Your Majesty, the princess is fleeing famine with her child!

Chapter 376 Choosing the Right Time

As for those ministers who were hostile to Xiao Jingyi and supported other princes, they were divided into two factions.

A group of people began to hesitate, secretly wondering if they could find a way to survive if they switched sides and joined Xiao Jingyi's camp at this moment.

The other group of people became more determined than ever to not let Xiao Jingyi come back alive.

They have already chosen their own lord, so they must overcome all difficulties and push the wise leader they have chosen to the throne.

In the hall, seeing Jing ** praising Xiao Jingyi non-stop, the eldest prince and the third prince did not show it on their faces, but they were very dissatisfied in their hearts.

Down towards the back.

As soon as the eldest prince returned to the study in the palace, he could no longer bear it and smashed everything at hand to vent his anger.

"Xiao Jingyi, Xiao Jingyi, the old man only has Xiao Jingyi in his heart!"

"Why?"

"We are both princes, so why does that position belong to him?"

"Why should I let him step on my head and have to bow down to him in the future?"

The eldest prince smashed the study room and vented his anger before he slowly calmed down.

Thinking of the information he had obtained from the investigation, the eldest prince suddenly chuckled, with a sinister look in his eyes.

That day he suddenly received a letter whose source could not be found. The letter said that the third prince had obtained a set of tea sets used by smallpox patients, and planned to use the tea sets on Jing **. After Jing ** was infected with smallpox, he would join forces with Queen Mother Cui and Concubine Cui to seal off the palace and seize the throne.

The eldest prince was skeptical at first, but after he sent people to investigate, he found that what was said in the letter was actually true.

This is really an opportunity that comes right to your doorstep!

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it. The eldest prince decided to be the oriole.

The eldest prince chose the right time to report the third prince to Jing ** after Jing ** had touched the tea set but before he became ill.

Jing** might not believe it at the moment, but everything that happens afterwards will prove that what he said is true.

By then, the Third Prince would be considered a traitor who intended to kill the emperor and his father.

He turned the tide and saved Jing ** from danger, which not only proved his loyalty but also won Jing **'s trust.

When the news of Xiao Jingyi's death in Shuozhou reached the capital, he was the only prince left who could be the crown prince.

By then, he will be the undisputed crown prince.

Thinking of this, the eldest prince's mood finally improved.

Don't worry, he will soon become the final winner.

The third prince was just as depressed as the eldest prince.

At this moment, he was in the study of Duke Cheng'en's mansion, complaining to Duke Cheng'en.

"Father is really biased beyond measure!"

"Only Xiao Jingyi is a treasure, and the rest of us sons are weeds."

"Why is there no news about the assassin sent to Shuozhou?"

"If Xiao Jingyi doesn't die, we will be the ones to die!"

Duke Cheng En looked serious and reminded: "Your Highness, be careful with your words!"

The Third Prince sat down on the chair angrily, raised his head and glanced at Lord Cheng En, "What are you afraid of? Everyone here is ours!"

Lord Cheng En still said: "It is better to be safe than sorry. It is always right to be cautious."

The third prince pursed his lips, but didn't say anything else that was outrageous.

Duke Cheng En had a worried look on his face: "Your Majesty has punished many people recently, either demoting them or dismissing them from office."

“Many of them are our people.”

"I always feel uneasy in my heart. I wonder if this is a coincidence? Or did Your Majesty notice something and do it on purpose?"

The third prince said indifferently: "Grandfather, you think too much."

"Those people were not careful in their actions and were caught by others, which made the emperor furious. That's why they were punished."

"And among those people there are not only our people, but also people from the line of the eldest prince and the fifth prince. The censor surnamed Cai was promoted by my father."

"This should just be a coincidence."

Duke Cheng'en thought about it and agreed with that, and he felt a little more at ease.

The Third Prince felt even more unhappy when he thought of Jing**'s proud and gratified expression when he mentioned Xiao Jingyi during the morning court session.

He slammed the table and said, "No, we can't just sit there and wait for death any longer."

He looked at Lord Cheng'en and said, "It's better to pick a day to send that thing to the palace as soon as possible."

"We don't have much time left."

If Shuozhou fails and Xiao Jingyi returns to Beijing safely, it will be difficult for them to turn things around.

It would be better to make preparations now.

Whichever one he gets, it will increase his chances of winning.

Upon hearing this, Duke Cheng'en couldn't help but shudder.

He had already learned about his plan from the third prince.

But when I thought about the fact that it was smallpox, I still couldn't help feeling scared.

"Your Highness, smallpox is not an ordinary disease. If it spreads, the entire capital will be destroyed. What should we do?"

"It's better to consider this matter in the long term."

Although Lord Cheng'en couldn't explain it clearly, he always felt that Mr. Wen had ulterior motives.

The third prince said impatiently: "Let's take a long time to think about it. If we continue to think about it, Xiao Jingyi will move into the East Palace and become the crown prince!"

"Those who do great things do not care about small details. How can they accomplish anything if they are timid?"

"Besides, a general's success is the result of the sacrifices of thousands of men, so some sacrifices are inevitable."

"I will arrange this myself, Grandfather, you just need to come forward to assist at the appropriate time."

The Third Prince stood up after he finished speaking and said, "It's getting late. I'll go back first."

Duke Cheng En hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, that smallpox is not fun, you need to be careful!"

The Third Prince nodded perfunctorily, impatience flashing in his eyes, "How could I not know this?"

"Don't worry, I know what's going on."

Seeing that the Third Prince had made up his mind and there was no way he could stop him, Duke Cheng'en could only sigh inwardly.

The Cheng'en Mansion rose to prominence because of Empress Dowager Cui, and remained prosperous because of Concubine Cui and the third prince.

From the perspective of the Cheng'en Mansion, only if the third prince ascends the throne can the Cheng'en Mansion maintain its wealth and glory and continue to prosper.

Otherwise, if any other prince besides the third prince came to the throne, the Cheng'en Mansion would gradually decline.

If there are no sufficiently outstanding talents within two generations, it is hard to say whether the title of Duke Cheng'en can be preserved.

Thinking about the future of Duke Cheng'en's mansion, Duke Cheng'en closed his eyes and hardened his heart.

What does it have to do with him whether others live or die?

What if the entire capital city fell into smallpox?

As long as the Third Prince can sit on that position, and as long as the prosperity and wealth of Duke Cheng’en’s Mansion remains, all this will be worth it!

The eldest prince and the third prince had each made up their minds.

And all the surveillance reports about them were sent to Jing**'s desk.

Jing ** had just glanced at the report when he heard Zuo Yan bow and report: "Your Majesty, I have something important to report."

Jing** didn't even raise his head: "Speak!"