As night fell, within the Yan mansion.
Yan Shifan, holding a lamp, said leisurely, "Xu Jie has finally drafted a memorial. This has now been forced into the Western Garden office. Li Bin and the others should inform Lü Fang. However, the next steps are rather difficult... The Emperor is not ordinary. Nowadays, even the Crown Prince can strike people. How can one expect anything good from the Emperor?"
Luo Longwen nodded in agreement, stroking his beard. "Young Cabinet Minister, let's not press further tomorrow. The Directorate of Ceremonial will most likely refuse it. Fortunately, we already have the memorial draft. If the Directorate refuses, they will be in the wrong. Why don't we just wait and see?"
Zhao Wenhua, who usually spoke little but was shrewd in his observations, chimed in, "In my humble opinion, this performance is still not enough. Should we not stir things up with Yang Bo as well?"
At this, everyone's gaze turned to Yan Song.
Old Yan Song, with a half-smile on his face, said slowly, "Go ahead. When the critical moment arrives, words will be of no use."
Luo Longwen immediately responded, "Exactly! Young Cabinet Minister, we should create some momentum. If the Directorate of Ceremonial refuses the memorial draft, isn't that shielding a treacherous official? Let everyone in the world discuss it and see where the truth and falsehood lie. As for Liaodong, it will naturally be stirred when the time comes, and that time is drawing near!"
Yan Shifan, having experienced setbacks over the past two years, had corrected many of his old habits. His youthful intelligence was almost fully restored. After a moment's thought, he devised a good plan and said calmly, "How about this: let's do both. On one hand, the people of the world will discuss it; on the other, the Tatars. Only then will it make sense! Otherwise, what's the point of all this discussion?"
He paced a few steps and added, "We must also go to the Western Garden, but not directly. First, we circle the city, and then we go. When we arrive, we won't make a scene, we'll just sit there! Is sitting also illegal? All matters, big and small, in the Six Ministries' offices should also be suspended! What time is it, and we're still working?"
With a sudden burst of applause, several people laughed. They suddenly felt that this father and son were extraordinary individuals, capable of stirring up a storm with just a few moves.
The next day, led by the Yan family, they circled the outer walls of the palace city, attracting the gaze of countless commoners, before slowly entering the palace.
Upon reaching the vicinity of the Western Garden, they did not approach but sat down tens of feet away. One to two thousand people, a truly spectacular sight.
Concurrently, the Six Ministries' offices were also largely paralyzed, with no one working. Most people dared not cause trouble; since everyone was causing trouble together, no one would be blamed individually. They were quite happy to watch from the sidelines.
After several days, the atmosphere in the capital had completely changed. Everyone felt a strange and eerie ambiance, hiding some dangerous variables.
On this day, in a secret residence in the capital, Prince Yu hurried in.
Mu Zhaobi had been waiting for a long time. The moment they met, he rushed forward and whispered, "Your Highness, something has happened! That Prince Jing has been taken away by the Emperor!" The book pavilion
Prince Yu did not worry about other things, his only fear was that something would happen with Prince Jing. The commotion among the officials was, at worst, a temporary matter. Once suppressed, they would all obey. As for Zhu Mo, he was naturally insignificant, having already made a bad name for himself. What he feared was that Prince Jing was not mad!
At this moment, this statement was like a bolt from the blue!
"Him? He's faking it?"
Although Mu Zhaobi had not confirmed it, his heart was clear, and he no longer had any doubt. "In my opinion, he's most likely faking it, and the Emperor probably knows."
Yin Tai, Zhang Er, Zhang Rong, and Wu Jijue were instantly startled.
Zhang Er quickly knelt down and said, "I am incompetent! I failed to see that he was faking it! Please punish me, Your Highness!"
Prince Yu waved his hand, sighed deeply, and said eloquently, "It's not your fault. Prince Jing is the most cunning and mischievous. I saw him a few times when he was young, and he learned to feign illness early. Mu Zhaobi, being a prominent figure, said solemnly, "Your Highness, I followed from Anlu to Jingzhou, and then crossed the river to Nanyang. I had news along the way, but when I reached Nanyang, his traces suddenly disappeared. I rushed north overnight to pursue him. After coming out two to three hundred li, I realized I had likely been tricked. Prince Jing should have gone down the river. Currently, is he in Nanjing?"
Prince Yu shook his head. "No, the Emperor has brought him to the capital. In my view, he's probably hidden away."
