Chapter 202: Barrier
Su Yan had mixed feelings. He was worried about the difficulty of the bandit suppression mission and the political risks he might encounter on this trip. However, he could only bite the bullet and agree to it since he could not disobey the king's order.
"I will obey your orders and fulfill my mission. I will capture all the bandits in one fell swoop to comfort the souls of the Yao family in heaven."
Seeing Su Yan taking on the next task, Emperor Xuanyuan nodded with satisfaction and once again affirmed Su Yan's ability in his heart.
"Lord Su, please be careful on this trip. I await your report of victory. I will also dispatch elite troops to assist you and ensure that nothing goes wrong."
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. I will do my best." Su Yan saluted again, but in his mind he had already begun to think about the strategy for suppressing the bandits and the variables that might be encountered.
When I closed the case of bandits, I was well prepared. I had already found out that there was indeed a group of bandits in Yongcheng.
Suppressing the bandits was not a difficult task, but he was afraid that going to Yongcheng would give Xuanyuan Jing and Xiao Fuguang the opportunity to take action.
Fengyi Palace.
Side hall.
The queen sat not far from the bed and looked at the fifth prince with a hint of concern in her tone.
"Do you feel that your injury is better today?"
Xuanyuan Su looked at the queen and spoke with a smile.
"Thank you, mother, for your concern. I have been changing the dressings regularly these past few days and have taken a lot of the medicine prescribed by the imperial physician. The wound is now scabbing over, but it still hurts a little."
The queen felt relieved after hearing this.
"That's good."
Then he brought up the matter of Concubine Yao in advance.
"The fire incident in Jingsi Palace has been resolved. Concubine Yao has been demoted to the rank of Zhaoyi."
Xuanyuan Su frowned when he heard this, and there was even surprise in his eyes.
"Demoted to Zhaoyi?"
The queen nodded.
"She killed two princes, and even after the incident at Jingsi Palace, she was only demoted to Zhaoyi. This shows how deeply your father loves her."
Xuanyuan Su pondered for a moment.
“It’s not just friendship.”
"And Prince Rong, the future crown prince cannot have a deposed mother. Father really has high hopes for Prince Rong."
After listening to the fifth prince's clear analysis, the queen slowly spoke.
"It seems you need to show more in the court in the future."
After hearing this, the fifth prince spoke thoughtfully.
"No, mother, I only need to do the job that father has assigned me."
"Although the Emperor is old, he is in good health and is unwilling to give up his power. If I show off too much at this time, it will only arouse the Emperor's suspicion."
He even saw through this, and the queen nodded.
"Then it's up to you."
Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Concubine Zhou sat by the window looking at the scenery outside with a calm expression.
Suddenly, a voice sounded.
"You've been living in Jingsi Palace for many years. You haven't looked around the palace for a long time. All the decorations and scenery in the palace have changed in the past two years. Why don't I accompany you for a walk?"
Concubine Zhou stood up calmly.
"Your Majesty, I have seen you."
Emperor Xuanyuan stepped forward, took her hand and helped her up.
"Come on, get up. The weather is nice today. Let's go out for a walk."
After hearing this, Concubine Zhou refused.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I know that Your Majesty is very busy with official duties, so I will not waste your time."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Xuanyuan's eyes flashed with a barely perceptible sense of disappointment, but he still smiled gently.
"No problem. I have some free time today, so I wanted to take a walk with you. You've been with me for many years, and it's been a while since I last took a walk with you."
"Also, the Queen has already found out about the fire in Jingsi Palace. Don't you want to hear about it?"
Concubine Zhou looked at Emperor Xuanyuan's slightly expectant eyes, sighed softly, and finally nodded. "Then I'll trouble you, Your Majesty."
The two walked side by side on the path in the Imperial Garden. Because it was autumn, there were many chrysanthemums planted in the Imperial Garden, and the fragrance of flowers filled the air.
Emperor Xuanyuan pointed at the scenery in the garden as he walked, and told the stories behind them. Concubine Zhou listened quietly, nodding and smiling occasionally. The atmosphere was warm and harmonious.
