Chapter 206 Unwilling
This is to keep hostages. I have become accustomed to it over the years. Every time I go to war, people from the palace will come to the Regent's Palace to visit An Ning every now and then, Xuanyuan Jing bowed.
"Your Majesty, your words make sense. I would like to thank you on behalf of An Ning. However, Fu Guang went to the Imperial Master's residence today. It seems that he wanted to study some ancient book with the Imperial Master. It was about some kind of Gu from Southern Xinjiang. I don't quite understand it."
"It's mainly because of the incident last time when the Crown Prince was poisoned by a Gu. Fu Guang is now obsessed with the Gu in southern Xinjiang. She often forgets to eat when she's so absorbed in her research. I wonder if she still has time to come to the palace to accompany the Empress."
Thinking of the fact that the prince died because of the Gu, Emperor Xuanyuan felt a little sad.
"The Regent Princess is thoughtful."
Xuanyuan Jing continued speaking after hearing this.
"It's already winter, and there are always banquets every year, both inside and outside the palace. Fortunately, my royal brother just reminded me that An Ning is indeed quite old. Although Fu Guang cares a lot about An Ning, she is either studying ancient books or studying the stars, and often stays in the Imperial Master's Mansion for one or two months."
"The affairs of the Regent's Palace have always been managed by An Ning and the housekeeper. Why not ask the Imperial Sister-in-law to pay attention to An Ning's marriage? It just so happens that An Ning has nothing to do in her spare time, so she can accompany the Imperial Sister-in-law to relieve her boredom."
After hearing this, Emperor Xuanyuan nodded slightly, with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.
"That's good. The Queen often says that the palace is lonely. With An Ning by her side, it will surely be much more lively. As for the marriage, I will have the Queen pay more attention to it. The Regent can rest assured."
Xuanyuan Jing secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but remained expressionless as he bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, my royal brother. I will take my leave now. I must quickly prepare for my return to my fiefdom."
"Well, go ahead." Emperor Xuanyuan waved his hand. After Xuanyuan Jing left the imperial study, the warm expression on his face instantly disappeared, replaced by a deep thought.
Yonghe Palace.
Concubine Yao had smashed things in the room everywhere and sat on the ground in dejection.
Her position as a noble concubine had just been restored as compensation from the emperor for the extermination of the Yao family. She did not expect to be demoted again so soon, and even to the lowly position of Zhaoyi.
Lian Xin silently picked up the things on the ground, and Cuizhu stepped forward and carefully helped Yao Zhaoyi up.
"My lady, please get up first. Let's go sit on the couch."
"I know your Majesty is sad, but the more you are at this time, the more you must not be discouraged. We still have His Royal Highness Prince Rong. His Royal Highness will definitely find a way to restore your Majesty's position."
Yao Zhaoyi's face was full of hatred.
"It's all because of that bitch Queen. She's so cruel and calculating."
"And Concubine Li, you actually dared to hit me."
Cuizhu helped Yao Zhaoyi sit down.
"Your Majesty, I have a feeling that something is fishy about this matter. How could the Fifth Prince have rescued Concubine Zhou so promptly?"
"After all, when we arrived, Jingsi Palace was already engulfed in flames. How did Shunzi and Donglai, who started the fire, end up in the Queen's hands? Even if they were just trying to save their lives, they should have left immediately after setting the fire. Why did they faint near Jingsi Palace?"
After hearing this, Yao Zhaoyi also fell into deep thought.
"You mean someone knocked them out."
Then he looked at me.
"No wonder, no wonder."
"I was thinking that Donglai had served me for so many years, so how could he have fainted near Jingsi Palace?"
"Now it seems that someone must have knocked them out."
"But who is this person?"
"Could it be the Fifth Prince?"
"But if the Fifth Prince was the one who was knocked unconscious, shouldn't he have taken care of Concubine Zhou first when he discovered the fire?"
Cuizhu pondered for a moment.
"Your Majesty, we've been guarding Jingsi Palace the entire time, but when the Fifth Prince came out, the entire palace was almost burned down. If the Fifth Prince happened to be visiting Concubine Zhou, why did he come out so late? Shouldn't he have rushed out as soon as he discovered the fire?"
Concubine Yao has now completely calmed down.
"So, is it possible that the Fifth Prince is taking advantage of our strategy?"
"But the Queen's panic and worry don't seem fake, do they?"
