Chapter 60 Then you must continue to like it, no matter what I...

When the Grand Secretary died, all the officials came to pay their respects.

The sounds of condolence mingled inside and outside the mourning hall, interspersed with whispers and murmurs, mostly discussing two things.

The selection of the Grand Secretary and the selection of the Crown Prince.

With the death of the Dong family head, the selection of concubines for the Crown Prince was put on hold. However, everyone tacitly agreed that Zhou Yilan, the daughter of the Minister of Personnel, was the Crown Princess. As for the concubines, they would be selected from among the most prestigious families.

Initially, Zhang Yushi's daughter was also among those vying for the position of Crown Princess, but Zhang Yushi's seniority in the court was not as high as that of the Minister of Personnel, so he told everyone he met that he would not push his daughter into a fire pit.

"How did it become a pit of fire? I think you're just sour grapes. Learn from Jiang Song, who prioritizes the big picture and wouldn't break with the Crown Prince over his daughter."

Zhang, the Imperial Censor who came to pay his respects, stood outside the mourning hall and snorted, "Jiang Song coveted the position of Grand Secretary and hoped to achieve it in one fell swoop with the help of Elder Dong and the Crown Prince. Who would have thought that Elder Dong would hold the position of Grand Secretary until his death and never put in a good word for Jiang Song before the Emperor. In my opinion, the Dong family's preferred candidate is the Minister of Personnel."

Not everyone believed that even if a marriage didn't work out, there were still benefits to be gained. For example, Imperial Censor Zhang, even if he didn't turn against the Crown Prince, was considering withdrawing from the Crown Prince's service and waiting to see how things would go after seeing the decline of the Dong family.

Apart from the third prince, the other princes are indeed young and not yet capable of wielding power, but His Majesty is in his prime. In less than ten years, the young princes will have grown up and become fully capable.

The political landscape is constantly shifting, and it remains to be seen who will emerge victorious.

"Have you heard about the follow-up to the Gong Fei incident?"

Tell me about it.

"Nowadays, rumors are circulating among the elite and the common people that the Empress bribed Empress Yide's trusted maid to cause Empress Yide to give birth prematurely, turning an auspicious day for childbirth into an inauspicious one."

Empress Dong, kneeling in the mourning hall, was naturally unaware of the old ministers' discussions, but the unfavorable rumors had already reached her ears.

Wei Qin led Jiang Yinyue away from the Dong residence and casually entered a restaurant along the way.

Jiang Yinyue asked in a low voice, "Are the recent rumors about Her Majesty the Empress related to Consort Guo?"

Wei Qin was a favorite of the emperor, while Consort Guo was the most favored concubine in recent years. The two often met in the imperial study.

Wei Qin wiped the chopsticks for his wife. "It's related."

This was also the result he wanted. Tao Qian was the bait, which led the Empress and Consort Xian to break off their facade. Consort Xian was no less cunning than Tao Qian and could handle scheming against people on her own.

Isn't this just like the snipe and the clam fighting?

In order to secure the emperor's favor, Consort Guo placed many beauties before him. With so much whispering in his ear, even the most suspicious emperor became hesitant and reluctant to reprimand Consort Guo.

Jiang Yinyue then asked, "Did you notice any signs of a potential Grand Secretary candidate while serving before the Emperor?"

Just as much as Jiang Song wanted to become the head of all officials, Jiang Yinyue also wanted to be the daughter of the head of all officials. It wasn't out of vanity, but because from a young age, Xiao Niannian looked up to her father and hoped that he would get his wish.

In her view, ambition is not a bad thing.

"Father-in-law should have guessed by now that Madam Dong has no intention of protecting him."

"Will His Majesty consider Lady Dong's opinion?"

"The Dong family has not cultivated any strong competitors. As long as they can form a marriage alliance with the Minister of Personnel, they will inevitably use their connections to strongly recommend him. There are only a few senior candidates, and His Majesty will have to listen to their opinions. Whether it succeeds or not is another matter."

"What about the Third Prince? Doesn't he plan to strongly recommend Xie Xun, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review?"

Sitting by the window, Wei Qin crossed his hands, resting his chin on the back of his hands. His pupils were half-transparent in the autumn sunlight, and his blinking eyelashes were stretched infinitely by the sunlight.

"Many people may disagree, but in my opinion, the Third Prince is merely a whetstone that His Majesty has chosen for the Crown Prince at this stage. His Majesty has no sincerity in supporting the Guo family. Consort Guo's favor is not directly related to the Third Prince's struggle for the throne. In the next ten or twenty years, there will be more whetstones like the Third Prince."

Perhaps in Emperor Shunren's view, a ruler who can reach the top must forge an indestructible mind through countless trials and tribulations, cultivating the path of ruthlessness. The Third Prince, Consort Guo, and Wei Qin were all stepping stones on this path of ruthlessness. If the Crown Prince could not withstand the tests and his resolve was unstable, Emperor Shunren would consider replacing him with a young prince who had just come of age, repeating the same tests as the Crown Prince, until the most suitable candidate was chosen.

