Perhaps because he had recently returned from the outside world and was not influenced by the internal turmoil in Shengjing, Chen An had a clear view of the current situation in Shengjing.
Although Shengjing appeared lively on the surface, those with real power were still present.
The Crown Prince and the Second Prince were engaged in intense conflict at the moment, but what would happen if the Emperor woke up?
After all, the Emperor was still the Emperor. As long as he was alive and able to issue commands, he was the deserved Emperor of Shengjing.
With the power of the royal family in the Emperor's hands, the Crown Prince and the Second Prince were nothing.
"I have only one question, how would the Emperor react if he woke up now and saw the current situation?" Chen An asked Cheng Zheng.
Cheng Zheng's eyes lit up.
Yes.
If the Emperor woke up and saw the intense fight between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince for the throne, it would not result in a happy reaction.
It would probably make him furious.
In that case, the two princes who seemed to have the advantage at the moment would be eliminated.
And if the Crown Prince and the Second Prince were out, who else would be left but him?
"Imagine this," Chen An continued, "If the Crown Prince and the Second Prince were fighting for the throne, while you, my lord, were leading the court officials to manage affairs and support the overall situation, what would the Emperor's reaction be when he woke up?"
"Compared to the two princes fighting while the Emperor's life hung in the balance, your dedication to the country and your father would be highly commendable."
It's all about comparison.
In a situation where the Crown Prince and the Second Prince were fighting for the throne in a dirty way, Cheng Zheng's ability to manage affairs and show filial piety would stand out.
What would the Emperor think upon waking up to such a situation?
Surely, he would feel relieved.
And when the Crown Prince and the Second Prince missed their chance due to their actions, who would then claim the position of Crown Prince?
Cheng Zheng's eyes sparkled even more.
"Moreover, the Emperor may have already woken up and is silently observing the reactions of the princes in the court," Chen An added softly.
Cheng Zheng was taken aback.
Listening to Chen An's words, he instinctively wanted to refute them, thinking it was impossible.
When the Emperor was in a coma, he, as a prince, had visited him and could confirm that the Emperor was seriously injured, not pretending.
And in the past few months, the Emperor had not made any public appearances, which was a solid fact.
Chen An glanced at him, seemingly understanding his thoughts, and continued, "I don't know what you saw before or what you already know."
"Here's only one question," Chen An added, "If the Emperor really wants to deceive you and hide in the background, could you really tell?"
As his words sank in, Cheng Zheng broke out in a cold sweat.
Indeed, he couldn't be sure.
Not just him, but even the people in Shengjing, who could guarantee that the Emperor's apparent illness was not a well-masked disguise?
After considering Chen An's words, Cheng Zheng began to deliberate.
When Chen An proposed the first option, he had already stirred some interest in Cheng Zheng.
In secret, Cheng Zheng had already amassed a considerable amount of power, knowing that with this power and his past disguises, he had a good chance of emerging as the final victor.
By removing his two older brothers standing in his way, the throne would be within his reach.
However, Chen An's subsequent words made him hesitate.
As a prince striving to achieve great things, Cheng Zheng had analyzed his father's personality and actions in detail.
In his view, it was entirely plausible for the Emperor to feign death and observe from the sidelines.
If that were the case, choosing the first option might have unintended consequences.
While the Crown Prince and the Second Prince would lose their opportunity, if he engaged in the struggle and even ended up killing his brothers, wouldn't his actions be equally despicable?
If the Emperor awoke and witnessed everything, how would he react in the end?
On the other hand, if he didn't act and the Emperor had truly fallen critically ill due to the recent events, wouldn't he have missed his last chance in vain?
In that case, what would he do then?
Faced with these uncertainties, Cheng Zheng became increasingly hesitant, unable to make a decision easily.
This was perfectly normal.
Such crucial decisions were not easy to make, as one wrong step could be irreparable.
"Chen An, what do you think?" After much hesitation, Cheng Zheng turned to Chen An, hoping for a response, "Just tell me what to do."
