The court was in turmoil, with officials from the Censorate continuously submitting memorials impeaching this person and that.
If anyone had paid close attention, they would have noticed that the impeached officials were all from Prince Chen's faction.
Prince Chen was currently away from the capital, sent to Tongzhou to inspect the granaries.
This provided an opportunity for his enemies to slander him.
Following this maneuver, many were affected.
In the court, some even directly targeted Shen Yun and Su Xiaoqi.
They were accused of harming the imperial heir, an act of treason punishable by extermination of the nine familial generations, and all their associates were to be imprisoned and investigated individually.
This was in contrast to their current confinement in the Imperial Prison without any action being taken.
Emperor Yongxing listened with a grim expression as the hall erupted in arguments.
His head pounded. He instinctively looked towards the center of the civil officials.
Shen Yun used to stand there.
But today, he saw no one.
Moreover, he desperately needed Su Xiaoqi's miraculous healing hands to alleviate his headache.
But now, there was nothing.
And the cause of all this was the officials from the Censorate.
He looked at them, seeming to recognize them yet also not, his head swimming. In a dizzying spell, he slumped forward.
Unfortunately, though he had fallen, his consciousness remained clear.
He heard the ministers still arguing noisily about something.
They said that he had always been in poor health, and for the sake of the Great Liang's centuries-old foundation, to be worthy of the ancestors of Great Liang, and to be worthy of the common people of the world,
He should immediately establish a Crown Prince.
"Establish a Crown Prince?" The Emperor Yongxing, who had appeared to faint, managed to sit up with the support of his eunuchs.
He took a pill.
The excruciating headache immediately subsided.
He sighed, lamenting that Su Xiaoqi's medicine was still the most effective.
The Emperor Yongxing, now clear-headed, looked at the cluster of officials surrounding him, who were repeating their call to "establish a Crown Prince."
He asked, "Do you truly wish to establish a Crown Prince?"
Many ministers looked at this scene in astonishment.
They had not expected the Emperor to be so resilient.
He had been staggering moments ago, yet with a shake of his head, he had recovered.
Now, unsure of what to say, and in a moment of hesitation, Emperor Yongxing spoke: "The matter of establishing a Crown Prince is fundamental to the nation. I permit you to discuss it."
Upon hearing this, those led by Wang Chengji immediately brought up Prince Zhou.
They claimed Prince Zhou possessed both talent and virtue, had endured hardships with the Emperor in Xijiang, and was diligent in handling state affairs, perhaps able to share some of the Emperor's burdens.
Emperor Yongxing looked at them, asking if anyone had differing opinions.
Today, he intended to see their true colors.
Many from Prince Chen's faction in the court also began to stir.
They felt this was a good opportunity, thinking that if they didn't speak up, Prince Zhou's ascension to Crown Prince might become a foregone conclusion.
But their attempts were suppressed by Du Wenqian, who stood at the forefront.
Du Wenqian looked at the scene unfolding in the Jinluan Hall, his heart tightening.
If it were just himself, upon hearing the Emperor's words, his first reaction would have been to respond.
But in this situation, Shen Yun had anticipated this.
He had predicted that after dragging him down, they would resort to such a move.
At this moment, they had to remain steady.
They should not easily mention Prince Chen.
Instead, they should use their pure hearts to support Emperor Yongxing in not establishing a Crown Prince for now.
They should simply say that he was still in his prime, and there was no need to establish one so early.
After suppressing his own faction, Du Wenqian began to flatter Emperor Yongxing.
He stated that both princes were still young and likely needed more time to learn.
Amidst the clamor to establish a Crown Prince, Du Wenqian's speech stood out as an anomaly.
Yet, it struck a chord with Emperor Yongxing.
Soon, those who were adept at reading the Emperor's mood discovered his true intentions.
They quickly shifted their allegiance, moving from praising Prince Zhou to praising Emperor Yongxing.
