Chapter 40 You're never proactive
The news that King Zhao had returned to the court after two years caused an immediate uproar.
It should be noted that the Northern Garrison Command is not of high rank, but it wields great power. Its investigations and arrests are not subject to the control of the Three Judicial Offices, making it notorious among the people. Its cruel tortures in the imperial prison are feared by all civil and military officials.
Now, Emperor Yongcheng has appointed Prince Zhao to take charge of the Northern Garrison. Prince Zhao's investigative abilities and ruthless methods are well-known. In addition, as a prince, he is not afraid to offend anyone. Now that he holds power, he will only become more and more unscrupulous in his actions.
Some say that a blind man is nothing to fear, but in just a few days, he quietly brought down Consort Li, who had been favored for many years and had the support of her family and princes. His intelligence and methods should not be underestimated.
In particular, the maternal families of several princes were either corrupt or involved in factionalism, causing widespread fear among the people.
It is unclear what Emperor Yongcheng's intentions were this time. Did he simply want to eliminate treacherous officials, or did he want to use Prince Zhao to uproot the power they had cultivated in the court over the years?
...
Prince Zhao's Mansion.
Chi Ying was embraced from behind by him, and a rustling tickle came from the back of her neck.
He kissed that spot for a long time. At first, she would curl up and get goosebumps all over her body from the itching. Now, she has gotten used to the hot breath spraying on the back of her neck again and again.
Moist lips moved down little by little, pressing against her back. Chi Ying's shoulders shrugged, and her shoulder blades became even more prominent.
"Too thin." Yan Xuecui ran her fingertips along the slender bones. "Didn't your family take good care of you?"
Chi Ying felt uneasy and tried to breathe steadily, saying, "I've been like this since I was a child, but it's just an ordinary figure. Most young ladies in the capital are like this."
Chi Yingyue was a bit more voluptuous than her, with a slender yet well-proportioned figure, neither too thin nor too plump, the graceful figure of a well-bred lady carefully cultivated over more than a decade.
She had just returned to the Chi family and had been taking care of her mother day and night. After that, she had been running around in the wind and rain for days, and was covered in dirt and almost emaciated.
Madam Yin had a doctor prescribe nourishing remedies for her, and she was forced to eat fish, meat, and soup at every meal. She did gain some weight in a short period of time.
During that period, she often drank meat soup until she vomited. When Madam Yin saw that her figure was almost back to normal, she finally let her go in terms of diet.
Yan Xuecui's fingertips swept across her back, then around her waist, and his large hand caressed her flat, smooth abdomen, stroking the slightly raised old scar.
He's so thin and frail here; you can almost see his outline when you press on him. It's hard to imagine how he'll be able to carry a baby weighing several pounds in the future.
The fetus... Why did he suddenly think of this?
Even Yan Xuecui himself was surprised that he actually had this idea.
He never had much desire for offspring. Born into the royal family, he grew up amidst weak family ties and sibling rivalry. Now blind, he had no interest in women before taking a concubine, let alone having children.
But he suddenly wanted to know if she was willing.
Yan Xuecui recalled Lian Yun and Feng Yue's report, saying that she rushed back to the manor early that morning to pick up Aunt Xue from Chunliu Garden. Later, he arrived at the right time, and she had no choice but to hand over the matter to Baoshan. Now, Aunt Xue has been settled in a house outside the manor.
The reason why Bao Shan was able to operate so smoothly, renting a house, buying maids, and managing everything properly, was all thanks to the secret help of Prince Xuan.
Chi Ying couldn't possibly be completely unaware of all this.
Her acting skills were rather mediocre; she was often startled by his casual probing remarks, but whenever he mentioned Consort Li and Prince Xuan, she remained remarkably calm and composed.
Yan Xue gently massaged her lower abdomen, then suddenly asked, "Aying, both Prince Rui and Prince Qing have children, and Prince Xuan is also eagerly awaiting an heir. What are your thoughts?"
Chi Ying trembled all over as he stroked her, biting her fingers tightly, afraid that she would let out a sound she shouldn't.
She had never thought about having children, so his sudden mention of it surprised her.
Does he want children too?
“I…I haven’t thought that far ahead,” she answered carefully. “Is Your Highness in a hurry?”
Yan Xuecui smiled helplessly. His princess had become clever and was now throwing the question at him.
His smile caused his body to sway, and Chi Ying bit her lip, helplessly looking down at her swollen belly.
If this continues every day, there is a real possibility that she might get pregnant.
