kvmb Chapter 293 The Heir Apparent
Chapter 293 The Heir Apparent
After staying there for a few more days, Gu Mochen and Ye Qingchen couldn't remain there any longer; they feared it would cause chaos in the court. So they led their men and hurried towards the capital, working day and night. Since all of them knew martial arts, the journey wasn't too tiring. They arrived in the capital in a few days. Prince Wen and Prince Qi came to greet them and told Gu Mochen that while the two princes had gone out, they themselves were exhausted. They also shared some good news: news had come from the Southern Frontier that the Empress and Nanxi had given birth to twins, a boy and a girl.
Upon hearing the news, Gu Mochen smiled sincerely, "Such a joyous occasion truly deserves celebration." Ye Qingchen nodded slightly beside him, her eyes filled with delight. Prince Wen looked at them and continued, "Now, this happy event has added a touch of joy to the court."
Gu Mochen said, "It's indeed a good thing. The situation in the south is now stable, and the north has calmed down after the battle we fought there. We're only left with the east and west. The one in the east isn't very strong, but it's across the sea from us and not far away. It often harasses our fishermen. The one in the west is also despicable. It often bullies us because it's fat and strong and has good horses!"
The prince said, "Yes, and I suspect there are spies from these countries among us, but we just can't tell who they are."
Gu Mochen frowned slightly; he knew all too well that infighting was rampant in the court. "Second Brother, do you know the specifics of the matter?" Prince Qi sighed and said, "Some ministers are starting to stir up trouble regarding the selection of an heir. Although the Empress has given birth to seven children, five of whom are princes, everyone is speculating about the succession. Not appointing an heir might embolden them to act recklessly." Ye Qingchen's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. "The selection of an heir is a matter of national importance; how can it be discussed so hastily? Shouldn't we wait until the children are older before discussing it?"
As they talked, they walked towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Gu Mochen had just sat down when a eunuch rushed in to report that several high-ranking officials requested an audience. Gu Mochen glanced at Prince Wen and Prince Qi, shaking his head helplessly. "It seems that matters of the court don't allow me a moment's rest." Prince Wen hurriedly said to him, "Your Majesty, you've just returned, and these officials have already arrived. I'm afraid they're not here with good intentions."
Gu Mochen composed himself and had the eunuchs invite several ministers in. He didn't have any eunuchs who had grown up with him, so he had simply chosen a few to serve him, without intending to give any important positions. However, these eunuchs were all handpicked by Zhao Quan at the Emperor's behest, so he felt relatively more at ease with them. Leading the group was Minister of Rites, Lord Wang, who, upon entering, bowed and said, "Your Highness Gu, your recent departure has caused great concern throughout the court. The Empress now has five princes, a blessing for the nation. However, the matter of choosing an heir concerns the stability of our dynasty, and we must make plans for it as soon as possible."
Gu Mochen remained calm and said indifferently, "Lord Wang, the matter of establishing an heir is my business. I am only twenty years old, what is the point of establishing an heir? Besides, even if I am gone one day, Prince Wen can make the decision. It has little to do with you, Lord Wang." Lord Wang, however, disagreed, "Your Highness, that is true, but the surrounding areas are unstable. Our dynasty needs to make plans early. If we can establish an heir as soon as possible, we can stabilize the court."
Gu Mochen sneered inwardly. This Lord Wang, on the surface, seemed to be acting for the sake of the country, but in reality, he probably wanted to use this opportunity to establish his own prestige in the court. Before he could speak, Ye Qingchen couldn't help but say, "Lord Wang, His Majesty is in good health, but his health was extremely poor in his youth. Perhaps Lord Wang wants His Majesty's old illness to relapse?"
Lord Wang's expression changed slightly. He glanced at Ye Qingchen, then at Gu Mochen. "Empress, you, a woman, probably don't understand matters of the court. Prince Gu, you should think this over carefully." Gu Mochen's eyes turned cold. "Lord Wang, the Empress is absolutely right. It's best if you don't interfere in the matter of choosing an heir. This matter is of great importance and requires careful consideration."
Seeing Gu Mochen's resolute attitude, the ministers had no choice but to take their leave. After the ministers left, Prince Wen frowned and said, "Mochen, this Lord Wang probably has many people supporting him. They won't let this go easily." Prince Qi nodded and said, "Yes, the court is now divided into several factions, each planning for their own interests. This matter of choosing an heir will likely become the fuse for their struggle. They probably don't want my son to be the crown prince, but rather want to appoint one of our underlings, one of our incompetent children, as the heir apparent, so that one day they can assassinate me and then use me to command the other princes."
Gu Mochen pondered for a moment and said, "No matter how they fight, we only need to focus on the overall situation. Second brother, you and cousin Qi, please keep an eye on the movements in the court and see what these ministers are planning." Prince Wen and Prince Qi nodded in agreement.
In the days that followed, discussions about the succession issue in the imperial court intensified, with some ministers even openly debating it. Gu Mochen could sense the tense atmosphere every time he attended court. Meanwhile, in the Southern Frontier, similar discussions about the succession were taking place.
Upon learning this news, Gu Mochen grew increasingly worried. He knew that if both countries' courts were thrown into chaos over the issue of choosing an heir, the consequences would be unimaginable. Therefore, he decided to write a letter to the Queen of Southern Xinjiang, along with gifts, expressing his blessings for Southern Xinjiang, while also subtly reminding the Queen to handle the matter of choosing an heir carefully and to consult with Nanxi more often to avoid unnecessary conflict.
While Gu Mochen was busy with court affairs, Ye Qingchen noticed something unusual. She overheard some servants in the palace discussing that some mysterious people were frequently seen near the Prince's residence. Ye Qingchen was alarmed; she worried that these mysterious people might harm Gu Mochen.
So, Ye Qingchen began secretly investigating the identities of these mysterious people. After some inquiries, she learned that these mysterious people seemed to be related to a certain minister in the court. Upon further investigation, it turned out to be Lord Wang. These mysterious people had one characteristic: they were not tall. Perhaps it was an instinct from a later era, but she immediately thought that these people must be Japanese from Japan. Ye Qingchen didn't dare delay and immediately told Gu Mochen about it. Gu Mochen's expression became very serious upon hearing this. "It seems that this court infighting has already affected the country. Qingchen, you must be careful and never go out alone."
Ye Qingchen nodded in agreement, her heart aching as she looked at Gu Mochen's exhausted appearance. "Mochen, don't overwork yourself. These court matters can't be resolved in a short time." Gu Mochen held her hand. "Qingchen, with you by my side, I have strength. The situation is complicated now, so we must be even more careful."
Days passed, and the debate in the court over the succession continued unabated. Gu Mochen was also working hard to find a solution. He discussed countermeasures with Prince Wen and Prince Qi, while closely monitoring the situation in the southern border regions.
Finally, one day, good news arrived from the Southern Frontier. After careful consideration, the Queen of the Southern Frontier decided not to appoint an heir apparent immediately, but to wait until the children were older and then decide the successor based on their abilities and character. When this news reached the capital, the debate in the court temporarily subsided. Those who had stirred up trouble were executed by the Queen of the Southern Frontier and their names displayed atop the city gate. When this news reached the Great Xia, the ministers there also immediately fell silent.