He adopted many sons and bestowed upon them the imperial surname.
If Xiao Bin were given the imperial surname, people would only think that he had taken in another adopted son, and it wouldn't attract any attention.
Doing this is simply giving Xiao Bin a chance to clear his name.
Su Wanwan was taken aback for a moment, "You decide for yourself."
Xiao Bin may not have the riches and honors of a prince, but he still has his own freedom.
The fleet she gave him was enough for him to live a life of extraordinary wealth.
But people need to pursue something beyond wealth.
Letting Xiao Bin realize his dream is the greatest respect we can show him.
...
Yan Ge'er went to study in the inner study hall as usual.
The old scholar's drawn-out, melodious voice seemed to possess a hypnotic power.
Yan Ge'er sat upright behind the desk, his little hands on his knees, his back straight, and his eyes were fixed on the open pages of the book.
However, those words, "rites are the order of heaven and earth," were like a swarm of buzzing insects, unable to penetrate his mind.
His mind and eyes were filled with the vast and boundless frontier and the battlefields of war.
When the bell finally rang to signal the end of the lecture, Yan Ge'er was almost the first to pack up his pen and ink.
Instead of playing around with his usual group of familiar eunuchs, he slipped away like a slippery little fish, taking advantage of the crowd and quickly slipped out of the Inner Study's courtyard.
The palace was vast and deep, with numerous halls and pavilions.
Guided by his memory, Yan Ge'er headed toward the inner library in the northwest corner.
The closer you get to the library area, the fewer people you see.
Yan Ge'er's heart was beating faster for no reason, and he quickened his pace.
The heavy, vermilion-lacquered gate was ajar, the interior dimly lit and exuding a unique, tranquil scent of aged paper and camphor wood. Yan Ge'er stood at the doorway, took a deep breath to bolster his courage, and stepped inside.
The interior space is extremely high and spacious.
Rows of enormous, floor-to-ceiling rosewood bookshelves stand like silent giants, densely packed with all kinds of books and scrolls.
The light shone through the plain silk covering the high window, turning into hazy beams of light, within which countless tiny dust particles floated.
An almost sacred stillness filled the air, with only the faint rustling sound of his soft-soled cloth shoes on the smooth, mirror-like gold brick floor.
Yan Ge'er tilted his little face up, trying hard to make out the category labels on the side of the bookshelf.
"Geography...Geography...Illustrations..."
He muttered to himself, tiptoed, and walked among the towering bookshelves.
The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only his own breathing and heartbeat amplified.
The shadows cast by those huge bookshelves seemed to carry some kind of invisible pressure.
He turned a corner and entered a deeper, more secluded aisle lined with bookshelves.
The light grew dimmer, making it almost impossible to see anything clearly.
Just then, an extremely faint scent, which should absolutely not be present here, entered his nostrils.
It's faint, a little pungent, like... burnt wood? And... cotton cloth?
Yan Ge'er's heart skipped a beat, and he stopped in his tracks.
He pricked up his ears alertly, trying to discern the details carefully.
The smell seemed to be wafting from deep within the library.
And it's getting stronger and stronger!
A chill instantly shot up my spine from the soles of my feet!
He turned around abruptly, intending to retreat the way he came!
Too late!
Almost at the same instant he turned around, a ball of crimson flame suddenly burst forth from the shadows not far ahead with a whoosh!
The flames, like a greedy venomous snake, instantly licked at the mountain of old books and the hanging curtains beside it!
The flames spread wildly upwards, crackling and popping, and thick smoke billowed out, carrying a suffocating smell of burning, instantly filling the narrow passage!
The heat wave hit him, scorching his skin!
"Fire...fire!"
Yan Ge'er screamed in terror, his childish voice sounding incredibly sharp and insignificant in the empty library.
Overwhelmed by fear, he instinctively tried to run towards the front door.
However.
The door, which was just a little ajar, is now closed.
Yan Ge'er tried to open the door, but found that it was locked from the outside!
The fireworks behind him grew larger and larger, the thick smoke filling the air and choking him, causing tears and snot to stream down his face.
"Help! Fire!"
"Help!"
Yan Ge'er cried out for help.
The two eunuchs who had been following him had disappeared without a trace.
Even the most naive Yan Ge'er knew he had fallen into a trap.
Perhaps someone is secretly plotting to lure him here!
My poor father and mother, how heartbroken they would be if they lost me.
Yan Ge'er did not let himself succumb to fear and despair. He looked around for a window, hoping to find a place to get out.
It's winter, and the windows of the library are sealed shut?!
Yan Ge'er's heart sank lower and lower.
He pulled out a small dagger hidden in his boot, kicked the window hard, and then used the dagger to pry open the window frame.
The smoke inside the room grew thicker and thicker.
His throat hurts so much.
Fortunately, windows are much thinner and lighter than doors, and he finally managed to break through one and jump out.
"Who is it!" A deep, sharp shout rang out like thunder in the distance!
Yan Ge wiped his eyes, which were red from the smoke, and tried his best to make out the details.
She vaguely recognized the man's face and burst into tears: "Zhang Daban!"
The visitor was Zhang Yong, a former eunuch of the Imperial Household Department who had been laid off.
Zhang Yong carried Yan Ge'er and strode out of the library courtyard.
The young eunuch, who had been hiding somewhere, finally shouted at the top of his lungs, "Fire! Fire!"
People came one after another carrying basins of water to put out the fire.
Zhang Yong took Yan Ge'er directly to Qingning Palace.
Su Wanwan swayed when she saw Yan Ge'er covered in soot.
Is this the price she paid for wanting to make Yan Ge'er the prince?
The imperial physician arrived quickly, helped Yan Ge'er clear the soot from his mouth and nose, and prescribed some medicine.
Yan Ge'er's eyes were swollen like peaches, and his voice was completely hoarse. When he saw his mother, he wanted to cry, but he couldn't make a sound.
He didn't even know who his enemy was or why he would harm him.
Lu Xingjian also arrived quickly and frowned slightly when he saw Zhang Yong waiting in the courtyard.
This whole thing is eerie from beginning to end.
If Yan Ge'er dies in the fire, who will benefit?
Empress Dowager and Empress Zhang?
They probably didn't have that motive.
Su Wanwan was much calmer than he had imagined and did not break down.
There's a sense of maternal strength in her.
Her eyes were red. "It seems there's too much strife in the palace, and danger is impossible to guard against."
Lu Xingjian pursed his lips, his face dark, his eyes sharp as a hawk's.
He only had this one son.
By killing Yan Ge'er, they are certain that he will never have another son.
For the rest of the time, Yan Ge'er recuperated in Qingning Palace and did not go to the Inner Study Hall again.
Originally, going to the Inner Study Hall was just a temporary measure; the plan was to stop letting Yan Ge'er go once he got tired of it.
Unexpectedly, someone was so eager to make a move.
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