Chapter 775: Chapter 379 Eliminated In Xingde Palace, Zhao Yao was lying on the table on the kang, writing and drawing something. At that moment, Tong Xi came in with freshly made pastries and milk tea. "Your Highness, please have some milk tea and pastries to take a break." Zhao Yao saw snow on Tong Xi’s hat and shoulders, poured him a cup of milk tea himself, and let him drink a few sips to warm up. After drinking the milk tea, Tong Xi couldn’t wait to gossip with Zhao Yao. "Your Highness, during the morning court, many people suggested reinstating the dethroned Crown Prince," Tong Xi, who was always good at gathering information, said. "Prince Dai, Prince Chu, Prince Wei, and even Prince Jing all said so." Zhao Yao heard this, did not lift an eyelid, and said very calmly, "It was expected." He had long guessed that such a play would take place. "Ah, Your Highness, aren’t you surprised?" Tong Xi stepped forward excitedly, "I can understand Lord Wei proposing it, but even Prince Dai and Prince Jing want to reinstate the dethroned Crown Prince. Aren’t they aiming for the position themselves? Why suddenly suggest reinstating the dethroned Crown Prince? Are they out of their minds?" Zhao Yao wiped off the spittle Tong Xi had just sprayed on his face with great disdain and said, "Why are you getting so excited?" "Your Highness, don’t you find it strange?" Tong Xi didn’t understand why Zhao Yao was so calm. "Everyone is suggesting reinstating the dethroned Crown Prince!" "What’s so strange about it," Zhao Yao glanced at the fussing Tong Xi, and said grumpily, "Do you think they really want to reinstate the dethroned Crown Prince?" Tong Xi was puzzled: "Ah? They don’t? Then why did they suggest reinstating the dethroned Crown Prince?" "Naturally, to test Father Emperor and see if he truly wants to reinstate the dethroned Crown Prince." "So that’s it." Tong Xi listened half-understanding, "Your Highness, do you think His Majesty will reinstate the dethroned Crown Prince?" "No, Father Emperor will never reinstate the dethroned Crown Prince." Zhao Yao continued, "They have another purpose in suggesting reinstating the dethroned Crown Prince." Tong Xi quickly asked, "What purpose?" "To urge Father Emperor to swiftly appoint a new Crown Prince." Since the eldest brother was dethroned, the matter of appointing a new Crown Prince has not ceased. As long as Father Emperor does not appoint a new Crown Prince, the ministers remain anxious. "Your Highness, who do you think His Majesty will appoint as Crown Prince?" Tong Xi was very curious. "What do you think?" Isn’t the answer obvious enough? "This servant thinks it is Prince Chu, but you said earlier that Prince Chu has Prince Dai above him and Prince Jing, the legitimate son, below him. It won’t be easy for His Majesty to appoint Prince Chu as Crown Prince." "That’s why Father Emperor has not appointed a new Crown Prince." Father Emperor knows that appointing the fourth brother as Crown Prince will not be easy, so he has adopted a delaying tactic. "Then can Prince Chu still become Crown Prince?" "Not now, but surely in the future." Zhao Yao still trusted Prince Chu’s capability. "That’s great." As long as Prince Chu can become Crown Prince, that’s good. Zhao Yao’s expression suddenly turned serious. He sighed slightly and said, "Without appointing a new Crown Prince, the ministers will keep grasping at this issue. They will only focus on the matter of appointing the Crown Prince and won’t pay attention to other things. This is not beneficial." Tong Xi did not understand Zhao Yao’s words, but in his heart, the emperor was omnipotent. "Your Highness, His Majesty surely has it all under control, don’t worry." Thinking of the unreliable nature of the emperor, Zhao Yao humphed and said, "I hope he truly has it all under control." He had a sense that Father Emperor was playing with fire. It wasn’t just Zhao Yao who thought this way; Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu also thought so. They advised the emperor not to overplay, or the consequences would be unimaginable. The emperor reassured them, saying he had things in hand. After the morning court, Prince Wei sent someone to deliver a message to Prince Jin Mansion, informing Prince Jin of what happened during the morning court. After reading the letter from Prince Wei, Prince Jin sighed with a face full of helplessness: "Sigh." Lv Cong heard Prince Jin’s heavy sigh and asked with concern, "Your Highness, what’s wrong? Did something happen?" "Today during the morning court, the eighth brother and others proposed to Father Emperor to reinstate me." "Your Highness, isn’t that a good thing?" Lv Cong was happy, but he could see that Prince Jin was not pleased; instead, his expression was heavy. "Why aren’t you happy?" "I no longer want to be Crown Prince." Prince Jin knew that Prince Wei