Yi Yan Geng was not only capable but also young enough to stabilize all the wicked forces within and outside the court, without any lingering worries.
This was because the Da Yu Dynasty bore the surname Xia, while Yi Yan Geng still carried the surname Yi.
Prince Yu, having finally found his biological son, made a scene before the Emperor with tears and snot, begging him to enfepple Yi Yan Geng as the heir apparent of Prince Yu.
Yi Yan Geng had no intention of acknowledging his father, let alone changing his surname.
Prince Yu was already overjoyed to have him as an ancestor, and was ecstatic that he had come to the capital. How could he dare to go against his wishes and demand a surname change!
Moreover, Yi Yan Geng took his mother's surname, not that of some other man!
Did the surname matter!
What mattered was that he had a son! A biological one!
But the heir apparent of Prince Yu had to be enfeoffed! Prince Yu also had an heir!
Thus, Yi Yan Geng bizarrely became the heir apparent of Prince Yu.
Therefore, Yi Yan Geng was not at all recorded in the Xia family genealogy. Strictly speaking, Yi Yan Geng was not truly a member of the imperial family.
But in the end, he was not an outsider.
The current Emperor and Prince Yu were as close as brothers who could share trousers.
Prince Yu's son was half the Emperor's son. In this regard, was there anyone more suitable than Yi Yan Geng?
Even if Yi Yan Geng harbored ambitions of seizing power, he would first have to ask if the civil and military officials of the court would agree.
The civil and military officials were not only subjects of Da Yu but also household retainers of the Xia family!
The Emperor was uneasy if power fell into the hands of an outsider, and even more uneasy if it fell into the hands of his own son. Yi Yan Geng was practically sent by heaven to help him!
Xie Jiang had basically figured out the Emperor's intentions.
He wanted to firmly occupy the position without letting anyone else have it, yet he didn't want to do anything himself.
Yi Yan Geng was the good mule the Emperor had set his sights on.
But working for the Emperor was a dream job for many.
Yi Yan Geng said faintly, "Mhm."
"You don't still plan to refuse, do you?"
Xie Jiang now realized that this person truly had no intention of doing it.
At first, she thought he was just going through the motions according to some convention.
Ultimately, he would "reluctantly" ascend to power.
After all, was agreeing too quickly a sign of wanting to die?
"There's no need."
The higher one sits, the greater the responsibility one must bear.
Yi Yan Geng felt that his current situation was quite good.
He could do some things with freedom.
But he also didn't need to bear too much.
Xie Jiang tapped her fingertips, "Why is there no need? Isn't it great to hold great power?"
To be second only to one person and above ten thousand others! A regent with immense authority!
Yi Yan Geng looked at her, "You hope I agree?"
Xie Jiang said, "Who wouldn't want to latch onto a strong leg to hug?"
Yi Yan Geng chuckled, "For the sake of letting you hug my leg and not let go, shall I consider it?"
Wen Feng and Shan Bai, who were waiting outside the door, exchanged glances, seeing deep shock in each other's eyes.
Could it be that their master was truly going to change his mind because of Miss Xie's words?
While it was good for their master to hold great power, getting involved in the vortex of imperial power meant something that was self-evident.
Although His Majesty currently trusted Prince Yu and their master, once their master grew powerful, he would inevitably be targeted for elimination.
While the current Emperor did not want any prince to meddle in imperial power, his throne would eventually be passed to his own son.
The future new emperor would absolutely not tolerate the existence of a regent in the court.
At that time, it would be difficult for their master to extricate himself completely.
Unless the new emperor trusted their master, just as the current Emperor trusted Prince Yu.
But was that possible?
Wen Feng furrowed his brows worriedly—Master, you must think thrice!
...
The auction began in a way no one had expected.
It went straight to the climax from the opening.
The women who were still immersed in the poignant farewells on stage moments before, with teary eyes as if they had forgotten they were here for an auction tonight, were now frantically throwing money for a piece of jewelry and a dress in the next second!
The starting price for a dress was one hundred taels!
As for jewelry, it was even more so, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand taels, with no upper limit!
The vast majority of men, hearing these starting prices, had veins about to burst.
Was Chun Se Man Yuan crazy!
The person commissioning Chun Se Man Yuan to bid was also incredibly ambitious!
Why didn't they just go from house to house and rob money!
Unexpectedly, before they could voice their useless opinions, the bells beside them were rung in a rush!
After several rounds of continuous bidding, the price of a dress was driven up to two hundred taels.
The vast majority of male friends looked at their wives and daughters as if they didn't recognize them.
The most terrifying thing was that their own mothers were also joining in the fun! Could old ladies wear those kinds of dresses!
Some people hesitated for a moment, and the dress was snatched away by someone else!
Madam Xu lamented, "It's gone? No more? Is that the only one?"
Second Master Xu's eyes turned red upon hearing the成交价, "Two hundred and fifty taels for a dress! Is it made of gold and edible to be this expensive!"
Fortunately, it was sold!
Which old woman was this extravagant!
Madam Xu was indignant, "All you know is eating and gold! How vulgar!"
She then turned to her daughters-in-law excitedly, "What was that blue color just now? I've never seen such a color. I could look at this color all day!"
Second Madam also regretted it immensely, "It was too beautiful, the color really suited my Fang Ling, what a pity! I just hesitated for a moment..."
Who knew that the girl holding the gavel looked so delicate, but she hammered with such decisiveness and speed!
Madam Xu said, "Next time, if you see something you like, bid with all your might! Don't hesitate!"
Duke Wei coughed, "More than two hundred taels of silver for a dress, this price is a bit outrageous..."
Normally, the brothers never inquired about the daily expenses of the women in their households.
The women in their Duke Wei's mansion could have any clothes and jewelry made for any season.
But tonight, it was too much.
More than two hundred taels of silver could buy tens of thousands of catties of rice! Could one still walk with tens of thousands of catties of rice on their body!
Madam Duke Wei emphasized, "It's not just one dress, it's a complete set of clothing. It's a bit expensive, but the fabric, style, and craftsmanship are worth this price."
Duke Wei looked at his wife blankly, was there any difference between one dress and a complete set?
It was still expensive, expensive, expensive!
More than two hundred taels of silver could fill an entire room with clothes! And now these prodigal women were buying a set of clothing!
"The girls Xing Yin and Wan Yin who were playing the zither earlier were wearing this kind of dress, but the style was different. The auctioned one was even more beautiful than the one they were wearing!"
Several young girls looked expectantly at their fathers and uncles.
Duke Wei and his brothers: "..." It's just a dress? What's so different from what they usually wear?
Madam Duke Wei flipped through a small booklet, "There are not many left in total. Once one is sold, there will be one less. Even if we buy them all, how much money will it cost?"
Duke Wei and his brothers: "..."
They felt like they were going to be ruined tonight!
The second dress was brought to the stage, with the starting price still at one hundred taels of silver.
The women of Duke Wei's mansion finally got their wish this time.
However, due to the even fiercer competition this time, the price of this set of clothing reached nearly three hundred taels.
Duke Wei and his brothers clutched their chests in unison.