Chapter 150: Palace coup, Lord Chen helps Prince Yu ascend the throne

Yun Qiao could hear what Nian Nian was thinking, but this idiot always said only half of what she wanted to say and never said the rest, which made Yun Qiao anxious.

Chen Jingyan stayed in the princess's mansion for a few days, of course, without telling the emperor.

The emperor has not been in good health recently, the people in the palace are in panic, and the prince is busy preparing to inherit the throne, so no one cares about him, the Marquis of Zhenbei.

Chen Jingyan seems to be living a leisurely life in the princess's mansion, but in fact he is waiting.

Chen Jingyan has been back for five or six days. Except for the first three days when he was passionate about her and would hold her tightly at night.

He seemed to be in poor health these days and came to see her very late every night. Yun Qiao was really not used to it.

The three children went to bed early today. Yun Qiao heard that Chen Jingyan was in her study. She was worried that the big gold bricks she hid in the study would be discovered, so she wanted to go and see what Chen Jingyan was doing in the study.

I only brought my maid Xiaotao with me.

As soon as I reached the door of the study, I heard the voices of Chen Jingyan talking in low voices to the guards from inside the room.

"...If nothing unexpected happens, the prince wants to ascend the throne early. He's arranged his men in advance. If the prince and his followers lead troops into the palace, they will be immediately surrounded and suppressed. One more thing, keep an eye on Tang Mingyao and prevent him from entering the city."

As soon as Chen Jingyan finished speaking, he saw a shadow at the door.

"Who is it?"

The secret guard also reacted and was about to use his hidden weapon, but was stopped by Chen Jingyan.

Yun Qiao was also afraid that she would be mistaken for an enemy, so she immediately said, "It's me. I wanted to look for something in the study. I didn't know you were talking inside, so I'm leaving now."

"Everyone is here, come in and talk."

It was Chen Jingyan's voice.

Yun Qiao asked Xiao Tao to wait at the door, and she pushed the door open and walked inside.

"My Lord..."

Chen Jingyan smiled and waved at her.

Yun Qiao was extremely panicked at this moment. Could it be that Chen Jingyan found out that she had heard their plan and wanted to kill her to silence her?

"My Lord, I really didn't hear anything just now."

"I believe you." Chen Jingyan continued, "Come to me."

"I have something good to tell you."

Yun Qiao: …???

Look at how he smiles. He doesn't look like a good person.

What good thing could happen? Look at the way he smiles, as if he is going to get married.

"After some time, we can get married."

When Yun Qiao approached him, Chen Jingyan reached out and pulled her to sit on his lap, "We should have gotten married a long time ago."

Yun Qiao said softly, "Actually, it's pretty good for us to be like this. Even though we're not married, we're living a married life, aren't we? What did I do that made you unhappy?"

And they have to get married.

After getting married, there are more constraints and restrictions.

She is not an ancient woman, and in fact she is not opposed to having a child out of wedlock.

As long as you have money, can you not support your children?

Chen Jingyan squeezed her palm and said, "If you really do what you said, you won't get away with it."

"I can't let you get away with it."

He said it deliberately.

Yun Qiao thought about it and decided to tell him.

"I heard what you said just now, Lord Marquis. Who do you support as emperor? Is it His Royal Highness Prince Yu?"

His Royal Highness Prince Yu is at the border. If he wants to ascend the throne, he certainly cannot stay in the border village at this time, otherwise, it will be too late to seize the throne.

Chen Jingyan could naturally hear what Yun Qiao was thinking.

He didn't say anything, but just held Yun Qiao's hand a little tighter.

"His Royal Highness Prince Yu is my cousin, why can't I support him? If I support him, when he becomes the emperor in the future, Concubine Chen will be my aunt, which will benefit me, right?"

Yun Qiao followed his words.

"But we must be sure that nothing goes wrong. His Royal Highness Prince Yu is too far away at the border, so he should return first and stay by the Emperor's side."

"Don't wait until the time is right and then no one shows up. Isn't that just wasting time?"

Chen Jingyan's smile became even wider.

"Whatever you can think of, I have also thought of."

"But this matter must be kept secret."

Yun Qiao sat on his lap and shifted his hips. "Can't you even tell me this?"

Chen Jingyan put his hand on her waist and bit her ear.

"Secret."

Yun Qiao snorted and pushed him away, but the man didn't let her go. He hugged her and smiled.

He didn't go home that night and made trouble in the study twice. The maid who was guarding outside saw it. The marquis carried the princess back to the bedroom.

It’s pretty good that Chen Jingyan is back this time.

Yunqiao didn't feel tired when weaning, and she did it easily.

But the little cub was unhappy and resisted drinking milk at first, but later he was too hungry and started to eat.

