The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 514: Chapter 514: Discussion

Chu Qiyuan paid this no mind and continued,

”Besides, the Wazhen Mission will be arriving in the Capital City soon, and the entire court is in a frenzy over it. The situation is extremely difficult right now, and some have already recommended that Prince Jing preside over the matter.”

After all, besides him, the other Princes were either exiled, in a coma, or too young to be of use.

It seemed only this long-marginalized, ”invisible” Prince was available to handle things.

Ye Chutang didn’t seem surprised by this. ”Has it been decided?”

”Not yet, it seems, but it should be soon.”

’We can’t still be bogged down by this mess when Master Wa arrives, can we?’

Ye Chutang gave a soft laugh. ”The last time I saw Prince Jing, his household had to send a servant out just to find a single high-quality mountain ginseng root. To think that in just a few short days, the world has turned upside down.”

Once Xiao Chenglin presides over this meeting, his status will change completely.

Chu Qiyuan had naturally heard some of the rumors about Prince Jing and knew the Fourth Prince’s life had not been easy before.

It was truly lamentable that he was now being thrust into such a position.

”Isn’t that the truth? Those other two fought tooth and nail in their open and secret struggles, only for it to end in mutual destruction. And now—”

Chu Qiyuan paused, not continuing.

Ye Chutang glanced at him. ”It seems you’re optimistic about Prince Jing?”

Chu Qiyuan shook his head, his expression complex. ”Not at all. I’m just speaking the truth!”

Ye Chutang seemed thoughtful. ”He’s just taking over this task, and everyone else agrees?”

”What could they do if they didn’t?” Chu Qiyuan sighed. ”After what happened yesterday, quite a few court officials were already standing on his side this morning.”

Those memorials petitioning for Prince Jing to step forward were, in fact, pledges of allegiance.

Ye Chutang remained noncommittal.

’The political winds shifted so drastically overnight. Is it because these officials are too cunning and shrewd, or... had someone already prepared all of this?’

The speed of it all was something even she had to admire.

Chu Qiyuan looked at Emperor Muwu, whose eyes were shut tight, and muttered in a low voice, ”It would be for the best if Your Majesty could wake up in time. But if he can’t...”

Ye Chutang reminded him, ”I believe the medicine has finished decocting.”

”Hm? Oh, right! I’ll go get it!”

Chu Qiyuan snapped back to his senses, pushing all thoughts from his mind as he turned and went to the medicine brazier.

Only after he had carefully poured the dark brown medicinal broth into a bone china bowl and handed it to Ye Chutang did another important matter come to mind.

”Right, once things here in the palace are settled, shall we make a trip to Prince Lie’s Mansion later?”

Emperor Muwu’s sudden coma had led to them both being urgently summoned to the palace, and they hadn’t had a moment to spare to check on Prince Lie’s condition.

Zhao Xuanping had been handling it all by himself for the past two days; he was probably on the verge of collapse.

Ye Chutang was feeding the medicine to Emperor Muwu.

With each spoonful, most of it trickled out, only a tiny bit moistening his dry, pale lips.

Yet she patiently finished feeding him the entire bowl before setting it down, turning to Chu Qiyuan with a slight nod and a smile.

”Of course.”

***

”How can this be?”

Chen Songshi stared at the memorial before him, his brow deeply furrowed.

”For a delegation’s visit, having only a single Prince receive them—isn’t that making a mockery of the situation!?”

The other ministers exchanged troubled glances.

”But right now... there is no better way. If we don’t ask Prince Jing, then... then who else could we ask?”

”Indeed! It would be fine if Your Majesty could awaken, but if not...”

”Master Wa has always been cunning and boorish. Although they’re coming to sue for peace this time, who knows what other schemes they might be hiding? We must be cautious! In any case, Prince Jing is still a Prince. The Ministry of Rites and you, esteemed ministers, will be responsible for other matters. He just needs to fulfill his duty as a Prince and display the Royal Family’s dignity for that pack of Wazhen to see! Nothing will go wrong!”

”Elder, if you disagree, do you have a better candidate in mind?”

Chen Songshi’s face was grim as he remained silent.

In truth, he understood all this reasoning, but he understood even better that Master Wa was not someone who could be easily fooled.

If His Majesty didn’t appear at the reception, they would surely guess that something had happened to him.

That alone would be manageable. Both the Second Prince and the Third Prince were exceptionally talented men who could have shouldered the great responsibility.

Having either one of them step forward would have been suitable.

But this Fourth Prince, Prince Jing...

’Wouldn’t this be as good as telling Master Wa that we have no one left!?’

He was silent for a moment. ”This matter requires the Eldest Princess’s counsel.”

At a time like this, the Eldest Princess’s opinion was especially important.

Hearing him say this, the other ministers all voiced their agreement.

”An excellent idea.”

”The Eldest Princess seems to have been delayed at Guangxin Palace by some matter and hasn’t arrived yet. Why don’t we go there directly?”

At this point, Chen Songshi could no longer refuse.

He nodded, but before he could speak, the Eldest Princess’s voice came from behind them.

”You were all so eager to see me. Is there an urgent matter?”

The men in the room were startled and quickly turned to bow. ”Greetings, Eldest Princess.”

The Eldest Princess raised a hand. ”Dispense with the formalities.”

The ministers all looked toward Chen Songshi.

Chen Songshi hesitated for a moment before bringing up the topic again.

”...I wonder, what are your thoughts, Eldest Princess?”

After listening, the Eldest Princess didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she said, ”The Wazhen Mission is arriving soon. The patrols and security in the Capital City must indeed be strengthened.”

The officials looked bewildered.

They had entered the palace early in the morning to handle the submitted memorials and did not yet know about the assassination attempt on Ye Chutang.

The Eldest Princess lifted her gaze, her eyes sweeping over the crowd before she raised the issue.

”Someone committed a brazen attack in the Capital City. The target was Ye Chutang, the one responsible for His Majesty’s safety. It’s possible the attack was aimed at His Majesty himself! I have already ordered the Shuntian Prefecture to investigate and find the culprit within three days!”

The crowd was stunned.

”Who would be so audacious?”

’Of all times, and of all people, they targeted Ye Chutang!’

The Eldest Princess’s expression was cold and stern. ”If something like this happens once, it may happen a second time! With the Wazhen Mission’s arrival, who knows how many more incidents will occur? The person responsible for this matter will naturally bear a heavy burden and must be selected with the utmost care.”

Anyone could guess that someone was trying to take this opportunity to stir up trouble.

’Who would be the one to stick their neck out?’

Sensing the Eldest Princess’s fury, the ministers who had previously been championing Prince Jing fell silent, holding their tongues.

But this stalemate was no solution.

Chen Songshi paused, then said, ”The Eldest Princess is absolutely right. It would be best if His Majesty could awaken soon.”

The Eldest Princess leaned back in her chair, her tone finally softening.

”I have already sent for her and the Chu Hospital Director. They are the ones who know His Majesty’s condition best.”