Chapter 311 Your Majesty, You've Lost
Even something as simple as allowing women to participate in the imperial examinations was something that Xiao Yu agreed to without a second thought after Pei Yanchuan submitted his memorial.
He also felt that the world should not be just a man's world.
Pei Yanchuan still remembered what Xiao Yu had said back then: "Putting everything else aside, I actually admire my imperial aunt very much."
"She can fight on the battlefield, lead troops into battle, and also has the ambition to contend for the throne."
"Women of the world should be as ambitious and have lofty aspirations as my imperial aunt, but they should not harm the common people for their own selfish interests."
Xiao Yu was skeptical, "But blood ties are the most difficult things to explain, especially since the Duchess of England had left a will."
"Right now, Prince Jin isn't thinking about the throne. But if he does want it in the future, I'd like to know what your choice will be, A-Chuan?"
Pei Yanchuan remained calm as he looked at the chessboard before him. "Your Majesty, no matter what, I will only choose a wise ruler."
Pei Yanchuan placed a chess piece, stood up, and bowed to Xiao Yu.
"Your Majesty, I have a request that you grant."
Xiao Yu looked at Pei Yanchuan and said, "You speak."
"Once I have resolved my concerns and there is no more war in Dongling, I wish to take my family away from the court and live in seclusion from now on."
Pei Yanchuan's words were like a huge weight lifted from Xiao Yu's heart. "Achuan, you know that's not what I meant."
Xiao Yu feigned concession, saying, "Dongling cannot exist without you, nor can I exist without you."
"I am merely living in seclusion. If Your Majesty needs me, I am willing to die at any time," Pei Yanchuan said firmly.
Xiao Yu then stood up and patted Xiao Yu on the shoulder, "Alright, since that's what you think, then I grant your request."
"So that Princess Langya won't blame me for not letting you off the hook and making you keep going to the battlefield for me."
With a weight lifted from his heart, Xiao Yu was finally willing to discuss another matter with Pei Yanchuan: "Who do you think would be more suitable to hand over the 50,000 troops under the Grand Princess's command?"
Xiao Yu commands 50,000 imperial guards. The 50,000 troops that the Prince of Qi once gave to his son-in-law were actually still in Xiao Yu's hands.
Xiao Yu could easily regain control of the 50,000 troops, but despite Pei Yanchuan's earlier words, Xiao Yu still needed to create an opponent for Pei Yanchuan.
This is to prevent Pei Yanchuan from becoming too powerful in the future.
Xiao Yu already had someone in mind, but he still wanted to hear what Pei Yanchuan had to say.
"Your Majesty may entrust this military power to whomever you wish."
“Of course I would like to teach your Achuan, but you now command an army of 300,000, and I’m afraid you’ll be too tired,” Xiao Yu said. “And the Prince of Jin is also a playful person.”
In fact, Xiao Yu did consider handing over the command of these 50,000 troops to Prince Jin at first, but given the current relationship between Pei Yanchuan and Prince Jin...
There's no difference between handing it over to the Prince of Jin and handing it over to Pei Yanchuan.
After much deliberation, Emperor Xiao Yu could only come up with one suitable candidate.
"I do have someone in mind, the Imperial Son-in-Law Chen Jie. What do you think, A-Chuan?" Xiao Yu said. "The command of these 50,000 troops originally belonged to the Grand Princess. Now that it has been handed over to Chen Jie, no one in the court will say anything."
"This matter is now perfectly legitimate."
Emperor Xiao Yu chose Chen Jie because Chen Jie had lost interest in court due to what happened back then, and had submitted several memorials expressing his desire to become a monk.
Out of consideration for the royal family, Xiao Yu had not given permission.
Now that the Grand Princess and Princess Ping'an are both gone, it makes no difference whether Chen Jie becomes a monk or not.
Most importantly, Chen Jie was a brute who hadn't read many books and only knew how to use his fists.
But this very person, with his handsome and refined appearance, took a liking to Zhou Rong, while the Grand Princess also took a liking to him, and so she forcibly took him away.
In the end, Chen Jie could only silently endure it.
Such a person is unlikely to cause any major trouble; even if he holds military power, he will not easily rebel.
It's a good knife.
"Furthermore, the son-in-law also made a contribution during the last time when King Qi was alive."
Pei Yanchuan clenched his fist and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty and I have the same idea."
"I also think the prince consort is just right."
Pei Yanchuan followed Xiao Yu's words, and Xiao Yu nodded in satisfaction, "Alright, alright, let's continue playing chess."
Pei Yanchuan straightened up and said calmly, "Your Majesty."
"You lost."
Xiao Yu then looked down at the chessboard, bent over and gripped both sides of the board tightly with both hands. After a careful look, he realized that he had indeed lost, but he didn't even know when he had lost.
"No, that doesn't count. I was distracted just now."
"Let's play one more round."
"Your Majesty, it's getting late. I should go back now, otherwise Ningning will be waiting too long."
The two had been in the palace for a day and a night, from the night before last until dinner today.
Xiao Yu glanced out the window and immediately understood Pei Yanchuan's meaning. He smiled and pointed at Pei Yanchuan with his finger, "It's really remarkable that you, this iron tree, have blossomed."
Pei Yanchuan did not deny it.
"Alright, let's call it a day. I also need to go and see the Empress and Consort Song, since they were both quite frightened just now."
"Oh, by the way, I heard that Tuoba Wenjing is returning from the Western Xia during the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet in a couple of days. I'll entrust him to you then."
"Although Shen Ruzhi is a princess of Western Xia, we still need to curb Western Xia's arrogance and not let Tuoba Wenjing get too cocky."
Pei Yanchuan bowed after hearing this, then turned and left.
Xiao Yu looked down at the chessboard for a long time before finally saying to Wu Panpan, "Pan'er, let's go to the Empress's place."
Wu Panpan said cautiously, "Your Majesty, the Empress has already drunk the calming soup and fallen asleep. She sent someone to say that she wants Your Majesty to go to Mingyue Palace today."
Xiao Yu was taken aback at first, then thought for a moment, "The Empress is really good to her younger sister."
"Indeed, this Consort Song has just come of age. Although it is not a young age to get married at this age, she is naive and I am afraid she will not be able to bear the life in the palace. That is why the Empress wants me to spend more time with her."
"Alright then, let's go to the Bright Moon Palace."
Emperor Xiao Yu rose, and Wu Panpan summoned the imperial carriage, which headed straight for the Mingyue Palace.
When Xiao Yu arrived at Mingyue Palace, Song Zhuran was already asleep. Her rosy cheeks were very cute, and she still had a bit of baby fat on her face.
Xiao Yu gestured for everyone to step back.
Wu Panpan whispered, "Your Majesty, we haven't had dinner yet."
"We'll talk about it later, you can leave now," Xiao Yu said.
Wu Panpan instructed everyone to leave, and she herself was the last to leave, closing the door behind her.
Looking at Song Zhuran sleeping, Xiao Yu found her inexplicably adorable. Most of the women in the harem were bright and delicate, but there was really no one with such a cute, round face.
As Xiao Yu watched, he couldn't help but swallow.
He felt incredibly hot and restless, and looking at the sleeping Song Zhuran, he was even more moved than usual.
Just as Xiao Yu was restraining himself, Song Zhuran kicked off the blankets on the bed, revealing her soft body wrapped in loose undergarments.
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