stjorthotic Chapter 409 The Crown Prince's Battlefield
Chapter 409 The Crown Prince's Battlefield
Cen Yin then warned, "Prince Xun is trying to sow discord among the princes."
Shen Shixi said, "This can also be considered an open strategy."
Shen Shixi didn't care whether it was done or not; she didn't need to spend any money or effort, it was just a matter of giving an order.
But Li Yuanke didn't want to do it. "Do what? Do they think I don't know what they're thinking? Do they think I've spoiled them?"
Even without Dongjun, there are still Fuguang and Wangshu, which one of them wouldn't be able to become the crown prince?
The eldest son should be ranked first. Since ancient times, "the eldest son should be established as heir, not the most virtuous; the son should be established as heir, not the eldest."
Shen Shixi couldn't be bothered to care, since it wasn't her child anyway.
When the Third Prince returned, he told his birth mother, Li Sihe, "What Brother Xun said makes sense. Among the princes, only the legitimate sons born to the Empress Dowager have the opportunity to show their faces in public. The Second Prince was promoted by the Empress Dowager because his birth mother was a disgraced concubine. Even if all the princes died, it might not be his turn to succeed to the throne."
"Where do our subjects remember us? Now is a good opportunity. My brother, Prince Xun, even said that we should have done this last year."
Last year I was ten years old (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning), this year I am ten years old (by actual age reckoning), but I am already eleven years old (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning).
"At ten years old, a person is called a child and begins to learn. At twenty, a person is called a child and begins to be capped." This is a quote from the Book of Rites.
The next day, Li Sihe rushed over to request an audience with the Empress.
Li Yuanke went to court. Shen Shixi, along with Fuguang and Wangshu, knew what she meant and wanted to hear what she had to say, so she let her in.
Li Sihe was extremely courteous and respectful. After exchanging a few greetings with the Empress and praising Fuguang and Wangshu, she went straight to the point, "Your Majesty, I know you are busy every day, so I won't take up any more of your time. I have something important to ask you."
Shen Shixi had her two sons, one on each side, while Fu Guang leaned against his mother's chest. Wang Shu leaned against his mother, crossed his legs, and tapped his toes. Shen Shixi patted his leg, and he finally took it down.
Wang Shu looked at Li Sihe with a playful and mischievous expression, much like the Crown Prince.
Fu Guang, on the other hand, seemed more honest and obedient, as if he were simply listening to his elders.
"Just say what you have to say!" Shen Shixi said.
Li Sihe said, "Yesterday, the Third Prince and a few others went to the Prince of Xun's residence. When the Third Prince came back, he told me that it was the Prince of Xun who reminded him that the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince are now ten years old."
Children from ordinary families would have a coming-of-age ceremony at this age. I think the royal children can't be inferior to the children of commoners!
Shen Shixi smiled and said, "What you say makes sense. I will consider it."
Shen Shixi didn't tell Li Yuanke about this. She told her son after the Crown Prince and Xihe returned, asking, "What do you suggest we do?"
The crown prince was still young, but he was clever. He asked, "Mother, why do my third brother and the others insist on holding this 'coming-of-age ceremony'?"
What are they after?
Shen Shixi then asked, "You see Wang Shu and Fu Guang are always fighting. What are they arguing about?"
Xihe said, "Wangshu is very bad. Whenever he sees Father holding us, he runs over to snatch us. He can't beat me and my eldest brother, so he can only bully my second brother."
"Xihe is very clever!" Shen Shixi encouraged his daughter. "You only have one father, so while the four of you will certainly compete for him, your third brother and the others are also your father's sons. Shouldn't they also compete?"
Dongjun nodded, "Yes."
Shen Shixi said, "Dongjun doesn't understand this because he doesn't know that there's a ceremony called 'Vermilion Wisdom Opening' in the Coming-of-Age Ceremony. It's said that the teacher uses vermilion to dot a red mark on the child's forehead, symbolizing the opening of wisdom, bright eyes and clear mind, and a love of learning and progress..."
Dongjun's eyes lit up. "Mother, I know! My third and fourth brothers want Father to give them some cinnabar?"
They also want to vie for the throne!
That makes things much easier!
Shen Shixi smiled and nodded, watching Dongjun and her sister walk hand in hand into the side hall to discuss their plans.
