88 Undercurrents
You've disappointed me as always!
Inside the Xuanzheng Hall of Changyang Palace, Emperor Chu Pei confided his grievances to Wei Xin and Qu Yan, his former brothers who had fought alongside him to establish the empire.
"Zilie, Qinghe, do you think it's easy for me? They are all my own children. I have so many sons, but there is only one throne. Can't I have time to think it over? Now everyone is pressuring me. Ayan and Acheng each have their own merits. They are both my flesh and blood. If I choose one, I will be sorry to the other. If I choose the other, this person will be unhappy. Sigh~ It's difficult."
Wei Xin put his hands in his sleeves, glanced at Qu Zilie beside him, and remained as composed as ever.
"Zilie, don't stay silent. Give me some advice: should the position of Crown Prince be given to Yan'er or Cheng'er?"
Qu Yan slightly raised his eyelids, "It's entirely up to His Majesty to decide." With that one sentence, he killed the conversation.
The emperor wanted to get angry, but seeing his thin, pale face, which looked like he was about to ascend to heaven, he didn't dare to vent his anger on him.
Turning to Wei Xin, she kicked him in the butt, "Aren't you usually the most talkative? Why are you mute today when I asked you to come up with an idea!"
Wei Xin inwardly groaned. The struggle for the crown prince was never something that court officials like them could comment on; a single wrong word could cost them their heads.
His Majesty makes it sound so easy, asking them to come up with ideas, but there are undercurrents running deep beneath the surface. If one is not careful, blood will flow like a river. How dare he casually offer any opinions? Even Qu Zilie is unwilling to say a word. Does Wei Xin have an extra head than Qu Zilie?
He said with a bitter face, "Your Majesty, this is your family matter. How dare I discuss it so easily? All I know is that I am loyal to Your Majesty!"
Qu Zilie glanced at Wei Xin. This flattery was vulgar and straightforward, but also very clever.
"Fine, fine, so you're all unwilling to tell me the truth, huh? We've been through thick and thin together, and now all you do is flatter me like everyone else. Hmph, Wei Qinghe, you're only loyal to me, huh? Fine, then wait until I die, and you'll be buried with me. In the afterlife, we'll continue to be brothers."
Realizing he had shot himself in the foot, Wei Xin quickly knelt down, "Your Majesty, please forgive me." He wiped away his tears with one hand, saying, "How could Your Majesty be a hundred years old? May you live a long and happy life, and personally watch over the Crown Prince as he shoulders the great responsibility..."
"Wei Qinghe, Wei Qinghe, you have such a mouth that you can talk the dead back to life."
The emperor continued, "Alright, I've brought you two here today because I really intend to establish a crown prince. Don't try to fool me. We've been through thick and thin together. Whatever you say today, I will pardon you. I guarantee that what happened today will not be leaked. Now, tell me the truth: should the position of crown prince be given to the eldest prince or the second prince?"
Chu Pei's expression turned serious. He knew that Yan'er was born to the first wife, and was both the legitimate son and the eldest son. A Ling was also the empress of the country. Choosing him was the safest option, and the court officials would not object.
However... Yan'er's body doesn't look like it's destined for longevity. If something were to happen to him, it would be another unexpected turn of events.
Although Cheng'er was not born to the Empress, he was strong and healthy, and exceptionally intelligent from a young age. He also looked most like him and was very filial to him. How could he not be happy with such a son, who was born to his most beloved concubine, and how could he not plan for the sake of the mother and son?
Although Guo Ji did some foolish things a few days ago, it doesn't change the fact that the Second Prince is his most beloved son. He secretly hopes that the Second Prince will inherit the throne, or at least shoulder the heavy responsibility of the prosperity of a country. A good body is more important than anything else.
From the emperor's words, Qu Zilie understood that the emperor's inner conflict was probably because he had a choice in mind, but he was worried that his choice would conflict with ethics, etiquette, and the thoughts of the court officials.
Once his choice is made public, it will inevitably cause the forces represented by the Empress and the First Prince to immediately stand against the Emperor. At that time, the court will be in turmoil and the world will be in turmoil.
Even knowing the consequences, the Emperor hesitated. Qu Yan shook his head inwardly. His Majesty was wise and decisive when conquering the country, but when it came to the Crown Prince, he became confused.
Qu Yan stepped forward and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty must have already made up your mind. I am no longer involved in worldly affairs, but if it is Your Majesty's choice, I will naturally support Your Majesty's will."
Wei Xin snorted. Qu Zilie was being far too cautious. Even with the Emperor's words so explicit, he was still being meticulous. Truly, Qu Zilie was someone who had never made a mistake.
However, if the Emperor really makes the Second Prince the Crown Prince, how will the Empress and the Zhang family put themselves in this position? The First Prince is both the legitimate son and the eldest son, yet the Emperor has chosen the Second Prince, who is neither the legitimate son nor the eldest son. Isn't this clearly saying that the First Prince is incompetent? Besides, what about the Empress...?
Tsk tsk tsk, he couldn't believe that the Emperor hadn't seen such a simple truth. It seemed that Madam Guo and the Second Prince were favored even more than he had imagined. Was the Emperor willing to risk the wrath of the world to establish the Second Prince as his successor?
It's surprising that His Majesty is such a romantic. But then again, thinking of the Zhang family's selfless and unwavering support and devotion when His Majesty was still in his lowly days, and the Empress's bearing of His Majesty's children, and even when she was captured…
Wei Xin felt a chill in his heart. The Emperor now... this was simply too chilling.
Wei Xin straightened his face and said, "I am just like Zi Lie. No matter what Your Majesty chooses, I will only support Your Majesty's choice."
