Chapter 190 The Princess Consort Would Best Repay Him with Her Body
Looking at her curious expression, Chu Jichen smiled and said in a nonchalant tone, "It's just turning right and wrong upside down. As long as the story is well-crafted, someone will believe it. This matter... is not difficult."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingci couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Only he could speak of such insidious tricks, enough to stir up the political storm in the court, with such nonchalance and righteous indignation.
Chu Jichen looked at her and continued with a smile, "Most importantly, Emperor Yongming... he has a motive."
He paused, then changed the subject, a wicked glint in his eyes: "At least, I can... make him look like he has a motive."
“Think about it. Emperor Yongming wants to rule in his own right, but if he only gets rid of me but is still controlled by Liu Wenyuan, then it cannot be considered true rule for him. The best way is naturally to make it so that neither of us can interfere in court affairs.”
“Judging from the current situation,” his voice was full of confident strategistness, “the one who has benefited the most from this whole turmoil is Emperor Yongming.”
"Moreover," he changed the subject, "I'm not the only one who knows that Emperor Yongming holds the secret force left behind by the late emperor. That old fox Liu Wenyuan, and even... you could say the entire Liu family, are well aware of this."
"Liu Wenyuan has been secretly investigating this matter. The reason he sent his eldest daughter into the palace was not simply to become the emperor's father-in-law, gain the emperor's trust, and tie Emperor Yongming to him."
"He also wanted to use Consort Shu to find out about the hidden power in the Emperor's hands. His alliance with the Emperor seemed to be a facade, but in reality... they each had their own ulterior motives."
"Now, I only need to subtly shift the blame for Liu Wenyuan's poisoning onto Emperor Yongming. Given Liu Wenyuan's suspicious nature and his understanding of Emperor Yongming, he will surely...be completely convinced."
Shen Qingci nodded, already understanding. She looked at Chu Jichen and asked, "Then, Your Highness... what are your plans next?"
"Sitting on the sidelines and watching the tigers fight?"
“But,” she frowned slightly, “Liu Wenyuan is currently poisoned and unconscious. How can the two of them possibly fight?”
"Wait," Chu Jichen slowly uttered a single word.
He looked at Shen Qingci, a mysterious smile flashing in his eyes: "I don't think that old fox like Liu Wenyuan would be so easily poisoned and fall into a coma, completely powerless."
Shen Qingci raised his eyes in astonishment: "Does Your Highness mean... that Liu Wenyuan, like Your Highness, is also faking it?"
"It's just my guess." Chu Jichen didn't give a definite answer, "but there's a 60% or 70% chance."
Sixty or seventy percent! That's already quite high!
“He probably…” A hint of mockery flashed in Chu Jichen’s eyes, “He’s also thinking the same thing as us, using his poisoning to temporarily avoid the limelight and watch the tigers fight from the sidelines. Now, let’s see… who can’t hold back any longer.”
“However,” he paused, his smile deepening, “I think it will be Liu Wenyuan who will be the first to lose his composure.”
Shen Qingci was puzzled.
Chu Jichen slowly dropped a bombshell:
"Because Consort Shu... is pregnant."
"What?!" Shen Qingci was stunned. Consort Shu was pregnant? How did Chu Jichen find out?
However, given his abilities, it's not surprising that he knows these things.
only……
"What does Consort Shu's pregnancy have to do with Liu Wenyuan's restlessness?"
Seeing her confused expression, Chu Jichen smiled and patiently explained to her, "Before, Liu Wenyuan was, after all, a minister from outside the imperial family. No matter how ambitious he was, if he wanted to usurp the throne, his actions would ultimately lack legitimacy and authority. In the court, those willing to support him were ultimately a minority."
"But now that Consort Shu is pregnant, the meaning... is completely different."
“He can do it, under the guise of ‘purging the court of corrupt officials and supporting a new ruler’.”
"The emperor is absurd and tyrannical, causing the people to suffer. As a pillar of the country, he should set things right and support the new emperor to ascend the throne."
"The child in Consort Shu's womb will ultimately bear the surname Chu and will be the imperial heir. He will use this as a pretext to win over the court officials, making his actions legitimate and justifiable."
"..." Shen Qingci felt it was utterly absurd!
"A new emperor? Based on that thing in Consort Shu's belly... which can't even be called a 'person' yet?"
Chu Jichen noticed her speechlessness and chuckled, "What Liu Wenyuan wants is just a legitimate excuse. As for the rest, it doesn't matter."
"He might not kill Emperor Yongming right now. He can secretly win over his followers first and then see how Emperor Yongming reacts."
“If Emperor Yongming behaves himself, then he can proceed slowly and wait for Consort Shu to give birth to a prince.”
“But what if Emperor Yongming doesn’t behave himself…” A cold glint flashed in his eyes, “Now that Emperor Yongming has decided to get rid of him, do you think he will still behave himself?”
Shen Qingci suddenly realized!
"Thank you for clearing up my doubts, Your Highness," she said sincerely.
In my heart, I couldn't help but feel a myriad of emotions.
Indeed, it was only by following Chu Jichen that I could learn these things.
Her father and brothers were both upright and honorable soldiers who spent their lives fighting and protecting their country. They were neither good at nor interested in the treacherous schemes and power struggles of the court, which is why they ultimately met such a tragic end.
Later, when she married into the Huo family, they treated her as a tool to be used, guarding against her at every turn. They wished she would forever remain an ignorant woman confined to the inner quarters, subservient to her husband, and naturally, they would not allow her to come into contact with such things.
But Chu Jichen...
This powerful and feared regent was actually willing to dissect and explain to her all the most sordid and complex power struggles and schemes within the court, teaching them to her...
Although she still doesn't know why he did it.
But undeniably, she did learn a great deal from him.
Chu Jichen watched Shen Qingci's ever-changing expression with amusement, and couldn't help but ask with a smile, "Qingqing... what are you thinking about?"
Shen Qingci raised her head and met his deep eyes, which seemed to see through everything. She knew that in front of this man, her little thoughts would be completely exposed.
She decided to stop hiding it and told him everything that had been on her mind.
Finally, meeting his gaze, she asked the question that had been lingering in her heart.
"Your Highness...why are you treating me like this?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Jichen laughed. His laughter was deep and pleasant, carrying a hint of self-righteousness.
"This king naturally... has his own plans."
He maneuvered his wheelchair slowly toward her, reached out and gently took her hand, which was resting on her knee. His deep phoenix eyes were filled with undisguised, burning desire and deep affection.
“What I’m after,” he said slowly, leaning closer to her, his voice hoarse, like a lover’s whisper, “is the Queen’s way of repaying me.”
"most……"
"I would give myself to you in return."
He paused, looking at her ears that flushed red in an instant, his smile deepened, but his voice became somewhat ethereal, as if carrying a faint, almost imperceptible hope.
"Also, I hope for... a sliver of the princess's true feelings."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com