Chapter 344 A Woman Ascends the Throne
The situation in the State of Chu is turbulent, and the rivalry between the Crown Prince and the Ninth Prince is becoming increasingly fierce.
Huangfu Su was discussing matters with his advisors in his study.
A maidservant came to report from outside the door, "Princess, the Crown Prince has returned to the manor."
Huangfu Su raised an eyebrow and then said, "I have important matters to discuss with you gentlemen. Please have him wait."
"yes!"
Huangfu Nanlin sat in the front hall for an hour, his face showing some anger.
Why hasn't Mother arrived yet?
The maid standing to the side remained silent.
Huangfu Nanlin stood up impatiently and turned to leave.
"Is Lin'er leaving?"
Huangfu Nanlin looked towards the door and saw Huangfu Su approaching gracefully, accompanied by a group of palace maids.
He took a deep breath and sat back down in his original seat.
Huangfu Su flicked his sleeves and turned to sit in the main seat.
"What brings Lin'er back to the manor to see his mother?"
Huangfu Nanlin said with a somewhat sullen expression, "Can you and Ninth Brother call a truce? After all, you are aunt and nephew."
Huangfu Su smiled casually, "Huangfu Nanfeng sent you here as a mediator?"
Huangfu Nanlin frowned slightly. “Ninth Brother was born to Uncle’s beloved. You and Uncle are siblings from the same mother. Why can’t you turn hostility into friendship? Third Brother was never up to the task. If it weren’t for your support, how could he have become the Crown Prince? Ninth Brother is talented and capable, both in literature and martial arts. This position should have been his.”
Huangfu Su seemed to have heard a child's nonsense, and she gently raised her eyes.
"He is nothing but the son of a dancer. How dare such a lowly bloodline be compared to me? Should he? Why should he sit in that position? I am His Majesty's half-brother. If he were to pass away, shouldn't I, the eldest princess of Chu, be the one to take over the kingdom?"
Huangfu Nanlin's expression changed drastically. "Mother! How could you utter such treasonous words!"
Huangfu Su laughed and said, "I have supported His Majesty's ascension to the throne all the way, and I have saved the day many times in the court. I am the eldest princess of Chu and a meritorious official of the country. Why can't I sit in that position!"
Huangfu Nanlin was momentarily dazed. "Ninth Brother is telling the truth! You actually intend to usurp the throne!"
Huangfu Su laughed heartily upon hearing this, "Usurp the throne? I really did give birth to an idiot."
Huangfu Nanlin looked at Huangfu Su and said, "Since ancient times, there has never been a woman who became emperor. Mother, this is wishful thinking. The officials in the court will not agree to it. Mother, are you not afraid of being condemned for all eternity?"
Huangfu Su picked up his teacup. "Do you know why you suffered such a crushing defeat in the State of Jin?"
Huangfu Nanlin was taken aback when he heard Huangfu Su's cold voice.
"Because you are just like all the men in the world, you look down on women."
Huangfu Nanlin stood up. “Mother, I know you have lofty ambitions, but for a woman to ascend the throne is simply a pipe dream.”
Huangfu Su put the teacup aside. "Who exactly said that a woman cannot be an empress? This is nothing but a lie created by men who are afraid that women will take away their power. They use lies to create a cage to trap all ambitious women in it. And your mother, I am capable enough to break this cage."
Huangfu Nanlin looked at Huangfu Su in disbelief, "Mother insists on this?"
Huangfu Su looked at Huangfu Nanlin and laughed, "It seems that this lie can not only deceive women, but also foolish men. Have you ever thought that if I ascend the throne, you will be the crown prince, and everything in Chu will belong to you? Yet you are standing next to that lowly person because of that so-called kinship. What kinship is there in the royal family?"
Huangfu Nanlin clenched his fists and stared directly at Huangfu Su.
"I don't want the position of Crown Prince!"
You say there's no family affection in the royal family, but my ninth brother has always taken care of me since I was a child.
You always leave me to the palace servants; you don't care about my joys and sorrows, or what I think.
After I returned from the State of Jin, my mother didn't even ask me a single question about my injuries.
Why did my mother give birth to me?
Huangfu Su sneered.
"You have lived a life of luxury since childhood, with food, clothing and daily necessities that even princes cannot match."
The great Confucian scholar who enlightened you was invited by me three times and recruited nine times. The martial arts master who taught you was also hired by me at a high price. Even your playmates were carefully selected by me.
Could Huangfu Nanfeng do these things for you?
He only said a few nice words and you regarded him as a confidant; he had a few heart-to-heart talks with you and you disregarded your life.
I did not agree to your going to the State of Jin, but you were injured because of others, and in the end you blamed your mother.
"Lin'er, this is not what your mother taught you."
Huangfu Nanlin was at a loss for words for a moment. After a long while, he finally spoke, "Mother, can't you really make peace with Ninth Brother? Even for my sake?"
Huangfu Su's face had already adopted a calm expression.
"I never restrict your freedom because you are an independent person."
What I do for you is also my responsibility as a mother.
I did all of this willingly, so I don't ask for anything in return.
But you must understand, I am your only mother, but you will not be my only child.
Huangfu Su said with a hint of sarcasm, "If you hadn't come from my womb, do you think you would have the right to call him Ninth Brother?"
Huangfu Nanlin took a deep breath. "Ninth Brother isn't that kind of person."
Huangfu Su looked at him and said, “Since you have come to my door today, I will tell you clearly that I want that supreme position. So I will fight that wolf cub to the death. Go back and tell Huangfu Nanfeng that no one can stand in my way.”
Huangfu Nanlin roared, "Is that position really that important to you? You'd even give up your son for it!"
Huangfu Su stood up. “If you obediently return to the manor, you will naturally still be my son and the future heir of the Chu Kingdom. If you insist on standing by Huangfu Nanfeng’s side, then you will be my mortal enemy.”
After she finished speaking, she turned and left, saying to the palace servant beside her, "Since the young master doesn't like his status, then revoke all his privileges and see if his good ninth brother will still care for him when he has nothing."
Huangfu Nanlin looked at his mother's resolute back with some disbelief.
After a long while, he lifted his foot and left the princess's residence.
Sitting in his wheelchair, Huangfu Nanfeng was not at all surprised to hear the intelligence report from the Princess's residence.
His aunt was a complete schemer.
Supporting his third brother as crown prince was nothing more than an attempt to manipulate a puppet.
It was because of her that he suffered a loss and was captured alive and taken to the State of Jin.
The injury on my ankle is still throbbing.
He had received a message from a spy he had planted in the State of Jin.
Qin Jinzhi has now shown her true colors.
After years of dormancy, it soars to new heights in a single day.
He had a smile on his face; it seemed he was about to quicken his pace.
Once the Jin court is reorganized, that will be the day Qin Jinzhi takes action.
Both men knew that the State of Chu was eyeing them covetously, and the State of Jin was not far behind.
Even if he doesn't take action, Qin Jinzhi will definitely find an opportunity to devour the State of Chu.
War between the two countries is bound to break out again.
After all, what the two of them were after was not just a piece of fat meat.
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