Chu Shaoling and Wei Ji stayed in bed together until noon. There was a constant stream of people outside looking for Chu Shaoling. Wang Muhan really couldn't handle it anymore and had no choice but to go inside the pavilion and persuade from behind the screen: "Your Highness, if you are awake, please get up and have some food."

Chu Shaoling pinched Wei Ji's earlobe and said lazily: "What do you want to eat? Tell them to go make it."

Wei Ji thought for a moment and said, "Tangerine peel rabbit meat and steamed ham."

Chu Shaoling pinched Wei Ji's earlobe again. "I'm asking what you want to eat, why are you ordering the dishes I like?"

Wei Ji smiled in embarrassment and said, "Braised duck feet then."

"Let's also have some quick-fried fish slices, and white jade meatball soup," Chu Shaoling sat up. "Did you get all that?"

Wang Muhan quickly responded from outside, "Yes, I got it all. Shall I have someone come in to serve?"

"No need, have them prepare the bath. We'll eat after washing up."

Wang Muhan acknowledged and left.

Chu Shaoling bathed together with Wei Ji, inevitably getting intimate again for a while. Wang Muhan urged them twice before the two finally came out from the bathroom. They ate in the inner room. Wang Muhan took this opportunity to quickly relay the people seeking an audience one by one. Chu Shaoling shook his head, "Send them all away, I won't see anyone."

Wang Muhan was stunned for a moment and said softly, "Among them is an envoy from the Minister of Justice..."

"I won't see him," Chu Shaoling interrupted. "There will likely be quite a few of these people in the next few days. Block them all and return any gifts."

Wang Muhan had no choice but to agree. He then said softly, "This morning, the Zijun Marquis Manor sent over several plates of seasonal fruits from their own gardens for Your Highness to taste. The messenger also said that the old Marquis will come over this evening, and Duke Jing'guo will also come if he can make it back in time."

Chu Shaoling nodded. "Understood."

Wang Muhan went to the gatehouse to relay Chu Shaoling's words. Wei Ji took a few bites of food and asked, "Why won't Your Highness see those people? Your Highness doesn't even know what matters they have yet."

"What other matters could there be?" Chu Shaoling sneered coldly. "It's either those who had dealings with Chu Shaomo in the past rushing to disassociate themselves, or those who see the princes falling one after another and are hurrying to curry favor. We never had any interactions before, but now they suddenly thought of me. Why should I see them?"

Wei Ji pursed his lips and said softly, "Even if Your Highness is too busy to see them, you could have Eunuch Wang or the other stewards receive them. Your Highness acting this way will easily attract criticism."

"My reputation is already bad, I'm not afraid of adding 'arrogant and aloof, looking down on the world' to it." Chu Shaoling chuckled. "It's very difficult to maintain an image of being considerate on all fronts in front of others, and the slightest misstep will attract gossip and ruin your reputation. But it's very easy to put on an air of not deigning to pay attention to anyone. If you show a bit of friendliness to someone, they would be pleasantly surprised and immensely grateful instead. Moreover, this makes people wary of you."

Chu Shaoling filled a small bowl of meatball soup for Wei Ji and placed it in front of him, mocking lightly, "Comparing the two, it's much easier being the bad guy."

Wei Ji hesitated, not knowing what to say. He knew Chu Shaoling wasn't entirely correct, but he couldn't refute him either. Deep down, Wei Ji also vaguely felt that what Chu Shaoling said wasn't really wrong.

In the past, Wei Ji would definitely have a lot to say, but not anymore. The closer he got to Chu Shaoling, the more he understood him. Chu Shaoling's way of dealing with the world was very extreme. Those who didn't understand him would say he was vicious and ruthless. But Wei Ji understood it all - Chu Shaoling's heart had been hardened by all those years of dissatisfaction.

Previously, Wei Ji also believed that one should maintain good intentions in all matters and be tolerant. But if Chu Shaoling was like that too, he would have likely been gnawed to the bone by those people long ago. If life was peaceful and good, who would want to add so much killing to their own life? Who wouldn't want to live their days in luxury and ease?

Wei Ji picked up a piece of tender braised duck foot and placed it in Chu Shaoling's bowl, then lowered his head and continued eating.

Seeing Wei Ji not saying anything, Chu Shaoling couldn't help teasing him. He laughed, "What's wrong? Shouldn't you be using your set of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and trust to persuade me at this time?"

Wei Ji shook his head. "The words of sages are used by emperors to educate others, so that those who listen to the teachings of sages cannot become emperors."

This resonated with Chu Shaoling's thoughts. Chu Shaoling smiled, "When did you start saying such things?"

Wei Ji used a small porcelain spoon to scoop up a meatball and ate it, saying blankly, "This is what Your Highness wrote in the Analects yourself. I happened to see it when reading. Did Your Highness forget?"

Chu Shaoling laughed, "When was that? I don't remember at all. It's been many years since I last read the Analects, but you actually saw it."

Wei Ji smiled, "I thought Your Highness' words were too extreme at the time, but now I feel there is some truth to them. That sentence was a bit taboo, so I erased it for Your Highness when I saw it while reading."

Chu Shaoling ruffled Wei Ji's hair. The two had a tacit understanding as they continued eating.

In the evening, Marquis Zijun indeed came as expected. Chu Shaoling led the old marquis into the inner study and said with a smile, "Grandfather, if there's any matter, you could have just sent someone with a message. There's no need to trouble yourself."

