Chapter 235 The Emperor's Consort
Chen Yanqing nodded, the frown between his brows easing slightly.
Then, as if remembering something, he asked again, "But now, what should I do? Given our identities..."
One is the true prince who should inherit the throne, and the other is the fake princess who is about to ascend the throne.
This entanglement left him unsure of what to do.
Liu Jinzhang slowly said, "Young Master Chen, you have been by the Princess's side for nearly a year, and you know that she is diligent and hardworking in governing the country, and has the talent to rule a nation. How do you think you compare to her?"
Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Yanqing frankly said, "I am certainly not as good as her; she is a born emperor."
However, this imperial talent ultimately lacked that legitimate bloodline.
Liu Jinzhang looked at him, "Then... do you want to reclaim your identity?"
“Once you are recognized, you will be the rightful prince, but the price will be that you two will become enemies. At that point, there will be no chance to make amends.”
"I don't know, I don't know..."
Chen Yanqing lowered his head slightly, his voice full of struggle.
He really didn't know.
Logically speaking, he should have reclaimed his identity.
Those were his family members whom he had longed for since childhood, the home he had dreamed of after years of wandering.
But the truth is that he is actually of royal blood, and his biological father killed his biological mother.
These relatives, stained with blood, are not the family he expected.
Moreover, recognizing his true identity meant becoming enemies with Li Yuanzhao, and he wasn't confident he could win, so he genuinely didn't want to.
But if he doesn't acknowledge him, he will forever remain "Chen Yanqing," an orphan without roots or a home.
Both choices were heartbreaking and difficult to accept.
Liu Jinzhang noticed his dilemma and offered his advice.
"Young Master Chen, if you truly love the Princess and do not wish to become her political enemy, I have a plan. Would you like to hear it?"
Chen Yanqing quickly replied, "Please speak!"
Liu Jinzhang slowly said, "If you can completely give up the idea of acknowledging your relatives and conceal your true identity for the rest of your life, I am willing to do everything I can to help you become the Princess's consort. In this way, you can not only stay by her side legitimately, but also be included in the imperial genealogy and call your biological parents Father and Mother. Although you will not have the title of a prince, you will have the reality of one, and you will be able to be with her day and night. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"
Chen Yanqing looked at him in disbelief, her eyes filled with shock and ecstasy.
"Really? As long as I don't compete with her, Li Yuanzhao will let me stay by her side openly and legitimately?"
He never imagined that such a possibility could exist.
No matter what princely status or blood ties one may have, nothing compares to being able to stand openly by her side.
Looking at his excited appearance, Liu Jinzhang still felt a little uneasy.
Li Yuanzhao was overly confident, even somewhat obsessive, and never allowed anyone to pose any threat to her.
Chen Yanqing's exchange of his "prince status" for "imperial consort status" may seem like a compromise, but in reality, it could be a threat to Li Yuanzhao in another sense.
Can she really accept the offer from a "hidden danger" who knows all the truth and stays by her side?
But since things had come to this point, he could only try to calm Chen Yanqing down first.
Liu Jinzhang remained calm and said, "This matter naturally requires careful consideration and should not be rushed. But I believe that as long as the Princess is certain that you have no intention of vying for the throne, she will be able to lower her guard and accept you. I will also do my best to mediate and try to persuade her."
Without further hesitation, Chen Yanqing stood up and nodded slightly: "Thank you, Grand Tutor."
Having persuaded Chen Yanqing, Liu Jinzhang no longer hesitated and immediately decided to take him back to the capital to meet Li Yuanzhao directly.
Regardless of whether Li Yuanzhao is willing to accept Chen Yanqing at this moment, keeping this person under her watchful eye is the most appropriate course of action.
This ensures that nothing unexpected happens and also allows the two more opportunities to spend time together, which is good for both of them, both professionally and personally.
The two came across this teahouse while traveling, so they went in to rest.
At this point, the topic of conversation in the teahouse had changed.
Everyone was speculating with great interest about who would be the final choice for the Emperor's consort, and each person spoke with great confidence and expertise.
“In my opinion, the position of Imperial Consort belongs to General Shen! He is the commander of the Imperial Guards, wielding military power, and is also His Highness the Crown Prince’s cousin. In terms of status, position, and kinship, he is the most suitable.”
Someone nearby immediately retorted, "I don't think so! Didn't General Shen always clash with His Highness the Crown Prince? How could His Highness possibly choose him as the Crown Prince's consort?"
"Your information is so outdated!" Another person leaned over and whispered, "I heard that during the palace coup on New Year's Eve, it was Shen Churong who risked his life to protect His Highness the Crown Prince and help him break through the siege. The two of them have long since reconciled!"
“In my opinion, the head of the Pei family is more likely to succeed,” a scholar in a long robe said slowly. “Now that two of the five great families have been destroyed, the Pei family has become the head of the family. Moreover, the head of the Pei family has always been highly regarded by His Highness the Crown Prince. Choosing him as the imperial consort is the most appropriate choice.”
Compared to grand principles like court intrigues and the power struggles between men and women, gossip about romance and royal relatives always captures more public interest.
When this topic came up, everyone stopped arguing and debating; instead, they all started sharing their own guesses.
Everyone was talking at once, making the scene quite lively.
Upon hearing this, Chen Yanqing's heart jumped, and he quickly turned to look at Liu Jinzhang, "What should we do?"
What if Li Yuanzhao really chooses someone else and gets married first?
Wouldn't his plan to give up his identity and just stay by her side be in vain?
Liu Jinzhang gently reassured him, "Don't panic. The news of choosing a royal consort has just come out, and everything is still unsettled. We still have a chance."
“But…” Chen Yanqing frowned, her tone revealing an undisguised lack of confidence.
“Shen Churong is the commander of the Imperial Guards, wielding military power and being a relative of the emperor; Pei Huaijin is now the head of a powerful family with deep roots in the court. Their status and position make them far more suitable to be the emperor’s consort than I am. To outsiders, I am merely a commoner with no background. How could the court officials possibly agree to me becoming the emperor’s consort?”
Seeing his anxious appearance, Liu Jinzhang said, "Status is only a superficial thing and may not be able to influence the Princess's mind. Moreover, the Princess may not be willing to choose a person with a powerful background as her consort. A powerful maternal relative is not a good thing for her."
Upon hearing this, Chen Yanqing finally felt somewhat relieved.
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