The Pretty Wife of General Jinxiu Huanian

Chapter 101 The Princes Fight for the Throne

Yunxi and the prince had just returned to the Marquis' Mansion. Before they had time to sit down on the chair and drink the hot tea, they heard a hurried sound of footsteps like the sound of a gong.

"Prince, Princess, something bad has happened!" Butler Li Fu rushed in like a headless fly, with beads of sweat on his forehead pouring down like rain.

Yunxi frowned, looking unhappy: "Li Fu, please speak slowly, what's going on?"

Li Fu supported his knees with his hands, breathing heavily, and his words were incoherent: "The... the people from the eldest prince's palace came to tell me that the eldest prince is hosting a banquet tonight, and His Majesty must be invited to come."

The prince snorted coldly, his face darkening as the bottom of a pot. "This eldest prince, why would he choose this time to hold a banquet? What good intentions could he have?"

Yunxi came up to the prince and said anxiously, "Prince, what should we do now?"

The prince narrowed his eyes and paced back and forth in the room a few times, his fists clenched tightly. After a moment of contemplation, he gritted his teeth and said, "Go, I want to see what he's up to."

After saying this, the prince flicked his sleeves and strode out. Yunxi hurriedly followed, straightening her clothes as she walked.

Li Fu called out from behind, "Prince, Princess, I will prepare a carriage for you."

The prince said without turning his head: "Hurry up!"

Li Fu ran to make arrangements quickly, and soon the carriage stopped at the door.

The prince got on the carriage first, and Yunxi was supported by the maid and stepped on the pedals to get on the carriage.

As night fell, the prince brought Yunxi to the eldest prince's mansion.

The palace was brightly lit and bustling with activity.

The eldest prince, Li Mingxuan, was dressed in gorgeous clothes. Seeing the prince and Yunxi, a smile spread across his face: "Prince, Princess, please come in quickly."

The smile looked friendly, but upon closer inspection, it seemed a little fake.

Yunxi looked up at Li Mingxuan and saw that he was tall and strong, with a shrewd look in his eyes.

The gold thread embroidered on his gorgeous clothes sparkled in the candlelight, and the jade crown on his head was extremely valuable, making him look extremely wealthy.

Entering the main hall, it was already filled with court officials. Li Mingxuan raised his glass and said, "I've invited you all here today, firstly to get together, and secondly to discuss important matters."

The prince snorted inwardly, thinking, "Hmph, it sounds nice, but it's all for your throne!"

But he didn't show any expression on his face, just nodded slightly.

Li Mingxuan continued, "Now that my father is seriously ill, the throne cannot remain vacant.

This prince believes that I am capable of inheriting the throne, and I hope for your support."

As he said this, his chin raised slightly, his eyes full of confidence and eagerness.

Lord Chen beside him quickly echoed: "The eldest prince is wise and powerful, and he will surely lead us to prosperity."

This Mr. Chen was short and fat. He was hunching over while speaking, and the fat on his face trembled. His fawning look made people feel sick.

The prince remained silent, drinking quietly. He sat with one hand resting on his lap, his fingers tapping intermittently, his face gloomy enough to drip water.

Yunxi looked around. Everyone had different expressions. Some looked flattering, while others looked embarrassed.

Those who were fawning kept nodding and bowing, saying flattering words; those who looked embarrassed lowered their heads and glanced at Li Mingxuan from time to time, as if they were afraid of being noticed.

At this time, the second prince Li Minglang and a group of people rushed in. Li Minglang walked in with a straight body and bright eyes, and the people following behind him also had serious expressions.

"Brother, you are committing a serious taboo by privately winning over ministers!"

Li Minglang glared at him, as if he wanted to eat Li Mingxuan.

Li Mingxuan stood up, spread his hands, and said loudly: "Second brother, what are you talking about?

I'm doing this for the sake of the court." His voice sounded a bit boastful.

Li Minglang sneered, took a few steps forward, pointed at Li Mingxuan and said, "For the sake of the court?

I think you are doing this for your own ambition!"

