Chapter 81: Chapter 81: The Ruse of Self-Sacrifice

Huangfu Yuxuan was overjoyed and said, “What solution do you have?”

Gongyang Puyu gazed intently at Huangfu Yuxuan and said, “An assassination attempt on the Crown Prince!”

Huangfu Yuxuan’s expression changed slightly, with a hint of anger, and he said, “Why make jokes, sir?”

Gongyang Puyu shook his head and smiled, with a somewhat profound expression, waving the small piece of paper in his hand, and said, “Does the Second Young Master think that the Crown Prince’s position can be maintained with this crime?”

Huangfu Yuxuan was speechless.

His Grandfather was originally dissatisfied with his father’s actions, and with Prince Zhuang, Prince Li, and the others at his side, they surely had not spoken well of him. It was only because the matter of deposing the Crown Prince was significant that his Grandfather had not made up his mind.

If everything went smoothly with the disaster relief this time, and the Crown Prince’s father heeded his advice, his position would have been stable. However, this Crown Prince’s father was too unreliable, causing such a mess, and even failed to thoroughly remove the problem, allowing the victim to report the matter to the Capital City, directly to the Emperor’s face, leaving even his Grandfather with no way to handle it.

Gongyang Puyu extended his right hand, continually calculating with his thumb against his finger joints, his face inscrutable, and said slowly, “The Emperor, sitting in his position, faces the whole world. This matter must be dealt with, and it will be dealt with seriously! But do not forget, although the Emperor is the Emperor, he is also a father. Now, the only thing that can save the Crown Prince is the Emperor’s lingering paternal affection.”

Huangfu Yuxuan’s eyes lit up, yes, how could he have forgotten?

When his Grandfather learned of this matter, he was naturally furious, but the most infuriating moment was yesterday when he saw the complaint paper, and after a night had passed, it should have eased somewhat. If the father was assassinated, his anger would turn into a father’s concern for his son.

This assassination must not be too light! After all, the Imperial Physicians cannot be fooled. He would send reliable people to make his father’s injuries appear severe but not life-threatening.

When his father was injured, in order not to aggravate his father’s injuries, his Grandfather would certainly postpone dealing with the matter. In the case of serious injuries, it would take one or two months to recuperate. By then, the heat of the matter would have passed, and his Grandfather would have calmed down, and the matter would be handled lightly.

Once Huangfu Yuxuan made his decision, he was already thinking in his heart about selecting people to carry out the assassination. This matter should be done sooner rather than later, as during tomorrow’s morning court, his Grandfather would certainly handle the matter involving his father.

Tonight!

If the father was injured, it would not only prevent him from attending tomorrow’s court but also avoid immediate handling by his Grandfather due to his injuries. This was indeed a brilliant strategy of self-injury!

However, assassinating the Crown Prince must be done without arousing suspicion, requiring careful preparation.

However, what Huangfu Yuxuan did not expect was that there was no need to wait until tomorrow. That very afternoon, just as he was leaving the other courtyard where he met with Gongyang Puyu, the Holy Decree had already been issued—deposing the Crown Prince and demoting him to Prince Liang. A punishment of thirty lashes, removal from the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince Mansion changed to Prince Liang Mansion, Prince Liang was put under house arrest to reflect on his mistakes, and his salary was reduced for three years!

Is this punishment severe?

For the Crown Prince, it was considered severe.

The Crown Prince’s position was lost, his pampered buttocks received thirty lashes, and his salary was reduced for three years. He was still placed under house arrest to reflect on his mistakes, which was no different from confinement.

However, for the two families he harmed and ruined, it was light; he did not have to pay with his life for the ten-plus lives he took, thirty lashes in exchange for eleven lives. He still retained his princely title, and although confined, he still had luxurious clothes and food.

But for Huangfu Yuxuan, it was like the sky falling.

The Crown Prince was already deposed, so there was no need for assassination.

All his efforts were based on the premise of keeping the Crown Prince’s position unchanged, since only as an Imperial Grandson would he have the opportunity to ascend to great power.

Now that his father’s position as Crown Prince was gone, and his Grandfather was aged, he would certainly choose a new Crown Prince among his uncles.

