He Zhiqiu was speechless when asked in one sentence. The words that he usually used to admonish His Majesty the Emperor were suddenly used by His Majesty to question him back, leaving He Zhiqiu speechless.
"Why doesn't Aiqing say anything? I'm thinking that while royal affairs are my private affairs, they are also national affairs that concern the fate of the empire for a long time. As my lover, doesn't Aiqing have any opinions for me?" Situ Mingyue said no more. Pressing forward step by step, he just asked lightly, his tone seemed particularly calm.
Drenched in cold sweat, He Zhiqiu hesitated for a long time before saying: "Your Majesty, it is best for Your Majesty to decide on your own for such a big matter as establishing a crown prince. If Your Majesty must ask the minister, the minister can only say that your Majesty's princes are like dragons and tigers. No matter who is the best, everyone can inherit His Majesty's position."
"No distinction between equals? My dear, it seems that you have made up your mind not to share my worries? Could it be that I can't find an intimate person to help me solve my problems?" Situ Mingyue let out a long sigh, and Situ Mingyue seemed to understand the other party's difficulties, and shook his head. Shaking his head, he leaned back tiredly on the chair and muttered helplessly.
His Majesty the Emperor's desolate and helpless look made the Minister of Military Affairs couldn't help but feel a tremor in his heart. This kind of situation was rarely seen by He Zhiqiu in his decades of accompanying the Emperor. His old body looked so haggard and weak, as if a candle was left in the wind. It may go out. Decades of love between the emperor and his subjects suddenly poured into his heart, and scenes of His Majesty's great trust in him emerged before his eyes. Could he really have the heart to pretend to be deaf and mute and turn a blind eye? Should I express my opinion to His Majesty? This idea suddenly popped up in He Zhiqiu's mind. He knew that intervening in important matters such as establishing a prince was the most taboo thing for ministers of all dynasties. If the new emperor is not enthroned, it will be a disaster. But seeing His Majesty the Emperor in such a situation, He Zhiqiu still can't bear it.
"Your Majesty is in a good spirit now, so you don't need to worry too much about these things. If you really want to establish a throne, it's not too late." As soon as the words came out of his mouth, He Zhiqiu felt regretful. As soon as he said this, he might have put a noose on himself that he could never break off.
"Oh?" A look of relief flashed in Situ Mingyue's eyes. He smoothed his long beard under his chin and asked softly: "In my opinion, after a hundred years, which of my descendants will inherit my great cause?"
Taihe point was beating suddenly. If he had known that His Majesty the Emperor would ask this difficult question, He Zhiqiu sighed secretly in his heart. He gritted his teeth and said:
"Your Majesty, it is difficult for me to comment on this humble minister. His Highness has deep thoughts. His Highness the Third is very calm, His Highness the Sixth is secretive, His Highness the Seventh is polite and virtuous, and His Highness the Ninth is smart and wise. Your Majesty can choose a certain amount of money."
"Haha. Aiqing is really impeccable. You have listed all my sons, so what choice do I have to make?" Situ Mingyue frowned dissatisfied, but still asked with a smile on the surface.
"It depends on how Your Majesty views this. If His Highness and His Highness the Third are both overseers of the country now and have begun to take on political and economic roles, His Highness the Sixth has also made great achievements in the past two years, His Highness the Seventh has won the support of the imperial family, and His Highness the Ninth is in the government and the public. They are quite popular both inside and outside. It can be said that each has its own advantages. Everything depends on how His Majesty decides." Although he was forced to participate in such matters, He Zhiqiu was still careful not to express opinions directed at any specific person.
"Huh, prison for the country? Look at what country my two sons have been in prison during the past few months when I was sick. Apart from building momentum for themselves, what else have they done? I think as long as I close my eyes, I'm afraid The two brothers are going to fight each other immediately, right? Lao Liu has only woken up in the past two years, and just showing his face twice in court is far from enough to convince the public; Lao Qi has always been smart. But he doesn't think about the right way and relies on the power of his mother's family to win over people. Do you really think that I can't see you? Lao Jiu's performance is not satisfactory, but..., alas -" At this point, Situ Mingyue couldn't help but sigh.
His Majesty the Emperor's evaluation of his sons was spot on. Only then did He Zhiqiu realize that His Majesty the Emperor was not confused at all, and every performance of the princes was in his eyes. However, His Majesty's words seem to be more inclined to His Majesty the Ninth Prince Situ Lang, but there are deep worries hidden in the unfinished words. How could Zhiqiu understand His Majesty's doubts? His Majesty the Ninth Prince is certainly the most suitable for him. But judging from the actual situation, His Highness the Ninth Prince is the least suitable among the princes.
His Highness and His Highness the Third Highness already have a considerable foundation in the Imperial Army. Although they have gone through several baptisms, the foundation laid over the years cannot be completely eradicated in one or two cleanings, especially for officers at the division level. The problem cannot be solved by simple replacement, not to mention that too much movement will affect the combat effectiveness of the army, which is something the emperor himself does not want to see. His Highness the Sixth Prince usually seems unruly, but his performance at court meetings in the past year or two has made many courtiers look at him with admiration. His mother is from a noble family in the Wuhu region, and her influence plays a decisive role in the Wuhu region, which is known as the granary of the empire. . His Majesty the Seventh Prince is not only flexible in human and machine, but also
Moreover, its matriarchal power not only has strong influence in Jiangnan and Donghai, the two most prosperous areas of the empire, but also has irrefutable relations with the nobles of the neighboring Kingdom of Milan to the south. Its potential power cannot be underestimated.
