Chapter 21 If you love her, you'll plan everything for her.
The bloodshed outside the palace gates had temporarily subsided, but Yuwen Che did not stop. He knew that this matter had to be thoroughly resolved, especially regarding Chengqian Palace, where a clear explanation was needed. He took Su Luoxue's hand and led her to Chengqian Palace, which was still filled with the smell of medicine and an atmosphere of sorrow.
Inside the bedchamber, Yuwen Hao's small body was curled up in the brocade quilt, his face still pale. He sobbed intermittently from the pain and shock, a sight that tugged at the heartstrings. Consort De sat by the bed, her eyes red and swollen, her face haggard, as if she had aged ten years overnight. Seeing Yuwen Che and Su Luoxue enter, she quickly rose to greet them. Her gaze swept over Su Luoxue, who was being tightly protected by His Majesty, a complex mix of relief at surviving a close call, and a hint of indescribable gratitude. At least this time, she could see that Consort Chen had no intention of harming them, but more than anything, there was a deep weariness and resignation. The events that had transpired on the palace walls had already been relayed back word for word.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to the Imperial Concubine Chen."
Seeing Yuwen Hao's weak and painful appearance, Su Luoxue felt extremely guilty and subconsciously wanted to go forward to check on him, but Yuwen Che pulled her back and protected her firmly.
Yuwen Che's gaze fell on Consort De, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "How is Hao'er?"
Consort De's voice was hoarse: "Your Majesty, the imperial physician said that the poison has been neutralized, but the medicine has damaged the spleen, stomach and meridians. She needs to recuperate for a period of time. In the future... I'm afraid she will be weaker than ordinary children." As she spoke, tears fell again.
Upon hearing this, Su Luoxue felt as if her heart was being torn apart, overwhelmed with guilt, and her eyes reddened.
Yuwen Che nodded, his face expressionless. He cut straight to the point, his voice steady: "I have investigated today's events. The pear soup came from Cining Palace, and Consort Chen was merely acting as a messenger. She knew nothing about it. She is innocent."
With just one sentence, he completely cleared Su Luoxue of suspicion. Consort De quickly lowered her head: "Your Majesty, I understand. I was too flustered at the time and wrongly accused you."
Yuwen Che continued, "The mastermind behind this has been dealt with. The Shen family has paid the price for their evil deeds. This can be considered my explanation to Hao'er."
Consort De trembled. She had already heard the news of the Shen family's destruction, but hearing it from His Majesty's own mouth made it even more shocking. She knew that this was less an explanation for Hao'er and more a way for His Majesty to eliminate a potentially huge threat to himself while protecting Consort Chen. She could guess immediately that it was the Empress Dowager who was behind it; how could His Majesty, being so astute, not see it? He was merely using this as an excuse.
"As for Hao'er," Yuwen Che's gaze shifted to the sobbing child on the bed, his tone softening slightly, yet carrying a calm acceptance of his fate, "he has suffered this time. I will issue an edict to confer upon Hao'er the title of 'Prince An,' granting him double the salary of a prince. When he reaches adulthood, he can go to his fiefdom and live a peaceful life."
He paused, then looked at Consort De: "If you are willing, you can go to your fiefdom with Hao'er and live out your days in peace."
These words, like a final verdict, clearly defined Yuwen Hao's future path—a prince, to be enfeoffed upon reaching adulthood. This meant that regardless of whether this child was intelligent or dull, capable or mediocre, his highest potential was to become a prince of great power and influence, forever barring him from the throne.
Consort De's last shred of unrealistic fantasy shattered completely. But she also felt a sense of relief. Having survived this life-or-death ordeal, she knew better than anyone that her son obtaining the title of Prince, living a peaceful and prosperous life far from the turmoil of the capital, was perhaps the best outcome. His Majesty had declared today, almost in front of the entire city, that the Crown Prince would only be born to Consort Chen. The words were out, and he would certainly eliminate any dissidents for the next emperor. Given His Majesty's ruthlessness, if she refused to leave, if her son blocked Consort Chen's child's path, she was entirely confident that Yuwen Che would silently eliminate them both.