Two slippery mudskippers, claiming to support all his choices, but actually letting him make things difficult. Clearly, how could Qu Zilie not understand what he was thinking!
Knowing he wouldn't get the words he wanted from those two old foxes, Chu Pei waved his hand, dismissing them.
After the two men withdrew, Prince Yi and Yuan Kuai walked in from outside the hall and bumped into them. Their eyes met in the air, they nodded slightly, and then Prince Yi and Yuan Kuai stepped into the hall...
Watching the retreating figures of Prince Yi and Yuan Kuai, Wei Xin whispered in Qu Yan's ear, "His Majesty really..."
Qu Yan remained calm, as if everything truly had nothing to do with him. "Qinghe, this is the palace."
"But, but, Your Majesty is confused..."
Qu Yan looked up at the gloomy sky; the winter in this capital city was truly cold.
A eunuch stood outside the side gate of Changxin Hall, cautiously looking left and right. Seeing that no one was around, he knocked three times. The door opened a crack with a hiss, and the eunuch slipped into Changxin Hall.
After hearing the eunuch's words, the Empress frowned deeply, while the Marquis of Quzhou reacted even more strongly, slamming down a teacup on the table. "Elder sister, the Prince of Yi's heart is despicable!"
The Empress looked out the door. The snow was getting heavier, and there would probably be snow on the ground in Changyang Palace tomorrow.
Thinking back to what the eunuch had just said, it was clear that the eunuch had an excellent memory, remembering King Yi's words perfectly.
"Your Majesty's hesitation stems from the conflict between legitimacy and personal preference, making it difficult for you to choose. I urge you to reconsider your decision. The Zhang family has devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the cause, and the Empress has worked tirelessly. The Guo family, however, has a weak foundation and lacks the support of the people. If we were to act... I fear it would provoke the Zhang family to take a desperate gamble..."
The Prince Yi appears to be acting in the Emperor's best interests, but in reality, he is subtly implying that if the Zhang family were to... commit treason...
If Sima Xiuyuan's words were true, then Prince Yi had no choice but to be eliminated. When did the Guo family and Prince Yi become so closely linked? No, Sima Xiuyuan was right about everything except one thing he hadn't seen through.
The alliance between Prince Yi and the Guo family was perhaps something her good husband would welcome.
Twenty years of marriage, the Zhang family's all-out support, and his guilt for abandoning his wife and children to save his own life back then—none of these are enough to make him readily grant him the title of Crown Prince. Chu Pei, you are indeed as disappointing as ever!
"Sister, what should we do? Are we really going to watch His Majesty give the position of Crown Prince to Consort Guo and the Second Prince? Wouldn't we be doing all this for someone else's benefit, and what will become of our family in the future..."
The Empress turned her gaze away from the oppressive darkness outside the door and looked at her sister. "Ah Zhi, you're still so impatient. If I were like you, I would have died a thousand times over."
"I'm worried too..."
Seeing her sister's unusual agitation, the Empress asked, "What exactly did Yuan Kuai do to make you so angry?"
Zhang Zhi thought back to the day when Doctor Ye treated Zhuang'er. She sent someone to look for Yuan Kuai, but unexpectedly, he had a son and a daughter outside!
Without revealing her identity, she had someone investigate the woman who bore Yuan Kuai's children. The investigation revealed that she had intricate connections with the Guo family.
Over the years, she and Yuan Kuai had only given birth to Zhuang'er. She considered herself not a jealous woman and never forbade Yuan Kuai from taking concubines. What he said that day was that he only wanted to stay with her and Zhuang'er.
His words still ring in my ears, yet so many years have passed and he has long forgotten them!
That's bad enough, but as Yan'er's uncle, he actually took a woman related to the Guo family as his mistress. Isn't that a slap in the face to her and her elder sister? This is betrayal, this is openly standing in the enemy camp!
Moreover, there's probably a conspiracy by the Guo family behind this, they deserve to die!
“Sister, I’m going to find His Majesty and ask him if he still remembers the sacrifices of our Zhang family, if he still remembers who bore him children and cared for his parents when he was insignificant, and who risked death in the enemy camp to sow discord between the Prince of Yan and Zhao Ji and Zheng Hui. How can he be so heartless…”
"Ah Zhi, once you leave this room, don't say these words again." Empress Zhang remained calm; from beginning to end, she had never placed any hope in that person.
"Sister, there are some things you can tolerate, but I can't!" After saying that, she stormed out of Changxin Palace.
Seeing her sister's anger, the Empress ordered someone to follow her: "Keep an eye on her, lest she say something she shouldn't. We can't afford any accidents at this critical juncture."
How could she let the position of Crown Prince slip away? If her son did not obtain the position of Crown Prince, then Zhang Ling would become the biggest joke of the Great Jin Dynasty. Wouldn't all the suffering she had endured and the beliefs she had held onto until now be in vain? She would be letting herself down, and even more so, letting down all the people and things she had abandoned.
She remained still because she had already taken action; now she was simply using stillness to control movement. Besides, she now had Sima Xiuyuan's absolute support, which was an unexpected and delightful surprise.
[Author's Note]
This is a transitional chapter. I'm experiencing some writer's block. I've planned out all the major plot points, but the romance between Qi Gu and Sima Hong is still a bit bumpy. I want to write a thrilling and exciting love story, yet also want their relationship to develop naturally. It's so difficult! I expect to finish it in November, with about 100,000 words left—a very important 100,000 words! I hope everyone will add it to their collections and support me. Thank you! [shy] There's a high probability of a double update today, which is good compensation for the previous two days without updates. I've already written half of the next chapter! [sunglasses]
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