The Third Prince is not a fool; though impulsive, he is not reckless.
"My second brother and I are blood brothers, are you suggesting I eliminate my own kin? That would be too ruthless. Besides, even if the Second is gone, the Eldest and Fourth remain. Can you guarantee that without the Second, Father will choose as Crown Prince?"
He suddenly turned his head, looking at Liu Xian, who was racking his brain for a strategy.
Liu Xian saw the greed and malice flicker in the Third Prince’s eyes, knowing full well that he was rely feigning righteousness while being tempted by the suggestion!
Brotherhood aside, it was not as if the Third Prince had shown lenience toward his brothers in the past.
The last ti the Eldest Prince was injured, the Third Prince had wished for his demise!
Indeed! The Emperor has four sons. Who can guarantee that the Third Prince will be chosen?
But Liu Xian had no ti to ponder this, as he was desperate to weather the current storm.
"Your Highness, let’s not concern ourselves with the future and focus on resolving the matter at hand. There will be ti to plot for the future." Liu Xian replied, trembling with caution.
"Hmph! Your short-sightedness is appalling, planning for the future indeed. If we act against the Second Prince now, the others will surely seize the opportunity to expose us, leaving us with nothing but loss; a truly foolish endeavor."
Huo Huai Zhong blatantly disagreed with Liu Xian’s suggestion, even mocking him slightly.
This man lacks substantial capabilities, yet he’s quite adept at scheming. No doubt he wanted to impress the Third Prince with this ludicrous idea.
But this ridiculous plan would lead everyone to ruin, utter foolishness.
Huo Huai Zhong looked at the silent Liu Xian, who was staring intently at the Third Prince, thoroughly exasperated.
"Indeed! Your Highness, please reconsider. Why do soone else’s bidding? Furthermore, the Second Prince is not as simple as he seems; he is quite shrewd. Would he really fall for such an obvious trap? Surely, he already has counterasures."
Peng Fang’s words were not without rit. With the Crown Prince’s appointnt, the Second Prince’s number of personal guards and Hidden Guards had increased several fold, making it extrely difficult to get close to him.
Moreover, with only five days until the ceremony for establishing heirs, would the Second Prince really be so careless at such a critical ti?
If they can’t get close to him, then how to eliminate him?
The Third Prince suddenly smiled, "It’s not impossible!"
Simultaneously, Huo Huai Zhong and Peng Fang felt a sinking feeling in their hearts; they realized that finding a new escape plan was their best option, as the Third Prince was becoming increasingly unhinged.
Huo Huai Zhong was already contemplating how to extricate himself from the Third Prince on his return; however, the Third Prince held incriminating evidence against him, placing him in a difficult position.
Enough is enough, this cannot continue!
"But we don’t need to act personally; isn’t the Eldest also anxious? We can use him!"
The Third Prince smirked, having thought of a clever plan.
...
"Your nephew, Fang, has encountered a snag in his marriage arrangents, and your mother has been diligently working for his marriage throughout these past few days."
Mr. Gu tapped his pipe against the bed edge, bringing up Gu Wanfang’s marriage matters.
Gu Chengyu raised an eyebrow at the silent Gu Wanfang sitting nearby and asked in surprise, "Wasn’t it almost settled? Has the Ding Family found a better match?"
The daughter from the Ding Family was the illegitimate daughter of the house owner that Gu Wanfang had set his sights on. When Gu Chengyu asked if a matchmaker should be sent, Gu Wanfang had nodded in agreent.
As for the Ding Family’s reputation, Gu Chengyu was already well acquainted with it.
When the matchmaker first visited, the family, though surprised, did not imdiately refuse but said they would consider it.
This was understandable; when marrying off their daughter, they must weigh the pros and cons of the suitor’s family background.
The matchmaker, being aware that the suitor was Mr. Gu’s nephew, did not hide this from them, as it was information easily uncovered.
Yet deep down, Mr. Ding had ambitious plans, hoping to climb higher by connecting with influential families.
While Gu Chengyu was only a Sixth Rank official, and the Gu Family wasn’t a household of officials, rely commoners to begin with, Mr. Ding initially planned to refuse.
But then he reconsidered; the matchmaker ntioned that Mr. Gu, despite his youth, had already achieved the Sixth Rank, suggesting he was either a capable man or had connections in the court.
Mr. Ding had witnessed the Champion Scholar’s parade through the streets, which impressed him, so he did not outright reject but asked the matchmaker for a few days to consider.
The matchmaker, realizing it was unlikely, persisted nonetheless, turning hopeless situations into hopeful ones, ugly ones into beauties, in order to secure her matchmaking fee.
She extolled Gu Wanfang’s virtues tirelessly: handso, intelligent, and personally taught by his official Little Uncle, with prospects of becoming a scholar or advanced scholar.
If he were to attain the rank of Advanced Scholar, with a Little Uncle in governnt support, his future career would surely be bright.
Moreover, being a formal wife is more advantageous; marrying a scholar ans becoming an official’s wife, unlike concubines whose children would call them concubine.
Being from a concubine’s family counts as nothing in legitimate relationships, and once married into a large household, daily life would be all about scheming, leaving no ti for family.
Even during holidays, they wouldn’t be able to return to their natal families.
Furthermore, while favored concubines fare better, those who aren’t are left to languish in a small courtyard.
These words intrigued Mr. Ding, who didn’t initially think the match suitable.
The matchmaker, a local in the Capital, knew Mr. Ding’s ambitions well, as did all matchmakers in the city.
Previously, so proposed suitors of wealthy backgrounds to Mr. Ding.
But Mr. Ding rejected them, believing illegitimate sons already struggle in households, and couldn’t marry his daughter to be a re concubine.
He regretted that aristocratic families weren’t interested in his family. His daughter, though quite fair, faded in comparison in wealthier circles.
Those families had stunning maids, where his daughter might rank as a maid, or even less.
Mr. Ding dismissed poorer families even more; while daughters aren’t as important as sons, with only two children, who could bla him for caring?
So he was dismissive, rejecting unsuitable matches offered by the matchmakers visiting.
This led to missed opportunities and delays in his daughter’s marriage prospects.
Seeing Mr. Ding wavering after her words, the matchmaker hurried to report the good news, promising to return in three days.
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