Jiang Si didn’t go to pay respects at the Yining Marquis’s residence. The matter was neither big nor small; if no one spoke up, it would pass, but if meddlesome officials took notice, it could become troublesome.
The flurry of memorials and the officials’ attacks in recent days had already made Yu Jin suspect something was amiss. Now, with the most vocal official being demoted, it undoubtedly confirmed his suspicions.
“The Crown Prince must be bored out of his mind,” Yu Jin said, slamming his hand on the table. He asked Jiang Si, “Have we offended him?”
Jiang Si thought hard and shook her head. “Not yet, as far as I know.”
“That’s strange. I don’t have Fourth Brother’s good reputation, nor Sixth Brother’s favor. Why is he suddenly suppressing us for no reason?” Yu Jin pondered, tapping his fingers on the table.
Unable to find an answer, he took a sip of tea and said coldly, “Perhaps he’s just mentally ill. It’s only polite to return the favor. Since he’s treating us unkindly, I needn’t be courteous—”
Jiang Si shook her head. “Let it be. In my opinion, the Crown Prince is like a grasshopper after autumn – he won’t be jumping for long. We needn’t intervene; just wait and see.”
If events followed the trajectory of her previous life, on the winter solstice of the 19th year of Jingming’s reign, the Emperor would lead the royal clan and officials to the outskirts of the city for the heaven-worshipping ceremony, as usual.
But this time, a major incident would occur: A sudden snowstorm would force Emperor Jingming and his entourage to stay overnight at a temporary palace. The Crown Prince would sleep with Consort Yang, the Emperor’s favored concubine… Enraged, Emperor Jingming deposed the Crown Prince.
This would become the famous incident of deposing the Crown Prince in the 19th year of Jingming’s reign.
Later, the Crown Prince would be reinstated, and then deposed again, officially marking the beginning of a brutal, bloody struggle for succession.
Although Jiang Si wasn’t exceptionally clever, the fact that the Crown Prince could be reinstated after sleeping with the Emperor’s favored concubine indicated one thing: Emperor Jingming placed extraordinary importance on the legitimate son left by Empress Yuan.
It was only because the Crown Prince was truly beyond redemption that other princes eventually got the chance to fight for the throne.
The Crown Prince’s first deposition was imminent, but he would be reinstated afterward. The Emperor would still harbor fatherly affection for the Crown Prince in the short term, so there was no need to move against him now. Leaving any trace of such actions for the Emperor to discover would be unwise.
“It’s better to rely on ourselves than on heaven,” Yu Jin said.
“Ah Jin, for the sake of our children, let’s prioritize stability for now,” Jiang Si replied.
Hearing this, what else could Yu Jin say? He could only nod obediently.
Unable to vent his frustration, he headed straight for the training grounds after leaving Yuhe Palace, putting Long Dan through a grueling workout.
Long Dan lay on the hard ground, weakly pleading, “My Lord, please spare this lowly servant. Don’t you still have Leng Ying?”
Yu Jin glanced at Long Dan with disdain. “I see you’ve exhausted yourself gallivanting around Jinshui River.”
Long Dan sprang up like a carp. “My Lord, that’s pure slander! I’ve been to Jinshui River a few times, true, but that was to gather intelligence. What do you mean by exhausting myself? Am I that kind of person? I’m saving my energy to take a wife.”
Speaking of which, Long Dan grumbled resentfully, “You’ve married the Princess Consort and forgotten what it’s like for us bachelors. Even visiting Jinshui River is under scrutiny…”
“What are you muttering about?” Yu Jin kicked at him.
Long Dan dodged, clutching his backside. “My Lord, you can’t forget about us now that you have a wife. Your brothers are still single!”
Yu Jin paused, eyeing Long Dan.
Long Dan, feeling uneasy, slowly backed away.
“Come here,” Yu Jin commanded.
Long Dan approached with a forced smile. “Tell me what this is about first.”
Yu Jin raised an eyebrow and smirked. “You’ve learned to bargain with me?”
Long Dan came closer, looking miserable.
Yu Jin examined him, stroking his chin.
He’s fairly handsome, just lacking in character.
Long Dan looked wary. “My Lord, why are you looking at me like that?”
His master’s gaze was so strange…
“Want to get married?” Yu Jin asked.
Long Dan nodded vigorously, then realizing it seemed too eager, chuckled awkwardly.
Yu Jin frowned, remembering something: that girl was Ah Si’s cousin. If he matched Miss Dou with Long Dan, wouldn’t he have to call Long Dan “uncle-in-law” in a way?
Of course, such distant relations didn’t really matter, and no one would dare force him to use the title, but the thought still irked him.
Never mind, he’d find someone for Miss Dou whom he didn’t see often.
Last year, many young, talented men had returned with him from the southern border. Some were assigned to garrisons near the capital, which seemed perfect.
With this in mind, Yu Jin turned and left, leaving Long Dan dumbfounded.
Had he been too reserved, causing his master to change his mind?
To give hope and then not follow through – how was this different from leading someone on?
“My Lord, wait—” Long Dan hurriedly chased after him.
The days grew colder, and winter seemed to arrive in the blink of an eye.
People who had been busy throughout spring, summer, and autumn began to enjoy the leisure of winter, rarely leaving their homes. Even the imperial city became much quieter, with only the Golden Crow Guards patrolling back and forth in their uniforms.
Their only companions were the biting cold wind and bare trees.
“This cursed weather – it’s not even the winter solstice, and it’s already this cold,” one Golden Crow Guard said, his nose red from the cold as he rubbed his hands together.
Another guard smiled bitterly. “They say last winter was cold, but I feel this year is even worse. I wonder how many people will struggle to get by.”
Every winter, even in a prosperous place like the capital, many beggars would freeze to death, and many elderly wouldn’t survive to see spring.
“Enough, we don’t know about others’ hardships, but our lives are difficult enough,” the first guard said. Seeing two people approaching from afar, he sighed in relief. “Jiang Er and his partner are finally here for the shift change. We can go inside and warm up by the fire.”
Not far away, the Crown Prince, dressed in plain clothes, quietly asked the person beside him, “Is that the King of Yan’s brother-in-law?”
Receiving an affirmative answer, a cruel smile flashed across the Crown Prince’s lips as he strode forward.
No one dared to make loud noises inside the imperial city. The two guards waiting for their shift change waved at Jiang Zhan.
Seeing this, Jiang Zhan quickened his pace and turned to his companion with a smile. “They’re getting impatient. Let’s hurry.”
Before his companion could reply, Jiang Zhan noticed someone appear in front of him. He quickly tried to dodge but still bumped the person’s shoulder.
“I apologize—” Jiang Zhan said, then froze as he recognized the person.
This man looked like the Crown Prince…
Although Jiang Zhan had been with the Golden Crow Guard for some time, he had only seen the Crown Prince from afar twice. The man before him was in plain clothes, making it difficult to be certain.
Mistaking the Crown Prince’s identity would be disastrous.
The guard beside him had already bowed and cupped his hands, paying respects to the Crown Prince.
Jiang Zhan secretly sighed in relief and cupped his hands, saying, “This lowly official was careless. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince looked Jiang Zhan up and down and said coldly, “As a member of the Golden Crow Guard, you’re this clumsy? Is this how you ask for forgiveness from me?”
Every encounter with Seventh Brother had been unlucky. Recently, not only had he been scolded harshly by his father, but he had also lost a close official. If he didn’t vent this anger, he’d explode.
Today, he was determined to make Seventh Brother taste the bitterness of a silent grievance!