Once she was actually pregnant, everything became complicated again.
It is unknown what plans Yin and Chi Yingyue have in mind. With Chi Yingyue's personality, how could she be willing to hide away and never show her face in public for the rest of her life?
Or perhaps, fate took a different turn, and she became the Princess Consort of Zhao, while Chi Yingyue would live a life of luxury and wealth under another identity.
Chi Ying had a vague feeling that things wouldn't go so smoothly.
If her identity is exposed, she will be guilty of deceiving the emperor. Even if her children are not guilty, how will they live in the Prince Zhao's mansion?
King Zhao will marry a new queen, and her son, born of a fake, will likely suffer endless scorn and ridicule, his situation no better than hers in the Chi family.
Or perhaps, things will change in the future, and she and Chi Yingyue will return to their respective places. By then, she will have a child, and the child will have to recognize Chi Yingyue as its mother...
These are all situations she absolutely does not want to see.
She didn't even dare to think further.
Therefore, when things are uncertain and the future is unclear, it is best not to get pregnant.
But that's not something she can decide.
King Zhao was particularly fond of sexual pleasures, often staying up until late at night and cuddling her tenderly for a long time in the morning. With such frequent encounters, she was genuinely afraid that one day she might become pregnant.
Yan Xuecui gently stroked the soft flesh of her belly and thought to herself, "Tomorrow I will ask Imperial Physician Lin to come and help you take care of your health."
Chi Ying said softly, "Okay."
As dawn broke, he still wouldn't stop, and Chi Ying couldn't help but urge him, "Your Highness, shouldn't you be on duty today? It's almost 9 AM."
Don't ordinary officials usually start their work at dawn? How could he have dragged it out for so long?
Yan Xuecui patted her belly, and with a muffled squeezing sound, slowly withdrew from her body. "Everyone else is afraid that I will regain power, but you seem to really want me to leave the manor."
As soon as he left, Chi Ying felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her body, and she instantly felt lighter.
"I hope Your Highness... will return to the court and achieve great things." She managed to come up with a reason.
Yan Xue raised the corners of his lips, his eyes and brows filled with laughter. He leaned down and nuzzled her cheek. "Aying, give me a kiss."
After saying that, he added, "You're never one to take the initiative."
Chi Ying had no choice but to slowly move over, hug his neck, and kiss his lips.
Kissing him is a difficult thing to control; if it's just a light touch, he won't be satisfied, but if it's too much, he'll easily get aroused and force her to kiss him again...
So Chi Ying lingered on his lips a little longer before quickly letting go before his breathing became unsteady, and fled back to her own bed.
Yan Xue asked her, "Do you like kissing me?"
Chi Ying nodded reluctantly.
Yan Xuecui: "I can't see it."
Chi Ying subconsciously licked her lips and whispered, "I like it."
Although his mouth always teased and mocked her, and even his kisses felt like bullying her, it had to be said that his lips were very soft and beautifully shaped. His warm breath, accompanied by a light tea fragrance, made her feel quite comfortable when she occasionally took a sip.
However, she only dared to think these words in her heart; she dared not say them aloud, nor could she bring herself to say them.
...
On the first day of Yan Xuecui's tenure as the commander of the Northern Garrison, his subordinates, including the assistant prefects, vice commanders, and commanders of thousands, came to pay their respects.
He sat at the head of the table and set forth the rules in a few words: no collusion with court officials, no abuse of power for personal gain, no accepting or offering bribes, otherwise all would be punished according to military law.
Although he was blind, he had a cool and composed demeanor, exuding the aura of a superior and the sharp edge honed by years of battle. Without needing to say much, the invisible sense of control and pressure he emanated made these usually arrogant Imperial Guards unconsciously hold their breath and fall silent, filled with awe.
The Northern Garrison Command was in charge of investigation, interrogation, and intelligence gathering. The case files and documents were voluminous. Emperor Yongcheng assigned six lecturers and compilers to him, who were dedicated to explaining the cases and organizing the case files.
These people were both his helpers and Emperor Yongcheng's eyes and ears.
When Yan Xuecui handles official business, he uses them; when he abuses his power for personal gain, he naturally only uses his trusted confidants.
The first file he requested was a detailed case file about how Prince Rong murdered his elder brother, Prince Ding.
Back then, without any official position, he had never cultivated so many trusted guards as he does today. It was not easy to secretly investigate the cause of his brother's death. It took three years before the truth came to light that Prince Rong had colluded with his brother's generals, causing him to be in danger.
