After being reborn as a man, the woman improved her family's fortunes through education.

Chapter 715 The year is approaching, and a storm is brewing.

After Laba Festival, time seems to have sped up, and suddenly it's almost the end of the year.

Since learning that his private army had been wiped out, the Fifth Prince has remained silent.

It wasn't that he didn't want to make any moves, but rather that he had lost most of his support.

If it weren't for the annual rewards given to the princes by the palace before the New Year, he might not have been able to catch his breath for a long time.

He only had a surplus after dismissing most of his most expensive staff in the mansion.

However, Song Jinyang did not leave, and Song Qingyu continued to live in the Fifth Prince's residence.

The brother and sister seemed to have made up their minds about the Fifth Prince, voluntarily reducing their expenses and refusing any benefits, as if they really only wanted a roof over their heads to shelter them from the wind and rain.

The Fifth Prince did not mention Na Song Qingyu again, letting her continue to be an old maid.

The Fifth Prince hasn't been going to the Ouyang family recently, because Ouyang Jue has already disappeared, and who knows if he might have secretly returned to the Ouyang family and turned around to accuse him?

The Ouyang family's path was cut off, the private army camp was destroyed, and the Fifth Prince's think tank was disbanded.

He suddenly realized that the cards he thought he held were crumbling one by one.

I'm not even as good as that brat, the tenth prince. At least the tenth prince has a powerful maternal family protecting him, so even if he doesn't fight for the throne, he can still live a good life.

If I don't fight for it, I'll only live a mediocre life like my mother did, dying without ever making a fuss.

But the Fifth Prince seems to have forgotten that if it weren't for his selfishness and ambition, his mother could have lived for many more years.

Now that the second prince has inexplicably become the crown prince, he realizes how cunning the empress is.

No wonder she never gave those illegitimate sons a second glance; it turns out she was confident that her mentally challenged son would become the crown prince!

Brilliant tactic, truly brilliant tactic!

But will the entire nation and all the officials submit?

Would they willingly let a mentally challenged child rule the Great Zhou for the next few decades?

Hmph, that's absolutely impossible!

The Fifth Prince held his teacup, remaining silent for a long time. Song Jinyang stood silently to the side, like a dutiful companion.

"Jinyang, do you think they're really going to be so patient and just let that fool secure the position of Crown Prince?"

"Your Highness, is it possible that everyone is holding back their anger? If someone else were the crown prince, everyone would probably be restless by now."

But precisely because that one became the crown prince, everyone assumed that he was only temporarily occupying the position and would eventually step down.

Let that person occupy the position for now. When the time is right, it's easier to remove a mentally challenged person than a capable successor, isn't it?

After Song Jinyang finished speaking, he stood aside like a statue, as if he had never spoken.

The Fifth Prince seemed to be awakened by these words, and his expression gradually changed from ashen to lively.

"Good, well said! That does seem to make sense!"

No wonder, no wonder the fourth, ninth, and tenth sons, whose families have considerable influence, haven't made any moves; it turns out they were all plotting something similar.

Let them fight it out; perhaps I can reap the benefits.

However, he still hasn't found out which organization was behind his private army.

Did the third brother deliberately leave himself a backup plan? Was he trying to sabotage himself?

Fortunately, I didn't let him off easy either. In a place like Lingnan, it's not easy for a person to survive for half a year. I made sure that my good third brother lived for a full eight months.

"Yes, Your Highness. So we need to think carefully about what to do. We can't become cannon fodder for others."

"Yes, that makes sense, but in my opinion, they won't stay quiet for long."

The New Year's banquet is in a few days; I don't believe no one will try to cause trouble during this time.

“Your Highness is right. We will remain bystanders and protect ourselves. Of course, if the time is right, Your Highness may also try to play the victim.”

"You mean, I should come to the Emperor's aid?"

You have no idea how capable the palace guards are; this kind of task is never left to anyone else.

Song Jinyang really didn't understand the palace's defenses. He was just talking about whatever came to mind. He had never been inside the palace, and even though the Fifth Prince had the opportunity to bring people in, he never thought of bringing him along.

Perhaps the Fifth Prince secretly felt he wasn't good enough for him.

However, it's impossible for him and his sister to turn around and find other powerful figures now, since there are very few princes in the capital who can be easily curried favor with.

The Third Prince genuinely valued the siblings' talents, while the Fifth Prince simply felt that it was too good to pass up such an opportunity.

The other princes in the capital either had powerful backgrounds or had no interest in the position, making it difficult for the brother and sister to even get close to them, let alone catch their eye.

These days, it's already a blessing to have a roof over one's head, enough to eat and wear, and servants to do one's bidding.

I'm not going to be a staff member for life. No matter who becomes emperor in the future, there's no rule that forbids me, a former staff member of the Prince of Wu, from taking the imperial examinations.

He felt that if he relied on himself, becoming an official was only a matter of time, and with his talent and learning, it was impossible for him to keep failing the imperial examinations.

At that time, I won't need to depend on anyone anymore, and I can stand tall with my sister.

"Yes, Your Highness, I was ignorant. Your Highness should consider your own safety first."

"Well, the New Year is approaching, so it's time to prepare a gift for Father."

"That's natural; I imagine the other princes' residences have also begun preparations."

"Hmph, they're all people who don't lack money, so they can just prepare whatever they want."

The Fifth Prince is admitting that he is poor. That makes sense, as all of his mother's belongings have long been sold off.

The Third Prince was very generous in maintaining his private army, after all, he had many profitable businesses, while the Fifth Prince's residence was indeed rather weak.

"Your Highness, when it comes to gifts, the sentiment is what matters. His Majesty the Emperor has seen all kinds of fine things and is no longer swayed by these external things."

"Hmm, that makes sense. Then I'll leave this matter to you two siblings. Go to the accounting office and get one hundred taels of silver later, is that enough?"

Song Jinyang was somewhat speechless, but he still accepted this extremely difficult task with a smile.

One hundred taels of silver to prepare a New Year's gift for the emperor? How could the Fifth Prince even say that? He has absolutely no shame.

"Yes, Your Highness will do your utmost to ensure that Your Highness's New Year's gift stands out among the princes!"

After Song Jinyang left, the Fifth Prince twitched the corner of his mouth. Of course, he knew that one hundred taels of silver couldn't buy anything.

However, since there are people to drive and it saves money, why not do something that only requires you to say a few words?

Regardless of anything else, he was a high-ranking member of the imperial family, and that was the right he had to make people run around for him without daring to complain!