Chapter 139
Shen Jin and several children lived comfortably in the Chu Yuan Zhao Mansion, but things were not peaceful outside. In the capital, Shen Zhi had not yet ascended the throne but had already become anxious and worried. The Prince of Ying's people had not found any news about him yet, but the Prince of Ying's wife knew where he was going. Although the Prince of Ying asked her to keep it a secret, under the current circumstances, she had to tell the Prince of Ying's former confidants. But when the third person knew about it, it was no longer a secret. The Prince of Ying went to see Chu Xiuming, but Chu Xiuming was alive in the border town. The Prince of Ying and the people he brought with him disappeared. It was easy to imagine what had happened, and these people no longer had any scruples.
Before the court and Chu Xiuming's men took action against the remnants of the Prince of Ying, chaos had already broken out over there. At first, some people secretly defected to Fujian or the court, but later they had no such concerns at all and left openly, taking with them a lot of the Prince of Ying's remaining food and grass. In addition, they started a civil strife, and someone pushed Xue Qiao's son out, wanting him to inherit. In fact, in the final analysis, they just wanted to choose someone who was easier to control, but who knew that just after that person was pushed out, Xue Qiao and her son died tragically in the house the next day.
Not only Xue Qiao, even the Prince of England's wife did not survive. A huge fire set fire to the Prince of England's mansion, and both the mistress and the servants in the mansion were locked in the house and burned to death. All the valuable things in the mansion were looted.
The court began to argue again. Some proposed to send troops to quell the chaos, some said to be wary of the lineage of King Rui of Minzhong, and Duke Cheng'en advocated dealing with Chu Xiuming. The prime minister still did not speak, as if he was just a decoration. However, many people in the court had secretly sided with Chu Xiuming, especially after knowing Chu Xiuyuan's identity. How could they let Duke Cheng'en succeed, even if he was the father of the current queen.
The most important point is that the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Personnel and even the Imperial Observatory were tacitly delaying Shen Zhi's ascension to the throne. After all, in the eyes of the people of the world, those who ascended the throne were the legitimate emperor, and those who did not ascend the throne were just a prince.
Shen Jin often asked others to take the three children out, but she herself never stepped out of the Zhao Mansion. After all, her identity was embarrassing, so she was prepared for the worst. However, the three children did not matter to her because no one recognized them and they were just said to be the children of the Zhao Mansion's relatives.
Even so, Shen Jin also knew the news outside. Aunt Zhao and the others often told her everything. Shen Jin poked Nan Nan's belly, nodded and said, "Oh, that means there will be chaos."
Aunt Zhao responded, "Yes."
Shen Jin sighed slowly. She had never seen the Crown Prince of England's wife, nor had she seen the Crown Prince of England's concubines. She had only seen Xue Qiao, who was really a very beautiful person. Now they were all dead. Shen Jin felt a little disappointed. In the final analysis, they were wrong to marry the Crown Prince of England. Some of them were not even willing, but were sent as gifts or something else. Were they happy? Shen Jin didn't know. Just like her mother, she didn't have any right to choose at the beginning and was directly carried into the Ruiwang Mansion.
Madam Zhao lowered her eyes slightly and said, "Madam is too soft-hearted."
Shen Jin turned to look at Aunt Zhao, smiled and said, "No, I just feel that things in the world are unpredictable."
Zhao Mama sighed slowly and said nothing more. Shen Jin didn't say anything either. In fact, she felt that if marrying the prince of England was their own choice, then the current situation was just as it should be. However, many people don't have the right to choose, just like her at the beginning. If Chu Xiuming was really as rumored, she would have no other choice. Escape? Refuse the marriage?
Shen Jin had never been so naive. She couldn't lift anything with her hands or shoulders, and she couldn't even make a fire or cook. Where could she run to? And how long could she run? Refusing marriage? She had no right to do so.
Thanks to God's mercy, she met Chu Xiuming. Shen Jin sometimes felt that the luckiest thing in her life was marrying Chu Xiuming.
No matter whether those people died unfortunately or deservedly, it has nothing to do with Shen Jin anymore. "In the future, whether it's Dongdong or Nannan, I hope they can marry the people they like." Although it's all the parents' orders and the matchmaker's words, Shen Jin still wants the children to have their own choices, because they have such rights, and both Chu Xiuming and she can do this for the children.
Shen Jin looked at the children with soft eyes and reached out to pinch Xixi's small hand, "And I like them to meet someone who is devoted to them." She didn't like Nan Nan spending most of her time managing the other women in the backyard when she grew up, because she deserved the best treatment. Similarly, she did not agree with Dongdong and Xixi having three wives and four concubines. The more women, the better. Shen Jin thought of Princess Rui. If Prince Rui could treat Princess Rui wholeheartedly, Princess Rui would also plan for Prince Rui wholeheartedly, instead of like now.
Nanny Zhao also thought of Princess Rui, "What a pity for Princess Rui."
Shen Jin didn't say anything. Anyway, she would not let her daughter follow in the footsteps of Princess Rui. If her daughter was very smart, she would find someone who could allow her to use her intelligence and talents. If her daughter was very innocent, she would find someone who could protect her and keep her innocent for the rest of her life. Then she could tell her husband about her requirements and let him worry about it.
