After the ringing sound faded, Li Taiwei inquired, “How does the Assistant Minister view the current situation in the world?”
Xu Zhen's hand trembled, nearly spilling the tea.
Hurriedly, she set the cup down on the table, glancing at the Grand Marshall and then at the old woman.
What was going on?
The state of the world? Why would he be asking her—a person from a story—about the situation in the world? Could it be that the Grand Marshall realized her actions resembled those of a time traveler? That shouldn’t be; she thought she had been keeping a low profile.
Moreover, she knew about the situation, but she certainly couldn’t just say, “The world is about to be taken over by the antagonists!”
Xu Zhen cleared her throat and quietly asked, “Is there a deeper meaning to your question, Grand Marshall?”
Li Taiwei remained silent.
The old woman chimed in, “Assistant Minister, the Crown Prince has yet to be established, and there have already been constant movements in the court.”
Xu Zhen suddenly understood.
This was the beginning of forming alliances!
If the decision turned out to be correct, it could lead to a future of endless riches and honor; if it turned out to be the wrong choice, then the entire family would reunite in another world.
Xu Zhen wasn't aware of how many popular candidates existed, but it didn’t matter who they were—because the true future empress was living in her household.
Seeing that Xu Zhen remained quiet, the old woman said, “Assistant Minister, I know that your knowledge is extensive, which is why I came to seek your opinion. Please feel free to speak; we’re just here to enjoy some tea today.”
Xu Zhen was capable of clever words, but she didn’t quite dare to express them.
If she were to say something wrong, not only would she attract unwanted attention, but the old woman and others might also suffer the consequences.
The old woman urged, “Please speak freely.”
Xu Zhen tried to express her thoughts tactfully: “If it’s about establishing a successor, we could follow the ancestral methods: establish the legitimate heir and prioritize the eldest son. Following the legitimate eldest son is never wrong.”
The old woman provided some background: “What you may not know is that in the previous dynasty, the kingdom fell due to the actions of the legitimate crown prince. Today, selecting a successor is no longer just about status, but also about talent.”
Xu Zhen, unaware of the whole story, inquired, “Isn’t it simpler to just choose the talented princes or princesses?”
The old woman replied, “There are simply too many talented princes.”
Xu Zhen sipped her tea, realizing that this situation might indeed be quite complicated.
She looked up and asked, “Do you have any candidates in mind?”
The old woman didn’t answer directly but glanced at the Grand Marshall, waiting for him to nod. Only after receiving his approval did she softly say, “The Fifth Prince.”
Xu Zhen wasn’t familiar with him and asked, “What accomplishments does the Fifth Prince have?”
The old woman explained, “Recently, during the battle at Wolf Valley Pass, it was the Fifth Prince who devised the strategy.”
Chapter 37: Thirty-Seven Treasures ?
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