Chapter 851 Proton
Prince Hui's face looked extremely ugly, and King Hui was not much better.
It's okay for Princess Hui, Prince Hui doesn't have much feelings for her, and she is not the biological mother of the Crown Prince. Although Prince Hui will try his best to protect her, he can abandon her if the emergency comes. But it's different for the Crown Prince's Princess.
She and Prince Hui have been childhood sweethearts and have a very good relationship. After marrying into Prince Hui's Palace, she has never been pregnant, and Prince Hui has never wanted to take away her position as Crown Princess. Now, when she is nearly thirty years old, she finally got pregnant. The baby in her belly is almost eight months old. It is Prince Hui's legitimate son.
Even if King Hui is really cruel enough to give her up, the Crown Prince will never give up. At that time, the father and son might become enemies. So no matter what, they will definitely keep the Crown Prince's wife and her son safe.
It only took them a moment to understand the Queen's intention.
The Princess Hui was just a by-product. The "hostage" she wanted was the Crown Prince's wife and her unborn child.
King Hui tried his best to suppress his anger and tried to negotiate: "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince's Consort is frail and her pregnancy is almost eight months. It is really not suitable for her to come to the palace to keep vigil. How about changing the terms..."
"Then why don't you change the conditions, King Hui? Don't ask me for those things."
Tang Ning said bluntly: "Prince Hui is willing to swear his bloodline for this position, so why not take the Crown Prince's Consort? If you can really keep your promise and not touch me, the Crown Prince's Consort will be safe in the palace. Madam Qin in the palace is a medical expert and can keep them safe."
"The prince is unwilling. Unless you have no intention of keeping your oath from the beginning, what are you afraid of?"
Prince Hui's face turned pale after hearing what the Queen said. Prince Hui wanted to speak again but was stopped by Wang Huailu.
"Your Majesty, it's getting late."
He reminded in a low voice.
The people from the aristocratic families also looked at King Hui. Although they did not say anything, they all had urging expressions on their faces. They could all hear that this was the Queen's bottom line. The Queen was afraid that they would turn against her, and she was also afraid that they would die after handing over everything, so she would definitely leave something behind to save her life.
The imperial seal belongs to Prince Hui's wife and the Crown Prince Hui's wife as well.
If they don't agree to force her, the queen would rather perish together with them than let them off easily.
Min An whispered, "Your Highness, please consider the overall situation."
Prince Hui's eyes darkened for a moment, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, I can send the Princess and the Crown Prince's Consort to the palace to accompany the Queen, but the Queen must clearly decree that I take over the government affairs temporarily, and I must keep my people around to serve me during this period."
"Your people can stay in Yongzhao Palace, but just leave the people around me alone."
Tang Ning didn't push too hard and took a step back.
The expressions of Prince Hui and his son improved a little. As long as the Yongzhao Palace was full of their people, the Queen would definitely not dare to touch the Crown Princess. Moreover, if they found an opportunity, they could also rescue the Crown Princess and her son.
King Hui said in a deep voice, "Come here, go and bring the princess and the crown prince's wife into the palace."
Someone outside immediately responded and retreated. Prince Hui then looked up and asked, "What is the Queen's second condition?"
Tang Ning said: "I want Prince Ji and the noble families to assist in governing the country together."
"I know you are certainly worried about me, and I will not let you get close. Let Prince Ji come over. I will give the written imperial edict to Prince Ji for safekeeping, and have him go with me to Xinde Palace to deliver it."
Everyone outside was stunned, even Prince Ji himself had a dazed look on his face. He looked up at the people in the hall in disbelief. He never expected that the Queen would propose this condition.
King Hui frowned and looked at King Ji. He had no intention of letting King Ji live. This man had too high a reputation among the royal family, and King Ji also had some powerful people in his hands. Tonight he witnessed with his own eyes how they forced the palace to rebel. If he was released, it would be a huge disaster. The best way was to let him die accidentally in the palace.
Tang Ning seemed to have seen King Hui's fear and said, "You are besieging without attacking, isn't it just to ensure a smooth transition of power? But to be frank, King Ji is in charge of the Imperial Clan Temple. He is far more capable and cunning than King Hui. He is younger than King Hui, has more resources, and is more popular than King Hui."
"How many people do you think would believe me if I chose King Hui over King Ji if I wanted to run the government?"
"you!"
King Hui was so degraded that his face turned red.
King Ji's original shock gradually faded, and a strange look appeared on his face. It was really the gazes of King Hui and his son that hurt him.
Tang Ning seemed oblivious to the outsiders' shame and anger, and simply said calmly, "Prince Ji assisting in the administration can appease the clan members. He and you are both members of the Xie clan, and he has served in the court before. It is better for him to govern alongside you than to hand over the power directly to someone like you who has not served in the court for many years."
"Or does King Hui think that everyone in the world is stupid?"
King Hui was filled with rage, feeling that the Queen was deliberately mocking him, yet he couldn't do anything to her. He clenched his fists to suppress the rage in his heart, and glared fiercely at King Ji lying on the ground: "I'm going to let him go today, but who knows if he won't turn against me?"
"That's your own business." Tang Ning said with a hint of gloating: "If you can't even control your nephew, then you won't be able to sit firmly on the throne even if it's given to you. Maybe one day you'll even give up your Xie family's kingdom."
She scoffed and said:
"I have only these two conditions. If you agree to them, I will immediately issue an order to relinquish power."
"Of course, if Prince Hui is hesitant, he can discuss it with Prime Minister Liang and the others. However, you'd better hurry. The movements in Yongzhao Palace cannot be concealed from the outside world for long. Once they really start, it will be too late for me to agree to your request even if I want to."
King Hui's expression kept changing, and so did the other people in the courtyard.
They could all see that the Queen was plotting something overt. She was telling them clearly that she wanted to use Prince Ji to contain Prince Hui. Prince Ji was better than Prince Hui in every aspect, and if it weren't for today's accident, Prince Ji would not have fallen into Prince Hui's hands.
Although she was forced to give up power, she would not let King Hui gain power so easily. If King Hui could not suppress King Ji and subdue him, if he was let go of King Ji and allowed to leave the palace tonight, he would definitely bite back after he got out.
King Hui was hesitant, but finally decided to discuss it with Liang Guangyi and others.
Several people turned around and walked to the side, and Prince Hui also took away the tied-up Prince Ji.
The people in the hall were not in a hurry at all and let them discuss. Tang Ning even ordered Yue Jian to move a chair over and sit in the shadow in front of the hall to look at the moonlight outside.
The Yongzhao Palace was quiet. After the guards patrolling outside were perfunctorily dealt with twice by the Yongzhao Palace eunuchs they bribed, it was a full quarter of an hour before King Hui and his men returned with King Ji.
The ropes on Prince Ji had been removed, and his face looked a little bad.
Tang Ning said calmly, "Have you discussed it?"
King Hui: "I promise you that I will let Prince Ji assist in governing the country. Queen, can you issue the decree now?"
Tang Ning said, "Let Prince Ji come over. He will help me write the imperial edict. When Princess Hui and Princess Shizi bring it in, I will give it to you and go to Xinde Palace with you."
King Hui did not hesitate this time and agreed immediately: "Okay!"
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