In the greenhouse of the Crown Prince's residence.
The originally gloomy and gloomy Crown Prince's residence was now filled with joy. Almost everyone was beaming with joy because of the Crown Prince's return. Outside, one could even clearly hear the celebratory firecrackers set off by the servants.
However, the gloomy atmosphere in the greenhouse was in stark contrast to the laughter outside. At this moment, the Crown Prince was sitting upright in the seat of honor. His cheeks were thin and his brows were tightly furrowed. Some of the others were sitting upright and still, but their brows were filled with unconcealable joy because of the Crown Prince's return. Some of them pretended to be relaxed, but their eyes were filled with worry because of the Fourth Prince's military power.
After a long while, the Crown Prince slowly opened his mouth and said in a hoarse voice, "I … have decided to ask my father to resign as the Crown Prince …"
These words were like a bolt out of the blue, scaring the loyal followers of the Crown Prince so much that they wet their pants. Even Zhang Datong, who was usually calm and collected, stood up in shock and cried out involuntarily, "You mustn't!"
Ning Tongyi was impatient. He immediately knelt down in the hall and said agitatedly, "Your Highness, absolutely not!"
The others also knelt down. Gu Cangping said with shame, "I am slow-witted and have caused Your Highness to suffer such injustice. I deserve to die for the humiliation of the master!"
Xiao Yueping also choked and said, "Your Highness, why do you say this?
If Your Highness gives up now, what will happen to the people in the world?
What will happen to Daqi?
Could it be that Your Highness is going to watch as the Fourth Prince destroys this great empire? "
The Crown Prince was usually indomitable and unyielding. Now that he said such discouraging words, it could be seen that he was extremely sad and desperate. He shook his head and said in a low voice, "It is my incompetence that has implicated everyone. I have already made arrangements for everyone to stay far away from the Divine Capital. Although the place is a little cold, but … it can be considered far away from the capital. I believe that when the time comes, Fourth Brother will not make things too difficult for you."
Ning Tongyi stood up immediately and said angrily, "What does Your Highness think of us as?"
Gu Cangping also stood up with tears in his eyes and said, "Your Highness treats us like warriors of the state. We will naturally repay you as warriors of the state!
How can there be warriors of the state who abandon their master and run away? "
The Crown Prince's eyes were red as he said, "An incompetent general will exhaust the entire army.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't win Imperial Father's favor. What's done cannot be undone … "
Gu Cangping immediately said, "Your Highness, why do you say that?
It is obvious that Your Highness has already gained the upper hand, so why are you saying such disheartened words? "
The Crown Prince laughed bitterly. "Father has already handed over the West Expedition Camp to Fourth Brother. That's close to half of the capital region's elite forces … Other than Long Tenghai and the Zhan Family, he's the only one with the most troops!"
As he spoke, he looked at Zhang Datong and said bitterly, "Grand Tutor once taught me that an emperor must have a strong army and strong horses!
How can he sit firmly on the throne if he doesn't have a strong army? "
Gu Cangping laughed out loud. "So Your Highness is worrying about this matter!"
The Crown Prince looked at Gu Cangping in confusion. "Why do you say that?
Could it be that Fourth Brother has 200,000 troops in his hands and we can't be worried? "
Gu Cangping said with a smile, "If these 200,000 troops had been stationed in the capital region or controlled the five gates, it would indeed be like a sword hanging over your head or a fishbone stuck in your throat. But these 200,000 troops are following Fourth Prince on an expedition to the northwest. Once Fourth Prince leaves the Divine Capital, he will be like a ferocious tiger that has left the mountain or a serpent that has lost its water, unable to rise again!"
Ning Tongyi clapped his hands and laughed. "That's right!
You are the Crown Prince's brains after all!
That's great! "As he spoke, he cupped his hands excitedly at the Crown Prince and said quickly," Your Highness, don't worry!
