Chapter 94: The Princess of the Lost Nation, Bai Yueguang 25: The Crown Prince Usurps the Throne
Time flies, and more than a year has passed in the blink of an eye.
The situation in the Great Yan court had undergone a dramatic change. The Great Yan emperor unexpectedly died in the midst of debauchery. Some people firmly believed that he had indulged in excessive sexual activity and died in his bed.
It is hard to tell whether this story is true or not, but once it spread, it immediately became a hot topic of conversation among the people.
Regardless of the rumors, the ascension of Dayan's new emperor was a foregone conclusion. The fifth prince, Ji Hanlin, swiftly defeated the forces of his brothers and inherited the throne with an overwhelming advantage.
The young hostage, the image of living under someone else's roof, is gone forever.
For Xuanping, the change of power to a powerful neighbor makes the future political situation even more unpredictable.
In this atmosphere, something suddenly happened to Princess Zhaohua.
There was a rumor in Xuanping Palace that some time ago, the imperial teacher observed the celestial phenomena at night and said that Xuanping might face a precarious situation in the next few years, and that the royal descendants must go to the Buddhist temple to pray for the prosperity of the country.
This move was not only a prayer for blessings, but also a show to the world to reassure people and stabilize the government. Therefore, Emperor Xuanping attached great importance to it.
After much deliberation, Princess Zhaohua, Wen Qianning, was the most suitable. She held a noble status and had always enjoyed favor. If she were to go to the Buddhist temple to meditate and pray, it would not only demonstrate her piety but also unknowingly avoid any potential complications and schemes.
Wen Qianning knew very well that this absence would last at least a year, and at most a year and a half. Emperor Xuanping was taking this opportunity to keep her away from trouble and to establish a comprehensive attitude for the royal family.
As soon as the decree was given, Princess Zhaohua set off to go to the Buddhist temple for meditation.
"Princess, please take a break."
In the Buddhist temple, Wen Qianning was dressed in plain white clothes, holding a wolf hair brush in his hand, copying the Buddhist scriptures stroke by stroke, which was completely different from his usual arrogant and domineering appearance.
The jet-black hair that fell between her temples made her already bright features look even more elegant.
Zhuiyun stepped forward and gently placed a cup of warm scented tea beside her desk, his eyes filled with distress. "You've been copying for almost two hours now. If you keep copying, I'm afraid your eyes won't be able to bear it."
Unconsciously, he had been copying for such a long time. Wen Qianning stopped and turned his wrist.
Then, she casually put down her pen, propped up her chin, looked at Zhuiyun, and asked casually, "Where's Zhuyue? Why haven't I seen her today?"
"Zhuyue..." Zhuiyun was stunned, his expression becoming subtle. He hesitated and said, "I don't know who she's been communicating with lately. She's always doing it secretly. When I asked her, she refused to tell me. But judging from her appearance, it seems...she has someone in her heart."
Hearing her say this, Wen Qianning raised his eyebrows slightly, a hint of curiosity flashed in his eyes, and a teasing smile appeared on his face: "Oh? Zhuyue actually has someone he likes too?"
Before he could finish his words, footsteps were heard outside. Zhuyue lifted the curtain and came in, just in time to hear this conversation.
"What is the princess talking to Zhuiyun about?" Zhuyue bowed to Wen Qianning and asked the two with a smile.
"We were talking about you, Zhuyue. You've been by my side for many years, and you're now over seventeen. You're of marriageable age. If you have someone you really like, please tell me sooner rather than later. I'll arrange everything for you, prepare a generous dowry, and marry you off in style."
Wen Qianning smiled with her eyes curved, took Zhuyue's hand affectionately, and said a lot in one breath.
Zhuyue was slightly startled, then knelt beside Wen Qianning, feeling both amused and helpless. "Princess, what are you talking about? Zhuyue doesn't have anyone in mind."
"Zhuyue no longer wants to get married. She only wants to...stay by Princess' side and serve you for the rest of her life."
Wen Qianning looked at her, about to offer a few more teasing remarks, but Zhuyue's smile slowly faded, and her expression became serious. She raised her eyes, meeting Wen Qianning's gaze firmly, as if she wanted to reveal her true feelings to the princess.
"Your Highness," Zhuyue bit her lip, considered her words, and spoke slowly, "When I was young and ignorant, I might have had many childish thoughts and selfish desires in my heart, but now... Zhuyue has long understood. The princess treats us sincerely and very well, and Zhuyue will never betray you in this life."
"If Zhuyue accidentally does something that displeases you in the future, please don't blame me, Princess. Zhuyue always has only one thought in mind, and that is for the princess's good."
She spoke with such sincerity that Wen Qianning looked at her, a flicker of surprise and confusion in her heart. Zhuyue seemed to have a hidden agenda behind her words. They sounded sincere, yet they also held a deeper meaning, as if foreshadowing something.
She didn't ask any more questions immediately, but just smiled faintly and reached out to help Zhuyue up: "Silly girl, what nonsense are you talking about again? This princess knows that you all treat me well."
Gaining the princess's trust, Zhuyue felt her inner torment only deepen. She lowered her eyes, a bitter smile curling the corners of her mouth, and said nothing more.
Because they lowered their heads, Wen Qianning and Zhuiyun didn't notice her bitter smile.
However, just over a month had passed since the peaceful days in the Buddhist temple when shocking news came from the palace.
"Your Highness!"
Zhuiyun rushed into the palace in a panic, fell to his knees, and trembled with anxiety. "There's news from the palace... Your Majesty... Your Majesty has been assassinated!"
