Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 775 - 611: Brain Hole

"Mr. Yang’s method is agreeable to me as well. Your Highness, are you worried the court might lose money?"

Sun Yao chuckled lightly, then continued, "That’s easy to handle. Didn’t the Third Prince meddle with the salt tax the other day? Are you still afraid of lacking money?"

Sun Yao’s words reminded the Eldest Prince of the previous enactment of the salt permit, which was managed by the Ministry of Revenue. The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Mao Jin Yuan, was one of the Third Prince’s men, and the Third Prince had pocketed quite a bit from it.

"What if the Third Prince refuses to hand over the money?" Jiang Chengguan responded somewhat displeased, looking at Sun Yao’s composed demeanor with disapproval.

"The Third Prince can’t decide this! Can we not find a way to make him pay up?"

The Eldest Prince nodded, "If the amount is large, can the Third Prince withstand Father Emperor’s wrath? By then, before Father Emperor even reproaches him, he’d already be hastily plugging those holes with the money."

After speaking, the Eldest Prince burst into laughter.

Sun Yao raised the corners of his mouth, lifted the tea bowl, and said nothing.

"Truly, the gentlemen’s strategies are miraculous, and His Highness certainly does not wish for the court to suffer significant losses. With the Third Prince to cover it, surely His Highness can also be at ease."

Chen Saimiao, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, quickly flattered these people.

The Eldest Prince’s lips curled into a smile; even if the Third Prince filled in the money, Father Emperor would still get wind of it.

The Third Prince would lose money and be scolded by Father Emperor; indeed, it was a good idea.

"You all are my think tanks; having your support lightens my burden considerably."

Being able to hit back at the Third Prince lifted the Eldest Prince’s spirits, and he was not stingy with a few kind words.

Yang Baiqi harbored resentment, for it was his plan all along, yet Sun Yao took the credit.

The old man is truly shameless; though Yang Baiqi was seething, he dared not show any dissatisfaction.

His Highness is not of a pleasant demeanor; if provoked, he might scold me again.

"However, Your Highness should still be wary of the Second Prince!" Sun Yao stroked his goatee and suddenly said to the Eldest Prince.

The Eldest Prince narrowed his eyes slightly, looking somewhat solemn.

"The Second Prince is indeed no pushover. I and the Third Prince have been deceived by him for years. We always thought he was inept, not a formidable opponent, and wanted him as a scapegoat. Who would expect the Second Prince’s ambitions aren’t small either? I suspect he had a hand in previous matters; he truly hid well!"

"These years, the Second Prince seemed unnoticeable, but in reality, he was cunning and managed to deceive both you and the Third Prince," Ma Zhihong also lamented.

"I guess in the previous matters too, the Second Prince had a hand. What incredible patience!"

The Eldest Prince sneered, "So what if the Second Prince is capable? He lies low, and though not suffering losses, secretly schemed against us. But how much favor does Father Emperor have for him? No matter how capable, if not showcased, he’s truly foolish."

Then the Eldest Prince taunted: "Father Emperor can’t see his abilities, how could he confidently hand over the empire? Does the Second Prince have a hole in his brain?"

The Eldest Prince believed that though the Second Prince needed to be wary, he lacked favor with Father Emperor, who likely wouldn’t establish him as the Crown Prince.

Meanwhile, the Second Prince, deemed brainless by the Eldest Prince, had also gathered his confidants in the study for discussion.

"Your Highness, the establishment of the Crown Prince is imminent. Who knows what the Emperor is thinking?"

A black-robed adviser said to the Second Prince.

"Ah! Father Emperor has always favored my elder brother; I can’t compare to him in Father Emperor’s heart!"

Hearing this, the Second Prince’s face didn’t show much concern, but he sighed wistfully.

"Your Highness! I’ve long advised you not to appear too magnanimous, allowing the Eldest Prince to steal the spotlight. Now, the Emperor is prejudiced against you, believing you less capable than the Eldest Prince. How should we handle this?" 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Adviser Jiao Ling felt it truly difficult for the Second Prince to become the Crown Prince.

"If the Emperor really establishes another Prince as Crown Prince, what will happen to Your Highness?"

Left Deputy Imperial Censor Qian Licao was equally indignant; the position of the Crown Prince should have rightfully been inherited by the legitimate son.

The Emperor has not decided for so long and now intends to bypass the legitimate son. Isn’t this subjecting the Second Prince to ridicule from the world?

"Not entirely; I think Your Highness still stands a chance," adviser Lu Haifang shook his head, disagreeing with Jiao Ling’s view.

"Mr. Lu, could you share your insights?" The Second Prince spoke gently, wearing a smile.

"Your Highness is too kind; I dare not presume," Lu Haifang hurriedly replied respectfully.

"We can’t fathom the Emperor’s mind, but is he genuinely inclined towards the Eldest Prince? Though Your Highness does not stand out, hasn’t every task assigned by the Emperor been accomplished by you? Though Your Highness takes the path of moderation, I believe the Emperor is well aware."

Lu Haifang sat in the room, shaking the folding fan in his hand, expressing with confidence.

"Moreover, Your Highness is the legitimate son, and your mother is the Queen of the Central Palace. If the Emperor doesn’t establish you as Crown Prince, how could the Empress continue to oversee the harem?"

If the Empress’s son cannot become Crown Prince, the Empress would also be ridiculed.

Attempting to regain control over the harem would be met with resistance.

Speaking of his mother, the Second Prince showed a tinge of sadness.

He smiled bitterly, "If Father Emperor still cherished the shared trials and tribulations with my mother, how could he..."

At this point, the Second Prince refrained from continuing, but everyone understood his unspoken thoughts.

The Empress was the Emperor’s original partner, granted her title at the age of fifteen. When she ventured to a desolate fiefdom, she did so without reluctance, marrying the Emperor.

Without the full support of Marquis Zhan’s Mansion and their relatives, the Emperor’s ascent to the throne hung in uncertainty.

Yet it is often said that people can endure hardships together but not enjoy prosperity together.

Furthermore, as an Emperor, having countless concubines in the harem was normal. How could the aged Empress compete with the youthful and charming concubines?

Regardless of hardships or prosperity, over the decades, they had faced them together.

Logically, even without romantic feelings, the Emperor should give her the respect she deserves. The position of the Crown Prince should rightfully go to the legitimate son from the Central Palace!

However, what concerned the Second Prince was the Empress’s health, which had deteriorated over the years.

Though she still managed the harem, her spirit had diminished, often bedridden for months to recuperate.

Father Emperor wanted her to rest and handed the harem’s affairs to Princess Consort Jing, the birth mother of the Eldest Prince, but the Empress disagreed, insisting on holding the Phoenix Seal.

He knew his mother carried this burden for his sake; Princess Consort Jing had always been the most prominent concubine after the Empress in the harem.

If she were to manage the Phoenix Seal, who in the harem could challenge her authority?

The Elder Brother was already favored by Father Emperor, and with Princess Consort Jing holding sway in the harem, where would there be room for him and his mother to stand?