Chen Jingyan was suddenly summoned into the palace one day.

As for what happened in the palace, no one knew. By the time Yun Qiao was summoned to the palace, the emperor was already dying.

She went to the Emperor's Holy Virtue Hall with Empress Chen.

The emperor's sons were standing outside the dragon bed. The oldest was over forty years old and was the emperor's first son who became virgin at the age of sixteen. The youngest was only five years old this year and was kneeling on the ground, not knowing what was going on.

All I could hear was the princes and nobles crying uncontrollably.

"Father, Father..."

"Royal brother, Royal brother..."

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

The crying sound filled the entire Shengde Hall, and Yun Qiao, Concubine Chen, and other concubines were kneeling outside.

Everyone had obviously prepared mourning clothes long ago, wearing white clothes and white flowers in their hair.

Yun Qiao changed into new clothes when she came. She came to the palace to attend a funeral, so it was not convenient for her to dress up, and she came in a simple manner.

She also cried a few times.

She didn't dare cry too realistically. After all, she was just crowned Princess Huayang. How could her feelings be that deep?

Who would believe her?

In the crowd, Yun Qiao immediately spotted Chen Jingyan, who was wearing a bright red official uniform.

Sure enough, men at work are the most attractive.

She tilted her head and looked over, meeting Chen Jingyan's gaze, which was cold and emotionless.

She was startled and immediately lowered her head.

Chen Jingyan was accompanied by a group of guards, holding something wrapped in golden cloth in his hands.

"My princes and lords, this is the imperial edict issued by the emperor before his death. Please, Eunuch Li De, please tell everyone..."

Chen Jingyan was wearing a long sword, and behind him stood a dozen guards with swords, just to prevent the princes and nobles from rebelling and seizing the throne.

After Chen Jingyan finished speaking, he looked at everyone and continued, "However, before the imperial edict is made public, we must wait a moment. His Royal Highness Prince Yu has learned that the emperor has ascended to heaven and is on his way at full speed. He has already entered the capital..."

The most important person among the servants was the Crown Prince, who immediately scolded him, "Chen Jingyan, who do you think you are? This is our royal family's business. What does it have to do with an outsider like you?"

"Prince Yu has a long journey ahead of him. It's good enough that he has the filial piety to show. There's no need to rush all this way."

"I am the Crown Prince. Now that my father has passed away, it is my right to inherit the throne. As for the remaining matters, I will take the overall situation into consideration and take full responsibility. All uncles, brothers and sisters in the royal family should take their status and positions into consideration."

His Royal Highness the King of Shang, whose fiefdom is in Shang, is the most dissatisfied.

"Second brother, what do you mean by that? You, the crown prince, have been deposed by our father several times. You have no idea what's going on. Your father was pissed off to death because of you. This emperor will definitely not be you."

The prince looked at the King of Shang and started to argue with him.

"If the throne isn't passed on to me, how can it possibly be yours? You spend all day doing carpentry, and yet you still want to be the emperor? Are you planning on becoming emperor and bringing all the people under you to do carpentry?"

"Get out of this prince's way."

Chen Jingyan watched the brothers killing each other.

Cold eyes.

Before his death, the emperor had clearly stated verbally that at that time, there were Chen Jingyan, Master Pang, and the eunuch Li De.

Later, in order to ensure that everything would go smoothly, Chen Jingyan went to issue the imperial edict privately.

He had his own way of seeing things clearly.

It seems that the time is almost up.

Chen Jingyan said to the people below, "Open the door and welcome His Royal Highness Prince Yu."

Soon, Prince Yu followed the guards into the Shengde Hall.

"Father, I came too late and was unable to see you for the last time. Father, I know your good intentions. You sent me to the frontier to train me. Now I understand, but it is too late. I cannot fulfill my filial duty in front of you."

"It is my son's unfilial behavior..."

Prince Yu knelt on the ground, crying tears and snot.

He had changed into mourning clothes halfway through the journey, and they were now dirty. Concubine Chen immediately asked the palace maid to get the mourning clothes she had prepared in advance and quickly change Prince Yu into them.

"Your Highness, the Emperor has passed away. The country cannot remain without a ruler for even a day. Your Majesty has issued an edict, and everyone is waiting. Please accept your condolences and listen to the edict."

Prince Yu immediately raised his hand and wiped away his tears.

"Thank you, Marquis Zhenbei, for announcing the decree."

Only then did Chen Jingyan look at the eunuch Li De.

"General Manager Li, announce the decree."

Only then did Li De open the imperial edict.

"By the Will of Heaven, the Emperor decrees that I, now advanced in years, have reached the end of my term... I hereby pass the throne to Prince Yu..."

After hearing the contents of the imperial edict, Prince Yu knelt down and kowtowed, crying even louder.

