Chapter 82: The Lost Princess Bai Yueguang 13 Calculation

Wen Qianning had her eyes half closed originally, but when she heard the young man's voice, she opened her beautiful almond-shaped eyes wide again, her eyes moist with drunkenness and a bit of grievance.

"Ji, Ji Hanlin..." She called out vaguely, sounding delicate and soft, unlike the usually arrogant Princess Zhaohua.

Upon hearing this, Ji Hanlin immediately stepped forward, half-knelt down, and said gently, "Your Highness, I'm here."

The girl just stared at him, then reached out and hugged his waist tightly.

She threw herself on him, her cheek buried in his waist, and said softly and coquettishly, "Why did you come just now... This princess has been waiting for you for a long time..."

Zhuyue, who was standing aside, stood there in a daze. She knew she should avoid it, but her feet seemed to be rooted and she couldn't move even a step.

Ji Hanlin, who was thrown into his arms, froze for a moment, his ears slightly red. He panicked and lowered his voice to coax, "Your Highness, you are drunk. Let go first, okay?"

"No." Refusing to give in, Wen Qianning shook her head stubbornly, wrapping her arms even tighter around him. "This princess does whatever she wants, and you still want to control me?!"

"Princess..." Ji Hanlin was helpless in the face of the little princess's unreasonable behavior. "I have something important to tell you."

The girl in his arms narrowed her eyes and raised them, her eyes shimmering with alcohol. She stared closely into his eyes, seeing how serious he was. Suddenly, her face flushed, she asked, "You're not going to suddenly propose marriage, are you? Humph, I won't agree. Hmm... if you're serious, I might just barely agree."

"What are you thinking about?"

Ji Hanlin was amused by Wen Qianning's unconventional thinking and wild ideas. He reached out and covered her hair with his hands, and teased her cooperatively, "I didn't know that Her Highness the Princess wanted to marry me so much?"

This teasing made Wen Qianning blush completely. She snorted and said no more, but just hugged his waist tighter, unwilling to let go.

There was another person in the room with his head down. The bitterness in his heart made Zhuyue realize that he could not bear to watch it any longer. He tried hard to hide the bitterness in his eyes and retreated silently.

"Your Highness." After putting away his previous joke, Ji Hanlin sighed and his expression gradually became serious. "I have something important to tell you."

But... the girl's eyes were blurry with drunkenness, and she looked up at him with a confused look. The corners of her eyes were red due to drunkenness, like rouge carefully applied, bright and charming.

"What do you want to say?" She was obviously not in her normal state and asked in a coquettish tone.

Although he knew that now was not the time to talk about such things, thinking of the conversation between Prime Minister Xie and Xie Yunji, and their calculations about Wen Qianning, he had to remind her immediately.

The young man was silent for a moment, and finally spoke: "Xie Yunji... He is not a good man, he only wants to use you. Your Highness, please do not trust him."

As he spoke, Ji Hanlin's heart was filled with the dirty words he had heard before. Even though he didn't want to mention it in front of her, he couldn't just watch her get deceived.

However, the little princess was stunned for a moment when she heard this, then curled up the corners of her lips, thinking that Ji Hanlin was jealous, and smiled a little foolishly: "Why are you jealous again?"

Ji Hanlin: "..."

His heart trembled at the question and he was speechless for a moment, but when his eyes fell on her flushed cheeks and wet eyes, all the serious words he wanted to say were stuck in his throat and he couldn't say them.

"Your Highness, I am serious."

Ji Hanlin could only repeat it again, holding the girl's face and straightening her head.

Wen Qianning was too lazy to listen any further. She fell into his arms in a daze, nuzzled, and murmured something, "This princess won't be fooled... Besides, no one can compare to you in my eyes, right? Also, don't call me princess anymore, call me Ningning..."

After saying that, she yawned a little, and like a sleepy kitten, curled up in his arms and stopped moving.

"Fool..." Ji Hanlin was helpless and reached out to pull the quilt for Wen Qianning.

The sleepy girl still refused to let go, tightly clutching his clothes, as if she was afraid that he would go away if she let go.

So, he could only lean over and whisper very softly in Wen Qianning's ear:

"No matter what, I will protect you, Ningning."

She seemed to have heard it, but didn't seem to understand it, and only said "hmm" vaguely.

*

On the other side, the banquet had already ended.

The bedroom of the eldest prince Wen Yuanzhao was in a mess.

"Bang--"

A teacup was slammed to the ground, shattering into countless sharp pieces that flew everywhere. Then, teapots and pen holders were overturned one by one, slamming heavily to the ground with a continuous, piercing sound.

The young eunuchs who served him trembled and knelt on the ground, no one daring to look up. The whole room was filled with a strong anger, which was so oppressive that it made people feel breathless.

The furious man's robes were disheveled, and his brows were blazing with violent anger. Wen Yuanzhao's chest heaved violently, and he stared fiercely at the debris at his feet, his teeth gritting.

The day of sacrifice symbolized the continuation of the Mandate of Heaven and the imperial power. This was the most solemn ceremony of their Xuanping reign, and the day that Emperor Xuanping valued most.

