Chapter 42: Night Viewing
In the end, Emperor Yuan was unable to persuade his empress, and had to agree to send Yuan Zhi to Mobei. In order to ensure his safety, he gave him another 50,000 soldiers to support Marquis Wu'an.
After getting what she wanted, Empress Yuan regained her former gentleness and virtue: "Your Majesty, you must go and see Zhier off to the battle, so that he can have more prestige in the army."
The refreshing scent of bamboo fragrance suddenly sobered Emperor Yuan. He stared at his wife, whom he had been holding hands with since he was a teenager, for a long while, and felt a little strange in a trance.
However, after hearing Empress Yuan's witty words, Emperor Yuan felt very upset with himself.
Why did he become suspicious?
This is Wanwan!
Emperor Yuan's facial expression was a little unnatural at this time, but he wanted to cover it up, so he stood up and said, "You are right. When the time comes, let Zhi'er bring one or two trusted peers with you, so you can feel more at ease."
"It's getting late. I'm going to go see the Queen Mother. You should have dinner early and then go to bed."
"Your Majesty, I respectfully bid you farewell." Empress Yuan wanted to salute, but was stopped by Emperor Yuan.
"Okay, since you are not feeling well, let's skip all these customary rituals!" Emperor Yuan said, then turned around and left.
After a long while, the Empress seemed to have regained her consciousness and came to her senses.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?" Cui Xu helped the Empress to the table. "Your Majesty, do you want to rest or have dinner?"
The Empress waved her hand and said, "All of you go down."
She wanted to be alone for a while.
The Meng family refused to support Yuanzhi, so she had to find a solution on her own.
The Empress stared at the asparagus on the table in a daze, and subconsciously poured a cup of tea into it.
This asparagus fern has its own backbone. It didn't appreciate it when I fed it well. Now that the tip of the bamboo has turned yellow, it still refuses to bend and submit.
There was also a list of beauties on the table, and one of them was the daughter of the Meng family. This was her niece, and now she had become a pawn of the Meng family.
I heard that this chess piece looks 50% similar to her when she was young, but I don't know if it's true.
After all, she is just a concubine's daughter, and it is not easy to find someone who looks 50% like her.
It seems that the reason why the Meng family didn't touch me is probably because I have been in the palace for many years and my position has long been stable. Even if they want to cultivate a new chess piece, they are reluctant to sever the connection with me.
What a joke.
However, in addition to Meng Ruoruo, the daughter of the Meng family, the Shen family and the Luo family also sent in two beautiful girls.
The harem is bound to be bustling with activity.
The more confused the Empress Yuan's eyes became, the clearer her mind became. If Yuan Zhi could seize this opportunity, he would surely rise to prominence and become the best candidate for succession in the Emperor's mind.
Then no one will be able to surpass him.
Empress Yuan knew in her heart that being an emperor might not be the best thing in the world, but it was her son's long-cherished wish.
Moreover, Yaoyao is a delicate person. If she chooses a prince with whom she has no close relationship to be the emperor, it will be one thing whether Yuan Yao can find a son-in-law in the capital. If she marries to the frontier, won't she suffer for the rest of her life?
There were three knocks on the door, making a "bang bang" sound.
"Your Majesty, the princess requests an audience." It was Cui Xu's voice.
Yun Jiaojiao, what is she doing here so late?
The Empress said, "Let her in, and prepare a warm stove for her so she doesn't catch a cold."
Cui Xu agreed and left.
Soon, the door was pushed open, and Yun Zhuan peeked in with his big eyes closed, which made Empress Yuan couldn't help laughing: "Now that you're here, are you afraid that I'll eat you?"
Yun Zhuan felt a little embarrassed. Her voice had improved a lot, but it was still hoarse. She stammered, "It's so late. I'm sorry to disturb Your Majesty."
Emperor Yuan came to Guanju Palace tonight. Yun Zhuan knew about this. Duhuo was easy to deal with. Emperor Yuan had a blank expression on his face when he left.
It is not difficult to guess what Empress Yuan said to Emperor Yuan. Since she did not show any irritable expression, that means they were not angry. This also means that Emperor Yuan and Empress Yuan did not quarrel and they lived in peace.
Based on the letter he wrote imitating Yuan Zhi's, it is not difficult to guess that the matter of traveling to Mobei has been agreed upon.
"Your throat is better now, but you still need to talk less." Empress Yuan ordered the man who had just returned to Shuangci to pour a glass of water for Yun Ju'an. "Are you feeling any worse?"
Yun Ju'an shook her head: "I am fine, but I am afraid I may have offended Your Majesty."
The baby's voice is hoarse and sounds very heartbreaking.
Queen Yuan knew that Yun Zhuan acted like this because he was frightened.
She is the victim.
"Why did you come here tonight?" Empress Yuan handed Yun Zhuan a blanket. "I asked someone to replace the bamboo fragrance with bergamot. Children all like sweet smells."
Yun Ju'an carefully covered himself and then took Cui Xu's hand stove: "No need, I am used to it. Thank you for your care, Your Majesty. This time, I came to ask for a favor from Your Majesty."
The night was quiet, but the wind kept blowing. For a moment, the atmosphere seemed to be frozen, and no one dared to disturb it.
Empress Yuan thought Yun Zhuan had discovered that the letter was missing and was now a little embarrassed. She was about to speak when Yun Zhuan interrupted her: "Your Majesty, do you know that I have a fourth brother who is studying in the Imperial College, but he is the adopted son of my uncle."
"My eldest brother is ill and cannot go to the battlefield. But my fourth brother, although he is an adopted son, still has some kinship with me. When I met him recently, he seemed very worried about my uncle's situation on the battlefield..."
The Queen understood what was going on, and looking at the girl's expression, she was probably also very worried, but she tried hard not to show it.
The candlelight in the lampshade flickered, and it was impossible to see Empress Yuan's expression.
Yun Zhuan was a little anxious, and he immediately shook the Queen's hand and met her eyes.
[Yes, Yun Zhuan has a brother. I heard that Lu Zhe and Yuan Zhi have a good relationship. If they are together, wouldn’t both of their wishes be fulfilled?]
Yun Zhuan was delighted in his heart, but he did not show it on his face.
The Empress was silent for a long time, wondering whether this method was feasible.
[Looking at Yun Jiaojiao, I think she must have a good relationship with this Lu Zhe. I've heard that Lu Zhe is also a smart man. If Zhi'er's relationship with Lu Zhe improves, she will have a better chance of winning the throne in the future.]
Yun Zhuan, who overheard all of this clearly, was sweating slightly.
Did the Queen change her mind because of those letters?
He actually wanted Yuan Zhi to seize the throne. Which dynasty's emperor did not ascend to the throne by shed blood?
What's more, there is no way Yuanzhi could be the emperor!
Yun Zhuan remembered clearly that the one who seized the throne in the previous generation was the seventh prince Yuan Yin.
The mother of the seventh prince Yuan Yin was not a palace maid. She was the emperor's most beloved woman. However, she had a difficult labor and heavy bleeding during childbirth. The child was saved, but the mother's body was damaged and she died that night.
The emperor began to resent the child, but he did not want the son he and his beloved to die young, so he had to use some means to arrange a biological mother for Yuan Yin, who was a lowly palace maid!
What a big chess game!
Okay, let's continue watching
(End of this chapter)