Yu Jin calmly dismissed the officials who had come to offer congratulations. Only then did he receive the imperial edict delivered by an attendant who had squeezed through the crowd. This finally confirmed to the old Chief Steward that he wasn’t dreaming.
As the gates of the Prince’s mansion closed, the old Chief Steward clutched Yu Jin’s sleeve, tears streaming down his face. “This old servant offers congratulations to the Prince… no, to His Highness the Crown Prince…”
Yu Jin felt somewhat weary and said helplessly, “Chief Steward, why don’t you go inside and wash your face?”
He hoped the old man would calm down after washing his face, as it was rather unsettling to have an elderly man crying in front of him.
The old Chief Steward gripped Yu Jin’s sleeve even tighter.
He didn’t want to go inside and wash his face; he hadn’t finished being excited yet.
The Prince had become the Crown Prince. Would those surnamed Dou dare to make a sound in front of him now?
This was truly a moment of triumph!
The old Chief Steward felt his life was complete. How could he possibly go inside to wash his face?
Yu Jin forcefully pulled his sleeve free and said coolly, “Then I’ll go inside and share this news with the Princess Consort.”
“Of course, of course,” the old Chief Steward replied repeatedly.
Yu Jin strode towards Yuhe Garden, shaking out his crumpled sleeve.
The old Chief Steward stared intently at Yu Jin’s retreating figure.
Stewardess Ji waved her hand. “The Prince has gone far. What are you still looking at?”
The old Chief Steward came to his senses and said with a sigh, “Stewardess Ji, do you think our Princess Consort has the fortune to bring prosperity to her husband?”
How else could they explain the Prince suddenly becoming the Crown Prince? Was it just because the Prince was good at fighting?
Stewardess Ji nodded, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. “It must be so.”
Given how the Princess Consort only wanted to be close to the Prince and had no interest in managing the household affairs, what else but innate good fortune could explain their current situation?
The old Chief Steward and Stewardess Ji exchanged a glance, both sighing.
One couldn’t help but submit to fate.
As the officials departed in grand procession, the news reached the ears of various noble households.
At that time, Prince Qi was copying Buddhist scriptures.
Patience is like having a knife suspended over one’s head; years of endurance were not easy to bear. In recent days, Prince Qi has been passing time by copying scriptures to keep himself calm.
Upon hearing the news, a blob of thick ink dropped onto the paper, ruining the nearly completed scripture.
“Your Highness—”
“Get out!”
The door was quickly closed. Prince Qi gripped the brush tightly, snapping it in half and piercing his palm, drawing blood.
Yet Prince Qi felt no pain. He pounded the table repeatedly.
Seventh Brother had been named Crown Prince?
How was this possible? Father Emperor must have gone mad!
What about the Empress Dowager? Wasn’t she at odds with the Empress? Why hadn’t she stopped Father Emperor?
That letter said the Empress Dowager would help him, but how much time had passed before Seventh Brother became Crown Prince? Could someone tell him how exactly the Empress Dowager had helped him?
Could anyone tell him?
Prince Qi swept everything off the desk with force, collapsing amidst the mess on the floor, lost in a daze.
“Why, why… it’s impossible, impossible…”
The servant outside dared not enter, his scalp tingling as he listened to Prince Qi’s muttering.
The Princess had gone mad; surely the Prince wouldn’t go mad too?
In Prince Lu’s mansion, Prince Lu supported his chin with one hand while rubbing his backside with the other, grimacing as he said, “Damn it, I nearly broke my ass falling.”
The Princess Consort of Lu was no less shocked than Prince Lu, but she maintained her composure, slowly fanning herself. “Why is Your Highness so agitated? It’s not as if you were the one named Crown Prince.”
Prince Lu grabbed the Princess Consort’s hand, squeezing it tightly. “Seventh Brother! It’s Seventh Brother!”
The Princess Consort frowned, guessing, “Do you feel happy for Prince Yan because of your close relationship?”
Prince Lu’s mouth twitched. “Bah! Who’s happy? Aren’t you shocked? If Seventh Brother can become Crown Prince, what about me?”
He was even older than Seventh Brother!
The Princess Consort, fearing that Prince Lu’s agitation might harm the child in her womb, protected her belly and said coolly, “Being a Prince is quite good for you. Let’s just be content with what we have.”
Prince Lu rolled up his sleeves, then let them down again dejectedly.
Fine, if it weren’t for this woman being pregnant, he would surely teach her a lesson.
A husband is like heaven. Is this how one should speak to heaven?
Prince Shu was cradling a cricket cage, preparing to challenge Prince Kang to a duel, when he heard this shocking news.
Prince Shu’s hand went slack, and the cage fell from his embrace. In the blink of an eye, the cricket inside disappeared into the grass.
The servant following Prince Shu hurried to chase after it, shouting, “The cricket has escaped—”