SFL Chapter 20

The emperor was impartial when it came to his three sons. The eldest prince was in charge of the Ministry of War, the second prince handled the Ministry of Personnel, and Mu Yunfeng was responsible for the Ministry of Revenue.

The positions assigned to the eldest and second princes in their respective ministries were quite similar to Mu Yunfeng’s, or even slightly lower initially. However, Mu Yunfeng was the one who achieved remarkable results.

It wasn’t because the eldest and second princes were underperforming; rather, it was due to Mu Yunfeng’s exceptional achievements. Even though the officials belonged to different political factions, they couldn’t help but acknowledge that Mu Yunfeng had outperformed the eldest and second princes. After all, Mu Yunfeng’s father was the emperor, and it was impossible for them to assert that Mu Yunfeng was inferior.

The words of the Minister of Revenue brought back memories of the days when they had to request funds from the Ministry of Revenue. He had been quite frugal, which made them shudder at the thought.

The saying, ‘You can’t have both the fish and the bear’s paw,’ had indeed stood the test of time. Just the mere thought of the Ministry of Revenue withholding the funds necessary for their achievements was unsettling. As these officials pleaded on behalf of their respective princes, their influence weakened slightly.

Even the two main princes themselves, not to mention the rest of the courtiers, couldn’t find a solution to this dilemma.

While they were eager for Mu Yunfeng’s financial skills, they were reluctant to see him retain such an essential position. In other words, they wanted the horse to run but were hesitant to provide the horse with grass. Could Mu Yunfeng handle it?

The Fourth Prince was even worse off. Among the four princes, his achievements were the least impressive. He was clearly at the bottom among his brothers. Even the Second Prince, who rarely dealt with military affairs and had no military power, had a better reputation than him.

Who on earth had proposed the idea of selecting the Crown Prince at this moment? They took him by surprise. If it weren’t for the power he had been building up since he became a prince, he might have been kicked out of the game without lasting a single round. Even so, his current situation was highly unfavorable.

Among the four princes, the First Prince and Mu Yunfeng had the highest support, while the Second Prince and the Fourth Prince were gradually becoming less significant. Their faces bore a similar expression with muscles uncontrollably trembling, and they turned pale, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads.

This was undoubtedly a crucial moment that would determine their future positions, yet they could only watch as the opportunity slipped away from their grasp. It was challenging for them, especially considering their ambitious natures.

However, their unwillingness didn’t change the fact that they were falling behind in the ongoing competition within the court. At this point, only two of them remained in contention, and the Second Prince and Fourth Prince, who had been suddenly ousted, felt a sense of confusion and despair.

Even the First Prince, who still stood at the center of the struggle, didn’t feel as triumphant as he might have imagined. Although his political achievements were on par with the Second Prince, what could he use to compete with his younger brother, Mu Yunfeng? Currently, the primary reason he had continued to receive support was his seniority.

Mu Yunfeng was the legitimate eldest, and he was the older brother. As the older brother, the First Prince naturally didn’t want to lose to his younger brother. However, if he were to be honest with himself, who had the more outstanding political achievements, him or Mu Yunfeng?

Political achievements were concrete and couldn’t be disguised by short-term tactics; they were similar to leading troops in battle. While they could deceive people for a while through manipulation and deceit, they couldn’t fake a lifetime of accomplishments.

Mu Yunfeng, on the other hand, didn’t seem emotionally disturbed, even during this critical moment that would determine his future status. At this time, as the central figures involved in the situation, they were naturally reluctant to speak.

Seeing that the voices supporting Mu Yunfeng as the Crown Prince were gaining momentum, the First Prince felt a tight knot in his chest, unable to express the conflicting emotions inside him.

Just as they had a premonition that things were about to be settled, the emperor extended his hand, silencing all voices. “Enough, I have made my decision. You may all return and wait.”

This sensation was like the impending fall of the blade, and the First Prince and his brothers felt intense inner turmoil.

After Mu Yunfeng and the others had left, the emperor then dismissed most of the courtiers, leaving a few high-ranking officials for further discussion.

As they stepped out from the noisy hall, the First Prince and his two brothers suddenly realized that their backs were soaked in sweat, and a cool breeze sent chills down their spines.

The three of them exchanged glances, and the Second Prince forced a smile, “Elder brother, fourth brother, let’s gather for a talk. I have something I want to discuss with you.”

The situation in the court had become increasingly clear today, leaving them with no room to evade. Their remaining time was running out.

The three princes didn’t return to their respective residences but went out instead. Mu Yunfeng had already returned home much earlier. They hadn’t planned to involve Mu Yunfeng because he was not on the same path as them.

Upon his return, Mu Yunfeng informed Su Qianluo about the court proceedings. Even though Su Qianluo had been prepared for it, she was still surprised. However, Mu Yunfeng didn’t hide his intentions from her, knowing that if he couldn’t ascend through the legitimate path, he was capable of taking unconventional measures to seize the throne. Given his status and abilities, no new emperor would tolerate his presence.

He had prepared for this scenario, and now that the emperor had decided to choose an heir, the Third Princes’ odds of winning were not insignificant. Therefore, the preparations they had made behind the scenes would remain untouched.

Su Qianluo expressed her concerns, “I’m worried that the First Prince and the others won’t just sit idly by during this time.”

While patting her visibly protruding belly, she continued with a slight frown, “At a time like this, anyone who makes a move becomes a target. Moreover, the emperor has already made up his mind, and he won’t be swayed by external voices.”

Speaking frankly, this was an era of autocracy.

Outside, the three princes were incredibly busy, making moves without pause. In contrast, the Third Princes’ residence remained calm. As time passed, the officials from several residences couldn’t help but feel uneasy. Mu Yunfeng’s composure gave them the impression that he was remarkably calm. The emperor hadn’t given a definitive answer yet, keeping their minds in turmoil.

