blogombal Chapter 1939 The Prince's Cunning
Chapter 1939 The Prince's Cunning
The Meng family now truly and completely trusts Lu Zhaoling.
Although Meng Si still wanted to get the painting back, he was unable to do so due to the obstruction and supervision of everyone in the Meng family.
Grand Secretary Meng, along with his son and several disciples, sided with the Crown Prince, helping him cultivate an image of a future wise ruler in the capital and seeking more support for him.
As for Lu Zhaoling, since Zhou Shiyue didn't say anything more about the painting, Lu Zhaoling didn't press for details.
She planned to wait until Sheng Xiaohan found Qian Dingxing and brought him to her before asking him the questions.
Two more days passed. Although the emperor was still conscious, he was extremely weak, feeling powerless and very sleepy.
On the first day, he was still unwilling to give up, so he ordered the eunuch to take him directly to the Golden Palace. The Crown Prince did not stop him.
However, this time at the morning court session, the emperor's appearance only showed all the officials that he had truly woken up.
He sat on the dragon throne, and after only a couple of sentences, his eyelids kept closing, his head kept nodding, and he almost slipped off the throne.
Fortunately, the Crown Prince was prepared and helped him up in time.
After being helped up, the emperor managed to say, "I'm fine," before falling asleep.
After being helped down, he woke up again, but it was difficult for him to even sit up.
This was witnessed by several ministers who came along.
The Emperor was unwilling to give up, so he instructed Eunuch Qin to wake him up again the next day, as he still had to attend the morning court session. So he slept all day, waking up twice to be given medicine and some tonic soup.
He wanted to get enough rest for a day so that everyone could see he was doing well at the morning court session tomorrow.
The next morning, no matter how much Eunuch Qin called, he couldn't wake the Emperor.
Just as the morning court session was about to begin, Eunuch Qin tried his best to nudge the Emperor, finally getting him to open his eyes. But as soon as he said, "Your Majesty, it's time for court," the Emperor fell asleep again.
Feeling quite helpless, Eunuch Qin went to the main hall and spoke to the Crown Prince.
Zhou Shiyue also attended the morning court session that day.
The Crown Prince then asked the officials whether they should forcefully carry the Emperor into the main hall.
The officials looked at each other in bewilderment. The emperor was already in such a state; did they really have to force him to be carried over?
If they bring him to court, won't it be the same as yesterday?
The Crown Prince summoned the imperial physicians again and asked them about the Emperor's current condition.
Tan Liang spoke on behalf of the Imperial Physicians.
Although the Emperor is not in mortal danger, his body is too weak. He was injured by the evil cultivator's magic and his spirit is exhausted. Even if he can wake up and attend the morning court, it will be very difficult for him to handle state affairs.
"In other words, if the emperor has to think and use his brain more, he will get headaches, which will also delay his recovery."
Tan Liang's words made it clear to all the officials that it would be impossible for the emperor to manage state affairs for at least the next few years.
But if we wait a few years, we can't let the Crown Prince manage things temporarily for those years, can we?
A country cannot live without a ruler for a day.
As long as the crown prince does not sit on that throne, his position will be illegitimate and may give many people an excuse not to carry out orders.
The court will be even more chaotic then.
Zhou Shiyue came to court today to make the most crucial statement.
If he hadn't spoken up, I'm afraid no one would have dared to stand up and say those words at a time like this.
"Since His Majesty is unwell, and the country cannot be without a ruler for a day, why not let His Majesty rest and recuperate, and leave the important affairs of the court to the Crown Prince?"
Zhou Shiyue said this and glanced at everyone.
"I will present a memorial to Your Majesty, requesting that you abdicate and that the Crown Prince ascend the throne."
"Anyone who has an objection may raise it immediately. If no one has any objections, then we would like to ask all of you to submit your memorials together."
The prince stood there, his posture ramrod straight.
His gaze was calm, and his expression remained unchanged, unlike the Second Prince and others who used to be overjoyed.
If it were the Second Prince here, he probably wouldn't be able to contain his excitement, and his face would be flushed with excitement.
The second prince is still under house arrest.
The Second Prince's wife has petitioned for a divorce three times.
This matter has been circulating in the capital for several days.
The Third Prince, no, the Third Young Master Zhou Yi, has not appeared since he was brought into the palace by Prime Minister Shen.
However, the Crown Prince produced a letter he had written himself, saying that he only wanted to return to the capital to recognize his father and elder brother, and that he did not really want to compete for the throne. He also added insult to injury by saying that it was Prime Minister Shen who had forced him to do so.
To prove that he had no such intentions, Zhou Yi even asked Dr. Fu to diagnose him and prescribe a prescription, saying that he had a head injury and could not think too much now. He had to slow down his speech and walking, otherwise he would make a mess of things.
Since the Third Young Master revealed this flaw, he naturally lost all competitive advantage.
It is impossible for the Great Zhou to allow someone who is clearly injured or ill to become emperor.
The young prince is still a baby, and his mother, who comes from a humble background, has already declared that she will not participate.
As for Zhou Ruan, she is still in prison, while Consort Yu and her family are reunited there.
The emperor was not fully awake, and no one gave them another chance to turn things around.
Consort Yu and Zhou Ruan were actually still waiting for the ghost they secretly longed for, Young Master Yu, but Young Master Yu had vanished without a trace.
Even Yu Xu was nowhere to be seen.
Finally, the only suitable candidate left for the Great Zhou Dynasty was indeed the Crown Prince.
In fact, Grand Secretary Meng and others felt somewhat uncomfortable.
Zhou Ze was already the crown prince, so it would be reasonable for him to ascend the throne now. However, because the emperor had previously suppressed him and supported the power of others, the crown prince can only sit on the throne when the other princes have no chance at all.
Moreover, the empress was of no use whatsoever.
If the Empress and her family can step forward forcefully in times like these, the Crown Prince won't have to exert much effort.
Even though the Empress had clearly recovered, she continued to "play dead" in the Buddhist temple, refusing to show herself or say a single word in support of the Crown Prince.
Furthermore, it was rumored that the Empress still harbored resentment towards the Crown Prince, saying that he sided with the Prince of Jin and completely ignored her good intentions, and that she felt the Crown Prince was an ingrate.
"Let's vote now," Zhou Shiyue said directly, giving the officials no chance to delay. "Those of you in the hall who wish to support the Crown Prince's succession may remain where you are; those who oppose it, step forward."
When Zhou Shiyue said this, Lin Rong and others who knew him well secretly thought to themselves, "What a heartless bastard!"
Stepping out at this moment will draw attention and requires more courage than standing still.
Some people have to look around to see if anyone is moving. If no one is moving, they might shrink back and not dare to step forward.
This can eliminate a small group of cowardly, fearful fence-sitters.
Of course, those who strongly oppose it will still stand up.
However, when a small group stands up at this time, it's like fighting against the majority, and the psychological pressure is extraordinary.