In the Xing Mansion, Xing Yuyue’s most favored grandson, Xing Zhonghe, did not go out. He stayed in the mansion waiting with Xing Bin for news from Xing Yuyue.
As Xing Yuyue entered, the three of them exchanged little words and went straight to the study to sit down.
On the road, Xing Yuyue had cald his mind and thought carefully about the Crown Prince’s affairs and the emperor’s attitude.
This ti, eting with the emperor, he returned empty-handed and defeated. He couldn’t even say he got nothing, for he ended up with a task no one else wanted to handle.
The Crown Prince remained in his position, and yet he had to go to the Crown Prince’s Mansion to clean up the beloved concubines and mistresses of the Crown Prince. This task couldn’t be done by soone without status, but for soone with enough status, it would be tough for the emperor to impose.
As a result, he rushed forward and was thwarted by Duke An.
Seeing Xing Yuyue’s unpleasant expression, Xing Bin hurriedly sent the servants away and urgently asked, "How did it go, father? Does His Majesty really intend to depose the Crown Prince?"
Xing Yuyue shook his head with a complex expression: "Not quite, but close. It’s understandable that His Majesty is dissatisfied with the Crown Prince, but... His Majesty’s protection of Ye Tang’s granddaughter is truly intriguing."
The entire Xing family had a deep impression of Ye Xinyan, especially Xing Zhonghe, who was thoroughly defeated when facing her.
"His Majesty protecting Ye Xinyan? How is that possible?!" Xing Zhonghe asked in astonishnt. The emperor protecting that despicable woman?
Xing Yuyue looked sowhat dejected, "Indeed it is so."
Today in the Great Hall, it wasn’t that his words were misplaced, but that the emperor had already decided to abandon the Crown Prince. The several ministers present, regardless of their true intentions or out of a desire to please the emperor, were already aligned with the emperor’s stance.
When the emperor dealt with him, although polite, he was mostly dismissive. Especially when he ntioned Jiang Yifan and Ye Xinyan, the emperor didn’t even bother with pleasantries.
Prince Fu was forced to convalesce at ho, neither having the capacity nor the need to act against the Crown Prince at this ti, serving as a pawn for others. The one who was determined to bring down the Crown Prince had to be Prince Yu.
From this matter, it appears that Prince Yu had long had designs on the throne, only keeping his ambitions well-hidden. Now that the ti was ripe, he struck decisively and toppled the Crown Prince effortlessly.
The railway materials case led to the exposure of the Ministry of Works officials privately trading iron materials for profit, and Prince Fu’s withdrawal from the court was likely also a maneuver by Prince Yu.
With Prince Yu’s influence already so strong, the emperor’s attitude remains vague and even shows clear favoritism towards Jiang Yifan, turning a deaf ear to his accusations of Ye Xinyan violating propriety.
Everyone knows that Jiang Yifan has a close connection with Prince Yu.
When the Ministry of Revenue’s account books appeared, Jiang Yifan was the pri suspect, yet the emperor, far from holding a low-ranking official accountable for conspiring against the Crown Prince, plans instead to transfer Jiang Yifan out of the Ministry of Revenue.
Xing Yuyue said dejectedly, "I’m afraid His Majesty already favors Prince Yu as the heir to the throne."
Xing Zhonghe, eyes wide in shock, had always mingled with the likes of Jinrong since youth but gradually distanced himself under his grandfather’s insistence on orthodoxy.
But now, his grandfather tells him that His Majesty favors Jinrong to inherit the throne. So what was the point of all his previous distancing? The estranged childhood friendships would beco a deep rift, even less than strangers seeking to affiliate with Jinrong now.
Xing Yuyue was also helpless; he had miscalculated this ti.
He insisted on orthodoxy, partly because the ascension of the legitimate heir was a rule left by their ancestors, which would most favor a stable transition for the dynasty. He also hoped for a prosperous and stable Great Xia Dynasty.
Another reason was his desire for rit in supporting the rightful ruler. Previously, when Prince Yu wasn’t in the picture, although Prince Fu seed aggressive, he saw that the emperor was using Prince Fu to polish the Crown Prince, intending for the Crown Prince to develop a sense of urgency.
Therefore, he was confident that the throne would ultimately belong to the Crown Prince, allowing him to ensure decades of honor for his less remarkable descendants and the Xing family.
But he had it wrong. Perhaps from the mont Prince Yu left the capital a few years ago, when the disgraced legitimate granddaughter of Duke An, Ye Xinyan, returned to the capital, things began to change.
Indeed, that year, near the end of the year, Ye Xinyan stepped forward to help Prince Yu establish and operate the railway carriage. From then on, many craftsn’s statuses and the developnt of manual industries began to rise.
Today, the railway carriage has beco a major mode of transportation in the capital, not only fast and convenient but orderly, greatly alleviating the chaos of various vehicles recklessly crossing paths.
Xing Yuyue said, "His Majesty has always hoped that during his reign, the court could flourish once more, and he himself could make significant achievents. That Jiang Yifan’s wife could surpass His Majesty’s expectations in this regard."
The businesses and workshops managed by Ye Xinyan greatly aided the emperor’s vision. Even if many tasks were not fully completed in the emperor’s ti, if the next monarch continued them, achieving a splendor never seen before, Emperor Qianqing’s groundbreaking contributions would surely be recorded and passed down through history.
In this regard, Prince Yu has more advantages than any other prince in ascending to the throne.
The three remained silent for a long ti, then Xing Bin said, "If the Crown Prince starts pulling himself together now, and you and the ministers who insist on orthodoxy make an effort, there might be a turnaround."
Xing Zhonghe also said, "Yes, indeed, the Crown Prince has been the heir for nearly forty years, and even his influence among the populace is significant. You could persuade the Crown Prince to uphold His Majesty’s principles and aspirations."
Xing Yuyue sighed, "Where are there still many ministers insisting on orthodoxy? His Majesty has in his possession all the correspondences of the officials linked to the Crown Prince; not many can stay uninvolved. Even if the scope is too vast to deal with all officials, they might have no room for discourse."
Perhaps the people of the Xing family should adjust their strategy, make so changes, appropriately accommodate the emperor, and possibly even curry favor with His Highness Prince Yu, or even Duke An.
Just thinking about having to bow down to a rival he struggled against for a lifeti made Xing Yuyue feel like his insides were shifting.
...
When Duke An returned to the mansion, his granddaughter was already waiting for him. She was smiling and watching her grandchildren frolic around in his study, completely ignoring that it’s a place for discussing military and governntal affairs of the highest-ranking nobility.
Duke An’s face darkened, "You still know how to co back? Your husband left loose ends, and you only know to co and see this old man now!"
"Grandfather." Ye Yuan ignored Duke An’s grim face, rushed forward with a grin, startling Duke An into hurriedly bending down to catch her.
Ye Xinyan, looking indifferent, stepped forward to bow and said, "Is that necessary? With your battle prowess, Grandfather, even if Jiang Yifan indeed left so loose ends, they wouldn’t stump you. Of course, I know you, Grandfather, you must be planning to extort soone."
"You girl!" Duke An could only say that much before he couldn’t continue.
Fortunately, despite her words being sowhat harsh, they displayed imnse confidence in him.
"Your grandfather was pushed to the limit by Old Thief Xing, and the emperor just sat aside, watching this old man charge the front lines for him. Let tell you, it’s all because of your good husband and Prince Yu that this trouble arose. You must find a way to redeem your grandfather. Otherwise, don’t expect to provide any assistance to him in the future!" said Duke An, embracing Ye Yuan, with a dissatisfied expression seated at the head.
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