Chapter 326

Everyone's minds were racing with countless thoughts, yet on the surface, they pretended to listen intently to their colleagues reporting recent political affairs in the royal court.

"Little Zhu, Xie Zhiwei was taken out before he even had the chance to do evil. Do you think Second Brother Xie and Xie San will still scheme against each other to fight for the position of Crown Prince?

In the original timeline, when their rivalry was at its peak, Fourth Master Xie seized the opportunity to cripple them both, and the two fools even thought it was the other's doing.

Now ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‍that Fourth Master Xie is gone, what will their fate be?"

Hearing this, Xie Zhimin and Xie Zhixin unconsciously leaned closer to the Crown Prince. They were now the Crown Prince's good younger brothers; fighting for the throne had absolutely nothing to do with them!

Seeing his two younger brothers' subtle movements, Xie Zhiyan couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile.

As long as he didn't die, none of his younger brothers, no matter who they were, would ever have a chance.

He was no longer the figurehead Crown Prince of the past, who would tremble in fear and worry about losing his position the moment his imperial father gave him the cold shoulder!

Not to mention the support of the courtiers and his growing reputation among the common people due to the establishment of factories, just having the Junior Preceptor as his greatest backer in the Great Yan dynasty was enough. What did he have to fear?

[Master, these two little pieces of trash have absolutely no chance of ascending to power, nor do they possess the wisdom to rule the realm. They can only live to a ripe old age by peacefully being their princes and lords.

However, it seems they themselves don't want to live peacefully to an old age?]

"What do you mean? Do they still have ambitions for the throne?"

Following Yue Fuguang's question, Emperor Mingxi and his officials discreetly glanced at Xie Zhimin and Xie Zhixin, who were already trembling like leaves in the wind, silently and slightly shaking their heads at the Emperor and the Crown Prince.

Seeing their eyes turning red with anxiety, Emperor Mingxi cursed inwardly. Two useless things! They were almost scared to death by just a few words from the Divine Artifact. They truly didn't act like his offspring!

Thinking back to those years, how his imperial father treated him...

[There is something you don't know, Master. Recently, quite a few low-ranking officials have sought refuge under them. Even among the lords in this court, there are a few who want to gamble on the much more difficult merit of supporting a new emperor!

After all, the rougher the seas, the more expensive the fish!]

Yue Fuguang said nonchalantly, "Low-ranking officials can't make any big waves. Tell me first, who among this court of civil and military officials has such great ambitions?

Seeing that Xie Zhiyan's position as Crown Prince is secure, they still want to pull him down."

Xie Zhiyan faked a cough, subtly leaning his body and turning his head halfway to quickly scan the civil and military officials behind him.

Emperor Mingxi's expression cleared up a bit, and he raised an eyebrow. He also really wanted to know who could be so brave in the Great Yan court today, with the Junior Preceptor keeping watch.

Having seen the sights of the Underworld today, although they hadn't had time to think too deeply about it, Emperor Mingxi and his officials had to admit that while the scenes had truly shocked them,

from this moment on, it constantly warned them: only by doing good deeds would they have a future!

Otherwise, when they died one day, the Book of Life and Death wouldn't cover up a single thing for them!

[Master, didn't Little Zhu tell you before that Zhang Tingji wanted Fourth Master Xie as his son-in-law? It's a pity that Fourth Master Xie died early. Now the Zhang family has set their sights on the two brothers, Xie Zhixin and Xie Zhimin.]

"I remember that Second Brother Xie's primary princess consort was chosen to be the daughter of his uncle, Fu Hong. Although Fu Hong was executed for corruption and perverting the law, and the Fu family is visibly declining,

their marriage arrangement doesn't seem to have changed. They are just waiting for the Fu family's young lady to finish her mourning period before getting married.

Xie San seems to be engaged to Consort De's niece from her maiden family. This young lady from the Bai family is said to be well-educated and reasonable, with an excellent reputation in her inner chambers.

