He was like a clown who could sing and act well, but Xiyuan didn't even glance at him out of the corner of her eye, treating him as if he were invisible.
The moment the Imperial Advisor appeared, Emperor Cangwen felt a huge weight lifted from his heart. He wasn't actually sure if the Western Garden would intervene; he was gambling, but now he had won.
Emperor Cangwen revealed a kind and somewhat cheerful smile, and said to Xiyuan with a beaming smile, "Junior Sister, you've arrived."
Xi Yuan sneered without any politeness: "His Majesty is nearing the end. Has he chosen his successor?"
Emperor Cangwen nodded, looked at the sixth prince, and smiled slyly: "Sixth prince, do you think I only have nine sons?"
The sixth prince was greatly alarmed.
This palace coup came on fiercely and ended with the execution of the sixth prince and the ministers and generals who aided and abetted the tyranny. The tenth son of Emperor Cangwen, whom he had never revealed to the public before, was now revealed to the world at the young age of six and ascended the throne.
The royal family of the Great Cang Dynasty used Cang as their surname. Emperor Cang Ren lived in the Cold Palace with his mother when he was young. Emperor Cang Wen, for some reason, did not bring him out to be taught as a prince. He did not have a name and only knew that he was called Cang. The conditions in the Cold Palace were not good. Before ascending the throne, the young Emperor Cang Ren stared at people with a cold and guarded gaze, like a little wolf cub.
When Xi Yuan personally went to the Cold Palace to bring the person out, the little wolf cub saw her outstretched hand, bit it, and glared at her fiercely.
Xi Yuan stared coldly at the little guy until he realized that Xi Yuan meant him no harm and he gave in, then he bent down and picked him up.
Despite her cold and aloof personality, the warmth she had never felt before still startled the little guy, who cautiously leaned on her shoulder.
Emperor Cangwen, barely clinging to life, taught Cang for half a year. Due to his advanced age and the damage to his body caused by poisoning, he could only hold on until the tenth prince ascended the throne. After entrusting the affairs of state to the Western Garden, he passed away.
The Imperial Preceptor Xiyuan held an imperial funeral for him, sending his remains to the imperial mausoleum, and then devoted himself to teaching the young tenth prince Canglang... who should now be called Emperor Cangren.
Perhaps the nameless old man truly had foresight. What he taught Xiyuan also included the way of the emperor. Combined with what Xiyuan had been taught by his elder brothers, he was more than capable of handling the affairs of a country and teaching Canglang.
Although Cang Lang was still naive and hostile to everyone when he was taken out of the cold palace, he was exceptionally talented and a born emperor. He quickly became like an ordinary person and soon left others behind under the tutelage of the West Garden. He was proficient in both literary and military arts and learned the art of being an emperor quite well.
When Cang Lang was ten years old, Xi Yuan, who did not covet power, gradually explained important political affairs to him, training Cang Lang to make his own decisions, and gradually returned military and political power to Cang Lang's hands.
Not all the court officials were docile. Those who were ambitious, because the emperor was young and the imperial advisor was a woman, and who attempted to deceive the emperor, were all exposed by the Western Garden as a warning to others. In addition, she did indeed display some abilities that inspired fear and awe, so gradually no one dared to provoke her.
As time went on and Cang Lang grew up, his gaze towards her gradually changed. Xi Yuan, oblivious to human nature, didn't think there was anything wrong with him, but when Cang Lang tried to get close to her, she coldly reminded him to be mindful of his behavior as he grew older.
The first conflict between Xiyuan and Canglang occurred when Canglang was eighteen years old, when Xiyuan told him that it was time to select someone to enter the palace as a concubine.
"teacher!"
A tall, handsome man dressed in a black imperial robe walked with an imposing aura, barging into the Imperial Preceptor's residence and pushing open the bedroom door despite Ji Bo's attempts to stop him.
Inside the room, Xi Yuan had just woken up from a nap. She sat on the couch, sipping tea with her eyes lowered. A faint trace of weariness remained on her cold and beautiful face. Her long hair, which was both white and gold, flowed down and spread behind her. Her snow-white inner robe was a bit too big, which made the usually strong woman reveal a bit of fragility.
Cang Lang was slightly taken aback, his handsome face instantly flushing red. His gaze darted to the side, and he stammered, "This student has... has offended you..."
"Knowing you've offended me, why don't you leave?" Xi Yuan placed the teacup on the table, slightly raised his eyelids, his expression cold and indifferent, yet he commanded respect without the slightest indifference, like a king among gods.
Cang Lang silently swallowed the question that was about to come out, stepped back out of the room, closed the door, and it took a while for the blush on his face to fade. He regained his calm and composed demeanor, which made it impossible for people to see through him. This was the kind of demeanor that an emperor should have.
No longer feeling shocked, angry, or aggrieved by the news of the Imperial Advisor ordering him to choose a concubine, Cang Lang, having shed his impetuousness, appeared quite dignified. Perhaps due to the lingering ferocity in his character from his childhood experiences, even with a slight smile on his lips, Cang Lang still possessed a dangerous, beast-like quality.
Even though Cang Lang was already a mature emperor, he only showed some of his willful and childish side in front of Xi Yuan.
Like a little wolfhound, fierce towards strangers, but only acting silly and cute, rolling over and wagging its tail when facing someone it has chosen.
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