Chapter 772 Game Theory
"For example, King Chu is foolish and easy to control, and Wenxi is King Chu's wife, so their child will be the crown prince. With a crown prince, wouldn't King Chu be able to abdicate and pass the throne to a more worthy successor...? Something like that?"
Lady Wen's face paled, and she hurriedly waved her hands, denying it outright: "No, absolutely not! I, I just find it a little hard to accept that a woman has ever become empress."
The Empress smiled and patted Lady Wen's hand reassuringly, "It's good that Mother has no other thoughts."
Madam Wen forced a smile and said repeatedly, "No, no, absolutely not."
"That's good." The Empress smiled warmly and held Lady Wen's hand, showing no intention of letting go.
Soon, news came from the Imperial Study again.
"Your Majesty, news has come from the Imperial Study...it says..."
The palace maid looked at the Empress with a frightened expression, then at the Lady Wen sitting next to the Empress. She swallowed hard, looking hesitant and as if she wanted to say something but dared not.
A sudden unease gripped Madam Wen's heart, and she cried out in alarm, "Why are you stammering? Speak quickly, what has happened in the Imperial Study this time?"
The palace maid flinched in fear and turned to look at the Empress.
The Empress nodded slightly and said in a cool voice, "Speak, and I will pardon you."
The palace maid then said in a trembling voice, "News just came from the Imperial Study, saying that the Marquis of Yongchang plotted a rebellion and was personally beheaded by Commander Wen in the Imperial Study."
Upon hearing this, the hall fell into a deathly silence.
Madam Wen coughed up a mouthful of blood and fainted immediately.
***
In the imperial study, facing the combined pressure from civil and military officials to abdicate, Emperor Xiaozhao's face remained icy cold.
Just then, Li Jingyue, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up: "Father, the eldest brother, the Crown Prince, has been deposed, the third brother, the Prince of Qi, has been demoted, the fifth brother, the Prince of Chu, is no longer fit for important positions, and the seventh sister is unfilial and disrespectful to her brothers, and has even forced the emperor to abdicate and plotted rebellion."
"The throne of Da Yan should not be entrusted to such a person!"
Li Jingyue walked to the front of the crowd with his head held high and said with great poise, "Father, I recommend myself as the Crown Prince. I hope you will consider my application."
These words stunned everyone once again.
Li Jingyue?
Why is she joining in this fun?
Standing behind Li Sanqi were more than 70% of the civil and military officials of the current dynasty.
But who is behind Li Jingyue?
How dare she utter such arrogant words? Like snatching food from a tiger's mouth?
However, something unexpected happened.
Just after Li Jingyue spoke, the Marquis of Yongning, who had originally supported Li Sanqi, was the first to chime in: "Your Majesty, I believe that Princess Liyang is of pure and kind nature, sincere and filial, and is capable of shouldering great responsibilities."
Qiao Qinghe turned to look at Marquis Yongning, and saw that he was calm and composed, as if he had been prepared for this, and it was clear that this was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.
She then turned to look at Zhong Hao and Liu Wenyan.
Zhong Hao wore an extremely faint smile, his face showing not a trace of surprise or anger.
In contrast, Liu Wenyan's expression was much more interesting. It was a mixture of shock, confusion, and bewilderment at having his good fortune snatched away halfway through.
Anyway, no matter how you look at it, Liu Wenyan seems very suspicious.
Ironically, the more this was the case, the less suspicious she became of Liu Wenyan.
Because Liu Wenyan was like a stand-in that Min Ji deliberately pushed out.
It raises suspicions, yet seems both true and false.
But the more unpredictable something is, the more it attracts people to explore it.
When you focus too much on one person, it's easy to overlook the person you should really be focusing on.
Qiao Qinghe was observing the people around her and momentarily overlooked Madam Zheng beside her.
Just after Marquis Yongning spoke, Lady Zheng also said in a deep voice, "This humble woman also supports Princess Liyang."
Hearing the voice beside her, Qiao Qinghe suddenly withdrew her gaze from looking around and looked at Madam Zheng in astonishment.