The case ultimately ended with Prince Rong's imprisonment. In the eyes of outsiders, he had avenged his brother. But for Yan Xuecui, any revenge that did not involve bloodshed, or seeing him disgraced and killed without a proper burial, could not be considered true revenge.
Ironically, Emperor Yongcheng confined his concubines who used aphrodisiacs to their homes, and he also confined Prince Rong, who had harmed his brothers and disregarded the lives of his soldiers.
The so-called weighing of power by emperors is nothing more than prioritizing their own health and interests; how can it be considered fair?
Perhaps, his elder brother's outstanding achievements and renowned reputation had already made him a thorn in his side.
However, the lives of his elder brother and thousands of soldiers cannot be atoned for by mere imprisonment. Since Emperor Yongcheng is unwilling to deal with them, let him give them a push.
Prince Rong was imprisoned in Heting Garden. Although he had no freedom of movement, his basic living conditions were still guaranteed. He had many wives and concubines, and he lacked nothing in terms of food and clothing. There were spies outside the palace keeping an eye on the court for him, and there were also many of his former supporters who wanted to help him see the light of day again and seize power.
Coincidentally, when Yan Xuecui was investigating the cause of Prince Ding's death, she planted a spy next to him to monitor Prince Rong's every move in the Forbidden Garden. This spy has not been discovered to this day, and it is time to put it to use.
Crane Park.
Zhao Qu, who was transporting rice and vegetables to the garden, secretly sneaked into Prince Rong's study.
The place had just ended with a passionate encounter, and a faint, sensual scent still lingered in the air. Prince Rong dismissed his disheveled concubine, who then tidied herself before meeting Zhao Qu.
Zhao Qu was a subordinate of Lu Xiao, the former commander of the Golden Guard whom he had personally promoted. For the past two years, Zhao Qu had been lying low in Hetingyuan, using the pretense of transporting vegetables to secretly contact external forces and gather information from all sides.
Zhao Qu arrived today with an unusually solemn expression: "Your Highness, something terrible has happened!"
Prince Rong's brow twitched: "What's the matter that you're in such a panic?"
Could it be that one of his brothers has been made crown prince?
Zhao Qu lowered his voice and said, "Something has happened to Consort Li."
Prince Rong frowned: "What could possibly be wrong with my aunt?"
Zhao Qu embellished the story, saying, "Consort Li was found to have used aphrodisiacs to maintain His Majesty's favor, which greatly damaged His Majesty's health. She has now been banished to the Cold Palace."
Prince Rong was startled and hurriedly asked, "How is Father Emperor now?"
Zhao Qu shook his head: "The palace is under tight control, and the specific situation is still unknown. However, His Majesty has asked Prince Zhao to take charge of the Northern Garrison Command and investigate all factions in the court. Prince Zhao is at odds with you because of the death of Prince Ding. Furthermore, because you plotted to poison his eyes, I fear that he will use his position to eliminate you..."
Prince Rong: "Yan Xuecui's eyes have healed?"
Zhao Qu said uncertainly, "He should not be fully recovered. However, according to my observations, he should still be blind, but his movements are not hindered. He has been assassinated many times in the past two years, but he has managed to escape each time."
Prince Rong clenched his fists and paced back and forth in the room.
The more the palace concealed the news, the more it confirmed the possibility that the Emperor was unwell.
I wonder what kind of potent medicine Consort Li used. If Father Emperor were healthy, why would he have banished her to the Cold Palace?
Then Yan Xuecui was appointed again at this time... Could it be that his eyes have been healed and his father intends to make him the crown prince?
The Prince of Ding was once a man of exceptional talent and the eldest son of the emperor. He went to great lengths to eliminate the man, but was pursued by Yan Xuecui for years and ended up being imprisoned for life.
If it weren't for the fact that Prince Ding was a brilliant talent in the past, and Yan Xuecui was willing to play a supporting role and not compete with him, wouldn't he also be the best candidate for the throne?
In terms of intelligence and shrewdness, as well as temperament and methods, his brothers were far inferior to him.
He thought that since his father had spared his life, there would be room for maneuver in the future. Yan Xuecui was blind and already a cripple, no longer able to cause any trouble. But who would have thought that now that the emperor was unwell and Consort Li had lost power, Yan Xuecui would be given important responsibilities again...
When Prince Rong thought of this, he was filled with anxiety and covered in cold sweat.
