Upon hearing this, Consort Duan's eyes widened, and she pointed at her in disbelief, "You, you actually, you actually..."
The eldest princess actually wants to become empress?
"What? I didn't say anything." Xingxing snorted coldly and flung her sleeves into the inner palace. Consort Duan was stunned for a moment. When she came to her senses, a row of guards was already blocking her way in front of the Emperor's palace.
"The harem is really going to be controlled by the eldest princess. No, she has already controlled the entire harem. No, I can't just sit here and wait to die." Consort Duan didn't care about seeing the emperor anymore. Originally, she wanted to find an opportunity to persuade the emperor to issue an edict to pass the throne to Prince Ming after she saw him.
She had people in the Imperial Hospital, so she knew that the emperor was very ill this time and probably beyond saving. It was just a matter of how long he could hold on. People who were seriously ill were usually confused. Whoever had the opportunity to serve the emperor would have the chance to receive the imperial edict to pass the throne.
But now she can't even get into the emperor's palace. This won't do. She has to find a way to see the emperor. She has to summon her father to the palace to see her. If all else fails, she will force him to abdicate.
However, Consort Duan's people couldn't get out, and news couldn't get out either. The inner palace was indeed controlled by the eldest princess. The imperial guards guarded the palace gates like an iron barrel, and not even a fly could get out.
Someone in the palace released a carrier pigeon, but it was caught and eaten by the guards' eagles as soon as it took to the air. No one could send a message out.
In the Imperial Garden, Zhu Lin and Zhu Chumo stood by the lotus pond, talking in hushed tones.
Zhu Chumo said, "The poison in the young princes has been cured. The poison was indeed harmful to their bodies, but it was not serious enough to require several years of recuperation. I exaggerated."
"Oh, does Fourth Senior Brother mean to let the young princes rest for a few more years, and let them recover after the princess has firmly ascended the throne?" Zhu Lin quickly guessed his intention.
Zhu Chumo looked serious and lowered his voice as he gazed at the afterglow of the setting sun in the distance. "When I was in Yegou Village, I once told the princess's fortune. At that time, I predicted that she was the reincarnation of the Ziwei Star. Her birth was blessed with auspicious omens, and she was extremely noble. She was born with the destiny of an emperor and will surely rule the world."
“Long’er is kind-hearted and easily softened. Are you sure she’s really suited to be the emperor?” Zhu Lin asked with a hint of doubt.
"She is kind, but she is a Ziwei star favored by Heaven, with exceptional luck. She can turn the Great Jin Dynasty around and make this country more stable and powerful. Before long, the people of the world will see a prosperous and glorious era."
At this point, Zhu Chumo paused, then said meaningfully, "Besides, isn't the princess still by your side? Although she is kind-hearted, she is not stupid, and she can listen to other people's advice. If she doesn't want to do something herself, Junior Brother can do it for her. You can be a knife in her hand, cleaning up the cunning and treacherous people for her, and everything will be solved."
"Fourth Senior Brother has arranged everything perfectly for me." Zhu Lin gave him a cold glance.
Zhu Chumo chuckled and shook his head. "It's not that your senior brother wants to arrange things for you. It's destiny. There are some secrets of fate that I can't reveal, but junior brother should know them better than your senior brother. Whatever the princess wants to do, you will support her unconditionally. The two of you are one, inseparable. The princess can't live without you, and you can't live without her."
"If this is fate, then let her be the emperor. As long as she handles state affairs well and brings blessings to the people, I will take care of the rest," Zhu Lin murmured softly.
On the ninth day of the third month, Zhou Laoda's family arrived in the capital, but Xingxing couldn't go to pick them up herself. Zhang Xiantao volunteered and took Zhao Mingyue to the city gate to meet them.
At this time, none of the Zhou family members were aware of the turmoil unfolding in the palace; no one on the way had revealed those complicated matters to them.
So Zhao Guihua pulled Zhang Xiantao aside and asked, "Xiantao, have you seen Xingxing recently? Is she very busy? When will she have time to come out of the palace?"
They hadn't seen the person, so they kept asking questions, but Zhang Xiantao's eyes flickered, unsure whether to tell the truth. After thinking it over, she decided to wait until she sent the person back to her residence before saying anything, as it wasn't appropriate to talk about these things outside.
"Let's go back to the manor first. I'll tell you when we get home." Zhang Xiantao gestured for everyone to get into the carriage quickly.
Back at the mansion, Zhao Guihua, disregarding everything else, immediately pulled Zhang Xiantao aside and demanded to know about Xingxing's recent situation. "Oh dear, my eyelids have been twitching these past few days, and I feel very uneasy. I don't know what's wrong?"
Zhang Xiantao thought to herself, "Perhaps this is the telepathic connection between family members?"
"His Majesty is seriously ill and unable to get out of bed. The situation in the palace is somewhat complicated. The princess has to take care of the emperor and cannot leave the palace." Zhang Xiantao avoided mentioning the matter of the Imperial Concubine and Prince Ming's intention to rebel.
The King of Ming has not yet made a move, and Yokoyama is also being cautious. There is no evidence yet to prove that they are plotting anything, so the princess cannot do anything to them for the time being.
"His Majesty is ill again. Xingxing must be so worried." Zhao Guihua felt extremely distressed and really wanted to go to Xingxing's side to keep her company and share her burden.
However, the palace is not a place one can enter casually, and the rules within are strict. She doesn't like going to the palace, so she probably won't be able to share Xingxing's burdens.
"What about Xingxing's marriage?" Zhao Guihua thought of this again.
Zhang Xiantao shook her head. "I don't know either. You should pack your things and get some rest for the night. I'll bring you news tomorrow."
She dared not linger, fearing that the Zhou family would keep asking questions, and she would be unable to handle it, saying more and more, and the more she said, the more mistakes she would make. She didn't want to reveal that the Empress was also ill.
After leaving the Zhou residence, Zhang Xiantao went to the palace. She had to report back to the princess. The princess was currently too busy to attend to both matters, and she was also worried about entrusting the Zhou family to outsiders. Zhang Xiantao understood her situation and volunteered to look after the family for her.
Upon arriving at the palace, Xingxing felt apologetic seeing Zhang Xiantao bustling about with her pregnant belly. "Don't worry about your health. I have capable people around me. Several senior brothers and sisters have come to the capital. There's nothing in the palace that can't be handled, and there won't be any trouble outside."
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