“Hmm, this matter truly cannot be taken lightly. Although Little Brian has always been steady, he is still young after all. With such a long journey, I cannot help but worry.”

Brian Parker had already anticipated that he would say this, so at this moment he immediately used a tactic of retreating in order to advance.

“Imperial Uncle, your concern is well understood by your nephew. However, as the Crown Prince, it is my duty to share your burdens. Precisely because I am young, I need more experience, so that I can better serve you and the people of Great Qi in the future. Since you are uneasy, why not follow Minister Lee’s suggestion and assign a few capable ministers to accompany me?”

With these words, it would be inappropriate for Emperor Charles to forbid him from going.

Moreover, Brian Parker had already taken the initiative to lower his head. If Eldest Prince’s faction was smart, they would know to quit while they were ahead.

After all, in this case, the Ministry of Personnel has already been pushed to the forefront. If they want to keep control of the Ministry, they should act with more caution.

As for bringing ministers along, Brian Parker was not afraid.

After all, when a general is away, the emperor’s orders may not be followed. With the emperor far away, once outside, it would be up to him, the semi-sovereign, to make the decisions. Whatever he wanted to do, those ministers would not have a say.

If he couldn’t control people now, how could he in the future?

After he finished speaking, Matthew Lee and Eldest Prince exchanged a glance, and then Matthew Lee responded.

But things would not go so smoothly for them, since the initiative was in Brian Parker’s hands. So Samuel Reed stepped forward at the right moment.

He pointed out that the selection of accompanying ministers needed careful consideration, and suggested that the matter be discussed by the entire cabinet, who would draw up a list for Emperor Charles to decide.

His words were reasonable, and Emperor Charles could not refute them, so he agreed.

In this way, the intention of letting Matthew Lee alone decide the personnel for the southern tour was thwarted.

After leaving the imperial study, the faces of Eldest Prince and his group did not look good.

“Is Steven not leaving the palace?” Brian Parker said gently to Eldest Prince.

The latter turned back, forced a smile, and cupped his hands.

“I haven’t paid my respects to Mother for many days. Since I’m in the palace today, I plan to have lunch with her.”

“Then you’d better go quickly. I’m sure Aunt will be very happy to see you.”

Brian Parker smiled, putting on the appearance of a gentle elder brother, and waved his hand.

Eldest Prince nodded, then headed toward the inner palace.

At this moment, Samuel Reed walked up to Brian Parker. After exchanging glances, the two left the palace together.

On the quiet palace path, the father-in-law and son-in-law walked side by side.

Brian Parker spoke calmly, “Where is Benjamin Hughes now?”

“I have a residence in the outskirts of the capital, and have already sent people to look after him. Nothing will go wrong,” said Samuel Reed, then asked, “This southern tour may not go smoothly. As long as things remain unsettled, Your Highness must be cautious.”

“Rest assured, Father-in-law, I know what I’m doing. Today, Eldest Prince went to pay respects to the Empress, probably to seek her advice,” Brian Parker said, lowering his gaze.

Eldest Prince was not hard to deal with. Although clever, he was not as cunning and devious as the Empress Lee. Over the years, most of the struggles between him and Eldest Prince had been orchestrated by Lee and the The Lee Family behind the scenes.

“The inner palace should not interfere in politics, but Her Majesty the Empress has overreached. If Eldest Prince truly comes to power in the future... I fear we’ll see a hen crowing at dawn,” Samuel Reed frowned.

Brian Parker chuckled lightly, “They are deeply attached, mutually dependent. In the future, if one falls, the other will suffer as well.”

The more Eldest Prince relied on the Empress, the easier it would be to bring him down by toppling her. Hearing this, Samuel Reed’s frown eased a little, and he nodded.

As Brian Parker had expected, Eldest Prince went to the inner palace to pay respects to the Empress, indeed to seek her counsel.

The next day, the Empress invited Emperor Charles to her palace for lunch.

She first harshly criticized the Ministry of Personnel for mishandling affairs and causing such a scandal, bringing trouble to Emperor Charles. Then she said that although the incident was due to the Ministry’s carelessness, Michael Lewis, as Minister of Personnel, could not possibly handle everything himself, and it was understandable if subordinates were negligent.

She then flattered and comforted Emperor Charles, saying that he was busy with state affairs and it was normal not to notice such things, as long as the matter was handled properly.

Emperor Charles was never a particularly capable man. He usually relied on the cabinet for state affairs, and sometimes even took the Empress’s advice. Now, out of habit, he asked her opinion again.

The Empress seized the opportunity to persuade him, successfully getting Eldest Prince included in the southern tour, and also suggested that the Crown Prince was of noble status and needed attendants. Although the southern tour was for official business, he should still bring one or two clever and sensible maids to serve him.

Thus, she put forward two young and capable palace maids from her own palace.

So the next day at court, Emperor Charles arranged everything as the Empress had suggested.

Letting Eldest Prince join the southern tour was one thing, but sending maids to serve him was, on the surface, sending servants, but in reality, sending women to his bed. Even if they weren’t spies, it would sound bad if word got out.

Naturally, Brian Parker refused.

But Emperor Charles, having sat on the throne for many years, was not without skill. With the Empress’s guidance and the cooperation of other ministers, after several rounds of discussion, Brian Parker was pressured by the principle of filial piety and could not refuse.