Chapter 1941: The Sage Emperors Sudden Change! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
”Even we don't know the exact details yet.”
Li Jingzhong began to explain what he knew.
”Yesterday, in the early morning, the Crown Prince was studying as he usually did when the Sage Emperor suddenly arrived, saying that he had come to test the Crown Prince's studies. Your Highness, you know that His Highness has always been diligent in his studies, never neglecting his homework. His Majesty declared that he wished to test the Crown Prince, and he chose a text for the Crown Prince to recite.”
Wang Chong frowned and asked, ”Did the Crown Prince fail to recite it?”
”No! The Crown Prince recited the entire thing word for word.”
Li Jingzhong understood Wang Chong's meaning and shook his head.
”Everything was normal and the Sage Emperor seemed to be satisfied, but when the Crown Prince raised his head to look at the Sage Emperor, the Sage Emperor suddenly grew enraged. He claimed that the Crown Prince had no regard for his sovereign and father, that he was unfilial and treasonous. Right there, he gave the Crown Prince a firm slap.
”This was so abrupt that everyone present was frightened out of their wits!”
Li Jingzhong still felt fear and alarm upon recalling the incident.
The Sage Emperor was the wise sovereign of the realm, and Li Jingzhong had served in the palace for decades and had still never seen the Sage Emperor so enraged, or even heard of it.
”No one understood what happened at the time, but not long afterward, news came out that the Sage Emperor wanted to strip the Crown Prince of his title. The entire court is shaken. Your Highness, you must do something to help the Crown Prince!”
Li Jingzhong grabbed Wang Chong's sleeve like a drowning man clutching at a rescue rope.
Wang Chong said nothing, but his mind was restless. The Sage Emperor had just invested the Crown Prince, holding a sumptuous crowning ceremony, but now, he was talking about removing the Crown Prince. This was far too abrupt for everyone.
Removing a Crown Prince was no easy matter and could not be done so casually.
More importantly, the decision was too abnormal. All the other court officials were probably just as astonished.
Wang Chong quickly calmed himself down and soothingly said, ”Eunuch Li, don't panic just yet. Investing a Crown Prince is no minor matter, and even if His Majesty wants to remove him, he needs the approval of the officials. There is still room to maneuver.
”In addition, when His Majesty invested the Crown Prince, he expressed to all the realm that he was extremely satisfied with the Crown Prince, believing that His Highness had the traits proper for the post. One or two minor incidents are not enough of an excuse to remove him. I will get in touch with the other officials and submit a memorial strongly opposing this decision.”
Regardless of the truth of the situation, Li Heng had already been tested in the apocalyptic era, and there was no one in the Great Tang more befitting of the post than him. This matter had to be put to a stop.
”Thank you, Your Highness!”
Li Jingzhong gratefully bowed and quickly left.
Not long after Li Jingzhong had left, Wang Chong spoke once more.
”Xu Keyi!”
A few moments later, Xu Keyi came in and bowed.
”What happened in the court?” Wang Chong said.
”His Majesty proposed removing the Crown Prince from his post in court. When Your Highness was meeting Eunuch Li, several dozen major officials sent word of this matter and asked Your Highness to join them in submitting a memorial strongly advising against this!” Xu Keyi sternly said.
Although Wang Chong no longer took part in court, he still wielded immense influence within it. Let alone the military officials, even civil officials admired Wang Chong.
In terms of status, Wang Chong was on par with the Grand Tutor, even surpassing him in some aspects.
Wang Chong began to think. This matter was far too bizarre. It was not bizarre that the Emperor grew enraged or slapped the Crown Prince, but it made no sense to strip the Crown Prince of his title over the incident.
He recalled the matter Yang Zhao had brought up and the reports he had gathered.
”Xu Keyi!”
”Your subordinate is here!”
”Prepare my carriage. I need to enter the palace to see His Majesty!” Wang Chong suddenly said.
Wang Chong was now a major official of Lingyan Pavilion, possessing the Sage Emperor's 'Imperial Dragon Bracelet' and holding the supreme titles of Nine Provinces Protector-General and Empire Guardian Great General. He could enter the palace to see the Sage Emperor without prior notification.
No other official possessed this privilege.
This was one of the major reasons that the officials had all gotten in touch with Wang Chong.