how a king should govern his country.

In fact, Song Zelin had discussed this issue with Emperor Jianwu Li Xiong many times.

It's nothing more than reducing taxes, recruiting talented people and accepting advice, stabilizing border defense, and developing agriculture...

But all of these are quite complicated and difficult to summarize in just a few sentences.

Has the Third Prince thought of the answer?

Eunuch Wang stood up straight, coughed lightly, and then said in a strong and resonant voice:

"To the Left Prime Minister, Your Highness's answer is that the core of governing a country should be people-centered."

“People-oriented?”

Originally, Song Zelin didn't take it seriously, but when he heard it, he was stunned for a moment, then he let out a light exclamation and savored it in secret.

After a moment, his eyes gradually lit up.

"What a people-oriented approach!"

Song Zelin suddenly realized it, patted his thigh, and couldn't help but exclaimed in admiration. This word is really well used.

Reducing taxes, stabilizing border defense, appointing talented people and accepting advice, aren't these things, after all, for the sake of keeping the people safe?

There is no more appropriate answer than putting people first.

Thinking of this, Song Zelin also perked up and asked curiously, "Eunuch Wang, I wonder how your Third Prince came up with this answer?"

"Your Highness's original words were..."

Eunuch Wang exhaled and slowly said:

"The ruler is like a boat, and the people are like water. Water can carry the boat, but it can also capsize it.

Throughout history, all changes of dynasties ultimately come down to two words: the people’s will.

Therefore, the essence of governing a country, after all, is actually governing the people.

Only when one rejoices in the people's joy and worries about their worries can one be considered a qualified monarch."

Eunuch Wang recited in one breath what Li Chengfeng had taught him earlier.

When he finished speaking, the whole yard fell silent.

The gleam in Song Zelin's eyes grew brighter and brighter. Even with his calm personality, he couldn't help but exclaim in admiration: "I didn't expect... I didn't expect that His Highness the Third Prince would have such an idea. This is a little beyond my expectations."

There was surprise and admiration in his eyes, but more importantly, surprise.

Were these words said by the third prince?

How could that useless prince, who didn't even dare to fart when he saw me and didn't even dare to raise his head in front of the prince, realize the importance of the people so clearly?

"Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it!"

Song Zelin raised his hand and stroked his beard, still savoring what he had just heard.

It seems that he thinks this metaphor is very vivid.

It seems that he has underestimated the third prince from the beginning to the end.

Being able to say such words, the Third Prince is definitely not a useless person.

If he could be helped to sit in that position, perhaps he could become a benevolent ruler.

Unconsciously, this thought flashed through Song Zelin's mind.

But soon, he shook his head.

Admittedly, he did underestimate the Third Prince, and was inevitably shocked when he heard his words.

But just because of this, it is far from enough to push the other party to the throne regardless of everything.

On the side, Song Yuwei's beautiful eyes flickered, and for the first time, she became interested in the useless prince.

She was very curious about what kind of person could say something like "rejoice in the people's joy and worry about the people's worries."