Quick Transmigration: Leisure

Chapter 394 The Runaway Princess is Forcibly Taken Away (43)

Beijing,

Things are changing.

As the thirty-eighth year of the reign of Emperor Xi Jia arrived, too many "unexpected" events occurred. The excitement never ceased, and the various noble families no longer had the energy to inquire about the mundane daily lives of any merchant's daughter. Everyone was on tenterhooks, waiting to see who would ultimately claim the throne.

Anyway, the older ones have no hope.

The powerful families to whom he was attached were thrown into turmoil, panicking and fearing that if they arrived too late, their new masters would refuse to accept them.

This was a scene unimaginable in the past few decades, and even the old emperor himself allowed it to continue.

Let them fight to the death! Anyway, his supreme life is about to end. He's used to being manipulated and has little real father-son affection left. He might as well give way to the final winner.

At the very least, the fact that he made a show of mystery could be considered a sign of Emperor Xi Jia's brilliance.

The trigger for the incident was deliberately buried, not because no one cared, but because everyone wanted to wait until they came to power before settling accounts.

But many more people didn't get the chance.

......

Xia Youmi and Chunyu Xi have been separated since they returned to Jiangnan from Qizhou and have never seen each other again.

However, the ups and downs are inextricably linked to them.

When Chunyu Xi was summoned back to the capital by Chunyu Huai, he should have been punished. However, unexpectedly, during the journey to the capital, important news came from the personnel stationed at the rest stops: a powerful gunpowder had appeared.

Chunyu Xi dared not delay and immediately took the items and the relevant personnel back to the capital, secretly handing them over to Chunyu Huai for disposal.

and,

This discovery made Chunyu Huai forget about those past grievances.

The disappearance of a princess and the younger brother's secret desires, controlled by love, are not as important as his major affairs.

However, the fourteenth prince was excluded from the list of those who knew about the use of gunpowder, which was a punishment that was neither too severe nor too lenient.

He was also assigned to run errands, maintaining contact between his brother and his subordinates, and collecting and summarizing information. At least, the trust between the brothers remained. Chunyu Xi tactfully followed the plan, handing over all the people in Jiangnan to Chunyu Huai's faction without reservation.

The only emotional vulnerability he displayed was his disgust at his sister-in-law's enthusiasm for finding him suitable partners. This was taboo, and he couldn't afford to offend her.

As long as the elder brother allows him to freely choose where his heart belongs, he is a good and obedient younger brother.

Thus, Chunyu Huai controlled everything, and even speculated about who that person was—just a merchant's daughter, not worth it at all.

Young people are easily influenced and stimulated, leading them to act impulsively.

However, for him, someone with a weakness is easier to deal with.

then,

Thanks to Chunyu Xi's efforts, the first demonstration of gunpowder went incredibly smoothly. The demonstration was arranged in the suburbs, and those who had heard rumors early on were eager to get involved.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, he managed to injure four of his competitors in one fell swoop.

And everyone has a reason to perfectly evade Chunyu Huai's responsibility in this matter.

Even the old emperor did not punish him, but instead formally handed over the research and development to the fourth prince.

The princes who were injured were not without anger. However, they were determined to strike while the enemy was down, led by some who had been watching them for a long time. This overturned the plan that the fourth, fifth, and sixth princes, along with the older princes, would inevitably occupy high positions.

Among these arguments, the most powerful one is that his disability prevents him from shouldering great responsibilities.

None of the princes who were affected died, but they all had scars on their bodies.

It's beyond what can be concealed, unless one wears a veil for their entire life and never shows themselves to others.

During the prosperous reign of Emperor Xijia, there was no shortage of princes.

Even if the older generation retires, there are still dozens of people who can take their place.

As one of the most competitive older members, Chunyu Huai felt both proud and wary. He knew the pressure was immense, yet he too was just one step away from that person.