She kowtowed deeply, her voice choked with sobs, yet utterly clear: "Your Majesty, I... on behalf of Hao'er, thank you for your great kindness! Your Majesty is wise!"
Yuwen Che nodded, said no more, and, holding Su Luoxue's hand, who still looked somewhat dazed and guilty, turned and left Chengqian Palace.
As they stepped out of Chengqian Palace, sunlight streamed in. Yuwen Che felt the coldness of Su Luoxue's palm, stopped, and looked down at her: "Still thinking about Hao'er?"
Su Luoxue raised her head, her eyes glistening with tears: "Ache, Hao'er... in the end, he suffered so much because of me..."
Yuwen Che gently pulled her into his arms, stroking her hair, his voice low and firm: "It was someone with ulterior motives who harmed him, not you. I have already given him the title of prince and a stable future, which is already a great favor. Luoxue, you must remember, in this palace, excessive kindness and guilt will only become weapons for others to hurt you."
He cupped her face in his hands, gazing deeply into her eyes: "Every word I spoke on the palace wall today was from the bottom of my heart. My crown prince will only be born to you and me. I will give you the best of everything and pave the smoothest path for our future child. So, don't worry about irrelevant people anymore. In your heart, you only need to hold me and our future child, that's enough."
His words, both domineering and affectionate, completely dispelled the gloom and unease in Su Luoxue's heart. She leaned against his strong chest and nodded gently. Yes, from the moment she chose to step into this deep palace, her fate was inextricably linked with his. The future might hold storms, but as long as he was by her side, she had nothing to fear. And that supreme position of Empress and Crown Prince seemed to be waiting for her and her future child, preordained by fate.
Yuwen Che personally escorted Su Luoxue back to Guanju Palace, carefully instructing Fuling to take good care of her before turning to go to the Sizheng Hall. The hall was brightly lit by candlelight, illuminating his cold profile. The gentleness he had shown in front of Su Luoxue had completely vanished, leaving only the deep and calculating nature of an emperor.
"Summon Pei Xuan," he commanded in a deep voice.
Before long, Pei Xuan, dressed in military attire and carrying an aura of lingering severity, strode into the Sizheng Hall and knelt on one knee: "Your subject Pei Xuan pays respects to Your Majesty."
"Get up." Yuwen Che raised his hand. "Have the matters concerning the Shen family been settled?"
"Your Majesty, everything has been done as ordered. The family property has been seized and put into storage, and the criminals... have been dealt with." Pei Xuanyan reported concisely, but his heart was still heavy with the bloodshed of the day.
Yuwen Che merely gave a faint "hmm," as if dealing with a century-old prestigious family was nothing more than crushing an ant, not worthy of his attention. He then abruptly changed the subject, asking, "Weren't Su Wenyuan and Su Jingxing also in the crowd outside the palace gates today? How did they react?"
Pei Xuan was taken aback, not expecting His Majesty to suddenly ask about this, but still reported truthfully: "Your Majesty, Master Su and his wife seem extremely worried and fearful, while Su Jingxing, the young master of the Su family, is quite calm and even persuaded his parents to leave the place of trouble in time."
Yuwen Che's fingers tapped unconsciously on the dragon desk. After a moment of contemplation, he suddenly posed a question that left Pei Xuan speechless: "Pei Xuan, what official positions do you think would be most suitable for Su Wenyuan and Su Jingxing?"
"Your Majesty?!" Pei Xuan almost thought he had misheard, and abruptly raised his head, his eyes filled with disbelief. What did His Majesty mean? Was he going to directly grant official positions to Consort Chen's father and brothers? This... this was simply unprecedented! Who didn't know that since his ascension to the throne, His Majesty had placed the utmost importance on the fairness of the imperial examinations and military examinations, even personally supervising them on numerous occasions, strictly prohibiting anyone from engaging in favoritism or cheating, and eliminating nepotism? Now, he was actually going to actively seek official positions for relatives of the empress?
Seeing Pei Xuan's astonished expression, Yuwen Che seemed to know what he was thinking and directly interrupted his thoughts, his tone calm but carrying an undeniable and profound consideration: "Pei Xuan, every word I spoke today on the palace wall came from the bottom of my heart. The Crown Prince can only be born to Luo Xue. Although she is not pregnant yet, but... I should start planning for her, for our future child."
