Remarrying Chun Yuan

Chapter 459 Bowing

Emperor Qi Xiao pondered all night, weighing whether to follow the Empress's advice and recognize Yuan Cuo as a prince and establish him as the Crown Prince, or to use Consort Yu's life as leverage to force Qin Muyan and the Left Chancellor's Mansion to make concessions.

He went to see Consort Yu early the next morning, but Consort Yu was still in a daze and unaware of what was happening.

Consort Yu assumed that Emperor Qi Xiao had come to blame her for having Eunuch Hua arrest Song Ziwen, and that she had deliberately embarrassed Liu Yuechu, which was why the fire had started...

"Your Majesty, it's really not my fault. I had no idea that Eunuch Hua had such audacity to embezzle money in secret. I am truly innocent!" She cried and sobbed, resorting to her tried-and-true coquettish skills.

But Emperor Qi Xiao remained silent for a long time after hearing her words, only looking at Consort Yu in silence, "You really don't know?"

"I swear to Heaven, I know nothing! I did reprimand him when he was causing trouble in the Imperial Household Department. But I never imagined he would cause such a commotion even when he was in charge of the royal gardens!" Consort Yu wore a string of jade prayer beads on her hand and clasped her hands together. "I have been praying to the Bodhisattva for several days, hoping that Emperor Chu and the Duchess of Baoguo will be safe and sound."

Emperor Qi Xiao was too lazy to listen to her rambling on and on.

Clearly, this foolish woman is unaware that her son is plotting a coup, otherwise she wouldn't be spouting such nonsense.

"Alright, Eunuch Hua is already dead." Emperor Qi Xiao was quite impatient and didn't want to mention these people anymore.

Consort Yu knew, of course, that Eunuch Hua was dead. "So, Your Majesty has forgiven me?" she asked expectantly.

Emperor Qi Xiao hesitated several times before speaking. He really wanted to ask Consort Yu whether she had been in contact with Qin Muyan and whether she was truly unaware that he had contacted the Left and Right Chancellors to force him to abdicate.

Seeing Yu Fei's foolish appearance, it was clear that she was also completely unaware of the situation; she was just a pitiful person who had been abandoned.

Emperor Qi Xiao sneered, a self-deprecating laugh.

How could someone living in the palace understand parental love? He treated the Empress Dowager harshly and coldly, so how could his son possibly care about his mother?

Emperor Qi Xiao didn't want to waste any more words. Feeling extremely depressed, he didn't say another word and got up to leave.

Consort Yu was quite at a loss, not understanding why His Majesty had come and gone, and why he had only asked these two questions.

She chased after him for a few steps, but seeing that Emperor Qi Xiao was walking hurriedly, she dared not follow him.

"His Majesty came all this way just to say these two sentences? There's something strange about that."

Having followed Emperor Qi Xiao for many years, she naturally understood that his long-standing habits were not like this.

The old woman was also a little curious, "His Majesty asked if you knew, and is he sure he was asking about Eunuch Hua?"

Consort Yu pursed her lips. "But what else could it be besides this? We're trapped in the palace, completely unaware..."

"Could it be the Third Prince?" The old woman dared not say any more, afraid that someone might overhear her.

Consort Yu's heart trembled slightly. "Impossible, isn't it? His Majesty has no intention of establishing another crown prince, and besides, the timing isn't right."

"After all, he has met the Chu Emperor..." The nanny's meaning was clear.

Consort Yu quickly shook her head, "It wouldn't be now. Besides, the Chu Emperor has disappeared and has nothing to do with him. If he were to rush in at this time, he would have to be crazy!"

"Besides, he didn't tell me, so it probably wasn't him."

Although Consort Yu said this, she was actually unsure herself.

But now she can't even leave the palace, let alone contact the outside world.

"Xiao Nanzi went out, I wonder if she managed to deliver the message? But there's no news from Wei Gongming either, and he hasn't come back."

"No news might be good news," was the only consolation the old woman could offer.

Consort Yu had no choice but to nod casually and continue waiting.

Meanwhile, Emperor Qi Xiao returned to his palace and sent Cheng Hai to summon Yuan Cuo.

The second option was completely unworkable, so he had no choice but to take the first path.

Yuan Cuo's arrival was actually at the request of Cheng Hai, who knelt down and begged him.

If Yuan Cuo had also stood against Emperor Qi Xiao, or had remained a bystander and ignored him, Emperor Qi Xiao's fate would likely not have been good.

"If you would give us some face, go see him and discuss a solution, or simply pour cold water on His Majesty's hesitation and doubt."

Cheng Hai spoke earnestly, having followed Emperor Qi Xiao for so many years, he naturally understood just how cowardly Emperor Qi Xiao truly was.

Although he had not given up his last hope, he was simply upholding his dignity as an emperor.

All those in positions of power fear nothing more than being betrayed and abandoned by their own people.

Emperor Qi Xiao may have to face this tragic scene, which he himself is simply unable to withstand.

Yuan Cuo remained unmoved; his heart belonged only to Liu Yuechu, and he didn't even despise the Chu Emperor.

"Aren't you afraid that if I go, he'll break down even faster?"

“That’s better than hesitating… Besides, if His Majesty is really forced to abdicate and let the Third Prince take the throne, the first person the ministers will probably target is the Duke.”

"Of course, the Duke would disdain fighting with these people, after all, you hold a powerful hand. But have you considered that Madam Liu is still nowhere to be found?"

"Having too many enemies is not necessarily a good thing for finding people."

"Our servant earnestly requests the Duke's intervention in the hope that you can control the pace and progress of the entire matter, and not let those people gain the upper hand, because that would be of no benefit to either His Majesty or to you."

We can't talk about feelings, we can only talk about interests.

Cheng Hai's meaning was simple: he and his son were like grasshoppers tied to the same vine, inseparable.

Yuan Cuo naturally understood his words, and simply smiled slightly, "You always know what I will never refuse."

"Our family is absolutely not a threat," Cheng Hai said very seriously.

Yuan Cuo had no choice but to go to the palace to see Emperor Qi Xiao.

This time, his visit to the palace was not simple and unpretentious, but rather a grand and elaborate affair.

Twenty servants from the Duke of Baoguo's mansion were dispatched, with secret guards following in the shadows.

The Duke of Baoguo's personal carriage was drawn by six horses, and he also changed into the Duke of Baoguo's official robes, which was a rare occasion, and even wore a hair crown.

This outfit is just as stunning as it could have been.

Even when he attended the Four Kingdoms Palace Banquet a few days ago, he was not as well-dressed as he is today.

The people of the capital city gathered on both sides of the street to watch. Everyone knew that the State of Chu was about to declare war on the State of Qi, and they even knew that the Third Prince and the ministers were demanding that Emperor Qi Xiao apologize...

At this time, the Duke of Baoguo's intervention was clearly also for this matter, but his attitude is naturally intriguing.

Emperor Qi Xiao felt a complex mix of emotions upon learning of Yuan Cuo's grand arrival.

When they saw him enter the palace, the court officials instinctively stepped aside, as if he were the one in charge of the Great Qi.

Meanwhile, the emperor of the Great Qi was trembling in the palace, waiting for him to rescue him.

Emperor Qi Xiao's inexplicable competitive spirit arose again.

He saw Yuan Cuo arrive, but remained silent, as if waiting for him to kowtow.