Chapter 46 Reactions from all parties
The threshold of Weiyuan Marquis Mansion was almost trampled flat by visitors.
If it were a few months ago, when the Weiyuan Marquis Mansion was mentioned, most people would have sympathized with it and wanted to watch the fun.
The family had a big misunderstanding about the real and fake prince, and became the laughing stock of the whole capital.
There is also a vicious old lady who beats the drum to report her own death. It is truly a dramatic ethical drama.
The wind direction has completely changed!
Who could have imagined that the fake prince, who was suspected of being a "bastard", would suddenly become the only biological son that your Majesty treasured so dearly! He was even immediately appointed Crown Prince!
The Weiyuan Marquis Mansion is no longer the unlucky man who "raised the wrong son", but the residence of a meritorious official who "raised a real dragon for fifteen years with great difficulty"!
This change of identity was a shocking reversal, blinding the titanium eyes of all the noble ministers in the capital.
As a result, there was a constant stream of people and vehicles in front of the Weiyuan Marquis Mansion, and many dignitaries gathered.
Those who used to avoid me, have a superficial relationship with me, or even secretly laugh at me, now come to "congratulate" me with generous gifts and the warmest smiles.
The reasons are varied:
"Congratulations, Lord and Madame! You have raised His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for fifteen years, and have dedicated yourself immensely to his work. You are truly the greatest contributor to the nation!"
"Oh my, I've long seen that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is a man of extraordinary bearing, definitely not an ordinary person! He is indeed a true dragon and emperor! The Marquisate is a place of great feng shui, with outstanding people and beautiful scenery!"
"Brother Cui! You and I entered the civil service in the same year. Now that such a great event has happened in your family, how could you not invite me for a drink? I hope Brother Cui will speak well of me in front of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in the future!"
Weiyuan Hou Cui Yan was very annoyed by this, but he had to cheer up and deal with it.
He was a quiet and reserved person, and now he was even more reserved with words. Faced with all kinds of blatant flattery and inquiries,
The standard answer is always "Your Majesty is so gracious, the Crown Prince is so gifted, we are so terrified that we dare not take any credit for it."
His facial expression management is textbook-level, making it impossible to find any mistakes or find out any secrets.
But after returning to the study, I often feel that my face is almost stiff from smiling and I feel extremely tired.
Xiao Zhou simply claimed to be ill and closed the door to visitors.
She really couldn't stand the noble ladies saying words of envy and flattery.
With a look of inquiry and jealousy in his eyes, he inquired about the prince's living habits and preferences in the mansion.
She even subtly tested the emperor's attitude towards her as his "adoptive mother".
Every visitor was like pouring salt on the wound in her heart.
At gatherings in major restaurants, teahouses, and aristocratic circles in the capital, "Weiyuan Marquisate" and "Crown Prince" became the hottest topics, and the air was filled with a strong smell of sour lemons.
"Tsk tsk, what a different fate for the same person! What kind of luck did the Weiyuan Marquisate have? They could raise a son and raise him to be the crown prince!"
"That's right! You used to laugh at me, but now I've become the Crown Prince's former residence! This is more important than ten real titles!"
"I heard that the Marquis's treasury is nearly overflowing with His Majesty's rewards! Gold, pearls, brocade... Oh, I'm so jealous!"
"More than that! Haven't you seen the level of people who have visited the Marquis' Mansion these days? In the past, Marquis Weiyuan was just a middle-class noble, but now, the door is almost broken down by people!"
"The most important thing is that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is nostalgic! He even went back specially to visit. What does this mean? It means that the kindness shown by the Marquis' Mansion over the past fifteen years is very important to the Crown Prince! When the Crown Prince ascends the throne in the future...hiss..."
"Oh, if I had known that I would have fallen and given birth prematurely while mourning in the palace..."
"Stop talking nonsense! Is that something you can envy? But then again, Xiao Zhou is truly blessed. She picked up a prince for nothing and raised him for fifteen years. Although he's not her biological mother now, with this bond, she'll undoubtedly be given the title of 'Madam of the Imperial Household' in the future!"
Envy, jealousy, envy, flattery...all kinds of emotions are intertwined.
The Weiyuan Marquis Mansion was extremely popular for a while and became the most popular place in the capital.
As a result, the previously marginalized Weiyuan Hou Cui Yan seemed to have gained some influence in the court, and many people began to take the initiative to make friends with him.
This trend also blew to the trembling second wife.
The second master Cui Jun discovered that recently a few minor officials had begun to greet him with a smile and even invited him to drink!
Although they were just insignificant characters, for him who was like a rat crossing the street before, it was like a blessing after a long drought!
His restless heart began to stir again.
Although his mother died and he had no one to rely on, but... but His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was his "nephew"!