Emperor Xuanyuan stopped and looked at the large patch of chrysanthemums in the flower bed, and said softly.
"I remember when you first entered the palace, it was also autumn like this. You stood here and said you wanted to embroider a chrysanthemum painting for me. Now that painting is still hanging in my imperial study."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Zhou looked at the chrysanthemums with gentle eyes, as if that time was replaying before her eyes.
"Yes, time flies. I was young then, but now I am old and ugly."
"In my heart, you have never changed." Emperor Xuanyuan looked at Concubine Zhou affectionately, reached out and gently stroked her temples, his eyes full of tenderness.
Concubine Zhou gently withdrew her hand and changed the subject.
"Your Majesty, I wonder who set the fire in Jingsi Palace."
Emperor Xuanyuan's expression froze for a moment, then he regained his composure.
"It's Yao. I have demoted her to Zhaoyi."
Zhaoyi, this is really ridiculous. She and the fifth prince almost died in the fire, but she was demoted just for this. Concubine Zhou's face turned a little colder.
Seeing this, Emperor Xuanyuan continued to explain.
"The punishment for Yao's matter was indeed a bit light, but even though she did something wrong, I have to consider our old relationship with Prince Rong. I am old now, and I am not a prince who can take on responsibilities in the court..."
The harem is closely connected to the former dynasty, and every step must be cautious, but what does that have to do with me? He spoke with a still cold attitude.
"I understand that everything Your Majesty does is for the greater good. I only wish Your Majesty good health and the well-being of the people of Xuanyuan."
"Yao Zhaoyi only started a fire, and I am still alive."
Then he sighed.
"It is I who owe the Fifth Prince. Not only did I not take care of him all these years, but I also nearly caused him to perish in the sea of fire."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Xuanyuan looked at Concubine Zhou and spoke.
"He is now recuperating in the Queen's palace. How about I accompany you to see him?"
After hearing this, Concubine Zhou bowed to Emperor Xuanyuan.
"Your Majesty, please return to review the memorials. I'll take a walk by myself and visit the Fifth Prince at Fengyi Palace. I'll also have a cup of tea with the Empress. The Empress has taken such good care of me over the years. Now that I've left Jingsi Palace, I should pay my respects to her."
This was the second time today that she refused to let him accompany her, and Emperor Xuanyuan's face showed displeasure.
"Well, if that's the case, then it's up to you."
However, Concubine Zhou's maid had died in Jingsi Palace, and now there was no one to serve her. Emperor Xuanyuan spoke helplessly.
"Fushuang, accompany Concubine Zhou to the Queen's Palace."
Fengyi Palace.
Nanny Fang brought the queen a cup of tea.
"Your Majesty, although the Fifth Prince is young, he is calm and shrewd."
The queen took the teacup and took a sip slowly.
"He is indeed quite steady and knows how to guess the emperor's intentions."
Nanny Fang spoke upon hearing this.
"Your Majesty, the Fifth Prince is a capable man. With your support, he will definitely be able to ascend to that position. Our Chen family already has a girl of the same age as the Fifth Prince. Otherwise..."
The queen shook her head slightly when she heard this.
"No, his marriage has already been arranged with the Third Miss of the Xiao Family. I think the reason for the Third Miss of the Xiao Family is probably because he has a partnership with the Prince Regent's Palace. If the Chen family interferes with his marriage at this time, I'm afraid they will offend the Prince Regent's Palace."
Upon hearing this, Nanny Fang spoke.
"Your Majesty, the Third Miss of the Xiao family is the principal wife, but the position of concubine is still vacant. Your Majesty is also on good terms with the Regent Princess. It is impossible for a man in this world to have only one wife, not to mention that His Highness the Fifth Prince is of such a noble status."
He looked at the queen and then spoke in a low voice.
"Your Highness and His Highness are half-married mother and son. If the Chen family's daughter is not married to His Highness the Fifth Prince, what will happen to the Chen family in the future..."
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