Cuizhu continued to analyze.
"I noticed that although His Royal Highness the Fifth Prince and Concubine Zhou Ping were both injured, their lives were not in danger. Concubine Zhou has started walking around today, and only the Fifth Prince is still recovering in Fengyi Palace."
"Your Majesty, think about it, if the Fifth Prince really wanted to take advantage of the situation, then why would he let himself get hurt? Isn't that too risky? Unless..." Cuizhu paused here deliberately, observing Yao Zhaoyi's reaction.
A gleam of light flashed in Yao Zhaoyi's eyes, as if she had grasped some key information.
"Unless his injury was part of the plan, designed to win the Emperor's favor, the Empress's heartache, and even Concubine Zhou's guilt?"
"That's right, Your Majesty is wise," Cuizhu agreed. "The Fifth Prince's move might be an attempt to clear the suspicion of his past with Concubine Zhou, while also encouraging the Empress to sympathize with him, and perhaps even the Emperor to feel sorry for him. As for Shunzi's arrival, I'm afraid he didn't initially fall into the Empress's hands, but into the Fifth Prince's."
Yao Zhaoyi's clenched fists trembled slightly, and her eyes were full of unwillingness and anger.
"I actually underestimated the Fifth Prince! I never thought that after all these years of being humble and subservient, he could actually have such deep calculations."
"Your Majesty, although we are at a disadvantage now, as long as Your Majesty is in good health and His Royal Highness Prince Rong is doing something successful outside, there will always be a day when we can make a comeback." Lian Xin also comforted her, with determination in her eyes.
Cuizhu even spoke.
"Your Majesty, I think we should tell His Royal Highness Prince Rong this news. The Fifth Prince is currently recuperating in Fengyi Palace. He is all inside the palace. How can he help the Emperor with his work outside?"
Yao Zhaoyi's heart brightened when she heard this.
"Oh, right? Doesn't the Fifth Prince need to recuperate? I can ask Prince Rong to take over his duties. Then he'll have nothing to show for it."
At this time, there was a knock on the door outside.
"Your Majesty, Prince Rong is here."
Upon hearing this, Yao Zhaoyi spoke hurriedly.
"Cuizhu, please invite Prince Rong in."
Cuizhu responded quickly, walked quickly to the door and opened it. Prince Rong, dressed in casual clothes, walked into the room in a hurry.
Seeing Yao Zhaoyi sitting on the couch with a gloomy face, he hurried forward and bowed.
"Your son greets your mother."
"I wonder if Mother is in a better mood today."
"I brought you some cakes from outside the palace."
As he spoke, he gestured to Hefeng to bring the pastries and place them on the table.
He raised his hands and opened the pastry himself.
"Mother, please try it."
Looking at the cakes handed over by Prince Rong, Yao Zhaoyi felt much better.
"Fortunately, Shuo'er is still thinking about mother."
"Over the years, your father has become increasingly unkind to your mother."
Thinking that Yao Zhaoyi was demoted again just a few days after being reinstated as a noble concubine, Prince Rong's expression darkened for a moment, and then he began to comfort Yao Zhaoyi.
"Mother, don't worry about the position. I will find a way. This time, such a big thing happened, but the emperor only demoted your position. It shows that the emperor has high hopes for me because of his relationship with you. Now the emperor is still angry. If I go to plead for mercy, I am afraid I will anger him."
"Wait two months, wait another month, during the Lantern Festival, I will ask Father to untie Mother's feet. Then Mother will find an opportunity to see Father more often."
After hearing this, Yao Zhaoyi reached out and touched her face.
"Shuo'er, at your age, it's pointless for me to hang around your father. Remember, your assistant, Lord Zhang, has two daughters. Why don't you ask Lord Zhang if he's willing to let his daughters enter the palace? The emperor needs someone from our side."
Prince Rong heard this and spoke.
"Mother, if we allow someone else's daughter to enter the palace, she may not necessarily obey us in the future. I will start looking for one and then send her here for you to train. When the right opportunity comes, you will introduce her to the Emperor."
After hearing this, Yao Zhaoyi glanced at Prince Rong.
"Shuo'er is still a thoughtful person."
Prince Rong listened and spoke slowly.
"Thank you for the compliment, Mother."
"Mother, how is the investigation going on regarding the Empress Dowager and Concubine Liang that I asked you to do?"
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