The two of them were arguing with each other.

Yunxi whispered to the prince, "Prince, what should we do?"

He looked like that, with his brows furrowed and his eyes full of anxiety and worry.

The prince shook his head slightly, signaling her not to speak. He frowned slightly, his eyes were deep, his lips were tightly closed, and his expression was serious.

At this moment, the third prince, Li Mingzhi, also arrived. He was dressed in a light blue robe, a jade belt around his waist, and spotless boots.

With a faint smile on his fair face, he said, "Two brothers, why do you have to quarrel like this? It hurts the harmony."

His voice was gentle, but his eyes were full of shrewdness.

Li Mingxuan glared at him, his eyes wide open, the veins on his forehead bulging, and he shouted, "Third brother, stop pretending!"

Li Mingzhi's expression changed, and his originally fair face instantly turned red. He gritted his teeth and said, "Brother, what you said is really unpleasant."

For a moment, the mansion was in chaos.

Yunxi saw that Li Mingxuan's face was bulging with veins and his eyes were as big as copper bells. He looked as if he wanted to eat someone.

Li Minglang waved his arms and shouted loudly, with saliva flying out of his mouth.

Li Mingzhi watched coldly from the side, his hands folded across his chest, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, revealing a hint of disdain.

The ministers were all whispering to each other, unsure of what to do. Some lowered their heads, frowning and shaking them from time to time; others craned their necks, glancing back and forth between the three princes; and still others huddled together, whispering quietly, their faces filled with fear.

Suddenly, Li Mingxuan pointed at Li Minglang and said, "Second brother, don't think I don't know what you've been doing behind my back."

As he spoke, his finger almost poked Li Minglang's nose.

Li Minglang replied, "Brother, stop slandering me!" He waved Li Mingxuan's hand away, took a step forward, leaned forward, and made a gesture as if he was about to take action.

As they spoke, the two men were about to fight. Seeing this, the prince stood up with a jerk, stretched out his hands, and shouted, "My two princes, don't be impulsive."

Li Mingxuan turned his head, stared at the prince fiercely, and asked loudly: "Prince, who do you think should sit on the throne?"

The prince said: "This matter needs to be carefully considered. We should not be so reckless."

Li Minglang said, "Your Majesty, please don't be partial to my elder brother."

He shouted so loudly that his eyes almost popped out, his face turned red, and the veins on his neck throbbed.

Yunxi couldn't help but say, "My two princes, the emperor is seriously ill now. Instead of thinking about how to take care of him, you are fighting for the throne. How disgraceful!"

Her brows were furrowed, her eyes were filled with anger and disappointment, and her hands were tightly clenched around the handkerchief.

Li Mingxuan shouted angrily: "You have no right to speak here!" As he said that, he raised his hand to slap Yunxi, as if he wanted to eat her.

The prince quickly protected Yunxi behind him and said seriously, "Prince, the princess was also anxious for a moment."

At this moment, Li Mingzhi's eyes rolled around, and he stepped forward and said, "Why don't we go check on Father's condition first, and then make a decision."

He had a seemingly sincere smile on his face, but that smile also revealed a sense of shrewdness.

Everyone agreed.

So, a group of people marched towards the palace. Along the way, Li Minglang walked briskly, his feet flying, and he kept muttering something.

Li Mingxuan held his head high and chest puffed out, with a look of pride on his face, as if the throne was already in his pocket.

Li Mingzhi was neither hurried nor slow, and the expression on his face was unreadable.

When they arrived at the palace, the queen was standing by the emperor's bedside with a worried look on her face, her eyes swollen from crying, and her hair a little messy.

After everyone saluted, Li Mingxuan couldn't wait to ask, "Mother, how is Father's condition?"

That anxious look doesn't show that she cares about the emperor, but that she is clearly thinking about the throne.

The queen said, "There's still no improvement." Her voice was filled with deep fatigue and helplessness.

Li Mingxuan then said, "Mother, this matter of the throne..."

The Queen glared at him fiercely and interrupted him: "Why are you talking about this now? Let's wait until the Emperor recovers."