He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the deep night outside. His voice lowered, carrying a rare hint of paternal worry: "I want them, whether princes or princesses, to have a powerful maternal family to rely on in the future. Otherwise..."
He paused, turned around, and looked sharply at Pei Xuan, saying something that shook Pei Xuan to his core: "If I were to pass away before them, leaving behind a widow and her children, who would truly protect them? With those ministers in the court, each with their own agenda? I'm afraid that by then, they would all be eager to seize power and devour them, leaving not even bones behind!"
Pei Xuan was completely stunned. Looking at His Majesty's serious and profound profile, a storm raged within him. His Majesty… was already contemplating what would become of him?! Throughout history, emperors have been most averse to discussing life and death, and countless have pursued the elixir of immortality. Yet his Majesty, this young, vigorous, and ambitious ruler, was so calmly, even urgently, beginning to pave the way for his beloved woman and their unborn child! What profound love and foresight did this require? And what a clear-headed, even ruthless, understanding of reality?
It is said that the imperial family has always been ruthless, but His Majesty's feelings for Consort Chen have long transcended simple romantic love; they are a profound bond ingrained in his very being and concerning the succession of the empire.
Seeing Pei Xuan remain silent, Yuwen Che continued, "I have observed Su Jingxing; he is talented and has a calm temperament. Although Su Wenyuan is a merchant, he is fairly honest. Directly granting him high-ranking official titles would be inappropriate and easily invite controversy. However, we can start with some important but not too conspicuous positions, allowing them to gradually accumulate experience and prestige. What do you think?"
Pei Xuan took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart. He knew that His Majesty's mind was made up; this was no longer a discussion, but an order. He bowed and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty's foresight is profound, and I... understand. Su Jingxing can first enter the Hanlin Academy or the Six Ministries to observe governance, while Su Wenyuan may be in charge of some imperial merchant affairs or subordinate institutions of the Taifu Temple. The specific official positions still need to be considered by the Ministry of Personnel according to regulations, but I will keep an eye out for suitable opportunities."
"Hmm." Yuwen Che nodded in satisfaction. "You just need to keep this in mind. There's no need to make a fuss. Proceed step by step. What I want is a Su family that can truly provide support in the future, not a nouveau riche who suddenly becomes powerful and only causes trouble."
"Your Majesty, I obey!" Pei Xuan solemnly replied. He knew that from this moment on, supporting the Su family had become one of his important missions. All of this was for the woman still in Guanju Palace, and for the prince or princess she might give birth to, who would carry all of His Majesty's hopes. His Majesty's love was so domineering, and so... profound.
The candlelight cast a long shadow of Yuwen Che on the cold, gold-brick floor, carrying an aura of loneliness and heaviness. Pei Xuan stood with his head bowed, his heart still churning with turmoil over His Majesty's earlier plan to secure an official position for the Su family. Little did he know, something even more shocking was yet to come.
Yuwen Che took out a roll of bright yellow silk from the most hidden compartment of the imperial desk. It was covered with imperial writing in vermilion ink. He did not immediately hand it to Pei Xuan, but instead gently stroked the edge of the silk with his fingers, his gaze deep, as if he could see the distant future through the silk.
“Pei Xuan,” he began, his voice deep and clear, “After I have dealt with everything at hand and thoroughly cleansed the court and the harem, and once the dust has settled, I will soon make Xue’er my principal wife. At that time, she will be my rightful empress, and our first prince… will be the rightful eldest son, the Crown Prince of Great Zhou.”
He paused, raised his eyes, and looked intently at Pei Xuan. His tone became extremely solemn: "Keep this secret decree safe. It states that if I die, you must unite with the Su family and do everything in your power to support my and Xue'er's son to ascend the throne, ensuring that Xue'er sits firmly in the position of Empress Dowager, ruling from behind the curtain until the prince comes of age and assumes personal rule."
"If Xue'er remains childless... then whoever ascends the throne must honor Xue'er as Empress Dowager in order to rightfully ascend the throne."
