Chapter 174: Kindness
The eldest princess suddenly attacked Song Guang, but Crown Prince Zhao Xuanyi was unaware of it.
This is different from the previous plan.
The eldest princess said that the action would take place on April 30th.
The emperor is not in the palace, and although the Qianniu Guards remain, they will not obey her orders.
So at that time, Cui Yanzhi would need to lead the Eastern Palace guards to ambush at Xuande Gate.
As soon as Song Guang enters the palace, he will be arrested immediately.
Zhao Xuanyi sent someone to Xuande Gate to inquire about the news today, but there was no movement.
The candles in the East Palace were still burning, and Zhao Xuanyi was having his court robes and jade belt adjusted by palace maids as he prepared to go to the Council Hall for the morning meeting.
The person in the bronze mirror is handsome and noble, but there is a lingering trace of fatigue in his eyes.
The game between the eldest princess, Song Guang, and him became more and more intense.
"Your Highness, it's time to set off." Cui Yanzhi reminded softly outside the hall.
Just as Zhao Xuanyi was about to take a step, he heard hurried footsteps outside the hall.
"Your Highness, something has happened."
Eunuch Wei, the Crown Prince's personal attendant, looked more distraught than ever before. "The Princess has arrested the Minister of the Central Secretariat."
Zhao Xuanyi took two steps forward, his voice suddenly cold, "When did it happen?"
How could you change your mind at the last minute?
"Just now, the eldest princess arrested the Minister of the Central Secretariat for treason and took him to the Ministry of Justice." Eunuch Wei was shocked.
He served the prince and knew that the prince had been completely deceived by the princess.
The hall was eerily quiet.
A hint of anger welled up in Zhao Xuanyi's eyes.
He sincerely joined forces with his aunt, but she deceived him like this?
"Where did the princess mobilize the troops from?" He spoke in a rare harsh tone.
Eunuch Wei said, "I have the imperial order and have transferred the Qianniu Guards."
Zhao Xuanyi's expression changed, and his wide sleeves overturned a palace lantern.
No wonder he didn't allow the Qianniu Guards to accompany him, but asked Hou Xu to mobilize the imperial guards instead.
"When did she get the warrant?"
No one could answer his question.
Eunuch Wei said stubbornly, "The Princess has sent someone to ask Your Highness to go to the Council Hall immediately."
After he finished speaking, he took two steps on his knees, anxiously saying, "Your Highness, you can't go."
Cui Yanzhi also came in and stepped forward quickly, "Your Highness, why don't you use the excuse of being sick? If the princess has ill intentions, it may be harmful to you."
He frowned, "We have no idea what other tricks the princess has up her sleeve."
Zhao Xuanyi had never been so anxious and uneasy.
He knew his aunt's ambition, but it was a bit too much.
During this period, the aunt and nephew joined forces and were quite influential in the court, which was pretty good.
His aunt was always kind to him.
Also called him, "Ayi."
He even thought that it would be good for him and his aunt to continue like this.
His aunt had a shrewdness in handling government affairs that Zhao Xuanyi had never seen in the Empress Dowager Song or the Emperor.
With her, the dynasty will be more prosperous.
In the future, when his father passes away, he will succeed to the throne as the legitimate crown prince and will confer the title of Grand Princess of the Nation on his aunt.
He would marry Yuan Rong, and their child would become the new crown prince.
But his aunt actually hid something from him.
And Yuan Rong.
Zhao Xuanyi felt a little sad and bitter.
She must have gone to the palace to get the emperor's order.
It was Hou Xu who helped her.
The move came too fast and too hard, leaving him no time to react.
Zhao Xuanyi took a deep breath and cheered himself up, "She doesn't dare to kill me."
At least not now.
She cherishes her reputation.”
There was already great resistance to the empress's ascension to the throne.
If he were to be branded with the stigma of regicide and nephew-killing, all parties would be dissatisfied and the dynasty would be in turmoil.
