On the seventeenth day of the seventh month, the Emperor ordered the execution of Dugu Fuxing and his siblings, as well as their co-conspirators and the Imperial Court Officials involved with them, resulting in the demise of many families.
Imperial Study Room.
"Now that the rebels have been eliminated, I shall issue an imperial decree to abdicate immediately and pass the throne to you, Momo. What do you think of that?" the Emperor looked at Long Xuanmo with hopeful eyes.
Who knew that Long Xuanmo would coolly reply, "I think nothing of it. You may continue to sit on the throne, Father. I am not interested."
"I’ve been sitting on this throne for decades, can’t you let me have a good rest?" The Emperor’s eyes widened with obvious anger.
While other sons were scheming relentlessly to seize this position, Momo was indifferently declining the offer, infuriating him to his core. Couldn’t Momo sympathize and allow him to leisurely travel with the Empress? Why was his life so arduous?
"With Father’s vigor and good health, sitting on the throne for another ten or twenty years should be no issue. In a decade or so, you can directly pass the throne to your grandson," Long Xuanmo said before walking toward the firmly closed door of the sleeping chamber.
The Emperor’s frustration and silent grievances instantly dissipated. "What did you just say? Come back and repeat that."
Long Xuanmo didn’t even turn his head back.
"Emperor, what Prince Chen means is that you should directly pass the throne to your grandson after a decade or so," Sun Chuanmao reported honestly.
The Emperor nodded subconsciously: "Indeed, Momo did say that..." Suddenly recollecting something, he called out in surprise to Long Xuanmo’s retreating figure, "Momo, are you saying Jiujiu is pregnant, aren’t you?"
"Not at the moment," came Long Xuanmo’s icy voice. "But she will be soon."
The Emperor was taken aback for several seconds, and Sun Chuanmao simply sat down on the floor, realizing his gaffe, and quickly scrambled to his feet.
By the time Long Xuanmo’s figure had vanished outside the door, the Emperor finally regained his senses, roaring in a fit of anger, "Momo, you dare to deceive me! This is outrageous!"
With his head bowed, Sun Chuanmao muttered to himself: The Emperor might as well stop calling; Prince Chen is probably far gone by now and can’t hear a thing.
The Emperor grew increasingly vexed, questioning why he must endure the exhausting task of ruling the lands while Momo lived carefree each day. Suddenly, an idea struck him and his shrewd eyes gleamed fox-like. He instructed Sun Chuanmao to bring a blank imperial edict. The Emperor quickly wrote something, paused, then stamped it with the Jade Seal.
Seeing the content of the royal decree, Sun Chuanmao’s expression changed subtly, but he quickly regained his composure.
With the major issue resolved, the Emperor was in surprisingly good spirits and immediately set off for Cining Palace to excitedly share the good news with the Empress Dowager and the Empress.
Seeing the Emperor’s smug face, the Empress Dowager sighed internally, having anticipated this outcome. Despite her warning, the Prince had not listened. Well, let it be. Grandchildren are the blessings of their own descendants. She would let the father and son sort it out themselves.
The Empress was completely preoccupied with the joyous news that her son and daughter-in-law were planning to have children, paying no attention to the content of the decree. She was eager to prepare some nourishing medicinal herbs and deliver them to the Prince Mansion to help Jiujiu strengthen her body and hopefully bear a healthy and plump grandson for her to embrace.
Chen Prince Mansion.
When Yang Mengchen saw Sisters Chu and Liang leading several carriages filled with medicinal herbs and supplements, she was bewildered. Why would the Royal Grandmother and her mother send her these things out of the blue? Nevertheless, she rewarded the entourage and had Sister Jin see the two sisters out of the mansion.
When Long Xuanmo returned, Yang Mengchen told him about it. After hearing what he had said to the Emperor, she was torn between laughter and tears.
Long Xuanmo, embracing Yang Mengchen, said, "Ah Jiu, I don’t want that laborious position. Let’s hurry and have a son for Father, and then you and I can go travel and enjoy ourselves. Does that sound good?"
The Emperor and Long Xuanmo, truly father and son, shared remarkably similar desires—unfortunately, while dreams are beautiful, reality is often harsh.
"It’s pure speculation, so why are you so certain it will be a son?" Yang Mengchen chided.
Carrying his beloved wife to the inner chamber’s large bed, Long Xuanmo nibbled her earlobe, "If I say it will be a son, then it will certainly be a son."
The night was long, and their passion grew deeper.
The next morning, during the early court session, the Emperor had Sun Chuanmao read out the decree from the brocade box, which declared Long Xuanmo as the Crown Prince and Yang Mengchen as the Crown Princess Consort.
This sudden decree stunned all the ministers. The Jinluan Hall fell silent for ten seconds, until the quicker thinkers reminded everyone, prompting them to bounce back to reality and immediately kneel and offer congratulations, "Long live the Emperor! Long live, long live the Emperor!" fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
At this moment, everyone was scheming. Those who had already aligned with Long Xuanmo felt reassured, unaligned ministers were relieved they no longer needed to agonize over choosing sides, and those who had sided with Prince Jing and Long Yisi regretted their choice, but regret was useless—they needed to find a way to make amends.
Long Xuanmo, with an impassive face, took a deep look at the Emperor on the throne, knelt down, and accepted the decree with thanks.
The Emperor felt a sense of triumph, but that one look from Long Xuanmo unsettled him, though he showed none of it outwardly. Seeing Long Xuanmo accept the edict, he proclaimed, "Let it be known, the Astronomical Observatory is to select an auspicious day for the Crown Prince’s Enthronement Ceremony!" He glanced at Sun Chuanmao.
"Court dismissed!" Sun Chuanmao called out promptly.
The Emperor thus left the Jinluan Hall.
As the officials crowded around Long Xuanmo with congratulations, his composed demeanor showed no sign of joy, earning the silent praise of the clueless ministers.
Once he finally shook off the officials, Long Xuanmo, upon learning the Emperor was in Cining Palace, made haste there.
Palace Maids and eunuchs at the gate initially wanted to offer their congratulations, but seeing Long Xuanmo’s stern expression, they quickly stepped aside.
Walking into the hall and spotting his beloved wife sitting beside the Royal Grandmother, Long Xuanmo’s seething anger subsided. He sat next to his wife and turned to the Emperor across from him, his voice low, "What is Father’s intention?"
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