Chapter 925: Chapter 761: Wishful Thinking

In the entire Capital, which young nobleman would be willing to marry that wooden person? It would probably feel just like servants reporting to their master when offering even basic care and concern. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Moreover, there was previously talk of letting him choose his own main wife and concubine, but now the Emperor has directly appointed the candidates, so how is it still his own choice?

The thing that troubles Prince Jing the most is that Father Emperor has some unknown intentions in mind.

Could Father Emperor not know that Li Wei is Xia Qing’s minion? Yet he still matched him with Li Wei, could it be a move to weaken Xia Qing’s power?

But how could Father Emperor be sure that Li Wei, being fickle as he is, would choose to side with me?

Moreover, if I were to truly bring Li Wei into my fold, how would it benefit Father Emperor that I am increasing my power? What advantage does it bring to Second Brother, the Crown Prince?

Prince Jing does not believe that Father Emperor still considers him uninterested in power and indifferent to court politics. After all, Father Emperor must have had doubts already because of the issue with the main wife’s selection last time.

Though unsure of Father Emperor’s exact plan, Prince Jing understands his father’s temperament very well.

Every action Father Emperor takes has deep meaning, constantly scheming, otherwise, he could not have held the throne securely.

The public says Xia Qing is a favored minister, but is the truth really so? In his view, Xia Qing has become the Grand Secretary also due to Father Emperor’s generosity.

Indeed, it is generosity. Father Emperor treats Xia Qing like a cat playing with a mouse, offering a little sweetness after teasing, so the mouse will eagerly and willingly be played with again.

When not pleased, he doesn’t want to dirty his own hands. He lets those usual cronies confront the cat while he lazily watches from behind the scene.

Prince Jing sneers, pitying those cronies and the cat who still believe they hold importance in Father Emperor’s eyes!

Pretentious in their daily swagger, they even dare look down on me, a bloodline of the Imperial Family.

They forget that within them runs the blood of the Royal Zhao, and one day, I will show them who truly is the master of this world.

After calming himself slightly, Prince Jing brought his thoughts back to the matter at hand.

The choice of Li Wei’s eldest daughter was one made with Father Emperor’s careful deliberation and must serve a particular purpose. He can’t quite figure it out yet, and will need to think it over.

And why did Father Emperor appoint Second Brother as Crown Prince, instead of Eldest Brother? What reason lies within?

In light of the Emperor not visiting Guangning Palace yesterday, Prince Jing feels it is not simply to appease Princess Consort Jing and humiliate the Empress.

Recalling the palace rumors, Prince Jing chuckles coldly, thinking the Empress might suspect he was behind it!

But trivial matters like this don’t interest him at all, and such rumors barely affect the Empress, so why would he bother with such thankless efforts?

Suddenly, a flash of insight came, and he sat up straight.

Sitting beside him, Xiao Chengzi was startled by Prince Jing’s sudden movement, and when he sneaked a glance at his master, he saw a piercing gleam in his master’s eyes.

Then Prince Jing’s lips curled into a smile; so, it seems Father Emperor is not too pleased with Second Brother either!

"Your Highness! You haven’t eaten since yesterday, how can your body endure?"

Xiao Linzi looked worriedly at his master, trembling and trying to persuade him in a small voice.

Sitting in the study, staring out the window, the Eldest Prince paid no heed to Xiao Linzi’s words. After yesterday’s court session, he had been feeling a bit down.

He had even claimed illness to avoid attending this morning’s court, causing Xiao Linzi much concern.

The once high-spirited, energetic prince now appeared lifeless and unkempt.

The Eldest Prince didn’t want to hear anything, didn’t want to care about anything, he just wanted to sit quietly.

"Your Highness, at least eat something?"

Seeing no reaction from the Eldest Prince, Xiao Linzi had no choice but to quietly withdraw, planning to return in half an hour to try again.

Though outwardly looking dejected and lifeless, the Eldest Prince’s heart was in chaos.

Ever since learning that Second Brother had become Crown Prince, what did he feel? Anger, resentment, disappointment — naturally, all of those.

He didn’t know how he managed to congratulate Second Brother while seething with such profound resentment and anger.

But he couldn’t express his rage, couldn’t show any dissatisfaction, and had to smile and congratulate, exhibiting his magnanimity.

Because the court officials were watching, Second Brother and the others were watching, and Father Emperor was watching.

As the eldest, he was supposed to set an example. This is what Father Emperor frequently mentioned, and has always emphasized in his teachings.

Compared to Second Brother and the others, he used to think Father Emperor favored him the most.

Father Emperor’s meticulous teachings, were they not to prepare him for the future as Crown Prince? Wasn’t that why Father Emperor invested so much care?

He thought? It was all just what he thought. Now that he ponders, when had Father Emperor ever promised him anything?

It was all wishful thinking, all his extravagant hopes.

But if there was never any plan to make him Crown Prince, then why did Father Emperor treat him with such care and favoritism?

Having given him hope, and then plunging him into the depths of despair.

Why did Father Emperor not treat him coldly, as he did with Second Brother and the others? He couldn’t understand. He suddenly realized that he never truly understood Father Emperor, he could never see through him.

It turns out everything Father Emperor did before was a facade, was it all just to protect Second Brother, using him as a shield?

The Eldest Prince clutched his forehead, unwilling to admit that this was Father Emperor’s intention.

Yet now he has to admit, this is the reality, it is the truth.

The Eldest Prince’s body quivered slightly, and after a long while, he finally lifted his head, his eyes crimson red.

"Summon Mr. Bian over," he instructed coldly to the man in dark clothing who had appeared silently in the room.

In sharp contrast to the Eldest Prince’s desolation, the study in the Third Prince Mansion looked as if it had been ransacked.

"Ah! Your Highness, please calm down, we need to quickly think of a plan, being angry won’t resolve the problem!"

Seeing the Third Prince in a rage, everyone else in the room dared not approach.

However, the Third Prince, seemingly blinded with rage, had even killed a maidservant just now, acting nearly frenzied.

There’s no guarantee he won’t grow even angrier, lose his reason, and vent his fury upon them.

As the favored figure beside the Third Prince, You Guangzong, under the urging of other people’s glances, had to summon the courage to step forward and dissuade him.

In truth, You Guangzong now deeply regretted his choices; being introduced by his clan into the Third Prince Mansion as an adviser was something he now cursed.

Yet now he cursed his kin who recommended him, had he known back then how impulsive and wrathful the Third Prince was, treating lives like ants, how could he have dared to become an adviser in the Third Prince Mansion?

He was truly deceived by his kin, blinded by the mansion’s glory and wealth back then, otherwise, how could he have ended up in today’s perilous situation?