A hand reaching out.
Three people responding.
Every emperor will have his own confidants, starting from the Crown Prince's residence, until standing at the pinnacle.
Just as a single tree cannot become a forest, no matter how hard the emperor tries, he cannot uphold the entire world alone. Knowing people and using them well is the way of kings.
As the eldest brother, Xu Mo neither had the embarrassment of paying respects to his younger brother, nor the arrogance of being appointed. He said solemnly as usual, "This humble official is willing to follow the Crown Prince and create a prosperous era together."
"This humble official has the same wish," Qi Huai and An Jun said in unison.
The overly serious atmosphere attracted frequent glances from passersby, most of which were aimed at Chang Yan who was receiving the courtesy.
He was fearless.
Being able to stand here was originally to gather talents for the Crown Prince's residence, and to let people know that the Crown Prince of the Dayu Dynasty has been determined.
Those sinister tricks that cannot stand the light of day can come as you please.
"Ministers, please rise. I will have to rely on your guidance a lot from now on," Chang Yan personally helped his eldest brother up.
Xu Mo stood up straight, his eyes full of gratification, mixed with a little expectation.
Just no embarrassment or discomfort at all.
Zheng Ruqian clicked his tongue next to him, "Why didn't Boss Xu show the slightest embarrassment? Didn't get to see the excitement, too bad, too bad."
"You think the boss is like you," Jiang Sheng cheered for her big brother, "Besides, how can the Fifth Prince still be the Fifth Prince if he becomes the lord?"
Your big brother will always be your big brother.
Sure enough, as soon as Xu Mo stood up straight, he lowered his voice and asked, "What did the Ju family say to the Eldest Prince, and what actions have the Fourth Prince and Second Prince taken?"
He had been busy at the Hanlin Academy until now. During this period, he only heard the news of the Fifth Prince being enthroned as the Crown Prince, and did not know what was going on in the Jinluan Hall.
As a minister, he unconditionally supported the Crown Prince.
As the eldest brother, he still had to care about the youngest brother.
"The Fourth Brother has no objection. The Second Prince is still under house arrest. The Eldest Prince..." Chang Yan frowned, "Also no abnormalities."
Theoretically speaking, the establishment of the Crown Prince was a foregone conclusion.
But the enthronement ceremony has not been held yet, and the Crown Prince's residence has not stabilized. It is easiest for variables to occur.
In other words, the earlier you take action, the greater the chance.
Chang Yan shouldn't have exposed his siblings so early, but he thought that since Xu Mo was going to join the Crown Prince's residence eventually, it would be better to reveal the sibling relationship personally rather than let outsiders observe and speculate.
This was a notice, a deterrent, and also protection.
The prominent families in Fengjing must have already known by now the relationship between the Jiuzhen Store and Wen’s Clinic with the Crown Prince, and understand the significance of the Jiang Family and Wen’s Clinic to the Crown Prince. If anyone still wants to make a move, they have to think thrice.
Similarly, it also tells the people of Fengjing: the Crown Prince is not lacking in money, connections, or support.
Under the trend of the times, neutral families like the He family have almost become staunch supporters of the Crown Prince.
The ones that really need to be guarded against are only the Ju, Zhu and other families.
Even the Tao family has to consider whether it is worth offending the Crown Prince, who has huge support, for the unknown contribution of assisting the emperor.
"What date is set for the Crown Prince's enthronement ceremony?" Xu Mo asked again.
Chang Yan shook his head. "It won't be too late."
This means that they will soon face the storm.
At the end of the power struggle, the final gamble, the most sinister scheme.
The winner looks at the world with laughter, the loser becomes yellow dirt and dry bones.
"Scared?" Xu Mo patted his brother on the shoulder lightly.
"Not afraid," Chang Yan laughed lightly. "As long as you are all here, I am not afraid of anything."
"I'm not afraid either," Xu Mo looked into the distance. "But I want to call the Third Brother back."
Up until now, Fang Heng had never officially confronted the Fang Family.
Their deep hatred needed to be thoroughly settled sooner or later.
"That's good too," Chang Yan nodded. "I will write a letter to General Jiang on behalf of the Crown Prince."
