Bei Lingyao did not doubt the daughter of the Xiao family of Anping Marquis's Mansion, mainly because there were only two daughters of the Xiao family in the royal family.
One is that when Taizu was fighting for his country, the Xiao family had an adopted daughter named Xiao Ji who became Taizu's concubine.
However, Xiao Ji died before Taizu ascended the throne. After Taizu ascended the throne, he posthumously conferred the title of Xiao Jieyu on her.
The second one was that the tenth prince, born out of wedlock by Taizu, married Princess Xiao.
Bei Lingyao read the records and found that Princess Xiao resembled the daughter of the Xiao family in appearance, but was mediocre, not favored by the Fifth Prince, and had no children.
"Is the Xiao family's daughter ordinary-looking?"
Emperor Kangde looked at Jianxiang, who nodded, "Your Majesty, the first generation of the Xiao family, the Earl of Anping, was a strong and powerful general, and served as a vanguard general during Taizu's battles.
But the Earl of Anping was ugly and as black as charcoal, and he could stop children from crying at night.
He also has the Xiao family's characteristic upturned nose and square face.
For several generations, most of the Xiao family, regardless of sons or daughters, inherited the upturned nose and square face.
It was not until Duke Li's sister married the Earl of Anping and gave birth to six daughters and one son that the upturned noses of this generation of the Xiao family became hooked noses.
Bei Lingyao thought of the Prince of Anping, who indeed had a hooked nose.
That’s confirmed, the Prince of Anping was born to Concubine Li.
If this is the case, the death of so many princes in the Empress Dowager's palace must be related to the Li family and the Anping Marquis's Mansion.
"Chinese New Year will be here soon."
Bei Lingyao said.
Emperor Kangde nodded. "Yes, tomorrow is the Beginning of Winter, and next month is the Winter Solstice. We will host a banquet for the royal family and the court officials. After the Winter Solstice is Laba, and after Laba is the New Year. The Clothing Bureau has also sent winter clothes. If it's still cold, put a few more pots of charcoal in the house."
After Emperor Kangde ascended the throne, the retired emperor moved to the Yongshou Palace, and Emperor Kangde was also carried into the Qianqing Palace.
Since his wedding, Emperor Kangde has been living and eating with Bei Lingyao in Kunning Palace.
The concubines in the harem all had their share of food, clothing and other expenses, but the emperor did not.
"good"
Bei Lingyao did not refuse. She used the original owner's body to practice martial arts and strengthen her body, so she was not afraid of the cold.
But Emperor Kant's body is still in the detoxification and conditioning period. He is wearing thick clothes now, and it will definitely be cold in winter.
"After the palace banquet, I want to take a good look at the Li and Xiao families."
In previous years, Emperor Kangde was in poor health and would only show up at the palace banquet before leaving.
This also makes people very curious about the heredity of the Li family's hooked nose and the Xiao family's upturned nose.
Winter has arrived and as the winter solstice approaches, the weather is getting colder.
Some people are unwilling to see Emperor Kant's health improve.
On this day, Bei Lingyao finally spotted Duke Li and Yang Jinzhong.
Late at night, they met in a secret passage.
"uncle"
Duke Li called Yang Jinzhong his uncle.
This was something Bei Lingyao had not expected.
The two are actually uncle and nephew.
But the old lady of Duke Li’s mansion’s surname is He, not Yang.
It turns out that Duke Li was not born to Madam He.
But there was no concubine named Yang in the backyard of Duke Lao Li, otherwise she would have thought of Yang Jinzhong long ago.
"Don't call me uncle. This matter ends here. Don't force me anymore."
Yang Jinzhong's face looked ugly. What he regretted most was recognizing this nephew.
"Uncle, you are my biological uncle. We share the same fate. If you were not so cruel, how could we be so passive?"
Duke Li was very dissatisfied.
If Yang Jinzhong had been so cruel, not only Emperor Kangde but also the retired emperor would have died long ago.