Shen Shixi didn't care.
The next day, Yan Xuegu, the tutor of Chongxian Hall, and Lu Shixun, the Minister of Rites, jointly requested an audience with the Emperor and Empress. Li Yuanke took Fuguang and Wangshu to play in the Imperial Garden, and Shen Shixi received the two.
After the ceremony, Yan Xuegu said, "Your Majesty the Empress, today the Crown Prince gave me an imperial decree, ordering me to choose an auspicious day to hold the 'Coming-of-Age Ceremony' for the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince, and also ordering me to perform the 'Vermilion Wisdom Opening Ceremony' for the two of them."
"The appointment of the Crown Prince is not something I should question; however, the Crown Prince is young, and I cannot fail to report this to Your Majesty and the Empress."
Lu Shixun also said, "The Crown Prince also instructed me, so I came here with Scholar Yan."
Shen Shixi said, "The Crown Prince has already informed me of this matter. Originally, the Emperor did not intend to do it, but the Crown Prince respects his elder brother. Since he has entrusted the matter to you two, you should follow the Crown Prince's orders."
The two men accepted the decree. Lu Shixun inquired about the matters concerning etiquette. Shen Shixi's idea was that the Emperor would not attend the ceremony, so everything should be kept simple. Members of the imperial clan could be invited to attend.
As for who to invite, since the Emperor and Empress didn't say, Lu Shixun wouldn't care. He would just send a message to the imperial clan members later, letting them decide whether to come or not.
When Li Yuanke returned, Shen Shixi told him about it. He was very interested and wanted to see how the Crown Prince would arrange things.
When school was over, the Crown Prince and his sister were preparing to return to the palace when they encountered Prince Xun at the entrance of Chongxian Hall. Prince Xun was talking to the Third Prince and inquiring about the "coming-of-age ceremony".
His aim was to sow discord among the emperor's sons. Upon seeing the crown prince, he addressed him as "Crown Prince" in front of the third prince, bowing respectfully. This was mainly for the princes' benefit, saying, "Your subject greets Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
Almost no one in the palace bowed to the Crown Prince, as his mother hadn't requested it, but the Crown Prince wasn't intimidated. He now knew his place. "No need for formalities!"
King Xun was taken aback for a moment. After thanking him, he stood up and secretly sized up the crown prince. His age and demeanor were completely inconsistent. He had to admit that this child was not to be underestimated.
"Your Highness, I just asked about the Third Prince's coming-of-age ceremony. Your Highness should know that your third brother has turned ten this year and should have the ceremony according to the rules. This is a custom among the common people. If the royal children lack proper etiquette, it may be detrimental to the Empress's reputation."
The Crown Prince laughed and asked, "Does the Prince of Xun mean that someone is speaking ill of my mother?"
The Prince of Xun was taken aback again, and hurriedly said, "I have not heard of that. I was only thinking of Her Majesty the Empress."
The Crown Prince nodded solemnly, "That's good! On behalf of the Empress Dowager, I thank Prince Xun!"
As he was about to leave, the Prince of Xun hurriedly asked, "Your Highness, regarding the 'Coming-of-Age Ceremony,' please inquire with Her Majesty the Empress. If you encounter any difficulties, I will request permission from the Emperor at the court assembly."
Xihe could tell from the hint that this was an attempt to sow discord between her mother and brother.
The siblings exchanged a glance, and the Crown Prince stepped closer. "Prince Xun is truly good to my third and fourth brothers. Is this what our teachers meant by brotherly love and respect?"
Xihe said, "Brother, we should learn from King Xun."
The Crown Prince said earnestly, "I understand, sister! Third brother, fourth brother, leave your coming-of-age ceremonies to me. I will find a way to make sure they are handled well!"
He patted his chest.
The Prince of Xun and the Third and Fourth Princes all thought that the Crown Prince meant he would talk to the Empress about this matter, and that the Empress would agree out of respect for the Crown Prince. Little did they know that the Crown Prince was already handling the matter in his own way.
Three days later, without even the Imperial Observatory intervening, Yan Xuegu chose a weekend off and, under Lu Shixun's arrangement at the Chongxian Hall, the coming-of-age ceremonies of the Third and Fourth Princes were held simply, witnessed by their peers, juniors, and several noble children.