"I'll follow your lead."
Cheng Zheng had always believed in Chen An's abilities, and this was one of the reasons why he was so eager to hear Chen An's reply.
In the midst of this crucial decision, he looked to Chen An for an answer, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Under Cheng Zheng's expectant gaze, Chen An remained silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "When it comes to decisions that you, my lord, cannot make, I am in the same boat."
"However, no matter what you decide, the priority now is to communicate with the court officials and maintain the current situation."
Chen An was not bold enough to make decisions for his master.
After all, if things turned out well, that would be good, but if they failed, whose responsibility would it be?
This decision was one that only Cheng Zheng could make.
"Exactly," Cheng Zheng nodded as he listened to Chen An, fully agreeing with him.
Regardless of whether he would engage in the princes' fight or seek the Emperor's favor, gaining the support of the court officials and maintaining the current situation was essential.
On one hand, it would strengthen his power and leverage, making the Crown Prince and the Second Prince take him more seriously. On the other hand, maintaining the overall situation would also require the assistance of these court officials.
"I don't know how to make a specific choice, but someone definitely does," Chen An said with a smile.
"Oh?" Cheng Zheng's eyes brightened, "Who?"
"The Fourth Princess."
As Cheng Zheng eagerly looked at him, Chen An mentioned a name.
In just a few days, the atmosphere in Shengjing seemed to have changed once again.
Conflict was erupting everywhere, with factions in the court and opposition in every corner.
The Crown Prince and the Second Prince's factions were fighting everywhere, turning Shengjing into a powder keg.
In this situation, the entire court was paralyzed, with many affairs left unattended.
After all, at this critical moment, everyone was focused on vying for the throne, neglecting the usual small matters.
In an adjacent city to Shengjing, floods had occurred recently, sweeping through several areas and causing displaced residents.
However, the court officials were too busy with their power struggle to notice or care about these small matters.
In the end, it was Cheng Zheng, the Third Prince, who took the lead, providing aid to the flood victims, repairing the river channels, and managing the flood.
The actions of the Third Prince, especially in contrast to the Crown Prince and Second Prince, who were only concerned with vying for the throne, were highly praised.
It was all about the contrast.
Sometimes, you didn't need to do exceptionally well; you just had to do better than your competitors.
Cheng Zheng easily gained a reputation in such a way, without arousing suspicion from others.
At the same time, Chen An was taking action.
"Don't cry, Your Highness," Chen An comforted the Fourth Princess softly inside the carriage during the rain.
In front of him, the Fourth Princess was quietly sobbing, burying herself in Chen An's embrace.
While he held the Fourth Princess, feeling both pity and heartache, Chen An's actions were not as smooth as Cheng Zheng's.
Initially, Chen An and Cheng Zheng had intended to use the Fourth Princess's situation to understand the Emperor's true condition.
It seemed like a good plan.
As everyone knew, the Fourth Princess was the Emperor's most beloved daughter.
Therefore, in such a situation, being so pampered by the Emperor but currently ignored by others, the Fourth Princess would likely know some specific details.
Chen An believed that he could understand a lot from the Fourth Princess's reactions.
However, upon real contact, he realized he had overestimated the situation.
While the Fourth Princess was indeed the Emperor's most beloved daughter, she didn't even have the qualification to enter the palace in the current circumstances.
Outside the palace, there were a large number of guards posted, mostly sent by the Crown Prince and the Second Prince.
Although the two were competing, they surprisingly had a tacit understanding on certain matters. As soon as they revealed their intention to claim the throne, they sent people to the palace to control the Emperor and wield his authority.
However, it turned out that their rivals had the same idea.
Thus, the two of them ended up in a stalemate.
In Shengjing, the power of the two princes was strong, but they were still in a balanced state where neither could overpower the other.
Ultimately, they had to join forces to surround the palace and prevent each other from sending people inside.
