Along with Prince Jing and his heir, Prince Qi and others rushed in.
Prince Jing’s heir, young Chun, had been the Crown Prince’s son just a few months ago. Having grown up in the palace since childhood, he felt incredibly close to Emperor Jingming rather than fearful like young Fu.
After properly greeting Emperor Jingming, young Chun gazed at him with admiration and said in his crisp voice, “Imperial Grandfather, I’ve missed you.”
Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingming nearly shed tears.
He wasn’t sure if these bastard sons who came to see him were truly concerned or just pretending, but he knew young Chun’s words were genuine. This had always been his most beloved grandson, Crown Prince’s son from birth. He never imagined the position would go to someone else…
Emperor Jingming glared fiercely at the deposed Crown Prince.
It was all because of this beast’s misdeeds that such a good child as young Chun was forced to leave the palace and live in such a desolate place as Jing Garden.
Ignoring his sons, Emperor Jingming smiled kindly at young Chun: “Come here, Chun.”
Young Chun approached, carefully examining Emperor Jingming’s complexion: “Imperial Grandfather, I heard you were ill. Are you feeling better now?”
Emperor Jingming smiled and said, “Much better.”
His face had a waxy yellow tint, half-true and half-false, and he felt some guilt facing the child’s concerned eyes.
“If Imperial Grandfather is well, then young Chun is at ease,” young Chun said, speaking like a little adult as he handed over a paper package.
“What’s this?”
Young Chun explained seriously: “Osmanthus candy. After taking medicine, Imperial Grandfather can suck on a piece, and it won’t taste bitter anymore.”
Emperor Jingming felt deeply touched. He took the osmanthus candy and patted Young Chun’s head: “Young Chun is truly a good child.”
Prince Jin watched as Emperor Jingming ignored a large group of princes, showing favor only to young Chun. He secretly nudged young Fu.
Young Fu retreated even further back.
Prince Jin was both anxious and angry, but unable to express it in this situation. He could only watch helplessly as young Chun won the face of the deposed Crown Prince.
Prince Qi was even more envious.
The Third Brother’s son simply didn’t know how to curry favor, while he didn’t even have a son to do so.
Thinking this, Prince Qi’s hatred for Prince Jin deepened.
“Does young Chun like Jing Garden?” Emperor Jingming asked, feeling quite emotional.
Young Chun thought for a moment and said, “I like it, and I don’t like it.”
“Oh? Why is that?”
“Jing Garden is bigger than the Eastern Palace. In winter, when it snows, we can catch sparrows and play hide-and-seek everywhere,” young Chun said, his eyes sparkling.
His joyful expression was completely genuine.
Emperor Jingming grew more curious: “Then why don’t you like it?”
Young Chun suddenly fell silent, and after a while, he said softly, “Imperial Grandfather isn’t in Jing Garden…”
Emperor Jingming froze, his eyes moistening.
The deposed Crown Prince glared at young Chun: “Don’t speak nonsense!”
After glaring at young Chun, he said to Emperor Jingming, “Father, young Chun is just a child who doesn’t know better. Please don’t mind him.”
Emperor Jingming retorted irritably, “I think young Chun is more sensible than you!”
The deposed Crown Prince, having been scolded, rubbed his nose sheepishly and fell silent.
Prince Jin coldly observed the affection Emperor Jingming showed towards young Chun, his heart inexplicably sinking.
Could the deposed Crown Prince regain his position through young Chun?
This thought flashed through Prince Jin’s mind, but he secretly shook his head.
Impossible.
Deposing the Crown Prince wasn’t child’s play. How could he be deposed and then reinstated on a whim?
He was overthinking due to his concern.
However, after Emperor Jingming hadn’t attended court for several days, a memorial suddenly stirred up huge waves.
Some officials proposed reinstating Prince Jing’s heir, Young Chun, as the Crown Prince’s son.
This proposal was quite delicate.
