Chapter 99 The Queen Raises the Prince
In the twelfth month, there was a battle at the border, resulting in serious casualties.
There was heavy snow and a shortage of food and fodder. The soldiers were hungry and cold and the situation was critical.
When the news reached the court, it was immediately in an uproar, with everyone worried about the situation at the border.
Xiao Heng pondered for a long time, and finally used his arm strength that he had hidden for many years - King Beichen.
Prince Beichen is the fifth child in the family. Although he is good at riding and shooting, he never participates in state affairs. His greatest pleasure is to travel with his lovely wife.
Everyone in the court knew that Prince Beichen was just a carefree prince and would never amount to anything great.
But only Xiao Heng knew that this was the escape route he left for himself.
Among the many princes at that time, only Prince Beichen could be on good terms with him.
It’s because they are the ones who need love the most among all the princes.
They vowed that one of them must become the best and support each other.
When he ascended the throne, he used important officials in the court to suppress those restless people.
Seeing that the court was at peace, King Beichen asked him to grant him a marriage, so that he could marry his beloved woman and then stay away from the court disputes to become a leisurely prince.
This was the dream that King Beichen had always believed in, and secondly, it was also to let those restless ministers let down their guard.
As long as he is needed in the court, he will step forward to protect his royal brother and Jing Yuan.
After receiving the imperial edict, he immediately took a large number of soldiers and food to the border for support.
After his arrival, the situation at the border gradually took a turn for the better...
Heavy snow fell for two days, and the entire palace was covered in silver, sparkling in the sunlight, with mottled light and shadows.
Inside the Qinzheng Hall, the charcoal fire was burning brightly, crackling several times in succession.
Duan Rou lazily put down the chess piece in her hand and said softly, "I thought you wouldn't let my fifth brother return to the court so soon."
Xiao Heng picked up the black piece and rubbed it in his hand, his eyes deep: "I didn't expect that the Ruan family would become ambitious so soon."
Duan Rou was slightly startled: "The Ruan family is planning a rebellion?"
Her eyes widened.
Xiao Heng shook his head slightly. "It shouldn't be the case right now, but some time ago, he was far away at the border and he submitted an impeachment memorial. And the next day, the Imperial Censor also submitted the same memorial."
"I sent secret guards to investigate, and they discovered that the two had been colluding for a long time. The daughter of the Imperial Censor even recognized Ruan Fei as her adoptive father."
Duan Rou pondered for a moment: "If they collude, then the Censorate will become a tool for them to eliminate dissidents."
Xiao Heng looked at the intricate chessboard and said, "Yes... The Imperial Censor has always been loyal, but now he has changed."
"As it happens, the Imperial Censor told me last month that his young daughter is truly devoted to me and wishes to enter the palace to serve me, without seeking any official position."
As he spoke, he smiled coldly: "Royal sister, does this sound funny to you?"
What Xiao Heng hated most was women he had never met claiming to be deeply in love with him.
In this deep love, all that is sought is status and power.
"Then, does the royal brother agree?"
"I said that there is war at the border right now, and I have no interest in the harem. I will wait until the border situation stabilizes before I discuss it."
Duan Rou frowned and pondered, "That woman is General Ruan's adopted daughter. Isn't General Ruan afraid that Concubine Yu will fall out of favor after she enters the palace? Or is it..."
She suddenly realized, and her heart was shocked: "Did they reach a consensus?"
Xiao Heng's face was solemn, and he nodded slightly. "The Jade Concubine has been childless for many years, and so has the Empress. If my guess is correct, they want her to enter the palace and support the Jade Concubine together, so as to dethrone the Empress. After one of them gives birth to a dragon heir, they will support her to ascend the throne. After that, one of them can become the Holy Mother Empress Dowager, and the other can become the Mother Empress Dowager."
"What a deep plot!" Duan Rou's usual calm and dignified demeanor instantly faded, and she said coldly: "The emperor is still alive and in the prime of his life, yet they are so impatient."
