In that instant, countless thoughts surged through the mind of the young Prince Chen Longxiang, the third Prince of Jin.
Given his status as the younger brother of the current emperor Chen Huai'an and the first prince of the Tang Dynasty, Chen Longxiang instinctively wanted to reject Su Wan'er's suggestion.
Despite the fact that deep down he had developed a different kind of emotional dependence on the beautiful, gentle, and understanding woman in front of him;
However, Chen Longxiang could never bring himself to do it, even if it meant disgracing his elder brother and bringing shame upon the Tang Dynasty for Su Wan'er's sake.
However, before Chen Longxiang, whose expression was serious, could refuse, Su Wan'er continued to whisper sweet nothings in his ear, as if she hadn't noticed the change in his expression.
With eyes full of tenderness and a look of longing and anticipation, Su Wan'er continued, "Your Highness, think about it. This Xiao Lingwu was originally a vassal king of the Tang Dynasty, appointed by the Emperor, and the Goguryeo Peninsula is his fiefdom."
"His Majesty now possesses the vast empire of the Tang Dynasty. As His Majesty's younger brother and the first prince of the Tang Dynasty, it is in accordance with custom and propriety for you to be responsible for guarding the Goguryeo Peninsula on His Majesty's behalf."
After a pause, Su Wan'er continued, "Furthermore, if Your Highness could offer to go to Goguryeo to assist Xiao Lingwu, it would be a way to relieve the Emperor's worries."
"Otherwise, after the war with Goguryeo is over and the prince returns to the capital in triumph, the emperor probably won't know how to reward him."
"We can't just bestow Dragon City upon the prince as his fiefdom, can we? That's the place where the emperor rose to power!"
Su Wan'er, having served as Empress Dowager for a few days, spoke eloquently to Chen Longxiang: "Your Highness, you are still young and lack experience, but you should understand the saying 'serving a ruler is like serving a tiger';"
"Even among brothers born of the same mother, how many examples throughout history have there been of brothers turning against each other and killing each other over the throne?"
"I--"
Upon hearing this, Chen Longxiang could no longer sit still. Just as he was about to refute Su Wan'er, she pressed a finger to his lips.
Su Wan'er said, "Your Highness, I know what you want to say: Your Highness and the Emperor are as close as brothers, their bond stronger than steel; there is absolutely no possibility of brothers turning against each other or killing one another."
"but--"
Suddenly, Su Wan'er changed the subject, her tone becoming sharp, and said, "Does Your Highness know that your bravery on the battlefield is in no way inferior to that of the Emperor?"
"Looking at all the founding heroes and fierce generals of the entire Tang Dynasty, probably no one could gain the upper hand against the prince's pair of golden hammers."
That's true—
Chen Longxiang was quite confident about this.
Looking at all the military generals in the entire Tang Dynasty, if we only consider their martial prowess, none of the six dukes, eighteen marquises, and thirty-six earls who founded the Tang Dynasty could match Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin.
Even if they all attacked Chen Longxiang together, he wouldn't be afraid; the advantage still lies with him!
At this moment, a terrible thought uncontrollably surged into Chen Longxiang's mind—that is, if he were to face his elder brother Chen Huai'an on the battlefield, what chance would he have of winning?
It's hard to say for sure, but Chen Longxiang still has a 50/50 chance of winning.
Su Wan'er was still analyzing when she said, "Your Highness, these are things that a woman like me shouldn't be discussing in front of you, but for the sake of the little prince in my belly, I have no choice but to speak."
"If I don't tell Your Highness about these things, I'm afraid no one else will."
"The prince's bravery and strength are no less than that of the current emperor. He has also honed his skills and grown stronger in the battles on the Goguryeo Peninsula. All the frontline soldiers in the army admire the prince to the skies."
Su Wan'er said, "For an emperor, the most taboo thing is for military generals in the court to hold power and become arrogant, even if that person is his own brother."