As he spoke, his heart grew colder and colder—Prince Jing's return meant the final moment had arrived!
The events in Jiangyou were merely a fuse. Once the fire started, it quickly got out of control. Now, all parties had committed themselves, and there was no turning back.
With this thought, he suddenly remembered Zhu Mo and murmured, "That Zhu Mo is indeed somewhat extraordinary. As the situation has progressed to this point, he is the one who has remained detached."
Mu Zhaobi, having spent months with Zhu Mo, naturally knew the young man and sighed, "Although this person is in the eye of the storm, he has instead become an observer from across the river. He has remained out of sight, truly patient..."
With this thought, he also understood that this was now a showdown—Prince Jing's return meant he would replace the Crown Prince!
There was no longer any doubt about this!
The only variable was when the Emperor would play this card.
He was always a seasoned warrior. At this moment, without any cards in hand and completely passive, his innate sense of crisis immediately erupted. A fierce resolve surged through him, and he declared decisively, "Your Highness, we cannot delay! I propose we strike first and seize the Yan family's vital point! It will be too late if we wait!"
The four were instantly stunned—vital point?
Prince Yu had some inkling and asked, "What do you mean?"
Mu Zhaobi said sternly, "Tie up the Yan family's grandchildren!"
Huh?
The four were immediately terrified—these people who fought battles all day were truly ruthless!
To strike and capture people immediately. Mu Zhaobi continued, "Yan Song values family affection greatly. If we capture his two grandsons, we will have a bargaining chip... Otherwise, Your Highness is in the spotlight but completely defenseless. The consequences are unimaginable!"
Prince Yu had always been surrounded by weak individuals. Hearing the words of a military man, his blood immediately surged, and a surge of strength filled him. He smiled and said, "Duke, I also understand that this is a critical moment. You may proceed with your plans!"
He suddenly felt full of confidence and then said to the other four, "You all, if you have any good ideas, speak them!"
The four understood that since Prince Jing had been brought back by the Emperor, the situation had completely changed. For their side, it meant the situation had reached its worst possible outcome; the worst-case scenario they had previously envisioned was merely Prince Jing being chosen to succeed.
Among the four, Zhang Er was cunning, Zhang Rong was steady, Wu Jijue was brave, and Yin Tai was meticulous. Although not top-tier talents, they were not weak among the current officials.
Zhang Rong had already had an idea. He said now, "Your Highness, the Duke speaks wisely... We had discussed this before. Prince Jing has the Emperor and the Yan family's influence behind him. Once news of Prince Jing's return circulates, the grievances between the Yan family and the Emperor will be exposed. This will give us room to advance or retreat... In my opinion, at this moment, since it is a turning point, it is also a time for peace talks. If Your Highness approves, I would like to visit the Yan family personally."
Oh?
Mu Zhaobi pondered for a moment and applauded, "Excellent! Duke Ying, an astute suggestion!"
He continued, "Your Highness, at this moment, if Duke Ying takes the news of Prince Jing's return to the Yan family, it can at least test the Yan family's attitude towards Prince Jing. If the Yan family supports Your Highness, then so much the better; if the Yan family is ambiguous, then there must be a treacherous plot!"
He paced a few steps and added, "As the art of war says, one is surprise, one is orthodox. When Duke Ying goes to negotiate, we will seize the Yan family's descendants. This is the best strategy!"
Good!
Clap, clap, clap!
Several people applauded simultaneously.
Prince Yu sighed, "Old Mu, it's fortunate you are here. After their disturbance, I was indeed a bit impatient... Now, it's good that we are acting with a plan."
Mu Zhaobi said, "Your Highness, as Duke Ying just said, now that Prince Jing has returned, we are no longer in the eye of the storm. Your Highness can let them stir up trouble. For these past few days, the Six Ministries' offices have become mere formalities. I have heard rumors from the Ministry of War that the Tatars have also made a move... I believe a massive storm has already begun. We must all be extremely cautious. Well, Your Highness should probably not go to the palace anymore?"
Prince Yu thought for a moment and nodded. "Indeed. Since they are all resorting to ruthless tactics, I am also in danger. Duke, your consideration is thorough."
After discussing for a while, everyone felt that the situation was truly bizarre and unpredictable. Ever since that Zhu Mo appeared, the Great Ming Dynasty had undergone earth-shattering changes over the past two years.