Appoint Prince Yi as Crown Prince
After Peng Yuanhai left the main hall, he went straight to Tongren Hall.
Tongren Hall had been deserted for fourteen years and could be said to be cut off from the rest of the world. Naturally, it would not have any contact with the ministers of the court, let alone the newly appointed Minister of Personnel, Peng Yuanhai.
Then, why did he go to Tongren Hall?
What was he doing here?
Bi Lu was the only eunuch in the entire Tongren Hall. He was currently sweeping up the scattered leaves in the courtyard. When he looked up, he saw Peng Yuanhai walking in with steady steps.
He was stunned.
He tossed the broom aside.
He hurriedly bowed, "Lord Peng."
"Is Prince Xian in the room?"
"Yes, His Highness just took his medicine and went to sleep."
"Then this official will wait outside."
Peng Yuanhai was a serious person. His mannerisms, speech, and bearing were extraordinary. Although he was only in his thirties, he looked like he had experienced the vicissitudes of life, making him appear mature and steady.
Bi Lu looked up. "What business does Lord Peng have with His Highness?"
"It's a small matter. This official will wait outside. If His Highness wakes up, please inform me."
"Why don't this servant go and wake His Highness up?"
"There's no need. His Highness isn't feeling well and should rest more."
Bi Lu lowered his head, but went in anyway.
As soon as he entered, Jing Xian woke up.
He hurriedly removed the thick cloak from the screen and draped it over Jing Xian's body. As he helped Jing Xian off the bed, he said, "Your Highness, the Minister of Personnel, Lord Peng, is outside."
Jing Xian grunted in acknowledgment, then stopped responding.
"Your Highness, are you sending Lord Peng away?"
"Go make a pot of black tea for this prince." He sat down on the couch.
"Yes."
Bi Lu did not say anything else and went out to serve the tea. Seeing that Peng Yuanhai was still standing in the courtyard, he did not reply and quickly went to make a pot of tea.
Jing Xian threw a few pieces of charcoal into the stove and placed two cups on top of the stove.
When the cups were warm, he ordered Bi Lu, "Go and invite Lord Peng in."
"Yes."
Bi Lu hurriedly went out.
Soon, he was ushered in.
"Your Highness, this servant will wait outside." Bi Lu went out.
The room was filled with the fragrance of tea.
Peng Yuanhai cupped his hands and bowed. "Greetings, Sage King."
Jing Xian was brewing tea, and the white steam lingered around his face. It was warm.
"Lord Peng, please sit."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
She sat down opposite him.
Jing Xian handed over a cup of tea that he had brewed, "Come, daren, have a taste. This tea was dried by this king myself."
Just as Peng Yuanhai was about to bring the teacup over, Jing Xian reminded him, "The teacup is very hot. Daren, be careful with it."
He had just warmed the teacup on the stove.
Peng Yuanhai carefully took it and took a sip.
Nodding, he said, "The tea is very fragrant."
Simple and direct.
Jing Xian looked at the teacup in his hand and laughed meaningfully. "Good tea is always stored in the hottest teacup. Only by enduring the heat can one drink the best tea."
"Your Highness is right."
He put down the teacup.
Jing Xian poured another cup for him. "This is the first time this prince has met Lord Peng. Lord Peng seems to be quite different from what this prince had imagined."
"Then what does Your Highness think of this subject?"
"I don't think … this prince doesn't know either." He smiled.
It was also Peng Yuanhai's first time meeting this prince. Seeing that Jing Xian had not dived into the main topic, even he couldn't wait any longer.
He went straight to the point. "Your Highness, all the ministers in the court have switched sides to Prince Yi. The Emperor has also ordered that Prince Rong is not allowed to return to the palace. The situation in the court is very dangerous."
"Have you finished tasting Lord Peng's tea?"
"Your Highness …"
"Although these tea leaves are not famous, they are only the most common ones that this prince has grown in his courtyard. They cannot compare to Longjing or Pu 'er, but the tea produced from these leaves is not inferior to those expensive teas." Jing Xian continued to talk about his tea.
He didn't seem to care about what Peng Yuanhai had just said.
What was the prince trying to do?
He was clearly sickly and lifeless, but the feeling he gave off was as charming as a tiger's spirit.
Just as he was about to speak again, Jing Xian said, "The current situation in the court has indeed switched sides to Jing Yi. This time, Imperial Father forbade Jing Rong to return to the palace. He is like a tiger that has grown wings. It is only a matter of time before he becomes the Crown Prince."
"Then what should we do next?"
Jing Xian propped himself up, clutching his cup of tea in his hand. He walked with heavy steps to the window sill. He looked at the falling leaves outside, his fingers twirling the cup.
He said, "If you want to achieve your goal and taste that cup of good tea, you can only endure the pain and receive the hot cup. If you can receive it, the fragrance of the tea will linger in your throat. If you can't, you will be scalded to death. Now, it is the same principle."
No matter how smart Peng Yuanhai was, he couldn't guess the prince's thoughts.
He seemed to understand Jing Xian's words, but at the same time, he didn't.
Jing Xian tilted his head to look at him, knowing that he didn't understand. He said, "Lord Peng, think about these words carefully."
Peng Yuanhai stood up and said, "Whether it is the tea or the current situation, Your Highness sent a letter ordering this subject to submit a memorial to Prince Rong, pointing the spearhead at Prince Yi. But in the end, the matter was suppressed by His Majesty. Unexpectedly, His Majesty bestowed the Ji family's daughter in marriage to Prince Yi. Just now, War Secretary Ji was clearly on his side. The current situation is disadvantageous to Your Highness."
"Disadvantageous to this prince?" Jing Xian's tone didn't seem to care at all. His eyes narrowed as he thought it was ridiculous. Then, he threw the cup in his hand on the window sill and asked, "Lord Peng, do you know what Imperial Father fears the most?"
"Your Majesty …"
Interrupt!
"Imperial Father is paranoid. What he fears the most is someone trying to force him into power."
"Please enlighten me, Your Highness."
"Immediately send your people to incite the court officials. Within two days, the officials must submit a memorial to His Majesty. The content of the memorial is to support Prince Yi as the Crown Prince."
Ah!
Peng Yuanhai was startled, his dark pupils unfathomable.
But a moment later, he seemed to understand.
He immediately bowed and said, "Yes, this subject understands."
"Mm." Jing Xian nodded. "If Lord Peng has nothing else, please leave. This prince's Tongren Hall hasn't had a stranger enter for a long time. This prince is not used to your presence."
"This subject takes his leave."
"I won't see you out."
Peng Yuanhai cupped his hands and left.
No one knew why a dignified Minister of Personnel would obey the orders of a prince who had been stripped of his real power.
It turned out that the memorial to Jing Rong from the Ministry of Personnel was also Jing Xian's chess piece!
And how many more secrets was he hiding?
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