As the saying goes, "How can one allow others to sleep beside one's bed?"
"Although both Your Highness and I know very well that Your Highness would never commit such a treasonous act as using troops to rebel,"
"However, the civil and military officials in the court may not think the same way, and neither Your Highness nor I know what the Emperor is thinking..."
Su Wan'er was preoccupied with analyzing how Prince Jin, Chen Longxiang, would handle his relationship with the current emperor in the future, completely unaware that the expression on Chen Longxiang's still-childish face had become increasingly solemn and serious.
Clearly, under Su Wan'er's "patient guidance," Chen Longxiang, who was not very mature to begin with, began to follow the line of thought proposed by Su Wan'er.
yes!
Throughout history, the greatest taboo for emperors is having their generals become too powerful. My own father, Emperor Chen Polu, was suspected by the tyrannical Zhao Gan of the previous dynasty. Even though he had voluntarily relinquished the military power of the Polu Army, he still couldn't escape being given a cup of poisoned wine and ultimately dying far from home.
Even if we assume that the emperor has no intention of harming his own brother, it is still hard to guarantee that after the emperor passes away, his successor will not kill his uncle.
Unless, of course, he could die before his elder brother, Chen Huai'an.
But how can matters of life and death be determined by an individual's willpower?
Gradually, Chen Longxiang's way of thinking was being led by Su Wan'er.
Su Wan'er continued, "Your Highness, it's not that I'm trying to sow discord between you and the Emperor. The truth is, as a royal family, whether you like it or not, you have to face this cruel problem."
"Of course—"
Su Wan'er then changed the subject again, her eyes filled with a smile, and said, "If Your Highness were to return to the capital this time to meet the Emperor and offer to go to the Goguryeo Peninsula to guard the border vassal state for the Emperor and the Tang Dynasty, this problem would be easily solved."
"Your Highness, think about it. The Goguryeo Peninsula was never part of the legitimate territory of the Central Plains dynasties. Throughout history, it has always been a vassal state of the Central Plains dynasties, acting as both a suzerain and a tributary state."
"Furthermore, if Your Highness can guard the Goguryeo Peninsula, you will naturally be far removed from the intrigues and power struggles of the court, and thus less likely to attract the attention and suspicion of others;"
"Furthermore, little Lingwu has been enamored with the Prince since childhood. Although the Prince is said to be assisting little Lingwu in governing Goguryeo for the Tang Dynasty, in reality, the Prince is still the de facto ruler of the entire Goguryeo peninsula."
"This move will not only allow the prince to escape the infighting in the Central Plains dynasty's court, but also give him his own small fiefdom, and allow our family of three to live happily on the Goguryeo Peninsula."
"Your Highness, whatever your reasons, I humbly beg you to consider my suggestion!"
After saying that, Su Wan'er actually knelt down in front of Chen Longxiang. Her pitiful and endearing appearance made people feel a strong urge to protect her.
Chen Longxiang, a hot-blooded young man lacking experience and maturity, was easily swayed by Su Wan'er's barrage of sweet talk and impulsively agreed to her request.
Chen Longxiang patted his chest and said, "Wan'er, hearing your words is worth more than ten years of study."
"Therefore, it seems that my remaining in Goguryeo is the best choice, whether for my family of three, my elder brother, or the Tang Dynasty."
"I have made up my mind. During my return to the capital to meet the Emperor, I will definitely find an opportunity to report to him and have him issue an edict to recall the Duke of Han, the Duke of Qin, and the Duke of Ding back to the court. As for the Goguryeo Dynasty's King Baozang and his remnants who are entrenched in Afeihu Ridge, I alone can wipe them out."
"If, if my elder brother does not agree to my request, then I will bring my mother with me to plead with him. My mother loves me the most."
"I believe that out of respect for the Empress Dowager, my brother will agree to my request!"