Moreover, coming from a prestigious family, it's impossible for her to step aside to make room for the Zhang family's daughter, right?"

Thinking of his cousin from his uncle's family, Xie Zhimin couldn't help but frown.

His uncle's betrayal was a thorn in his heart that could never be pulled out. If it weren't for his mother suppressing him, how could a daughter of the Fu family—which now only had two or three minor officials of the sixth or seventh rank left in its clan—still be a good match for him, a dignified Second Prince?

It was only because he had gradually extinguished his desire for the throne. Otherwise, even if his mother forbade it, he would have had plenty of ways to demote a wife to a concubine.

He only dared to entertain this thought in his heart for a brief moment, absolutely terrified that the Junior Preceptor might notice even a hint of it. Otherwise, he would be the one standing on the Home-Viewing Pavilion in the Underworld at a young age!

It had to be said that what he saw and heard today had a huge deterrent effect on Xie Zhimin.

The Book of Life and Death made him afraid to easily harbor malicious thoughts of taking people's lives again. Perhaps, as the Junior Preceptor said, peacefully being his prince and lord was also a good choice. In that case, whether his primary wife's maiden family could provide support was no longer that important.

As long as his Fu family cousin was obedient, it would be fine! Just as he was thinking of accepting his marriage, the voice of the Divine Artifact echoed in his ears.

[Master, it is precisely because of Fu Hong's death that Zhang Tingji feels his opportunity has come. He wants to poach from the Fu family and push his own daughter into the position of the Second Prince's primary consort.

He and the Zhang family behind him will be the Second Prince's greatest reliance.

As long as Second Brother Xie shows his value, the marriage network carefully woven by the Zhang family will also become his support.]

"I remember that a few days ago, the Zhang family's in-laws somehow angered the Emperor and were successively dismissed from office or banished far away from the capital.

Can the Zhang family's in-laws still exert any influence?"

Some officials' eyes flickered, thinking of those women of unknown origins in their inner courtyards whom they had given money to and sent away to be married...

Their Emperor hadn't dismissed or demoted all of the Zhang family's in-laws. Only those who truly participated in the fight for the throne had suffered. The rest of them were completely safe and hadn't been affected in the slightest.

[Drawing empty promises, who doesn't know how to do that? Maybe Second Brother Xie, who wants to be the emperor, was moved by it!]

Xie Zhimin hurriedly shook his head in terror at Emperor Mingxi. He wasn't, he didn't, the Divine Artifact was talking nonsense!

Wuwuwu, Xie Zhimin wept silently in his heart. He was so deeply wronged!

Although he had indeed wanted to break off the engagement with his cousin and even used the excuse that close-relative marriage was bad for future generations, he really hadn't fallen for the empty promises Zhang Tingji painted for him.

He knew that with the inner voice of the Junior Preceptor as evidence, the Zhang family's good days wouldn't last long. How could he possibly jump into their pit, which was even bigger than the Fu family's!

Wanting to be the emperor was merely a delusion from before the Junior Preceptor appeared. After the Junior Preceptor arrived, day by day he heard about spies here, rebels there, and remnants of the previous dynasty plotting to restore their nation...

Case after case, which of these could be solved with his level of intelligence?

Although he still occasionally thought about the supreme throne during his midnight dreams, it was just a passing thought. After today's free tour of the Underworld, he felt that he would walk more carefully in the future, terrified of even stepping on an ant!

[And there's Xie San. Although Zhang Tingji quickly ruled him out, Qu Yuan of the Capital Camp Commandery has set his sights on Xie San.

Master doesn't know this Qu Yuan, but if I mention Qu Tong, does Master have an impression?

He is the uncle of Qu Wenxin, the man Yu Ningrong was originally supposed to marry.

Qu Tong was dismissed from office and stripped of his duties last year because he angered His Majesty.

As the direct lineage of the Qu family, they were also somewhat affected. So Qu Yuan thought of clinging to a powerful backer through marriage, and after looking around, he set his eyes on the position of Xie San's secondary consort.