The capital city is like a lake that has finally regained its calm, but a gust of wind stirs up ripples all over the place.
All the major powers are secretly plotting.
They used their respective information channels to spread the news wantonly.
In Helian Chen's words, "Your Majesty, there seem to be more pigeons and hawks flying over the capital!"
These days, it's not just pigeons that can deliver messages; there are also carefully raised hawks and other birds.
Xie Yuan bred carrier pigeons, while the nobles in the capital preferred to use hawks.
In the past, presumably for hunting purposes, hawks, lynxes, and other birds were kept as "hunting dogs."
Later, it was discovered that birds could deliver messages, and hawks found a new purpose.
"Even my princess consort, although she doesn't use a hawk, still hosts banquets all the time!"
When mentioning his former stepmother, Madam Lu, whom he once feared, Helian Chen's tone was full of sarcasm.
The former Bu Liuhu, now surnamed Lu, was one of the eight great noble families of the Xianbei.
The women of the Lu family are just as fierce as the renowned Dugu and Yuan families.
Helian Chen and his sons suffered a lot under the rule of their stepmother.
Especially his birth mother, that beautiful Hu woman, for a time, would tremble uncontrollably whenever she heard Lu's name.
It was only after Helian Chen was given an important position by Helian Jue and was selected as a companion to the Crown Prince that the situation of Helian Chen and his mother improved somewhat.
Three years ago, Helian Chen insisted on accompanying Helian Jue to Lingnan.
He, his birth mother, and his sister were all kicked out of the house by the Prince of Guangling.
It's called a family split!
In reality, they were expelled.
Now, Helian Chen has returned home in glory, having defeated the Turkic prince in full view of everyone.
Such great achievements were obtained with ease!
The Prince of Guangling was alright; he considered himself Helian Chen's biological father, so even if his son became powerful, he couldn't cause any trouble.
Putting everything else aside, just considering the concept of "filial piety," even a saint like Helian Jue couldn't interfere in the family affairs of the Guangling Prince's Mansion.
The King of Guangling was not worried that his son would hold a grudge; on the contrary, he was proud of his son's success.
In the Prince's mansion, the ones who were truly worried were Princess Lu and her children.
However, after returning to the capital, Helian Chen did not go back to the Guangling Prince's Mansion, nor did he intend to "take revenge".
"I guess he looks down on him! After all, he's the new emperor's confidant. The new emperor can easily bestow favors upon Helian Chen and promote him to higher ranks!"
This is how Lu comforted herself.
In addition, she also has the support of her family—
The Lu family is one of the eight great noble families. Even those who colluded with the Turks, Helian Jue dared not severely punish them, let alone suppress noble families without reason!
When Empress Dowager Ashina was selecting a crown princess for Helian Jue, many noble families, including the Lu, Mu, and Dugu clans, had eligible girls participating in the selection.
For example, Lu Mingyi, the direct niece of Princess Lu, is a very strong competitor.
She was good-looking and talented.
Unfortunately, at that time the late emperor had just unified the north and south, and in order to appease the gentry of the southern dynasty, he hinted to Empress Dowager Ashina to select a noblewoman from the southern dynasty as the crown princess.
Of course, after Helian Jue was deposed, some people couldn't help but wonder: Did the late emperor want to depose Helian Jue at that time?
The so-called appeasement of the Southern Dynasty's aristocratic families was merely a pretext. The real reason was that the Southern Dynasty's aristocratic families ultimately lacked a solid foundation and would not "fight" for Helian Jue's position as crown prince.
If it had been a Xianbei noble or a powerful family from the Northern Dynasties, Helian Jue's downfall might not have been so smooth!
...The late emperor is dead, and no one knows what he was thinking back then.
However, now, the Lu family and other Xianbei nobles have brought up the old stories.
It's as if their own daughters were also candidates for Crown Princess, but unfortunately, they missed out.
When Helian Jue ascended the throne, he needed to expand his harem, so he should prioritize those former candidates.
Helian Chen: ...Heh, what do you take a saint for?
If you want to become a relative of the emperor or curry favor with the royal family, just say so. Why make yourself look like a "victim"?
"Ah Chen, what title do you want?"
Helian Jue had even less interest in dealing with these trivial matters.
Instead of wasting words on this, we should discuss Helian Chen's title.
As his cousin and a trusted confidant who accompanied him in exile to Lingnan, Helian Jue certainly wouldn't treat him unfairly.
"Do you want the title of Prince of Guangling?"
Helian Jue knew that Helian Chen had a difficult childhood, but he was unsure whether Helian Chen had any attachment to the title of Prince of Guangling!
"Your Majesty, let's forget about it. My father divided the family property for me back then, and now I'm establishing my own household!"
Helian Chen had spent three years in Lingnan, so he knew what "vast skies and boundless seas" meant.
He truly didn't take the insignificant Prince of Guangling seriously.
A good man's true ability lies in achieving success and bringing honor to his wife and children.
The Prince of Guangling's mansion? Hmph, it's a complete mess. Even if it were given to Helian Chen for free, he wouldn't want it.
"Your Majesty, just as the Empress said, our journey is to the stars and the sea! Wouldn't it be better to establish our own sect and become its founding patriarch?"
As Helian Jue's confidant, Helian Chen naturally knew Xie Yuan's position in his master's heart.
Of course, besides this reason, Helian Chen also genuinely trusted Xie Yuan and was willing to acknowledge her as his mistress!
To be frank, even if it might anger Helian Jue, without Xie Yuan, Helian Jue wouldn't have ascended the throne so smoothly!
Putting aside everything else, the Empress Dowager Ashina's scheming, the selfishness of the powerful families, and the spectators' desire to see the spectacle would force Helian Jue to "give in."
Xie Yuan's existence, however, gave Helian Jue both money and troops.
Thirty thousand fierce Xuanjia soldiers, just standing there, were enough to intimidate everyone.
In response, the Empress once said, "All schemes and tricks are paper tigers in the face of absolute power!"
With such a wise and capable female lead, Helian Chen was determined to be with her!
"good!"
Hearing Helian Chen mention A Yuan, Helian Jue's mood improved even more. "Then I'll give you the title of Marquis of Jingbei first."
"If you achieve further merits in battle, I'll promote you!"
In fact, someone like Helian Chen, a member of the imperial family, who accompanied Helian Jue through exile and his subsequent return to the capital, would be suitable to be granted the title of Prince.
However, Helian Chen is still young, and he cannot be given too high a title all at once.
Otherwise, there would be no way to advance further, which would cause Helian Chen to harbor rebellious thoughts;
Or simply stop employing Helian Chen and let him be a leisurely marquis!
Helian Jue did not want to face such a dilemma in the future.
Let's grant him a marquisate first and let Helian Chen continue his efforts.
Helian Chen wasn't stupid; he understood that the Emperor was doing this for his own good!
He knelt down solemnly and kowtowed respectfully, saying, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness!"
After being granted the title of marquis, he was also given a mansion as a reward.
It just so happens that a group of minor aristocratic families or collateral branches of aristocratic families were killed and a lot of their property was confiscated.
Helian Jue then selected a residence relatively close to the capital and bestowed it upon Helian Chen.
"Stay here for now! We'll make arrangements after A-Yuan arrives in the capital!"
His A Yuan seemed to have good strategies for governing the country, and Helian Jue was overjoyed to see his wife and children arrive in the capital.
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