Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 924: Chapter 48: Bringing Prince Zheng Back Ahead of Time (Part 2)

"Your Majesty, you are truly benevolent."

The Emperor solemnly said, "I am this benevolent."

Sun Kui: "..." Your Majesty, not only has your skin thickened, but you’ve also become more cunning.

More than half an hour later, prompted by Sun Kui, the Emperor walked out of the Imperial Study to visit the ministers kneeling at the doorway.

Seeing the Emperor finally come out, Marquis Wuping and the others hurriedly requested the Emperor to retract his decree.

The Emperor disregarded their words and instead instructed Sun Kui to bring cushions and serve tea to the ministers.

Marquis Wuping and the others were stunned. They hadn’t expected this reaction from the Emperor.

"Dear ministers, if you’re tired of kneeling, you can sit," the Emperor kindly suggested, "If you’re hungry or thirsty, you can ask someone to bring you snacks and tea."

"Your Majesty..."

The Emperor interrupted Marquis Wuping, smiling, "No need to thank me. You are my beloved ministers; how can I bear to see you exhausted?"

"Your Majesty, I..."

The Emperor interrupted Marquis Wuping again, "I have memorials to review, so just keep kneeling. If you can’t bear it, you can leave without informing me."

"Your Majesty..."

Ignoring Marquis Wuping and the others, the Emperor turned back to the Imperial Study to continue reviewing his memorials.

Marquis Wuping, with a strong backbone, refused the cushions and tea.

Other ministers, with aching knees from kneeling, grew tired. Usually pampered, they struggled even with walking, let alone enduring such hardship. They asked Sun Kui for cushions and sat cross-legged on them.

Some ministers, thirsty, also asked Sun Kui for tea. After drinking it, they sat on the cushions, continuing their protest against the Emperor.

Sun Doudou found the scene amusing and entertaining.

"Master, is this what they call a protest?"

"What, do you want to see them bang their heads against the pillars?"

"I kind of do, but they surely wouldn’t dare."

"This is only the first day; just wait."

Sun Kui returned to the Imperial Study, waiting by the side for the Emperor’s order.

Initially, not many ministers sat on the cushions, but as time passed, more and more joined them. By noon, even Marquis Wuping and Marquis Chiyang could no longer endure kneeling and eventually sat down.

Sun Kui reminded the Emperor, "Your Majesty, it is noon; it’s time for your lunch."

"Noon already?" The Emperor put down the vermillion pen and rubbed his brow, "How are the people outside? Have they left?"

"No, they’re all still there, but they’ve all switched to sitting on cushions and are no longer kneeling." Sun Kui detailed the process of the ministers changing from kneeling to sitting to the Emperor.

After hearing it, the Emperor laughed, "They couldn’t even last half a day; they’re even more useless than I imagined."

"Your Majesty, none of the ministers have any plans to leave."

"Let’s go and take a look."

The Emperor stretched lazily as he walked out of the Imperial Study.

"Your Majesty, we earnestly request you to retract your decree."

"Aren’t you hungry, beloved ministers? Shall I have someone bring you food?"

"Your Majesty, we are not hungry; we humbly request..."

The Emperor raised his hand to interrupt Marquis Wuping, "You’re not hungry, but I am. I’m going to have lunch."

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."

After taking a couple of steps, the Emperor stopped, looked back at Marquis Wuping and the others: "If you’re hungry, my beloved ministers, you can return home for lunch."

"Your Majesty..."

The Emperor briskly jogged away.

After finishing lunch, he did not rush back to the Imperial Study but went for a walk in the Imperial Garden to aid digestion. Afterward, he returned to the warm pavilion for a nap, completely forgetting about the ministers kneeling at the Imperial Study’s door.

Meanwhile, at the Prince Chu Mansion, Prince Chu and Yang Ling were playing chess in the courtyard.

Wei Mian approached, paid respects, and reported, "Your Highness, Marquis Wuping and the others are still in the palace."

Hearing this, Prince Chu was not surprised.