It was unusually quiet outside the Council Hall. The civil and military officials who were supposed to be lined up were nowhere to be seen. Only the Thousand Oxen Guards were guarding the hall gate.
Stepping into the hall, the place where ministers used to hold meetings was empty.
Only the eldest princess was wearing a crimson robe, sitting on the armchair set up for the regent, and reviewing memorials with a red pen.
Pei Jingming stood by her side and greeted the prince with an indifferent expression when he came in.
When the eldest princess heard the noise, she didn't even raise her head and started writing on the memorial with a red pen.
"Ayi is here."
Zhao Xuanyi stepped forward and bowed, "Greetings, Aunt."
This posture is more like a subject meeting the king.
The princess then put down her pen and asked, "What are your plans for the future?"
Zhao Xuanyi's heart skipped a beat.
Intend?
What should he do?
Asking to depose the crown prince and hand over the throne to the eldest princess?
Zhao Xuanyi's mood could no longer be peaceful.
"My nephew will do his best to share Father's worries."
He will not admit defeat.
After hearing his answer, the princess looked at him for a moment, threw the manuscript in her hand on the table, and said with a meaningful smile, "Okay."
Ever since Song Guang was arrested, the two people who were originally allies have stood on opposite sides.
"For what crime did Auntie have the Minister of the Central Secretariat imprisoned?"
Zhao Xuanyi asked the question even though he knew the answer. He just wanted to hear what the eldest princess had to say.
"Treason."
"Why are you plotting treason?" Zhao Xuanyi continued to ask.
The eldest princess saw through him, a hint of sarcasm on her face, "Don't you know, Crown Prince? The Song family secretly raised secret guards to murder officials in the court."
"Has the Minister of the Central Secretariat confessed?"
"No need for his tricks," the eldest princess jokingly said, "Red Shadow is the most powerful evidence."
Zhao Xuanyi's heart sank, and he became increasingly uneasy. "Aunt, are you saying you've found Chi Ying?"
The eldest princess' smile turned strange. "Prince, you are the crown prince of a country, how can you be so timid?"
Zhao Xuanyi, who was being scolded for no reason, was really confused and said, "Aunt, please enlighten me."
"No matter how powerful Chi Ying is, can he compare to the Imperial Guards?" the eldest princess said. "I don't need to look for him. When the Imperial Guards are deployed, every inch of the land will be uncovered. Where can a mere secret guard hide?"
"You are the crown prince. You should understand that if you truly hold power, you don't need to waste your energy on trivial matters."
Zhao Xuanyi was unable to speak for a long time.
His aunt never cared about Chiying, who he couldn't get?
But he still had doubts, "How can the Imperial Guards be mobilized without authorization?"
"If I say it's possible, it's possible."
The princess didn't want to talk to him any more. "Go and see your grandfather. He's in the prison of the Ministry of Justice."
When Zhao Xuanyi walked out of the council hall, his mood became heavy.
"Your Highness," Cui Yanzhi's expression grew even more solemn. "The news from outside the palace is that a fire broke out at the Song family's residence, and Princess Jiaping has left the palace and captured the leader of the Red Shadow."
Zhao Xuanyi remained silent, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.
The red shadow disappeared just like that.
Now, his only advantage over his aunt is his status as the legitimate crown prince.
Zhao Xuanyi didn't know where to start for a moment.
"Let's go to the Ministry of Justice first."
Song Guang had been in the imperial court for many years and had numerous followers.
It is impossible for the princess to cut off all of them.
If he could win these people over, he might be able to succeed to the throne smoothly.
Zhao Xuanyi was in deep thought all the way.
The eldest princess is more passive than him. He only needs to avoid being caught wrong and deposed as the crown prince, and live well, and he will be the rightful heir to the throne.
After he left, the eldest princess also sighed, "I, out of consideration for our bloodline, had hoped he would be more understanding, but he seems unwilling to give in."
Pei Jingming chuckled softly, "Your Highness is always so soft-hearted towards the Zhao family."
The eldest princess said quietly, "I am indeed too kind."
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