Could it be Prince Li, who was still in the Capital City?

Back when the matter involving his father occurred, Grand Tutor Zhao, Right Minister, and Prince Li were all present. Prince Li held an absolute advantage and it was even possible that this was the result of Prince Li’s instigation.

If Prince Li became the Crown Prince, then the identity of the Crown Prince would be distant from their branch, and the throne would move further and further away from him.

A harsh light flashed in Huangfu Yuxuan’s eyes.

The new Crown Prince could be chosen from among the uncles, or he might be chosen from the Imperial Grandsons.

Although the situation was unfavorable to him, things depend on human effort! He would never resign himself to fate!

Prince Li was not appointed as Crown Prince.

This youngest son summoned back to the Capital three years ago, who was now just thirty years old, was suave and elegant, noble and imposing, had excellent relations in the Capital, and maintained close ties with many courtiers. With him still in the Capital now, many people had high expectations for him.

But everyone’s speculation was wrong; Prince Li was not appointed as Crown Prince!

Five days later, Prince Zhuang returned to the Capital.

At this time, a Vassal King returning to the Capital seemed to indicate something unusual.

Indeed, on the morning of the sixth day, a new Holy Decree was announced: Prince Zhuang, Huangfu Hanyu, was appointed as the Crown Prince!

Prince Zhuang, it turned out to be Prince Zhuang?!

Huangfu Yuxuan thought this matter unusual. From the Crown Prince being deposed upon returning to the Capital to Prince Zhuang returning to the Capital, it had only been six days.

From Qingzhou’s fief to the Capital City, even at full speed, it couldn’t be done in six days.

So, Prince Zhuang wasn’t summoned back by his Grandfather.

Or even if he was summoned back, it wasn’t because of the incident involving his father.

The father was deposed, Prince Zhuang was appointed, while Prince Li, the prince in the Capital, had no share—what was the inside story?

Huangfu Yuxuan made a decisive decision and once again sought information from the Shadow Pavilion.

The Shadow Pavilion indeed sold him another piece of information, but after seeing it, he was so angry that his vision turned dark.

“Ningzhou’s flood disaster, Prince Liang was incompetent in handling the situation, and many victims starved to death. Prince Zhuang provided one million taels of silver to purchase rice for disaster relief! Because this batch of relief supplies arrived in time, it greatly alleviated the victims’ plight. News of this reached the Capital, delighting the Emperor, who appreciated Prince Zhuang’s dedication to the people, and the Emperor issued a decree half a month ago to summon him back to the Capital for commendation.”

Prince Zhuang was in Qingzhou, and the flood was in Ningzhou, seemingly unrelated places.

But these two states were adjacent, Qingzhou to the east, Ningzhou to the west. Prince Zhuang’s fief was in western Qingzhou, and the area affected by Ningzhou’s flood was in eastern Ningzhou, seemingly far apart but not actually far.

It was heard that in Ningzhou’s relief efforts, few victims died of starvation, and no large-scale victim riots occurred. Although the matter wasn’t handled perfectly, it was considered thorough.

Who would have thought this thoroughness wasn’t due to the father’s efforts but was the result of Prince Zhuang’s covert operations?

Prince Zhuang gained the Crown Prince position with one million taels of silver?

But the matter was clear: if the Crown Prince had not committed the crime of abducting women and murdering families, even if it was due to Prince Zhuang’s intervention that the disaster relief did not have major issues, this would not have shaken the Crown Prince’s position. On the contrary, it would also have been credited as the Crown Prince’s achievement.

Helping one’s brother was nothing more than lending a hand.

Otherwise, why would his Grandfather instruct the Ministry of Rites to hold a grand welcome when the Crown Prince returned to the Capital?

But he made a grave mistake, and his actions were not clean, allowing the other party to appeal directly to the Emperor.

Just as Prince Zhuang made a contribution this time.

A rise would bring about a fall!

His Grandfather had always appreciated Uncle Zhuang’s maturity and steadiness, so his Grandfather went along with the flow and appointed Uncle Zhuang as Crown Prince.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep