Yu Jin calmly dismissed the officials who had come to offer congratulations. Only then did he receive the imperial edict delivered by an attendant who had squeezed through the crowd. This finally confirmed to the old Chief Steward that he wasn’t dreaming.
As the gates of the Prince’s mansion closed, the old Chief Steward clutched Yu Jin’s sleeve, tears streaming down his face. “This old servant offers congratulations to the Prince… no, to His Highness the Crown Prince…”
Yu Jin felt somewhat weary and said helplessly, “Chief Steward, why don’t you go inside and wash your face?”
He hoped the old man would calm down after washing his face, as it was rather unsettling to have an elderly man crying in front of him.
The old Chief Steward gripped Yu Jin’s sleeve even tighter.
He didn’t want to go inside and wash his face; he hadn’t finished being excited yet.
The Prince had become the Crown Prince. Would those surnamed Dou dare to make a sound in front of him now?
This was truly a moment of triumph!
The old Chief Steward felt his life was complete. How could he possibly go inside to wash his face?
Yu Jin forcefully pulled his sleeve free and said coolly, “Then I’ll go inside and share this news with the Princess Consort.”
“Of course, of course,” the old Chief Steward replied repeatedly.
Yu Jin strode towards Yuhe Garden, shaking out his crumpled sleeve.
The old Chief Steward stared intently at Yu Jin’s retreating figure.
Stewardess Ji waved her hand. “The Prince has gone far. What are you still looking at?”
The old Chief Steward came to his senses and said with a sigh, “Stewardess Ji, do you think our Princess Consort has the fortune to bring prosperity to her husband?”
How else could they explain the Prince suddenly becoming the Crown Prince? Was it just because the Prince was good at fighting?
Stewardess Ji nodded, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. “It must be so.”
Given how the Princess Consort only wanted to be close to the Prince and had no interest in managing the household affairs, what else but innate good fortune could explain their current situation?
The old Chief Steward and Stewardess Ji exchanged a glance, both sighing.
One couldn’t help but submit to fate.
As the officials departed in grand procession, the news reached the ears of various noble households.
At that time, Prince Qi was copying Buddhist scriptures.
Patience is like having a knife suspended over one’s head; years of endurance were not easy to bear. In recent days, Prince Qi has been passing time by copying scriptures to keep himself calm.
Upon hearing the news, a blob of thick ink dropped onto the paper, ruining the nearly completed scripture.
“Your Highness—”
“Get out!”
The door was quickly closed. Prince Qi gripped the brush tightly, snapping it in half and piercing his palm, drawing blood.
Yet Prince Qi felt no pain. He pounded the table repeatedly.
Seventh Brother had been named Crown Prince?
How was this possible? Father Emperor must have gone mad!
What about the Empress Dowager? Wasn’t she at odds with the Empress? Why hadn’t she stopped Father Emperor?
That letter said the Empress Dowager would help him, but how much time had passed before Seventh Brother became Crown Prince? Could someone tell him how exactly the Empress Dowager had helped him?
Could anyone tell him?
Prince Qi swept everything off the desk with force, collapsing amidst the mess on the floor, lost in a daze.
“Why, why… it’s impossible, impossible…”
The servant outside dared not enter, his scalp tingling as he listened to Prince Qi’s muttering.
The Princess had gone mad; surely the Prince wouldn’t go mad too?
In Prince Lu’s mansion, Prince Lu supported his chin with one hand while rubbing his backside with the other, grimacing as he said, “Damn it, I nearly broke my ass falling.”
The Princess Consort of Lu was no less shocked than Prince Lu, but she maintained her composure, slowly fanning herself. “Why is Your Highness so agitated? It’s not as if you were the one named Crown Prince.”
Prince Lu grabbed the Princess Consort’s hand, squeezing it tightly. “Seventh Brother! It’s Seventh Brother!”
The Princess Consort frowned, guessing, “Do you feel happy for Prince Yan because of your close relationship?”
