THE ELDEST SON'S SERVANT

He was the Prime Minister, and his name was Zhong Enlai. He was the leader of the East Faction within Xinyang Imperial Palace, and he was none other than Zhu Ruolan's uncle.

The person who made Zhu Ruolan Wu Shun's concubine many years ago was also Zhong Enlai, and that was why Yu Ming didn't look all that surprised when he heard how the old man dared to defy the Emperor's orders.

"You don't agree with my idea?" Coldly, Wu Shun asked the Prime Minister.

It could be said that the Prime Minister was the third most powerful person within the empire. With his red robes, he looked extremely mighty, and the Weimao Guan[1] he wore on his head only added to his arrogant demeanor within the hall.

However, Wu Shun didn't seem surprised by what the old man had just said, and that was why he still looked calm on his throne.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Bravely, Zhong Enlai answered the Emperor's question. "I know how His Highness the Crown Prince has returned to his prime after the incident at Dong Lang, but I think you are asking too much of us, Your Majesty. After you robbed my niece, you still ask us to bow in front of His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Everyone in the hall could only listen to the argument between the Emperor and the Prime Minister. In fact, this wasn't the first time the two men had argued within Pingheng Hall, and that was why there wasn't any sign of surprise on their faces as they could sense that another altercation was about to start.

"So, you think I robbed your niece, Prime Minister Zhong?" Wu Shun asked the Prime Minister. "If you do have such an opinion, then you must also think that I also robbed my youngest son, right? After all, I appointed my eldest son as the new Crown Prince, and my youngest son was forced to let go of the title he previously owned. That makes you angry too, right?"

Before it was announced that Wu Jinhai would take over the title of Crown Prince from Wu Jingguo, the officials did not dare disobey the Emperor's orders, but it seemed that the Prime Minister had finally gathered the courage to voice his protest against the Emperor's decision.

"Yes, Your Majesty! I think you've decided unfairly, and that's why you shouldn't continue to pressure us after you've taken everything from us!" Zhong Enlai once again responded to Wu Shun.

When Zhong Enlai said the word "us," he was referring to the people of the East Faction. There were so many officials in Xinyang Imperial Palace, but not all of them were from the East Faction. In fact, half of the officials working at the palace were from the West Faction, but it could be said that the people who held the status of first-rank officials were from the East Faction, and that was why the people from the East Faction thought they had more power in front of the Emperor.

"I have not robbed anything from you and your people, Prime Minister Zhong," Wu Shun resolutely replied to the Prime Minister. "I think I should say that you robbed my eldest son of everything years ago, and all I did last night was give him back what you robbed him of. Is that what you call unfair?"

"…" This time, the Prime Minister couldn't answer right away, but he gritted his teeth as he tried to contain his anger.

The reason why Zhong Enlai and his faction couldn't object to Wu Shun's decision to pass the title of Crown Prince to Wu Jinhai was that Wu Shun used past events to attack the faction.

Years ago, Zhong Enlai said that Wu Jinhai couldn't become the Crown Prince because he was poisoned by the fish demon and became a half-fish demon, and Wu Shun couldn't even protect his son from the attack. But last night he was finally able to use what Zhong Enlai said back then to return everything to his eldest son. He said that Wu Jinhai had removed the poison and was now a normal human once again, and that was why there was no reason to take the position of Crown Prince from Wu Jinhai.

That was why the people of the East Faction couldn't object to Wu Shun's decision, but perhaps Zhong Enlai still wanted to fight for the fate of his faction today.

"I can accept that you wish to appoint your eldest son as the new Crown Prince since his condition has indeed returned to normal, but I still cannot accept why you no longer want my niece as the Empress of this empire, Your Majesty. Why did you order my niece to return to her original position as a concubine?" Zhong Enlai was finally able to come up with an answer for the Emperor.

When Zhong Enlai looked tense, Wu Shun remained calm as he replied, "Just now you said that being a concubine was your niece's original position in the palace, right, Prime Minister Zhong? That's why it's normal if she returned to where she came from, right?"

"..." Once again, Zhong Enlai failed to find a direct answer for the Emperor.

It seemed that Wu Jinhai and Wu Jingguo were not the real fire and water within Pingheng Hall, but Wu Shun and Zhong Enlai could be described as water and fire. Wu Shun was calm and cool like water flowing in a small river, whereas Zhong Enlai was furious and hot like a great fire ready to devour everything.

"I think our discussion of the new Crown Prince and former Empress is enough. Everything has already happened, and I don't want to change anything," Wu Shun emphasized speaking again when Zhong Enlai gave him no response at the end. "Just like the former Crown Prince, Crown Prince Wu Jinhai will be in charge of security and stability in the empire, and I would like to assign the Second Prince, Wu Jingguo, to help him with that responsibility."

"What?" This time, it was Zhu Ruolan who immediately responded to the Emperor's decision. "Isn't it enough for you to rob everything from your youngest son, Your Majesty? Now, you want your youngest son to be your eldest son's servant?"

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[1] Weimao Guan: headwear that's worn by high officials.