"No, it can't be clearly explained in a letter. This old official no longer fears attracting gossip. Some things still need to be discussed face-to-face with Your Highness." Marquis Zijun held his teacup for a long time without moving and said softly, "This old official discussed with Duke Jing'guo yesterday, and we both believe that it's time to start preparing your enthronement as crown prince."

Chu Shaoling paused and said, "How did Grandfather think of this?"

Marquis Zijun shook his head, "Your Highness must not be careless. His Majesty's health is slightly unwell. At this time, we officials should be requesting to establish the crown prince. Now, the Second Prince is under house arrest in the Tanghe Palace to reflect on his mistakes, the Third Prince has already been sent to the Court of the Imperial Clan, and the Fourth Prince is recuperating in his fief and can't return. The two princes below are not to be feared. This is a good time to request a title for Your Highness."

Chu Shaoling took a sip of tea and said softly, "To be honest, I've also thought about it, but the Emperor still favors Chu Shaoruan."

Marquis Zijun let out a long sigh, "This is what this old official fears. His Majesty's health has not been very good since his serious illness last year, and now he has contracted this disease. This old official is afraid that His Majesty has already drafted a will. If we can't settle Your Highness' matter in advance, even if Your Highness succeeds to the throne one day, it will be without proper title and legitimacy."

Chu Shaoling refilled Marquis Zijun' tea and said with a smile, "Grandfather also knows that Imperial Father favors Chu Shaoruan a bit more, so he won't easily make me the crown prince."

Marquis Zijun shook his head, "Disregarding seniority like this, it's really, it's really..."

Chu Shaoling chuckled lightly: "Grandfather need not worry. Although the Emperor will not agree, what needs to be done must be done. I have already given the order. Tomorrow, quite a few memorials requesting the Emperor to establish the crown prince as soon as possible to stabilize the hearts of the people will be submitted."

Marquis Zijun understood Chu Shaoling's intention and nodded with a smile: "Precisely. If His Majesty keeps these memorials without releasing them, it will only cause discussion in the court and the country. By then, even if His Majesty does not establish the Prince, he will be in an increasingly passive position."

Chu Shaoling nodded: "That's exactly how it is."

Compared to Marquis Zijun, the Empress Dowager was a bit more anxious in her heart. With the Emperor ill, she was reluctant to say these things to upset him. But with stack after stack of memorials sent up and the Emperor not approving a single one, this time Chu Shaomo's intrusion into the palace where Chu Shaoling made a great contribution, the Emperor did not praise Chu Shaoling with a single word, gave no rewards, as if this matter never happened. The Empress Dowager became increasingly displeased.

After feeding the Emperor his soup and medicine, she slowly said: "Now there is no shortage of talk requesting the Emperor to establish the crown prince. I don't know what the Emperor is thinking in his heart. Either he is not in a hurry, or he already has a favored prince in mind. Give the court officials a word. What is the meaning of letting those ministers be in a mess all day long?"

The Emperor had just taken his medicine and felt a bit better. Hearing this, he became irritated again. After a moment of silence, he said indifferently: "The Empress Dowager and the rear palace must not participate in politics. This is a rule set by the ancestors."

The Empress Dowager's mind buzzed. The small ru kiln bowl in her hand was not held steady and suddenly fell to the ground. Granny Sun hurriedly stepped forward to clean it up and said with a smile: "The Empress Dowager has been so busy taking care of the Emperor these past two days that she's a bit flustered and can't hold things steady. This servant will have someone make another bowl."

"No need." The Empress Dowager felt utterly exhausted and lightly supported her forehead, saying coldly: "The Emperor probably doesn't want to eat anymore. The Emperor is right, the rear palace must not participate in politics. Back when the previous Emperor passed away, when several princes were eyeing the throne like tigers, they also said the same thing to me! Telling me to stir up less trouble. If I had listened to those words back then, I'm afraid today the Emperor would have been in a different situation."

The Emperor regretted his words a little after saying them, and hurriedly changed his tone: "Imperial Mother, don't be angry. I was just speaking casually."

"Now when the Emperor is having a hard time, I'm afraid he will also blame me. What was the point of going to such great lengths back then? Instead now I'm falling into a reputation of interfering in politics." The Empress Dowager stood up, supported by Granny Sun, and said: "The Emperor's lesson is apt. I am unworthy of the ancestors. From now on, I will certainly not mention these matters again."

The Empress Dowager said this and walked out. The Emperor hurriedly got up to stop her, smiling: "Mother, don't be angry. It's all this son's fault."

"How could that be? How could the Emperor be at fault?" The Empress Dowager also smiled and patted the Emperor's hand. "The Emperor is absolutely right. I have also realized. I should not interfere in politics. What I should truly manage is the rear palace."

The Empress Dowager turned her head and ordered Granny Sun loudly as she walked out: "Take that venomous woman Consort Li to the Small Buddha Hall in Ci'an Palace! These past two days I have been busy taking care of the Emperor and hasn't had time to interrogate her. Daring to plot against the imperial heir, causing Consort Zhen to have a difficult birth, hmph, I will properly vent."

Hearing this, the Emperor was startled. Before he could say anything, the Empress Dowager and her entourage had already left Chengqian Palace and were heading grandly towards Ci'an Palace.