pjbooks Chapter 171 Isn't there still my elder sister?
Chapter 171 Isn't there still my elder sister?
Upon hearing the lowly maid's voice, the Third Prince trembled.
The fear of being dominated by Zhou Wei's Tathagata Palm in the past surged back into his heart.
"Royal sister, it's a promise, Zhou Wei won't be released unless it's absolutely necessary!"
The Third Prince covered his face, looking at Zhou Wei with a terrified expression: "My elder sister has already hit her, so Zhou Wei cannot hit her again."
At this moment, Zhou Wei finally rode over, wobbling along.
After she jumped off the horse, she patted her chest and gasped for breath: "Oh my god, this horse is not one that just anyone can ride. I thought I had learned how, but once I got on, it was nothing like that!"
As she spoke, Zhou Wei looked at the Third Prince, her eyes filled with reproach.
"It's all your fault, Third Prince. If you hadn't stood under the tree like an idiot, I would have been able to ride the little red horse with the princess."
"The princess was worried that you would be pierced through by the ice shards, so she left me behind and rode her horse to rescue you."
The Third Prince touched the ice shards on his head and looked up at the green pine tree beside him.
He muttered, "Is it that serious? It's just some icicles, how could they possibly kill me?"
Zhou Wei rolled her eyes, too lazy to explain to such an idiot. She had never seen anyone so stupid.
However, seeing the serious expressions on Jiang Yueli and Zhou Wei's faces, the Third Prince dared not argue further.
Then she blamed Yuanxing: "That son of the Crown Prince, he even said that he was born with divine strength and invincible archery skills, but that's just bluffing. Look at that broken branch, his arrow was almost completely off course."
The princess and Zhou Wei exchanged a glance and finally decided to wake up her foolish younger brother.
"Yue Lin, are you really so stupid that you can't even see this kind of thing clearly?"
The third prince was stunned, somewhat confused.
"What does my elder sister mean by that?"
"Do you know the seven-day period?" the princess asked.
The Third Prince nodded: "I know. The Imperial Noble Consort said that if the Crown Prince cannot resolve the snowstorm crisis in the capital within seven days, he will be deposed as Crown Prince. What does this have to do with today's events?"
Zhou Wei looked at the bewildered Third Prince and felt helpless.
It turns out that this person never coveted the position of crown prince. In the original story, he always listened to Consort Li and was loyal to the crown prince.
The crown prince's position is now precarious, yet he has not yet entertained any improper thoughts.
Zhou Wei really didn't know what to say about the Third Prince!
Even at a time like this, it's not like we can't think about it!
"Third Prince, are you unaware that someone proposed you as the new Crown Prince at the court meeting?"
Zhou Wei thought the Third Prince would be overjoyed to hear this, but to her surprise, he looked at the Eldest Princess with a look of horror.
Pointing to his own nose, he said, "Me? I'm the new crown prince?"
"Which damned minister suggested this? I'll go and behead him right now!"
The eldest princess was also puzzled by the third prince's reaction. She frowned and asked, "Yue Lin, what do you mean? Does being the crown prince mean you're being wronged?"
"Of course I feel wronged!" The Third Prince jumped up and down in anger.
"Who wants to be the crown prince? Aren't I comfortable being a prince? I don't even have to attend court!"
"In this freezing weather, I can get up whenever I want, but if I become the crown prince, I'll have to pay my respects to the emperor morning and evening. Who can stand that?"
"That's not all, Your Majesty! The Crown Prince is the next emperor. How can an emperor do something so foolish? Look at Father, he was forced by the court officials to issue an edict of self-reproach simply because he didn't attend court. If I were to go out and seek pleasure, I would definitely be reprimanded by the censors."
"Although I love killing, I know that I can't kill all the court officials. If I kill all the censors, then my reign as emperor will be over."
"Right now I'm just a marginal figure, and the censors don't bother with me. But if I become the crown prince, then everyone's eyes will be on me."
As the third prince spoke, he couldn't help but shiver, as if the life of the crown prince terrified him.
In his mind, the ideal state is the state he is in now!
"Sister, I'm not afraid to tell you the truth, I think I'm doing just fine right now."
"I am the only prince in the capital, and our birth mother is also a concubine. Although His Highness the Crown Prince was bewitched by that goddess, he has always been very good to me."
"Moreover, you are the Princess Protector of the Nation, and Father favors you. We are siblings from the same mother, so even if I do something outrageous, you will still protect me out of blood ties."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Wei actually began to look at the Third Prince, this good-for-nothing, with new respect.
Don't let his perceived foolishness fool you; he has a keen eye for what's best for him.
He knew that the eldest princess valued relationships, which was why he dared to speak rudely and provoke his elder sister repeatedly. He knew that the eldest princess would not really hurt him, her own brother!
He has always been the Crown Prince's right-hand man, and even the nobles of the Great Zhou Dynasty dare not underestimate him.
Even his later betrayal of the eldest princess was entirely for his own benefit.
The eldest princess has been abandoned by everyone and can no longer provide him with any value. What use is such a sister to him?
Without even needing to weigh the options, the Third Prince betrayed the Eldest Princess!
Even without his sister, he still has his mother and the Crown Prince to back him up, so he remains the highest-ranking prince.
Rather than saying that the Third Prince was pragmatic, it would be more accurate to say that he was a complete egoist!
He also knew that he couldn't sit on the throne as crown prince, and he was even less likely to keep the position of the emperor.
Even if they manage to get up there, they'll be pulled down because of their lack of ability.
Rather than that, it would be more comfortable to be a wealthy and idle person.
The eldest princess was hearing the third prince's true feelings for the first time, and she stood there stunned for a long time.
So this is why the Third Prince betrayed her in her past life.
The Third Prince has always wanted to preserve the extravagant lifestyle of the imperial family; whoever can provide it, he will side with.
Let alone the eldest princess, he could betray even his own mother!
Just look at how the Third Prince remained silent while Consort Li was imprisoned, only focusing on emptying her possessions – that's enough to tell us what's going on.
This is a very filial son!
The third prince, seeing that the eldest princess was silent, assumed that his elder sister was angry.
He muttered, "Elder sister, don't expect me to rise above others. I can't be the crown prince."
"Even if the Crown Prince is deposed seven days from now, I will not become the heir apparent. No one can force me to do so..."
The eldest princess looked coldly at the third prince: "If I force you, what will you do?"
"If anyone forces me, I will sneak away to my elder brother's fiefdom and never come back."
“If they go to my elder brother’s fiefdom to force me again, I will… I will betray the Great Zhou and go to the Southern Frontier.”
Zhou Wei was stunned by the Third Prince's words!
This guy is insane. Does he even have a normal human brain?
To avoid becoming the crown prince, would one choose to become a traitor?
Seeing the change in Zhou Wei's expression, the Third Prince was so frightened that he retreated repeatedly, fearing that Zhou Wei would hit him again.
When the Third Prince glanced at Jiang Yueli, who was still deep in thought, an idea suddenly popped into his mind.
He grabbed the princess's sleeve and said excitedly, "Royal sister! If the crown prince is really deposed in seven days, it doesn't necessarily mean that I have to be the heir apparent!"
"But I still have you!"