"Don't worry, father. I will definitely live up to your expectations."

After hearing the contents of the imperial edict, the prince was the most incredulous and immediately reached out to grab it.

"This imperial edict is fake. I am the crown prince. How could my father pass the throne to Prince Yu?"

"This prince wants to verify the imperial edict."

Chen Jingyan stepped forward, sword in hand, and said, "I'm afraid you're no longer the crown prince. The edict contains a sentence at the end: depose the crown prince."

"Chen Jingyan, you bastard, you must have forged the imperial edict. The emperor will not pass it to Prince Yu. I am the crown prince, and the throne should be mine."

King Shang, who had always disliked the Crown Prince, immediately took the lead and said, "Welcome to the Emperor! Long live the Emperor..."

The people below knelt down.

The new emperor ascended the throne and arranged the emperor's funeral, while the princes and grandchildren observed mourning at home.

Chen Jingyan naturally had no time to rest, and Yun Qiao was taken into the palace by Concubine Chen to stay overnight. The next morning, she was sent out according to the palace rules.

Prince Yu is the new emperor, so naturally he has to observe mourning in the palace.

At the same time, people still need to deal with things on the border.

Chen Jingyan was called into the imperial study by the new emperor, Prince Yu.

In addition to Chen Jingyan, there were also Taifu Pang, Prince Mingyu of Rui, and people from the Shangshufang, all gathered here.

Prince Yu is now the new Emperor Showa, and he looks at Chen Jingyan who remains silent.

"The Marquis of Zhenbei is now the Deputy General of the Northeast. How will you arrange the military affairs of the Northeast? This matter will be handed over to you for the time being. In addition, you will be responsible for the arrangement and escort of Princess Yu and several princes."

Chen Jingyan said, "Your Majesty, I have already made all the arrangements you mentioned. If nothing unexpected happens, Princess Yu will be able to enter the palace in three days."

"As for the Northeast, the emperor still needs to issue an order to temporarily control Tang Mingyao under the pretext of privately buying and selling troops. Currently, there are still people in the court who support the prince's party."

Grand Tutor Pang echoed, "I second the opinion. What the Marquis of Zhenbei said is the best strategy. The Tang family is extremely powerful in the capital, and there is also the Zhou family. Your Majesty is often at the border, not in the capital. I wonder how long the capital has been occupied by the Crown Prince and his faction. They have formed cliques for personal gain and are controlling the government."

The late emperor's health has declined in recent years, and he hasn't witnessed anything happening outside the court. Even if someone presented him with evidence of what the crown prince had done, he wouldn't believe it."

Emperor Showa naturally knew this.

He had been corresponding with his cousin Chen Jingyan for a long time.

My cousin told him a lot of things in the letter.

He had no intention of becoming emperor at first. It can be said that he was led step by step to this position by his cousin.

"I am not in Kyoto for many years. From now on, I will have to trouble the Grand Tutor and the ministers with the affairs of the court."

"I shall serve the Emperor."

Several people said in unison.

After a few words, the court tasks were arranged, Chen Jingyan was left behind, and the rest of the people withdrew.

"Cousin, there's no one here with you now, sit down and talk."

Emperor Showa spoke intimately with Chen Jingyan.

"Your Majesty, cousin, rest assured. I will never hesitate to do what I should do. But I still want to remind you that you cannot be too kind to the Crown Prince. The Tang family is too powerful, and the Princess's family is too ordinary."

"After the one-year mourning period for the late emperor, you will have much to consider."

The princess that Prince Yu married was the daughter of a civil official. She had no power and could not help Prince Yu.

He is most likely to choose a concubine, and filling his harem is secondary.

Mainly the use of power.

The late emperor had not yet been buried, so Chen Jingyan had to stay in the palace to take care of the funeral and at the same time protect the safety of Emperor Zhaohe.

***

Yun Qiao stayed up all night in the palace, and after returning to the princess's mansion, she took the time to catch up on her sleep.

Fortunately, the three children were quiet and Yunqiao slept well all day.

"You're awake. You've been sleeping for so long, and I was really worried."

"I'm very sleepy. I slept for a long time. Bring the three children to me. I missed them a lot last night."

Xiao Tao smiled and said, "Aunt Xiu is in charge of the Princess's residence. Now that the whole country is in mourning, all food and drink expenses must be cut in half. I'm afraid you'll have to use your private property."

Yun Qiao hummed, "Xiao Tao, bring me the clothes I wore when I came back."

Xiaotao obediently went to get the clothes.

Yun Qiao took out some banknotes from her inner shirt. She thought about the day when she met Chen Jingyan. He didn't say anything, but suddenly handed her some banknotes. She felt strange at the time.

Now thinking about it, Chen Jingyan has calculated it well.