Prince Lu’s mouth twitched. “Bah! Who’s happy? Aren’t you shocked? If Seventh Brother can become Crown Prince, what about me?”
He was even older than Seventh Brother!
The Princess Consort, fearing that Prince Lu’s agitation might harm the child in her womb, protected her belly and said coolly, “Being a Prince is quite good for you. Let’s just be content with what we have.”
Prince Lu rolled up his sleeves, then let them down again dejectedly.
Fine, if it weren’t for this woman being pregnant, he would surely teach her a lesson.
A husband is like heaven. Is this how one should speak to heaven?
Prince Shu was cradling a cricket cage, preparing to challenge Prince Kang to a duel, when he heard this shocking news.
Prince Shu’s hand went slack, and the cage fell from his embrace. In the blink of an eye, the cricket inside disappeared into the grass.
The servant following Prince Shu hurried to chase after it, shouting, “The cricket has escaped—”
Prince Shu leaned weakly against a tree, his face pale as he muttered, “What cricket escaped? It’s the position of heir apparent that has escaped…”
Prince Shu instinctively looked up.
The sunlight was bright, filtering through the dense leaves, piercing his eyes so he could barely keep them open. He felt like crying.
He had only planned to take things slowly; how had he lost the position of Crown Prince?
Father Emperor was too much, giving no hint of this beforehand.
What should he do now?
The servant who had caught up with the cricket came running back with the cage, carefully calling out, “Your Highness—”
Prince Shu rolled his eyes, asking woodenly, “Where’s the cricket?”
“We found it!”
Prince Shu was silent for a long while, then sighed, “Let’s go to Prince Kang’s mansion.”
He might as well go duel crickets with Uncle Prince. The money earned was the most real thing.
As for that position, he hadn’t given up. Hadn’t Yu Lang been Crown Prince for decades before being deposed? Let Seventh Brother be smug for a while; he’d find another opportunity.
Yes, just endure a bit longer.
Prince Shu tried hard to console himself. Thinking of the hefty sums he had won from cricket fights these past days, he suddenly didn’t feel so bad.
Walking out of the Prince’s mansion gates, Prince Shu stopped in front of the stone lions and suddenly became alert: Wait, he had accepted Seventh Brother becoming Crown Prince so quickly—was his mindset a bit too good?
Some officials who weren’t eligible to attend court learned the news of Prince Yan being named Crown Prince even later.
“Congratulations, Lord Jiang.”
The superior and several colleagues poured in, all offering congratulations to Second Master Jiang.
Second Master Jiang was somewhat bewildered. “What’s this about, gentlemen?”
“Prince Yan has been named Crown Prince!”
The teacup in Second Master Jiang’s hand fell, landing squarely on his foot.
He paid no attention to the pain, taking a moment to collect himself before cupping his hands to his superior. “This official requests leave.”
Without waiting for his superior’s approval, he ran off.
Second Master Jiang sprinted into the Hall of Kindness.
Old Madam Feng was somewhat surprised. “Why such haste? Has something happened?”
“Big, big news!”
“What news exactly?” Old Madam Feng’s heart skipped a beat, and she stood up involuntarily.
Second Master Jiang caught his breath and said, “Prince Yan has become Crown Prince!”
Old Madam Feng collapsed back into her seat, clutching her clothes to avoid fainting from excitement. She spoke rapidly, “Quick, call the Earl here!”
Shortly after, a maid returned to report, “The Earl left early to fight crickets and hasn’t returned to the mansion yet.”
Old Madam Feng froze.
Recently, a strange trend of cricket fighting had swept through the capital from who knows where. She had scolded her eldest son countless times for indulging in such a frivolous pastime.
Now she couldn’t scold him for wasting time anymore—her eldest son had become the father-in-law of the Crown Prince!
“What are you standing there for? Go outside and invite the Earl back.”
After sending all the servants away, mother and son were left staring at each other.
“Fourth Girl has become the Crown Princess?”
“The imperial edict has been issued…” Second Master Jiang stared at his fingers in a daze.
He hadn’t counted his fingers for nothing!