Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1076 - 121: Prince Wei Spits Blood in Rage

The Emperor ordered Prince Chu to avoid rushing to court and instead rest at home for a few days, given how grueling his journey had been.

This time around, Prince Chu gladly accepted the chance to rest, dutifully adhering to the Emperor’s directives as he intended to recover at home over several days. He explicitly stated his desire for no disturbances during this rest. No matter who sought an audience, he refused to meet them.

Ministers backing Prince Chu attempted visits, yet they were all turned away.

Witnessing Prince Chu isolating himself and declining all visitors left others increasingly baffled, leading them to speculate in secret: Just what scheme is Prince Chu plotting?

Everyone was aware that Prince Chu had met the Emperor right upon arriving back in the capital, engaging in an extended discussion within the Imperial Study. Without crucial issues at hand, such a prolonged talk wouldn’t have occurred.

The ministers had anticipated chaos erupting in court with Prince Chu’s return, but astonishingly, everything stayed uneventful.

Three or four days have passed since Prince Chu’s arrival, with the Emperor showing no response and the court maintaining tranquility—this... this turn of events feels off. Prince Chu was sent by the Emperor to the North on the guise of disaster relief, but given his skills, he surely returned with discoveries. Moreover, his journey back from the North was postponed by more than twenty days. In that span, Prince Chu must have achieved something substantial.

Years back, when dispatched to Peng City to probe the copper theft, Prince Chu not only tracked down the missing copper but also secured ironclad proof of the former Crown Prince and former Duke smelting it into weapons. This Northern expedition couldn’t have yielded nothing for him.

Prince Chu definitely uncovered key intel, yet the Emperor acts "unfazed"; perhaps His Majesty is waiting for the perfect moment in a larger scheme?

Considering the Emperor’s nature, it’s entirely plausible he’s restraining himself for a massive strike. Should that hold true, monumental upheavals could soon shake the realm.

Returning to the matter at hand, what major incident has the Emperor holding his hand?

Civil and military officials abruptly remembered the Yangzhou Families from years past. To dismantle those noble clans there, the Emperor endured their schemes for ages, ignoring their deeds. When his preparations were complete, he eradicated them utterly, sparing not a soul. Yangzhou now stands free of aristocratic houses.

Might the Northern crisis resemble Yangzhou’s?

If the Emperor’s patience stems from such tactics, is he aiming to net them all at once down the line?

No noble families dominate the North; the real powers lie in the Northern Border Camp, Prince Han of Youzhou, and naturally, the Xiongnu.

Have they truly divined it right—that the Northern Border Camp or Prince Han conspires with the Xiongnu?

Prince Han lacks the nerve, especially after Prince Chen’s fate. Colluding with the Xiongnu would require him to fancy himself immortal.

Not Prince Han, then—it points to the Northern Border Camp.

The Northern Border Camp serves as the Emperor’s elite force; what gall would they have to betray him by allying with the Xiongnu?

General Deng’s recent illness clearly reeks of a plot.

Rumors claim his son poisoned him, suggesting the son’s ties to the Xiongnu. Yet the Emperor hasn’t commanded harsh punishment for the son. Maybe it’s not him after all?

The Emperor first sent General Chu to steady the Northern Border Camp, followed by Prince Dai to the site. Then came Prince Chu’s Northern venture.

Should neither General Chu nor Prince Dai expose it, Prince Chu without doubt would have. After all, he pinpointed the copper stashed by the former Crown Prince and former Duke. Failing to detect issues in the Northern Border Camp seems impossible for him.

Even if Northern Border Camp elements collude with the Xiongnu, it wouldn’t spell doom; the Emperor’s style wouldn’t permit inaction. A full rebellion there couldn’t overcome the four Great Generals, leaving no cause for imperial dread. What precisely unfolded in the North to compel the Emperor’s restraint?

The ministers strained their minds yet failed to unravel the Northern mystery.

Overwhelmed by burning curiosity about the North, some approached Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu for hints, only to hit dead ends as expected.

If any in court excel at secrecy, it’s Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu. Come what may, they seal all leaks tight. Extracting intel from them proves tougher than ascending the heavens.

Civil and military officials can only hope that when Northern truths emerge, the Emperor’s wrath stays contained, sparing them from fallout.