NABC Chapter 375 Techniques
Chapter 375 Techniques
"His Majesty has not made a decision and has put the matter aside, but the officials have already begun to look for ways to leave." These words were spoken by Pei Tengyue, the Right Chancellor.
Although the Crown Prince had gone mad, the Crown Princess and the concubines were protected by the Empress and continued to move about in the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince treated it as a serious illness, so naturally he did not involve those around him.
The only thing the Right Chancellor's office could rely on was the Empress.
It wasn't that they didn't want to find another way, but no one wanted them. Today, Pei Tengyue used the excuse of visiting the Crown Prince and then paying his respects to the Empress, actually wanting to find out what the Empress really meant.
This line of people can't be completely eliminated, can they? And the Empress's maternal family also preserved its reputation, only Deng Qi was executed, which shows that the Empress is capable.
The Empress sighed.
She has no special skills.
Her only skill was loyalty to Emperor Qixiao, and she would wholeheartedly support him no matter how absurd his words and actions were.
Moreover, Emperor Qi Xiao did not exterminate the entire family of the Imperial Uncle, nor did he punish the Crown Prince, not because of any great affection for her, but because he felt it would be a loss of face.
"Actually, this laissez-faire approach is good. Those who want to leave can leave, and those who want to stay can stay. Even those who stay can still have three meals a day and be warmly clothed, since the court won't shortchange them on their salaries." After a moment's thought, the Empress understood what Emperor Qi Xiao meant.
“But, but this situation is not right!” Pei Tengyue said bluntly, “The rumors have been going on for a while, but only Yuan Cuo was granted the title of Duke of Baoguo. The court officials are all talking about whether His Majesty intends to pass the throne to…” He dared not continue, otherwise, if outsiders spread rumors, it would be a capital offense punishable by beheading!
"Regardless of whether it is true or not, you only need to remember one thing: put the interests of the Great Qi first. No matter who you support, His Majesty will protect you." The Empress was very certain of this.
For example, the Chen family of the Governor's Mansion.
Governor-General Chen also took action, without directly consulting Emperor Qi Xiao, but the result was good.
Everything they did was for the sake of the millions of people in the Great Qi, earning them the respect of all. No one, not even the ancestors of the Great Qi, would dare to mock such people in the slightest, let alone Emperor Qi Xiao.
The reason why these people in the capital's court were disliked by Emperor Qi Xiao was precisely because they schemed against each other all day long for those worthless official positions.
Anyone whose mind has been clouded by power and wealth, no matter who they are, will be killed without hesitation by Emperor Qi Xiao.
Pei Tengyue, however, did not take it seriously, thinking that the Empress was just using this excuse to brush him off. He simply said a few words and then took his leave.
Seeing Pei Youcheng leave, Granny Chang sighed, "I'm afraid Pei Youcheng didn't understand Her Majesty's intentions. He probably thought you were just being perfunctory and not sincere enough."
"It doesn't matter. I have done my best. As for what outsiders think, it is none of my concern." In just three days, she had already grown a few more strands of silver-white hair at her temples.
This was entirely due to concerns for the Crown Prince's life.
Even though he is now insane, he is not incapable of having sex. As long as the concubines can bear children for the royal family, they are not necessarily without a chance.
"Your Highness, you should rest too," said Granny Chang, her heart aching.
How much of a concession does a woman have to make before she can finally get a good night's sleep?
Everyone says she is the mother of the nation, second only to the emperor, but she has seen firsthand what kind of life the empress lives. It is incredibly difficult, something that ordinary people cannot endure.
The Empress shook her head. "How are the preparations going for the full-month celebrations for the Duke of Baoguo's two children?"
Even though Liu Yuechu was unwilling and Yuan Cuo repeatedly declined, the Empress still insisted on issuing an imperial decree to hold a full-month celebration for the two children in the palace.
The Ministry of Rites accepted this task, and the Imperial Observatory also needed to make preparations.
Granny Chang immediately said, "Don't worry, it's all being held according to the regulations for the imperial grandson, and the Shanggong Bureau is also working hard to make the clothes."
"Good, good, good, absolutely no mistakes can be made, this is a joyous occasion for the Great Qi." The Empress now placed all her hopes on Yuan Cuo.
If she were to show the slightest weakness, Consort Yu and the other concubines would swarm in like a flood of beasts, completely strangling her and the Crown Prince, giving them no chance to breathe.
"From now on, there's no need to keep an eye on Consort Yu and the other concubines. Let's just close the door and live our own lives." The Empress remained as usual. Even though Yuan Cuo refused to acknowledge his royal status, she still treated him as a member of the royal family.
Granny Chang nodded in agreement.
Hurry up and get busy.
Meanwhile, Consort Yu was also watching the situation in the palace. "The Crown Prince has gone mad, but His Majesty hasn't summoned Yan'er back yet? Have any of you spoken to His Majesty on Yan'er's behalf?! What are you all doing?!"
Left Chancellor Jiang Jiuwei's face was burning hot; he had been extremely frustrated lately.
Ever since Qin Muyan led the Jiang family members in doing such a foolish thing, the Jiang family has suffered a great loss of strength!
As the head of the Jiang family, he has caused so many outstanding younger generations to lose their futures and even their lives, and he has been resisted by many collateral branches.
Although he wasn't forced to relinquish his position as head of the family, he was no longer as authoritative as before, and all the clansmen would now earnestly fulfill his words.
"Right now, the Crown Prince has just gotten into trouble, and the Duke of Baoguo is thriving. It's not appropriate to mention the Third Prince at this time, or His Majesty will think we have ulterior motives."
"Besides, His Majesty is still angry about what happened last time. Your Highness should also think about this. If it weren't for the Duke of Baoguo having other methods, Great Qi would have suffered a great loss, and might never have recovered!"
Jiang Jiuwei tried to reason with her, but he hated trying to reason with this daughter because Yufei simply wouldn't listen.
"I don't care about whether I suffer a loss or not, all I can see is my son being driven out of the capital to mourn for that Prince Chun! He is clearly His Majesty's child!" Consort Yu said, tears streaming down her face.
"Father, you are Yan'er's maternal grandfather. Are you just going to abandon him?"
“But now is not the best time for the Third Prince to return. We should wait until the Duke of Baoguo and His Majesty have even the slightest bit of discord before we can make any moves.” Jiang Jiuwei said helplessly.
Consort Yu turned away, crying incessantly without saying a word.
Jiang Jiuwei shook his head bitterly, "Actually, nothing I say is as effective as Your Majesty's pillow talk. After all, the Third Prince is your and His Majesty's child."
“His Majesty refuses to see me now. If he were willing, I would have done it myself without having to ask you to come and discuss it!” Consort Yu wiped the tears from her face with a handkerchief. She knew that she had no other way to go.
Jiang Jiuwei was in a state of turmoil. Since the right path was blocked, he could only offer Yufei some bad ideas.
"Otherwise, how about Your Highness arranges a selection of candidates for His Majesty?"
"How old is Your Majesty? Why are you still holding a selection of concubines?" Consort Yu glared at him reproachfully.
“No matter how old a man is, he won’t mind having more young and beautiful women around him, especially since His Majesty has just become the first emperor of the Great Qi…” Jiang Jiuwei spoke the man’s thoughts.