Couldn't he exploit this relationship? He didn't dare covet the title anymore, but perhaps... he could get something useful? Like a lucrative, leisurely job?
He tried to mention it to his elder brother Cui Yan, but Cui Yan scolded him harshly:
"Fool! Can't you see the situation clearly? How much does His Majesty value His Royal Highness the Crown Prince? Our Marquis' Mansion may seem prosperous now, but in fact, we are standing at the forefront of the storm!
How many eyes are watching your every word and action? If you dare to use the title of Crown Prince to do evil things outside, Your Majesty doesn't need to do anything, I will be the first to break your legs! Go back and reflect on your mistakes!"
Cui Jun was scolded so badly that he ran away in disgrace, but the little plan in his mind was not completely given up.
The second young lady, Cui Baiyu, was completely immersed in the vanity brought by the identity of "Prince's Aunt".
Although the prince was not very warm to her last time, it did not prevent her from enjoying the feeling of being the center of attention in the circle of young ladies.
"Sister Yu, you are so lucky to have a nephew who is a prince."
"Sister Yu, when you go to the palace to see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, don't forget us!"
"Sister Baiyu, what kind of perfume are you using? Is it a tribute from the palace awarded by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"
These flatteries made Cui Baiyu feel elated, and she became more convinced that as long as she had the chance, she would be able to attract the prince's attention.
She began to inquire about the news in the palace more frequently, wondering how she could "accidentally meet" the prince who was visiting his parents again... Could she ask her sister-in-law Xiao Zhou to take her with her when she entered the palace next time?
In the palace, Emperor Liu Jin listened to Fu'an's report on the popularity of the Weiyuan Marquisate in the capital, and the jealousy in his heart began to boil again.
"Humph! What's the merit of raising a dragon? That's my own offspring! What does it have to do with their Marquis' Mansion?"
The emperor grumbled in dissatisfaction, "And those people, why are they going to curry favor with the Marquis' Mansion? If you have the guts, come and curry favor with me! I am the prince's biological father!"
Fu An suppressed his laughter and bowed to comfort him, "Your Majesty, calm down. Those are shallow-minded people who don't understand your Majesty's deep meaning and the filial piety of Your Highness the Crown Prince. In Your Highness's heart, the most important thing is naturally Your Majesty."
The emperor snorted, his expression slightly relieved, but then he became alert again: "Fu'an, do you think...will Xiao'er really be won over by those old friends in the Marquis' Mansion? Especially that little Zhou! The last time Xiao'er came back, he seemed to miss the snacks she made."
Fu'an hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, you worry too much. Your Highness is kind and filial, and cherishing the past is a virtue, which shows that Your Highness values ​​friendship and loyalty. But Your Highness is intelligent, and he has his own understanding of the principles of monarch and minister. He knows who his most solid support is. I, this old servant, see His Highness's admiration for Your Majesty every day."
The emperor nodded in satisfaction, but he secretly decided to be extra kind to his son and let him know that only his father is the best!
And Liu Xiao did often miss the Marquis' Mansion and the more comfortable atmosphere there.
But he also clearly felt the huge gap brought about by identity.
He knew that his father seemed magnanimous but was actually a jealous person, so he would only mention interesting things about the Marquisate cautiously when his father was in a very good mood.
Or he would praise Xiao Zhou's snacks, and then watch his father frowning with sourness while pretending to be indifferent, which was both funny and heartwarming.
Just when everything seemed "harmonious" on the surface, the Marquis's Mansion was flourishing, the Emperor was secretly jealous, and the Crown Prince was trying hard to adapt to his new identity, a secret report from the imperial farm outside the capital was quietly delivered to the hands of the second prince Liu Cong.
The secret report was simple: The abandoned commoner Liu Jue seemed unusually quiet recently.
However, the guards discovered that an unidentified man in black had tried to approach the imperial farm. Although he did not succeed, his movements were secretive and he did not look like an ordinary thief.
Liu Cong looked at the secret report with a frown.
He knew that his "good brother" would never accept failure.
This unusual silence is probably the calm before the storm.
There is no doubt that it would be the most popular and the most dazzling to some people right now - the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace.
He immediately stood up and ordered, "Send twice as many people to keep a close eye on the imperial farm! Anyone who makes any unusual movement will be killed without mercy!"
In addition, a message was sent to the Eastern Palace Guards to intensify the security in the near future. All food and drink items entering the Eastern Palace must be
"They must undergo three rounds of inspection! Especially... objects and people related to the Marquisate outside the palace must be strictly inspected!"
The shadow of the storm quietly loomed again. The splendor of the Weiyuan Marquisate and the honor of the Crown Prince were perhaps the perfect targets for the conspirators.
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