青春期撞上更年期第1部

The news gave many officials a jolt — how could Prince Chen be a qualified crown prince of the Eastern Palace?

Only the Empress, who would soon lose her power, dared to say that. However, because of this suggestion, many people appreciated her selflessness as the Empress and secretly became partial to her. After all, the Empress had a son, Prince Zhou. She recommended Prince Chen instead of Prince Zhou. She was in her influential position as the Empress but had no personal consideration. It could be seen that she was very unlikely to harm Princess Chen.

Soon after that, everyone’s attention was shifted from deposing the Empress to choosing the crown prince.

Disempowering the Empress was a significant issue closely related to the imperial court, but it exerted less impact on the imperial court than the appointment of the crown prince. It was unreasonable to make a nephew instead of a son the crown prince. But if the deceased emperor was considered, Prince Chen was indeed the perfectly justifiable heir.

It was reasonable to pick up Prince Chen as the crown prince.

Though the deceased emperor died more than ten years ago, many elderly officials had been missing him and fully intended to help Prince Chen take the throne. To their dismay, Prince Chen, in poor health, might fall any moment. Of course, a sick prince like him couldn’t ascend to the throne. But now, many people learned that Prince Chen had recovered.

Even if he hadn’t fully recovered, he was still as healthy as ordinary people.

Prince Chen had rushed to the capital city for the Empress Dowager’s birthday, and only a vigorous constitution could support his remarkable speed on this long journey. Prince Chen was said to have restored his health, but others didn’t believe it. After all, he had been sick for more than ten years and almost lost his life several times. How could he miraculously recover?

But now, they no longer doubted that Prince Chen was fully fit. After all, facts are more eloquent than words.

Since Prince Chen was all right, he could inherit the throne. He was the eldest legitimate son of the deceased emperor. Besides, even with his relationship with the Emperor, Prince Chen was qualified to move into the Eastern Palace. When the Emperor ascended the throne, he said before all the officials that he regarded Prince Chen as his son and made him the third prince.

Before the Emperor, Prince Chen considered himself his “son.” Since they were “father and son,” he certainly had the right to inherit the throne.

Compared with Commandery Prince Qing, the Emperor’s nephew, it was more legitimate for Prince Chen to become the crown prince.

In the imperial court, those officials got into in vehement argument again. But this time, they were arguing about whether Prince Chen could enter and host the Eastern Palace. Some agreed while others objected. Each imperial censor spoke in excitement, mentioning various things. Even these imperial censors were divided into two parties. Each side insisted on its own point of view, and neither could convince the other.

Almost all the officials in the imperial court were involved, but the few princes responded with indifference as if they had nothing to do with this. In addition, a few high-ranking officials remained neutral in the debate and didn’t join the others.

This quarrel was fiercer than the previous one of deposing the Empress. The officials tried their best to win over the Emperor. It could be said that they had racked all their wits. In private, they argued even more heatedly, with many secretive thoughts and ideas surging into their minds.

At this time, no one cared about deposing the Empress or not.

The Emperor’s attitude was unpredictable. Wearing the imperial crown, he sat high up in the main hall and watched the officials quarrel, surprisingly in silence. He was far from them, so his expression could not be seen clearly.

Prince Cheng stole a glance at him and hurriedly lowered his head. Although he stood in the front row close to the Emperor, he couldn’t catch the Emperor’s look. Was he angry or resentful?

That was how Prince Cheng guessed the Emperor’s attitude.

The Emperor took the throne, yet these officials wanted him to pass the throne to his nephew. “If I were him, I would be furious too.” Prince Cheng thought to himself.

The Emperor had sons, three grown-up sons. So, why should he pass the throne to his nephew?

But Prince Cheng couldn’t see through his royal brother. How could he bear this silently? Could it be that he cared about Prince Chen sincerely? Did the deceased emperor die in an accident for real?

Prince Cheng still thought it was impossible. He had found out some relevant information and also made plans. It was hard for him to believe that the deceased emperor died right after taking medicine.

In the past, he had secretly plotted with others but didn’t expose what had happened that year in public. Unexpectedly, this matter closely related to Prince Chen was made public.

The Empress actually submitted a memorial to suggest Prince Chen be the Crown Prince. It came as a great surprise to Prince Cheng. In his heart, Chu Liuchen, one of his nephews, was the least likely to win the throne. Compared with Chu Liuxin, he felt that Chu Liuchen was much less competitive. No matter what, the throne could never fall upon this sick man who was just the Emperor’s nephew.

Prince Cheng had never taken Chu Liuchen seriously.

Many things concerned the Prince Chen’s Mansion because others intended to cause something by using Prince Chen. Or, they could make the Prince Chen’s Mansion the center of conflict and use it as a sharp sword to attack others.

It had never occurred to him that this sword would develop its independent will! The change had caught Prince Cheng off guard.

When did Chu Liuchen recover? He didn’t hear any news regarding it, so he could hardly cope with this sudden change. At this point, he was at a loss for what to do next.

He had secretly planned and prepared for so many years. To avoid arousing his imperial brother’s suspicion, he even deliberately made a scene several times, saying that he would live and cultivate himself as a monk. He didn’t even get married and had no children in the public’s eyes.

