As the Crown Prince entered the imperial court, the hidden agendas of many officials began to surface. Knowing that Emperor Deming detested the formation of factions, those old foxes in the court used the excuse of helping the Crown Prince familiarize himself with government affairs to shamelessly curry favor. Yet, the Crown Prince maintained a sense of detachment toward everyone. Given his status, no one dared to say anything openly.
"How can someone so young be so guarded? When they're this impervious to influence, things become difficult," an official remarked, feeling utterly deflated after being rebuffed by the Crown Prince. He had tried every trick in the book, but the Crown Prince simply ignored him. He felt like a clown performing a solo act; no matter how he sang or danced, the audience simply didn't buy it.
"The Crown Prince was personally tutored by *him*, after all. We should have anticipated this result. We were careless. It’s best we rein in our ambitions; if the Emperor decides to intervene, we’ll be walking straight to our deaths." A more experienced official realized the truth quickly. He had been blinded by the desire for power, but fortunately, he still had a chance to correct his course.
Chapter 708