Wang Jin, Wang the Fourth, is certainly excellent.
Born into the Wang Family, his father is Pri Minister Wang. He has a handso appearance, a refined deanor, is exceptionally talented, and a great poet. Moreover, he is humble and gentle, with not a hint of arrogance.
In terms of age, Wang Jin is fifteen years old this year, one year younger than Princess Bao Hua, which is quite a match.
The Crown Prince is also glad to see Wang the Fourth beco his brother-in-law. Today, he specially ntioned this as a reminder to Princess Bao Hua not to miss a good marriage. However, Princess Bao Hua remains tight-lipped like a clam, so he no longer presses the matter.
Princess Bao Hua returned to her sleeping quarters, burdened with heavy thoughts.
Jiang Wan Hua, Jiang Yuehua, and Fan Jaining greeted her with smiles. The three of them are Princesses’ reading companions and usually reside in Princess Bao Hua’s quarters. Spending day and night together, the bond between these young noble ladies is naturally deep.
Fan Jaining sensed Princess Bao Hua’s gloom and said with concern, "The Princess seems not to be in good spirits today."
Princess Bao Hua composed herself and said softly, "Father’s health is not improving, which worries greatly."
A daughter worrying about her father’s illness is a very reasonable concern.
Fan Jaining did not inquire further, but instead comforted her along the sa line, "The Emperor is the True Dragon Emperor, protected by heaven. With so many skilled physicians at the Imperial Hospital, they are sure to cure the Emperor’s illness."
Jiang Wan Hua and Jiang Yuehua chid in in agreent.
In reality, "True Dragon Emperor" was rely a saying. The Emperor is also made of flesh and blood, unable to escape the cycles of life, illness, and death.
Princess Bao Hua let out a long sigh.
"By the way, is Nanyang County Princess truly intending to present new grain to the court?" Fan Jaining asked curiously.
Princess Bao Hua responded with "Hmph": "Pri Minister Wang believes Nanyang County Princess is lying. How could there be crops yielding tens of shi per mu? Not only was the morial rejected, but Nanyang County Princess was scolded as well."
"Since Nanyang County Princess submitted a morial, it shows she has grown new grain." Fan Jaining said in a low voice, "Even if it doesn’t yield tens of shi, it’s surely better than ordinary crops. Whatever the case, it’s a good thing. Why would Pri Minister Wang reject the morial and reprimand her, causing Nanyang County Princess to feel bitterly disappointed?"
Even the simple-minded Fan Jaining has noticed sothing amiss.
Princess Bao Hua was silent for a mont before saying, "I don’t know the details myself."
Fan Jaining was about to ask further when Jiang Wan Hua coughed and changed the topic with a smile, "I recently obtained a piece of calligraphy from a famous artist, Fan sister loves calligraphy, why don’t we take a look?"
Jiang Yuehua jokingly protested, "Is it only for Fan sister, excluding ?"
They grew up in the palace and were especially close to Empress Dowager Zheng, unwilling to speak against her.
Fan Jaining’s attention was indeed diverted, "Let’s go together."
Princess Bao Hua perked up and joined them to appreciate the calligraphy.
...
The Crown Prince entered the study. The four young n present imdiately set aside their current tasks and rose to greet him.
"Your Highness, how is the Emperor’s health?"
"Has there been any improvent today?"
The youths before him were companions and friends who had grown up with the Crown Prince. Now, they attend court with him, being the ones he trusts and relies on the most.
The Crown Prince did not conceal the truth, sighed and said, "Father’s health remains weak. There’s no sign of improvent. I must quickly familiarize myself with the affairs of the court to help bear his burden."
There are so things that cannot be spoken in front of Zheng Chen and Wang Jin, such as Father advising him to be respectful but not obedient to the Empress Dowager, to be wary of and to heavily rely on Pri Minister Wang.
Wang Jin gently comforted the Crown Prince.
Zheng Chen glanced at the youthful and handso Crown Prince, ridiculing him in his heart.
Emperor Taikang’s distrust of the Zheng Family far exceeded his concern over Pri Minister Wang. Or rather, Emperor Taikang’s filial piety to the Empress Dowager was not as significant as his concern for imperial power.
After all, Pri Minister Wang is Da Liang’s Chancellor, and it is his duty to assist the Crown Prince in managing state affairs. Even a powerful minister remains a minister.
Empress Dowager Zheng, however, is the Empress Dowager of Da Liang, and interference in political affairs by the harem is a major taboo, involving the Zheng Family as an outsider. How could Emperor Taikang not be cautious?
Nevertheless, despite his caution, Emperor Taikang has less than half a year to live.
In two years, the young Crown Prince will suddenly die.
The one to ascend the Dragon Throne will be the clumsy and clueless young child, the Second Prince Jiang Hao, who has been slow to respond since birth.
By then, the Empress Dowager Zheng, with the highest position and oldest generation in the harem, will hold the advantage of ti, place, and people. The Zheng Family will also be the biggest winner.
All he needs to do is patiently wait.
"A morial ca from Zhaohai Palace." Li Boyuan broke the silence, asking, "Would Your Highness like to review the morial now?"
The Crown Prince’s gaze fell on the pile of thick morials, suddenly feeling a headache.
These are the most crucial of the mountain of morials, making up about a fifth of the daily submissions. Even so, it is enough to keep the young Crown Prince busy.
Da Liang has vast territories, forty states, three hundred commanderies, over a thousand counties. Local circumstances vary, and governance is complex. Understanding the morials is no easy task, let alone reviewing them.
"Bring it here!" The Crown Prince took a deep breath.
Li Boyuan responded and, relying on his height and strength, carried a stack of morials to the desk.
The Crown Prince sat at the desk, focusing on the review. His companions stayed beside him. After reading a morial, the Crown Prince handed it to Wang Jin.
Wang Jin read it thoroughly and then passed it to Zheng Chen.
Zheng Chen’s heart harbored another sneering thought.
Previously, the closest position to the Crown Prince was his. Now, Emperor Taikang relies on Pri Minister Wang, and the Crown Prince listens to him, leading to Wang Jin’s rise.
As for Li Boyuan, unwilling or unable to understand the morials, quickly went to prepare ink.
The youngest, Princely Heir of Prince Gaoliang, yawned repeatedly at the sight of morials. His eyes darted around before fetching so pastries, and personally brewed a pot of tea, diligently serving it to the Crown Prince, "Brother must be hungry and thirsty! Have so pastries and tea, take a break from the morials."
The Crown Prince chuckled and indeed set aside the morials, eating and drinking for a stick of incense’s ti.
At this mont, the young n in the study were conversing and laughing harmoniously. Except for Zheng Chen, no one knew that in the coming years, they would beco each other’s enemies and rivals, battling incessantly.
Two hours later.
The Crown Prince opened a morial, glanced at its content, and his brows suddenly furrowed, his expression not pleasant.
Zheng Chen discreetly cast a glance over.
The Crown Prince closed the morial and said to his companions, "I’m going to Zhaohai Palace, no need for you to follow, go rest and return to your hos for the night."
The four young n agreed in unison.
Once his companions left, the Crown Prince quickly stood up, clutching the morial, and went to Zhaohai Palace.
At the ti, it was early evening, and Emperor Taikang, lacking energy, had been asleep since afternoon.
The Crown Prince could only wait patiently. Fortunately, he didn’t wait long before Emperor Taikang woke up: "What morial do you have in your hand?"
...
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