Chapter 5 Chapter 5
Emperor Yuanshuo saw that the prince was hesitant to answer, and his brows knitted slightly: "Zihui?"
Talking to one's son about a concubine's deceased husband is inherently difficult.
Whether the concubine was promised to someone before entering the palace is not a big deal. The past is gone, and delving into it will only cause trouble for yourself.
Emperor Yuan Shuo had no habit of looking for trouble, and he did not want to compare his strengths and weaknesses with his ministers. However, the more he restrained himself recently, the more these ridiculous thoughts took root in his mind and could not be shaken off. They would not subside until he got to the bottom of it.
The Crown Prince hurriedly replied, "Father, when you ask me about this, I'm a little confused. I only remember that Marquis Xiao lost his father at a young age and inherited the title early. He relied on his superb archery skills and was somewhat rebellious, often causing trouble. Among the tutors, he was the one the teachers disliked the most, and he was often reprimanded. However, he fought bravely, but unfortunately died young, and I am deeply saddened."
He recalled the chill of the sword at his throat, and Yi Niang's ruthless, resolute face. Although his expression was subtle, his tone was a little heavier. "However, someone later told me that I was secretly hoarding armor and carrying a sharp blade when entering and leaving the palace, which seemed to indicate I had some ill intentions. But the dead are gone, and I have no intention of investigating these matters."
Emperor Yuan Shuo looked at his son intently and suddenly smiled: "I remember that you used to be very close to him."
Xiao Che and the Crown Prince had known each other since childhood. In the past, the Crown Prince had often recommended people to the court. Even for the sake of their friendship, he shouldn't have mentioned these unfounded matters in front of him, unless...
"Although I married his widow, I have nothing to be ashamed of. Why should you be suspicious?"
Emperor Yuan Shuo stood up and spoke slowly, "Today, I am just reminded of the past when he and his son followed me through many battles. I feel a little sentimental."
The prince's face darkened, and when he thought of Xiao Che again, he felt a little angry in his heart.
If it weren't for the Crown Princess's scheme, he and Yi Niang would not have become estranged, and Xiao Che would not have died young.
He originally thought that after Xiao Che's death, Yi Niang would have no children to rely on, and would turn to him under the pressure of the Xiao family. However, things are unpredictable. She became his father's favorite concubine, and even he had to politely call her mother.
Chen Rongshou noticed the Crown Prince looked a bit strange and was slightly surprised. He was about to speak when he caught a glimpse of a figure in the distance. The figure quietly retreated to the door and gave a few instructions before whispering, "Your Majesty, the concubine's attendant wishes to see you."
The prince was shocked and forced a smile: "Since Concubine Wei is busy, I will take my leave first."
Emperor Yuan Shuo did not comment. The prince bowed and withdrew.
A plump palace maid, whom she was unfamiliar with, was standing in the corridor and was being led into the inner courtyard. The prince's eyes swept over her, and because she was a maidservant beside the imperial concubine, he still took a few more glances at her.
The prince's heart was slightly moved. He was the one who sent Hanxun to the private residence to serve Shen Youyi. After she was sent back to the inner court, her mother pulled out her tongue to silence her. He had guessed Yiniang's intentions and tossed and turned for several nights, but he dared not be sure.
But unexpectedly, even though she had been out of favor for nearly four months, the girl who treated him coldly and stubbornly still sent people over cautiously to test her father's feelings several times.
No matter how coincidental it was, he had seen the Tangquan Palace maids waiting outside Taiji Gate three times.
However, his father has always been tolerant towards the imperial harem. Most of the imperial concubines would find it difficult to regain his favor after falling out of favor. Although he didn't know what exactly had happened to the imperial concubine that angered his father, he also felt a little pity for her.
When she was alone in the cold palace of Tangquan Palace, did she ever think that no matter how fiercely they quarreled in their private residence in the past, he would never be willing to ignore her for such a long time?
He Luxing noticed the Crown Prince's tired look and said carefully, "Your Highness, the Crown Princess knows you've entered the palace for martial arts practice today, and she specifically instructed me to ask you to go to Xiu Yuan to pay your respects... Xiu Yuan was furious and sent messengers to the Eastern Palace to reprimand her several times."
The prince raised his hand and rubbed his brow, feeling a little annoyed. The princess's family background was only slightly better than the Shen family, and her appearance was not outstanding. He didn't understand why his mother always disliked Yi Niang, but got along well with this daughter-in-law. Now that she knew his thoughts, she would probably be furious again.
As expected, he had just arrived at the Xianju Palace and hadn't even lifted his robe to salute when his mother sneered twice, "Why do you look like this? Are you here to call a traitor to your beloved child?"
In her early years, Yang Xiuyuan had an extremely beautiful and bright appearance. Although she was not good at poetry and prose, she had a unique charm. However, her appearance changed with her heart. Over the years, only traces of resentment and harshness were left on this beautiful skin.
She entered the Eastern Palace at a young age and gave birth to the eldest son. She was the most popular woman at first, but after many years, she was still just the ninth concubine. In recent years, her temper has become more and more irritable. She only has a gentle and loving expression towards her own children and grandchildren. Today, she couldn't show a good face to the prince.
The prince was silent. Although he knew that Yang Xiuyuan was furious, he had no way to argue and did not want to say anything. He knelt down and said in a muffled voice, "My son dare not make my mother angry."
