Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 558 - 394: Accompanying the Emperor is Like Accompanying a Tiger
The Emperor previously had the Second Prince recommend Gu Chengyu, which led him to suspect that Gu Chengyu might be part of the Second Prince’s faction. His inquiry served to probe while officials were pressuring him, making the appointment of the Crown Prince an urgent matter.
These officials had already formed factions, turning recent court meetings into their battlefield for verbal disputes. The Emperor knew he couldn’t evade the matter this time, yet he was indecisive, so he began by asking for Gu Chengyu’s opinion.
Gu Chengyu certainly understood that such an answer would leave the Emperor dissatisfied, but could he truly voice his own thoughts?
As a king, the Emperor found the issue of appointing a Crown Prince troubling. As a father, he might have preferences, but he surely didn’t dare follow his whims.
The appointment of the Crown Prince is not child’s play, as it concerns the succession of the Dayan Dynasty. While it appeared on the surface that the Emperor favored the Eldest Prince, the Eldest Prince was ruthless and unscrupulous in his actions.
Though a great man is undeterred by minor details, the previous bandit case exposed the Eldest Prince’s disdain for human life without reserve.
A king must not only guard his kingdom but also cherish his people. Ignoring innocent lives would be a loss of virtue.
As for the Second Prince, Gu Chengyu hadn’t had direct contact with him. However, rumors outside portrayed him as benevolent and virtuous. If peace were steady, then the Second Prince would undoubtedly be the perfect choice as Crown Prince. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞
After all, the Second Prince had the advantage of birth, as the late Emperor had declared in the edict that the current Emperor would inherit the throne.
The current Emperor was the legitimate son of the late Emperor, born of the Empress, his position unquestioned.
But now, with the Dayan facing internal and external troubles, could the Second Prince, with such a kind nature, truly manage these state affairs? These were all hearsay, and since Gu Chengyu had not met him, he couldn’t conclude. He had previously analyzed it secretly.
He believed that for the Second Prince to stand firm amid the Eldest Prince’s scheming while earning a reputation for being earnest and virtuous, he must be extraordinary.
In recent years, the princes’ struggles became more frequent, all eagerly eyeing that position! He didn’t believe the Eldest Prince and others hadn’t plotted against the Second Prince.
Thus, he remained skeptical of the Second Prince’s loyal and virtuous nature.
The Third Prince has his share of strategies, but his heart is also ruthless. This can be seen from the matter where Wan Xue Nian used his death as proof—he calculated even his close kin for his gains.
The Wan Mansion was confiscated, and the Third Prince was freed from confinement, yet he didn’t dare plead for the remaining family members of the Wan Mansion before the Emperor.
Even if just for appearance’s sake, and even if the Emperor didn’t agree, at least it would preserve some dignity, wouldn’t it? But the Third Prince, perhaps for fear of implication, did not even bring it up, which was quite disheartening.
The weaknesses of the Eldest and Third Princes are too obvious, while the Second Prince has not been seen, so his character is an unknown. As for the last, Prince Jing, Gu Chengyu believes the Emperor has already excluded him from the struggle for succession.
He has been conferred a princely title and a fief, indicating the Emperor’s clear intentions. Moreover, whether his illness is genuine or feigned, his reputation as frail outside means he has no chance at competition.
Prince Jing’s strategies rival any, and he enjoys plotting. Gu Chengyu’s feelings towards Prince Jing aren’t particularly favorable, but he can understand—any prince vying for that position wouldn’t be innocent.
Since he desires it, without external support, he can only strive for it himself.
What he relies on is his own political prowess.
After analyzing this much, he realized he was merely a minor official, and currently, the matter of who becomes the Crown Prince is not something for him to be concerned with.
However, he thought, if he were the Emperor, he wouldn’t be any less troubled than the Emperor now.
Each prince has significant flaws yet no shortage of strategies, making it understandable why the Emperor is troubled.
In fact, he thought that it would have been better to select a favored one as the Crown Prince during childhood, raising them under close guidance to cultivate a personality satisfactory to the Emperor, avoiding today’s predicament.
"This humble servant only hears hearsay, naturally it’s not reliable. They say the Eldest Prince is calm and capable, often shares the Emperor’s burdens. The Second Prince is benevolent and honest, broad-minded, diligent, and unquestionably capable."
Seeing the Emperor’s unchanged expression, Gu Chengyu felt reassured to continue: "The Third Prince is wittier, with plans of his own, going all out to accomplish the tasks you assign him. Although Prince Jing is still recovering, he is intelligent and eager to learn, with a humble disposition. Under your careful guidance, all princes and Prince Jing are outstanding individuals!"
Since he couldn’t voice what’s truly in his heart, he decided to lavish praise, amplifying their strengths while utterly avoiding mention of their flaws. Although the Emperor was a king, he was also a father—it must be comforting to have his sons praised, no?
Besides, he added a subtle compliment for the Emperor in the end.
Though Gu Chengyu said much, it didn’t aid in the matter of establishing the Crown Prince, yet the Emperor wasn’t angry. Instead, he found Gu Chengyu’s little cleverness quite amusing.
He hadn’t expected Gu Chengyu to say anything to ease his worries, so he wasn’t disappointed upon hearing Gu Chengyu’s words.
This Gu Chengyu is indeed a sly fox, not mentioning a single shortcoming of the princes, clearly a shrewd individual.
He naturally wouldn’t believe that Gu Chengyu truly thought this, but he didn’t intend to investigate further.
It wasn’t a matter of not knowing how to propose but of not daring to speak. The Emperor didn’t wish to trouble Gu Chengyu, so he smiled and responded with a few words.
"So, in your eyes, the princes all fit to be the Crown Prince?"
"These are just what the humble servant heard, showing this is what everyone thinks. With such wise foresight, the Emperor must have plans for appointing the Crown Prince long ago. My humble insights would only make a fool of myself."
Seeing the Emperor unangered, Gu Chengyu felt the Emperor treated him with leniency, slightly relaxing his demeanor as he added a few playful remarks.
The Emperor paused, then chuckled, pointing at him, saying: "You’re a silver-tongued one!"
Leaving the Imperial Study Room, Gu Chengyu exhaled a long breath. No wonder people often say being with the Emperor is like accompanying a tiger—he had to muster every ounce of energy to respond just now.
He could imagine what life was like for those eunuchs, like De’an, who were around the Emperor every day. Wouldn’t they live in constant fear?
De’an escorted Gu Chengyu out of the Imperial Study Room, glanced at this youngest official of the Dayan Dynasty, and smiled as he spoke to Gu Chengyu: "Farewell, Mr. Gu, I won’t see you off. The Emperor is waiting for me to serve him!"
Gu Chengyu hurriedly turned back to take the items from De’an’s hands, saying to him: "Eunuch Chen, please stay, serving the Emperor is more important. I shall go on my own."
De’an held the position of Standard Fourth Rank eunuch and was favored by the Emperor. Being courteous with Gu Chengyu was indeed an acknowledgment of his respectability.