Wen Qianning, who was holding a teacup in the room, heard these words and her hand trembled, causing the porcelain cup to fall. The sound of the teacup breaking was particularly harsh in the quiet Zen room.
She sat there stiffly, speechless for a long time, with only infinite shock and disbelief in her heart.
"How could it be so fast..."
According to the original plot, she clearly remembered that Emperor Xuanping would have to hold on for at least two or three years before the Xuanping government would see any changes. But now, everything in this world seemed to be forced by an invisible hand to accelerate, beyond her control.
Before anyone could digest the news, another piece of devastating news arrived. The eldest prince seized the opportunity to enter the palace and, with lightning speed, took control of the imperial guards, thereby ascending the throne.
Wen Qianning felt a dull pain in her chest. She had thought she could use her foresight to control the direction of the plot and turn passivity into initiative. But now, all the plots were disrupted.
According to the plot, she should have had a chance to delay, negotiate, or even try to redeem her father's fate. But it all happened so quickly, so fast that she couldn't even breathe. She didn't even have time to remind him, and could only helplessly accept Wen Chengyan's death. Even her daughter couldn't see him one last time.
After Wen Yuanzhao succeeded in usurping the throne, he even refused to give the former Emperor Xuanping a proper funeral.
In order to cover up the truth about the "assassination" and collusion with foreign countries, Wen Yuanzhao deliberately made everything vague and was ashamed to hold a grand funeral.
When Emperor Xuanping was alive, he was the supreme ruler, with all the people submitting to him. But now, before his body was even cold, he was being buried by his son in the most hasty manner.
The letter sent from the palace was clear and concise:
"The new emperor has issued an edict, sympathizing with Princess Zhaohua's deep affection for the late emperor. He fears that returning to the palace would cause her grief and grief, so he has ordered the princess to remain where she is and not to enter the palace to mourn."
Wen Yuanzhao was clearly trying to stop her from returning to the palace.
Emperor Xuanping loved her the most when he was alive. Now that her father is dead, how could she not even go on his last journey?
Wen Qianning crumpled the letter, gritted her teeth, and secretly made a decision in her heart that she would go back even if it meant disobeying the order.
Even if Wen Yuanzhao ascended the throne, she would not be able to deprive herself of her identity. She was Princess Zhaohua, the daughter of her father. In this case, she had to go and bid farewell to Emperor Xuanping.
Once you enter the city gate, the road to the palace is still as familiar, but the palace seems to be shrouded in a layer of death.
The mourning hall was extremely simple, incomparable to any previous royal funeral.
The expressions of the palace maids in the mourning hall were very subtle. They suppressed their grief, but they did not dare to show it too much because they were afraid of the new emperor.
There were several tables in front of the coffin, and a few dim lamps were flickering with weak flames, illuminating the heavy coffin.
Wen Chengyan was lying inside, cold and lonely.
Looking at this scene, Wen Qianning felt a pang of bitterness in his heart.
"Father..."
She walked forward step by step and knelt in front of the coffin.
He leaned forward, his forehead hitting the floor tiles with a dull thud, and tears dripped onto the cold ground.
The girl's slender figure was reflected on the ground, lonely and stubborn.
Zhuiyun and Zhuyue beside them couldn't help but shed tears, and knelt down to offer sacrifices on behalf of the princess.
The atmosphere in the mourning hall was chilly. After an unknown amount of time, Wen Qianning was still lying in front of the coffin, her clothes already wet with tears.
At this moment, footsteps were heard outside, and the palace attendants knelt and bowed. A moment later, a sedan chair was carried into the hall.
The curtain was lifted, and a slightly sinister face appeared in the mourning hall.
Ever since the accident at the horse farm, Wen Yuanzhao's leg injury had never fully healed, and his limp had become an indelible source of worry for him. He had previously endured this, but now that he had ascended the throne, he was even more reluctant to expose his flaw. Thus, this sedan chair had become his essential means of transportation.
"Imperial sister."
Wen Yuanzhao slowly leaned forward and looked down at Wen Qianning who was kneeling in front of the coffin.
"I originally issued an order not to allow you to return." He sighed, his tone seeming to reveal concern, "It was precisely because I couldn't bear to see you endure such pain so soon. Now that the emperor is gone, why are you so sad? Please accept my condolences."
Wen Qianning didn't respond to his hypocritical attitude, nor did she want to play along. Her face was still buried beside the coffin, her slender shoulders trembling slightly with grief.
A hint of cold disgust flashed in the eyes covered by the sleeves.
Wen Qianning heard his words clearly.
What do you mean by "not letting her come back"? It's clearly an attempt to isolate her and silence any questions she might raise.
Wen Qianning felt disgusted and nauseous.
Wen Yuanzhao looked down at her motionless back, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes.
He sneered in his heart, wondering where this little princess got the confidence to put on such a bad face in front of him.
This spoiled and willful imperial sister had always been so cold and indifferent to her, but didn't she think about the current situation? In the past, Wen Chengyan protected her and she could do whatever she wanted, but now, everything was different.
She is clearly a weak woman who has lost the protection of her father, yet she dares to be so arrogant.
"Since the imperial sister is too sad to speak, then so be it." Wen Yuanzhao withdrew his gaze and casually rounded up the subject in a lukewarm tone, as if he no longer cared.
But the darkness in my heart was growing rapidly.
Just wait, Wen Qianning.
Under the power, no matter how noble a princess is, she will no longer have room to act arbitrarily.
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