Chapter 365: Chu Yi Becomes Crown Prince
"Your Majesty, the Eastern Palace has been vacant for too long. It is time to appoint a Crown Prince!"
"The Crown Prince is the heir to the nation. Only by establishing an heir early can the country remain stable. We implore Your Majesty to make a decision!"
"Without a Crown Prince, as we've seen during Your Majesty's recent illness, there is no one to oversee state affairs. Many important matters remain unresolved, affecting the nation's grand plans."
"We beseech Your Majesty to appoint a Crown Prince!"
"I second the motion!"
"..."
The Emperor's face, gaunt from his rapid weight loss during illness, showed cold displeasure: "What, are all of you hoping for my illness, hoping for the Crown Prince to take over governance?"
"Your Majesty, forgive us! That is not our intention!" The Grand Tutor knelt down. "Without an heir, civil and military officials will form factions, plunging the court into unnecessary internal strife. By appointing a Crown Prince early, he can begin studying state policies and learn governance, ensuring the lasting stability of our Great Jin Empire!"
"Indeed, Your Majesty, the foundation of the state cannot be delayed!"
"We beg Your Majesty to decide soon!"
The Emperor sat grim-faced on his high throne, fingers rubbing his large green thumb ring.
The Grand Astrologer stepped forward from the front ranks and said: "These past few days, I have observed the stars at night and discovered that a new Polaris has emerged. The dim sky is illuminated by this new Polaris, and even the old Emperor Star has begun to shine brightly because of it. Your Majesty, it is time to appoint a Crown Prince!"
The Grand Astrologer knelt and kowtowed.
All civil and military officials followed suit, kneeling.
"Please appoint a Crown Prince, Your Majesty!"
The crowd shouted in unison.
The Emperor asked slowly: "Then, my esteemed ministers, who do you believe is worthy of being Crown Prince?"
"The former Crown Prince requested his own removal, the Second and Fourth Princes conspired in rebellion, the Fifth Prince was deposed, the Sixth and Eighth Princes have been enfeoffed... Looking throughout the court, only the Third Prince, Prince Pingxi, is qualified for this position!"
Although there were many factions in the court, the situation was clear: the only remaining Seventh Prince was merely ten years old, while the Ninth and Tenth Princes were even younger. How could they possibly compete with the Third Prince?
Rather than support a prince who hasn't yet grown up, it was better to firmly follow the Third Prince, Prince Pingxi, and perhaps achieve merit by supporting the future emperor.
"We request Your Majesty appoint Prince Pingxi as Crown Prince!"
The crowd shouted together.
The Emperor knew that the matter of appointing an heir truly could not be delayed.
Previously, he hadn't been determined to appoint the third son because he was a military man with too much blood on his hands, fearing it might bring unnecessary trouble to the royal family.
But now...
The Emperor looked at Ding Yiyuan: "Grand Astrologer, can you determine who this Polaris refers to?"
"Polaris belongs to the earth element and governs official positions," Ding Yiyuan said slowly, calculating with his fingers unhurriedly. "It has the Civil Star as its subordinate... Moreover, Polaris often indicates broad-mindedness and honesty... However, Great Jin will face external threats in the future. This Polaris governs killing, its power can control fire and bells for good... can subdue the Killing Star to gain authority..."
The Emperor's expression gradually darkened: "The Grand Astrologer means that Great Jin will suffer war, and the next ruler needs a fate that involves killing?"
Ding Yiyuan nodded: "This humble official can only calculate this much. Who exactly it refers to, I do not know."
The ministers immediately offered their advice.
"Your Majesty, if Great Jin truly faces invasion from enemy states, only Prince Pingxi can handle it."
"Prince Pingxi is the rising new Polaris!"
"We request Your Majesty appoint Prince Pingxi as Crown Prince!"
The Emperor understood clearly that although Great Jin was powerful, the surrounding small countries were not weak either, each coveting Great Jin's vast territory.
If those small countries united against Great Jin, the empire would indeed suffer.If the third prince were to become the Crown Prince, his influence alone could subdue those small states without a fight. Perhaps the third prince truly is the destined next ruler.
With this thought in mind.
The Emperor raised his hand and declared: "By decree, Prince Pingxi, distinguished in appearance and endowed by heaven's will, is hereby announced to heaven, earth, the state, and the ancestral temple as the Crown Prince... So ordered!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Crown Prince! Long live the Crown Prince! Long live the Crown Prince!"
