Chapter 154: Support him first, then replace him?
But this was exactly what Xiao Yuluan had thought back then. She was the unrivaled princess guarding the country, the apple of the empress's eye, and there were countless men who wanted to be her slaves. How could she care about a Xue Chen?
The Marquis of Zhenbei obviously realized that what Xiao Yuluan said was true. She was indeed a flirtatious woman back then. He gritted his teeth but there was nothing he could do.
But he still couldn't figure out how he, who had just turned thirty, could be connected with Lao Caibangzi. Suddenly, a person appeared in his mind -
"Is it Shen Yushan?"
Shen Yushan is more than ten years younger than him. He deceived him a few days ago, causing him to miss the princess. It is hard not to suspect who was behind this. But he didn't seem to be among the people around the princess at that time. When did he manage to do it in secret?
Hearing him dwell on these past love affairs, Xiao Yuluan sighed deeply, "What does this have to do with him? You're telling me all this, are you trying to pursue me and be with me now?"
She looked Xue Chen up and down, and her old yet wise eyes were now full of helplessness, clearly saying: Is this the right age now?
They were all sixty-year-old grandparents, buried in the dirt up to their shoulders, so why were they still engaging in these things? Romance, love, that was what her little apprentice should be doing at that age, so why was he interfering here?
Unexpectedly, Xue Chen actually nodded and said seriously, "If someone can get married and have children at the age of 65, why can't I..." Seeing Xiao Yuluan's speechless expression, he immediately changed his words and said, "I am willing to marry into the princess's mansion. I don't care about this reputation."
Hearing him say such outrageous words, Xiao Yuluan really wanted to punch him in the head. "Think about it, you, the Marquis of Zhenbei who can command the three armies, marrying me, the Princess of the Nation, have you ever thought about what His Majesty will think?"
Xue Chen said without hesitation: "If we were still young, even forty years old, it would be fine if he became suspicious, but at our age, what else can he think? Princess, are you going to rebel?"
Then Xue Chen saw Xiao Yuluan was suspiciously silent.
Then Xue Chen:...?
Xiao Yuluan remained silent, and even picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip, trying to hide her true intentions.
Xue Chen's eyes widened slowly, he stood up from his chair, and said in a trembling voice, "Princess, you...?"
Xiao Yuluan coughed lightly, put down the teacup and said, "What if I say yes?"
Now it was Xue Chen's turn to remain silent. He thought about the news from the palace last night, sat down next to Xiao Yuluan, and whispered, "When you mentioned to His Majesty yesterday about reinstating the deposed Crown Prince, was that because... you wanted to support him first and then replace him?"
Xiao Yuluan didn't expect that Xue Chen came up with the same excuse as her, so she nodded.
She said this, firstly, to allow these old friends to help her better. After all, there is a difference between helping her and helping Xiao Ji because of her. Secondly, it was also to protect her disciple Qing Wu. She did not want to expose the relationship between her and her disciple for the time being.
Xue Chen was silent for a while, looking carefully at the princess in front of him whom he had not seen for many years. He thought about how much effort she had made to fight for the throne, and how she chose to withdraw because of the love between mother and daughter, and brother and sister.
On the day the decree of succession was issued, he saw the princess with a bent back for the first time. He felt sorry for her and felt sorry for her. Every day after that, he thought about helping her rebel until she became obsessed with studying medicine and left the palace.
Hey, this was clearly something he had been thinking about day and night and pushing for, so why is he so shocked now?
How could he feel that it was unreasonable now? An old horse in the stable still has ambitions to run a thousand miles. This wasn't just a whim of the princess; it was her renewed confidence!
The sixty-three-year-old Zhenbei Marquis seemed to have returned to his youth and strength. He clapped his hands, startling Xiao Yuluan, and then stared at her and said, "I, did it with you, Princess."
He really sounded like a bandit, as if he was going to follow her to rob, but doing this was more dangerous than robbery.
Xiao Yuluan was stunned for a moment, then reminded him, "I am already old. Even if I succeed, I cannot guarantee the survival of your Xue family for a hundred years."
Xue Chen waved his hand and said, "I have no descendants, so how can there be a hundred years of Xue family history?"
Xiao Yuluan added, "Even if you succeed, you'll only be a Duke at best. It's not worth the risk."
She trusted Xue Chen's character and felt that even if it failed, he would not tell anyone about her rebellion, but she also did not expect that he would take the initiative to help her.
"It's worth it, it's worth it. Even if it wasn't for you, I would have been unhappy with Xiao Yuancheng for a long time."
When mentioning him, a hint of sarcasm appeared on the face of the Marquis of Zhenbei. He followed his father to the battlefield when he was young, and fought in various battles big and small in his life, and made great contributions. However, before he turned fifty, he was imprisoned in the capital and was no longer called upon to fight. It has been more than fifteen years now.
These years have not been peaceful all the time. There have been no major wars, but small wars have occurred from time to time, especially in the border areas. Xue Chen once asked to be stationed at the border. As long as he was there, those people would not dare to invade, which would save a lot of financial and material resources. However, Xiao Yuancheng was afraid that he would become powerful with his own troops, so he refused every time. This trapped a general in a prosperous place, making him not be valued and his reputation gradually faded.
During the recent border riot, no one would rather send the King of England, a prince who had never been to the battlefield, and an unknown general to fight, and no one mentioned him, the Marquis of Zhenbei.
How could Xue Chen not feel resentful?
He had long thought that if any prince rebelled, he would not intervene. Whoever wanted to save the emperor could do so. He was just the old and frail Marquis of Zhenbei. But if Xiao Yuluan wanted to rebel... then again.
Xue Chen raised his hands and feet in agreement.
Lian Po is old, can he still eat?
Xue Chen replied: Although I am old, I can eat, sleep, and carry a sword and mount a horse!
The most important thing is that if the princess becomes the queen, then no one will dare to say anything since he will be the queen's close minister.
Xiao Yuluan was stunned for a moment and couldn't help sighing. She thought it would be somewhat difficult to summon her old subordinates, but why should she summon them now?
The court seemed peaceful on the surface, but the situation inside had already reached such a state. It was obvious that Xiao Yuancheng had caused the people to lose their morale over the years. Even if she did not take action, chaos would probably be imminent.
"In that case, you should help my nephew secure his position as prince. We will lie low for a while. You should go back quickly to avoid the emperor's suspicion."
Having a target in mind, Xue Chen stopped pestering Shen Yushan and saw him right after he left the princess's residence.
"Oh, the Minister of Chancellery is here too?"
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