[End of Chapter]
Perhaps because he had recently returned from the outside world and was not influenced by the internal turmoil in Shengjing, Chen An had a clear view of the current situation in Shengjing.
Although Shengjing appeared lively on the surface, those with real power were still present.
The Crown Prince and the Second Prince were engaged in intense conflict at the moment, but what would happen if the Emperor woke up?
After all, the Emperor was still the Emperor. As long as he was alive and able to issue commands, he was the deserved Emperor of Shengjing.
With the power of the royal family in the Emperor's hands, the Crown Prince and the Second Prince were nothing.
"I have only one question, how would the Emperor react if he woke up now and saw the current situation?" Chen An asked Cheng Zheng.
Cheng Zheng's eyes lit up.
Yes.
If the Emperor woke up and saw the intense fight between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince for the throne, it would not result in a happy reaction.
It would probably make him furious.
In that case, the two princes who seemed to have the advantage at the moment would be eliminated.
And if the Crown Prince and the Second Prince were out, who else would be left but him?
"Imagine this," Chen An continued, "If the Crown Prince and the Second Prince were fighting for the throne, while you, my lord, were leading the court officials to manage affairs and support the overall situation, what would the Emperor's reaction be when he woke up?"
"Compared to the two princes fighting while the Emperor's life hung in the balance, your dedication to the country and your father would be highly commendable."
It's all about comparison.
In a situation where the Crown Prince and the Second Prince were fighting for the throne in a dirty way, Cheng Zheng's ability to manage affairs and show filial piety would stand out.
What would the Emperor think upon waking up to such a situation?
Surely, he would feel relieved.
And when the Crown Prince and the Second Prince missed their chance due to their actions, who would then claim the position of Crown Prince?
Cheng Zheng's eyes sparkled even more.
"Moreover, the Emperor may have already woken up and is silently observing the reactions of the princes in the court," Chen An added softly.
Cheng Zheng was taken aback.
Listening to Chen An's words, he instinctively wanted to refute them, thinking it was impossible.
When the Emperor was in a coma, he, as a prince, had visited him and could confirm that the Emperor was seriously injured, not pretending.
And in the past few months, the Emperor had not made any public appearances, which was a solid fact.
Chen An glanced at him, seemingly understanding his thoughts, and continued, "I don't know what you saw before or what you already know."
"Here's only one question," Chen An added, "If the Emperor really wants to deceive you and hide in the background, could you really tell?"
As his words sank in, Cheng Zheng broke out in a cold sweat.
Indeed, he couldn't be sure.
Not just him, but even the people in Shengjing, who could guarantee that the Emperor's apparent illness was not a well-masked disguise?
After considering Chen An's words, Cheng Zheng began to deliberate.
When Chen An proposed the first option, he had already stirred some interest in Cheng Zheng.
In secret, Cheng Zheng had already amassed a considerable amount of power, knowing that with this power and his past disguises, he had a good chance of emerging as the final victor.
By removing his two older brothers standing in his way, the throne would be within his reach.
However, Chen An's subsequent words made him hesitate.
As a prince striving to achieve great things, Cheng Zheng had analyzed his father's personality and actions in detail.
In his view, it was entirely plausible for the Emperor to feign death and observe from the sidelines.
If that were the case, choosing the first option might have unintended consequences.
While the Crown Prince and the Second Prince would lose their opportunity, if he engaged in the struggle and even ended up killing his brothers, wouldn't his actions be equally despicable?
If the Emperor awoke and witnessed everything, how would he react in the end?
On the other hand, if he didn't act and the Emperor had truly fallen critically ill due to the recent events, wouldn't he have missed his last chance in vain?
In that case, what would he do then?
Faced with these uncertainties, Cheng Zheng became increasingly hesitant, unable to make a decision easily.
This was perfectly normal.
Such crucial decisions were not easy to make, as one wrong step could be irreparable.
"Chen An, what do you think?" After much hesitation, Cheng Zheng turned to Chen An, hoping for a response, "Just tell me what to do."