Cultivating a successor is not easy, and in principle, it should not be changed easily. However, Emperor Shunren had a strong desire for control and was too demanding of his successor. This is why Consort Guo, taking advantage of her favor, stirred up trouble. She wanted to take a gamble, in case she succeeded. And she just happened to be good at stirring up trouble.

Jiang Yinyue nodded knowingly, "Regardless of whether the Minister of Personnel succeeds, the Dong family has already declined to some extent."

"Um."

After all, the Minister of Personnel was not from the Dong family, and there was always the possibility of their interests being severed.

The waiter brought the food, and the two stopped discussing court affairs.

Jiang Yinyue picked up a piece of braised tofu, and as soon as she took a bite, the juice "plop" sprayed onto Wei Qin's clothes.

"It's dirty."

"fine."

Wei Qin was to accompany the emperor to the palace, and Jiang Yinyue didn't want her husband to be ridiculed by other officials for being slovenly. She sat down next to Wei Qin and wiped him with a damp silk handkerchief.

Her pert nose was almost touching the man's chest.

Just then, Wei Xichen came to fetch wine for his maternal grandfather and happened to witness this scene.

Dong Ge Lao was born into a wealthy and powerful family, where he had no worries about food or clothing. His favorite drink was the wine brewed by this shop.

With slightly reddened eyes, he glanced at the man and woman by the window, then shook his head, not wanting to cause a commotion in the shop.

Wei Qin did not get up, and Jiang Yinyue, who had her back to him, was unaware that she was still trying her best to wipe the oil stains off her husband's clothes.

"Brother Crown Prince, I will always be with you."

Wei Xichen smiled slightly, the wine jar between his fingers weighing a ton as it went down to his heart.

**

About half a month later, on her way back to the palace, Empress Dong encountered the voluptuous and beautiful Consort Guo.

"Greetings to my elder sister."

In the final chapter of autumn, the chill was biting, the leaves were covered in frost, and all the trees were desolate. The Empress, who should have been dignified and noble, appeared haggard and worn in front of the concubines who relied on their beauty and favor.

"My sister used the Guo family's connections to spread rumors about me. Shouldn't she give me an explanation?"

"What is my sister saying?"

"I know perfectly well what's going on."

Consort Guo covered her mouth and chuckled. Having been in the Emperor's presence for so long, her laughter was now sinister. "Tao Qian was slandered by the Crown Prince, and Lady Dong should know this all too well."

"You smooth-talking, flattering thing!"

A crisp slap landed on Consort Xian's right cheek.

Consort Xian covered her right ear in terror, crying out, "I can't hear anything! I can't hear anything!"

Whether the Empress used too much force or Consort Xian feigned it, those who heard the story were abuzz with discussion.

"Your Majesty, Consort Xian's temporary hearing loss is due to an external injury."

After hearing the imperial physician's words, Emperor Shunren walked out of Consort Xian's palace with a sullen face and pointed directly at the Empress who was waiting outside.

"As an empress, to disregard decorum and intentionally harm others—how is she any different from a shrew?"

Empress Dong was eager to defend herself, and her tone was a little harsh, "It was she who deliberately provoked me, Your Majesty, please see the truth."

Emperor Shunren was too lazy to say more. "Guards, take the Empress back to Kunning Palace to reflect on her actions. She is not allowed to see anyone for thirty days."

Imprisonment?

With the selection of imperial consorts imminent, Empress Dong still carries her father's hopes on her shoulders. She is determined to ensure that the daughter of the Minister of Personnel becomes the Crown Princess. If she is imprisoned, she will miss her son's chance to be selected!

"His Majesty!"

"Stop talking."

Late at night, Wei Xichen went to the Imperial Study to plead for his mother, but Emperor Shunren preemptively said, "If you can't even be dignified and elegant, you are not worthy of your position. My son, remember, when choosing a wife, choose a virtuous one, and she must also know how to be patient."

Wei Xichen's knuckles cracked as the man on the dragon throne refuted both women with a single sentence.

While his own mother was indeed unworthy of her position, what about Empress Yide? She was dignified and elegant, but lacked forbearance, so did she deserve to be forced to her death?

"Your subject has learned a great deal."

Emperor Shunren waved his sleeves and said, "Go back. Go to Kunning Palace to pay your respects in a month."

After the Crown Prince left, Wei Qin entered the Imperial Study and continued to read out the drafts on behalf of the Emperor, and then approved them in red ink according to the Emperor's wishes.

Since Emperor Shunren ascended the throne, two important ministers and one powerful eunuch have successively approved imperial edicts on behalf of the emperor. Wei Qin was the fourth person to do so.

The first two were the emperor's fathers-in-law, and the third was Cao Angui, who retired to his hometown.

Cao Angui, who served as both the Grand Eunuch in charge of the seal and the Grand Secretary, approved the most imperial edicts.

red......

