Hearing Xin Shang's report, Xin Zizhao couldn't help but frown. "Why is Xin Yeheng getting so close to those two? Xin Shang, have you found out the reason behind it?"
Seeing Xin Zizhao's solemn expression, Wei Shuxuan thought there must be something wrong with Minister Zhang and Grand Scholar Jin. "Xin Zizhao, are Minister Zhang and Grand Scholar Jin on bad terms with you?"
In the court, those who could make the emperor so nervous were mostly commoners and court officials. Powerful officials could threaten the emperor's throne, and discontented commoners could dethrone the emperor. So the only reason for Xin Zizhao to be so nervous was probably that these two officials were on bad terms with him. He was afraid that if they joined forces, they might do something unpredictable.
"Indeed. It was them who led the call for me to depose you as the queen and then hold a beauty pageant for concubines. Do you think we're on bad terms with them?" Xin Zizhao looked at Wei Shuxuan, his eyes fixed on her expression.
"What! So it was them who tried to drive a wedge between us. They're really scumbags! Why are they getting in touch with Yeheng again? They must be planning something bad!" Wei Shuxuan was extremely angry when she learned that it was those two who had instigated Xin Zizhao to depose her as the queen.
Seeing Wei Shuxuan's expression, Xin Zizhao found it a bit funny. "Are you really that angry?"
"Why shouldn't I be angry? It was them who wanted to separate us. Do you think you can still tolerate them?" Wei Shuxuan lectured Xin Zizhao seriously.
"Yes, yes, yes. You're always right."
While comforting Wei Shuxuan, Xin Zizhao looked up at Xin Shang and signaled him to leave with his eyes. Xin Shang understood his meaning, nodded slightly, and tiptoed out of the study.
"Your words sound so perfunctory," Wei Shuxuan looked up at Xin Zizhao. "So what are you going to do? Deal with Yeheng or Minister Zhang and Grand Scholar Jin?"
"Neither. Let's observe them first. There's no need to be hasty. We don't know what Xin Yeheng is up to yet. Although he has had close contacts with Minister Zhang and Grand Scholar Jin, we don't know what they're plotting for the time being. So there's no need to rush. It's not too late to take action until I have solid evidence."
"Anyway, help me keep an eye on Yeheng. Don't let anything happen to him. I still don't believe that Yeheng would do such a thing. I also don't believe that the current Eleventh Prince is the Yeheng I used to know."
When Xin Yeheng was taking a walk in the imperial garden, a little eunuch suddenly ran over to him. "Your Highness the Eleventh Prince, Minister Zhang and Grand Scholar Jin are here to see you."
"… Let them come."
Xin Yeheng paused for a moment before asking the little eunuch to summon Minister Zhang and Grand Scholar Jin. He looked at the lawn dotted with colorful flowers in the distance, his eyes showing no sign of vitality.
"We humble officials pay our respects to Your Highness the Eleventh Prince!" Minister Zhang and Grand Scholar Jin knelt on one knee to pay their respects to Xin Yeheng.
"Get up," Xin Yeheng paused for a while and then turned to look at Minister Zhang and Grand Scholar Jin. "I wonder what brings you two here?"
Minister Zhang and Grand Scholar Jin glanced at each other. Grand Scholar Jin took the lead and said, "Your Highness the Eleventh Prince, we know that you've just returned and must have a lot of things you don't understand. If Your Highness has any questions, feel free to come to us."
"No need to trouble yourselves. I can handle everything on my own."
Xin Yeheng replied to them in a cold tone. He seemed completely uninterested in their flattery. Minister Zhang and Grand Scholar Jin also knew that their sudden approach must have been quite abrupt, and it was very normal for the Eleventh Prince not to trust them.
"It's normal for Your Highness not to trust us now. But at some point, you will definitely need the help of me and the grand scholar," Minister Zhang smiled faintly. "When Your Highness gets a bit older, you will understand our intentions."
"No need. I'm a bit tired and want to go back and rest first."
Watching Xin Yeheng get up and leave, Minister Zhang and Grand Scholar Jin's expressions suddenly turned a bit ugly. Minister Zhang wanted to say something else, but was stopped by Grand Scholar Jin. Grand Scholar Jin shook his head at him, and Minister Zhang had no choice but to shut up.
When Xin Yeheng returned to his palace, as soon as he walked into the room, he was grabbed by a handsome man wearing an eye - patch. That handsome man was the envoy Qihar who had been here before.
"You're finally back, my little puppet," Qihar showed a bit of charm on his handsome face. He hooked the corner of his lips. "Yeheng, go and sit over there."
So Xin Yeheng obediently walked over and sat at the round table. Qihar also walked over. He poured himself a cup of tea and also poured one for Xin Yeheng. "I heard from Little Zhang that a minister and a grand scholar came to see you just now, right?"
"Yes."
"Little puppet, I think you should accept the proposal of those two officials and cooperate with them. Do you understand?" Qihar smiled faintly and reached out to touch Xin Yeheng's head.
"Understood."
Xin Zizhao told Xin Shang to continue following Xin Yeheng. From a distance, Xin Shang saw Minister Zhang and Grand Scholar Jin come to see Xin Yeheng, but soon Xin Yeheng told them to leave, seemingly dissatisfied with the conversation.
A few days later, Minister Zhang and Grand Scholar Jin were summoned by Xin Yeheng to his palace, Huaman Palace.
"We pay our respects to the Eleventh Prince!"
As soon as Minister Zhang and Grand Scholar Jin saw Xin Yeheng walking out from the inner room, they took the initiative to pay their respects to him. Xin Yeheng sat on the main seat. "Rise. Please sit down, both of you."
After seeing that both of them had sat down, Xin Yeheng slowly said, "I've carefully considered the matter we discussed before. I've decided to accept your proposal and stand on the same side as you."
"Your Highness the Eleventh Prince is wise!" Minister Zhang was very happy. "I've long been dissatisfied with the current emperor. If we have the Eleventh Prince on our side, we can join hands to pull this emperor off the throne."
After hearing Xin Shang's report, Xin Zizhao told Xin Shang to leave. Wei Shuxuan, who was sitting on one side, put down the book. "It seems that Minister Zhang and Grand Scholar Jin are trying to stage a coup and seize your throne."
"I don't really care about this throne. Those who want it can just take it," Xin Zizhao really didn't mind others coveting his position. Anyway, he didn't really like being an emperor. "Then I can travel with you."