The things Yun Shuyao brought back—they didn’t feel anything was amiss. When Chen Yu heard of his uncle’s plans, it actually stirred Chen Yu’s own thoughts: “Uncle wants an external posting. I also have this kind of thinking. I want to go to places where there’s more one can accomplish.” Places where parent officials could accomplish more were generally impoverished places without large households.
He wasn’t going to local places to enjoy himself—it was just that the current atmosphere in the capital had given rise to thoughts of going outside to do practical work. Hearing this, Yun Shuyao felt somewhat reluctant but didn’t oppose.
Going to the grassroots level was necessary. His starting point was already high enough.
“Have you spoken with your father? If you’ve made up your minds, Yiniang won’t stop you. It’s just that the child is still small—leave him at home.” In remote places, other matters aside, the medicine and doctors there couldn’t compare to the capital. If something happened to a small child on the road, regretting until one’s intestines turned green would be useless.
Chen Yu was somewhat surprised, yet also seemed not so surprised. Yiniang agreed so readily. Looking at it this way, the real difficulty lay with Grandmother—she would most likely be reluctant.
As for Father, Chen Yu was quite confident. He smiled: “Yiniang, you agreed just like that. It makes your son’s heart feel somewhat melancholy. I haven’t even left yet, but I’m already reluctant.”
Yun Shuyao waved her hand: “When you go out and have matters you can’t get away from, Yiniang has nothing going on. If I miss you, I’ll go see you. What’s there to be reluctant about?”
She could even visit more places. On the road, there might even be “unexpected gains.”
Chen Yu couldn’t help but laugh. Yiniang’s way of thinking truly differed from ordinary boudoir women.
Yun Shuyao asked about the current situation in the capital.
How to put it? For certain princes, this recent period had been truly eventful. As for Second Brother-in-law, the Fourth Prince’s side—he hadn’t expressed any intention to participate in the succession struggle, yet quite a few people came to his manor to present gifts. However, his style was consistent as always—main gate tightly closed, not giving those people any opportunity to enter, let alone anything else.
Yun Shuyao: “Has Second Elder Sister sent out any messages?”
Chen Yu shook his head: “No.”
Perhaps Second Elder Sister herself now didn’t know whether the Fourth Prince had thoughts in his heart. If the Fourth Prince didn’t want people to see through him, others would find it very difficult.
Even if she knew, this wasn’t news that could fall into others’ ears.
Yun Shuyao nodded.
Chen Yu didn’t hope to see the current scene. The Emperor was already aged, Crown Prince deposed, other princes stirring restlessly—this wasn’t beneficial to court stability.
Chen Yu also didn’t want to gain the new Emperor’s trust through dragon-following merit. If the Emperor established a Crown Prince who could peacefully wait until the Emperor’s death, then the Crown Prince ascended, power transitioning smoothly—how good would that be?
Unfortunately, this was the most ideal state.
Only… now there were also many people striving for this ideal state, submitting memorials requesting the establishment of a new Crown Prince.
There were also people who came to him, hoping he would also express his position together. Chen Yu naturally wouldn’t take a position, but some people couldn’t be dissuaded.
On the Lin family side, the highest official position was their branch. Other clan members held office, but positions weren’t high. Currently the highest was still a prefect in a remote area. Plus not being in the capital, this made them even less involved in so-called factional position issues.
The ones Chen Yu spoke of as “couldn’t be dissuaded” were naturally the Jia family.
“They came to lobby us to join under the Eighth Prince.” Chen Yu sighed. “They’ve been very active this period.”
Yun Shuyao even felt some pity for the Jia family. First they stood on the Crown Prince’s side, now they stood on the Eighth Prince’s side, very actively moving about for him. Two bets placed, neither result correct. The one who ultimately ascended to the throne was the Fourth Prince—that Fourth Prince they’d initially looked down upon somewhat.