Thinking of this, Shen Jin was no longer worried. If she couldn't marry well, she could just take her daughter back. Anyway, her husband could afford to support her and they had a backer. After Chu Xiuyuan ascended the throne, these little ones would have an emperor uncle. Thinking of this, Shen Jin felt much better. Nothing could make Shen Jin more satisfied than her children being worry-free in the future. In that case, she could travel around with Chu Xiuming without any burden.
Shen Jin turned her head and looked at Madam Zhao. She wanted to pack up Madam Zhao and take her away, but she didn't know whether Madam Zhao was willing.
In fact, Shen Jin didn't understand that what was important was not whether Nanny Zhao was willing or not, but whether Chu Xiuming was willing to take Nanny Zhao with him.
People in the capital were nervous. Some people who knew about the incident had already arranged for their families to leave, and some even sent their eldest sons to the border town, just to make a good impression on Chu Xiuyuan first. Everyone knew that Emperor Cheng's lineage was doomed, and there was no hope for the Prince of Ying.
On August 25th, Chu Xiuyuan's identity was announced to the world. This time was chosen because it was the death anniversary of the late crown prince.
The affairs of the border town were handed over to Chief Steward Wang and Steward Zhao, with the defense led by General Ling. General Jin followed Chu Xiuming, and General Wu continued to fight the barbarians with his troops so that they had no energy to harass Tianqi. Steward Yu reopened the trade.
Chu Xiuming's army was unstoppable. Emperor Cheng valued civil officials over military officials, and all the officials sent to the local areas were civil officials. Literati were most orthodox in character, and when it came to orthodoxy, Chu Xiuyuan was the real orthodoxy. Coupled with the authentic edict that the Queen Mother gave to Prince Rui, scholars were naturally willing to support Chu Xiuyuan. In addition, the Chu family had a good reputation, and those military generals had been frustrated. With the Chu family's banner, Chu Xiuyuan grew up with Chu Xiuming and had led troops in the border town. For example, those who only knew how to make decisions in the court, whether they admired him in their hearts or for their own plans, all supported Chu Xiuyuan. Even if some stubborn people thought that Chu Xiuyuan should not be like this, they were directly tied up by the others.
Prince Rui also came out and told the truth of that year, proving that the former crown prince was the heir in the late emperor's mind. Emperor Cheng said that the former crown prince was a traitor and all these were slander. Shen Xi also publicly supported Chu Xiuyuan and led his troops to strangle the remaining troops of Prince Ying.
They encountered almost no resistance along the way from the border town to the capital. Even the soldiers who were trained by Emperor Cheng and were loyal to him alone did not resist, because Chu Xiuming and his men had evidence that Emperor Cheng was killed by the Queen.
It only took four months for Chu Xiuming and his companions to reach the capital city. The gate of the capital city was opened by Shi Yu and his companions personally. Chu Xiuyuan had never been to the capital city since he was born. The capital city was very depressed at that time. Even though they knew that Chu Xiuming and his companions would not hurt anyone, these people stayed indoors and did not come out.
Chu Xiuming was on the right side of Chu Xiuyuan, Shi Yu was on his left side, the two of them protected him in the middle, and the Minister of War and the Minister of Rites followed behind after paying their respects. Chu Xiuyuan lowered his eyes slightly and said, "Brother, how do you think the historian will write about this scene?"
"It is the trend of the times." Chu Xiuming glanced at Chu Xiuyuan and said, "This throne should have been yours." Moreover, they had been planning for decades and sacrificed countless people to achieve today's victory. Many people even carried the infamy until their death, all for today and Tianqi's tomorrow.
Chu Xiuyuan pursed his lips and said nothing, but he knew in his heart that if it weren't for what Emperor Cheng did decades ago, the throne would probably not have been his. The former crown prince had three legitimate sons and even more legitimate grandsons, but now he was the only one left, and Emperor Cheng was a confused man, so he took advantage of it.
"Yes." Chu Xiuyuan looked in the direction of the palace. His father had mentioned the palace countless times before his death. In Chu Xiuyuan's mind, there was a vague impression of that place. "Let's go."
The palace gate was open. Princess Ruyang and Princess Zhaoyang knelt at the gate in linen clothes, welcoming Chu Xiuyuan into the palace. When Chu Xiuyuan dismounted, several guards came forward to separate the two princesses. The Queen and Shen Zhi also knew that the situation was hopeless, so they both wore linen clothes and took off their accessories. It's not that they hadn't thought about escaping, but when Chu Xiuyuan was about to arrive in the capital, the Minister of War had already sent people to surround Duke Cheng'en's mansion, and the palace gates and city gates were taken over. They couldn't escape at all, but the Queen and Shen Zhi didn't want to die, so they welcomed him in linen clothes in public.
Chu Xiuyuan glanced at them and then stopped looking. The winner is the king and the loser is the bandit. "I want to go to my grandfather's palace first." He was talking about the former crown prince's palace, the abandoned place.
"Your humble servant will lead the way, Your Highness." Shi Yu said respectfully.
Chu Xiuyuan nodded and said, "Please ask the Queen and others to return to the palace. No one is allowed to disturb them." The implication was to keep the person under guard.
"yes."
Chu Xiuming had not spoken a word since entering the palace, because he knew that Chu Xiuyuan was no longer his brother at this time, but the new emperor of Tianqi.
He has grown up now. Chu Xiuming turned his head and looked in the direction of Chu Yuan outside the palace. From now on, he can be with his wife and children wholeheartedly. He doesn't know if the young lady is waiting anxiously.
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