Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved-Chapter 524 - 503 First Update

All eyes were now on Zheng Congyuan, as he had cast aside his earlier despondency.

Prime Minister Lin realized that the Crown Prince held limited military power; despite having covertly nurtured his influence, to everyone else, he appeared to be without military authority.

While trapped in Chenyuan Hall, Prime Minister Lin had also noticed the absence of several of the Crown Prince’s capable "generals," especially Ju Nanyi and Wei Qing. Although Prime Minister Lin had an idea of their significance, initially, he believed that with just those few people and the power accumulated in only a few years, they couldn’t be compared to the power held by the Wen Family over generations, hence his urgency.

But now, Prime Minister Lin was also quite excited. Based on his understanding of the Crown Prince, His Highness was never one to make empty boasts. If he didn’t have an immense confidence, he surely wouldn’t have spoken up. This was why, even though many officials were panicking while trapped in Chenyuan Hall, the Crown Prince hadn’t said a word.

Because, at that time, the Crown Prince didn’t have ten, or even nine parts, certainty.

Indeed, now with Master Huo Yi from Qiandao Temple present, if the Crown Prince wasn’t the Child of Heavenly Selection, then neither was Zheng Haoyuan. Even the Eldest Princess was ruled out, so what followed seemed to increasingly favor the Crown Prince.

The moment Prime Minister Lin thought of this, he involuntarily straightened his back, admitting to himself that at his age, he could not possess such schemes and thoughts.

The Crown Prince had only mentioned the Eastern and Southeast Borders, while Ju Nanyi had been dispatched to the hard nut to crack that was the Northern Border. Who Ju Nanyi was, Prime Minister Lin was well aware—without exaggeration, Ju Nanyi was a rising star of Nanzheng State’s court politics in recent decades, hugely talented.

What should Prime Minister Lin fear? Likewise not being the Child of Heavenly Selection, yet now, the Crown Prince had already seized the advantages of timing, geographical, and human conditions.

"Crown Prince, you say that we swear to follow you to death. Not to mention playing a part in a ruse, we would gladly do it ten times over," Prime Minister Lin was the first to speak, looking eagerly at Zheng Congyuan.

However, what Prime Minister Lin couldn’t fathom was that the Wen Family was already a fish caught in the net, merely waiting for the reel-in. But the Crown Prince, with his deep and long-term vision, surely must have thought of what he had not.

"The prophecy of the Child of Heavenly Selection has always been an important basis for the heirs of the Nanzheng Imperial Clan to ascend to the throne. To stabilize the situation in Nanzheng and to prevent a second or third Wen Family from rising, it is necessary for a progeny of the Nanzheng Imperial Clan to corroborate the prophecy of the Child of Heavenly Selection," Zheng Congyuan slowly began, glancing over the crowd gathered there.

Qi Ling immediately observed the reactions of the crowd.

In a moment of clarity, none understood the Crown Prince’s intention, not even the Eldest Princess who had taken the stage of prophecy. Master Huo Yi had announced the result in person; where could there be any progeny of the Nanzheng Imperial Clan still in consideration?

"Does the Crown Prince mean to say?" Prime Minister Lin was also puzzled. As of now, among those who could be called members of the Nanzheng Imperial Clan besides Zheng Congyuan, only...

"Does the Crown Prince mean Prince Duan?" Prime Minister Lin looked at Zheng Congyuan in astonishment. How could this be? To hand over the throne to Prince Duan—and besides, Prince Duan might not even be the Child of Heavenly Selection.

Prime Minister Lin instantly became anxious; the Crown Prince couldn’t be so foolish as to hand over a throne that was within his grasp. Was this what you called a ruse? This was foolishness. Such benevolence didn’t come from being benevolently naive. He was the first to disapprove.

"Your Highness, Prince Duan won’t do." Prime Minister Lin hadn’t even spoken out when his right-hand man had already voiced the objection; it absolutely wouldn’t do.

