Chapter 180 Same Person
Jiang Wanning and Pei Yanchuan had just returned to the Prince's Mansion when Xiao Yu summoned them to the palace.
"Your humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."
"Get up quickly," Xiao Yu called to Steward Wu. "Panpan, bring tea quickly."
"sit."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Pei Yanchuan took Jiang Wanning's hand and sat down to the side.
Emperor Xiao Yu and Empress Song Zhuyi exchanged a smile. The Emperor said, "Achuan, do I still need to prepare this house for you?"
"It was a gift from His Majesty, so I cannot go back on my word."
"Hahaha, you, you!" Xiao Yu pointed at Pei Yanchuan, "You're not comfortable unless you get some benefits from me, are you?"
Song Zhuyi covered her mouth and chuckled, "Your Majesty, since you promised, you should give it to them."
"Otherwise, if word gets out, His Majesty will be accused of breaking his promise..."
The Empress rarely joked with Xiao Yu, and this was the first time. Xiao Yu smiled and said, "Since the Empress has said so, I naturally cannot be stingy."
"Is this house registered under the Princess's name or A-Chuan's name?"
Xiao Yu teased Pei Yanchuan.
“Naturally, it will fall into the hands of the head of the family,” Pei Yanchuan said without any concealment, “or perhaps it will fall into the name of our child in the future.”
Upon hearing this, everyone else in the Imperial Study was shocked.
The most shocked person was Jiang Wan Ning. How could she have a child just one night ago?
Xiao Yu, however, had another thought in mind. "A-Chuan, you wouldn't still be interested in that Pei Anqing, would you?"
“Of course not,” Pei Yanchuan said. “I have already repaid the kindness of his parents. Not killing him is already showing mercy.”
Xiao Yu nodded. "Before you arrived, the Grand Princess went to the palace to see me."
Do you know what it is?
Pei Yanchuan did not respond, but looked at Xiao Yu. Sometimes, the emperor may seem to be asking a question, but in reality, he does not want you to answer.
Xiao Yu continued, "I came for your adopted son."
Pei Yanchuan had anticipated this and didn't react much. Instead, he asked Xiao Yu, "What decision does Your Majesty intend to make?"
Xiao Yu felt somewhat relieved to see that Pei Yanchuan had no intention of pleading for him.
"Now is not the time to break ties with the Grand Princess. I have agreed to her request and released Pei Anqing without charge."
"There's one more thing." Xiao Yu paused for a moment.
Empress Song Zhuyi said softly, "Your Majesty, I feel a little stuffy and would like to ask Princess Langya to accompany me to the Imperial Garden for some fresh air."
Xiao Yu looked at Pei Yanchuan and Jiang Wanning.
"I wonder if the Princess Consort of Langya will be willing to part with it?" the Empress asked with a smile.
Jiang Wan Ning naturally understood, stood up and gave a slight curtsy, "It is my honor to accompany Your Majesty the Empress."
After the two left,
Xiao Yucai said, "My spies planted in the Grand Princess's residence have reported that the Grand Princess wants Jiang Wanru to host a banquet."
"The goal is to find people with plum blossom-shaped marks on their lower backs, around sixteen or seventeen years old."
"This person is connected to the Lingxiao Sect; it is unknown whether it is out of enmity or gratitude."
"I will investigate this matter thoroughly," Pei Yanchuan said.
Xiao Yu nodded, "The Grand Princess has been in close contact with one person over the years, and that person is likely from this dynasty as well."
"Until that person's true identity is found out, it's like a knife hanging over my head that could fall at any moment."
"A-Chuan, who do you think this person could be?"
Pei Yanchuan said frankly, "I don't know, but I will do my best to investigate."
After all, that person was his enemy, and even if Xiao Yu didn't say anything, he would have investigated thoroughly.
"How much do you think the Prince of Jin has to do with this?" Xiao Yu suddenly asked.
Although Prince Jin has never participated in court affairs over the years, he has only focused on traveling, making friends in the martial arts world, and wanting to be a carefree prince.
Xiao Yu even sent people to investigate, and it seems that the Prince of Jin has a good relationship with the Lingxiao faction.
Now, the person behind this is asking the Grand Princess to find this person for the Lingxiao Sect.
Could the person behind this be the Prince of Jin?
Pei Yanchuan pondered for a moment, "That day, Mo Ran followed Pei Anqing and disappeared near the Prince of Jin's residence."
"Or perhaps the Prince of Jin has been traveling far away all these years, but he has spent most of his time in the capital. It's hard to say."
"This is just our speculation. I have a plan: to release Pei Anqing as the Grand Princess suggested."
Pei Yanchuan said, "Only by keeping a close eye on Pei Anqing can we draw out the person behind him."
"I have a feeling that the person cooperating with the Grand Princess is the same person behind Pei Anqing. They should be the same person."
“That’s what I think too,” Xiao Yu said. “These past few days I’ve been waiting to see if anyone other than the Grand Princess will plead for Pei Anqing.”
Pei Yanchuan could tell from Xiao Yu's expression that there was no such thing.
"However, this incident proves that they may be the same person, but they may not know it."
The two discussed it further.
On the other side, Empress Song Zhuyi and Jiang Wanning strolled in the Imperial Garden.
Song Zhuyi gestured for the palace maids and eunuchs following behind to step back.
For a moment, only the two of them remained.
"Miss Jiang," Song Zhuyi said, not addressing her as Princess or County Princess, "I must apologize to you."
Jiang Wan Ning was slightly surprised and curtsied slightly, "Your Majesty the Empress is too kind to this humble woman."
The Empress did not hide her feelings, saying, "I know all about my tricks and schemes."
“Since I was seventeen, I have been confined to this deep palace. My maternal family is determined to have me give birth to a legitimate son to stabilize the Song family.”
"The way His Majesty looked at you that day made me inexplicably uneasy."
"I know that it is admiration and affection."
“But I am no longer worried, because I understand that you and the Prince of Langya have a deep and lasting bond.”
The Empress said sincerely, "This matter was due to my petty mind."
Jiang Wan Ning was shocked that the Empress could be so honest with her, and for a moment she didn't know what to say.
Empress Song Zhuyi naturally understood, "Don't feel burdened. I'm telling you all this only because there's no one else in this deep palace I can talk to."
There was disappointment and sadness in the Empress's eyes.
Her maternal clan only saw her as a tool to stabilize the family's power, so they naturally didn't care what she really thought.
What Xiao Yu wanted was an empress who could solidify his power, serve as a model for the nation, and help him manage the harem.
Everyone assumed that the future queen of this country would not only wield immense power but also enjoy endless wealth and glory.
The genealogy of the mother's family can be on a separate page.
But only she knew that sitting in this position was like being a withered tree, only able to live by relying on the emperor.
When she saw the way the Emperor looked at Jiang Wan Ning, it wasn't because she was hurt emotionally, but because she was afraid of losing her support.
He was abandoned by everyone and eventually lost his life.
Jiang Wan Ning noticed that the Empress was staring intently at the birds in the sky, and she understood what the Empress was thinking.
"If I may be so bold as to ask, Your Majesty and His Majesty have been married for many years, why have you not had any children? Has this been investigated?"
Empress Song Zhuyi came to her senses, momentarily shocked and angry that Jiang Wanning had asked such a direct question.
But then he immediately realized that he wasn't a gossipy person, so his question must have a purpose.
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