Chapter 250 - The Emperor’s Calculation

“His Majesty is putting me in a dilemma!” A candle on the top of the gilded candlestick glowed suddenly like a flower. According to local folklore it was an auspicious omen. Gu Shao, who was holding a Go stone in the light, did not wear a joyful expression. On the contrary, he showed a bitter smile, “It is obvious that the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue are of great importance for the fight of the throne. Now two of them are under the command of the Crown Prince, and the Ministry of Revenue also begins to fall into the hands of him. In fact, Jin Suke in the Ministry of Personnel chose to turn to the Crown Prince because he failed to teach his children in a proper way and thus was caught out!”

“What’s more, what his children have done has been spread out partly before, so it cannot be seen as a vulnerable point!”

“Even though Jin Suke is still working for the Crown Prince, he may not be loyal to him if the Crown Prince loses his power and influence!”

“After all, it’s only a few months since he sought refuge with the Crown Prince.”

“He Wenqiong in the Ministry of War can be regarded as the Crown Prince’s confidant!”

“The problem is that he officially took over the Ministry of War at the end of last year, while this ministry has been under the control of the Su family in print and in private since the dynasty was established.”

“It’s only half a year now. No matter how capable He Wenqiong is, he can only win the support of those officials in the Ministry of War at most. As for the military power, he can do nothing with it. Without military power, the Ministry of War is nothing but an empty shell. What’s the use of it?”

“As for the Ministry of Revenue, everyone can see that Xu Xishi is just a titular official!”

“After all, the heir of Earl Yiping doesn’t belong to those talents who are young but ambitious. If there is no one guiding and assisting him behind the scenes, he cannot even fulfill his own duty, let alone help the Crown Prince win the Ministry of Revenue!”

Gu Shao put down a stone on the Chinese Go board and sighed, “That is to say, the Crown Prince seems certain to win, but in fact, his foundation is unstable and he hasn’t achieved successful development yet. It’s still very early for him to sleep without any anxiety!”

“He Wenqiong held the post of the Director of the Ministry of War at the end of last year. Jin Suke turned to the Crown Prince at the beginning of the year. At present, my uncle actually prompted me and Cousin Xu in terms of the faction of the Crown Prince. However, how can we two make a change with our age and qualifications?” The man playing Go with him was Jian Xubai. Under the light, he was in crimson garment with a round collar, which highlighted his fair skin and rosy lips. His complexion was as clear as jade. At this moment, he was focusing on the Go board, his long eyelashes drooping, and he said carelessly, “Besides, even if I am in the Council of Censorate and Cousin Xu is in the Ministry of Revenue, we are not superior officials. After all, He Wenqiong and Jin Suke are the fundamental factors for the Crown Prince to govern the state!”

“But in the past few months, the Eastern Palace has never gained the upper hand in the court.”

“In the final analysis, they lack a leader!”

As a matter of fact, the Crown Prince should be the leader of people at his side.

Jian Xubai implied that the Crown Prince was not qualified.

Therefore, even if the two major officials under his command presided over the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War respectively, he found it difficult to compete against Qiu Shuxia, who only controlled the Ministry of Rituals and a branch of the Ministry of Punishments.

Of course, it could not be said that the Crown Prince was a good-for-nothing. After all, as Yuan Xuepei said before, it was plain sailing for the heir of the emperor along the way. Emperor Xianjia knew that he should not spoil his son who would inherit his position to govern the state. However, he was in poor health, so he was afraid that after his death people would be in apprehension since the monarch was established at a young age. Hence, he spared no effort to solidify the status of the Crown Prince.

In contrast, People like Qiu Shuxia all had experienced the time when Emperor Xianjia took the place of the Crown Prince in the previous dynasty!

Even the arrogant and domineering Daiguo Grand Princess was one of the meritorious officials who helped Emperor Xianjia ascend the throne!

The Crown Prince, who was well cared by Emperor Xianjia when he was a child, had always lived a comfortable life. He even never quarreled with others. Even though Emperor Xianjia taught him the lessons of being an emperor wholeheartedly, that was just empty talk if the Crown Prince did not steel himself. His opponents were a group of elders who were familiar with the game of throne. It was indeed quite normal for him to lose this time.

