The Emperor gave him a deep, penetrating look before dismissing him with a wave of his hand. Mu Wuyin left Qianyuan Hall and went straight to find Shen Zaiye.
“With Prince Heng’s legs crippled, he likely won’t covet the position of Crown Prince anymore,” he said, looking at Shen Zaiye. “Is my position finally secure?”
Shen Zaiye’s face held a hint of hesitation, but he nodded slightly. “At present, no one is more suitable to be Crown Prince than you.”
“Does the Prime Minister have something else to say?” Mu Wuyin frowned, noticing his expression. “Are there still any problems?”
“Have you considered His Majesty’s thoughts?” Shen Zaiye sighed. “Although Prince Heng’s injury won’t be blamed on you, the Emperor will inevitably have some concerns.”
Reminded of the Emperor’s earlier words, the Crown Prince quickly said, “Prime Minister, you’re truly perceptive. Father indeed seemed to blame me somewhat, and his words were quite harsh. What should I do?”
“You should be kinder to Prince Nan,” Shen Zaiye advised. “If His Majesty has reservations about you, your care for your brother might change his view.”
“But…” The Crown Prince pursed his lips and frowned. “Although Prince Nan doesn’t aspire to take the throne, he’s still a prince. If I’m too good to him, won’t I be nurturing a potential threat?”
“That’s for Your Highness to weigh,” Shen Zaiye smiled. “The Emperor is in his prime. You’ll likely be Crown Prince for at least another decade before having a chance at the throne. Who knows what might happen in that time?”
A decade.
Mu Wuyin could barely contain himself. “I can’t wait that long. Father has been Emperor for over twenty years. Isn’t that enough?”
“Your Highness!” Shen Zaiye’s face darkened. “Don’t speak so recklessly!”
Such thoughts should remain unspoken, yet he dared to voice them aloud.
Mu Wuyin startled slightly, quickly composing himself. He bowed, saying, “I spoke without thinking. Please, Prime Minister, pretend you didn’t hear that.”
“I can certainly pretend I didn’t hear it, but if His Majesty learns of these thoughts, you’ll lose more than just the position of Crown Prince,” Shen Zaiye said sternly. “You must not entertain such ideas again.”
“I understand,” the Crown Prince nodded, smiling as he changed the subject to discuss other matters.
However, the idea had taken root in his mind like a watermelon seed, quickly sprouting and growing tendrils.
Shen Zaiye understood the Crown Prince’s thoughts but could only pretend not to. After talking for a while, he prepared to leave the palace.
As he was leaving, Mu Wuyin asked, “How is Meng’er?”
“Don’t worry, Your Highness,” Shen Zaiye smiled. “In half a month, you’ll surely see her standing before you, safe and sound.”
“I trust you, Prime Minister,” the Crown Prince said gratefully. “I’ll be waiting. Please take good care of her.”
“Of course,” Shen Zaiye nodded and strode out of the Eastern Palace.
With Prince Heng’s incident, the Emperor had been quite reproachful towards the Crown Prince, recently not allowing him to attend at his side. Instead, he kept Prince Nan in the palace, occasionally debating Confucian governance with him.
If it were any other prince, Mu Wuyin might have been wary. But seeing it was Mu Wuxia, who always argued heatedly with the Emperor, he paid it no mind. Instead, he began to seriously consider plans for the throne.
As summer drew to a close, Taohua ate fresh pomelos while observing the cunning smile on Shen Zaiye’s face across from her, unable to suppress a shiver.
“What devious scheme are you plotting now?”
“Hmm?” Shen Zaiye glanced up at her, smiling without mirth. “What did you say?”
“…I meant, seeing you so focused, you must be planning some grand strategy,” Taohua smiled, moving closer to feed him a pomelo segment. “Might you share some details with me?”
Shen Zaiye bit the pomelo, allowing her to nestle into his arms. He looked at the items on the table and said, “In half a month, you’ll be able to see the Crown Prince.”
Taohua was startled, somewhat surprised. “You intend to let me return to the Crown Prince’s side?”
“Do you want to go back?” Shen Zaiye looked at her teasingly, his eyes holding deeper meaning.
After meeting his gaze for a moment, Taohua guessed what he was thinking.
It likely wasn’t about returning her to the Crown Prince’s side, but rather letting her see him one last time. However, with the Crown Prince’s hand injury just healed and Prince Heng now crippled, how could Shen Zaiye be confident in bringing down the Crown Prince within half a month?
Looking down at the items on his table, she saw a register with many names. Her eyes immediately caught the words “Imperial Stable Master Qin Sheng.”
Qin Sheng was Shen Zaiye’s man, but he had become an Imperial Stable Master thanks to the Crown Prince’s promotion and had gained merit in the Emperor’s eyes. Now, for some reason, he rarely associated with the Prime Minister’s residence.
Above his name was an unfinished ink stroke, as if Shen Zaiye had intended to cross it out but stopped midway.
“What does this mean?” Taohua blinked. “Isn’t this person one of yours?”
“He is my man,” Shen Zaiye smiled. “But nominally, he’s now the Crown Prince’s man.”