Wei Mian continued to report, "Marquis Wuping and the others have switched from kneeling to sitting at the door of the Imperial Study in protest."

Intrigued, Yang Ling asked, "How did they switch from kneeling to sitting?"

Wei Mian conveyed the news from the palace in detail to Yang Ling.

After listening, Yang Ling smiled and said, "The Emperor indeed has great methods."

Prince Chu said, "It was the same before."

Yang Ling asked, "Your Highness, how many days do you think Marquis Wuping and the others can hold on?"

Prince Chu: "At least three days."

Yang Ling asked again, "What about after three days?"

"They’ll probably feign illness and not attend court."

"Your Highness, how long do you think they will pretend?"

Prince Chu said, "Also three days. They dare not stay away for long because they know Father would actually let them retire and go home."

"The Emperor never indulges them," Yang Ling recalled Duke Anyang, then thought of Prince Zheng, "Has the Emperor allowed Prince Zheng to return?"

"Duke Anyang hasn’t yet proposed to Father to let Prince Zheng return." Prince Chu dropped a chess piece and continued, "After all, the matter isn’t over yet, with Marquis Wuping and the others still making a fuss."

Yang Ling thought it made sense, "It seems Duke Anyang will propose to the Emperor to let Prince Zheng return to the capital only when Marquis Wuping and the others calm down."

Prince Chu looked at Yang Ling, thoughtfully saying, "Sir, I plan to propose to Father to let Prince Zheng return to the capital."

Hearing this, Yang Ling paused his movements and looked at Prince Chu with slight surprise, "Your Highness, you want to..."

Prince Chu rubbed the chess piece in his hand, saying meaningfully, "I’m not currying favor with Duke Anyang but taking the opportunity to bring Prince Zheng back."

"Your Highness, do you intend to resolve the issue of Prince Zheng in advance?" What had Prince Zheng done to make Prince Chu detest him so?

"That’s right, he’s a scourge, better to eliminate him early."

"That’s also good."

In Duke Anyang Mansion, Duke Anyang was also discussing with his son about bringing Prince Zheng back to the capital.

"Father, His Highness is somewhat reluctant to return to the capital."

"He must come back, reluctant or not. Does he really wish to stay in that dreadful place forever, being an idle prince?" Duke Anyang knew why Prince Zheng was unwilling to return to the capital, "Over the years, he’s been living a life of indulgence in Jiaozhou. If he doesn’t return to the capital, he’ll become a complete waste."

"Father, you know what His Highness is like. Do you really think it’s a good idea for him to return to the capital?" Duke Anyang’s son frowned, his expression a bit heavy, "If what His Highness has done gets discovered, he won’t just be in trouble; we’d be implicated as well. Over the years in Jiaozhou, His Highness has been even more reckless, and I’m afraid that upon returning to the capital, he won’t hold back."

"He’ll restrain himself once back in the capital." Duke Anyang said coldly, "After Marquis Wuping and the others are done, I’ll bring it up with the Emperor."

Duke Anyang’s son understood that their Wang Family had long staked their future on Prince Zheng. If Prince Zheng stayed in Jiaozhou, their Wang Family wouldn’t have a bright future. But if Prince Zheng returned to the capital, the Wang Family would have a chance to make a bid for power. If successful, the Wang Family could become extremely influential.

"I hope that His Highness will become more sensible after returning to the capital."

"You go to Jiaozhou personally and handle the matters left behind by His Highness." Duke Anyang, worried that Prince Zheng’s actions in Jiaozhou might be discovered, said, "Ensure that everything is cleanly dealt with, leaving no traces."

Duke Anyang’s son nodded, "Okay, I’ll leave for Jiaozhou tomorrow."

"I’ll visit the Empress in the palace tomorrow," Duke Anyang said, "This matter should first be discussed with the Empress."

"Father, it’s best to have the Empress write a letter to His Highness, which I will take to him." Knowing Prince Zheng’s temperament, Duke Anyang’s son was quite troubled, "His Highness fears the Empress the most and listens to her."