However, he could accept the consequence because he was backed by Emperor Xianjia, the most respected person who was expert in winning the position of the heir of the emperor！

“Therefore, this time, His Majesty asked me to be the leader for the Crown Prince!” Gu Shao took a sip from his tea bowl and said, “I need to help the heir of Earl Yiping get a firm foothold, and then join hands with He Wenqiong to gradually take the military power so as to consolidate the status of the Crown Prince. As long as the status of the Crown Prince is stable, Jin Suke will not seek another refuge! Only in this way can we say that the three crucial ministries are in the hands of the Crown Prince. Then he can expect to rule the state!”

It’s not difficult for him to do these things. After all, he had the experience of ruling a country. Although he withdrew from the court during the past 20 years, he still had the thought of participating in government and political affairs again. Thus, he not only reorganized many experiences and ideas when he was in the court, but also paid attention to the changes in the court.

Gu Shao could confidently say that he was now better at managing state affairs than ever before.

“Although Prince of Wei and Prince of Zhao are as young and immature as the Crown Prince, people in favor of them can clearly see the current situation. Now people of the two parties must regard me as a thorn in the flesh, and want to eliminate me as quick as possible! “

“Lord Gu, if you are removed, whether Cousin Xu can gain a firm foothold in the Ministry of Revenue will be a problem, let alone help the Crown Prince,” Jian Xubai knew the situation clearly, “If He Wenqiong cannot get help, it will be uneasy for him to have a hand in the army which is managed by the Su family for many years. Jin Suke indeed manages the Ministry of Personnel very well which is like a leakproof iron bucket. However, he can add brilliance to the Crown Prince’s present splendor, but he may not be willing to offer timely assistance to the Crown Prince when he is in need of help. If I was the assistant of Prince of Wei and Prince of Zhao, I would also choose to remove you! After all, as long as you are eliminated as the leader, the Crown Prince will not be able to fight against Qiu Shuxia or Daiguo Grand Princess with his shrewdness! “

“Besides, the Su family is behind Prince of Zhao. As for Prince of Wei, only Aunt Daiguo shows up to help him, but Uncle has been keeping quiet, not making a move until now!”

The Crown Prince’s backer was the most powerful one, and Emperor Xianjia had helped him for many times, “But what’s the identity of Uncle? He can help the Crown Prince several times, but he can’t help him every time. Besides, Uncle is always wise and brilliant. If he can’t make the Crown Prince an outstanding heir, he won’t take risks with Great Rui!”

“His Majesty deliberately created this situation,” Seeing that Jian Xubai put down a Go stone, Gu Shao said freely, “After all, no one is willing to show his last card unless he is forced to do so! Now the emperor and powerful people are both in favor of the Crown Prince. If Prince of Wei and Prince of Zhao don’t go for broke, they will end up watching the invincible position of the Crown Prince when he is fully grown! Therefore, they will definitely do their best this time! “

And he neither could refuse the appointment of Emperor Xianjia nor wanted to be killed, “I can only devote every effort to fulfilling my duty, too!”

Gu Shao sighed, “I had thought of this situation from the day when I made a comeback, but I don’t expect his majesty sets to do it so quickly!”

“Since Uncle doesn’t want you to hold any more cards, he certainly won’t give you a chance to make preparations!” Jian Xubai sighed, “After all, the hastier it is, the easier it is to see your capacities, isn’t it?”

He picked up a Go stone made of jade, and knocked it on the Go board. His long fingers were almost the same as the Go stones in color. He asked with a soft smile, “Lord Gu, you invited me here and said these things tonight. I think you may already have countermeasures?”

When Jian Xubai came back to his side yard, it was almost midnight, but Song Yixiao did not sleep yet. She was lying on the couch with her black silky hair hanging loose. She was in a melancholy spirit, shaking the moon-shaped fan in an absent way.

“You are in a good mood at dusk. Why are you not happy now?” After getting across the curtain, Jian Xubai went forward with a smile, pinched her cheek, and said intimately, “Do you blame me for coming back too late?”

