Gu Chengyu nodded, it would be foolish to leave just when the Crown Prince was about to be established.
You might get assassinated on the road, and even if the Eldest Prince went he might not be able to solve the case!
"Have the other three princes shown any unusual movents?" Gu Chengyu thought of Prince Jing, the Emperor’s chosen candidate for Crown Prince certainly didn’t include him.
Once the Crown Prince is established, he and the other princes will have to go to their fiefs, can he be content with that?
"The Second Prince hasn’t shown much activity in the Ministry of Revenue. Although he hasn’t achieved much, he at least hasn’t made any mistakes. Those factions wanting to catch his mistakes are helpless."
Yin Kun spoke of the Second Prince with considerable praise, but Gu Chengyu heard admiration in his tone.
Could it be that Yin Kun favors the Second Prince and is planning to take sides?
Previously when he heard Yin Kun ntion the Second Prince, there was nothing special in his tone. It seems a lot has happened in the Capital while he was returning ho.
However, it can’t be ruled out that Yin Kun was always a supporter of the Second Prince, just not showing it before.
Now with the Crown Prince’s establishnt imminent, is Yin Kun suddenly revealing this intention to win him over, making him part of the Second Prince’s faction?
But his senior brother just warned him not to get too close to the princes, so Gu Chengyu thought it best to figure out his senior brother’s intentions first.
Just as Gu Chengyu was pondering how to subtly probe Yin Kun, Yin Kun spoke of the Third Prince.
"The Third Prince was recently placed under house arrest by the Emperor and he has faced a cold attitude from the Emperor lately. He’s been assigned a leisurely task supervising weapon manufacturing at the Ministry of Industry’s Military Equipnt Bureau."
Gu Chengyu twitched his mouth, what a leisurely duty indeed.
With the Military Equipnt Bureau’s weapons having blueprints, the Third Prince can’t make much impact.
However, if he manages to innovate on the weapons and applies it usefully, it could turn into a significant achievent.
"Has Prince Jing made any moves?" Compared to the others who were in plain sight, Gu Chengyu was more concerned about Prince Jing.
Prince Jing is a person of strategy, capable of patience and so unscrupulousness. Gu Chengyu felt that he must be doing sothing secretly.
Yet, he wasn’t sure if officials like Yin Kun would notice anything amiss.
He decided it might be necessary to give Yin Kun a heads-up, better to be safe than sorry.
When speaking of Prince Jing, Yin Kun’s expression beca sowhat indescribable.
"Prince Jing’s health has been improving, he has been attending court sessions for over half a month."
Gu Chengyu was a bit surprised, was Prince Jing planning to expose his intentions?
Is he in a hurry? If he doesn’t expose himself now, he might really be cut off from the throne.
However, attending court at this crucial mont, it seems Yin Kun too might be starting to suspect Prince Jing without needing Gu Chengyu to point it out.
"As for duties, the Emperor hasn’t entrusted him with any; rather, he advised him to rest and recover. When he goes to his fief later, the Emperor can feel more reassured."
The Emperor’s attitude is quite firm! The Emperor’s choice for Crown Prince is definitely not Prince Jing, is this an attempt to dissuade him early on?
After saying all this, Yin Kun suddenly asked Gu Chengyu a question that everyone in the court was very concerned about.
"Jinyu! Who do you think the Emperor will establish as the Crown Prince?"
Yin Kun’s eyes were fixed on Gu Chengyu, as if trying to see into that person’s innermost thoughts through his bright eyes.
Gu Chengyu was taken aback upon hearing this; he wasn’t sure yet whether Yin Kun was hiding anything from him.
He sighed inwardly, although a senior brother, there would always be tests and defenses between them.
Oh well! He might as well be frank with Yin Kun and hope that in the future, they can stand on the sa side, rather than beco foes who must guard against and sche against each other.
Gu Chengyu smiled bitterly and said, "We’re brothers, I won’t say hypocritical words to you, my senior brother."
He thought for a mont and then said, "You know the Emperor’s temperant, I can’t speculate on his intentions."
Yin Kun showed a hint of disappointnt, was Jinyu guarding himself against him? This response felt too perfunctory.
Gu Chengyu ignored Yin Kun’s expression and continued, "I only offer my analysis, though I am not too familiar with the princes, my judgnt might be wrong, Senior Brother, please see if my analysis holds."
"Just speak freely, we brothers are ant to advance and retreat together. What you say, we can discuss."
Yin Kun’s expression softened considerably, and he seed sowhat satisfied with Gu Chengyu’s words.
"The Eldest Prince’s capability is beyond question, but his temperant is ruthless. If our Dayan Dynasty were in a ti of chaos or expansion, he would be the best choice for Crown Prince."
Regarding Gu Chengyu’s analysis of the Eldest Prince, Yin Kun was quite agreeable.
"The Eldest Prince is naturally capable, but his mind seems a bit narrow. If he becos Crown Prince, he might need to cultivate his character further."
This comnt made Gu Chengyu glance at Yin Kun; it seed the Eldest Prince was not soone Yin Kun wanted to align with.
"The rumors say the Second Prince is kind by nature, but sowhat indecisive and his abilities are said to be lacking."
Gu Chengyu used the words "rumors" and "said to be," causing Yin Kun to squint subtly.
"Rumors? What about your own thoughts?"
Yin Kun frowned, picked up a teacup from the table, and took a sip, seemingly dissatisfied with Gu Chengyu’s objective assessnt.
Gu Chengyu watched as Yin Kun’s right hand played with his fingers and smiled slightly.
"Senior Brother! I’ve only t the Second Prince once, and that was when we exchanged a few words during a court session. I don’t know him well enough to make a rash judgnt."
"As for the Third Prince, with Wan Xue Nian’s death and who was involved in that, you must know, and so does the Emperor, or he wouldn’t have tasked him with the Military Equipnt Bureau. Moreover, his maternal family underwent a major upheaval, and his relatives have beco criminals. The officials supporting him in court must have decreased significantly."
A prince without the backing of his maternal family and limited capabilities. Frankly, he doesn’t seem promising.
But he didn’t intend to speak too absolutely; until the last mont, who knows which prince would ascend the throne?
"You don’t think highly of the Third Prince?" Yin Kun put down the teacup and began to ponder.
"Not exactly, isn’t Consort Xian favored by the Emperor? And although the Emperor has been displeased with the Third Prince these past two years, he did show so capability in earlier years."
Yin Kun rolled his eyes, as if nothing essential had been said.
"And what is your view on Prince Jing?"
When Yin Kun ntioned Prince Jing, his expression turned significantly more serious.
"Perhaps Prince Jing is not as indifferent to worldly matters as he appears? I believe he harbors ambitions for the position of Crown Prince."
This ti, Gu Chengyu chose not to hide, his straightforwardness caught Yin Kun off guard for a mont.
"You an he’s taking action secretly? But he’s just an idle prince without the backing of a foreign clan or much responsibility. Which courtiers would support him? Even if he has ambitions, he’s power but not support. Besides, his health..."
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