After Chen Zhaoci and Chen Wufu left, Emperor Liang Cheng summoned the court officials who were still standing outside. He briefly explained the situation and then announced the punishment for the two princes. The Sixth Prince and Consort Wang were imprisoned for poisoning Emperor Liang Cheng and manipulating the Southwest Army. After the Wang family's affairs were dealt with, they would be beheaded along with the rest of the Wang family. This was already a very severe punishment.
As for the Seventh Prince, he was terrified at the beginning of the incident and hid behind two palace maids. Some who wanted to get close to him began to have doubts when they saw his appearance. Could someone like him really not be able to take over the throne? When he returned and saw Emperor Liang Cheng standing with his hands behind his back, some people wondered, "His Majesty is not even fifty years old yet. At this age, he still has the ability to have children. Could it be that His Majesty wants to have a few more children?" His Majesty's health has always been good, and he could easily live another thirty or twenty years. If he starts preparing to have a son now, by the time His Majesty passes away, the newborn prince will be old enough to take on responsibilities.
The more they thought about it, the more sense it made. Some people gave up their idea of siding with the Seventh Prince. However, the Seventh Prince, because he and the Second Prince were now the only two remaining princes, had some expectations in his heart. But seeing Emperor Liang Cheng's gloomy face, he dared not show it on his face and stood aside with his head down and hands at his sides.
Although he had waited so many days and made so many preparations, only to see this result tonight, Emperor Liang Cheng was still somewhat annoyed that his birthday banquet had turned out this way. After dismissing the court officials, he prepared to return to his study.
Xu Rao followed Emperor Liang Cheng into the imperial study. Emperor Liang Cheng said, "I have already made arrangements for Xiao Yuan and the others to return to the capital this morning. Just now, Wang Xiuyuan said that she had given Xiao Yuan medicine years ago. When he returns, she asked the Chen family and your wife to take a look at him. This child has shouldered too much and cannot afford to make any mistakes."
Xu Rao agreed, and Emperor Liang Cheng said again, "Xu Di has also returned. Let him go back to see the old lady tonight, and then he should return to Miaozhou first thing tomorrow morning. It's best not to let too many people know about this matter. As you know, Xu Di is someone I left for Xiao Yuan to use. It's not good for him to be too sharp now. Lord Xu, you should go back and have a good talk with Xu Di about this."
Xu Rao quickly said he dared not. Even if Emperor Liang Cheng hadn't said anything, Xu Rao would have asked Xu Di to find a way to promote this achievement. Sometimes, if you stand too high, there will be more people below who want to pull you down. Xu Di still has a lot of room to grow, so there's no need to reveal his trump card now.
Emperor Liang Cheng continued, "I have been thinking a lot. Since Xiao Yuan is not yet known to anyone, let him continue to travel and study with Mr. Wu. The ruler of Liang must know what kind of country he is ruling, what kind of people he is ruling, what the mountains and rivers of this country are like. Only when he sees them for himself will he truly love his country."
Xu Rao listened attentively. Emperor Liang Cheng looked at the map of Daliang hanging in the corner of the imperial study, sighed slightly, and said, "When I was young, I wanted to travel all over the mountains and rivers of Daliang, but unfortunately I was later trapped in this palace. I could only think about it in my heart. Now that Xiao Yuan has such an opportunity, let him go and see it."
When Chen Zhaoci and Xu Rao returned to the Marquis's residence by carriage, Xu Rao said to Chen Zhaoci, "Our Emperor is actually a very sentimental person. It's just a pity that now that he is the monarch, he can only guard the four corners of the sky above the imperial city."
Chen Zhaoci thought about it and realized that it made sense. People in the royal family are usually not in control of their own lives. If they enjoy that honor, they have to bear the responsibilities that come with it. Thinking that the young boy Chen Yuyuan would have to be like his father in the future, Chen Zhaoci felt a little sorry for him.
However, Xu Rao continued, "Xu Di is back. His Majesty said he can stay at home for one night and set off for Miaozhou early tomorrow morning. Let's hurry home so we can still have a few words."
Chen Zhaoci was overjoyed. Thinking that he had been missing from home for more than twenty days, he asked Xu Rao, "How did you and the Marquis explain my disappearance to the people in the Marquis's mansion for these past twenty days?"
Xu Rao said nonchalantly, "Who should I explain to? No explanation is the best explanation. Grandmother said no one should ask. If anyone asks, it means I don't know, I'm not clear, and I can't say."
Chen Zhaoci laughed and said, "Our grandmother is getting more and more mischievous."
Xu Rao nodded and said, "I don't think the young lady from the Zheng family is in very good spirits. She seems to have something on her mind. You should ask her about it tomorrow. She's all alone in the capital. Xiao Jiu and Bo Yuan aren't here either. We should take good care of her."
Chen Zhaoci thought of Zheng Yuanyuan. That girl was really unlucky to have been sold by her stepmother. It would be impossible for her not to harbor any resentment.
When Chen Zhaoci returned home, the Marquis's attendant told the two of them to go directly to the old lady's courtyard. Chen Zhaoci knew that Xu Di was there at that moment, so he didn't even bother to change his clothes and hurriedly went there with Xu Rao.
It was already past midnight. Apart from Xu Di, only the Marquis of Yongning was in the Old Madam's room. Xu Di's return for this night was specially approved by Emperor Liang Cheng. The Marquis of Yongning understood that this was because he did not want people to know that the Southwest Army was led by Xu Di. Therefore, he had people guard the Old Madam's courtyard early in the morning, and no irrelevant people were allowed to come in.
Chen Zhaoci's eyes welled up with tears as she looked at Xu Di, whose cheeks were sunken from thinness. Xu Di quickly put his arm around Chen Zhaoci's shoulder and said with a smile, "Mother, I'm fine. I have some good news to tell you. Yuexi is pregnant again. Right now, the three of them are in Luzhou."
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