Pei Xuan was shocked. This... this was practically a responsibility entrusted to him! He hurriedly knelt on one knee, his voice urgent: "Your Majesty is in the prime of life, bringing blessings to all people. You will surely enjoy good health and live a long life! Why utter such ominous words!"
Yuwen Che merely gave Pei Xuan's consolation a faint, bittersweet smile: "Live to a hundred? I am twenty-five this year. Since ascending the throne, the number of killings I have committed is countless, even I cannot remember them all. Pei Xuan, you are well-versed in history. Throughout history, how many emperors and generals have died young? How many have been bedridden overnight? And how many have truly lived long lives? Let alone someone like me... who cannot be considered a benevolent ruler."
He changed the subject, his tone becoming more specific, even carrying a hint of paternal tenderness and worry: "And... I added a clause to this decree. If Xue'er and I have any children, my daughter, the princess of Great Zhou, will never be sent to a political marriage!"
His eyes suddenly sharpened: "No matter who is on the throne, even if it is my and Xue'er's son who ascends the throne in the future, if he is forced by circumstances or listens to some absurd advice and wants to send his sister or younger sister to marry into a foreign land in exchange for peace on the border... you must stop him for me! Use this imperial edict to stop him for me! My daughter must not suffer that humiliation!"
"Your Majesty..." Pei Xuan listened to these meticulous and loving words of advice, his heart filled with a bittersweet emotion. His Majesty had considered all the worst possibilities and entrusted him with his most tender concerns.
"Get up." Yuwen Che handed the secret decree to Pei Xuan. "In recent years, I will not give you a high official position, so as not to attract too much attention. You only need to manage the Zhenbei Marquis's Mansion in the shadows, cultivate your power, and conserve your strength. In the future, you will inherit the title, and together with the Su family that I have supported, one in the open and one in the shadows, you will jointly assist my prince and protect my princess."
Pei Xuan accepted the weighty secret decree as if he were receiving the future of the entire dynasty and His Majesty's profound trust.
Yuwen Che looked at him, his tone turning a cold warning, carrying the shrewdness of an emperor: "Pei Xuan, as long as you and the Pei family remain loyal and wholeheartedly serve me, I can assure you that both the Pei and Su families will enjoy a hundred years of prosperity, sharing the fate of the nation. But if..."
His gaze turned cold, and his voice was like ice: "If you or your descendants harbor any improper thoughts, since I have left you this path of assisting in governance, I will naturally leave other paths... to eliminate rebellion. At that time, the Pei family will be the next Shen family."
Pei Xuan suddenly remembered that for many years, he had vaguely known that His Majesty was secretly maintaining an extremely terrifying force outside the palace. It wasn't the publicly known Dragon Guard, but a truly shadowy organization of assassins and assassins, scattered throughout the land, gathering intelligence for His Majesty and eliminating any hidden threats. Their skills were said to far surpass those of the strongest publicly known Dragon Guard, and they were loyal only to His Majesty! Since His Majesty entrusted him with such a crucial secret decree, how could he not have left behind a contingency plan to counter him?
He immediately kowtowed deeply, his voice resolute and filled with utmost piety and reverence: "Your subject Pei Xuan swears to Heaven! I will exert all my strength to be loyal to Your Majesty, to the future Crown Prince, and to the Princess! If I break this oath, may Heaven and Earth punish me, and may the Pei clan never be reincarnated!"
"Alright." Yuwen Che nodded, a hint of weariness on his face. "Go. Keep the secret decree safe. What I said today came from my mouth and entered your ears. It must never be known to a sixth person."
"Your Majesty, I understand! I take my leave!" Pei Xuan carefully hid the secret edict close to his body, bowed, and withdrew from the Sizheng Hall. From this moment on, his fate, and the fate of the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion, were completely bound together with the still unborn Consort Chen of Guanju Palace, and the future Crown Prince and Princess, who were perhaps still far away. This was a high-stakes gamble, a gamble on His Majesty's deep affection and foresight, a gamble on Pei Xuan's loyalty and ability. If they won, the Pei family would be worry-free for a hundred years; if they lost, it would be utter ruin.
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