"Do I not have the right to let you share the burden of state affairs?" the Emperor looked at Yang Mengchen with eyes full of hope and appeasement, "Jiujiu, your father, the Emperor, wants to spend more time with your Royal Grandmother and Mother, but Momo disagrees. Shouldn’t he agree?"
Yang Mengchen smiled, her heart filled with silent emotion.
When she first met the Emperor, how awe-inspiring and formidable he was. The more she got to know him, the more she realized that he was actually quite compassionate and lovable, especially to the siblings like Wende—he truly was a kind father. He also genuinely doted on and protected her, his daughter-in-law.
The Emperor had toiled for the realm for most of his life, and now he wished to lead a relaxed and ordinary life with the Royal Grandmother and Mother, spending his days gardening, bird-keeping, and fishing. There was nothing wrong with that. As his children, they certainly should take on some of his responsibilities.
"This is a matter between Father and his son; there’s no need to drag Ah Jiu into it," Long Xuanmo warned, glaring at the Emperor.
The Emperor glared back, "Don’t twist my words! Jiujiu is part of our family. I am merely asking for her opinion, not dragging her into anything!"
Throughout history, countless fathers and sons, brothers, have turned against each other for the throne. He too had gone through a bloody and brutal struggle to firmly secure his position.
When it came to Momo and the others, things completely changed. There was no need to mention You Er and Xuan Er, who had no desire to become the Emperor and always looked to Momo as their lead.
Yesterday, when he spoke of abdicating in favor of Momo, Momo looked utterly disdainful. Today, upon conferring the title of Crown Prince to Momo, Momo questioned him fiercely. There has never been an Emperor more miserable than him, willing to hand over the throne, yet Momo refused. Why was his fate so bitter?
Long Xuanmo was enraged and about to say something when he felt his beloved wife’s gentle grip on his right hand, causing him to purse his lips and remain silent.
Yang Mengchen smiled slightly, "Father wants to spend more time with the Royal Grandmother and Mother; we the younger generation are too happy to have any objections."
"Jiujiu is always so understanding, unlike some people," the Emperor said, looking at Long Xuanmo with a smug expression.
He was truly wise to have had Jiujiu come to the palace early. Jiujiu was always so empathetic, surely understanding him, and now indeed she did.
Long Xuanmo, with a look of resentment, said, "But Father will definitely assign me many state affairs, which will leave me no time to accompany you."
"It’s okay," Yang Mengchen replied with a significant glance at the Emperor, "Father is eager for grandchildren. If you are too tired from daily state affairs, Father will have no grandchildren to hold, right?"
"Yes, after dealing with state affairs, I surely won’t have any energy left, and Father, longing for grandchildren, will just have to wait," Long Xuanmo said, raising an eyebrow at the Emperor with an obvious implication.
The Emperor was filled with regret. How could he have forgotten about that?
Seeing the regret in the Emperor’s eyes, the Empress Dowager and the Empress pursed their lips in laughter. It was always the Emperor who ended up defeated by Momo’s hand, yet the Emperor still found joy in it. Watching the father and son spar was indeed amusing.
"My son and Ah Jiu will not be staying in the palace. All you have to do, Father, is change the plaque of Chen Prince Mansion to ’Crown Prince Mansion’," Long Xuanmo declared, standing up and taking Yang Mengchen’s hand, "our family must have already received the news and is waiting at Prince Mansion, we should head home."
"Momo, Jiujiu, have lunch before you leave," the Empress voiced, trying to keep them. She hadn’t had a meal with her son and daughter-in-law for days and longed for that warm atmosphere.
Looking back, Long Xuanmo responded, "The Royal Grandmother and Mother are welcome to come to our home for lunch, and afterwards, Ah Jiu can keep you company with a game of cards." With that, he took Yang Mengchen’s hand and departed.
"Sister Chu, be quick in preparing; I and the Empress will be going to the Crown Prince Mansion for lunch and cards," the Empress Dowager hurriedly ordered Sister Chu. ƒrēewebnovel.com
Sister Chu and Sister Liang respectfully agreed, and with the palace maids and eunuchs, they hurriedly made arrangements.
Watching his wife and mother bustling excitedly to the Crown Prince Mansion, the Emperor felt a profound sense of melancholy and abandonment, as if the whole world had left him behind. Momo was the worst, having not even invited him! Humph! They didn’t want him there, well, he’d go anyway!
Thus, the three most distinguished individuals in Dong Chu made their preparations and discretely headed to the freshly proclaimed Crown Prince Mansion for a meal.
As soon as the imperial edict conferring Long Xuanmo as the Crown Prince was issued, it quickly spread throughout The Capital. Most people were jubilant, with crowds spontaneously setting off firecrackers and beating drums to celebrate, the festivities outdoing even the New Year’s. Meanwhile, this joyous news also traveled at lightning speed to every corner of Dong Chu.
The doorway of Chen Prince Mansion (whose new Crown Prince Mansion plaque wasn’t ready yet) was nearly trampled down. He Junyuan dared not make any decisions, as both the Prince and princess were still at the palace and had not returned. The safest bet was to close the doors and turn away guests.
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