I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 387 - 301: Contention for the Throne (Part 2)
The Crown Prince was teasing his newly acquired parrot, looking pleased, when he saw a shadow kneeling on the ground, panting heavily.
"What’s the matter, panicking like this? How many times have I said, do not rush things, maintain order," the Crown Prince said, frowning at the shadow’s anxiety.
The shadow, still kneeling, replied, "Your humble servant was wrong. I was ordered today to track the Second Prince..."
Upon hearing "Second Prince," the Crown Prince’s hand paused slightly as he fed the parrot, and his eyes narrowed.
"Oh? Did you discover something? Isn’t it just that he presided over another spring banquet? This Second Brother of mine is becoming increasingly restless. Has he forgotten who the Crown Prince is?"
"Restless, restless!"
The parrot chirped away, flapping its verdant wings, causing the Crown Prince’s eyes to turn cold.
Beads of sweat trickled down the shadow’s forehead as he cautiously spoke:
"The Second Prince visited Prime Minister Lu early this morning, then went to Minister Han Ande of the Ministry of Personnel at noon. When he left, it was Han Ande’s youngest daughter, Han Xuan’er, who saw him out. And just now, just now—"
Before the words were finished, the Crown Prince was no longer calm.
His hand clenched into a fist, veins bulging, and with a cry from the parrot, he forcibly plucked out a light green feather.
Upon hearing the parrot’s pained cry, Rong Qichun gently patted its body, as if to comfort it.
His eyes then took on a glacial glow as he gritted his teeth and asked:
"Just now, where did he go?"
"The Second Prince went to Zhang Fengcai’s residence outside the palace. Zhang Fengcai personally greeted him. It seems they were to appreciate some paintings together."
"How dare he!"
The Crown Prince swept the documents off the table to the floor, his gaze icy, his chest heaving violently, obviously enraged to the extreme.
"Brazenly forming political alliances. Rong Qijun, have you ever considered this Crown Prince at all!" Rong Qichun roared.
The shadow lifted his head and said solemnly:
"Your Highness, if the Second Prince truly gains the support of Han Ande, Zhang Fengcai, and Lu Bingxin, the political situation becomes even more unfavorable for you. Perhaps you could charge him, as a prince, for secretly colluding with court officials. That’s a serious crime, enough to curb his arrogance."
Rong Qichun certainly knew that secretly forming political factions was a serious crime, as he had just been punished and confined for it himself.
But...
The Crown Prince shook his head in anger, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes, squeezing out words through clenched teeth:
"It’s useless. If he dares to openly visit them, there’s no way he’d leave any evidence.
Heh, Lu Bingxin, Han Ande, and Xie Jingqi... They used to curry favor with me, and now that I’ve lost imperial favor, they’ve turned against me—sycophants who cling to power!
If I ascend the throne, I will purge the court, execute them and their clans."
"Your Highness, then, what should we do?" The subordinate trembled, asking in a low voice.
The Crown Prince raised his hand, stroking the cooing parrot.
The parrot blinked, then suddenly flapped its wings violently, screeching:
"How dare he, how dare he—tweet—"
In the next moment, there was a shrill cry and feathers scattered everywhere.
"Such disobedience, then kill it."
The Crown Prince said coldly.
On the ground, the parrot’s body gradually grew cold.
Meanwhile, having finished eating the sweet rice cakes made by Zhang Fengcai himself, Rong Qijun lazily sat in his carriage, humming a tune, looking utterly at ease.
Outside the carriage, the guard took a note, lifted the curtain, and whispered:
"Your Highness, news from the Eastern Palace says the Crown Prince is furious about your actions today, almost beside himself!"
Rong Qijun smiled, speaking leisurely:
"Ha, can’t handle this, my Imperial Brother hasn’t faced real adversity, can’t take a bit of humiliation, such a person is hard to achieve greatness."
The guard agreed, "Indeed, the position of Crown Prince should be held by one with virtue. Having been there long enough, perhaps it’s time for someone else to take the seat."
Rong Qijun snorted softly, "Well said."
Returning to his residence outside the palace, a servant quickly presented several pages:
"Your Highness, these are the test papers Minister Xie prepared for you two days ago. He’ll be here tomorrow for evaluation."
Rong Qijun glanced over them, frowning, "Why so many? Does Xie Yun want to turn me into a literary giant? Truly persistent."
"Your Highness, Minister Xie was commanded to instruct you; if you don’t finish these, His Majesty will also..."
"Alright, I get it!"
Rong Qijun twirled the brush twice in his hand, then tossed it before a little eunuch, splattering him with ink.
"Your handwriting resembles mine, do it for me, I’m tired," Rong Qijun said, yawning leisurely.
The little eunuch, looking at the papers, begged for mercy with a thud, "Your Highness, I dare not, Minister Xie is here by imperial command, it’s different from before—"
"Nonsense!"
Rong Qijun suddenly lifted his head, a chill rising from his eyes, making the little eunuch lower his head in fear, not daring to meet his gaze.
He stared at the little eunuch, who was trembling like a sifting chaff, his narrow eyes narrowing, a smile curling on his lips.
Mysteriously, his face seemed to overlap with Rong Jing’s.
Rong Qijun’s voice was low and sinister:
"For every mistake, you lose a head. How about it? I want to know, how many heads do you have to lose?"
The little eunuch’s lips trembled, face pale, as he kowtowed, then picked up the brush to work on the papers, not daring to say more.
Rong Qijun, however, folded his hands behind his head, lying back in his chair, closed his eyes, and dozed for a while.
After a long time, he opened his eyes and suddenly asked, "How often does Xie Yun come here?"
The little eunuch answered tremblingly, "Your Highness, Minister Xie visits every three days."
Rong Qijun lowered his eyes, pondering for a while, murmuring, "Tomorrow might be too late..."
The confidant realized Rong Qijun had a new plan and immediately asked, "What are your orders, Your Highness?"
A gleam of light flashed in Rong Qijun’s eyes:
"Spread the word that in five days, I will go hunting outside the city. To ensure safety, have all the guards in the residence scout the hunting grounds a day early."
The confidant was shocked, "Your Highness intends to withdraw all the guards, tempting the Crown Prince to strike at you, using yourself as bait? But in doing so... it’s too dangerous!"
Rong Qijun said, "Rong Qichun has the force left to him by the Empress Dowager. If he truly wanted to kill me desperately, even with guards, they couldn’t protect me... Moreover, I won’t be in danger."
The guard was bewildered, "What does Your Highness mean?"
Rong Qijun’s gaze fell on the dossier in the little eunuch’s hand, calmly saying:
"Write an invitation for me to Commander Song Zhi of the Imperial Guards, saying I will host a banquet at my residence in four days, inviting him to ensure safety, and say... I wish to seek his insights in martial arts."
"As you command, although Commander Song is rather rigid. Last year on your birthday, Your Highness invited him for a drink, and he refused outright, even when the Noble Consort was present. Now... he likely wouldn’t accept the invitation," the confidant cautiously said.
"That was before," a sharp gleam flickered in Rong Qijun’s eyes, "this time, he will come."
Song Zhi only listens to Father’s words, and now, since Father has chosen me, he won’t refuse to protect me.
All that remains is the critical wind.
Rong Qijun closed his eyes, a murmur escaping his throat:
"My Palace, My Palace, My Palace... What a lovely title.
Imperial Brother, don’t let me down..."
