Chapter 73 Long Live Your Majesty 9 The Land is So Beautiful
Chunhong said that Liu Yizhou came to see her, but Qi Min still seemed uninterested.
"Let him wait outside. I will go see him later."
Upon hearing this, Chunhong lowered her head and responded before getting up and leaving.
Qi Min was left alone in the palace again. She leaned against the chaise longue, recalling what had happened three days ago.
Qi Min recalled the events of three days ago when her father summoned her to the palace.
At that time, she had just learned that Crown Prince Qi Zhen had been deposed, but for Qi Min, this had nothing to do with her.
Anyway, she has no chance of inheriting the throne. Even if the crown prince is deposed, it won't be her turn. Besides, the crown prince and she don't have a good relationship. There isn't much affection between them as siblings. Whether he is deposed or continues to be the crown prince, it has nothing to do with her.
However, the Crown Prince's deposition was a major event, and since Qi Zhen knew about it, he couldn't pretend not to know. After being summoned to the palace, he made a token plea for Qi Zhen's life.
However, after chatting with her for a long time, Qi Wang suddenly asked her if she would like to become the crown prince.
"Taiping, I intend to make you the crown prince. I wonder if you are willing?"
These words were like a bolt from the blue, leaving Qi Min dizzy and disoriented. She was so frightened that her legs went weak and she almost fell to the ground.
No, she's going to be the crown prince? Then she'll be the emperor in the future?
After the initial shock, Qi Min calmed down and stammered, "But Father, I am a girl, how can I be the Crown Prince?"
Qi Wang looked at her and said, "So what? No one says that the crown prince can't be a princess."
"But……"
Qi Min always felt that her father might have been so angry with Qi Zhen for making such a big mistake that he had lost his mind. Otherwise, why would he say something as absurd as making her the crown prince?
She was just a princess, and her mother was just a concubine. Her mother's family was only considered decent, not a powerful clan that had lasted for several dynasties. What merit did she have to become the first and only female crown prince in history?
Qi Min was only sixteen years old. Her appearance was six or seven parts similar to that of Consort Ren. Consort Ren came from a military family, and Qi Min inherited Consort Ren's heroic spirit. She was tall and slender, and although her appearance was not as delicate as her other older sisters, she had her own unique beauty.
Now that she has learned that Qi Wang intends to make her the crown prince, Qi Min is somewhat flustered, but she has not lost her composure. However, she does not seem to believe that this windfall is real.
Looking at Qi Min's expression, Qi Wang knew that she had already made a decision.
In the original storyline, Qi Min successfully married Liu Yizhou, but Liu Yizhou remained indifferent to her. Qi Min had been pursuing Liu Yizhou and trying every means to elevate him to a high position.
However, Liu Yizhou did not reciprocate the feelings that Qi Min wanted.
When Qi Zhen rebelled, Qi Min led her troops into the palace to try to save the original owner of the body, but she had far too few troops and was no match for Qi Zhen.
Even so, Qi Min still rushed into the main hall where the original owner was, but before she could say a word to her father, the emperor, she was killed by Qi Zhen.
Qi Wang thought Qi Min was a very outstanding woman. She might be a bit love-struck and unable to see Liu Yizhou's true colors, but that wasn't a big mistake.
Who hasn't been young and impetuous? What's wrong with liking handsome men? She's a princess, can't she even like handsome men?
The reason Qi Wang chose Qi Min as the crown prince was because he valued her abilities.
Qi Min is a rough gem; once polished, she will surely shine with her own brilliance.
After Qi Wang asked Qi Min if she wanted to be the crown prince, Qi Min went from initial shock to panic, and finally, although she was in a daze, she still tremblingly said that she was willing. At that moment, Qi Wang knew that he had not chosen the wrong person.
"Go back and think it over carefully. After a while, the decree to make you the crown prince will be issued."
Do you want to be the crown prince?
Even though three days had passed, Qi Min still felt like she was in a dream when she recalled what happened in her father's study.
The Crown Prince.
That's the Crown Prince, second only to the Emperor. After her father passes away, she'll be able to ascend the throne as Empress!
She will be the first female emperor, not a regent princess, not a regent empress, not a regent empress dowager, not anyone who oversteps her bounds and uses the status of another man's subordinate to touch the center of power, but the first person to truly touch power in her own right.
The Crown Prince...
Qi Min didn't think Qi Wang was joking with her.
After all, a king's word is law, and she didn't believe her father would deceive her.
Moreover, her father had issued an imperial decree to make her mother empress.
Although Qi Min had never really been involved in any political affairs, she still possessed the most basic political literacy.
