Chapter 185 Rumors Abound, Emperor's Suspicion

Xiao Wang's eyes were filled with gloom; how could he not know this principle?

But Su Liluo is the Crown Princess, not an ordinary woman. How can she be eliminated so easily?

"Your Highness, women have always depended on men for their livelihood. The reason why this Crown Princess is so arrogant now is simply because His Highness the Crown Prince is currently in favor."

If the Crown Prince loses favor, the Crown Princess won't be able to act so arrogantly. Now that the Crown Prince is so dazzling, I have a good idea that might help ease the Prince's burdens.”

Seeing Xiao Wang's hesitant expression, Song Yanshu guessed that he had no way to deal with Su Liluo, so he boldly voiced his thoughts.

As expected, King Xiao looked at him with surprise upon hearing this and asked, "Tell me about it."

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince is currently in power, and there is no shortage of praise for him and his wife both in and out of the court. This is a good thing for them, but it is also something that can threaten them."

The current emperor is in good health, not yet fifty, and under normal circumstances, he can reign for many more years. Since ancient times, how can one allow others to snore while one sleeps on one's bed?

If the Emperor knew that the Crown Prince's prestige among the people and officials surpassed his own, do you think the Emperor would still trust the Crown Prince? Wouldn't he suspect that the Crown Prince harbored...rebellious intentions?

Song Yanshu spoke slowly, a hint of a smile in his eyes.

This was a method he had thought about for a long time before coming up with it.

Ever since he and his mother were expelled from the Grand Tutor's mansion because the Crown Princess exposed them, he has harbored a deep grudge.

He privately investigated many things about the Crown Prince and Crown Princess and found that they now have an excellent reputation among both the common people and officials, even slightly better than the current emperor's reputation.

He immediately speculated, based on his own narrow-mindedness, that if he were the emperor, he probably wouldn't tolerate his son surpassing him.

That's why he dared to make this suggestion to King Xiao.

"I never expected that you would open up a new way of thinking for me! You are right. Since ancient times, once an emperor sits on the throne, even the most calm and self-possessed person will become suspicious."

If Father Emperor knew that the Crown Prince's prestige surpassed his own, he would be somewhat uncomfortable. Once this crack appears, we have the opportunity to widen it.

After hearing Song Yanshu's words, King Xiao felt enlightened and gave Song Yanshu an appreciative look.

This person wasn't mistaken; he does indeed have quite a few ideas.

So, after praising and rewarding Song Yanshu, he arranged for someone to carry out the matter.

*

The Crown Prince's Residence.

Su Liluo and Xiao Ye were unaware that Prince Xiao had devised such a wicked plan. After resolving the issue of Grand Tutor Song, the two were busy with their own affairs.

Su Wanshi was imprisoned. After the second branch of the Su family made a fuss several times without success, they stopped making a fuss.

Jiang Qinshu is also dead, and Su Liluo's two major enemies have temporarily calmed down. However, Su Liluo continues to send people to investigate the force behind it, namely Xinglan.

However, there are no results yet.

Xiao Ye also frequently went to the military camp for training, especially since the Emperor placed the Prince of Chu in his own military camp for training, so Xiao Ye naturally wouldn't be polite to him.

Therefore, the King of Chu suffered a lot in Xiao Ye's military camp.

That day, Xiao Ye rode his horse back from the military camp.

On the street, I encountered a group of children carrying candied hawthorns. Suddenly, one of the children excitedly pointed at me and said, "Wow! This person looks so powerful riding a horse! Do you think His Highness the Crown Prince is this powerful when he protects the country?"

A child nearby chimed in, "His Highness the Crown Prince is definitely even more powerful than this! Haven't you heard people say that His Highness the Crown Prince is the God of War of the Great Liang Kingdom? As long as the Crown Prince lives, the Great Liang Kingdom lives; if the Crown Prince dies, the Great Liang Kingdom dies!"

"Your Highness, even the kids on the street know your formidable reputation now!"

Hearing the children's discussion, Ye Dong couldn't help but proudly tell Xiao Ye.

Xiao Ye frowned and turned back to look at the group of children who had just walked past him.

"The Crown Prince of War, a blessing to the Great Liang, protecting our people, a chosen one of Heaven!"

The group of children were jumping and shouting these words.

"Ye Dong, send men to capture those children and find out who taught them to say those things!"

Xiao Ye narrowed his cold eyes, instinctively feeling that this was not a good thing.

Seeing Xiao Ye's serious expression, Ye Dong immediately understood that something was wrong, so he quickly sent someone to catch up with the child and find out the truth.

It's a pity that the group of children said they were just overheard by other children talking about it on the next street.

Then they went to the next street to see, and found that these words had already spread throughout the streets and alleys at some point.

They can't find the source at all now.

When Xiao Ye returned to the Crown Prince's residence with a solemn expression, his bodyguards delivered a message from the palace to him.

Xiao Ye's expression changed drastically after reading it.

“My lord, the chief eunuch of the Emperor’s side has arrived and says he wants to invite you to the palace.”

Just then, Su Liluo's voice came from outside the study.

Xiao Ye opened the door and looked at Su Liluo with a serious expression.

Did they say what it was about?

"He didn't say, he said Father Emperor wants to see you. Has something happened?"

Su Lilu shook her head, noticing that Xiao Ye's expression wasn't good, and felt somewhat worried.

"I understand. I'll go to the palace first. After you've looked at this, please take care of it for me. If you have any other questions, you can ask Ye Dong."

Xiao Ye handed a note to Su Liluo and then hurriedly left.

Su Liluo took the note and glanced at it, a look of surprise flashing across her face. Then she asked Ye Dong about what had happened on the street that day.

It turned out that the note was handed to Consort Yao from the palace.

After lunch today, the Emperor finished his meal and took a walk in the back garden to digest his food, accompanied by Consort Yao.

While passing through the Imperial Garden, Emperor Wenjian overheard people in the palace discussing the rumors circulating outside. He learned that the people were praising the Crown Prince.

Emperor Wenjian's expression immediately turned sour. He then ordered an investigation and learned that Xiao Ye was now being praised by everyone in the court and among the common people, to the point that his reputation as a crown prince was even higher than that of the emperor.

The emperor's suspicions naturally arose at this moment, and Emperor Wenjian immediately became angry. With the instigation of one of his close eunuchs, his anger intensified.

Consort Yao, being a favored concubine, even offered a word of comfort, saying that there might be some misunderstanding, or that someone might be deliberately spreading rumors. However, she was unexpectedly slapped by Emperor Wenjian.

It is clear that Emperor Wenjian was indeed extremely angry.

When Xiao Ye arrived at the palace, he was met with Emperor Wenjian's stern face.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty!"

Xiao Ye stepped forward and respectfully knelt down to pay his respects.

Emperor Wenjian didn't call him to get up for a long time, but instead carefully looked at Xiao Ye.

"I wonder what business Father has with me?"

Seeing that Emperor Wenjian remained silent, Xiao Ye took the initiative to ask.

Emperor Wenjian then slowly opened his lips, looking at him with a suspicious and mocking gaze.

"Your Highness, everyone says that the Great Liang Kingdom cannot do without you. What do you think about this?"