20demayo Chapter 510 The Emperor's Purpose
Chapter 510 The Emperor's Purpose
"Really? Third Brother's down?"
"Yes, Master. He has been imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court by His Majesty. We don't know what his final fate will be."
"Heh, what else can be done? They might end up like the boss. It's a miracle they're still alive."
"Could it be that serious?"
"What do you think? Three large ships carrying gunpowder into the capital, what's their plan? Third Brother is really useless, I haven't even made a move yet and he's already been taken down, sigh... what a pity..."
The Fifth Prince didn't really feel sorry for him; he just felt that Heaven was on his side and that Heaven was helping him!
I originally intended to follow the third brother and gradually work things out, but who would have thought that the third brother would mess things up so badly!
The people in the Water Transport Bureau were incredibly stubborn; they actually brought the matter to the Emperor's attention.
It seems I'll have to be more careful in the future and try to avoid dealing with the Water Transport Bureau.
Just as the Fifth Prince was secretly pleased with himself, a servant rushed in to report: "Master, His Majesty has sent someone. He heard that you have been getting close to the Third Prince recently and wants you to come to the palace."
The Fifth Prince's smile vanished instantly. Had he really shot himself in the foot?
I should have just let the third brother cause trouble himself, and stayed behind the scenes...
Sigh... But I really don't know anything about gunpowder. I guess Father was just asking.
It would be a lie to say that the Fifth Prince was not flustered at all; he never expected that the Third Prince's crime would implicate him.
Fortunately, I only expressed my opinion and pretended to take sides without taking any real action, otherwise I would have gotten nothing but trouble.
The Second Prince's Palace—
"The fifth brother is indeed much smarter than the third brother. The third brother's business is too big. On the surface, there are no loopholes or mistakes, but in reality, if one thing is done, it will affect the whole situation."
"The Third Prince's business is indeed very large, and when trouble comes, many people will come to his aid. The Fifth Prince is indeed good at hiding his true intentions, but this also limits his development."
Jiang Xiaoqi pointed out the strengths and weaknesses of the two, which also made the Second Prince think about himself and how he should proceed in the future.
Should they remain hidden in the shadows, plotting their moves slowly? Or should they reveal themselves to the world, gaining the approval of His Majesty the Emperor and the court officials?
"Sir, I understand what you mean, but now is not the right time. The third son has just entered the Imperial Clan Court and nothing has been decided yet."
The fifth prince went to the Imperial Study and escaped unscathed. I should focus on consolidating my strength now, lest they have another chance to band together and attack me.
Jiang Xiaoqi nodded; it wasn't impossible.
After all, the Third Prince was only essentially imprisoned, and his ultimate fate was uncertain. So many people were working tirelessly for him, and the Emperor's attitude remained ambiguous.
He seemed very angry and locked the person up immediately, but after locking them up, he didn't punish them, letting the Third Prince's men jump around, begging and pulling strings.
"His Majesty's attitude is not hard to guess."
"Oh? Please, sir!"
Jiang Xiaoqi didn't keep him in suspense and directly revealed her guess, leaving the Second Prince speechless with shock.
"If what you say is true, then Father is truly unfathomable, having everything under his control. Letting them run wild is just adding a few more accomplices to the mix."
"Well, so let's just go about our business and not worry too much. We'll probably see results in a while. Just look at the Fifth Prince's behavior; he's waiting too."
There are no fools in the royal family. After Jiang Xiaoqi said that, the Second Prince was reassured and trusted Jiang Xiaoqi even more.
"Those black fires have been taken over by the Imperial Guards, and I suppose the Fifth Prince can no longer access them, so I will stop sending people to keep an eye on them."
Of course, even if he could get in touch with him, he probably wouldn't be in the mood to cause trouble now, Your Highness can rest assured!
"Well, that's good. With the safety of the people in the capital no longer a concern, I can finally relax. Otherwise, I would always be worried and uneasy."
As the two were talking, Chen Lin brought in pastries and tea. It turned out to be snowflake pastries again, but this time it was a version that had been improved several times. He was thinking of giving Jiang Xiaoqi a critique when she was around.
"Is it snowflake crisp? Let the gentleman taste it and see how close it is."
Chen Lin placed the tray directly in front of Jiang Xiaoqi. The exquisitely crafted snowflake pastries looked almost identical to those Jiang Xiaoqi had brought.
Jiang Xiaoqi pinched a piece and put it in her mouth. Hmm, it seemed to be the right texture, but it was a bit too sweet.
Jiang Xiaoqi loves to eat snacks, but she doesn't like them too sweet. The more she chewed, the sweeter they became, so she had to quickly pick up her teacup and rinse off the sweetness.
"Well, it's not bad, it's already seven or eight parts like it, but there's a bit too much sugar. However, His Highness likes sweets, so it should suit His Highness's taste."
Hearing this assessment, the second prince was not disappointed and immediately picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.
"Huh? It seems it's almost done. Brother Lin, reward these chefs and tell them to use less sugar next time, since the master doesn't like it too sweet."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Chen Lin did not correct the Second Prince's way of addressing him in front of Jiang Xiaoqi. After all, they were family, and it was fine for the Second Prince to act wildly from time to time. It showed their closeness, didn't it?
.
"Your Majesty, it is late at night, you should rest."
Only the Grand Eunuch dared to say such things to the Emperor; other palace servants dared not offer any advice and could only stay up all night with the Emperor, burning the midnight oil.
"What time is it?" Emperor Zhao Yong stretched his aching neck.
"It's almost 9 PM." The head eunuch then gently massaged the emperor's shoulders and neck.
"Sigh, tell me, am I a failed father?"
"Why do you say that, Your Majesty? You have done what a ruler and father should do. All the princes have grown up safely, and the Great Zhou Dynasty has enjoyed favorable weather and peace under Your Majesty's rule."
Throughout history, how many emperors have been able to achieve this? What then is the point of discussing failure or not?
The head eunuch spoke sincerely, but Zhao Yong was reminded of his troublesome son.
Are they in such a hurry? The eldest brother is like this, and the third brother is the same. Everyone knows what Sima Zhao is up to; he's just not saying it outright.
Even though the fifth brother pretends to be incredibly well-behaved, he's got quite a few thoughts on his mind.
But if they had focused their efforts on the right path, how could he not have seen it? Is secretly engaging in underhanded tactics the behavior expected of a crown prince?
Especially the third brother, who actually transported so much gunpowder into Beijing. Who was he trying to kill?
Should we blow up his own father?! Or should we make all the people of Beijing die with him?
He has no mercy and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. What a fine son he is!
The black powder from three large ships could level the entire palace!
The third child can't be kept!
However, before dealing with him, we should first bring out all the monsters and demons around him. Since we're all in the same boat, we should die together, neatly and completely.