Nearly twenty years have passed since the late empress passed away, yet the emperor has never issued an edict to establish an empress. Now, after telling her that he would make her the crown prince, he immediately wants to make her mother the empress.
This is to give her the status of a legitimate daughter. Once her mother officially becomes empress, the decree to make her crown prince should be issued soon.
Thinking of this, Qi Min suddenly realized something.
"Chunhong? Chunhong!"
She called out a couple of times, and Chunhong quickly came in from outside the door.
"Your Highness, what are your orders?"
Qi Min sat up and said, "Help me dress up. I want to see Liu Yizhou."
Chunhong bowed and then called Liulu and Taoqing in. The three of them helped Qimin with her makeup and hair.
No one knew better than Princess Qi Min how good power was.
Despite being a princess and enjoying the patronage of the entire nation, her treatment was actually far inferior to that of the deposed Crown Prince Qi Zhen.
The combined treatment she received with her four older sisters was barely comparable to that of the deposed Crown Prince Qi Zhen.
Qi Min had thought about it when she was young. It was a pity that she was not born a boy. Otherwise, she could have competed for the position of crown prince. Even if she could not become crown prince, being a prince would be much better than being a princess.
No one said anything when a prince had three or four concubines; they would openly pursue beauties and be praised for their dashing and romantic nature.
On the other hand, look at her.
She was clearly a princess, a golden branch and jade leaf, but because she openly showed affection for Liu Yizhou and pursued him in a grand manner, she was the subject of unspeakable rumors.
Oh.
Qi Min glanced at the elegant and graceful woman in the mirror, and the corners of his mouth curled up.
She used to really like Liu Yizhou, but things are different now.
She's destined to be the crown prince. If she becomes the crown prince, what kind of handsome man can't she find?
There are plenty of handsome men throwing themselves at her, willing to enter her harem as her male concubines. What is a mere Liu Yizhou compared to that?
However, Qi Min had indeed been somewhat sincere towards Liu Yizhou, and even if she were to separate from him, she would make it clear and explicit.
That way, she won't become the crown prince and Liu Yizhou won't come out and say bad things about her again.
What he says doesn't matter, but it would be bad if it ruined her wise and powerful image.
After all, this is her first time being crown prince, and she is also the first female crown prince in history. She should at least leave some good reputation behind.
Qi Min put the last gold hairpin in her hair, smoothed her loose hair, and stood up with Chun Hong's help.
"I'm going to see that upright and incorruptible Lord Liu."
Liu Yizhou was in a bad mood.
If it weren't for Yan'er, to prevent her from continuing to suffer in the prison, why would he have condescended to see Qi Min?
The thought of Qi Min relentlessly pursuing him made Liu Yizhou feel nauseous.
Now that he has come to his door in person, Liu Yizhou imagines that Qi Min will be eager to see him and, as usual, try to tempt him with gold, silver, or other worldly possessions, or with promises of promotion and titles.
Liu Yizhou despised Qi Min. He had studied diligently for ten years and finally became the top scholar in the imperial examination. He wanted to establish himself in the officialdom based on his own abilities.
But then he encountered the tribulation that was destined for him.
He actually managed to catch the eye of the Fifth Princess, Qi Min.
Qi Min's pursuit of him caused Liu Yizhou a lot of trouble. Everyone who knew him would say sourly that he had gotten close to the Fifth Princess and his future official career would definitely be smooth sailing.
Liu Yizhou wanted to explain, but those people looked at him with an expression that said, "You don't need to explain, we all understand."
Liu Yizhou knew he was finished.
After he caught the eye of the Fifth Princess, all his future achievements would be tied to her. No matter what he did, everyone would say that it was all thanks to the Fifth Princess.
Therefore, Liu Yizhou loathed Qi Min to the extreme. The more passionately she pursued him, the more disgusted he became. He felt nauseous every moment he spent with her.
However, Ye Chaoyu said that Yan'er's days in the prison were very difficult.
"Although that matter was not her wish, she was eventually involved. The deposed Crown Prince Qi Zhen still has a chance to get out, but as a victim, even if everything has nothing to do with her, she will never be able to leave the prison."
“Liu Yizhou, if you truly love Yan’er, then go and beg the Fifth Princess. No matter what method you use, as long as you can rescue Yan’er, it will all be worth it.”
For Pei Yan's sake, Liu Yizhou could only suppress his immense humiliation and went to the Fifth Princess's residence alone.
Ironically, the people who used to fawn over him are now hiding in their rooms and refusing to come out.
Liu Yizhou knew that Qi Min was being coy. She was used to such underhanded methods, just to suppress him and make him completely submit to her.
