Chapter 36: Your Majesty, You Must Leave!

When the Empress Dowager stepped aside to leave, Lin Yue was rather reluctant to go. Just then, Nurse Zhang returned, so Lin Yue used the excuse of needing to speak with her and stayed behind.

She asked Nurse Zhang, "What did you find out?"

Nurse Zhang replied, "I've inquired, and it's quite significant."

"The Crown Prince petitioned the throne today, requesting to escort supplies to the border. The ministers were greatly stirred, praising the Crown Prince for his concern for the soldiers on the frontier. This move will surely boost morale tremendously."

"However, some officials are opposed to the Crown Prince risking himself at the border, so the Emperor has yet to decide whether to allow him to go."

Lin Yue understood. The Crown Prince must have realized that the hidden ailment in his body had vanished; he was no longer hesitant or fearful. When the heir to the throne steps forward, his influence naturally grows.

[System, can I exchange merits for medicine and grain?]

System: [Of course. Basic medicines and grain can be exchanged by the ton. We can even deliver supplies to the border ourselves without worrying about interception by Mu Lixin's men.]

Lin Yue’s eyes brightened. This would make things so much easier.

[Then I’ll first tally the military supplies needed for the border. You calculate how many merits are required. If there aren’t enough, I’ll find a way to accumulate more. There’s still time.]

System: [Understood.]

Lin Yue immediately said to Nurse Zhang, "Take me to the Eastern Palace. I have matters to discuss with the Crown Prince and Crown Princess."

Nurse Zhang hurriedly led Lin Yue to the Eastern Palace.

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince was still in the Hall of Diligent Governance. The Emperor praised his initiative, saying, "Although you have grown up, such an important matter as going to the border—why didn’t you consult your father first?"

The Crown Prince said, "Uncle is still at the border. I thought that even if there were dangers, Uncle would protect me, so..."

The Emperor replied, "Your uncle loves you dearly; he practically watched you grow up. He certainly won’t let you fall into harm’s way."

"But the situation at the border is complicated. Let’s wait a bit longer."

He hadn’t yet deployed the piece represented by Tan Liangyuan. If the Crown Prince went now, he feared for his son’s safety.

Seeing this, the Crown Prince said, "The news has already been released; surely someone will respond quickly. Father, if you are worried, I can take the opportunity to investigate carefully."

The Emperor’s eyes lit up. How had he forgotten? Once this news spread, Tan Jian’s side would be unsettled. If they acted, they would surely have his daughter, Tan Liangyuan, take action. Then, they could deal with the situation while gaining stronger deterrence.

Indeed, since his son’s health improved and he had no worries behind him, he had become more capable.

The Emperor was pleased. "Very good. You have not disappointed your father."

The Crown Prince smiled faintly. He had never feared death; he only worried that if he died, his father would lose a trusted aide, his children would be left fatherless, and his wife might be devastated.

But now, he feared nothing.

As the heir to the nation, freed from the worry of death, he must do something meaningful for the country.

Just as father and son quietly rejoiced, Zhou Dahai entered and reported, "The Crown Princess has sent word that Princess Consort Ding has gone to the Eastern Palace. It seems she wishes to discuss something with Your Highness."

The Emperor said at once to the Crown Prince, "Your aunt won’t seek you without reason. Go quickly."

The Crown Prince nodded and hurried to the Eastern Palace.

After the Crown Prince left, the Emperor paced anxiously. Zhou Dahai suggested, "Your Majesty, why not go for a walk? The bougainvillea in the Eastern Palace are in full bloom. You may enjoy them there."

The Emperor brightened immediately. "Yes, we can go admire the flowers!"

Zhou Dahai’s mouth twitched; he had guessed the Emperor wanted to visit the Eastern Palace all along. Sure enough!

What kind of charm did Princess Consort Ding possess? There were plenty of beauties in the palace.

Especially when he discovered the Emperor climbing the wall at the Eastern Palace, Zhou Dahai was completely unsettled.

Your Majesty, you are the Son of Heaven!

Yet beneath that wall was the latrine!

But at this moment, the Emperor’s mind was focused on only one thing: whether Lin Yue would issue another warning.

No matter what.

The fate of the Wei Kingdom and his own life depended solely on himself.

He could not afford to miss even the slightest chance.

At last, Lin Yue told the Crown Prince, "Don’t rush. This matter isn’t without room for maneuver."

"First, list the supplies and grain needed at the border. I’ll see if I can help find a solution."

The Crown Prince said suspiciously, "But the court has already prepared everything. We don’t need to gather anything privately."

Lin Yue smiled and said, "What we prepare, others will naturally know. But if someone intends mischief and we have no extra supplies, what do you think the outcome will be?"

The Crown Prince was shocked and quickly said, "Nephew understands."

Lin Yue nodded and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

[Hopefully, I won’t have to use all these amassed merits and can save them to upgrade the system.]

[But if we can quietly resolve this crisis, then when Mu Lixin rushes to destroy the evidence, we can trap him at the border. That would be a strategy to strike at the root.]

[Whether to kill Mu Lixin then depends on the Emperor and Xiao Jingyun’s decision.]

On the high walls, the Emperor’s eyes widened.

Could it really be solved this way?

Then the Crown Prince wouldn’t need to go to the border, and Mu Lixin wouldn’t be alerted prematurely.

Once the crisis was fully resolved, Prince Ding’s deterrent power would greatly increase, and Mu Lixin would be even more wary.

By then, the Emperor would have two trusted generals. What was there to fear from Mu Lixin?

The Emperor smiled, but in his excitement, he missed his footing.

With a crash, the latrine below collapsed.

Amidst broken tiles, Zhou Dahai gasped coldly, half unconscious: "Emperor… Your Highness… please leave… ah…"

The waste was about to overflow!