But Yang Jinzhong was too loyal to the retired emperor and was unwilling to poison him.
Duke Li is becoming increasingly impatient.
He didn't dare to force him, in case Yang Jinzhong directly told the retired emperor to fight to the death, everyone would be finished.
"The Emperor is old and in poor health. It's impossible for him to recover. If you are unwilling to wait, there is nothing I can do."
"Uncle, I said the same thing ten years ago, five years ago, and last year. Now anyone who's not blind knows that the Emperor's health has clearly improved."
Duke Li looked at Yang Jinzhong suspiciously, "Uncle, you wouldn't lie to me, would you? Are you curing the emperor's health?"
"It's not me. The Emperor is suspicious of me. I don't know where the person he invited to treat the Emperor is from. Even I have never seen him before."
Yang Jinzhong was in a bad mood. He knew that he was guilty of a serious crime. Although not harming the retired emperor was his only bottom line, he killed many of the retired emperor's children.
Just for this nephew, and to clear her sister's name, she got on board his pirate ship.
"I told you at the beginning that you could send your eldest daughter or your second daughter into the palace, or even your third daughter or any other daughter. You could have sent both daughters, but you refused. You also said that no daughters from the Li family could enter the palace."
Yang Jinzhong's words were full of complaints. If his nephew had sent his daughter into the palace, with him as his uncle around, and she had given birth to a son for the retired emperor, she would have become the empress dowager and the new emperor by now.
But the nephew told the retired emperor that the girl from the Li family would not enter the palace, thus cutting off his chance of becoming emperor.
Now we can only rely on the one from the Xiao family, but Yang Jinzhong is not optimistic.
Duke Li had an ugly expression on his face. He had never thought so far ahead.
"Uncle, Hui'er and Ying'er are also your granddaughters. Once Xiao Sa restores Taizong's lineage, Hui'er and Ying'er's children will become the emperors of Dayong.
Your sister, my biological mother, will also be given a proper name and a posthumous title. You and the Retired Emperor knew each other from humble beginnings and have helped him for many years. He may not have given your uncle a title, but I can. As long as your uncle helps Xiao Sa become emperor, the title of Duke will be yours."
"You think too simply. The Emperor Retired has never been a simple person. Maybe next year he will adopt a grandson from the royal family, but it will definitely not be from the lineage of Emperor Taizong. If Xiao Sa really wants to take the throne, he might as well say he is the son of the King of Chu."
King of Chu was the title given to Taizu's tenth son, but Princess Xiao had no children and died early. No matter how much Xiao Sa relied on the King of Chu's branch, he could not rely on the King's branch.
Duke Li's expression changed. If the retired emperor was adopted from the royal family, it would be difficult for Xiao Sa to restore the throne.
It was the retired emperor who eliminated all of Taizong's faction and even his followers.
Therefore, it was not easy for Xiao Sa to start a rebellion, and he even did not dare to reveal his identity.
"But even if the Emperor's health improves, the Emperor Retired may not necessarily adopt a son. You may still have another option, which is for the daughter of the Li family to take the initiative to participate in the selection and become part of the new Emperor's harem."
Duke Li's face became even uglier, as the retired emperor had already cancelled the selection in the court.
Emperor Kant never left the palace, so he couldn't meet him by chance.
Another opportunity is to present your talents and recommend yourself at the palace banquet.
Duke Li did not want to take this step. The reason why the concubine became his daughter was that the legitimate daughter had no children, so he could only let the concubine give birth to a son for Xiao Sa.
As long as Xiao Sa comes to the throne, the legitimate daughter will be the queen, the illegitimate daughter will be the imperial concubine, the eldest prince, the second prince, and the third prince will all be born to the illegitimate daughter, and the eldest prince will still be registered under the name of the legitimate daughter.
When Xiao Sa ascends the throne, in order to stabilize the court, he will definitely be made the crown prince, and the next emperor will be the grandson of the Li family.
"The Li family already holds the title of Duke. Is having a prince or grandson a good thing? You are too greedy."
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