Song Yixiao glanced at him, then looked down at the peony painting on the fan, and said wearily, “I’ve offended Wuying!”

“Wuying?” Hearing the words, Jian Xubai took off his clothes and said unexpectedly, “Why? You have always been close friends, don’t you? “

“It’s the day when we accompanied Yourui to see Helou Duhan,” Song Yixiao covered her face with the fan and sighed, “You suggest that since Yourui doesn’t have that thought, I can ask Wuying. However, when I went to find her, I saw that she was with Prince of Zhao. And Prince of Zhao even made a willow hat for her. They were boisterous and intimate. How can I hide such a thing for her? When I came back, I told Mother everything, “

Jian Xubai suddenly said, “Then she blames you?”

He comforted her, “Don’t be serious with her. Girls at her age are too obstinate to be awakened. After some days when she figures it out, she naturally will know that you do this for her good.”

“She’s blaming me, isn’t she?” Song Yixiao hesitated for a while and then said, “Even if she quarrels with me, scolds me, and says that she doesn’t want to see me anymore, I can understand. After you left just now, I went to visit Mother for something. However, when I met Wuying, she just looked at me with the rims of her eyes getting red. Eventually, she gave me a salute and greeted me before she turned around and went away. That makes me feel bad!”

“In this sense, it seems that Wuying may not be blaming you,” Jian Xubai laughed when he heard that. He had finished undressing at this time. After he got on the bed, he hugged his wife and gave her a kiss. Then he said, “She is just feeling sad. She knows that she can’t blame you. Otherwise, why does she greet you when she meets you?”

Song Yixiao poked him in the chest with the fan and said, “But the more thoughtful and sensible she is, the more I feel like I’ve done something wrong to her. Alas!”

“I can take you two out to hunt tomorrow. What about it?” Jian Xubai thought for a while and said, “Last year, I said that I would take you out of the capital for an outing this spring, but I haven’t been able to realize it. On the one hand, I can make it up to you. On the other hand, we can drive away the cares of Wuying.”

“Hunting?” Song Yixiao was interested in it after hearing this. When her eyes fell on his arm which was not yet healed, she said, “No. Wuying’s temperament is gentle, so she may not want to see us killing animals. She may not only can’t relax, but also feel more disturbed.”

Seeing that her husband wanted to say something, she reminded, “Even if you don’t care about hunting with injury, can you imagine how your mother will scold you when she knows it?”

Jian Xubai gave up with regret and then suggested, “How about going to the lake? It’s the lake where Yourui met Helou Duhan last time. In this season, the lotus is fresh and the willows are dense, so the scenery is just a feast to the eye. At that time, we can get a gaily-painted pleasure-boat and bring two cooks who can make fresh food of the lake with us. It’s nice to go sightseeing for a day, isn’t it?”

Song Yixiao thought it was feasible, so they discussed some details. The next day, Jian Xubai ordered people to find a gaily-painted pleasure-boat and cooks. When everything was ready, Song Yixiao reported it to her mother-in-law. Of course, it’s impossible to only invite Nie Wuying. Apart from her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Pei Yourui, who lived in the side yard of her mother-in-law, was also invited.

Jinguo Grand Princess was not interested in the lake tour, and she even rejected the invitation for Jian Likuang. She just said, “You can go and play with Yourui and Wuying. We are not young, so we feel dizzy when we get on the boat. It’s better for us to stay in the side yard.”

Song Yixiao persuaded her for a while. Seeing that her mother-in-law had made up her mind, she didn’t insist. After leaving, she went to find Pei Yourui and Nie Wuying. They didn’t want to go at first. Because of her sincere attitude, they couldn’t bear to turn down her request, so they finally agreed.

However, as Jinguo Grand Princess said before, this year’s summer vacation was a period of many troubles.

They got into trouble during this trip. Not long after the boat was off shore, a boatman suddenly went to the cabin door and said in a deep voice, “There is a person floating near the boat. Judging from the dressing, she seems to be from a noble family!”