The princess was ordained by Heaven.

Chapter 190 Undercurrent

Finally, Zheng Xun, seeing that it was getting late, persuaded them to return to the carriage.

They rested for the night at a nearby inn, and their eyes were swollen when they woke up the next day.

Zheng Xun was also a little worried that their bodies couldn't handle it, and originally planned to continue their journey the next day.

However, the two disagreed.

"We are not as fragile as the princess thinks."

"I have to say, after crying like that yesterday, I felt a lot of my gloom dissipate, and I feel as relaxed as if I've become ten years younger."

Madam Xun glanced at her and said, "I can trouble you to make you cry."

Mr. Fu chuckled and said, "There's no need for that."

Zheng Xun couldn't help but chuckle: "Since you're all alright, let's go. If either of you feels unwell, please let me know immediately. Don't push yourselves too hard."

Mr. Fu stroked his beard: "We're not those old folks who have no sense of propriety."

Zheng Xun was skeptical, but seeing that they didn't seem reluctant, he nodded in agreement.

Upon returning to the capital, Zheng Xun drove the carriage straight into the palace.

In the past few days, everyone inside and outside the palace has known that the emperor and the crown prince have had a falling out. Everyone is on their guard, not daring to breathe loudly, for fear of being implicated innocently.

The emperor was cultivating his character, but he wasn't tolerant enough to let them provoke him when he was angry.

When Zheng Xun returned, the news quickly spread throughout the palace, and everyone felt a sense of relief, as if they had survived a calamity.

The emperor and the crown prince are still having a heated debate in the imperial study today.

The emperor was so angry that he cursed him: "I always say you're not firm enough, but when you disagree with me, you're stubborn as hell."

These past few days, the Crown Prince has had to deal with both the Emperor and the Empress, and kneeling like this every day has made his legs numb.

However, he did not change his mind because of this.

“If Father Emperor does not agree, your son will continue to kneel.”

The emperor picked up the teacup beside him and smashed it in front of him: "Are you threatening me?!"

Tea and broken porcelain shards were spilled all over the floor. The teacup almost hit the prince on the head, but the prince didn't even flinch.

Outside the Imperial Study, Master Fu and Madam Xun had already been escorted to a side hall to wait, while Zheng Xun went ahead.

Beside her, Li Xiaojun said worriedly, "Princess, the Emperor is in a bad mood. Why don't you come back later?"

Zheng Xun was somewhat surprised: "I thought my father-in-law would let me go in and try to persuade him."

"Alas, the Emperor is so enraged that he cannot be easily persuaded."

Li Xiaojun believed she had no grudge against Zheng Xun, so why would she encourage her to "go to her death"?

"It's okay, I'll go in and take a look."

After Zheng Xun finished speaking, he pushed open the door to the Imperial Study before Li Xiaojun could dissuade him again.

She glanced around at the messy room and narrowed her eyes: "Are they arguing? It's quite intense."

The emperor's anger was replaced by surprise: "Yuanjia..."

The Crown Prince breathed a sigh of relief the moment he saw Yuan Jia.

Good, looks like I won't be kneeling to death today.

"what happens?"

The emperor guessed she knew everything, but he still cooperated and explained, "Do you know what your elder brother told me? He said he doesn't want to be the crown prince?"

"Is this happening?"

Seeing Zheng Xun looking at him, the Crown Prince blinked and said pitifully, "Yuanjia, you must understand me, right?"

Behind the emperor's back, he frantically winked at Zheng Xun.

Zheng Xun raised an eyebrow: "Big brother, are you trying to slack off?"

"no……"

“However, my sister feels that the Brown Kingdom is ambitious and might cause trouble at any time. There aren’t many officials in the court who can handle things independently right now, and we are in dire need of people…”

The crown prince was speechless.

He suddenly felt that anything he said at this moment would sound like he was shirking responsibility.

The emperor curled the corners of his mouth slightly.

It was Yuanjia who had a solution.

"But……"

"Brother, the matter of the Crown Prince concerns the emperor's position. You should think it over carefully before making a decision. Right now, my sister-in-law's baby is at a critical stage. Brother, please don't let her worry..."

If the emperor or the crown prince had said these things, he certainly wouldn't have taken them to heart.

However, it was Zheng Xun who said this, and he knew Zheng Xun's omniscience, so he was afraid that she was implying something.

After weighing the options, he still felt that the Crown Princess and the child in her womb were more important, so his expression softened somewhat.

Zheng Xun walked up to him, his expression gentle: "I know you're worried about not doing a good job, but you rarely make mistakes when handling political affairs, do you?"

The crown prince said self-deprecatingly, "That's because my father, the emperor, is watching over me. Whenever I do something wrong, he will help me."

“Brother, since Father has your back, what are you afraid of? Just go ahead and try,” Zheng Xun looked at him earnestly, his tone sincere. “Brother, I know you’re afraid of not doing well and afraid of letting Father down, but you have to try, don’t you?”

The crown prince muttered to himself, "I've been the crown prince for so many years, and I've tried for so many years too..."

"But, has my elder brother ever used his full strength in the past?"

The crown prince was speechless.

No.

He was a coward; he was afraid that even if he tried his best, he would still achieve nothing, and he was afraid that he would become a laughing stock.

As long as he doesn't work hard enough, even if others say bad things about him, he can still find an excuse for himself, saying that he can't do well because he didn't try hard enough, not because he's incapable.

"Brother, you were born with conditions and opportunities that others can only dream of. Heaven has been so kind to you, why don't you even dare to try? Brother, give it your all and give it a shot, maybe you can do it..."

The crown prince was eventually persuaded.

He kowtowed to the emperor: "Your son is unfilial, but Yuanjia is right. If I don't even dare to try, how can I live up to your cultivation and expectations? Rest assured, Your Majesty, your son will try his best."

A look of relief crossed the emperor's face, but he maintained his imperial dignity: "It's good that you've come to your senses. Don't worry, your father will stand behind you."

The crown prince was moved to tears by these words of encouragement, and kowtowed to the emperor before taking his leave.

Zheng Xun watched his figure disappear through the door before smiling and saying, "Father, are you relieved now?"

"I never imagined that my words as the emperor would be less effective than a few casual words of advice from you."

"It's not casual at all. Every word I say is carefully considered before I speak it."

The emperor laughed heartily: "I thought you really wanted your elder brother to abdicate."

He was smiling when he said this, yet the atmosphere in the room inexplicably froze.

"Yes, yes, that's right. Big brother should step down and let me take over."

Zheng Xun gave a perfunctory answer.

The emperor, hearing her joking tone, narrowed his eyes and stared at her for a long time.

Zheng Xun's expression remained unchanged, and he even repeated, "Then Father Emperor, please make my elder brother abdicate. I'm sure I can do better than him, right? The capable should rule."

She glanced at the emperor casually.

His expression was somewhat unreadable. It was already dusk, and the darkness outside seemed like a wild beast, ready to pounce into the house at any moment and devour the last glimmer of firelight.