The waiting process was extremely long. Several times, Liu Yizhou wanted to just turn around and leave, but when he thought of Pei Yan, who was still suffering in the prison, he could only endure it.
Finally, the Fifth Princess Qi Min came out. When Liu Yizhou saw the Fifth Princess's smug face, his anger exploded instantly.
He suppressed his anger and said coldly, "Your Highness is quite the magnanimous princess. I have been here for so long, yet Your Highness has kept me waiting for so long. You are truly remarkable."
Qi Min: "..."
She frowned and looked at the tall and elegant Liu Yizhou.
The other person's appearance was exactly to Qi Min's liking; even when he was angry or furious, he was still very handsome.
Normally, upon seeing his angry expression, Qi Min would deliberately tease him to provoke him further, so that he would show that furious look again.
He has a unique charm when he's angry; just looking at him makes you want to pin him down and bully him at will.
However, for some reason, seeing him like this today, Qi Min found him extremely irritating.
Perhaps it was because of a change in her mindset, or perhaps it was because she knew that she was about to become the crown prince, but seeing Liu Yizhou like this, she found him extremely annoying.
"How dare you, Liu Yizhou! Are you questioning me?"
When Chunhong Liulv Taoqing saw Qi Min suddenly launch an attack, she was stunned.
This seems to be the first time Qi Min has treated Liu Yizhou so coldly. Could it be that their Highness's interest in Liu Yizhou has finally waned?
Liu Yizhou was also stunned, seemingly unable to believe what he had just heard.
"What did you say?"
Was she just talking to herself? How dare she speak to him in that tone?
In the past, Qi Min treated Liu Yizhou differently, so even though he came from a poor family, he was arrogant in front of Qi Min and did not show her much respect.
But now Qi Min is actually putting on airs like a princess in front of him, it's ridiculous!
Liu Yizhou looked coldly at Qi Min: "Your Highness, what do you mean by this? Are you going to punish me for this?"
Qi Min's brows slowly furrowed.
"I am the Fifth Princess of the current dynasty. Lord Liu, it's one thing that you didn't bow to me, but you even dared to question me? You have quite the nerve! I've been too lenient with you, making you forget your place!"
Qi Min recalled that when Liu Yizhou met the deposed crown prince, he always bowed respectfully and spoke with proper decorum. It was nothing like when he faced her; he showed no respect or etiquette whatsoever.
Even if Liu Yizhou didn't know that she was about to become the crown prince, her official identity was that of a princess of the current dynasty. How dare Liu Yizhou treat her so disrespectfully?
"Kneel down."
Qi Min didn't say much, but directly reprimanded him.
Seeing their princess's demeanor, Chunhong Liulv Taoqing immediately understood that the princess was about to withdraw the special treatment given to Liu Yizhou, and promptly began to act like a princess herself.
"Lord Liu, didn't you hear what the princess said? Disrespecting the princess is a serious crime. If the princess holds you accountable, can you bear the consequences?"
Liu Yizhou's face alternated between pale and ashen. He glared at Qi Min, gritting his teeth as he said, "Your Highness, do you want me to kneel before you?"
How dare she... How dare she...
Qi Wang witnessed this scene through the water mirror and could guess a bit about Liu Yizhou's mindset.
It's nothing more than the fact that Qi Min gave him too many special treatment in the past, making him forget the difference in their social status. The love Qi Min gave him made him arrogant and infinitely elevate his own status.
Liu Yizhou kept saying that he didn't love Qi Min and was unwilling to accept Qi Min's kindness, but he took advantage of Qi Min's love for him and did many excessive things.
Those who are favored are always fearless.
As for how Qi Min's love-struck mind changed...
Qi Wang merely implanted a mental imprint in her mind, amplifying her status as the crown prince.
As a princess, her desire for power was suppressed by her princess status. Because women were not allowed to participate in politics, she was unable to make any achievements in officialdom. So she settled for second best and chose a prince consort to show her ambition.
Qi Min may have loved Liu Yizhou, but this love was mixed with other things. A large part of the reason for her tolerance of Liu Yizhou was that Qi Min wanted to realize some of her own political ambitions through Liu Yizhou.
She chose Liu Yizhou because he came from a poor family and had no family background. Having him in her hands would allow her to demonstrate some of her ambitions.
But now Qi Wang has given Qi Min another way.
She could be the crown prince.
When power sheds its veneer of warmth and the many obstacles in its path are gone, she will find that she has no need to endure anything.
Power is a tonic, a great tonic. The words "Crown Prince" that kept surfacing in her mind made Qi Min understand the meaning of the word "power" more deeply.
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