But today, my father only asked me to observe the ceremony from the sidelines, without entrusting me with any important tasks, nor did he give me any hint about succession!

what does that mean?

It means that my father has no intention of passing the throne to me!

When he thought of this, Wen Yuanzhao's heart felt like it was cut by a sharp knife, and anger and humiliation surged up together.

He is the eldest prince and the eldest son. He should have been honored since childhood and should be the most logical candidate for the crown prince.

But unfortunately... my father has been reluctant to appoint a crown prince, and instead dotes on that useless and incompetent sister.

Thinking of Wen Qianning, he became so angry that his head felt dizzy.

From childhood to adulthood, whenever she wanted to do something, her father would always satisfy her without hesitation. Just like today's banquet, there was supposed to be a toast by the princess, but she could leave at will by just making an excuse that she was not feeling well!

What was even more ridiculous was that everyone acquiesced to her departure, and no one dared to stop her. Could Wen Qianning be so presumptuous just because she relied on her father's favor?

With a sinister look in his eyes, Wen Yuanzhao sneered and cursed, "That's good... She can continue to be so arrogant, and that's because I have the protection of my father. Humph, when I ascend to the supreme throne one day, I will definitely teach this useless girl a lesson!"

Before he finished speaking, footsteps were heard outside the palace door.

"Zhao'er."

Accompanied by a familiar female voice, a graceful and elegant woman walked into the hall.

Seeing the mess in her son's bedroom, Concubine Zheng frowned, but she did not scold him immediately. She just waved away the servants and slowly walked over.

"What's wrong with you?" She raised her hand and stroked her son's angry brow, her tone neither hurried nor slow. "The sacrifice has just ended, and you're making such a commotion. If your father hears about it, wouldn't it be very inappropriate?"

Wen Yuanzhao turned around abruptly, his eyes reddening, and practically roared, "Mother! Can't you see? Although my father didn't do anything today, he has clearly stated his stance. He has no intention of making me the Crown Prince!"

"Why do you think so?" Hearing him say this, Concubine Zheng was shocked. She didn't understand why Wen Yuanzhao suddenly said this, and asked in a deep voice.

"Sacrifice is a grand ceremony for the nation. According to tradition, if the emperor intends to pass on the throne, he will take this opportunity to hint in public..." Wen Yuanzhao snorted coldly, his anger boiling. "But what about father? He just let me stand aside! He didn't give me anything to do. Isn't this clearly showing that he doesn't trust me?"

At the end of his words, he raised his hand again, and another cup was thrown down and shattered into pieces.

Seeing this, Concubine Zheng frowned and had to comfort the eldest prince: "Zhao'er, be careful with your words! Your father has always been a deep and thoughtful person. How can we easily guess his thoughts? He hasn't appointed a crown prince yet, perhaps he has other considerations."

"Does he have other considerations?" A cold smile appeared in Wen Yuanzhao's eyes. "Besides me, who else does he want to establish as his successor? The Second Prince is mediocre, the Third Prince is cowardly, and those side branches are even less worthy! Could it be that he really wants to establish that arrogant and disrespectful princess as his successor?"

Mentioning Wen Qianning, his eyes grew even more sinister. "She relies on my father's favor and always does whatever she wants! Mother, do you remember that I only schemed against that Dayan hostage at the racecourse? And then, to avenge that hostage, she snatched away all my fine horses! Who is she? What gives her the right to be so arrogant?"

There was silence for a moment, and Concubine Zheng's eyes were dark and unclear.

She knew, of course, that Princess Zhaohua was now the emperor's most vulnerable position, and no one dared to touch her. Even she, despite being a noble concubine, could not say a single word against her in front of Emperor Xuanping.

"How is that possible, Zhao'er? Princess Zhaohua is just a woman, after all. How could the throne possibly fall on her?" The woman sighed. "It's just that... Zhaohua is different from others. If you confront her, you will only anger your father. At this moment, we can't afford to offend her."

"I can't afford to offend her?" Wen Yuanzhao's eyes grew colder, his chest rising and falling violently. "Mother, are you afraid of her too? She's just a useless woman!"

"Be careful with your words!" Imperial Concubine Zheng interrupted harshly, then lowered her voice, glanced around, and confirmed that no one was eavesdropping before she spoke coldly, "You know how much your father dotes on her. If she were truly wronged, the entire harem would be in turmoil for her. If you challenge her now, wouldn't you be courting your own destruction?"

Wen Yuanzhao clenched his fists, the hatred in his eyes almost bursting out, and he gritted his teeth.

"So, as long as she's around, I'll never be at peace?"

Concubine Zheng's eyes flickered, and she said helplessly, "That's right."

Feeling the rage burning in his chest transform into a full sense of unwillingness, Wen Yuanzhao was silent for a while, then suddenly sneered, "If that's the case, how can I just sit there and wait for death?"

Concubine Zheng was puzzled for a moment and was about to speak when she saw that her son was lost in his own thoughts.

