Seeing that Zhao Jing was cunning and devoted to the Empress alone, they stopped trying to win him over.

Forcing the emperor to take concubines is less effective than waiting for him to come to his senses and then bringing other women into the palace.

They didn't believe the empress could keep the emperor's heart forever.

The two had been through thick and thin together. The empress was quite beautiful, and the emperor may have had some inexplicable feelings for her, which made him favor her exclusively.

But in a hundred years of life, who can predict what the future holds?

They can just wait and see; they can't fight city hall anyway.

Among those concubines, some chose to leave the palace, while others chose to stay in the palace for a long time.

Zhao Jing gave them some compensation.

He believed he had done everything he could. Didn't they have to think things through when they entered the palace? If they didn't gain favor, they would be destined to spend their lives in solitude.

The person they resent should not be him, but their father.

Sending their daughter into the palace was clearly a way to curry favor with the powerful and influential.

Most of the concubines chose to stay.

Zhao Jing has cut off their father's head. If they go out, they won't even know where their home is. It's better for them to stay here.

Meanwhile, the concubines whose fathers were still officials in the court were also trying to weigh the pros and cons, considering whether going out or staying in the palace was more suitable.

Anyway, everyone has a brain, and Zhao Jing doesn't need to think about these things for them.

After accepting reality, the officials had no other plans but to get Zhao Jing to have a son as soon as possible.

But Zhao Jing clearly wasn't in a hurry.

Aside from spending time with his wife and children, he devoted himself entirely to expanding his empire.

Three years passed quickly, and Zhao Yuan had already begun his formal education.

Not long after Zhao Yuan's third birthday, Zhao Jing summoned all his trusted ministers to the imperial study.

After the assembled officials arrived, Zhao Jing did not beat around the bush and told them directly that he wanted to make Zhao Yuan the Crown Princess.

The expressions on the faces of all the officials changed at that moment.

Before they could say anything more, Zhao Jing told them that he had taken a medicine that would prevent him from having any offspring, and that he would only have this one child from now on.

Therefore, only Zhao Yuan could inherit his empire.

Just as the ministers were reeling from the news, Zhao Jing coldly told them that he was the emperor and they were his subjects.

They were his servants, and entrusting them with certain tasks was a favor to them.

They had to come up with a way to gain the approval of the officials for the status of Crown Princess Zhao Yuanhuang.

Having reigned as emperor for many years, Zhao Jing's temperament was well understood by his ministers.

Sometimes compromise is simply the result of a power struggle.

Zhao Jing was destined to lead the people of this dynasty to a path of prosperity and peace; no one else could.

He only had one daughter in his life, so from his perspective, there was no problem in making her his heir.

What they think is unimportant.

Zhao Jing practically told them that if they couldn't do it, they would be dragged out and beheaded.

We are all part of the same interest group and should stand on the same side.

If they betray their master, Zhao Jing will naturally not spare their lives.

In fact, Jiang Tian set a precedent and paved the way for Zhao Yuan.

Jiang Tian now holds a pivotal position in the imperial court, and the officials have become accustomed to her presence.

With a female ruler active in the court, it's not so surprising that Zhao Yuan was made Crown Princess.

Moreover, as Zhao Jing said, they were all slaves in his eyes.

A lackey who cannot share his master's burdens will be unwanted by anyone, and he will have no chance to realize his own ambitions.

After much deliberation, everyone silently accepted Zhao Yuan's offer.

Zhao Jing issued a few more orders and sent them away to do their work.

He kept compromising with Jiang Tian because he had fallen in love with her and was willing to treat her as someone of the same social class as himself, even at the cost of giving her power.

But others are different.

He was an emperor, and everyone had to kowtow to him. Why should he cater to their ideas?

All he needs are obedient lackeys.

No matter who he wants as his successor, this group of people can only nod in agreement.

The difference between ruler and subject is as vast as an insurmountable chasm.

He would cut off their heads if they dared to say anything inappropriate.

In a sense, Zhao Jing always had the potential to be a tyrant, but his rationality restrained him and taught him to disguise himself.

The news of Zhao Yuan being made crown princess caused quite a stir.

But Zhao Jing had made thorough preparations, and his men had already devised a countermeasure.

No matter how much they protested, Zhao Jing issued the imperial edict as scheduled.

Over time, those who opposed it had no choice but to give in to the real benefits.

Zhao Yuan is a very intelligent child.

Zhao Jing always believed that his child was the most intelligent. Compared with other children of the same age, Zhao Yuan could be described as almost supernaturally intelligent.

What's more, she has impressive parents.

She had many famous teachers along her path to adulthood, and her parents set a good example for her by setting a good example.

In her mind, her father and mother were the best people in the world.

Zhao Yuan was able to independently review memorials when he was ten years old.

No one thought she was getting involved in politics too early, and Jiang Tian and Zhao Jing were pleased to see her progress.

This child inherited the strengths of both parents and developed an independent personality.

But Yu Xue's lovely daughter had quickly grown into a half-grown child with the beginnings of a monarch, and Zhao Jing was still a little sad.

Over the years, Zhao Jing and Jiang Tian have gotten along fairly well.

After having a child, the two of them both wanted to elevate her to the highest position. With their goals aligned, their interactions became less tense.

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