The secret residence that night.
Prince Yu arrived very late. Mu Chaobi, Wu Jiju, Yin Tai, Zhang Rong, Zhang Er, and others had been waiting. They had only exchanged some information and were all surprised and uneasy about the current situation and its outcome, having lost any appetite for further discussion.
At this moment, seeing Prince Yu's gaunt face, they felt they ought to do something and all rose to their feet. Zhang Er helped him to sit, then said,
"Your Highness, the Yan faction has all been released..."
His intention was to ask: since the Yan faction had been released and no one had died, did that mean these few people here would be out of trouble?
Mm,
Prince Yu also knew this. In fact, it was to placate everyone that he had reluctantly come here again.
"It was the Emperor who ordered their release..."
Alas...
"You have nothing to fear... I believe the Emperor does not intend to investigate deeply... Once I submit my memorial of self-reproach, you will also be out of mortal danger..."
Hiss!
Everyone involuntarily gasped.
This, of course, would be best, but could such a major event truly be smoothed over like this? Furthermore, the Liaodong military situation was clearly a move by the Yan faction to pressure the throne. Now that it had been deployed, how could they back down? Even if the Emperor wished to quell it, if the Yan family did not, how could it be easily resolved?
Seeing Prince Yu's righteousness, Zhang Rong advised,
"Your Highness, this old official thinks it best not to rush to confess... We arrested a faction of traitors, not that we committed wrongdoing! What crime is there to speak of?"
Zhang Er interjected,
"But Brother Yin also led men into the palace..."
Heh heh,
Zhang Rong said calmly,
"Who knows how it truly was? Rumors were rife in the capital at the time. Your Highness was worried about an incident at Yuxi Palace and thought it better to be safe, hence sending men to protect it. Chongji saw that Yuxi Palace was already being guarded and naturally left..."
Mhm, mhm,
The crowd, who had been very worried, felt that this argument seemed plausible after hearing it. After all, as long as the few people present remained silent, who would know that Yin Tai had entered the palace to pressure the Emperor? Since the Emperor had not pursued the matter at the time, it was likely due to considering this scenario: fearing the Yan family would use this incident to pressure the imperial family...
With this thought,
Everyone felt a surge of confidence—
As long as the Yan family continued to pressure the throne, the Emperor would need the Crown Prince and would certainly not admit that a rebellion had occurred last night. Even if he were to pursue it further, it would have to be after the Yan family had been repelled...
Mu Chaobi immediately dispelled his doubts. A flash of inspiration struck him, and he said,
"Your Highness is correct, Duke Ying! There will certainly be no rebellion, and our lives are out of danger... This official believes the Yan family is likely to cause more trouble! In that case, we must support His Majesty and overcome this hurdle. This way, we can atone for our crimes, and then His Majesty will mete out a small punishment, and it will be over..."
He greatly feared this Emperor. How could such a formidable Emperor not know the intentions of these people? If not for the Yan family instigating the barbarian invasion, given the Emperor's temperament, how could he have let himself off? Moreover, Zhu Mo had reported some matters previously, how could the Emperor easily forgive him? Now, as long as the Crown Prince could be dissuaded from acting rashly and they cooperated in navigating this, the Emperor would likely spare him.
Prince Yu nodded, thinking: he was definitely going to be deposed. These people had always helped him, and in the end, he couldn't let them suffer too much... Since they still wanted to atone for their crimes, let them have their way...
"Duke Mu, you all discuss it. What will the Yan family do? And what will you do then... I believe His Majesty is likely to let Prince Jing succeed... You can also assist in this matter..."
He paused, his expression suddenly stern, and he snorted,
"But—"
"The Yan family must be utterly destroyed!"
Whoosh!
Hiss!
Everyone was deeply shaken.
The Crown Prince detested the Yan family immensely!
He hated them to the bone...
But then again, the Yan family had gone too far. From the very beginning, it was the Yan family that was plotting against the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince, with good intentions, tried to help, but was bitten back by the Yan family. Afterwards, they secretly supported Prince Jing and then orchestrated the Jiangyou rebellion case, targeting the Crown Prince. This led to the collapse of the situation...
It was entirely understandable that the Crown Prince would not let them go. But what could be done to deal with the Yan family now? What could they do? Since morning, the entire capital had been abuzz with rumors that the Crown Prince was to be deposed. Even the servants looked at these few people with unusual expressions. At this point, let alone the Imperial Guards and the Palace Guards, even the desperate men they had recruited would probably no longer act.
At this moment, the Crown Prince's words implied—he would rather use his position as Crown Prince to exchange for the annihilation of the Yan family? But achieving this seemed a bit difficult...?
However, Mu Chaobi now understood—
The Crown Prince wanted to trap the Yan family in the current crime of pressuring the throne, making everyone in the world know that it was the Yan family that forced the Crown Prince back and supported Prince Jing. This was the first point. It was as if the Yan family was using Prince Jing's name to usurp the throne...
This, naturally, was a crime,
But it was far from enough...
After all, the current evaluation of the Crown Prince by the world was not high. Even if he were killed, the world would not sympathize. To make the Yan family culpable, they could only make the world sympathize with the Crown Prince, but that was too difficult.
He thought for a moment and suddenly had an idea. He said,
"Your Highness, since Your Highness is still the Crown Prince supervising the state, you can still issue decrees... Although Xu Jie is now the Minister of the Privy Council, he has always been a procrastinator. As long as Your Highness persists, he will likely not object... Why not?"
He paused and lowered his voice,
"Why doesn't Your Highness issue a decree that benefits everyone in the world... This way, the people will resent the Yan family, and then how will His Majesty handle the situation?"
Yes, yes!
That's absolutely right!
Everyone immediately applauded in agreement.
Prince Yu also found it reasonable and hesitated,
"But... what matter could benefit everyone in the world?"
Mu Chaobi had already thought of Zhu Mo. He had witnessed it firsthand that day. As long as there was reform, most people in the world would be overjoyed and extremely supportive. He had personally witnessed the joyous celebrations of the people of Yunnan and Guizhou when Li Zhi insisted on clearing up the encoffments, and he had been deeply moved...
The crowd, who had always known this old man to be quite capable, now looked at him with great anticipation.
Zhang Rong said slowly,
"This old official believes that even if Prince Jing is in the Yan family's grasp, he is still a member of the imperial family and has a brotherly relationship with Your Highness. This old official does not believe he would disregard the imperial family and become a puppet of the Yan family! Therefore, this old official believes that someone can be found to inform Prince Jing, to give Prince Jing some evidence of the Yan family's crimes, without saying anything. Prince Jing will naturally understand..."
Mhm, mhm,
Upon hearing this, Mu Chaobi blurted out,
"Yes! Your Highness, this is a good plan. Even if Prince Jing is in the Yan family's hands, we can give the Yan family's leverage to Prince Jing. Then, when Prince Jing becomes Crown Prince, he will have the means to control the Yan family... Moreover, there is also His Majesty. Since he agreed to Prince Jing's succession, how would he stand by and watch Prince Jing be controlled by others?"