"Your Majesty, General Xu Wenbin has received your Majesty's oral instructions and has secretly deployed his troops to be ready for battle at any time."
Emperor Qianyuan asked, "Have you heard any news from the Eastern Territory?"
"Your Majesty, spies report that the Dongjun border defense is operating normally, with no major changes. However, General Wang Ye of Dongjun has ordered his soldiers to increase their morning training by an hour each day."
Su Xingyi's whereabouts are still unknown, and Emperor Qianyuan is feeling uneasy.
If the old man knew Su Xingyi's identity, he would definitely send troops to attack him and force him to prove his identity to Su Xingyi and help him take the position. He couldn't let this happen.
Su Xingyi has lived in the countryside for more than 20 years and is not suitable to be the king of a country. Giving him the Princess Protector of the Country as his wife is already a compensation for his more than 20 years!
He is now in his prime and has more than enough talent to train another crown prince.
The child in Princess Xiao's belly is his favorite candidate, and he does not allow others to interfere with his plans!
"What's the situation at the Xiao family now?"
"Old Duke Xiao, the Protector of the Country, was in high spirits when he learned that his granddaughter was pregnant and his grandson-in-law had been granted the title of King of a different surname. He became even more focused on health preservation and sent many nourishing products to Xiao Lingyu. The intercepted letters all contained ordinary inquiries about his well-being..."
"Continue to send people to keep an eye on the Xiao family!"
Shortly after the secret guards left, Dali Temple Minister Chen Ce bowed and entered the imperial study. "Your Majesty, I have uncovered the matter you asked me to investigate. Last summer, over a dozen people died on a passenger ship at the Xishui County dock, one of whom was a eunuch! A few days after the incident, Princess Xiao and her family of seven were assassinated at the Xishui County dock! The assassins were all assassins."
"Why are there seven of us in one family? Shouldn't there be six?"
Chen Ce said, "Miao Xiantong said that the child was picked up by Prince Shun. He lost his memory due to a high fever and clung to Prince Shun, calling him daddy. Later, Princess Xiao cured him and he was taken away by his family!"
"How old is the child?"
"Looks like he's eight years old, he should be nine this year. He's got a good appearance and looks like he's destined to be very rich and powerful!"
Emperor Qianyuan frowned in thought. One of the dead was a eunuch. A few days after the incident, a family of seven was assassinated at the dock in Xishui County?
Who was the assassin targeting?
It's impossible that he was targeting Su Xingyi, because his sons didn't even know his identity!
It can't be Princess Xiao, then she must be coming for this child!
"Master Miao also said that the child and his eldest nephew came to Xishui County to look for the Su family for birthday cakes a few years ago. They said they wanted to order twenty birthday cakes to be sent to Linyang City!"
Linyang City!!!
Emperor Qianyuan's heart sank. That child must be a member of the Dongjun royal family!
Now it can be confirmed that the one who kidnapped Su Xingyi was that old guy Dongjun!
Despite all the precautions, they had overlooked the possibility that someone from the Dongjun royal family would come to pay tribute to Fu'an!
"I understand. Go down."
"His Majesty."
Emperor Qianyuan pressed his eyebrows, his expression very impatient, "Anything else?"
"Xirong didn't specify when the Song family would be exiled after the beginning of spring. I wonder when would be the appropriate date for exile?"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Qianyuan felt a worse headache!
How come Su Xingyi is so good at picking up children? Not only Dongjun is his helper, but Xirong is also his helper!
"Your Majesty?" Chen Ce called out cautiously when he saw that his expression was becoming increasingly impatient.
"Then let them be exiled after the first county exam..."
"Your Majesty, this is the Four Gods Soup that the Concubine Shu sent you. Please keep yourself healthy."
Emperor Qianyuan's gloomy face softened slightly when he heard this. "Bring it up."
Emperor Qianyuan took a sip of the Four Gods Soup and asked, "Is Concubine Shu already seven months pregnant?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, the imperial physician diagnosed it as the little prince."
"Go and inform Concubine Cui Shu that I will dine with her tonight."
When Concubine Cui heard the news, she was in great spirits and quickly ordered the palace servants to dress her up.
The emperor is in good health now, and he may live another ten or twenty years. It won't be easy to train a crown prince.
"Your Majesty." At this time, the trusted palace maid Peilan walked in.
"All of you go down."
After the palace people had left, Perrin approached and whispered, "News has come back from the Western Territory that they've succeeded!"
Concubine Cui pursed her lips. Within half a year, the prince would become increasingly sick and unable to have children. Even if he held great power, the emperor would not pass the throne to him!
"Send the message back, be careful and cautious, and keep a close eye on the Third and Fourth Princes."
"Yes, my lady!"
＊
As the golden crows set in the west, Su Ningwen put down his book and said, "Daddy, Yunqian, I'm going to the main courtyard to have dinner."
"Go ahead, have dinner and rest over there. Yunqian and I will be waiting for you at the second gate tomorrow morning to take you two brothers to the Imperial Examination Hall."
Su Ningwen felt a little disappointed. His father still hadn't come back to take him to the Imperial Examination Hall. "Well, I'll go over then. You should go to bed early tonight and don't stay up late."
"Third brother, go quickly and don't make your mother wait anxiously."
Su Ningwen nodded, turned and left the room.
Meng Yunqian turned to Meng Zilu and said, "It would be great if Prince Shun was here. He could accompany Dad to send my brother and me to the Imperial Academy for the exam."
Meng Zilu discovered a few days ago that Su Xingyi had disappeared for no reason, and was really worried that something had happened to Prince Shun.
If something unexpected happened to Prince Shun, Wen Ge'er might be sad for a long time.
"After you finish the Tongsheng exam, Prince Shun should be back. Dinner will be served in a quarter of an hour. I will guide you for another quarter of an hour. You must pass the Tongsheng exam this time!"
If he didn't have to support his mother and sister, Meng Yunqian wouldn't study so seriously, "Dad, I will work hard!"
When Su Ningwen returned to the main courtyard, Xiao Lingyu handed him a school bag.
"Brother Wen, the reference documents, household registration certificate and other related items are all here."
"Thank you, mother. You have worked hard."
Su Ningwen took it and carried it on his back like a treasure.
Xiao Lingyu looked at the young boy in front of him. If he wore a red scarf on his chest, he would be an ancient version of an elementary school student.
"Are you sure?"
Su Ningwen patted his chest and promised, "I will definitely pass the examination and become a Tongsheng. Mother, just wait for the good news."
"Mother, Third Brother, the food is here, come and have your meal." Xiao Xier acted like the mistress of the house, directing the servants to bring the food into the outer room.
"We are here, we are here." Su Ningwen grabbed Xiao Lingyu's hand and went to the outer room to have dinner.
The next day, when Su Ningwen opened his eyes, Xiao Lingyu and Xiao Xier were already dressed.
"Mother, sister, why are you up so early?"
Xiao Xier said, "Of course I'm sending you to the Imperial Examination Hall. Come and have dinner quickly, or it will be late!"
Su Ningwen was overjoyed. His mother and sister were also going to send him to the Imperial Examination Hall, so he quickly put on his clothes...
There were not many people coming to the Imperial Academy to take the Tongsheng examination, but it was estimated that there were about a hundred people.
Xiao Xier glanced at the students queuing up to enter the Imperial Academy and said, "Mother, the youngest and shortest candidates are my third brother and his brothers."
You know what, the two brothers looked so small when they were standing in the team.
"After all, they are only five years old!"
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