After this commotion, the matter of establishing a Crown Prince was once again left unresolved.
Prince Zhou became anxious. This entire affair was frustrating.
What had been a sure thing, just a step away from completion, was ruined by that man named Du.
He gave a look.
The officials from the Censorate in his faction immediately submitted memorials impeaching Du Wenqian.
A war of words thus erupted.
Emperor Yongxing, looking at the chaotic hall, angrily gestured for the court to adjourn.
Let them quarrel to their heart's content.
Prince Zhou, his attack having failed, felt a sense of loss.
However, upon returning to his manor, Zhao Xiaohua offered him another idea.
If the Emperor was unwilling to simply establish him as Crown Prince, it was because of Prince Chen.
Why not employ a strategy of undermining the foundation by assassinating Prince Chen, who was currently inspecting the granaries for Emperor Yongxing?
In this way, Emperor Yongxing would have no other choice.
This scenario was exactly like the past life.
At that time, Emperor Yongxing had appointed Liang Jingning as Crown Prince swiftly and decisively.
As soon as he ascended the throne, the first order of business was to appoint him Crown Prince.
But now, because of the existence of another imperial prince, he hesitated.
Therefore, it was time to help him.
Prince Zhou listened, hesitating.
He frowned, saying, "Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"
Killing Liang Jingchen was something he dreamed of.
The reason for his hesitation was his concern that the people around him lacked the necessary prowess.
"Your Highness, if you wish to ascend to that position, you must be ruthless. Otherwise, how can you maintain stability?" Zhao Xiaohua brainwashed him.
"If the strike is successful, then it's fine.
But if it fails, wouldn't you put yourself in an untenable position?" Prince Zhou harbored his own concerns.
Zhao Xiaohua realized she had misunderstood Liang Jingning.
It made sense.
He was not a person with a conscience to begin with.
Why would he overthink such matters at this point?
He was worried about not having capable individuals to carry out this task.
He was concerned about failure and being exposed.
"I will arrange for assassins. Your Highness only needs to reap the rewards," Zhao Xiaohua, driven by her own goals, offered her full support to Prince Zhou.
After discussing with him, she immediately disguised herself and left Prince Zhou's manor, arriving at a small courtyard nearby.
She knocked on the courtyard gate using a secret method.
At a glance, she saw Mei Niang sitting in the courtyard with Zi Yu, drinking tea.
She approached and said, "Sister Mei, enjoying such leisure?"
"This is hardly leisure for me. It cannot compare to your honor as a Princess Consort."
These words sounded a little off.
Zhao Xiaohua keenly sensed her unhappiness and asked if something had happened.
Mei Niang did not hide it from her and directly said, "The sisters of the 'Net' organization were all recruited by me.
They are either women who have met with misfortune or girls who have been abandoned.
Over the years, I have gradually placed them in the homes of the powerful and wealthy.
Either as concubines or as maids.
It hasn't been easy for them!"
Zhao Xiaohua understood; she was asking for benefits.
She smiled and said, "Sister Mei, your meticulous planning over more than a decade is even more arduous.
But you don't have to worry anymore. Our goal is about to be achieved."
"The goal, is it your goal or my goal?" Mei Niang asked directly.
Zhao Xiaohua was silent for a moment, then looked at Zi Yu, who was sitting beside Mei Niang, and frowned:
"I remember she is from the Shen family. Why is she here?"
Someone like an outsider should not be directly summoned by Mei Niang.
And judging by her demeanor, it seemed she held a high position within their organization.
"That is my business. You don't need to worry about it.
By the way, how is your matter progressing?" After venting her complaints, Mei Niang quickly regained her composure.
She calmly discussed the progress of her current endeavors with Zhao Xiaohua.
Zhao Xiaohua truthfully told her that she needed a few skilled operatives.
"Assassinate Prince Chen..." Mei Niang mused, touching her chin, and said, "Alright, I accept this task."
But what benefit would she receive after completing it?