Emperor Jingming was in his prime. If he were to bypass the Crown Prince and establish the Crown Prince’s son, it was evident that after Emperor Jingming’s passing, the Crown Prince’s son would directly ascend the throne.
It was reported that Emperor Jingming stared at this memorial for a long time without saying a word.
The officials who had been wavering between Prince Jin and Prince Qi, recently leaning towards Prince Jin, once again became uncertain.
When there’s a legitimate heir, establish the legitimate; when there’s no legitimate heir, establish the eldest. But Prince Jin, who held the “eldest” position, was unimpressive himself, and his birth mother was of low status. This was why they had been swaying towards Prince Qi.
If they were to reinstate the Crown Prince’s son, it seemed better than choosing sides between Prince Jin and Prince Qi.
Young Chun was Prince Jing’s eldest legitimate son, with the blood of the Emperor and Empress Yuan flowing through his veins. Among the imperial grandsons, none were more noble than him.
Moreover, young Chun had been raised from childhood according to the requirements of the Crown Prince’s son. His etiquette, knowledge, and insight were unmatched by other imperial grandsons. It could be said that he far surpassed his father, Prince Jing.
Directly establishing the Crown Prince’s son didn’t seem bad at all…
For a time, the calls to establish Prince Jing’s heir as the Crown Prince’s son grew louder.
Ever since these calls began, Prince Jin, who had thought his position secure, couldn’t sleep well for several days. He wanted nothing more than to kill the first official who made this suggestion.
But the calls had already started, and killing anyone wouldn’t help—Prince Jin suddenly had an epiphany, a thought bursting from the depths of his heart.
Who said killing someone wouldn’t help? What if Prince Jing’s heir died?
Just like with him and Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother had the upper hand, but with Prince Qi’s wife’s miscarriage, he immediately became the losing party.
Sometimes, a person’s life or death can indeed change the situation at crucial moments. It was true for Prince Qi’s wife’s unformed child, and even more so for Prince Jing’s heir.
Having already tasted success, Prince Jin couldn’t resist this temptation.
Killing Prince Jing’s heir was a good way to nip the problem in the bud, a shortcut to success, much easier than his painstaking efforts elsewhere.
Once the evil thought arose, it quickly fermented in his heart into a vast ocean, boundless and endless.
Prince Jin began to scheme in secret.
The entrance to Prince Qi’s mansion had been quiet for some time. Prince Qi sat in his study, smiling as he sipped his tea.
It seemed Third Brother had taken the bait.
His trusted advisor flattered him, “Your Highness is truly clever. Just by sending an anonymous letter to Censor Liu, reminding him that the Crown Prince’s son could be reinstated, you’ve made Prince Jin lose his composure…”
Prince Qi smiled and murmured, “It’s not that Prince Jin is impatient, but that the temptation is too great…”
That position, when it seems within reach, who could remain unmoved?
If it were him, he would probably eliminate the biggest threat without hesitation.
Besides, Prince Jin had already made a move once, so one more time wouldn’t make a difference.
Prince Qi began to anticipate what Prince Jin would do.
The incident with Young Chun happened in Jing Garden.
In April, Jing Garden was in full bloom, the scenery breathtakingly beautiful. It happened to be the deposed Crown Prince’s birthday.
Because of Marquis Lu’s demotion, everyone realized anew the deposed Crown Prince’s position in Emperor Jingming’s heart. Additionally, with the growing calls to reinstate Prince Jing’s heir as the Crown Prince’s son, all the princes came on the day of the deposed Crown Prince’s birthday.
Yu Jin, determined to go with the flow, naturally attended such an occasion.
Hearing hurried footsteps and cries about Prince Jing’s heir falling into the water, he immediately rushed with the crowd towards the lake in Jing Garden.
Young Chun had already been pulled out of the water. His eyes were tightly closed, and his abdomen was severely swollen.
Prince Jing’s wife had long lost her dignified demeanor. Like any mother who had lost her beloved child, she was wailing and screaming hysterically.