Since he was the Crown Prince’s man, any trouble he caused would be the Crown Prince’s responsibility.
Taohua was confused. “Could you explain more clearly?”
“If you knew, wouldn’t that be troublesome?” Shen Zaiye chuckled, grasping her chin. “Wouldn’t you want to save the Crown Prince?”
Taohua was taken aback and quickly lowered her gaze. “How could I possibly snatch meat from your mouth? If you decide not to save him, I have no way to help.”
“Is that so?” Shen Zaiye looked at her playfully. “He was so good to you. Didn’t you develop feelings for him?”
Rolling her eyes, Taohua said, “The women in your household are all good to you too. I don’t see you developing feelings for them.”
Seeing the logic in her words, Shen Zaiye smiled reassuringly and lightly kissed her forehead. He whispered, “The Western Regions have gifted several snow wolves to the palace. The Emperor plans to display them for the court officials during the Autumn Harvest Festival. They’re currently being kept in the palace.”
Wolves?
Remembering the wolf pack she encountered when she first came to Great Wei, Taohua’s heart skipped a beat. She looked at him in shock. “You…”
“This was the Crown Prince’s idea. I tried to stop him,” Shen Zaiye said innocently. “He wouldn’t listen, so there’s nothing I can do.”
Taking a deep breath, Taohua covered her eyes. She had hinted to Mu Wuyin many times to be content as Crown Prince, to do nothing, and he would surely ascend the throne peacefully one day. But why was this man so restless?
The snow wolves were kept in Quyu Palace, far from the Emperor’s chambers and heavily guarded. It would be very difficult for them to escape.
However, Mu Wuyin was currently discussing with his advisors when to release the wolves.
“Has the Crown Prince decided?” One advisor bowed. “Once we act, we must be thorough. If the plan fails, neither Your Highness nor we officials will have any chance of recovery.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve made all the arrangements,” Mu Wuyin smiled. “The Captain of the Southern Palace Guard is responsible for palace security and has been informed. Once successful, he’ll be well rewarded. Now we just wait for the right moment. With one wolf whistle from Imperial Stable Master Qin, we can change the dynasty.”
How could he not seize such a heaven-sent opportunity? The gift of snow wolves from the Western Regions was perfect. If anything went wrong, it could only be blamed on poor palace security. If wild beasts killed the Emperor, how could future generations blame him? Once Father passed away, he, as Crown Prince, could legitimately ascend the throne, untainted by scandal, and become a good emperor for a new era.
Such opportunities were rare. With timing, location, and support all in his favor, and even the previously difficult-to-manage minister Shen Zaiye now under his command, Mu Wuyin could find no reason not to act.
Success or failure hinged on this one move!
The palace atmosphere was inexplicably tense. Mu Wuxia sensed it, standing at the entrance of Qianyuan Hall and glancing towards the Eastern Palace with furrowed brows.
“What is the Crown Prince planning?” he asked Shen Zaiye beside him. “I feel he’s up to no good.”
“This humble official doesn’t know,” Shen Zaiye shook his head innocently. “If you’re curious, why not ask him yourself?”
Giving him a deep look, Mu Wuxia said seriously, “I hope you’re not helping him do anything harmful behind the scenes.”
“Rest assured, Your Highness,” Shen Zaiye smiled. “This time, I’m not helping or supporting the Crown Prince’s actions. Good and evil have their rewards. It’s best to accumulate virtue and do good deeds.”
Accumulate virtue? Shen Zaiye? Mu Wuxia couldn’t help but laugh, shaking his head. “If you could lay down your butcher’s knife, the sun would rise from the west. I don’t expect you to do good deeds, just don’t harm the common people.”
“I understand,” Shen Zaiye nodded, watching the young man walk away with a straight back, cutting an impressive figure in his silver four-clawed dragon robe.
Children inevitably grow up, and Prince Nan’s growth seemed faster and better than he had anticipated.
Three days later, deep in the night at the Imperial Palace.
The guards at Quyu Palace had all been reassigned. With one wolf whistle from Qin Sheng, three snow wolves baring their fangs headed towards the Emperor’s chambers.
The palace was unusually quiet this night, with even the patrolling imperial guards nowhere to be seen. Emperor Mingde was tossing and turning in Consort Lan’s chambers, holding Lan Zhilan’s hand and asking, “What kind of child do you think Prince Nan is?”
Lan Zhilan was taken aback, saying with slight displeasure, “I don’t know much about Prince Nan and can’t judge.”
“But you don’t seem to like him very much.”
Naturally, she disliked anything Shen Zaiye favored. However… she still had to help, and fortunately, the way to help Prince Nan was to speak ill of him.
“Prince Nan is too young and always opposes you,” she said. “Of course, I don’t like him. Why have you been keeping him in the palace overnight recently?”
“His mother has passed away, and he’s not yet of age,” the Emperor sighed. “I want him to stay by my side more, to experience what it’s like to be loved.”
“Why bother?” Consort Lan shook her head. “He must be used to it by now. Showing him a favor now might spoil him.”
Seeing her pout as she spoke ill of the prince amused Emperor Mingde. He fondly pinched her nose and said, “You’re overthinking it.”
(End of Chapter)