In a certain sense, Beauty Qi's thoughts and considerations were not entirely wrong.
Eastern Palace
At the third quarter of the Hai hour, the lights in the Crown Prince's study had yet to be extinguished. Before the desk, Xiao Ye, clad in plain black robes with silver-thread cloud-patterned trim, sat upright, a slight frown creasing his brow, seemingly deep in thought.
As the lamplight flickered, a young palace servant dressed as a eunuch hastily replaced the tea. After waiting a mont, he finally gathered the courage to step forward and whisper a reminder:
"Your Highness, there is morning court tomorrow. Perhaps Your Highness should retire earlier!"
"What ti is it now?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, the Hai hour passed not long ago," the attendant cautiously replied.
Raising his head to glance at the sky, Xiao Ye did not hesitate further. He soon rose from the desk. As he moved, the green jade pendant at his waist swayed almost imperceptibly.
As a prince, at least for the first dozen or so years of his life, Xiao Ye's daily routine had been quite regular. Especially after becoming Crown Prince, to avoid giving the impression of being overly eager to seize power and overly ambitious, the lights in the Crown Prince's study rarely burned past the Hai hour.
Let alone remaining lit all night.
Today would be no exception.
On the way back, the young eunuch still carefully held the lantern. Seeing His Highness remain silent for a long while, he finally mustered his courage to speak softly:
"Actually, in this humble servant's view, although His Majesty's heart is tied to the Noble Consort, he truly places great hopes in Your Highness. As for Prince Ning..."
*Ahem*, those who understand, understand. Over all these years, whenever it cos to this matter, with His Majesty's current obsession with the Noble Consort, being willing to die or live for her, it's highly unlikely the Crown Prince position would fall to another.
In terms of literary strategy and military prowess, in terms of ability, who with eyes can't see that it is our Highness who truly surpasses all the princes, possessing the genuine qualifications for the Eastern Palace.
So, you see!
"Your Highness truly need not worry excessively."
Besides, although His Majesty has recovered now, given the previous situation, who knows how long he can last!
He couldn't possibly, for the sake of so-called 'love' for the Noble Consort, stubbornly hold on for a dozen or even several decades!
Thinking of this, in the darkness, the little eunuch subconsciously twitched the corner of his mouth. This was too much, practically a dark joke.
Anyway, this business of feelings and love, he, Little Chengzi, didn't understand it, nor did he comprehend it.
A single coincidence was one thing, but he didn't believe this stuff could truly possess such imnse power.
In the middle of the night, the cicadas' chirping had not yet ceased.
As his words fell, the Crown Prince rely glanced at him faintly. That single glance imdiately silenced the little eunuch, who dared not utter another word.
Under the moonlight, the bamboo shadows in the small courtyard slanted slightly, also stretching human shadows to great lengths.
The Crown Prince looked up, his gaze inadvertently touching upon the high, suspended bright moon overhead.
Just like that person seen that day, beautiful, pure, clear, radiantly glowing, like a unique, peerless rare treasure one wished to hoard.
But so what?
The corner of Xiao Ye's lips unconsciously lifted slightly.
In fact, regarding the Crown Prince position, he harbored no doubts, let alone excessive worries.
Everyone in the palace, including his own mother, had believed that His Majesty's earlier act of deposing and appointing the Crown Prince was a "mont of clarity," a final act of helplessness.
But being in the midst of it, Xiao Ye understood in his heart that His Father, from the very beginning, had been clear-headed. Especially in his treatnt of the several princes.
Love for a house extends to the crows on its roof? Not necessarily!
Third Brother was, at best, rely an accessory of the Noble Consort.
Appointing him as Crown Prince was to better instruct him, to consolidate power early for Third Brother. But for His Father, what was important was that his beloved Noble Consort would not face a bleak old age in the future.
But deposing Third Brother was never a whim; it was an inevitability. Once it was discovered that no amount of instruction could mold him to satisfaction, Third Brother's deposition was already destined.
Just like over these years, with the Crown Prince established, His Father could have raised the other princes to be incompetent, or at the very least, openly or covertly suppressed or even dismantled his power base, paving the way for the future Crown Prince.
Although, given Third Brother's temperant and ability, such actions would inevitably lead to powerful ministers dominating the court in the future, the throne might still be passed on relatively peacefully.
But no! None of that happened.
From that ti, Xiao Ye understood that His Father had already made a choice in his heart.
Compared to emotions, the state and society ultimately held the upper hand.
It was just that even he hadn't expected this deposition to take so long.
However, thinking of that incident that day, the Crown Prince was not so surprised anymore.
This also reaffird for him that in His Father's heart, the Noble Consort was the absolute priority...
Third Brother, *hah*!
Similarly, there were the current rumors.
Did they truly affect him?
Inevitably, yes. Judging the son by the mother is not an empty saying. A mother so ruthless and cruel, acting so arrogantly the mont she gained so advantage, it's hard not to suspect her son is the sa.
But these, to be honest, in Xiao Ye's view, as the Crown Prince personally appointed by His Father, their influence was ultimately limited.
To a certain extent, while these rumors coated the Noble Consort with a layer of protective talisman, they might not be entirely bad for him personally.
Since ancient tis, establishing an heir has always involved considerations of legitimacy, seniority, and virtue. But what about Third Brother himself? He didn't qualify for any of the first three.
After this battle, this forr Crown Prince was nailed to the pillar of sha labeled "Reliant on a favored birth mother, inherently difficult to polish."
The son of a favored consort has always been looked down upon by upright scholars and renowned gentlen.
Moreover, everyone under heaven knows that His Father loves the Noble Consort to this extent, yet still painfully deposed her son from the Crown Prince position. What does that signify?
Between him and Third Brother, who is virtuous and who is not, the superiority is imdiately apparent!
Even if, out of consideration for His Father, he would act to curb these rumors sowhat, he would definitely not go too far.
It's just Mother's side...
After a mont of silence, the Crown Prince suddenly turned his head:
"Suxin, rember to relay to Mother later that His Father is wise and perceptive, definitely not soone to be deceived. Furthermore, this matter concerns His Father. I hope Mother can exercise patience for now."
Sure enough, the next day, upon receiving the ssage from Linghe Palace, and raising his eyes to look at the palace servant before him, who wore a warm, amiable smile without a trace of dissatisfaction:
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, please rest assured. Her Ladyship understands the situation. By the way, when this servant ca over today, Her Ladyship specifically entrusted to convey to Your Highness: Please act with utmost caution, and do not, on account of Her Ladyship, incur His Majesty's displeasure."
After the person left, within the room, Xiao Ye suddenly let out a soft laugh.
Truly worthy of being *this one's* mother.
It was really... he wasn't the least bit surprised.
Standing with his back to the window, the Crown Prince thought to himself:
If not for that previous incident, that kind of eagerness, that naked ambition laid bare, he might have almost believed it.
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