Yang Xiuyuan's face was gloomy. She ordered the maids to leave before scolding her, "You've really been blinded by greed! Did that witch named Shen drug you? You don't like the Crown Princess your father and I chose for you, but you've wasted all your energy on her. Now you're trying to wear your father's discarded old boots. I think you've lost your mind!"
After Shen Youyi entered the palace, she was really angry for a while. After she finally had some peace and quiet, that little bitch provoked her again and showed off her affair with the prince.
She not only wanted to pull out Hanxun's tongue, she even wanted to rush to Tangquan Palace and pull out the vixen's tongue as well!
The prince lowered his head. He had always been so silent and gentle towards his mother. Once his mother had vented her anger, she would feel sorry for him in return.
But today, I don’t know if it was because I was inspired by my father’s archery skills, or because I thought of Xiao Che, with whom I played together as a teenager, the anger in my heart suddenly rose to my throat and I couldn’t suppress it.
Since he was born, it seemed as if there was an invisible shackle covering him. Everyone wanted him to behave properly, be kind, filial and gentle, and his every word and action should conform to Emperor Yuan Shuo's preferences.
Just because he was not born by the empress and his mother lost the emperor's favor early on, if the second prince had not been born weak, the position of crown prince would not have come to him. Therefore, he must strive to be good, win the favor of his father, and gain the respect of all the ministers. He deserves this position.
Even though he had no say in the choice of the Crown Princess, he had been second to none since childhood, so what was there to complain about?
Only Yi Niang, the gentle and cunning Yi Niang, is the one he likes. She is beautiful and cunning, teasing him from time to time, and then biting him when the passion is strong. Sometimes he hates her for being disobedient, but he can't bear to give up her honey-like tenderness, so he can only hide her temporarily and dare not let her get pregnant.
But her mother just couldn't tolerate her. The Crown Princess pretended to be magnanimous, but secretly planned to give her to Xiao Che as his wife!
"Mother, she is weak by nature and doesn't know the cruelty of private punishment in the palace. How can she withstand such a scare from you?"
Blood rushed to his face, but he calmed down. The prince slowly raised his head and looked directly into Yang Xiuyuan's stunned face, trying his best to control his tone. "You said she was the daughter of a criminal whose household had been cancelled on the register. Once the emperor knew about this, my family and I would be implicated as well. I obeyed you. You said that I should have children with my concubines, and now I have a son and two daughters. Now I am just worried about her suffering outside. Isn't it okay to think about her in my heart?"
He often regretted that if they had a child, no matter a boy or a girl, Yi Niang would not have left him so decisively for the sake of the child.
Yang Xiuyuan was dumbfounded. She looked down at her son, but was frightened by the aggressive gaze. Instead, her voice dropped and she scolded him, "Zihui, she's your father's woman. Even if your father gets tired of her and throws her away, it's none of your business!"
Ever since that enchantress from the Shen family became the daughter of the Duke of Yan, she has been entangled with the Pepper Palace. The Queen hopes that she will whisper in her ear and pull the Crown Prince down from the position of heir apparent, but her own son is still thinking about her. It's simply ridiculous!
The prince chuckled. His mother had always been like this. If she sensed any signs of rebellion in him, she would bring out his father to suppress him.
He is second only to one person, but there is still a sky above his head. Even if he is only one step away from that position, it is as high as a mountain.
His mother already knew what he was thinking, and the Crown Prince made no effort to conceal it: "Yi Niang is my woman first, and then my father's concubine. If there is anything wrong, it should be my father who shouldn't take her in. How can it be my son who is overstepping his bounds!"
He buried this thought deep in his heart, but he also really wanted to know: if his father knew that the so-called Concubine Wei was the girl who had been in love with his eldest son, would he still have any interest in her?
"presumptuous!"
Yang Xiuyuan was so angry she almost wanted to reach out, but her eyes fell on his ochre robe. She suppressed her anger, rubbing her chest and gritting her teeth, saying, "What happened between you and Shen is long over. Why are you still thinking about her? Mother knows that those concubines are not to your taste, but she is just afraid that your father will dislike it. When the day comes, you... even if you take in one or two hundred concubines, who would dare to say anything?"
The emperor should have 121 wives. When Emperor Yuan Shuo was in the Eastern Palace, he only had one concubine and two concubines. Even though he had been the emperor for 20 years, and even though new people occasionally entered the palace or concubines died of illness, there were only nine people who stayed in the inner court. This unwritten tradition was not broken until that vixen entered the palace.
When her son enjoys the beauties of the empire, how could he remember Shen who had given herself to the late emperor?
The prince's face was gloomy, but his attitude seemed to soften a little: "I hope it will be as my mother said."
Yi Niang thought that she could completely get rid of her father by holding on to him, but if she waited for another five, ten, or even twenty years, and he took that position, would she be able to avoid him?
He Luxing was guarding outside the palace and vaguely heard the argument between the royal mother and son inside. He was frightened and saw that the prince was still angry when he left the palace. He hurriedly followed him and secretly cried out for the princess.
However, the prince came out from Changle Gate, but passed by the East Palace without entering, and rode away on his horse. He Luxing took a look and saw that he seemed to be heading towards Tangquan Palace, and he secretly groaned.
It would be better to go back to the East Palace!
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