The Crown Prince, since little Fubao arrived, seems to have straightened his posture. Thinking of Xiao Hongzhuo's disrespect and that he was the maternal grandfather of the Second Prince, he also spoke, agreeing: “Good, Minister Xiao, get up. Your crime will be atoned for with grain!”
Little Fubao, as soon as they spoke, demanded a considerable amount of grain.
The Crown Prince thought this was a good idea, but wondered if it could be used frequently.
Minister Liu Guanqiong of the Ministry of Revenue, upon hearing mention of grain, his eyes lit up immediately, and he chimed in, “Minister Xiao is generous. Our Ministry of Revenue will send a clerk to help tally the grain.”
Xiao Hongzhuo: “........”
Good for you, Old Liu, you actually stabbed me in the back.
The Crown Prince was also satisfied. They had grain now! With 30 qing of fields, there would be a considerable amount of grain.
Minister Chen Jing of the Ministry of War immediately stepped forward, “With this grain, the Anbei Protectorate's grain and fodder can be sent. At that time, our Ministry of War will also send some people to help Minister Xiao transport the grain.”
Xiao Hongzhuo: “.......”
Xiao Hongzhuo grumbled inwardly, “Damn it!”
You Old Chu Family have no money, so you’re targeting me, are you!
Damn it, why did he have to speak up and compete with a baby in diapers!
With the short-term grain and fodder issue resolved, someone brought up the matter of Youzhou.
After all, Duke Tang killed Fan Chong of the Military Commandery, and the Prefect of Youzhou defected. These matters could not be ignored.
At this time, the Imperial Court had not yet received the news; they did not know that Youzhou had installed Tang Zhi Ling, nor that Duke Tang and the Xianbei people were colluding.
The news had not yet reached Chang'an, but Duke Tang had not concealed the news, and it would soon arrive.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, Youzhou City has fallen. Tang Zhizhong has openly rebelled. Please, Your Highness, devise a plan. Whom shall we send to attack Youzhou, to execute the rebellious traitors, and to retake Youzhou?”
Gong Prince raised his most pressing concern.
After all, it was all their Old Chu Family's territory; they couldn't lose it.
Furthermore, the Emperor was so angered by this incident that he spat blood. It was somewhat shameful, and this matter must be avenged.
No one could lightly witness the Old Chu Family's humiliation.
When some court officials earlier tried to make things difficult for the Crown Prince, Gong Prince did not speak up. He wanted to see the Crown Prince's potential.
To see if he had the potential to be a ruler. If he were too soft, like the current Emperor, then the Dayu Dynasty would be in danger.
After observing, Gong Prince was not without disappointment.
He sighed. His cousin was cruel, yet the children he raised were all good-natured.
However, Gong Prince felt that the person chosen to be Emperor should have more mettle.
The Crown Prince heard Gong Prince raise this crucial issue, but he did not have a good candidate among the generals.
“Does anyone among you have a candidate to recommend to serve as Commander-in-Chief to quell Tang Zhizhong?”
The Crown Prince asked earnestly.
The court officials were divided into factions, and so someone stepped forward, “Your Highness the Crown Prince, I would like to recommend someone.”
The Crown Prince became interested, “Oh? Who does Minister Xu wish to recommend?”
The other ministers also looked over, including Minister Chen Jing of the Ministry of War.
Minister Xu was from their Ministry of War. This Vice Minister was quite active!
To not even consult his superior before rashly recommending a candidate—there’s something amiss here!
Minister Xu naturally did not miss Minister Chen’s scrutiny, but he was not afraid. “Your Highness, I recommend Quan Rui. His family has served in the military for generations. Quan Rui is currently in Xingzhou, and it is close to Youzhou. He is in a good position to lead troops there to resist Tang Zhizhong.”
The Crown Prince knew of Quan Rui, but not intimately, and could not make a decision.
He looked around the Throne Room, then inexplicably glanced at little Fubao.
Little Fubao was wearing a serious expression; they were clearly unhappy. “This Quan Rui was once an old troop of Tang Zhizhong. Minister Xu, are you trying to send some personnel to Tang Zhizhong?”
Little Fubao’s sarcasm was evident. Those officers who had close ties to Duke Tang needed to be investigated.
Chu Jingde, that kid, had not considered this at all.
Little Fubao’s intervention at this time was out of necessity; if they did not act, their Old Chu Family's empire would change hands.
After Little Fubao spoke, the court officials looked at them and dared not speak.
Their gazes held a look of fear.
In their eyes, they suspected that Little Fubao was the Late Emperor’s spirit.
Otherwise, how could a baby of just over one year old be so knowledgeable about court affairs?
Gong Prince’s gaze towards Little Fubao was bright.
This was the heir apparent they wanted!
Gong Prince looked at Little Fubao’s serious little face and felt that their cousin had returned.
This was the child of their dreams!
Inherently clever and precocious!
Minister Xu hastily knelt, “I, I absolutely did not mean that! Please, Your High—” They did not know how to address Little Fubao, so they looked to the Crown Prince, “Please, Your Highness, be discerning.”
Little Fubao narrowed their eyes and looked at Minister Xu, remembering this person in their heart.
“The selection of the person to quell Tang Zhizhong will be discussed another day. However, since Tang Zhizhong has rebelled, the Tang family members of the Duke’s Mansion need not be kept. Pick a good day to send them underground to keep Fan Chong company!”
All the civil and military officials: “.......”
You little brat, are you speaking sense?
And, are you mistaken? Is this how you handle things?
Fan Chong is dead, and you’re sending other people's wives down to keep him company. Is that really right?
Minister Jia looked at Little Fubao strangely. This madness and the erratic feeling—how familiar it seemed.
Shi Zhao hastily knelt to plead, “Your Highness the Crown Prince, not everyone in the Duke’s Mansion is in cahoots with that traitor. Although my young daughter is Tang Zhixuan’s wife, she had nothing to do with it!”
Minister Jia’s mustache twitched. Should he intercede?
His granddaughter was also imprisoned in the Duke’s Mansion!
Minister Jia carefully observed Little Fubao, trying to discern their relationship with the Late Emperor.
Was it really the Late Emperor? How should he plead?
If it truly were the Late Emperor’s spirit, the more one pleaded, the faster one would die!
Minister Jia ended up pulling out two of his whiskers and decided to play possum and stay out of it.
Little Fubao said indifferently, “Those who enjoyed the Tang family's prosperity must also bear the risks.”
At this time, the court officials had forgotten that Little Fubao was just a baby and had no right to decide all this.
They were not the real Emperor, nor the Crown Prince; they had no authority.
Gong Prince’s eyes shone brightly; he liked this tone, he was familiar with it; this was his cousin’s style.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, the Tang family of the Duke’s Mansion should indeed be imprisoned and await final judgment. However, there is no need to execute them immediately. We can use the Tang family members to negotiate with Tang Zhizhong. We can take action after negotiations break down.”
The Crown Prince nodded, “I will heed Gong Prince.”
The entire Imperial Court meeting, due to Little Fubao’s intervention, was significantly easier for the Crown Prince in the latter half.
After the court meeting dispersed, everyone watched as the Crown Prince carried Little Fubao away, and began to speculate.
They say that members of the Imperial Family are true sons of Heaven.
Members of the Imperial Family are truly unfathomable!
"