Surprisingly, Su Qianluo, the pregnant woman, rested better than most people.

On the other hand, the three princes outside were working tirelessly.

The officials from various prince’s residences couldn’t help but act swiftly. Those who had initially supported the Second Prince and the Fourth Prince in court were now switching their allegiance to the First Prince. This effectively suppressed the voices supporting Mu Yunfeng.

The emperor watched quietly, witnessing his three sons banding together to target his third son, and a sense of disappointment washed over him.

He wanted to give them a chance, but they were determined to proceed along their chosen paths without turning back.

Indeed, Mu Yunfeng’s way of doing things could sometimes be cold and unfeeling; he wouldn’t give anyone special treatment. However, he had never punished the innocent or recklessly squandered the Empire’s wealth on corrupt individuals.

Perhaps, it was precisely his unwavering commitment to justice and lack of personal gain that made them unwilling to stand by his side. They only saw their immediate self-interest and believed that following Mu Yunfeng would harm their own interests. So they chose to drag down Mu Yunfeng, the capable brother, rather than see the nation’s future improved.

Hence, they opted to side with the First Prince, who was willing to go to any lengths.

The emperor couldn’t hide his disappointment. He didn’t want to watch his sons continue to fight amongst themselves. Just when the First Prince and the others were feeling hopeful, the emperor played his trump card.

During a grand court assembly, in front of the entire court and military officials, the emperor officially declared Mu Yunfeng as the Crown Prince.

The First Prince, supported by the Second and Fourth Princes, was left in shock. His face turned pale, and he stared at the emperor in disbelief.

Why? He had garnered so much support from his ministers, showing that he had the people’s favor. However, despite this, the emperor chose his third son as the Crown Prince.

The Second and Fourth Princes were also taken aback, but their reactions weren’t as extreme as the First Prince’s. After all, they had been mentally prepared for the outcome these past few days. Whether it was the First or the Third Prince who became Crown Prince, it didn’t matter much to them. They were just slightly disappointed in their investment in the First Prince.

Only Mu Yunfeng remained calm, accepting the emperor’s decree without any visible change in his demeanor.

With this, the competition for the Crown Prince position came to a close.

The factions within the court and the camps supporting various princes settled down. The frenzied scramble was over.

The most heartbroken were the First Prince and the young princes who had not yet matured. One was just a step away from the coveted position, and the others lost their chances before even entering the race. Their bitterness and frustration were beyond words.

The power struggle between the princes had reached its conclusion, leaving a significant impact on the capital and the entire Empire.

Firstly, this had a profound impact on the way the princess consorts regarded Su Qianluo. As Mu Yunfeng ascended to the position of Crown Prince, Su Qianluo automatically became the Crown Princess, a status that made her superior to most women in the nation.

At this point, the Third Prince and his wife were no longer ordinary subjects but had become the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.

In the court, the officials’ attitude towards Mu Yunfeng underwent a significant shift. Regardless of their previous thoughts, they understood that openly opposing Mu Yunfeng would not serve them well. Consequently, Mu Yunfeng began involving himself in the affairs of the officials who had been embroiled in the Crown Prince competition.

Some officials were found to have incriminating evidence, which was used to expose their wrongdoing. Mu Yunfeng dealt with them fairly and justly. Others, however, were innocent and had not aligned themselves with any faction. Still, their positions made them targets, as some ambitious officials wished to replace them. If the Crown Prince competition had dragged on, some of these officials might not have survived.

Mu Yunfeng restrained his followers from falsely implicating or framing officials from opposing factions, but the power struggle among the First Prince and the other princes had created chaos among the lower-ranking officials.

So, the first thing Mu Yunfeng did as Crown Prince was to assist his three brothers in resolving their issues. In contrast, the emperor, observing the ease with which Mu Yunfeng handled these matters compared to his other sons’ troubles, became frustrated.

“Why can’t you three spare me a little worry? Look at what you’ve done. You’ve made the Crown Prince handle your problems. Can’t you consider the burden on me?”

The First Prince and his brothers kept their heads down, looking disgruntled. As their opponents, they couldn’t see Mu Yunfeng’s actions as anything other than a scheme to eliminate them. They believed that the Crown Prince was seizing this opportunity to get rid of them. So, they found Mu Yunfeng’s actions no different from their own tactics.

However, it was their trio who faced reprimand while the Crown Prince received praise. The emperor couldn’t help but worry about what would happen if all his sons turned out like these three. Thankfully, the Third Prince had shown clarity of mind, which allowed the emperor to feel reassured.

Once he had sorted out his thoughts, the emperor dismissed the First Prince and his brothers. The trio reluctantly withdrew.

The emperor’s position held a great deal of temptation. Even if Mu Yunfeng became the emperor, it would be challenging to stop ambitious individuals from pursuing power. The First Prince and his brothers had wanted to bide their time quietly, but neither the emperor nor Mu Yunfeng would provide them with such an opportunity.

Mu Yunfeng handled the reassignment of lower-level officials and the emperor issued decrees to transfer the First Prince and his brothers from their established positions. The only exception was Mu Yunfeng, who continued to manage the nation’s treasury in the Ministry of Revenue, while the First Prince, the Second Prince, and the Fourth Prince experienced significant changes in their responsibilities.

The Fourth Prince returned to his residence with a despondent look on his face. There, he was met by his consort, Lady Su, who appeared anxious. She implored him to take action and save the Su family.

Unfortunately, the Su family had also fallen into adversity. After all, having two consorts of the imperial princes in succession attracted a great deal of attention.

The Fourth Prince was constrained by his in-laws and those who supported him, making it challenging for him to openly intervene or warn the Su family. However, the First Prince and the Second Prince had no such concerns.