Zhao Qu tentatively spoke up: "We are at the mercy of others, like fish on a chopping board. Given Your Highness's current situation, rather than waiting for Prince Zhao to come seeking revenge, it would be better to..."
Prince Rong closed his eyes and sighed deeply.
He understood Zhao Qu's meaning, but forcing the emperor to abdicate was tantamount to risking his life on a knife's edge. If any link in the chain went wrong, he would surely die.
Seeing his hesitation, Zhao Qu pressed on, saying, "As long as Your Highness gives the order, I can immediately gather Your Highness's former subordinates. At that time, the Imperial Guard and the three hundred elite soldiers of the Ning family can all be used by Your Highness. We may not be without a chance of breaking through the capital."
A fierce glint flashed in Prince Rong's eyes, and an unprecedented surge of emotion welled up in his chest.
indeed.
His current situation no longer allows him to live a life of debauchery. If something were to happen to his father, and he were in this forbidden garden, he might not even be able to see him one last time.
Yan Xuecui hates him to the bone; how could she possibly let him go then?
Rather than waiting to die, we should fight to the death, storm the imperial city, and seize the supreme throne in one fell swoop!
Prince Zhao's Mansion.
Zhao Qu quietly came to report late at night, "As you instructed, I have stirred up trouble and persuaded Prince Rong."
Yan Xuecui smiled and said, "Just do exactly what he plans next, and don't arouse suspicion. The more people involved, the Ning family, the Rong Princess's maternal family, the Imperial Guard, and his old subordinates hidden in the court, the better. We'll wipe them all out in one fell swoop."
Zhao Qu immediately bowed and agreed.
When Yan Xuecui returned to Shuyu Zhai, she smelled an unusual fragrance as soon as she entered.
The fragrance was faint and not pungent, but because of his sensitive sense of smell, he vaguely sensed that something was wrong.
He casually asked Chi Ying, "Did you change the incense in the room?"
Chi Ying paused for a moment, "No, I don't think so."
Since learning that he was quite picky about incense, Shuyu Zhai simply used the garland incense he usually burned, and in very small quantities. Today was no exception, and she could hardly smell any difference.
Yan Xuecui grasped her hand. "It's alright, let's get settled."
He stopped asking questions and secretly ordered someone to change the incense in the burner. The next morning, he handed over the unusual incense from the previous night to Judge Lin.
After examining the product, Judge Lin said, "This spice is mainly composed of kalanchoe, but a small amount of musk has been added."
Musk is a common incense, "Is there anything wrong with it?"
Judge Lin said, "Musk has the effects of refreshing the mind, promoting blood circulation, and regulating menstruation. It is fine to use it normally, however..."
Yan Xue frowned: "But what?"
Observing his calm and peaceful expression, and based on the pulse diagnosis of the past few days, Lin Yuanpan concluded that King Zhao's mental disorder had improved significantly and his emotions had become more stable, which was likely due to the relief he had experienced through recent sexual intercourse.
“If Your Highness and the Princess intend to have children, it is best to avoid using musk,” said Judge Lin. “If a woman is exposed to musk for a long time, it may stimulate the uterus and make it difficult to conceive. Pregnant women who come into contact with musk may also risk miscarriage.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Judge Lin clearly noticed a moment of silence around him.
He cautiously glanced at King Zhao's cold expression, and suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, and couldn't help but shiver.
“By the way,” Lin Yuanpan took out a bottle of scar removal cream from his medicine box and abruptly changed the subject, “Your Highness asked about a cream for removing old scars. I tried to concoct a bottle. Your Highness can try it. If you apply it consistently for two months, it should be effective.”
Yan Xuecui reached out and took it, her fingertips twirling the delicate bottle, the smile on her lips fading.
She said she "hadn't thought that far ahead," but she probably still didn't want to bear him children. Once he reminded her, she probably had some concerns and couldn't wait to switch to musk.
Indeed, she was devoted to King Xuan, and sharing a room with him was only out of necessity; how could she willingly bear children for him?
In the evening, Chi Ying took a bath and returned to her room. She frowned and drank the tonic Lin Yuanpan had given her to replenish her blood and qi. It was so bitter that tears almost fell from her eyes.
As Yan Xue entered the room, she indeed smelled a faint scent of musk from the incense burner.
He didn't say anything and went straight inside.
Holding the scar removal cream in his hand, he smiled and instructed her, "Go lie down on the bed, take off your clothes, and I'll apply the medicine to you."
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Author's Note: 50 random red envelopes, thank you for your patience, my darlings! [Please][Please][Heart]
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