"I'll follow your lead."
Cheng Zheng had always believed in Chen An's abilities, and this was one of the reasons why he was so eager to hear Chen An's reply.
In the midst of this crucial decision, he looked to Chen An for an answer, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Under Cheng Zheng's expectant gaze, Chen An remained silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "When it comes to decisions that you, my lord, cannot make, I am in the same boat."
"However, no matter what you decide, the priority now is to communicate with the court officials and maintain the current situation."
Chen An was not bold enough to make decisions for his master.
After all, if things turned out well, that would be good, but if they failed, whose responsibility would it be?
This decision was one that only Cheng Zheng could make.
"Exactly," Cheng Zheng nodded as he listened to Chen An, fully agreeing with him.
Regardless of whether he would engage in the princes' fight or seek the Emperor's favor, gaining the support of the court officials and maintaining the current situation was essential.
On one hand, it would strengthen his power and leverage, making the Crown Prince and the Second Prince take him more seriously. On the other hand, maintaining the overall situation would also require the assistance of these court officials.
"I don't know how to make a specific choice, but someone definitely does," Chen An said with a smile.
"Oh?" Cheng Zheng's eyes brightened, "Who?"
"The Fourth Princess."
As Cheng Zheng eagerly looked at him, Chen An mentioned a name.
In just a few days, the atmosphere in Shengjing seemed to have changed once again.
Conflict was erupting everywhere, with factions in the court and opposition in every corner.
The Crown Prince and the Second Prince's factions were fighting everywhere, turning Shengjing into a powder keg.
In this situation, the entire court was paralyzed, with many affairs left unattended.
After all, at this critical moment, everyone was focused on vying for the throne, neglecting the usual small matters.
In an adjacent city to Shengjing, floods had occurred recently, sweeping through several areas and causing displaced residents.
However, the court officials were too busy with their power struggle to notice or care about these small matters.
In the end, it was Cheng Zheng, the Third Prince, who took the lead, providing aid to the flood victims, repairing the river channels, and managing the flood.
The actions of the Third Prince, especially in contrast to the Crown Prince and Second Prince, who were only concerned with vying for the throne, were highly praised.
It was all about the contrast.
Sometimes, you didn't need to do exceptionally well; you just had to do better than your competitors.
Cheng Zheng easily gained a reputation in such a way, without arousing suspicion from others.
At the same time, Chen An was taking action.
"Don't cry, Your Highness," Chen An comforted the Fourth Princess softly inside the carriage during the rain.
In front of him, the Fourth Princess was quietly sobbing, burying herself in Chen An's embrace.
While he held the Fourth Princess, feeling both pity and heartache, Chen An's actions were not as smooth as Cheng Zheng's.
Initially, Chen An and Cheng Zheng had intended to use the Fourth Princess's situation to understand the Emperor's true condition.
It seemed like a good plan.
As everyone knew, the Fourth Princess was the Emperor's most beloved daughter.
Therefore, in such a situation, being so pampered by the Emperor but currently ignored by others, the Fourth Princess would likely know some specific details.
Chen An believed that he could understand a lot from the Fourth Princess's reactions.
However, upon real contact, he realized he had overestimated the situation.
While the Fourth Princess was indeed the Emperor's most beloved daughter, she didn't even have the qualification to enter the palace in the current circumstances.
Outside the palace, there were a large number of guards posted, mostly sent by the Crown Prince and the Second Prince.
Although the two were competing, they surprisingly had a tacit understanding on certain matters. As soon as they revealed their intention to claim the throne, they sent people to the palace to control the Emperor and wield his authority.
However, it turned out that their rivals had the same idea.
Thus, the two of them ended up in a stalemate.
In Shengjing, the power of the two princes was strong, but they were still in a balanced state where neither could overpower the other.
Ultimately, they had to join forces to surround the palace and prevent each other from sending people inside.
[End of Chapter]
