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

Chapter 340 Too partial

Jing** picked up the wine glass, made a speech, and announced the official start of the annual banquet.

Palace servants entered from both sides carrying fine wine and delicacies. In the center of the hall, dancers danced gracefully to the sound of stringed instruments.

Everyone was enjoying the singing and dancing, tasting the fine wine and delicious food, and chatting and laughing with the people around them from time to time. The hall was full of a harmonious scene.

After the dance ended, Jing** began to give food to the nobles and important officials.

This has been a custom over the years. Distributing New Year's dishes not only implies that the emperor and his subjects enjoy the New Year together, but also serves as a reward and recognition for the ministers who have made contributions in the past year.

For the ministers, being gifted food by the emperor on New Year's Eve was naturally a great honor and favor, and it was also a recognition of their hard work and diligence over the past year.

Prince Jing named several noble ministers and gave them New Year dishes one by one. Then he suddenly changed the subject and looked at Xiao Jingyi who was sitting below him and said, "Prince Yi will order the remaining New Year dishes!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the hall had different expressions.

The eldest prince unconsciously clenched his right hand holding the wine glass. Although he tried his best to remain calm, the emotions in his eyes revealed his astonishment and unwillingness.

He is the emperor's eldest son!

Why is the emperor so partial to Xiaoqi?

Since ancient times, the position of crown prince has always been established by the eldest son of the legitimate wife. My father has no legitimate son, so he, the eldest son, should have been the undisputed candidate for the crown prince.

But in the past few years, my father has been suppressing the issue of the succession.

Well, at that time, my father was in his prime, and it was indeed a little early to bring up the issue of appointing a crown prince. The eldest prince was also afraid of bringing bad luck and causing Emperor Jing’s disgust, so he did not allow people in his faction to touch on this topic. He only secretly expanded his power and accumulated capital.

I have finally waited until my father is old, and it is time to consider appointing a crown prince.

The eldest prince was just planning to make a big move to fight for the position of crown prince.

But everything my father did was to pave the way for the seventh prince Xiao Jingyi.

After realizing this, the eldest prince felt sad and angry.

They are all sons, and he thinks he is no worse than Xiao Jingyi. Why is his father so partial to him?

The third prince was not as cunning as the eldest prince. After hearing what Jing ** said, his face instantly turned very ugly.

It was not until the Third Prince's wife tugged at the corner of his clothes that he reacted and quickly restrained his expression.

However, this change in expression has already betrayed his inner thoughts.

The Third Prince had long been dissatisfied with Jing Xuan's favoritism towards Xiao Jingyi.

A few days ago, Jing ** brought Xiao Jingmo to court, which deepened this dissatisfaction.

In addition, he was reprimanded by King Jing for the rebellion of the Moon Clan. If it were not for the Queen Mother Cui and Concubine Cui pleading for him, and if it happened to be the New Year, he would probably still be under house arrest in the palace.

Earlier, the Third Prince entered the Chunxi Palace and was secretly relieved to see that the seats of the princes at today's annual banquet were arranged according to age.

Even though Jing ** liked Xiao Jingyi and his son, as long as there was no clear decree to appoint a crown prince, he still had a chance to compete again.

But at this moment, Jing ** suddenly asked Xiao Jingyi to come and present the New Year's dishes. The meaning was self-evident.

This was just like what happened earlier when Jing Xian brought Xiao Jingmo to court, clearly sending a signal that he intended to make Xiao Jingyi the crown prince.

The third prince's gaze couldn't help but fall on the area below Jing **'s left hand.

That is the position of the crown prince.

That position is still vacant at the moment.

But you never know when this vacant seat will be occupied by someone, and that person is most likely Xiao Jingyi.

The third prince suddenly felt a sense of urgency.

There is not much time left for him.

He must seize the throne of the Eastern Palace before Emperor Jing declares Xiao Jingyi as the crown prince.

If he really couldn't make Jing** change his mind, he wouldn't mind going all in one go and directly skipping the position of crown prince to become the ruler of the world.

The third prince lowered his eyes, a hint of cruelty flashing in his eyes.

The fifth and sixth princes were weak, and they knew they could not defeat the eldest and third princes in front of them, nor could they win the emperor's favor as much as the seventh prince, Xiao Jingyi. So they simply gave up the idea of ​​vying for the throne, and chose to lie down and let things slide early on, just wanting to be a rich and idle person.

As for the later princes, they are still young and their chances of winning the competition with the eldest prince and the third prince are even smaller.

So they all acted as if nothing had happened, they ate and drank as usual, and everything else had nothing to do with them.

The members of the royal family looked at each other, exchanged glances, and then pretended to be deaf and dumb.

Your Majesty, who you want to appoint as the crown prince is a matter for your holy mind to decide.

If Jing** took the initiative to ask for their opinions, they could still consider saying a few words.

Now that Jing** hasn't spoken, who has the courage to interfere in the matter of appointing a crown prince?

Moreover, speaking from a clear conscience, the seventh prince Xiao Jingyi is capable of pacifying the frontiers in military affairs, governing the country and maintaining peace in civil affairs, and he has a kind heart and knows how to reward and punish appropriately. No matter how you look at it, he is a good candidate for the crown prince.

If Prince Jing really wants to make the seventh prince Xiao Jingyi the crown prince, there is nothing wrong with that.

Queen Mother Cui, who was sitting at the top of the table, pursed her lips. Although she was unhappy, she didn't say anything in the end.

After hearing what Jing** said, Xiao Jingyi was slightly stunned, then he stood up and responded.

Ever since he returned to Beijing from the northern border, Jing** began to slowly transfer government affairs to him.

At first, he was only given some minor government affairs to practice.

Later, they found that he was doing a good job, so they gradually handed over some government affairs to him.

Some time ago, he made great contributions in the golden paste case, and after returning to Beijing, Jing** talked to him privately.

King Jing planned to open the court after the new year and then issue an imperial decree to appoint a crown prince.

After his status as crown prince was confirmed, many things became much easier.

Jing** could openly let Xiao Jingyi be the regent and handle state affairs, and he could be even more lazy.

I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older, but Jing** has been feeling lazy lately and isn’t as energetic as before.

Xiao Jingyi didn't expect Jing** to be so willful and suddenly do such a thing at the annual banquet.

Fortunately, Xiao Jingyi had seen the list of dishes for tonight's annual banquet from Jing** in advance. At that time, Jing** also asked for his opinion and added and deleted some people from the list.

Now he just had to serve the dishes according to the list.

Jing** took in all the reactions of the people below.

Looking at the different reactions of the adult princes, a cold light flashed in Jing**'s eyes.

Xiaoqi is his favorite successor.

He also decided to make Xiaoqi the crown prince and inherit the throne in the future.

It would be fine if they were sensible. With Xiao Qi's broad mind, he would never let them have a bad life.

But if anyone dares to make trouble, he will show no mercy!

This just paves the way for Xiaoqi's succession to the throne more smoothly.

If the eldest prince and others heard what Jing ** was thinking, they would certainly wail again and complain about his partiality.

On the surface, the Chunxi Palace appears to be filled with joy and peace, but in reality, there are undercurrents and a big storm is brewing.