Eavesdropping on Fu Bao's inner thoughts, emptying the stored grain and fleeing the famine

"What are you saying, Your Majesty? How could I not be happy for my brother's return to the country?"

Li Yuanyi was so angry she felt like her back teeth were about to shatter, yet she still maintained a polite smile.

But Li Yuanqi didn't buy it at all. He walked towards Li Yuanyi in front of all the civil and military officials.

Before Li Yuanyi could react, he suddenly stepped forward and gave Li Yuanyi a hug.

Li Yuanyi was already wary of Li Yuanqi, and instinctively pushed Li Yuanqi away.

Li Yuanqi stared in shock, his eyes widening instantly, and he transformed into a dramatic character.

"Does my second brother dislike his elder brother?"

At this moment, all eyes were on Li Yuanyi. The old emperor narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint in them.

"No, I just don't like physical contact with people. Please don't be offended, Your Majesty."

"Oh, I see." Li Yuanqi looked as if he had just realized something, then said with great regret:

"I regret that I was unable to grow up with my second brother from childhood and failed to fulfill my responsibilities as an elder brother."

Although I wish to be close to my second brother, since he dislikes it, I, as the elder brother, cannot force him.

The old emperor sat there, watching his dramatic son, and felt a silent sigh of helplessness.

Is this kid planning to disgust the second brother to death? That's one idea.

In fact, the ministers in the hall all thought so too; they believed that Li Yuanqi's actions were nothing more than an attempt to annoy the Prince of Yi.

But in reality, Li Yuanqi wasn't that bored. He only contacted Li Yuanyi to test the other party's strengths and weaknesses.

After all, his wife's skill had improved at an astonishing rate. Now that he knew Li Yuanyi also possessed the amber stone, Li Yuanqi needed to know exactly what level he was at.

However, during the earlier probing, Li Yuanqi did not realize how powerful his adopted second brother was.

Although his internal strength is considered top-notch among ordinary people, it is worlds apart from Li Yuanqi's.

After a period of brotherly respect, it was finally the old emperor's turn to speak.

"My beloved ministers, today the Crown Prince has returned, and I have another matter to announce."

The old emperor's voice wasn't loud, but it was enough to silence the hall instantly.

"I have decided to establish my eldest son, Li Yuanqi, as the Crown Prince."

As soon as the old emperor finished speaking, an uproar broke out in the hall. Li Yuanyi clenched his fists, wishing he could kill the old man in the hall right now.

But he knew that now that Li Yuanqi had returned, it wouldn't be so easy for him to succeed.

At this point, Li Yuanyi was even unsure whether his previous choice was right or wrong; perhaps he should have acted faster.

Li Yuanyi loosened his clenched fists slightly and turned to give the Minister of Rites on the other side a wink.

Yan Hui, the Minister of Rites, was the father of Li Yuanyi's principal wife. With this relationship, the Yan family and the Prince of Yi were essentially in the same boat.

Yan Shou received Li Yuanyi's hint and immediately stepped forward, cupping his hands and saying, "Your Majesty, the crown prince is the foundation of the country. How can he be appointed so easily?"

Furthermore, His Highness Prince Qi has been a hostage since childhood, and is completely unaware of many affairs of our Great Sheng. Is it not inappropriate to establish a crown prince now?”

As Yan Hui spoke, Li Yuanyi had already silently given winks to many court officials. Although those people were wary of the old emperor, once they had chosen sides, there was no turning back.

Choosing sides is better than offending both. Besides, the Second Prince now controls most of the Six Ministries in the court.

Even if the old emperor were to wake up, it wouldn't be able to turn the tide in a short time. As for the eldest prince who went to Shang Kingdom as a hostage...

He seems to be nothing more than a paper tiger. He knew that the person sent to assassinate him was the Second Prince, but in the end, he still humbled himself and put on a show of brotherly affection with him.

Humans are often like this; when faced with danger, they instinctively fantasize in the direction they hope for.

One after another, court officials stepped forward in the procession, and in the end, two-thirds of the court officials opposed the selection of an heir.

The old emperor squinted at the assembled officials below, a dangerous smile inadvertently creeping onto his lips. He kept the officials kneeling and said coldly:

"What you all say makes sense, but I only have two sons. Your opposition to making Prince Qi the crown prince suggests that you have already decided that Prince Yi is the rightful heir to my Great Sheng?"

No one expected the old emperor to act so unpredictably. Who would dare admit to such a thing? What's the difference between this and admitting that the local lords formed cliques and engaged in corrupt practices?

Seeing that none of the ministers spoke, the old emperor continued, "In our Great Sheng Dynasty, the heir apparent is always chosen based on the eldest son of the legitimate wife. Prince Qi is both the legitimate son and the eldest son."

Over the years, he has suffered greatly in the Shang Kingdom for the sake of the people of Dasheng. Now that he has returned, you are using all sorts of excuses to prevent me from establishing an heir? Your intentions are despicable!

The old emperor uttered the harshest words, yet his tone remained calm.

At this moment, Li Yuanyi, who had been standing aside, finally made a move. He stepped forward and walked to the center of the main hall.

"Father, please calm your anger. The court officials are only thinking of the Great Sheng Dynasty. By all accounts, the position of Crown Prince should belong to my elder brother."

Your subject has never coveted it. However, your subject believes that the concerns of you gentlemen are not without merit.

Besides, my elder brother has just returned to the country and needs time to rest.

In my humble opinion, it would be better to first familiarize my elder brother with the affairs of the Six Ministries, and then establish an heir on an auspicious day. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?

"I second the proposal."

"I second the proposal."

"I second the proposal."

The voices of court officials echoed from inside the hall, and Li Yuanqi and the old emperor exchanged a glance. Li Yuanqi nodded slightly, and the old emperor understood.

“The King of Yi’s idea is quite good. Let the King of Qi familiarize himself with the procedures of the various departments of Dasheng first, so that it will be easier for him to manage the country in the future.”

"Father is wise." Li Yuanyi bowed and continued, "Before my elder brother returned, I took care of many things on his behalf."

Now that Your Majesty has returned to the country, I would like to take a break. However, to avoid overworking Your Majesty, how about we temporarily hand over the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites to Your Majesty?"

Li Yuanyi truly had a brilliant plan; of the six ministries, the Ministry of Rites was the most useless. Furthermore, the Minister of Revenue, Yan Hui, was Li Yuanyi's father-in-law and would never genuinely assist Prince Qi.

As for the Ministry of Revenue, it is useful, after all, it controls the finances of the entire Dasheng Dynasty.

However, those in power have long known that the Ministry of Revenue is now a mess.

If Li Yuanqi were to take over the Ministry of Revenue, he might not be able to achieve anything and would instead be dragged down.

Once the image of the eldest prince as incompetent and useless is deeply ingrained, it will be easy to remove him from power.

Li Yuanyi's scheme was practically jumping out of the old emperor's face, which naturally displeased the old emperor. But just as he was about to speak, His Highness Li Yuanqi bowed and said:

"My second brother and the court officials' concerns are not without merit. Father, let's do as my second brother says."

Since Li Yuanqi has already said so, he must have already considered it. The old emperor pondered for a moment, and finally nodded in agreement:

"Very well, if that's the case, then from this day forward, Prince Qi will take full control of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites."

The matter of establishing an heir will be discussed later.