Although His Highness the Ninth Prince is quite popular in the court, he lacks actual supporters. Although many ministers are optimistic about him, they do not think that he can inherit the position of Dabao. In other words, he lacks firm support and strong support. By. Of course, it is not impossible for His Majesty the Ninth Prince to ascend to the throne, given that His Majesty the Emperor currently holds absolute power, but first it needs to be completely eliminated.
The influence of His Highness and His Highness in the Imperial Army has laid the foundation to prevent the possibility of brotherly rebellion in the future. However, this will inevitably cause great turmoil in the army. At present, there are Taiping rebels lying on their sides and powerful forces outside looking at them. This situation is tantamount to destroying the city wall, which is really unwise. Your Majesty should also know this, so he has been hesitant.
"Your Majesty, you mean that His Majesty the Ninth Prince is more suitable..." Seeing His Majesty the Emperor looking at him, He Zhiqiu asked softly and tentatively.
Situ Mingyue had no expression on her face and did not express her position. Instead, she swallowed a pill nine, which was secretly stored in the palace, and then asked, "What do you think, Ai Qing?"
Since His Majesty the Emperor has this intention, He Zhiqiu no longer remained silent and asked in a deep voice: "Has Your Majesty considered the possible problems?"
Situ Mingyue exhaled a long breath, and there was a little helplessness in Situ Mingyue's eyes: "It is for this reason that I have been unable to make up my mind. If a hundred years from now, these brothers turn against each other and even endanger the survival of the empire, then wouldn't I be able to make up my mind? How can a sinner who has lived for thousands of years meet the ancestors of Lieshi under the Nine Springs?"
"My beloved has been assisting me for decades. He is loyal to the country and understands my heart. I am calling my beloved here today because I want your beloved to come up with a solution that has the best of both worlds for me. No matter which of my sons I choose as my heir. , I don’t mind, but the premise is that the fight between these brothers must not affect the future of the empire. My body is getting worse day by day, and I don’t know how long I can survive. This matter really cannot be done. If I delay any longer, I want to hear Aiqing's true words." Situ Mingyue, with a serious face, finally revealed her intention today.
"Your Majesty is at the peak of the Spring and Autumn Period, why do you say such unlucky words?" He Zhiqiu felt a sense of sadness in his heart. His Majesty's physical condition has not improved significantly. It is good and bad, and the government cannot operate normally. He has no choice but to let His Highness and the Third Highness monitor him. country, but it has no actual effect. The authority of His Majesty the Emperor cannot be replaced by others. When he heard this, he was even more shaken.
"Well, my dear, don't worry too much. People will inevitably die. I am not a god, so I can't escape this disaster. My body is still okay now. You don't have to worry too much. It's just that I have to take advantage of this while I'm still here. Things must be arranged properly, otherwise I will not be able to sleep peacefully." Situ Mingyue looked very calm, obviously taking this matter very lightly.
Hearing what Situ Mingyue said, He Zhiqiu finally calmed down and carefully considered the task assigned by His Majesty the Emperor. After thinking about it for a long time, He Zhiqiu said: "Your Majesty, I should not interfere with the appointment of the crown prince, but since Your Majesty trusts me, I should do my best to consider it. However, in my humble opinion, it is not the best time to establish the crown prince at the moment. It's a good time, the current situation is turbulent, foreign enemies are colluding with each other internally and externally, no matter which prince is appointed as the heir apparent, it will only increase the instability, so it is better to do it externally."
Situ Mingyue's disappointment was palpable. He didn't expect the other party to have the same opinion, but he still cheered up and asked: "What does Aiqing mean -"
"Wei Chen thinks it's okay for now," He Zhiqiu's voice gradually became quieter, and only the two people in the study could hear it. Situ Mingyue patiently listened to the advice of the Minister of Military Affairs, while nodding slightly, and his face gradually became cheerful.
"All the princes are born nobles, and their talents are different from ordinary people. I believe that they will be able to give you a satisfactory result. By then, everything you do will be under the control of your majesty's eyes, and your majesty can calmly establish the throne. It's not too late, I believe all the masters will have no objections." He Zhiqiu gently stroked the short beard under his leader, with a wise light flashing in his eyes, obviously very satisfied with the temporary solution he came up with.
"Hey, my love for you is indeed a clever plan, but I still need to arrange it carefully. Since I want to act, I have to act like a pretender." Situ Mingyue suddenly felt brighter, and her energy suddenly became much better.
"Your Majesty, this is wrong. This is not a show. Even if it is a show, it can only be regarded as a fake show. As for each person's performance, it depends on their level." He Zhiqiu said seriously.
"Yes, I understand." Situ Mingyue also stood up and walked to the window. The mountains and rivers outside the window were picturesque. It was such a leisurely and beautiful scenery, but he had to worry about trivial matters. It took a while before he finally felt like something. Nodding thoughtfully, "I hope they won't disappoint me too much."