At this moment, on the large yellow pear wood bed in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Consort Chen, who had just finished a passionate encounter, was resting in the emperor's arms, her delicate face covered with fine sweat.
The ambiguous atmosphere inside the tent had not yet dissipated when the emperor's hands began to wander restlessly again.
Since Consort Chen started using the Snow Skin Cream again, her skin has become incredibly smooth and delicate. The Emperor is so fond of her that he no longer has any designs on Ningyin.
Consort Chen responded to the Emperor's touch, and after another climax, she pressed her cheek against his chest and murmured, "Your Majesty, it's just a pity that I can no longer conceive, otherwise..."
"However, fortunately, Lingzi has many children, which makes me happy."
When the emperor heard Consort Chen mention offspring, his expression, which had been indulging in passion, suddenly turned somewhat displeased. The thought that the Crown Prince's only offspring was that of the traitor Shen Yun made him feel suffocated with anger.
If Xiao Xuan hadn't guarded the Eastern Palace like an iron barrel, he would have sent Ning Yin to the Huguo Temple for a sacrificial ceremony long ago.
Consort Chen tilted her head slightly and pecked the emperor's lips, inwardly sneering.
How could she possibly give up such a good opportunity? After learning that Ning Yin was not carrying Xiao Xuan's child, Consort Chen racked her brains to try and influence the emperor to speak on behalf of her son.
Adding to the fact that the abbot of Huguo Temple said Ningyin was a wicked concubine who brought disaster to the country, she became even more audacious. Presumably, the emperor was also extremely disappointed in Xiao Xuan and wanted to depose Xiao Xuan and make her son the crown prince.
“Your Majesty, the abbot of Huguo Temple has said so. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess are considered unlucky. Look at this Crown Princess, she even dares to tarnish the royal bloodline. She is simply audacious. Unlike Ling'er’s children, they all look extremely like Your Majesty.”
As the emperor listened to Consort Chen's words, each one implying that he wanted him to depose Xiao Xuan, he couldn't help but furrow his brows even deeper. Apart from Xiao Xuan, no one else in the Great Qi Dynasty could hold it up.
This time, his son infiltrated the Chu Kingdom's palace alone, seized the Chu capital's defense map, and pacified the Chu Kingdom without losing a single soldier, which is enough to show Xiao Xuan's strategy and courage.
In contrast, Xiao Ling is utterly useless, simple-minded, and only interested in coveting the throne.
If it weren't for the fact that Consort Chen served him relatively well, he would have long ago stripped Xiao Ling of his title and banished him to the desolate wilderness.
The emperor pinched Consort Chen's cheek with his hand, a little too hard. Consort Chen complained coquettishly, but she met the emperor's cold and dark eyes.
Consort Chen's heart skipped a beat, and the next second she heard the emperor's cold voice.
"You're so impatient! I'm not dead yet!"
“Your Majesty, that’s not what I meant. I was only thinking about the royal bloodline. Besides, the drought is severe and the people are full of complaints. Master Liaoyuan has already said that Your Majesty should not deceive yourself.”
The emperor's face contorted in anger at Consort Chen's words, but there was some truth to them. Just as the emperor was deep in thought, Zhuang Dahai outside suddenly shouted, "His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"
Consort Chen's heart skipped a beat. What was Xiao Xuan doing here in the middle of the night? Did he want to plead for that bitch Ning Yin again?
The emperor remained silent for a moment, then removed Consort Chen from his embrace, got up and put on his clothes. He then said to the door, "Crown Prince, go to the Imperial Study and wait."
After the emperor was dressed and went to the imperial study, Xiao Xuan had already placed both pieces of evidence on his jade desk.
"Father, this is Consort Chen, whom you favor every day. She has done so much in secret. Ha, I'm afraid she really wants to make my son's line end so that her son can ascend the throne."
Xiao Xuan's voice was icy, and every word left the emperor no room for doubt. With such clear evidence, if he were to continue protecting Consort Chen, he would truly appear to be a foolish and tyrannical ruler.
The emperor held the two pieces of paper in his hand, his eyes filled with malice. After a long while, he finally uttered a sentence.
"Your Highness, I have only one question: Is the child in the Crown Princess's womb truly of the royal family?"
"Father, I am not so foolish as to not even know whose child my wife is carrying!"
Xiao Xuan's sinister eyes stared at the emperor, who felt the sudden surge of majesty and oppression sweeping over him. He couldn't help but chuckle to hide his embarrassment.
He's old now, and it's indeed time for him to hand over all the power to Xiao Xuan. As long as the Great Qi's rule is secure, he can retire early and enjoy his old age in peace.
He didn't want to be caught in the crossfire if the two brothers actually started fighting. He had seen too many emperors die because of their sons' struggle for the throne, and he didn't want to die such an unworthy death.
Being an emperor emeritus isn't so bad.
Thinking this, the emperor suddenly stood up and went to Xiao Xuan, patted him on the shoulder, and said earnestly, "That's not what I meant. I was just afraid that you would be blinded by the Crown Princess without realizing it. There are so many good women in the world, why do you insist on having her? Besides, Master Liaoyuan..."
The emperor was ultimately afraid that Ningyin would bring disaster to his empire, so he still wanted to try to persuade her, since if the empire was lost, then nothing else mattered.
He thought Xiao Xuan would refuse, but to his surprise, Xiao Xuan said something that astonished him.
"Father, you want to sacrifice the Crown Princess to the heavens, right? Then why don't you issue an edict now to depose Consort Chen and her son, and hand Xiao Ling over to me for disposal? I will then agree to your request."
After Xiao Xuan finished speaking, he raised his eyes to look at the emperor, his dark pupils filled with a chilling coldness.
The emperor initially frowned, but Xiao Xuan's aura was simply too intimidating. In addition, the evidence against Consort Chen for plotting to harm the imperial heir was conclusive, so he could not let her off the hook.
But Xiao Ling is, after all, his own flesh and blood. If he were to hand him over to Xiao Xuan, he would likely only face certain death.
Just when the emperor was at his wit's end, Consort Chen arrived unexpectedly.
She wore a red brocade robe, her face still flushed with pink ripples, and her slender waist seemed to dance. The emperor was somewhat reluctant to part with her.
Of all the women in his harem, Consort Chen is the most beautiful and charming. She also serves him so well in bed. What would he do if he really deposed Consort Chen?
However, upon seeing Xiao Xuan's ruthless and cold gaze, he quickly banished any inappropriate thoughts from his mind.
No matter what, she was just a woman. If she died, so be it. Nothing was more important than her own son.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness the Crown Prince, it's so late, aren't you going to rest? I've ordered some calming tea to be brewed, would you like some?"
Consort Chen wanted to come and test the waters, so she made up a random excuse and came.
She raised her eyebrows slightly and met Xiao Xuan's stern face. Her heart suddenly raced and a chill ran down her spine.
"You've come at the perfect time, Chen Xinrong! You plotted against the imperial heir and secretly revealed my whereabouts, causing others to try to kill me. Father is about to punish you!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