Madam Zheng returned her an apologetic look.
I promised to listen to her in everything, but she's going to break her promise.
Previously, there was no choice.
Now that she has a choice, she naturally wouldn't choose to kill the Empress Dowager Li Sanqi again!
Even if it was just a play, she couldn't bear to betray the deceased Empress Dowager and cheer for the enemy who killed her.
Qiao Qinghe sighed silently and didn't say anything more.
Just then, the Marquis of Enping also turned his gaze toward them.
Qiao Qinghe felt a chill run down her spine.
Wen Jue represents the Yongchang Marquis's Mansion and also controls the Imperial Guards. Now, the Imperial Guards have surrounded the Imperial Study and taken control of the Imperial Palace.
He explicitly expressed his support for Li Sanqi.
Marquis Yongning was also a powerful marquis, and he supported Li Jingyue.
Madam Zheng, representing the Duke of Jin's mansion, also changed her stance and supported Li Jingyue.
Only the Marquis of Enping remains...
The decision-making power, however, was handed over to her.
Just then, Zhong Hao spoke up: "Your Majesty, this old minister is also willing to support Princess Liyang."
"Just as His Majesty said, Princess Huaiyang murdered the Empress Dowager and poisoned her elder brother. She is unfilial and fraternal, and her heart is wicked. She is not worthy to be the Crown Prince."
"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you appoint Princess Liyang as Crown Princess."
Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback.
Soon, those who had been hesitant because of Li Sanqi's flawed character instantly changed their minds with Zhong Hao and shouted that they were willing to support Li Jingyue.
Suddenly, the situation reversed.
Qiao Qinghe stared in disbelief, but her heart was in turmoil.
Zhong Hao truly deserves to be called the head of the civil officials.
His will almost represented the will of all civil officials.
He said that whoever he supported, almost everyone else would follow his choice.
At this moment, Qiao Qinghe suddenly felt lost.
She couldn't quite understand the situation at hand.
Hasn't Zhong Hao always supported Li Sanqi?
He used Fu Wenqing as a go-between to get close to Li Sanqi.
They further encouraged Li Sanqi to embark step by step on his predetermined path of no return.
Now we've reached the final step. If Li Sanqi successfully becomes the Crown Princess, Zhong Hao's plan will succeed.
But why did he suddenly abandon Li Sanqi and choose Li Jingyue at the last minute?
Is supporting Li Sanqi just a facade?
The person he really wanted to support was Li Jingyue.
Think about it, compared to the heinous Li Sanqi, wouldn't a normal person find Li Jingyue more acceptable?
Didn't Madam Zheng choose Li Jingyue so easily?
But when did Li Jingyue get involved with Zhong Hao?
Qiao Qinghe was completely baffled.
"Lady Qinghe, you and Marquis Enping have not yet expressed your opinions."
Zhong Hao's voice came, instantly pulling Qiao Qinghe back to reality from her chaotic thoughts.
Li Sanqi also turned to look at Qiao Qinghe with hopeful eyes.
Her chances of winning are slim. If Old Madam Qiao and Marquis Enping can support her, perhaps she still has a sliver of hope.
Qiao Qinghe took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "I support Princess Huaiyang!"
Seeing this, Marquis Enping also said, "I will advance or retreat with Lady Qinghe."
Li Sanqi's face lit up with joy.
Qiao Qinghe, however, subconsciously looked towards Zhong Hao.
His smile widened, as if he had expected this.
Qiao Qinghe felt her heart suddenly clench.
She fell for it!
Zhong Hao's only supporter from beginning to end was probably Li Sanqi!
Li Jingyue was just a pawn he temporarily pulled out to put on a show for her!
A flawless empress versus an empress riddled with flaws and frustrating moments—the latter is undoubtedly easier to control.
Moreover, Zhong Hao's goal was never to become a high-ranking official or wield absolute power.
And she fell for his trick again!
The only person who can manipulate her is Min Ji!
She realized once again with absolute certainty that Zhong Hao was Min Ji!
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