"only--"
After a pause, Chen Longxiang finally couldn't hold back any longer and told Su Wan'er everything about how Chen Qingzhi, the Duke of Han, had sought him out alone that day.
Chen Longxiang continued, "Before that, we need to deal with the affairs in Goguryeo, and also, the matter of the child in her womb."
Um?
Upon hearing this, Su Wan'er frowned slightly and asked with a puzzled look, "Your Highness, what does the child have to do with the baby in my belly? Could it be that you mean...?"
Su Wan'er hesitated, then instinctively covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes filled with terror as she said, "Your Highness, you mean the Duke of Han... he found out—"
As she spoke, Su Wan'er pointed to her protruding belly, her eyes revealing fear.
Um!
Chen Longxiang nodded and said, "Not only the Duke of Han, but also the Duke of Qin, the Duke of Ding, and even the Tang generals stationed in the Goryeo capital should all know."
"However, out of fear of me, they all chose to turn a blind eye, until today when the Duke of Han personally tore through this veil!"
Su Wan'er asked anxiously, "Then, what did the Duke of Han say?"
Eh—
Chen Longxiang sighed, but he couldn't bring himself to say the words of warning Chen Qingzhi, the Duke of Han.
However, how could the exceptionally intelligent Su Wan'er not know what Chen Longxiang's sigh meant?
In her mind, the image of the current emperor Chen Huai'an personally announcing in front of the three armies outside the Daxin naval camp in Jiangyin that Empress Dowager Su Wan'er and the young emperor Zhao Lingwu of the Daxin Dynasty had committed suicide by drowning themselves in the river today would inevitably surface.
Then, he turned to himself and said: "I will never allow my mother and son to set foot on the Central Plains Dynasty again in this lifetime."
In an instant, a bone-chilling cold swept through Su Wan'er's entire body.
He thought he had covered his tracks perfectly with Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin, and that no one knew about it.
Who would have thought that it was already common knowledge?
If the news that she was pregnant with the child of Chen Longxiang, the elder brother of the current emperor Chen Huai'an and the first prince of the Tang Dynasty, reached the ears of Emperor Zhaowu of Tang, Chen Huai'an, what consequences would it cause?
Su Wan'er dared not think about it, nor did she dare to even consider that possibility.
The next moment, she suddenly burst into tears, sobbing, "Waaah, Your Highness, Your Highness, you must think of a way to save the child in my womb!"
"Your Highness, the child in your womb is innocent; he is also your flesh and blood!"
Waaaaah!
Once Su Wan'er started crying, she couldn't stop.
Even her cries woke up King Jo Yeong-mu of Goryeo, who was already fast asleep in the inner palace.
Young Zhao Lingwu, while wailing, rolled off the bed, went straight to the outer hall, rubbed his eyes, and cried out for his mother.
In an instant, the hall was filled with weeping, which made Chen Longxiang, who was already restless, even more agitated.
Suddenly, as he looked at Zhao Lingwu, who was hiding in Su Wan'er's arms and crying, a thought flashed through his mind—what if he took Su Wan'er, who was pregnant with his child, back to the capital with him and told his brother and mother that Su Wan'er was pregnant?
Then, will the Empress Dowager and the Emperor make an exception online for the sake of the child in her womb?
Chen Longxiang then remembered that the eunuch who came to deliver the imperial decree had said that the Empress and the Imperial Concubine had both given birth to princes for the Emperor.
Surely, my elder brother, who has just become a father, can understand my feelings now!
Thinking of this, Chen Longxiang immediately said to Su Wan'er, who was crying her eyes out, "Wan'er, don't cry. I've already thought of a way. Not only can we protect the child in your womb, but we can also allow you to be with me openly and legitimately in the future."
As he spoke, Chen Longxiang said, word by word, "I have decided that this time when I return to the capital, I will take you with me to meet my elder brother and mother."
"I'm sure they'll grant our wish for the baby in your belly, and that we can be a family of three!"
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