Chapter 272: Promotion in Name but Demotion in Dependence
"What do you mean by a blessing in disguise? You've got me completely confused."
Chunzhi was about to ask Huo Zheng for clarification when she heard the doorman outside come in and announce, "The imperial edict has arrived. Your Majesty and Princess, please come forward and receive it immediately."
Huo Zheng held Chunzhi's hand and led her out, "Let's receive the decree first."
Chunzhi had no choice but to suppress her doubts and go with him to receive the imperial edict.
As the two were walking out, they met the guards leading Eunuch Xu and two young eunuchs walking in.
Eunuch Xu was holding the imperial edict in his hand. He stopped when he saw the Prince of Chang'an and his wife and said loudly, "Prince of Chang'an, please accept the edict."
Huo Zheng bowed and pretended to listen to the emperor's will.
Chunzhi stood beside him and bowed her head. All the guards and maids around her knelt on the ground when they heard the sound. The wind and rain had just stopped, but raindrops were still falling from the branches.
Eunuch Xu stood in front of the court, opened the imperial edict, and said in a high voice: "The Emperor of the Heavenly Kingdom decrees: The Prince of Chang'an has made great contributions to suppressing the rebellion and repelling the enemy. His name is well-known in this world and his achievements will be passed down through the ages. Now, in accordance with the will of Heaven, the Prince of Chang'an is specially appointed as the King of Xizhou of the current dynasty. He will be given a thousand miles of territory, govern the country and ensure the people's well-being. He will assist the Son of Heaven in ushering in a peaceful and prosperous era and ensuring peace and prosperity throughout the country. He is ordered to leave the capital within ten days and shall not return to the capital without being summoned. This is decreed!"
When Chunzhi heard the contents of the imperial edict, she looked up at Huo Zheng and her eyes became red uncontrollably.
Even though she didn't understand the affairs of the court, she knew that the emperor's decision to assign Xizhou to Huo Zheng as a fiefdom was a promotion in name only and a demotion in reality.
Once a prince leaves the capital to become a vassal, he cannot return to the capital without being summoned, which means he will no longer have a chance of becoming emperor.
Previously, when Chunzhi was in Xizhou, he had heard Huo Zheng's staff mention that Prince Chang'an had made such great contributions in Xizhou that he would definitely be named crown prince after returning to Beijing.
But now, not only was Huo Zheng not named the crown prince, he was also ordered to leave the capital.
Chunzhi knew that this must be because Huo Zheng refused to marry Princess Xiling.
She felt mixed emotions, and no words could describe her feelings at the moment.
No wonder Huo Zheng said that his father did not make things difficult for him.
No wonder he didn't agree to come.
It turns out that he traded his future for temporary peace.
Huo Zheng met her gaze and gave her a soothing look, "Huo Zheng accepts the order."
"Prince Chang'an..." Eunuch Xu stepped forward and handed the imperial edict to Huo Zheng.
When the emperor and the Prince of Chang'an and his son were having a secret conversation, only Eunuch Xu was present. As the only person who knew about it, he heard it from beginning to end.
Knowing what Prince Chang'an had given up for the princess, the matter was already done and it was too late to say anything.
Eunuch Xu could only wish the Prince of Chang'an and his wife, "I wish the prince and princess a long and happy life together." I hope the Prince of Chang'an will not regret it in the future.
"Thank you, Eunuch Xu." Huo Zheng took the imperial edict with a calm expression. "Thank you for making such a special trip. Please stay for a cup of hot tea before you leave."
Eunuch Xu said, "I have to go back and report, so I won't bother you any more."
Huo Zheng did not force him to stay, and instructed the butler Cheng beside him, "Cheng Feng, see Eunuch Xu off."
"Yes, Your Highness." Butler Cheng stepped forward and raised his hand towards Eunuch Xu, saying, "Eunuch Xu, please."
Eunuch Xu nodded and walked outside with two eunuchs.
The courtyard was quiet, with only the breeze stirring the branches and leaves.
The maids and servants kneeling on the ground were stunned when they suddenly heard that their prince was conferred the title of King of Xizhou and would leave Beijing for Xizhou within ten days. No one stood up for a long time.
