Chapter 149 Finding Bait
Shen Qingci quietly awaited the counterattack from Emperor Yongming and Huo Yunzhan.
She knew that the enemy would not give up easily.
The humiliation at the flower-viewing banquet will only make them, like wounded wild beasts, brew an even more frenzied and vicious counterattack.
However, she didn't want to wait too long.
Passive waiting is never as good as proactive action.
Rather than waiting for them to set a trap, she should... create an opportunity herself, a trap that they can't refuse and can only obediently jump into.
She raised her head and looked at Chu Jichen, who was looking down at the desk and reviewing memorials. She already had an idea in her mind.
"Your Highness," she said softly, "has there been any reason for a grand banquet in the manor recently?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Jichen looked up from the mountain of memorials, a knowing glint of interest flashing in his deep phoenix eyes: "Oh? My princess, what are you planning to do?"
Shen Qingci did not hide anything and laid out her thoughts completely.
Upon hearing this, Chu Jichen couldn't help but chuckle softly, the sound of which was particularly pleasant in the quiet study.
He put down his vermilion brush, maneuvered his wheelchair to her side, his eyes full of approval and affection.
“To create an opportunity for them, to lure them out of their hole, and to make sure they will take notice,” he reached out and gently took her hand on the desk, his voice laced with a mischievous glint of amusement, “is actually… quite simple.”
Shen Qingci listened attentively.
Chu Jichen slowly leaned closer to her, lowered his voice, and said slowly and deliberately, "Right now, there are probably only two things that can make Emperor Yongming and Liu Wenyuan's group completely lose their composure and jump up and down in excitement."
"They are all related to me."
“Firstly,” he said, his gaze falling on his long legs, which were now resting in his wheelchair, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes, “my legs, which have been useless for many years, have suddenly… been saved.”
"Secondly," his gaze slowly moved upwards, finally landing on her still flat stomach, his voice becoming hoarse and ambiguous, "that is... Your Highness, you have suddenly been diagnosed with pregnancy. This king... has an heir."
Shen Qingci's heart skipped a beat!
She instantly understood what Chu Jichen meant and couldn't help but gasp.
These two ideas are absolutely brilliant!
Chu Jichen was able to remain firmly in the position of regent because, on the one hand, he held immense power and was unmatched by anyone; on the other hand, it was precisely because of his two fatal weaknesses—"crippled legs" and "inability to have sex"—that Emperor Yongming and those old foxes in the court lowered their guard against him somewhat.
But what if he is no longer disabled?
For Emperor Yongming, a regent who is healthy, powerful, and deeply loved by the military will no longer be a royal uncle assisting him in governing, but a death warrant hanging over his head, ready to be replaced at any time!
At that time, both Emperor Yongming and Liu Wenyuan will surely go completely mad!
As for the children...
If Chu Jichen remains childless, his position as regent will eventually have to be returned to the Chu imperial family.
But once he has his own children, the meaning changes completely.
Who can guarantee that he won't have inappropriate thoughts for the sake of his own flesh and blood, and even change the dynasty?
Either of these two pieces of news, if released, would be enough to cause a huge uproar in the imperial court!
but……
Shen Qingci's brows furrowed unconsciously.
If the news of her pregnancy is released, the rumor that Chu Jichen is impotent will be disproven.
Although Huo Yunzhan knew that Chu Jichen was not incapable, he was not sure what the relationship was between the woman named Yun Yao and the child beside her and Chu Jichen.
But once Chu Jichen's abilities are confirmed, the identities of Yun Yao and her daughter will no longer be able to be concealed.
Huo Yunzhan and Emperor Yongming's gang of madmen had long regarded the innocent mother and daughter as thorns in their side, which meant their situation would become extremely dangerous.
Shen Qingci's thoughts raced through her mind, but in the end, she made her decision.
She slowly raised her head to meet Chu Jichen's probing gaze, her voice firm: "Then... release the news that Your Highness has found a divine physician and a way to cure your leg ailment."
She was unwilling to drag innocent people into this bloody storm because of her own revenge.
Upon hearing this, Chu Jichen raised his eyebrows slightly, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes: "That's fine."
A playful smile curved his lips. "Over the years, I have indeed been secretly searching for renowned doctors throughout the land to cure these legs. This is common knowledge in the capital. Now, we only need to go with the flow and spread the word that I have found a reclusive divine doctor beyond the Great Wall and will soon bring him back to the capital for treatment."
"At that time, we will arrange a few capable people to make it look like a grand procession escorting the divine doctor back to the capital, which will be enough to fool the real thing."
With this plan finalized, the next step was to devise a banquet to give those impatient enemies an opportunity to make their move.
Shen Qingci knew that this "banquet" had to be justified and important enough to make all parties lower their guard and gather together.
But for a moment, she couldn't think of a suitable excuse. She had only recently married into the royal household, and she couldn't just throw a large banquet for guests without a reason.
She looked at Chu Jichen, half-testing and half-joking, and said, "How about... we send out invitations in Your Highness's name, saying that we want to... select a concubine for Your Highness?"
Upon hearing this, the previously warm atmosphere in the study instantly plummeted to freezing point.
The smile on Chu Jichen's face vanished completely, and his deep phoenix eyes turned icy cold.
He stared intently at Shen Qingci, his voice devoid of any emotion, yet it inexplicably made Shen Qingci's heart tighten.
“I have said it before,” he said, his voice so cold it seemed as if ice crystals could fall from it, “I will never take a concubine in this lifetime.”
"Whether it's true or false."
Shen Qingci's eyelashes trembled uncontrollably.
I will never take a concubine...
Was it for that woman named Yun Yao?
Is it because he already has a white moonlight in his heart, so he can't accept anyone else?
Once he has accomplished his great task and they have "divorced," Yun Yao can rightfully become his only regent's wife, right?
A strange mix of sadness and irritability welled up inside me.
Even she herself didn't realize that when she said those words, there was a hint of barely perceptible stubbornness in her tone.
Chu Jichen pondered for a long time, seemingly trying his best to suppress some emotion.
He slowly turned the jade thumb ring on his thumb, his gaze falling on the lush bamboo forest outside the window. After a long while, he finally spoke, his voice no longer calm.
"Qingqing," he turned his head and looked at her again, his eyes filled with complex emotions, "Your birthday... isn't it coming soon?"
Shen Qingci was completely stunned.
Her birthday?
She herself had almost forgotten.
Her birthday was shortly after the Shen family's misfortune. After the Shen family's misfortune, she had long lost the mood to celebrate her birthday.
Can……
How did Chu Jichen know?
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