Therefore, after the incident of the prince being injured by the bomb, Qi Gui was quickly recalled, and the drug trial process was slowed down.

He must be guaranteed the safest and fastest treatment when needed.

However, he was unaware that Qi Gui had met another master on the way. Despite all his calculations, he ultimately underestimated the influence women had on him; it wasn't just about keeping them as pets to provide family resources. It could also mean utter ruin.

Chunyu Huai really put a lot of effort into gunpowder.

In the previous dynasty's border regions, he had meticulously planned every detail, but this unexpected gain was the only one worth studying. If successful, it would even help him achieve his ambition of territorial expansion ahead of schedule.

The thought of his youthful ambitions ignited a fire within him.

He was even somewhat obsessed with it, until his younger brother came to visit and noticed that his condition was not quite right.

He then earnestly reminded his elder brother, "Brother, you must not let your guard down."

Chunyu Huai snapped out of his reverie and began to consider how to utilize his current achievements to pave the way for his rise to power.

November marks the emperor's birthday.

At that time, Emperor Xi Jia would prop himself up and inspect the surroundings.

This is a good opportunity for the princes to showcase their talents.

During this period, Chunyu Huai conducted numerous gunpowder experiments to ensure both the devastating power and the safe operating range. He then reported the results, aiming to demonstrate my country's power on that day.

The remarkable achievements were recorded in the political record of Emperor Xijia.

This is a risky move, but the chances of winning are high.

I wouldn't share this with my father unless I was exceptionally open-minded.

Who wouldn't want to be a protagonist in history, but Chunyu Huai preferred to remain in a low position for the time being in order to uphold Emperor Xijia's final decree.

This move indeed made the old emperor think more highly of him. In fact, the edict of succession was already drafted, and he was just waiting to receive the final glorious resounding victory on the emperor's birthday.

Those in the Fourth Prince's faction who knew the inside story were full of confidence, and families such as the Shu and Situ families stood tall.

Even those who wanted to indirectly get involved through the Fourteenth Prince's harem.

They all started looking for ways to curry favor with the Fourth Prince, and in no time, the benefits promised to Shu Yan were overwhelming.

after all,

Everyone knows that a prince's harem is nothing compared to the emperor's harem.

Families that sense the changing winds should seize the opportunity early; the more cautious the Fourth Prince is now, the more correct his choice will be.

Meanwhile, their opponents were prepared to die in the end.

If Chunyu Huai wants to bring him down in a grand and glorious way, the best strategy is to act cautiously and reassure his thousands of subordinates.

On the Emperor's birthday, after completing all the ceremonies, Emperor Xijia, along with all the princes, historians, painters, and some important officials, arrived at the place where Chunyu Huai had prepared the offerings.

That place happened to be the hill that Chunyu Xi had bought from Xia Youmi.

However, it had long since belonged to Chunyu Huai.

The stands were set up far away, but it wasn't a problem to get a clear view of the big scene below.

Having undergone several rehearsals, Chunyu Huai was chosen to lead the opening act, and he was surrounded by numerous guards, including his younger brother Chunyu Xi. He rode a horse, holding a torch, and lit the fuse.

Those on the stage only saw the towering flames and the glory of the Xi Dynasty!

Emperor Xi Jia was overjoyed.

Little did they know that in the corner affected by the blast, Chunyu Huai, in order to "protect" his younger brother, was covered in black spots on his face and body from the explosion.

But in order not to affect the fortune, just like many years ago when the emperor did not want to be tainted by a stillborn child after a Pyrrhic victory.

This matter was quietly buried.

Only his confidants, Chunyu Xi, Qi Gui, and others knew the truth.

Thanks to the timely administration of medication, Chunyu Huai was still able to make clear-headed plans and quickly decided to promote his younger brother to the throne.

Chunyu Xi was forced to accept, but everything still depended on his elder brother to make the decision.

"What a rational and shrewd leader, daring to give up and daring to gain," Xia Youmi commented.