All the ministers knelt and paid homage to the newly appointed Crown Prince.
After all procedures concluded, the Emperor waved his hand to dismiss the court.
Everyone in the court gathered around, offering smiling congratulations.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, congratulations!"
"Prince Pingxi becoming the Crown Prince is a blessing for our Great Jin!"
"When will Your Highness host a celebration banquet? We shall surely come to offer our congratulations!"
Chu Yi cupped his hands and exchanged pleasantries with the crowd.
His sharp eyes pierced through the crowd and landed on Prince Zhuang, Chu Rui, standing on the periphery.
Chu Rui wore a humble and courteous smile: "Congratulations."
Chu Yi responded with a smile of his own.
He had investigated.
When the former Crown Prince went to his fiefdom, he took all his wealth and influence with him, making it impossible for him to stir trouble covertly.
As for his second elder brother, Chu Mo, who remained imprisoned, he had sent people to repeatedly test him and confirmed that he had indeed gone mad—more deranged than even the mad aunt.
The remaining younger princes were incapable of orchestrating the poisoning of their father.
That left only Chu Rui.
During the Empress Dowager's rebellion, Chu Rui had feigned innocence to the extreme, but it turned out he harbored even greater ambitions.
"The Ministry of Rites needs to take measurements for the Crown Prince's official robes, so I must take my leave now." Chu Yi cupped his hands to the crowd and followed the Vice Minister of Rites to the ministry's hall specially designated within the palace.
Chu Rui lowered his eyelids, his lashes concealing all emotion in his eyes.
After having his measurements taken at the ministry hall, Chu Yi strode directly to the palace where Consort Yun resided.
"Aunt."
He slightly bowed in greeting.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, you are too polite." Consort Yun did not dare to presume upon her status. "Please, have a seat. Someone, bring tea."
Previously, Chu Yi had always come with Yun Chu to pay respects. Today, arriving alone, Consort Yun knew there must be important matters and dismissed all the palace attendants.
"Now that Aunt holds the Phoenix Seal, though not the Empress, your authority is nearly equivalent to hers," Chu Yi began. "Regardless of whether Father appoints an Empress, I ask that you not hesitate to wield the power in your hands."
Consort Yun straightened her posture: "What do you mean?"
"Regarding the attendants in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Aunt, find a way to place some of our own people there," Chu Yi lowered his voice. "Father is ill now, and an outsider is attending to him. If exploited by those with ill intentions, I fear..."
At the mention of this, Consort Yun could not help but sigh: "Among the many consorts in the rear palace, the Emperor has an outsider attending to him. It is indeed inappropriate. I and several other consorts tried to visit the Hall of Mental Cultivation, but the Emperor refuses to see any of us... Your Highness is right. The Hall of Mental Cultivation cannot be left in the hands of an outsider, even if that person is the Emperor's relative. Rest assured, I will immediately arrange for loyal personnel to enter the Hall of Mental Cultivation."
Planting spies around the Emperor, if discovered, meant certain death.
But failing to arrange them could lead to unforeseen changes.
Consort Yun understood the gravity of the matter and, as soon as Chu Yi left, began making arrangements.
Chu Yi then proceeded to the Everlasting Autumn Palace where Consort Yin resided.
"Yi'er, is it true?" Consort Yin was overjoyed. "In court today, the Emperor appointed you as Crown Prince, didn't he?"Although it was already a settled matter, she still found it somewhat unbelievable, as if she were dreaming.
Chu Yi nodded: "Yes."
"Wonderful, wonderful!" Yin Fei was too excited to contain herself. "You are the Crown Prince, then I... I'm going to become the Empress? It's a pity there's a Miss Li in the palace. With her around, the Emperor definitely won't appoint an Empress so easily. Yi'er, think of a way to make your father appoint me as Empress. That way, you'll be the legitimate child of the principal wife!"
Chu Yi pinched the bridge of his nose: "I came here specifically to tell you, Mother, not to cause trouble in the rear palace, and especially not to contend for the position of Empress."
Yin Fei felt as if she had been doused with cold water: "Why?"
"Adding fuel to the fire and adorning brocade with flowers is not necessarily a good thing," Chu Yi said calmly. "If Mother has time, she should go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation more often to attend to His Majesty's health. There's no need to worry about other matters."
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