Chapter 498

Outside the Prince Qi’s mansion.

Wang Xuan instinctively looked around vigilantly before hurriedly turning to enter.

In the main hall, Xiao Ming stood with his hands behind his back, waiting for him.

“Your Highness.”

Standing still in the main hall, Wang Xuan looked at Xiao Ming, and suddenly felt that Xiao Ming today was somewhat different from usual.

Hearing Wang Xuan’s voice, Xiao Ming turned around. Yesterday he was busy with bank propaganda, and only today did he have time to summon Wang Xuan. Emperor Xiaowenxuan’s serious illness was definitely not good news for him.

Because once Emperor Xiaowenxuan falls, it means that the current balance of the Great Yu Empire will be completely disrupted, and the most serious consequence could be that the Great Yu Empire falls into complete civil strife.

Although he did not admit that Emperor Xiaowenxuan was an enlightened monarch, Emperor Xiaowenxuan became emperor through military achievements after all, and the Crown Prince, a good-for-nothing, would not be able to suppress the chaotic situation in the country upon succeeding to the throne.

In troubled times, even an enlightened monarch finds himself in a difficult situation, let alone a monarch like the Crown Prince.

Facing a potentially very chaotic situation in the future, he outwardly pretended to be indifferent, but in secret, he had to start preparing now to be able to respond in time to unfavorable domestic situations.

Therefore, he must continue to strengthen the deployment of the Chang’an intelligence network and the infiltration of Chang’an officials.

“Do you know about the Emperor fainting?” Xiao Ming looked at Wang Xuan.

Startled, Wang Xuan said, “Your Majesty, I did not know about this, only that the Emperor’s health was slightly unwell and he had not been able to attend court normally for some days.”

“Hmm, in that case, the palace is indeed concealing this matter.” Xiao Ming’s brows furrowed. Such a major event being strictly kept secret could only be done by Empress Zhao in the palace at present.

Wang Xuan asked, puzzled, “How did Your Highness know that the Emperor fainted?”

“Chancellor Fei mentioned it in his letter to the Princess Consort,” Xiao Ming said. He then asked, “Besides that, have there been any other unusual changes in Chang’an?”

“Yes, I was about to report this to Your Highness. After the Emperor stopped attending court, Yang Zhen, the commander of the Lijing Gate, once entered and exited the East Palace,” Wang Xuan said with a solemn expression.

“Yang Zhen entered and exited the East Palace?” Xiao Ming was surprised.

The Lijing Gate has only obeyed the emperor’s command throughout history. Now that Emperor Xiaowenxuan has not yet passed away, Yang Zhen is entering and exiting the East Palace, which clearly shows that he is wagging his tail in front of the new master in advance.

Moreover, from this point, one can also see the severity of Emperor Xiaowenxuan’s illness. Perhaps, as Fei Ji said, even with careful recuperation, he can only drag on for a few more years.

If Empress Zhao and the Crown Prince secretly delayed the treatment, Emperor Xiaowenxuan would have no chance of survival, after all, the struggle for imperial power has always been cruel, and any means are not surprising.

Wang Xuan noticed Xiao Ming’s expression and said, “Your Highness, Yang Zhen is extremely greedy for power. He is clearly seeking a new master. What I worry about is the Empress and Crown Prince seizing control of the government. It is said that many decrees are now being issued by Eunuch Wang Xi, who is by the Empress’s side. Now, the court is also discussing this heatedly. Many ministers demand to see the Emperor, but they are all turned away on the grounds that the Emperor needs rest.”

Xiao Ming’s brows furrowed deeper and deeper. Fei Ji’s letter contained only a few words, which prevented Xiao Ming from fully judging the current situation in Chang’an.

And now, the news brought by Wang Xuan completely put him on alert. He had read enough history books, and the current situation was clearly the initial stage of foreign relatives interfering in government and eunuchs abusing their power.

After pondering for a while, he said, “From now on, expand the number of secret guards in Chang’an. I want to receive news from Chang’an at any time. In addition, you must design a plan to transfer important figures from Chang’an. Once there is a change in Chang’an, you must ensure that my imperial concubine, Chancellor Fei, and others are brought back.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Wang Xuan said in a deep voice. The former was simple, but the latter was very difficult.

“Since that’s the case, you should go and prepare now,” Xiao Ming said.

Wang Xuan bowed and turned to leave.

After Wang Xuan left, Xiao Ming sent someone to call Pang Yukun and Niu Ben to the Prince’s Mansion. The former was in charge of political affairs, and the latter was in charge of the army. Now that there was a change in Chang’an, he felt it necessary to inform them of the news and discuss how to proceed.

“If it is truly as Your Highness says, then from now on we should strengthen the training and equipment of the armies of various prefectures to prepare for unforeseen circumstances. A pledge of allegiance is merely a piece of paper, and there is no guarantee that the Crown Prince will not be detrimental to Your Highness,” Niu Ben said loudly.

“Your Highness, what the Grand Commander said is correct. The death of Prince Ning is still fresh in our minds. Your Highness must not be careless. If you ask who among the princes is most feared today, it is none other than Your Highness. If the Crown Prince ascends the throne, he will certainly regard Your Highness as a major threat. In my opinion, we must not only strengthen the army now, but also expand the recruitment of students for the political affairs academy of Bowen Academy to cope with future changes.”

After a pause, Pang Yukun reminded again, “Your Highness, if the Crown Prince revokes Your Highness’s titles and enfeoffment after ascending the throne, I do not wish to see the people of the enfeoffed state return to their former lives.”

“I also do not wish to see my soldiers bleed for nothing these past two years,” Niu Ben’s eyes were wide. Xiao Ming rarely saw such an impulsive side of Niu Ben.

“I understand what you mean. If things remain peaceful, so be it. But if they go too far, I will not follow in Prince Ning’s footsteps,” Xiao Ming said slowly.

Pang Yukun nodded, then he cautiously said, “Your Highness, the Great Yu Empire is currently in such a state of decay, a great chaos demands a great rectification. Furthermore, with petty individuals eyeing from all sides, only someone who can turn the tide can save the Great Yu Empire from danger. I believe that the Crown Prince is not the one to turn the tide.”

Niu Ben suddenly looked up at Pang Yukun. His eyes darted around, and he suddenly had a flicker of understanding. He said, “Your Highness, I only listen to Your Highness.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ming gradually stopped smiling. What the two said was clear enough: they wanted him to be emperor. Previously, they might not have dared to have this thought, but ever since the Qingzhou army captured Shanhai Pass, the officials of the enfeoffed state probably had some hidden agendas, and now with Emperor Xiaowenxuan seriously ill, their ambitions grew even stronger.

As for him, it wasn’t that he didn’t want to be emperor; he just didn’t want to be the first to stick his neck out and become a target for everyone. After all, he was an anomaly, and no one in the Great Yu Empire liked him. He didn’t want to be ganged up on.