Everyone had no choice but to leave the bedroom.

After leaving the palace, the three princes started arguing again.

Li Mingxuan pointed at Li Minglang's nose and cursed loudly: "You ignorant thing, you dare to compete with me for the throne!"

Li Minglang was not to be outdone. He jumped up and down and shouted, "Brother, don't think you are so great. The throne might be mine!"

Li Mingzhi fanned the flames: "Brothers, please don't damage the harmony. Let's take a long-term view."

But the look in his eyes clearly showed that he was laughing at the joke.

Yunxi looked at the chaotic scene, stamping her feet anxiously, tears welling up in her eyes. She thought to herself, "What's going on? The court is really going to be in chaos."

The prince pulled Yunxi and said, "Madam, let's go back home first." After that, he pulled Yunxi away, his steps were quick and hurried.

Returning to the Marquis' Mansion, Yunxi said, "My Lord, what should we do?

The three princes are fighting like this, and the court is likely to be in chaos."

The prince said, "Madam, don't worry. Let's wait and see."

In the next few days, the fighting among the princes became more and more intense.

The eldest prince Li Mingxuan spent the whole day with his belly sticking out and walking with his legs spread wide, shouting and yelling in the court to win over the people's hearts.

The fat on his face trembled as he spoke, and his small eyes rolled around, full of calculation.

Whenever he saw a useful minister, he would approach him with a smile on his face, pat him on the shoulder, and promise him some benefits that he was not sure whether he could fulfill.

As for the second prince, Li Minglang, he was working in secret, instructing a group of lackeys to collect evidence on the eldest prince.

His pointed face and monkey cheeks revealed a sinister and vicious look.

His eyes are always narrowed into slits, and I don’t know what bad ideas he is thinking of.

The third prince Li Mingzhi was also busy. He wore gorgeous clothes, had a slicked-back hair and powdered face, and made friends with the powerful and influential everywhere.

When he sees the rich and powerful, he nods and fawns, his waist almost bent to the ground, and says a bunch of sweet words, coaxing people dizzy.

The streets and alleys of the capital were in chaos due to the struggle for the throne, and the people were in panic.

One day, Yunxi and the prince went out and saw a group of people arguing on the street.

"If the throne falls into the hands of the eldest prince, we will have a hard time."

A wrinkled, dark-skinned man shouted at the top of his voice, waving his arms as he spoke, his expression extremely angry.

"The second prince is no good either, he is cruel and ruthless." Another tall and thin citizen retorted, his eyes wide open and his cheeks puffed up.

Yunxi and the prince looked at each other and shook their heads helplessly.

At this time, a mysterious man quietly approached the prince. This mysterious man was wearing a black robe, wrapping himself tightly, revealing only a pair of cunning eyes.

The prince asked cautiously, "Who is it?"

The mysterious man lowered his voice, as if it were squeezed out from the cracks in the ground: "You'll know when you see it."

The prince hesitated for a moment, frowned, gritted his teeth, and followed the mysterious man.

Yunxi stood there, twisting the handkerchief in her hands, her eyes full of worry, but she could only go back to the Marquis' Mansion and wait.

The prince was taken to a remote house, which was shabby and full of cobwebs.

There was a masked man sitting in the room, his figure looking a little hunched.

"Your Highness, how are you?" said the masked man, his voice hoarse as if it had been rubbed by sand.

The prince asked, "Who are you?"

The masked man slowly unveiled his veil, revealing himself to be Lord Wang, a senior official in the court.

Lord Wang had gray hair and wrinkles on his face so deep they could kill a fly, but his eyes still had some light.

Lord Wang said, "Your Majesty, the situation is chaotic now. You must step forward and take charge."

As he spoke, he slapped his thigh hard with his hand.

The prince said, "My Lord, I have no intention of participating in the struggle for the throne."

As he said this, he waved his hand and turned his back.

Lord Wang said, "Your Majesty, if you do not take action, the court will fall into the hands of treacherous people."

The prince fell into deep thought.