It was a letter to General Jiang, not Fang Heng.
It can be seen that the recall was conducted in secret.
The two brothers grinned knowingly at each other and smiled. The setting sun was lazily appearing, and the orange light stained all the faces.
Those smiling, raising their eyebrows, excited, and full of expectation.
In the next few days, the Crown Prince Establishment was leisurely set up. Many celebrities and people of noble character came to show their support. As long as their history was clean, Chang Yan would make use of them.
Xu Mo, Qi Huai and An Jun were conscientious in screening them and did their best.
Chang Yan was not idle either. He personally took gifts and went to visit the Jiang, Dou and He families, sincerely inviting several elders to be the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor, Grand Protector, Grand Preceptor, Vice Tutor, Vice Protector, and Vice Preceptor.
These were positions modeled after the Three Dukes and Three Ministers.
For example, the emperor’s tutor was the minister, so the tutor in the Eastern Palace would be the Crown Prince's tutor, only half a rank lower.
A few dynasties ago, these six tutors still had real power. But in the Dayu Dynasty they were more like honorary titles.
At the same time, it was also a means of winning over and showing respect.
With his outstanding looks and eloquence, Chang Yan did not suffer any closed doors.
As the six tutors were determined, the Crown Prince’s residence became more formal. Even Tan Hui, the top scholar previously, took the initiative to show his support and became a guest official of the Eastern Palace.
Everything went so smoothly under the trend of the times that it was unbelievable.
Noble Consort Ju still lay unconscious in the Qianqing Palace, while the Son of Heaven’s health deteriorated day by day. The Eldest Prince and Second Prince did not have any movement.
It was too peaceful, so peaceful that everyone knew the storm must be coming next.
The mountains rain before the rain comes, wind blows on the building before the storm comes, black clouds pressing the city to collapse.
The five siblings in the small courtyard were fully on guard, never going out without followers and never easily accepting invitations.
Wang Xiaozhu took the initiative to mention not holding a wedding banquet, just having meals at home.
Xu Mo shook his head to reject it. “The wedding banquet must be held, but it cannot be grand. It has to be held cautiously."
Wang Xiaozhu nodded in agreement, confused.
According to traditional thinking, the banquet should only have six or seven tables, invite some aunts from the workshop and some acquaintances to attend.
The bright red wedding invitations were hung on the windows, big red lanterns hung beside the gates, and red sugar gourds scattered everywhere.
This was the second banquet for the people in the small courtyard. Their actions could be described as skilled and the process went exceptionally smoothly.
The Wang siblings had no mother. After kowtowing to Anshui Prefecture, they also kowtowed to Auntie Zhang.
Then Wang Xiaosong got up and carried his sister out of the small courtyard.
Jiang Sheng opened the door in auspicious new clothes. Outside there was no sedan chair or carriage, which scared the gossiping aunts. They felt something would go wrong with today's wedding.
It wasn't until the groom Gao Yan walked out from the nearby yard that everyone suddenly realized.
The distance was so close that no sedan chair or carriage was needed at all.
Wang Xiaosong handed his sister over. Gao Yan carried her back to the courtyard where some villagers who had rushed over from Gao Village and Gao Da and Gao Wan's family of six were staying.
"Fourth Brother is indeed generous, directly giving a small courtyard as betrothal gift, so Sister Xiaozhu doesn't need to shuttle between the clinic and the family," Jiang Sheng clicked her tongue. “Even the wedding banquet was fully sponsored by uncle.”
In the distance, Master Kong was exerting all his strength to stir fry dishes over the raging stove. But he still heard the term "uncle" and grinned from ear to ear, beckoning to Jiang Sheng, "Girl, come here, the meat just came out of the pot. "
“Coming!” Jiang Sheng answered crisply, fluttering over like a little butterfly.
The brothers could not help laughing. While laughing, they became more vigilant and on guard.
People are most likely to relax emotionally at happy occasions, and enemies are most likely to attack.
This wedding not only fulfilled Wang Xiaozhu and Gao Yan, but was it not also bait to lure the snakes out of their holes?
