Xiao Wu looked at Cui Changan: "Actually, you don't have to worry too much. You just need to know the pros and cons of doing or not doing this thing."
"Whether you can bear the pros and cons, you can make a decision."
"If the late emperor's imperial decree to bury you alive with him does not count, does the imperial decree to appoint you as regent still count?"
"If those people were to leave their lives behind and then turn around and unite their mother tribes to deal with you, would you be able to handle it?"
"And the Crown Prince, he has not yet ascended the throne and is only three years old. If all the civil and military officials in the court jump out to oppose you becoming the regent, or even want to execute you, are you capable of dealing with it?"
"If you die, who will take over the country? Who can truly care about the people?"
"You just have to think through these issues, weigh the pros and cons, and then you'll know what you want."
Cui Changan lowered his head, and suddenly he understood the late emperor's actions.
The late emperor wanted to use him, but at the same time he was afraid that the Cui clan would take advantage of his trust in him and cause trouble for him when they became powerful.
In order to avoid embarrassing situations, he acquiesced in his father's killing of the entire Cui family.
Just like now.
In order to prevent the concubines in the palace from cuckolding him after his death, he ordered all these people to be taken away.
Fearing that the Queen's family would become more powerful after the Crown Prince ascended the throne, he killed the Queen and her family...
Isn’t this all about weighing the pros and cons?
If we ignore human nature, there is nothing wrong with this kind of weighing of pros and cons.
Cui Changan smiled bitterly and looked up, staring at Xiao Wu: "If I choose to allow those concubines to die for the sake of my status as regent..."
"What's the difference between me and the great emperor?"
Xiao Wu was slightly moved, and then she smiled: "Then how are you going to settle them?"
Cui Changan pursed his lips and said, "According to the rules of past dynasties, once a concubine enters the palace, she is a member of the royal family."
"After the death of the previous emperor, they were all sent to the temple to practice Buddhism with their hair untied."
"Or they will stay in a secluded palace in the palace and die alone."
In the end, you will end up alone.
"I want to... ask them."
Xiao Wu understood, and she raised a new question: "Even if they want to leave the palace, will their mother clan agree?"
She was able to be named a concubine when the late emperor just ascended the throne, and all the people in her family were officials.
If they take back the women that the emperor has used, will their lives be better?
Aren’t you ashamed?
Will they treat them even more harshly?
Even force them to death?
Cui Changan had experienced many ups and downs, and was stunned for a moment when he heard this.
After a moment, he looked at Xiao Wu: "No matter what, we should ask them what they think, right?"
The cries in the harem were deafening. The concubines all didn't want to die and made a fuss begging for mercy.
Especially Concubine Yu, who has not yet given birth to a child.
She thought that with this child, she could gain honor as a mother and was looking forward to the happy days in the future, but suddenly she received an imperial decree telling her to die?
The key point is that the child’s biological father is also dead…
She was so depressed that her stomach ached slightly and she held her stomach and cried.
The Jinwu Guards next to them were also in a difficult situation: the late emperor did not explicitly say that the baby was a bastard, he just said that they should be executed together.
Now she is going to give birth, should she deliver the baby or not?
Should I let her give birth?
Should we kill the child after giving birth?
Just when the chaos was in full swing, Cui Changan led Xiao Wu in, and with them came the Golden Scale Guards.
As soon as the Golden Scale Guards appeared, the murderous aura made everyone quiet down.
Cui Changan looked at the concubines in front of him with mixed feelings.
In fact, I have seen most of these people before.
He was the prince's companion, and other families also tried to curry favor with the Cui family, so he had met them more or less at various banquets.
We are all the same age.
Now these people are on the brink of life and death, and I have become their only salvation...
It’s just - very mysterious.
Cui Changan waved his hand: "Stop it first."
Upon hearing this, the Jinwu Guards immediately let go and stepped back.
The concubines immediately rushed up and tried to pull the robe and sleeves.