As the saying goes, before the troops and horses move, the provisions and fodder go first. The food and drinks of 200,000 soldiers are all piled up from mountains of gold and silver!
As long as we continue to firmly control the Ministry of Revenue, then the life and death of these 200,000 troops will be in our hands! "
The Crown Prince was also someone who had led troops before. The reason why he was worried and in despair was because the series of mistakes and blows had thrown him into confusion!
This was especially so after the Emperor had imprisoned him in the Eternal Autumn Palace. He had thought about it carefully and sorted out the clues and suspicious cases one by one. However, the results he had obtained made him shudder with fear!
From the Crown Prince's assassination case to the Taiyang City's murder case, then to the Major Star Officer's assassination case, and then to the Xiefang Garden's night attack case, as well as the shocking regicide case of Concubine Ming … In this series of cases, only the regicide case of Concubine Ming had been solved. The rest had all sunk into the sea!
None of the cases investigated by the heads of the three departments could be investigated?
Why?
Wasn't it because the mastermind's influence was too strong?
Who was it that had such great power?
If it was Fourth Brother, the three departments would definitely have to consult the Emperor. The Emperor had shielded him time and time again … What was the meaning of this?
Especially when he was released from house arrest and heard the news that Fourth Brother had become the Great General of the Western Expedition, he could not help but feel pessimistic and despair!
But after hearing Gu Cangping and Ning Tongyi's analysis, the Crown Prince immediately somewhat understood. His face also became a little ruddy. Xiao Yueping immediately followed and said, "Your Highness, Doctor Gu and Assistant Minister Ning are right!
Right now, it seems that the Fourth Prince has the upper hand, but in fact, he is in a precarious situation. As long as he leaves the capital, it will be the day of his death! "
Zhang Datong laughed. "At this moment, we only need to keep calm and observe the changes. We can help the Fourth Prince leave the capital quickly and then we can watch from the sidelines!"
Ning Tongyi said, "Should we immediately open the door to the Fourth Prince's rations to leave the capital so that he can leave the capital as soon as possible?"
Gu Cangping immediately said, "No!
The Fourth Prince is not a fool. If we try our best to urge him to leave the capital, he should have doubts!
The current plan should be to immediately contact the Imperial Censor and fiercely censure him. As a prince, he has a large army in his hands. Once he leaves the capital, he will have ill intentions. "
Xiao Yueping clapped her hands and said, "Good!
I will arrange it right now! "
Ning Tongyi thought for a moment and said, "Then I will contact the Ministry of War and ask them to prepare the conscription armor as soon as possible."
The Crown Prince pondered for a moment and said, "We must prepare the best. The Fourth Brother's expedition this time is to assist the Zhan family to guard the Nine Purgatories and prevent the Hades King from coming out again. This is no small matter. Do not harm the people of the world because of personal grievances!"
Ning Tongyi said with admiration, "Your Highness is noble and has the world in your heart. I admire you!"
Several people were in the room planning in low voices. Suddenly, they heard a burst of hurried footsteps coming from outside, followed by a loud voice from outside, "Report!
Urgent report!! "
The faces of everyone in the room immediately froze. The situation in the capital had changed too quickly. It was too much for one's eyes to take in and they trembled with fear. No one knew what earth-shattering change would happen in the next second. So when they heard this urgent news, even they, who prided themselves as experienced officials, couldn't help but feel fear and trepidation.
The Crown Prince said in a deep voice, "Come in!"
A guard rushed in from the door with a piercing cold wind. He held a red lacquered wooden box high and presented it to the Crown Prince.
Everyone's heart suddenly jumped because they knew that only the most important and urgent news would be sent in the red wooden box.
Xiao Yueping stepped forward to take the wooden box. After taking a deep breath, he opened the wooden box. With just one glance, his eyes immediately widened and his face turned livid. He said in a cold voice, "The Fourth Prince fell into the lake when he took the Princess Consort to tour the East Lake. Now the cold disease is acting up and he is unconscious …"