“Why are you crying, Your Highness?” Minister Yang was bewildered by the former Crown Prince’s reaction.
The former Crown Prince looked at his father-in-law with tears in his eyes, his face showing lingering fear: “Father-in-law, you tricked me! I thought the falling flagpole had been pre-cut by someone you arranged, carefully calculated so that when it hit me, I would surely be fine!”
“But Your Highness is fine—” Minister Yang was at a loss for words.
The former Crown Prince complained indignantly: “I’m fine because of luck! I only rushed forward because I thought everything had been planned perfectly…”
Minister Yang was stunned, then carefully asked: “If Your Highness had known this was just coincidence—”
The former Crown Prince answered without hesitation: “Of course, I wouldn’t have risked my life! “
Minister Yang: “…”
The former Crown Prince was still angry: “If I had been killed, what good would the highest honors from Father Emperor do me? All this vast empire would just benefit others, and I would have died for nothing…”
Minister Yang wanted to cover the former Crown Prince’s mouth: “Your Highness, please say no more.”
What else could he say to this hopeless case?
“I know, I’m just talking to you, Father-in-law.” The former Crown Prince suddenly frowned and cried out, “Ouch! It hurts!”
Minister Yang stood up: “Your Highness should rest well. Many people will come to visit in the coming days. Before the good news is confirmed, use your recovery as an excuse not to see anyone, to avoid any complications.”
“Mm.”
Seeing the former Crown Prince’s distracted response, Minister Yang advised earnestly: “Your Highness, you’ve endured for so long, don’t ruin this favorable situation with a moment of carelessness…”
The former Crown Prince grew impatient with the nagging: “Father-in-law, you don’t need to keep repeating this. I’m not a child anymore. One lesson was enough—this time I’ll definitely stay low-key and wait properly until the day I’m restored.”
Minister Yang moved his lips, wanting to say that even after restoration he should remain low-key, but silently swallowed the words.
Such advice was premature and would only irritate his son-in-law.
Moreover, once his son-in-law became Crown Prince again, their relationship would change, and such casual remarks would no longer be appropriate.
In Prince Qi’s residence, Prince Qi closed his doors tightly, smashed a tea set to pieces, and punched the wall hard.
“Your Highness, be careful not to hurt your hand.” Princess Qi, having somewhat recovered her health, had returned to being the virtuous wife she was. Seeing Prince Qi’s state, she took out a handkerchief to gently wipe the blood seeping from his hand.
Prince Qi jerked his hand away, saying coldly: “What’s this minor injury? If it could save Father Emperor, I would willingly suffer injuries a hundred times worse than Second Brother—”
Princess Qi pressed her finger to his lips: “Your Highness, don’t say such things. Nothing is more important than your health—”
Prince Qi avoided her touch in his agitation, sighing: “But Second Brother’s one leap, though only resulting in some surface wounds, has earned him his restoration.”
Prince Jin had been demoted to guard the Imperial Tombs, and with the disaster in Qianhe County, appointing a Crown Prince was urgent.
He thought his opportunity had finally come, that he would see light at the end of the tunnel, but who could have predicted such an accident at the Imperial Ancestral Temple ceremony?
“Could it be… Second Brother is truly destined to be Crown Prince?” At this point, even Prince Qi couldn’t help but believe in fate.
No matter how determined he was, he was still human and naturally had moments of doubt and hesitation.
Seeing Prince Qi waver, Princess Qi quietly touched her belly, her gaze particularly resolute.
She had already sacrificed one child for her husband’s ambitions. There was no turning back now—even if her husband wanted to retreat, she couldn’t allow it. Her child couldn’t have died in vain. She must wear the Phoenix Crown to give her lost child closure!
“Your Highness, you’re wrong.”
Prince Qi was startled: “I’m wrong?”
“Yes, you’re wrong.”
“Tell me how I’m wrong.” Prince Qi saw only darkness ahead.
Even if the former Crown Prince was a fool, those who supported him were not.
He posed the greatest threat to the former Crown Prince. If the former Crown Prince was restored and successfully ascended the throne, there would come a day of reckoning. That would be truly tragic—his fate might be worse than Prince Jin’s exile to guard the Imperial Tombs.
Princess Qi led Prince Qi to the inner chamber. After they sat on the bed, she said: “If Prince Jing were heaven’s chosen heir, he wouldn’t have been born so foolish and incompetent. Think about it, Your Highness—Prince Jin was Empress Yuan’s legitimate son, of the highest birth, and was made Crown Prince from childhood. He didn’t need to be exceptional; even if he were merely average, he could have rested easy. Yet he proved to be utterly hopeless, disappointing Father Emperor countless times…”
Prince Qi couldn’t help but nod.
“If heaven favored Prince Jing, why would it make him so inadequate? He’s not heaven’s chosen one, which is why Your Highness has a chance.”
Prince Qi felt somewhat comforted, but sighed: “Yet he’ll soon be restored…”
Princess Qi smiled coldly: “So what if he’s restored? Prince Jing is so foolish—if he could be deposed once, he can be deposed again. Your Highness, what do you think would happen if Prince Jing were deposed after being restored?”
Prince Qi paused, then began to smile.
The first time he was deposed, Father Emperor still held paternal affection and gave him the title of Prince Jing. If there were a second time, he would likely never rise again.
Between him and the former Crown Prince, it was now all or nothing. If the former Crown Prince had no chance of recovery, that would be his true opportunity.
Prince Qi’s gaze toward Princess Qi softened as he held her hand: “Princess is right. I let disappointment cloud my judgment. While Father Emperor still has feelings for Prince Jing, forcibly bringing him down would only harm our cause. Waiting patiently is the safest approach.”
Princess Qi’s face lit up with a smile: “I’m glad Your Highness hasn’t lost heart.”
“Thanks for your reminder. When Prince Jing is restored as Crown Prince, remember to send him a generous gift.”
“Rest assured, Your Highness. I’ll handle everything properly.”
The next day, voices calling for the restoration of the Crown Prince immediately arose.
Emperor Jingming neither showed anger nor responded.
By the third day, the voices supporting restoration grew louder.
Those supporting this proposal had compelling reasons: Prince Jing had risked his life to save the Emperor at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, showing complete disregard for his safety, and demonstrating his pure loyalty. With the position of heir apparent vacant, people’s hearts were unsettled and disasters frequent. The matter of appointing a Crown Prince couldn’t be delayed further. Since Prince Jing had proven himself filial and pure-hearted and had served as Crown Prince for over twenty years, could there be a more suitable candidate?
Restoring him as Crown Prince was the people’s collective wish.
The calls grew stronger each day, and Emperor Jingming’s hesitant heart softened gradually.
On the sixth night after the calls for restoration began, Emperor Jingming suddenly awoke, feeling lost about the scene in his dream.
He had dreamed of Empress Yuan.
Though the details of the dream were fuzzy, a faint sadness lingered.
The next day was clear and sunny. When the officials once again raised the topic of restoring the Crown Prince, Emperor Jingming finally nodded.
“Granted.”
The court officials rejoiced, praising the Emperor’s wisdom.
Emperor Jingming slowly rose from his dragon throne, gazing into the distance.
Wisdom?
He could only hope this decision wasn’t a mistake.