RPAGF Chapter 547: Restoring the Prince's Status
Chapter 547: Restoring the Prince's Status
"Could it be that the rumor is wrong?" Ji Xinying widened her eyes.
Ye Yunzi answered honestly: "The rumor is true."
Ji Xinying's eyes widened and almost popped out: "The engagement is really broken off! Then why..."
"It's a complicated matter."
Ye Yunzi turned her gaze to Shen Siyan, tenderness in her eyes. They had been through everything, even facing the separation of life and death. If it weren't for the accident, they should have been married for several months.
"Si Yan never thought about breaking off the engagement. It was a helpless move at the time."
There was trust and calmness in Ye Yunzi's voice.
Although Ji Xinying didn't understand the reason, she knew that as long as their relationship remained unchanged, it would be fine. She was afraid that Ye Yunzi would be hurt because of the broken engagement.
"Okay, you guys handle yourselves. I won't ask any more questions." Ji Xinying waved her hand, not wanting to cause displeasure by interfering too much.
She took a sip of tea and turned her gaze to Tao Qiming, who was silent at the side. Tao Qiming was behaving strangely, and had not spoken a word since he entered the room. His face was solemn and his thoughts were unpredictable.
Noticing his condition, Ji Xinying stood up and said, "I'll go help you take care of the flowers and plants."
Then he followed Tao Qiming's footsteps. Only Ye Yunzi and Shen Siyan were left in the hall.
Ye Yunzi looked at Shen Siyan with worry: "Siyan, what is the emperor's attitude towards this matter? Even if the emperor shows mercy and lets the Shen family go, the ministers in the court will definitely make a fuss about it."
Shen Siyan looked calm and said, "Don't worry, everything will be fine."
This calmness gave Ye Yunzi a sense of security.
The next morning, inside the Fengtian Hall of the Imperial Palace.
Baili Lin stood tall in the hall, looking particularly eye-catching. This was his first time appearing in front of the court officials since he was deposed as the crown prince by the emperor.
The emperor stared at Baili Lin, his voice filled with unquestionable majesty: "In view of Baili Lin's past contributions, I have decided to restore his status as the Second Prince."
The ministers looked puzzled, obviously not expecting such a sudden change.
"Your Majesty!" A minister hesitated to speak.
The emperor looked at everyone with a sharp gaze and asked, "Do you have any objections?"
Facing the emperor's determined eyes, no one dared to speak out easily. Opposing the emperor's decision was tantamount to asking for trouble, and no one wanted to be the first person to stand up.
The Seventh Prince's supporters looked gloomy.
They originally thought that it was only a matter of time before the Seventh Prince inherited the throne, but now that the Second Prince has returned to the court, they are filled with uncertainty.
Does the emperor intend to reconsider his choice of crown prince?
"And Si Yan, I plan to let him return to his ancestral home!"
As soon as the emperor finished speaking, the prime minister stepped forward and advised: "Your Majesty, considering that the remnants of the previous dynasty have just been executed and the Shen family is involved in it, if you restore the status of the eldest prince at this time, it may cause controversy."
"The Prime Minister is absolutely right." The other ministers echoed this, and seemed to agree that the eldest prince's return should not be rushed.
After hearing this, the emperor felt a chill in his heart.
He originally wanted to let Si Yan return to his throne formally so that he could legitimately trace his ancestral roots, but the incident at the Shen Mansion gave the ministers an excuse to delay the matter.
"Your Majesty, please think again!"
The court officials kept calling for it, and although the emperor was unwilling, he had to put his wish on hold temporarily.
"Let's adjourn the court." The emperor waved his hand and stood up and left with a hint of anger.
Walking out of Fengtian Hall, Baili Lin's mood was complicated and excited. He never thought that he could stand in this familiar yet strange place again and accept this sudden turn of events.
The ministers were all smiling and came forward to congratulate the Second Prince: "Congratulations, Second Prince! This is truly cause for celebration!"
Baili Lin glanced at this group of people, but he did not feel happy at all. When he was the crown prince, these people were vying to flatter him.
But when he lost his position as crown prince, they turned against him in the blink of an eye and even added insult to injury.
In the past, he would have left without mercy and in a cold face, but now that he has returned to the court, he has no power under his command, so he has to be patient temporarily and pretend to be nice to these old colleagues.
The news that the emperor announced the restoration of the second prince's status at the morning court quickly spread throughout the capital.
When Baili Yan heard the news, the tea bowl in his hand fell to the ground and shattered, and his body instantly turned cold.
"What? Baili Lin has regained his identity as the second prince?" While he was recuperating in the mansion, the outside world had already undergone tremendous changes.
"What is going on? How can Baili Lin regain his identity?"
Baili Yan stood up suddenly and ordered anxiously: "Go and ask Shen Yuming to come see me!"
After receiving the summons, Shen Yuming immediately went to Baili Yan's residence.
"Your Highness." Shen Yuming saluted. His voice was as calm as a spring breeze, which made everyone who saw him calm down involuntarily.
When Baili Yan saw this trustworthy strategist, he almost grabbed Shen Yuming's arm, but finally restrained himself.
"Have you heard about what happened in the court?"
"Yes, Your Highness." Shen Yuming replied.
Baili Yan's face was solemn: "If I had known that I should have gotten rid of him completely in the temple that night! Who would have thought that he could return to the palace so quickly and regain his status as a prince."
Originally thought that the position of crown prince was already in the bag, the deposed crown prince was demoted to a commoner for the crime of deceiving the emperor, and the fourth prince rebelled and escaped. Everything seemed to be under control.
However, the sudden return of the deposed prince and his return to the emperor's favor make everything confusing. If this continues, will the emperor change his mind and make Baili Lin the prince again?
This thought frightened Baili Yan, and his face became even uglier. The temptation of power made him ambitious, and giving up the fight for the position of crown prince at this moment was simply a fantasy for him.
"I must become the crown prince, and no one can stop me!" Baili Yan said firmly.
"Your Highness, do you remember what I said? No matter what happens, I will lend you a helping hand." Shen Yuming said sincerely.
"I believe you, Shen Yuming."
Baili Yan patted Shen Yuming on the shoulder and said, "As long as I can reach the highest position, I will never forget your contribution."
Shen Yuming's wisdom and loyalty are of great importance to Baili Yan. At this moment, the two of them are in tune with each other.
Baili Yan sighed, withdrew his hand from Shen Yuming's shoulder, and his thoughts drifted back to the disputes in the palace.
"Now that Baili Lin has regained his status as the second prince, he will definitely come to seize the position of crown prince. What do you think I should do?" he asked.
Shen Yuming lowered his eyes, hiding his inner emotions: "Your Highness, don't worry too much."
"No need to worry?"
Baili Yan looked at Shen Yuming in surprise: "If he makes new achievements and makes the emperor look at him with new eyes, won't I have to watch him become the crown prince? I really want to get rid of him immediately!"
Baili Yan's words were full of anger and unwillingness, and he was obviously still regretting not killing the man on the night of the temple.
Shen Yuming still had no expression on his face, and just said quietly: "The mistakes made by the Second Prince in the past will not be easily forgotten.