Huo Zheng said, "Everyone, get up and go about your business."
"Yes." Everyone responded and dispersed.
In a blink of an eye, only Huo Zheng and Chunzhi were left in the huge courtyard.
Chunzhi's eyes were red as she looked at Huo Zheng. Her voice was slightly hoarse as she said, "Is this what you meant by not being embarrassed? Is this what you called a blessing in disguise?"
Chunzhi didn't want to cry, but tears quietly flowed out of her eyes, blurring her vision.
She had been in Xizhou for so long and knew that Huo Zheng worked tirelessly day and night for the stability of the country. She knew his talents and ambitions, and knew how important the position of crown prince was to him.
She was even prepared to separate from Huo Zheng.
It’s not that love cannot stand the test, but that there are always trade-offs in life.
Chunzhi never thought of forcing Huo Zheng to choose between herself and power.
She just waited quietly for the result.
But she didn't expect Huo Zheng to give up the position of crown prince.
He thus moved away from the center of power and went to Xizhou to become a vassal king.
"Don't cry." Huo Zheng raised his hand and gently wiped away the tears on Chunzhi's face. Even his voice became softer unconsciously. "The situation is not as bad as you think. I'm not just trying to comfort you when I say this is a blessing in disguise."
He lowered his voice so that only Chunzhi could hear it clearly and said, "My achievements now surpass my master's. Rather than staying in the capital and being at the center of the storm, it is better to withdraw in time, live in the present, and wait for the opportunity."
Chunzhi knew that Huo Zheng's words were mostly meant to comfort her.
Chunzhi looked at Huo Zheng with tears in her eyes. "What about your aspirations and ambitions? Are you really willing to bury them deep in your heart?"
"How could that be?" Huo Zheng gently stroked the corner of Chunzhi's eyes. "Xizhou has suffered greatly from the rebellion and war, and is in need of reconstruction. Everything is in ruins, and becoming the King of Xizhou is a great opportunity for me to show my abilities."
Chunzhi still felt that the price Huo Zheng paid was too high, and said in a hoarse voice: "But..."
"Don't say buts." Huo Zheng said, "I'm still young, so there's nothing wrong with doing the things in front of me first. You can't want everything, or end up with nothing."
Chunzhi looked at him and said in a hoarse voice, "You should have stayed in the capital, lived in the Eastern Palace, and displayed your talents and ambitions to benefit the people of the world..."
"It would be better to stay in the capital and do practical work for the people in Xizhou than to be caught up in the power struggle." Huo Zheng looked at Chunzhi with starry eyes and said to her, "Chunzhi, protecting your wife and children and benefiting the people are not in conflict."
From the moment he made his choice, he would not regret it.
What he said in front of the emperor was not false; he really believed it.
"What about the Queen Mother? You are the King of Xizhou and cannot return to the capital without being summoned. What will happen to the Queen Mother?"
Chunzhi thought of Queen Wang. The Queen had no children and raised Huo Zheng for many years. She almost treated him as her own son and he carried all her expectations.
"Before leaving the palace, I went to see the Queen Mother and explained everything to her. She said she was quite pleased and didn't blame me. As for the future..." Huo Zheng lowered his voice and said to Chunzhi, "One day, I will return to the capital. If that opportunity really doesn't come, I will find a way to bring the Queen Mother to Xizhou to share our family happiness."
Chunzhi knew that she couldn't say more, so she interrupted immediately, "What else did the Queen Mother say?"
Huo Zheng laughed and said, "My mother said that if I was so foolish as to be obsessed with beauty, she would break one of my legs. But... for Chunzhi, anything is worth it."
Chunzhi felt a pang of grief when she heard this. "Father has given us ten days to leave the capital and return to our fiefdom. I will try to bring Xiaoxing back to Qiwu Palace more often to accompany Mother."
Now that I am in Xizhou, I don’t know when I can return to Beijing.
It would be difficult for Queen Wang to see her grandson again.
"Going to Xizhou isn't a bad thing for me." Huo Zheng held Chunzhi's hand. "It's just that I'm wronging you. You have to go to that poor place with me and suffer again."
Chunzhi raised her eyes and looked at him. "After marrying you, I have never suffered any injustice again."
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