sincerely wanted the emperor to reinstate him, but others proposing his reinstatement were not well-intentioned. "Moreover, I am no longer qualified to be Crown Prince." "Your Highness, Prince Wei and others have not given up. Why are you giving up?" "Having been Crown Prince for over twenty years, there was only suspicion and jealousy. To be honest, I’m long exhausted." Since being dethroned, Prince Jin had come to terms with it, "Life is now peaceful, and I am content." "Your Highness..." Lv Cong felt grieved and saddened for Prince Jin, "You have been Crown Prince since you were a child..." Prince Jin interrupted Lv Cong’s words, "Don’t say such things again in the future." "Yes, Your Highness." "Prepare the ink for me." "Yes." Lv Cong was astonished when he saw that Prince Jin wanted to write a memorial, "Your Highness, what are you doing?" "Writing a memorial to Father Emperor." After finishing the memorial, Prince Jin handed it to Lv Cong, "Deliver it to the palace." "Your Highness, you are?" Lv Cong had a foreboding feeling. "Breaking the eighth brother’s wishful thinking." Lv Cong understood Prince Jin’s intention, exclaiming in shock, "Your Highness!" Prince Jin’s face turned cold as he said, "Send it to the palace quickly." Lv Cong dared not say anything more or delay. He immediately went to the palace. In the Imperial Study, the emperor, after reading Prince Jin’s memorial, was somewhat surprised. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂 "Sun Kui." "This servant is here." "Go and summon Prince Jin." Prince Jin? Sun Kui was a bit shocked, then respectfully said, "Yes, Your Majesty." Soon after, all the civil and military officials knew that Sun Kui had personally gone to Prince Jin Mansion to summon Prince Jin to the palace, making them uneasy. Many speculated whether His Majesty really intended to reinstate the dethroned Crown Prince, especially given the earlier proposal during the morning court. When Prince Dai heard about this, he gloomily wanted to enter the palace to prevent it, but was fortunately stopped by Marquis Xuanping. Marquis Xuanping advised Prince Dai to remain calm and patient. By this time, Prince Jin had already entered the Imperial Study and met with the emperor. The emperor first examined Prince Jin, noting he had become leaner, but his demeanor was very calm, lacking the previous restlessness and dissatisfaction, which surprised him a bit. "Have you figured it out?" "Father Emperor, your son has figured it out." The emperor saw the determination in Prince Jin’s eyes and was slightly surprised, raising an eyebrow. "Today at the morning court, the ministers proposed reinstating you; why, don’t you want to be Crown Prince anymore?" "Father Emperor, this son is not fit to be Crown Prince." Thinking of past events, Prince Jin’s mouth curled into a bitter smile, "This son does not suit being Crown Prince, and is not worthy of being Crown Prince." "You truly feel this way?" "I once didn’t think so, but now I really don’t wish to be Crown Prince anymore." Standing on the side, Sun Kui was extremely surprised to hear Prince Jin say this, finding it unbelievable that Prince Jin would utter such words. Was Prince Jin acting? Sun Kui deliberately observed Prince Jin’s expression secretly, seeing his serious demeanor, which didn’t seem like acting, he was astonished internally: My goodness, after not seeing his Highness for a while, Prince Jing’s acting has become so good! Prince Jing didn’t seem to have been watching dramas at home, how did he suddenly become so adept at acting? "Father Emperor, I’ve made too many mistakes in the past, utterly unworthy to be Crown Prince..." The emperor calmly listened to Prince Jin’s confession. He could hear that Prince Jin genuinely regretted his past actions and genuinely no longer wanted to be Crown Prince. In the Imperial Study, the emperor and Prince Jin chatted peacefully, while outside in the palace, the ministers were anxious. Prince Dai and others kept sending people to monitor the palace, becoming increasingly anxious as Prince Jin did not come out of the Imperial Study for some time. Before noon, Prince Jin finally emerged from the Imperial Study. Upon learning Prince Jin had left the palace, ministers were eager to find out what the emperor had discussed with him. Just as Prince Dai was anxiously planning to enter the palace to seek information, the emperor issued an imperial decree, ordering Prince Jin to take his family to the Royal Mansion. Upon learning Prince Jin was to be placed under soft imprisonment in the Royal Mansion, Prince Dai and the ministers were finally relieved. The emperor’s decree to confine Prince Jin in the Royal Mansion signified that Prince Jin was completely out of the succession race and could never be reinstated. This was tremendous good news for Prince Dai and the others.