In Prince Qi's mansion, Wan Jinlan experienced in advance how to take care of Xiao Feng after getting married and moving into the mansion.
She might become a widow, so why should she care about the rules before marriage?
Housekeeper Wang was busy and had gone to take care of things in the mansion, leaving Wan Jinlan sitting alone in front of the couch. Looking at the person on the bed, she tightly grasped his hand and said softly but firmly, "I don't want to be a widow at such a young age. You must wake up and get better soon."
Although the unconscious Xiao Feng could not wake up, he was vaguely conscious. His body was sometimes cold and sometimes hot. At this moment, a pair of soft hands covered his hands, making his hands feel as if they were wrapped in a layer of flames, burning and scorching.
Feeling the movement in his hand, Wan Jinlan loosened his grip and saw Xiao Feng's fingers curling slightly.
Wan Jinlan stood up and wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, then whispered in his ear, "You can hear me, right? I know you can hear me. If you were gone, what would a widow like me do? By then, I'll be the master of the huge Prince Qi's Mansion. I can still do whatever I want with this mansion."
Xiao Feng, feeling trapped in a cage, thought vaguely upon hearing this. If he died, what could she do? What would she do? Could she find someone else?
The hand at his side had silently clenched into a fist.
Very good, you are conscious, but you have to hold on. Wan Jinlan smiled and touched his cheek with her finger, "I will come to see you tomorrow."
After the person left, his clenched fists did not loosen for a long time.
Outside the Taiji Palace, people were coming and going. Emperor Jian'an was quite busy because of the rebellion of Prince Guangling.
The imperial court had sent a commander-in-chief and a large army to quell the rebellion, but the military reports sent back every day only made Emperor Jian'an furious.
Because of the Yongchang Earl's Mansion, the Duke of Zhenguo had previously requested to lead troops to quell the rebellion, but was naturally rejected by the emperor. Not only that, the Duke of Zhenguo had recently not even had to go to the court or the government office.
Emperor Jian'an would not give the task of leading troops to quell the rebellion to someone who was involved with Prince Guangling, so he arranged for Marquis Wuning to go.
But the recent battle situation is not optimistic.
Emperor Jian'an's injuries had not yet healed, and he only slept two hours a day. In just half a month, his body had become much older.
Xiao Minghuan knelt outside the Taiji Palace for nearly two hours, being stared at by many courtiers and palace servants. His back remained straight, but only he knew the pain in his knees and the humiliation of being stared at by so many people. He wondered how difficult it was for him during those two hours.
When he thought his father would not see him, a palace servant came to report that he could go in.
Xiao Minghuan walked slowly, and knelt down when he entered the study. "Greetings, Father."
Emperor Jian'an took a sip of ginseng tea. A pile of memorials lay on the table, and above it stood a wooden shelf with a map hanging on it. The scent of ambergris in the imperial study was light and gentle, having a calming effect. He didn't even raise his head, and his tone was cold, without any of the warmth between father and son. "Tell me, how did you know my feelings for Concubine Lai?"
Xiao Minghuan's heart sank. Just as he had guessed, his father had finally discovered everything.
Xiao Minghuan slowly raised his head and saw Emperor Jian'an in front of him. He could not hide the shock in his eyes.
My father has become so old.
With graying temples, sunken eye sockets, wrinkles running down his face, and a body that has become much thinner and no longer looks strong, he looks even older than the old Duke Zhenguo who is already in his sixties.
He quickly lowered his eyes and sincerely admitted his mistake, "This son deserves to die. I planted spies in the palace and made my own deductions."
It wasn't that he couldn't identify Wan Qiuyu, but even if he did, his father wouldn't necessarily believe him. Most importantly, a secret corner of his heart was still hoping for a resurgence, wondering what surprises Wan Qiuyu might bring him.
Emperor Jian'an wrote in a different way, "Tell me everything, from beginning to end, without leaving out a single detail."
Emperor Jian'an wanted to investigate the whole matter thoroughly. He did not trust Queen Wang because everyone has selfish desires. Queen Wang had been in the harem for many years, and there was no guarantee that she would still be plotting after her death.
Concubine Lai was his most beloved woman, but now she was lying lifeless on the couch, and both he and her son were gone.
He had been planning for many years, gathering power in his hands, just to be able to hand over the Great Wei smoothly to the hands of his son with Lai Guiren in the future.
Now that everything was in vain, he couldn't help but seek revenge against the person who had hurt them. He had worked diligently for the Great Wei over the years and didn't want the Great Wei to fall into chaos under his control.
According to the Queen's lady-in-waiting, Concubine Chen and Prince Shun were also not innocent, but she had no solid evidence to prove it.
He always had doubts about this. Perhaps the queen said this just to take revenge on Concubine Chen Shufei.
But he had no choice. He was born with a weak constitution and had been poisoned in Tanzhou before. Although he seemed to have recovered well over the years, he was still weak inside. This time, he was injured by the Queen, and his body suddenly broke down. He could not hold on for many more years. The only suitable candidate left was Prince Shun.
If Prince Shun was also involved, even if handing over the throne to the young Seventh Prince would bring many hidden dangers, he would never let the person who harmed Liu'er inherit the throne.
After hearing Xiao Minghuan say that he would reveal the news to Prince Shun, and then Wang Quan beat Prince Rui, Emperor Jian'an's expression instantly became extremely gloomy.
After hearing the whole thing, Emperor Jian'an did not speak for a long time.
None of his sons and the women in his harem are simple.
Xiao Minghuan concealed the part about how he knew Emperor Jian'an's thoughts, and told the rest almost truthfully. After finishing, he waited anxiously.
The gaze of Emperor Jian'an that fell on him seemed to be substantial and heavy. Xiao Minghuan felt vaguely as if he was a weed growing in the snow and ice and being pressed down by a huge rock.
He mustered up his courage, touched his head to the ground, and pleaded in panic, "Father, I was wrong. I won't do it again."
He tried to use today's frankness and gentleness to awaken Emperor Jian'an's fatherly affection for him.
"I am willing to go to Yangzhou to participate in the suppression of the rebellion, to atone for my sins and beg for forgiveness, Father."
Prince Shun was clearly involved, so why was he still able to thrive in the court? This wasn't fair!
"If you want to go, then go ahead." Emperor Jian'an said coldly.
"Li Fu, issue an order. Prince Shun and the Third Prince will go to Yangzhou with General Li to quell the rebellion. In the army, they will be treated like ordinary soldiers."
Xiao Minghuan didn't expect that his father really agreed, and he almost cried with joy.
"Thank you, Father. I will definitely live up to your expectations."
In Xiao Minghuan's eyes, Emperor Jian'an's move was to test him and Prince Shun at the same time, and to give him an opportunity.
His chest was filled with excitement, and the gloom of many days was swept away, and he was instantly full of energy.
After Xiao Minghuan left in high spirits, Li Fu left the imperial study and returned a moment later to report, "Your Majesty, the steward of Prince Rui's Palace has reported that one of the concubines who previously served Your Highness is pregnant."
Emperor Jian'an suddenly looked up and said, "Take him into the palace and send him to Concubine Lai. Take good care of him and don't let the news leak out."
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