"Of course, it’s not Prince Duan," Zheng Congyuan spoke, "Although Prince Duan is indeed a descendant of the Nanzheng Imperial Clan, let us not forget that the Former King’s ascension was also through the prophecy of the Child of Heavenly Selection.

Everyone finally calmed down, indeed, in their haste, they had forgotten about this matter.

Thus, Prime Minister Lin turned his gaze back to Zheng Congyuan, what on earth did the Crown Prince want to say? He was becoming more and more puzzled by the Crown Prince.

Correct, Zheng Congyuan had indeed made a valid point; presently, Qiandao Temple held a very stable position within the Nanzheng State. If they didn’t have the support of Qiandao Temple, without Qiandao Temple’s explicit recognition of the next heir to the throne, they might very well face the same predicament as they had today, once again.

However, didn’t everyone lose their chance now? Even the Eldest Princess had personally stepped forward...

Prime Minister Lin suddenly understood why the Eldest Princess had stood up at that time. It seemed that step by step, only they and the Wen Family were kept in the dark, while the Crown Prince had remained lucid all along, considering not just the present but also the future.

Prime Minister Lin’s body suddenly stiffened, right, there was indeed one more person.

"Is the Crown Prince referring to... Commandery Princess Chao Ren?" Prime Minister Lin looked incredulously at Zheng Congyuan, that one, strictly speaking, was the last qualified individual at this point in time.

As soon as Prime Minister Lin’s words came out, the crowd, who had been eager to try their luck, fell silent, some not daring to look at Zheng Congyuan, feeling even more that Prime Minister Lin was really daring to propose such an idea—letting that one ascend the throne?

Quit joking.

"Indeed—" What Zheng Congyuan wanted was for Prime Minister Lin to say it himself. This was also why he had covertly instigated Zheng Tianxin to stand up, to let everyone know that not only men could occupy that position but also women.

"Crown Prince—" Prime Minister Lin panicked, damn, that’d be worse than having Prince Duan...

"Crown Prince, this must not be done." It wasn’t just that Commandery Princess Chao Ren’s status was disqualifying. Commandery Princess Chao Ren also possessed half of the blood of Nanmen State, how could this be right?

Zheng Congyuan looked at everyone. He was in no hurry to speak, some things had been contemplated in his mind for so long, what he wanted was a legitimate opportunity, one where everyone watched but could not refute.

"Honorable lords, I have administered the state affairs for several years, always diligent, and I am deeply aware that to slowly restore Nanzheng State to its former prosperity will take more than a year or two. After so many years, it has not been easy to give Nanzheng State a hint of vitality again, naturally, I do not wish to see a repeat of widespread suffering and devastation," Zheng Congyuan slowly began to speak.

"Qiandao Temple holds a special position in Nanzheng State, and the identity of the Nanzheng Imperial Clan’s heir must be able to silence the myriad mouths of the world. If Commandery Princess Chao Ren is the ’Child of Heavenly Selection,’ then for the sake of Nanzheng State to stay away from civil strife and not to fall into dispute again, the only thing I can do now is to marry Commandery Princess Chao Ren and subsequently ascend to the throne in a just and proper manner," Zheng Congyuan stated, one word at a time.

Prime Minister Lin slowly turned his head; he had not thought of this before. Although the prophecy of the ’Child of Heavenly Selection’ did not specify gender, if Commandery Princess Chao Ren were to sit on the throne, it would not be against the prophecy of Qiandao Temple. Heaven, he had not thought of this.

But, it was too much of a compromise for the Crown Prince. They had heard about the issues Commandery Princess Chao Ren had caused—she was far from a suitable match for their Crown Prince.

Moved, Prime Minister Lin stood up. The Crown Prince had given so much for Nanzheng State over the years, and now, for the future of Nanzheng State, he even had to marry Commandery Princess Chao Ren, the Crown Prince...

"Your Highness, I, your subjects, with such a wise sovereign like you, Nanzheng, Nanzheng need not worry about having no future..."

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