"My father is in good health. I wonder how many more years he can remain in power. If I really want to wait for him to personally pass on the throne, I'm afraid I won't be able to do that in my lifetime..." Wen Yuanzhao said in a daze, "In that case, we can only force him to abdicate."

"Are you crazy? Don't talk nonsense! If you dare to do such a treasonous thing, what will happen if something happens?" When Concubine Zheng heard such rebellious remarks, she was frightened and quickly covered Wen Yuanzhao's mouth, fearing that he would say something horrifying again.

"Mother, don't you understand? If I don't take action first, I will be forced to death sooner or later! Since my father's mind is unpredictable, I will seize it myself! As long as I ascend the throne, the world will be mine!"

A dangerous light gradually appeared in Wen Yuanzhao's eyes.

The mother and son stared at each other for a long time. There was nothing she could do, so she could only ask in a trembling voice, "But...how are you going to force me?"

After a moment, Wen Yuanzhao uttered two words:

"Leverage."

"Borrow force?" Concubine Zheng was shocked. She probably guessed what the so-called "borrow force" meant.

"You want to collude with foreign nations?" Her eyes widened. "Do you know what a sin that is? You... might even lose your life for this!"

"The victors are kings and the losers are bandits. When I ascend to the throne, who will dare to accuse me of treason? Then, they will only sing my praises and say that I am destined to be king!"

Wen Yuanzhao's voice was firm and filled with tremendous ambition.

Concubine Zheng looked at him and knew that once he had such an idea, she could not persuade him for a while, so she could only slowly dissuade him from the idea.

She suppressed her fear and gently advised, "But Zhao'er, do you know what your mother is most worried about right now?"

"My father's mind is unpredictable. He has been reluctant to appoint me as the crown prince. Isn't this enough to worry about?" Wen Yuanzhao said in a cold voice with a sinister look on his face.

"No." Concubine Zheng shook her head, a calculating glint in her eyes. "Mother is worried about Zhaohua. As you said, she is our biggest rival right now."

Seeing that Wen Yuanzhao was somewhat persuaded, Concubine Zheng narrowed her eyes and continued to persuade him patiently: "So, what you should do most right now is not to rush to compete with your father, but to move her first."

"Touch her?" A cold light flashed in Wen Yuanzhao's eyes, with a hint of doubt.

The corners of Concubine Zheng's mouth curled up in a cold expression. This sinister look was exactly the same as Wen Yuanzhao's. "Although she is favored, she is still a woman after all, and women cannot escape marriage... If we can do something about this matter and ruin her reputation, even if she regains the emperor's favor, what good will it do?"

Hearing this, Wen Yuanzhao was stunned for a moment, then his eyes suddenly brightened: "What does mother mean?"

"It's very simple." Concubine Zheng said slowly, "Doesn't she like to protect that proton? How about, it becomes her and that proton..."

The flickering candlelight in the hall made the calculations in her eyes and brows even clearer.

"Mother...what does this mean?"

"All it takes is a well-planned love potion to drug both her and the hostage, and they'll be uncontrollably incestuous." Concubine Zheng smiled nonchalantly. "Your father dotes on her immensely, but if one day he witnesses his beloved daughter having an affair with a foreign hostage, what will he do?"

Was it uncontrollable anger? Was it extreme shame and indignation?

Or do you want to ground her immediately and find someone to marry her off?

"That's right..." Wen Yuanzhao had obviously expected this outcome. He gritted his teeth and whispered, a sickly glint in his eyes. "What father cares about most is his reputation! He can indulge her in her coquettishness and let her act out, but if she violates the royal etiquette... offends his dignity, father will definitely not dote on her like this anymore!"

Concubine Zheng smiled softly and stroked her son's head. "Zhao'er, you must remember that what truly crushes a person is never external forces, but themselves. If Princess Zhaohua embarrasses herself, no amount of favor can save her."

"Mother is indeed wise." Wen Yuanzhao was satisfied, his brows relaxed and he smiled.

Having solved a big problem, he relaxed, turned around and sat down, crossed his legs cynically, with a cold and ruthless expression.

That hostage... hmph, a fitting match for his spoiled sister. Ji Hanlin's background was already awkward, and he was only a hostage in Xuanping. If any scandal broke out between him and Zhaohua, his father would surely be furious, and Dayan, the hostage behind him, would also be implicated. It was truly the best of both worlds.

This would not only ruin Zhaohua's reputation, but also sow discord between the two countries. By then, his father's attention would be scattered, and the court would be shaken, which would be the perfect opportunity for him to take the lead.

"Zhao'er, mother will arrange everything for you, but you need to be careful about this matter. If others find out, it will only bring disaster upon you."

"Don't worry, mother. I understand."

The resentment in Wen Yuanzhao's heart turned into cold determination. He closed his eyes, and scenes of Wen Qianning, who was spoiled and arrogant, flashed through his mind...

He was so arrogant and wanton, and he would definitely tear apart everything she had now.

The flickering candlelight cast a half-bright and half-dark shadow on the faces of the two people in the room, making them look particularly sinister and fierce.

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