Prince Cheng thought he had made a comprehensive plan. But against all expectations, Chu Liuchen came on stage. If he had found out early that Chu Liuchen had recovered, he would have taken action secretly and dealt with him with all his strength. He shouldn’t have underestimated Chu Liuchen like before.

But it was too late to do anything now. Regardless of the Emperor’s attitude, many officials had learned that Prince Chen also stood a chance to be the crown prince of the Eastern Palace. Prince Cheng was sure of that. In addition, some officials from the previous dynasty had obtained senior posts.

He had been operating secretly for his ambition for over a dozen years. In contrast, Chu Liuchen made a high-profile and powerful move. After that, anyone sparing no effort to deal with him would inevitably arouse others’ suspicion.

That was why Chu Liuyue and Chu Liuzhou, who had been competing with each other in private, barely conflicted on the surface.

Most importantly, Chu Liuchen managed to steal a march on his competitors.

First, he convinced these officials that he had fully recovered. Then, the Empress’s memorial followed. Everything was perfectly arranged, and he achieved what he wanted without difficulty.

Clenching his fists, Prince Cheng lowered his head. He could bear it, but his two nephews might not. They had thought that the throne was in their hands.

In this case, he might as well watch them fight and reap the benefits.

His grip slightly slackened. “I should strengthen the cooperation with those people. At least, it won’t be a big deal to give in to those people when I gain the throne.”

When making up his mind, Prince Cheng lowered his head and stood still while hearing the officials debating fiercely.

Chu Liuyue’s cold eyes roved round the hall and fell on Chu Liuchen from time to time. After a while, he also looked down.

Chu Liuzhou’s mood was the most evident: his face took on a most ghastly expression. Yet, he also lowered his head hard for fear of being seen through by others.

Her mother presented a memorial to the Emperor, recommending Chu Liuchen as the crown prince. In a rage, Prince Zhou almost smashed everything in the study.

Chu Liuxin had also come to the court. Still, he looked quite absent-minded and gazed into space blankly. It seemed as if no matter how heated the dispute was, it was none of his business.

Though he was the youngest among the princes, he looked the most decadent and listless. He had been in this state for a long time. The Emperor reprimanded him several times, but Chu Liuxin’s life still went on as usual. He appeared too spiritless to follow any advice.

When it was almost time, Derong announced loudly that the court ended. The Emperor walked out in silence with his people, leaving behind those officials who had been arguing with each other with flushed faces and necks.

Since the Emperor was gone, what was the point of arguing? Immediately, the hall quieted down, and everyone looked at each other in silent embarrassment. Then, they snorted coldly, swung their sleeves, and left.

Several princes lingered, and Chu Liuchen walked behind the others, just like before. But he saw Chu Liuyue stop and wait for him.

“Third Brother!”

“What’s up, Eldest Brother?” Chu Liuchen asked lightly.

“What an ingenious plan!” Prince Zhou couldn’t help sneering with a livid face. He clenched fists, trying hard to prevent himself from hitting his Third Brother.

“What do you mean?” Chu Liuchen suddenly smiled lazily, stretched out his hand, and pointed to Chu Liuzhou’s hand. “Do you prefer these officials to talk about deposing the Empress?”

Upon hearing his question, Chu Liuzhou suddenly paled, and his anger retreated like the tide. He was not stupid but just a little impulsive. When Chu Liuchen made him realize the reality, he heaved a cold groan and turned to leave after casting a glance at Chu Liuyue beside him.

...

He was afraid he would strangle both Chu Liuyue and Chu Liuchen if he walked more slowly.

Depriving the Empress was equal to excluding Chu Liuzhou from the throne. So, for Chu Liuzhou, this result was better. Yet, he was very anxious to ask his mother what she meant. But he could not enter the Phoenix Palace these days even if he was in the Palace. Every time, the Empress would refuse him with the excuse of not feeling well.

He had never seen the Empress in private since the incident.

“Third Brother, how about taking a walk with me?” Seeing Chu Liuzhou leave, Chu Liuyue invited him.

“Okay!” Chu Liuchen replied in a lazy tone.

They walked out of the main hall, one behind the other.

Chu Liuxin was about to leave, but he hesitated at this time and followed them.

Prince Cheng was the last one to go out of the hall. Glancing at his nephews in front of him, he was not in the mood to join them. He should have pretended to care about nothing. Especially at this time, he could not let his imperial brother notice anything unusual about him.

He swiveled around and headed for the Empress Dowager’s Palace of Benevolent Peace. Recently, Prince Cheng accompanied the Empress Dowager every day and took good care of her.

He was the most filial one among the others. Of course, compared to them, Prince Cheng was fully aware of his weakest point: his royal brother would never pass on the throne to him under normal circumstances.

He wouldn’t get a chance unless his nephews were all dead or disabled.

...

Of course, it would be better if he had an imperial edict left by the deceased emperor before his death. The elder brother passing the throne to the younger brother would be a perfect inheritance rule. His brother had achieved this, and so could he. Since Chu Liuchen caught him off guard, he had to act faster…