Cui Changan took a step back, and Xiao Wu shouted, "Golden Scale Guards, anyone who dares to take another step forward will be killed without mercy."
The concubines stopped immediately.
Cui Changan lowered his eyes and sighed: It is true that “when you are weak, he is strong, and when you are strong, he is weak”.
Concubine Yu cried out: "Prince Regent, help me... wuwuwu..."
Her water had broken and she was lying on the ground holding her belly in a panic.
Cui Changan waved his hand and said, "Let someone help her go in and give birth first. Where's the midwife?"
The midwife was already prepared in the palace, and she was immediately sent to be called upon hearing the news.
Only after Concubine Yu was helped away did Cui Changan look at the concubines below.
"I came here today to give you a chance..."
"If you want to survive, there are three options available to you."
When the concubines heard this, their eyes lit up.
"First, you stay in the palace or go to the temple to practice Buddhism with your hair untied."
After this was said, everyone hesitated collectively: If there were other choices, who would be willing to spend their youth in loneliness and misery?
"Second, you will return to your mother's family, marry yourselves, and have nothing to do with the royal family anymore."
One of the concubines immediately jumped out and said, "I choose the second option!"
Some people didn't say anything, waiting quietly for the third one.
Cui Changan glanced at the woman who jumped out and said, "Before you choose the second option, you need to think clearly..."
"If you return home, will your family accept you? How will they accommodate you?"
When everyone heard this, their hearts skipped a beat.
Yes, when you leave the palace and go home, will your family feel sympathetic and considerate?
Or do you feel disgusted with yourself for ruining the family tradition?
Would he hang himself with a white silk scarf just for the sake of his family's reputation?
Some people are already crying: "My father might let me die..."
Some people are more sober: "What about the third way?"
Cui Changan: "The third way is that you die on the surface, change your name, and leave the palace."
"The palace will give you some money to let you leave the palace and settle down."
The concubines immediately started to discuss among themselves.
Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages.
It is impossible to completely meet your expectations.
Cui Changan added: "You don't have to rush to make a decision. You can write a letter or send a message home..."
"This time tomorrow, I will know your decision."
Leaving behind the concubines who were still in a mess but no longer crying, Cui Changan and Xiao Wu went to the Queen's palace.
In the Queen's Palace, the young Queen sitting on the high throne had an angry and cold look on her face.
Her maidservants and maids stood in front of her, looking vigilantly at the Jinwu Guards below.
The Jinwu Guards did not dare to use force, fearing that if they forcibly killed the emperor's biological mother, the emperor would bear a grudge against them, so the two sides were in a stalemate.
Seeing Cui Changan and Xiao Wu coming over, the queen sneered: "Are you here to kill me, Prince Regent?"
Cui Changan waved his hand to let the Jinwu Guards leave first, and asked the maids and the palace maids to leave as well, leaving only him, Xiaowu, and the queen.
"Your Majesty, we should have a talk."
The queen saw Cui Changan's attitude and knew that he was not here to kill her. She felt relieved and asked, "What do you want to talk about?"
Cui Changan looked at the queen sincerely and said, "You know why His Majesty ordered the killing of you and your entire family, right?"
When the Queen thought of this, she trembled with anger: "He is afraid that my mother's family will become too powerful and threaten the emperor's kingdom and throne in the future!"
"What a joke! I only have the right to protect my own son, how could he possibly threaten his throne?"
Cui Changan nodded: "I believe in your motherly love."
"But how can you guarantee that your mother's family will not force the prince to make concessions and compromises again and again for the sake of their own interests?"
"After making concessions and compromises time and time again, didn't your mother clan become more powerful?"
"When your father's power is enough to influence your majesty's decision, doesn't that threaten your majesty's throne?"
"When the time comes, you will have your parents and brothers on one side, and your own son on the other. Both sides want to fight for power. How will you protect His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"
The Queen was also stunned when she heard this... (End of this chapter)
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