The Prince of Shou immediately showed a distressed expression, sighing, "That Emperor, my health has recovered a lot, but I still suffer from chest tightness and shortness of breath. Someone with my physique is certainly not fit to bear the great responsibility for you, Father. The citizens of Tianwu Nation also do not wish for their country to be inherited by an invalid."
Upon hearing the Prince of Shou's words, the Emperor's brows furrowed. He anxiously said, "Eldest Prince, is your condition still that severe? Once Li'er returns to the capital, I will have her examine you thoroughly again."
"Your son understands. Thank you for your concern, Father," the Prince of Shou said, inwardly letting out a long sigh of relief.
He secretly thought, "Alas, that was truly close. Fortunately, I was clever enough to use my health as a shield. Otherwise, Father would have transferred the great mountain weighing on him onto me. Then, my wish to travel to three countries with my wife and daughter, which I promised them, would not be fulfilled."
Following this, the Prince of Shou then said to the Emperor, "Father, before I came to the palace, the Princess of Shou and Changle reminded me that I needed to return to the princely estate on time today to take my medicine. Otherwise, my old ailment will flare up again."
The Emperor did not think much of the Prince of Shou's words. Indeed, the Emperor of Tianwu Nation could not be an invalid. Otherwise, Tianwu Nation would become a laughingstock of the world.
"Since your health has not fully recovered, you should return and rest well. Spend more time with your Princess and children. Do not wait until you reach Father's age to realize the preciousness of family ties."
The Emperor patiently instructed him.
"Yes, Father. Your son will remember your teachings!"
After paying his respects to the Emperor, the Prince of Shou quickly left the Emperor's Imperial Study, as if a tiger were chasing him from behind.
However, after the Prince of Shou left, the Prince Xian, who was standing at the far end, immediately said, "Father, I made plans to have hotpot with Li Luo at the Four Seasons Hotel this afternoon. It's almost noon now, and Mother Consort has strictly instructed me not to break my appointment. Therefore, I shall take my leave first!"
After speaking, the Prince Xian cupped his hands to the Emperor and scurried out of the Imperial Study as if fleeing a disaster.
Seeing that even the most unreliable of the seven princes had fled, why would the Prince of Ji stay any longer?
Following suit, the Prince of Ji also approached the Emperor and said, "Father, recently Mother Consort has been urging me every day to find a daughter-in-law for her. However, ever since Yan Yan and Luo Luo were born, you have had the Second Prince personally attend to his wife and children. You have divided all the accumulated work of the Second Prince among me and the Fifth Prince. Where do I find the time to search for my beloved!"
Upon hearing this, the Emperor was immediately angered.
"You wretched boy, you're blaming me for not finding you a Princess? You don't like the girls your mother and I selected for you, finding fault with one girl and then another. Where in this world is there a woman as perfect as your second sister-in-law? If you see a girl you find somewhat agreeable, then marry her."
"Alright, Your son remembers your words, Father. Then, your son will go out now to find a girl that I find agreeable and bring her to the palace to show you and Mother Consort."
After saying this, the Prince of Ji immediately bid farewell to the Emperor and rushed out of the Imperial Study like a gust of wind.
The Emperor, seated at the head of the table, was stunned for a moment before realizing he had fallen into the Prince of Ji's trap.
"Hmph! The Prince Xian and the Prince of Ji, these two wretched boys are truly infuriating. They have never done anything to satisfy me."
The Emperor, in his fury, suddenly stood up and paced back and forth beside his desk, his agitation akin to a raging tiger, which frightened the Prince of An into silence.
He could only stand obediently in place, waiting for the Emperor's anger to subside.
After a while, the Emperor finally regained his composure and sat back in his chair. He looked at the Prince of An with a gentle tone and asked, "Prince of An, you and the Eldest Prince have the most steady temperaments and are much more reliable than those two boys in your actions. It's a pity about the Eldest Prince's health... Alas, but your physique and your conduct in all aspects are excellent. If Father were to abdicate to you, would you be willing to shoulder this heavy responsibility for Father?"
"Uh, Father, this, this, your son feels he is not suitable."
The Prince of An immediately refused the Emperor with a hint of grievance.
"If Father thinks you are suitable, then you are suitable. You need not decline."
The Emperor quickly waved his hand at him.
Seeing this, the Prince of An could only resort to his trump card.
"Father, in fact, the most suitable candidate among us brothers to inherit the throne is the Second Prince. The Second Prince is astute and intelligent, learned and talented, decisive in his actions, and skilled in martial arts. Furthermore, he has the assistance of his very intelligent, discerning, and highly skilled Second Princess Consort, who cares deeply for the people of the world. If Father is willing to pass the throne to the Second Prince, he will undoubtedly be a good emperor in the future."
The Prince of An reasoned persuasively with the Emperor.
Upon hearing this, the Emperor sighed heavily, "Alas..."
"Jun Mohan, I have already asked that boy. If he were truly willing to be the emperor, I wouldn't have to drag this on until now, summoning you all to the Imperial Study to question you one by one."
The Emperor spoke with great helplessness.
That wretched boy Jun Mohan and that wretched girl Li'er, that couple simply doesn't care about his throne or the imperial palace. Moreover, he cannot force Jun Mohan to become the emperor. Otherwise, given his temperament, he would dare to burn down the imperial palace if he got angry.
"Father, don't worry about this. Your son has an idea that will prevent him from refusing, no matter what."
As the Prince of An spoke, he walked to the Emperor's side and whispered into his ear for a long time.
After a while, the Emperor and the Prince of An began to laugh happily.
"Fifth Prince, your idea is excellent. This matter will be handled as such."
...
At this moment, the Prince of Leng and his wife, having just attended the grand wedding of Murong Lichen and Ba Meisi, were happily riding their fine steeds on the road back to the capital. They were still unaware that they had been schemed against by the Emperor and the Prince of An.
The two of them were traveling back to the capital while sightseeing.
As soon as they entered the city gates of the capital, Ye Ying and Yin Chen delivered two letters to them. One was written by the Emperor, and the other was from Leng Ruoli's parents. After Jun Mohan and Leng Ruoli finished reading them, they stood frozen as if struck by a hammer.
"Damn it!"
"Your father is too much of a trickster!"
"So he's just handed over his mess for us to sort out, taken away Yan Yan and Luo Luo, and gone sightseeing with him and Empress Dowager. And he won't even tell us where they've gone?"
"This is truly speechless!"
"Even my parents have left the capital to go to the Xie family to find a wife for my eldest brother. And your brothers have all disappeared, unwilling to tell us where they've gone?"
Now, Jun Mohan would have to become the emperor, whether he wanted to or not.