Other matters aside, when Jia Yuanchun served as lady historian beside Imperial Consort De, Yun Shuyao had truly worried she would give up the palace and then choose the Fourth Prince. This was most convenient—she need only please Imperial Consort De to be bestowed there.
But she didn’t, and neither did the Jia family, because they fixed their eyes on the person sitting on the throne. In their view, the Fourth Prince would at most be a prince.
Yun Shuyao nodded: “They’re confused. Just deflect it. Have you had contact with the Fourth Prince recently?”
Chen Yu: “Not recently.” This period was rather sensitive. Previously they still went farming fairly often, together with eldest brother-in-law.
He’d even used seeds Yiniang gave him.
How to put it? Yiniang’s efforts over such a long time weren’t without results. Some plants produced particularly full grain, but only individual ones. Moreover, often the second year they’d revert to original form. Furthermore, defects were also unstable. From the same bag of seeds, some were cold-resistant, some drought-resistant, some not pest-resistant, some only grew shoots without bearing fruit, some required enormous amounts of water and fertilizer…
He’d been truly attracted by seeds with excellent performance among them, but… defects always accompanied advantages, becoming chicken ribs.
Such seeds couldn’t be promoted.
When Lin Ruhai returned, he also inquired about Yun Shuyao’s gains this time, and also concerned himself with the health of Yun Shuyao’s parents.
Yun Shuyao revealed a little: “Their bodies are healthy. This time I discovered an unexpected pleasant surprise on the estate. Next year, let’s see—if luck is good, next year we can see results.”
Lin Ruhai smiled and nodded: “I look forward to your surprise.”
Yun Shuyao then spoke with him about her younger brother’s eldest son’s marriage matter. Lin Ruhai immediately went through suitable candidates in his mind: “I know about this matter. I’ll keep watch.”
Yun Shuyao smiled. In officialdom, political stance was very important. Having him screen first, then select among them—this way was much more convenient, also less likely to step on landmines.
Then there was Yun Heng wanting an external posting. Lin Ruhai softly sighed. If possible, he also wanted an external posting for a period, waiting until the dust finally settled before returning.
However, this was just thinking about it.
Subsequently, Chen Yu mentioned he also wanted an external posting. Lin Ruhai’s brows furrowed. Looking at his son once, confirming he wasn’t joking, he was silent for a while: “Don’t speak of this matter with your grandmother first. Let me think it over properly.”
Wanting to go serve as a local official was easy, but what kind of place to go to required careful consideration. As for Mother’s side… he’d first sound things out.
Lin Ruhai had just finalized a sixth-rank assistant prefect position in a certain place for Yun Heng when another major event occurred in court. The Emperor had everyone nominate Crown Prince candidates.
As these words emerged, ministers became agitated.
Some people were beside themselves with joy, felt they saw hope, felt this was the optimal moment to promote their master’s ascension.
Some people, like the Eighth Prince, were excited yet anxious, gathering with the Ninth Prince, Tenth Prince and others to discuss—could Imperial Father’s words be true?
Some people, like the Fourth Prince—he and his advisors closed doors to deliberate all night. Then he firmed his thinking. He didn’t believe Imperial Father had become heartless toward Second Brother, nor did he believe Imperial Father wanted to delegate power. He couldn’t stand out.
After the Fourth Fujin learned of it, she also couldn’t sit still. She had someone go request he come over. Wanting to speak but hesitating, ultimately she still didn’t ask: “Master, staying up late harms the body. This concubine had someone prepare soup. Please taste it, Master.”
The Fourth Prince casually nodded. He naturally saw through Fujin’s hidden excitement and agitation. He was also excited, but his reason repeatedly reminded him he needed to be calm, couldn’t take one wrong step. So he drank the soup, said nothing, then got up to see his two sons in the outer courtyard, checking their studies. This calmed him down. These two children of his both had mediocre talent.
Then he went to Ce Fujin’s side.