Emperor Shunren suddenly felt a warm sensation in his nasal cavity, raised his hand, and found his fingertips were bright red.

Fresh blood continued to flow from his nose, dripping onto the bright yellow dragon robe and obscuring the fierce eyes of the five-clawed golden dragon.

"His Majesty."

Wei Qin stepped forward and handed over a clean white silk handkerchief. "Would you like someone to fetch some ice?"

Emperor Shunren did not take it, but wiped his nose with his sleeve again and again, and then flew into a rage. He even picked up the imperial edicts piled up beside him to wipe the blood from his nose, and shouted, "Summon those sorcerers!"

When Wei Qin left the imperial study, several sorcerers knelt tremblingly before the imperial desk.

The late autumn air was chilly, and his official robes were insufficient to keep him warm. Without the crane-feather cloak he wore, Wei Qin's brows were relaxed, and he appeared calm and indifferent, with a hint of mockery and a subtle chill in his demeanor.

Those who listen to sorcerers will only bring trouble upon themselves.

The timing was too early.

Back at the Jiang residence, Wei Qin pushed open the door to the boudoir. The rich scent of pears, mingled with the aroma of wine, flowed in with the warm lamplight, enveloping him.

Someone left a light on for him.

"You're back." Jiang Yinyue staggered to her feet, drunk, and walked to the door. She grabbed Wei Qin, who was shivering with cold, and said, "Close the door."

Wei Qin stepped across the threshold, closed the door behind him, and helped his swaying wife up. "Have you been drinking?"

"I drank with Father." Jiang Yinyue's legs went weak, and she leaned against Wei Qin's chest, who helped her to the bedside. "Father said that it's rare to be so carefree and drunk, so we should drink to our hearts' content."

She sat down on the edge of the bed with a "plop," seemingly imitating her father, her expression slightly exaggerated, her back hunched, her brows furrowed with worry. "Don't be fooled by the Jiang family's current glory. Once the Crown Prince ascends the throne, things will likely take a sharp turn for the worse. But the Eastern Palace is the legitimate heir, and among the princes, none can compare to the Crown Prince. What am I to do? What am I to do? Heh heh heh."

Seeing the little drunkard's comical appearance, Wei Qin straightened her back, saying, "Things will work themselves out."

“That’s how I comforted Father too.” Jiang Yinyue raised her right index finger and pointed to her chest. “I’m not letting any air in.”

Wei Qin tilted his head. "Hmm, a warm, cozy jacket that doesn't let in any drafts."

Having received affirmation, Jiang Yinyue seized the opportunity to prove herself, hastily taking off her outer garment and wrapping it around Wei Qin, saying, "Here, try it on, it really doesn't let in any air."

He was completely drunk.

Wei Qin looked at the woman wearing only a strapless long dress, his gaze sweeping from top to bottom, then slowly put his arm around her waist and pulled her onto his lap. "Where do you want to try?"

"I didn't give it to you."

"What were given?"

"An outer garment."

Wei Qin picked up a corner of the skirt sash hanging in front of the woman's chest, wrapped it around his palm, one circle, two circles, three circles... the light blue skirt sash was completely wrapped in his hand.

The long skirt falls to the waist.

Jiang Yinyue felt cold and hugged herself, vaguely thinking that the little rabbit had run away.

"Um?"

Wei Qin pressed the person down onto the brocade quilt that had been laid out, and slowly lowered the curtain from the jade hook with one hand.

It's completely airtight now.

After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Yinyue, whose fair skin now bore hickeys, recognized the person supporting her above her. She wrapped her arms tightly around Wei Qin's neck, pressing her face against his, and asked, "Does this make a little bunny?"

"Won't."

Wei Qin patted her round buttocks, then suddenly stood up and leaned back, his firm chest muscles heaving violently beneath his slightly open undergarment.

Wait a little longer; there's still one hurdle to overcome.

He raised his hand to his forehead to ease his agitation.

Jiang Yinyue sat up, tilting her head and pressing it against his chest. "What's wrong?"

I want to tell you a secret.

"Speak."

"You're drunk."

“I remember.”

Upon hearing the drumbeats, Jiang Yinyue climbed up a bit more, sitting on Wei Qin's waist. She cupped her hands to her ears, bringing them close to Wei Qin's mouth, and said, "I'm listening."

"Wait until you sober up."

To sink into depravity while remaining sober, or to become sober while sinking into depravity—the outcomes may differ.

Wei Qin was the former, but he didn't want Jiang Yinyue to be the latter.

Jiang Yinyue smiled and said, "Then let's exchange a secret."

"Um."

"I already like you."

Wei Qin's usually calm eyes flickered slightly. He took Jiang Yinyue's hand and clasped her hands together. "How much do you like it?"

"I love it."

"Then you must continue to like it, whether I am Wei Qin or Wei Yihe."

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Author's note: 50 small red envelopes~