Chapter 53 Jin Ling 53
After Li Yi secretly arranged everything, he pretended to be persuaded by the Queen Mother and agreed to go to Mount Tai.
The night before leaving, Li Yi and Jin Ling sat by the window. The moon was obscured by the thick sky, but the two of them cuddled together, looking up at something unknown.
"Your Majesty is really going to Mount Tai?"
"I'm leaving tomorrow, haven't you accepted it yet?" Li Yi listened to her unwilling mumbling with amusement, avoiding her belly and holding her gently.
"Then you have to promise me that you will be careful in everything and come back safely." Jin Ling touched her round belly with him and said, "The baby and I are waiting for you."
"Jin Ling, you have to be careful while I'm away from the palace. My mother is seriously ill, and all the affairs of the palace are on your shoulders. You must take care of your health and don't overwork yourself." Li Yi paused, then spoke again:
"If I hadn't returned this time, Ma Yuanying would have definitely taken control of the government. He would have been so arrogant, and I would have arranged for Gao Xianyang to do his best to suppress him in the front court. But he's only a guard after all, and I'm afraid he wouldn't have been able to hold out for long."
"You are pregnant with my only child. If things really reach a point of no return... you can surrender."
Jin Ling understood his plan: "Ma Yuanying can only use the emperor to control the princes. Instead of struggling to find someone easy to control among the royal family, it would be better to support a newborn baby. Then we, an orphan and a widow, will naturally obey his orders. Ma Yuanying will definitely not refuse such a good thing."
"Is this your Majesty's intention?"
"Jin Ling understands me. As long as there's green mountains, there's no need to worry about running out of firewood. In my heart, your lives are the most important." Li Yi's deep eyes were full of solemnity: "Jin Ling, can you promise me?"
"Your Majesty, rest assured. Jin Ling will do her utmost to protect the Queen Mother and the child, as well as herself."
Yao Jinling's eyes were filled with worry, but more of a gentle and firm trust. She trusted her husband, and she also trusted herself.
Li Yi had long known that the person he loved was not an ordinary woman, but he was still amazed by his wife's strength.
Just as Jin Ling believed that he could return, he also believed that Jin Ling could help him protect the Tang Dynasty while he was away. Li Yi solemnly handed the imperial seal to Jin Ling and finally embarked on the journey of his previous life.
…
Ten days later, Ma Yuanwei returned to Chang'an City alone in a swagger.
It cannot be said that he returned alone. Although he did not bring back the emperor this time, he brought back another special person - the pregnant concubine.
He announced at court that the Emperor was devoted to worshipping Buddha, and from now on all matters of state, big or small, would be reported to him. As for the child in Concubine Xian's womb, it was because His Majesty had previously visited Guanyin Temple and had a chance encounter with Concubine Xian. He was attracted by the reborn beauty and had sex with her, resulting in the pregnancy.
Ma Yuanyi even forged an imperial decree, saying, "Your Majesty has decreed that the virtuous concubine, if pregnant, will be promoted to the rank of noble concubine. If she gives birth to a prince, he will be crown prince."
"Absurd! Not to mention that Concubine Xian was deposed for her crimes long ago, how can a woman with flawed morals be made a concubine? Just say that Concubine Yao in the palace is pregnant. Even if a prince is to be appointed, it should be Concubine Yao's son." Gao Xianyang jumped out immediately. His tone and expression almost made it clear that Ma Yuan was ambitious and had forged an imperial edict to usurp the throne.
Ma Yuanyi would never tolerate his presumption. He had been forced to play along because the Emperor protected him. He would try every possible means to find his flaws, but in the end, he would be saved by the Emperor.
Now that the emperor is dead, the whole world belongs to him, Ma Yuanying. Why should he be afraid of a mere fourth-rank guard?
"Capture him for me!" Ma Yuanyi raised his arm and shouted, and the imperial guards outside swarmed in, pinning Gao Xianyang to the ground in the court. "You are merely a sword-bearing guard beside the Emperor. Being able to attend court with the other ministers is a great honor, but I didn't expect you to be so audacious."
"Not only did you recklessly discuss state affairs, but you also disrespected me in court, openly defying your superiors. Your crimes are even more severe. This general will today imprison you according to the law!"
"The Emperor has arrived!"
Bao Gonggong's shout successfully shocked everyone present.
Ma Yuanyi's heart was in turmoil:
How is it possible? That dog emperor has clearly been... Damn it!
In contrast, Gao Xianyang's eyes showed obvious joy. He just thought that His Majesty had successfully persuaded King Qi to send troops, and today was the day of Ma Yuanying's death.
He suddenly broke free from the guards who were escorting him, took two steps forward, and saw a pair of slender hands holding a familiar jade seal.
"Imperial Concubine?!" Gao Xianyang exclaimed in surprise. Looking at Jin Ling, who was wearing the imperial concubine's clothes and holding the emperor's jade seal, he guessed her intentions, but he still couldn't help but sweat for her boldness.
"How dare you, a mere palace lady, run into the council hall? Are you trying to be the first to crow at dawn?" Ma Yuanying also reacted and immediately questioned Jin Ling, trying to divert everyone's attention to her gender.
Jin Ling, however, would not do as he wished. She held the tray with both hands and instead of retreating, she advanced: "General Ma, can't you see the jade seal in my hand?"
As she spoke, she stepped onto the throne, holding the imperial seal with one hand and lifting the hem of her skirt with the other, sitting on the throne with a domineering air: "Your Majesty left a message when he went on tour. If Your Majesty, the Heart of Mount Tai, is unable to return to the capital with General Ma this time, all state affairs will be managed by me until Your Majesty returns to the capital."
"Impossible! You are just a woman, how could His Majesty entrust you with state affairs? You must have stolen the imperial seal while His Majesty was away on tour. Your words are not credible."
"Could it be that General Ma has a personal letter from His Majesty?" Yao Jinling sat there, looking at him leisurely. "Compared to General Ma, I at least have the imperial seal as proof. Isn't that more reliable than the general?"
"Or, could we invite His Majesty back and let him decide who is lying between us?"
Ma Yuanyi naturally had nothing to say. Li Yi had been poisoned to death by him long ago, and her body was probably stinking now. How could he invite Li Yi back? He could only reluctantly agree with Yao Jinling's statement.
After temporarily suppressing Ma Yuanying, Jin Ling turned her attention to Gao Xianyang.
"Even if you are temporarily in charge of state affairs for the emperor, you cannot shield criminals at will." Ma Yuanying thought she wanted to help Gao Xianyang get rid of the crime, so he stepped forward to stop her.
Unexpectedly, Jin Ling praised him: "General Ma is truly a pillar of the nation, daring to speak out against the emperor. I've heard the argument you two had in the court just now. General Ma was polite, but Guard Gao was indeed rude."
"Since General Ma has already decided to detain him, I cannot change my policy overnight." Jin Ling's eyes hinted at him, and she kept saying, "However, if Guard Gao sincerely repents, I hope General Ma will show mercy and forgive his sins."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