Seeing him arrive, Luo Yu, holding her daughter, performed courtesy to him, revealing a joyful smile: “Master has come.”
Then Luo Yu raised the hand of the daughter in her arms: “Second Young Miss, look who’s come—it’s your Father.”
“Father!” The youngest daughter’s childish voice made the arc at the corner of the Fourth Prince’s mouth soften somewhat. Every time he came here, he could see the scene of Huaizhen accompanying the child. Moreover, because she stayed in the room, her hands and head would be relatively plain—worried those jewelry pieces would hurt the child. Among these people in the rear courtyard, Huaizhen was most devoted to the children. She often personally attended to caring for the children. Perhaps it was also her personal attention—these two children she raised also had the sturdiest bodies, tiger-headed and tiger-brained, making people happy just to look at.
Luo Yu understood very well what was meant by cultivating feelings. Even between birth father and son, if they spent little time together, feelings would also fade.
She and younger brother from childhood hadn’t lacked closeness with Father. So even if the Fourth Prince initially held to the idea of holding grandchildren not holding children, he couldn’t resist children’s soft sweetness and honeyed words. Then holding and holding, the saying about holding grandchildren not holding children was quietly forgotten.
He dismissed the servants, holding his daughter in his arms, speaking with her. He quickly relaxed: “Tell Father, what did you do today?”
…
Yun Shuyao learned from her son’s mouth what happened in court. The Emperor solicited everyone’s opinions at grand court, having ministers nominate. The result—the vast majority nominated the Eighth Prince.
Did the Emperor truly establish the Eighth Prince as Crown Prince?
No.
The Emperor went back on his word, saying: “The Eighth Prince has never experienced affairs, recently also incurred guilt, and moreover his maternal family is also very base and lowly.” Being denied like this, the Eighth Prince vomited blood on the spot.
Then the Emperor turned around and said he dreamed of Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, restoring Second Prince Yinreng as Crown Prince.
Yun Shuyao: “…”
She wasn’t in court, but at this time she could also imagine those ministers who’d nominated the Eighth Prince’s expressions.
Emperor, you said let everyone choose. Everyone took it seriously, chose one person. Then you turn around and push out the former Crown Prince.
Yun Shuyao sighed. The Eighth Prince being so “what everyone hoped for” truly wasn’t a good thing.
While she sighed here, the Fourth Prince at this time was also in his manor. As soon as he returned, he entered the study, picked up a brush and began copying Buddhist scriptures. Writing and writing, he chuckled aloud.
The Eighth Prince’s manor was a scene of complete silence. The manor’s servants didn’t dare breathe heavily, afraid of angering their master. Previously so many people nominated their master—they’d also believed their master was most likely the new Crown Prince. As a result, now the Crown Prince was restored. How would the Crown Prince view it, what would he think?
When the Crown Prince ascended in the future, could they still obtain good endings?
Others who’d nominated the Eighth Prince thought the same. The Crown Prince wasn’t a magnanimous person. Those who were previously Crown Prince faction members were even more uneasy. The Eighth Prince was the Crown Prince’s younger brother. The Emperor was still present now—in the short term, there shouldn’t be incidents. What about them?
If the Crown Prince wanted to deal with them, he fundamentally needn’t wait!
Jia Zheng first learned of this news and was startled, then came to seek Mother’s advice in complete disarray. Hearing it, Grandmother Jia’s heartbeat skipped half a beat: “Truly?!”
Second Madam Wang used a handkerchief to wipe sweat from her forehead: “Truly. The imperial edict has been issued. Please quickly think of a solution.”
Grandmother Jia’s hands and feet were ice cold. Opening her mouth wanting to say something, she felt she couldn’t catch her breath. Then her vision went black. Amid Jia Zheng and Second Madam Wang’s alarmed cries, covering her chest, she slowly collapsed—”Quickly, someone come!”
“Quickly go summon a doctor!!!”
At this time, she absolutely couldn’t collapse!