After a moment, Duan Rou thought of something and said seriously, "Royal brother, Concubine Yu is jealous. She may not be willing to let that woman into the palace."
Xiao Heng immediately understood what she meant, and his deep eyes were slightly dazed.
"Yu Fei did not lose a good chess piece."
"If she had been more obedient, I would never have taken advantage of her."
Xiao Heng's cold eyes sank slightly: "But Yu Fei... has disappointed me so much."
Duan Rou's thoughts wandered as she slowly said, "Yes, the former Jade Concubine was so pure and innocent, how could she become like this?"
This deep palace is like a huge dye vat.
No matter how pure and kind a person is, once he enters the palace, he can no longer be clean and pure.
Xiao Heng, who had lived in the deep palace since childhood, understood this truth.
Therefore, he never asked his concubines to remain true to their original intentions and be kind forever.
But this does not mean that he can tolerate his concubines being cruel and ruthless and harming the royal heirs.
The recent events and the various behind-the-scenes...
Although the various evidences did not point to Yu Fei, he knew very well in his heart that they were all related to Yu Fei.
Duan Rou sighed, "Royal brother, there is no need to feel guilty towards Concubine Yu. She has been spoiled and domineering over the years, and as the emperor, you have been very tolerant of her."
That year, Ruan Fei was in danger during an expedition and his life was hanging by a thread.
His wife was extremely heartbroken and went to the battlefield alone. Unexpectedly, she suffered from heart palpitations on the way and was already dead by the time the imperial physician arrived.
When Concubine Yu found out, she was heartbroken. Xiao Heng, feeling distressed, promoted her to the rank of Concubine Jieyushi, and from then on, he showed special favor to Concubine Yu.
Even though Concubine Yu became domineering and spoiled, Xiao Heng remained tolerant as always, remembering her father's military achievements and her deceased mother.
Perhaps because of this, Concubine Yu became even more reckless in the palace, and her hands gradually extended to the concubines and the royal heirs.
As they were speaking, the queen came with the eldest prince.
The deeper the love, the more severe the criticism.
Ever since the Queen brought the eldest prince to apologize in person, and seeing that Xiao Cheng'an was remorseful, Xiao Heng could no longer bear to ignore him.
After all, he was his first son, and he experienced the anticipation and joy of being a father for the first time through him.
Xiao Cheng'an stepped forward politely and said to Xiao Heng and Princess Duanrou, "Your son pays his respects to the Emperor and the Empress."
Duanrou loved children the most. She immediately smiled and waved to Xiao Chengan, saying, "Come here, An'er. Auntie hasn't seen you for several months."
Xiao Cheng'an walked over and said with a smile, "I miss you aunt so much, too."
Duan Rou smiled very kindly, held him in her arms, and said softly, "You are too heavy. If auntie doesn't hold you now, I'm afraid I won't be able to hold you anymore."
Looking at Xiao Chengan's long-lost bright smile, Xiao Heng's expression gradually softened.
"Ean'er, can you let your aunt take you downstairs to play?"
Duan Rou understood and took Xiao Cheng'an's hand and said, "Come on, Auntie will go out with you to play Eagle Catches Chicken."
After hearing this, Xiao Chengan's eyes lit up, sparkling with endless childlike innocence.
"Yeah! Let's play eagle catches chicken."
So he skipped out with Duanrou.
Xiao Heng turned to look at the queen and saw that she was looking at An'er's back with gentle eyes, her face as warm as jade.
"The Queen likes An'er very much?"
The Queen turned around and said with a smile, "An'er is clever and adorable. I like him very much, especially his little face, which turns bright red when he runs."
As she spoke, the queen's eyes were as gentle as water, and her love was beyond words.
"Then An'er will be given to the Queen to raise."
The Queen was slightly stunned when she heard this. Even though she had thought that An'er would eventually be raised by her, she still couldn't suppress her joy after hearing this. Her breathing became rapid, and she was both nervous and surprised.
She quickly lifted her skirt and bowed, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your trust. I will do my best to treat An'er as my own."
Xiao Heng helped her up with a smile: "I believe in the Queen."
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