Wealth and glory seek stability

Zhang Lan'er noticed Jian Xi standing aside with an impeccable smile on her face.

"Jian Xi, you should also persuade the Sixth Princess. It's just a matter of having more people eat at the Princess's residence. This way, my father and I can explain it when we return."

Jian Xi raised her eyes and glanced at the five men standing in the middle.

It must be said that Ruan Chizheng has a pretty good taste. These five people all have long legs, thin waists, broad shoulders and narrow hips.

But seeing that Zhang Cen'er's eyes were about to burst into anger, she didn't dare to get involved in this mess.

Jian Xi put on a fake smile and said, "How can I make the decision on the princess's private affairs?"

Zhang Cen'er slammed the table and stood up.

She hated Ruan Chizheng's condescending tone. These people were sent by Ruan Chizheng, and she didn't want any of them.

What she hated even more was the idea that Zhang Qiao only used her as a reproductive tool.

She hated everything about it.

A bold idea emerged in his heart, and Zhang Cen'er stretched out a finger and pointed at Jian Xi.

Jian Xi:!!!

Suddenly there was an ominous premonition.

"Since the Emperor is so concerned about me, I will say this today. I like Jian Xi. We fell in love at the polo match when we were in the Xuanyuan Dynasty. That's why I brought her to live in the Princess's Mansion. The Emperor can report this to the Queen Mother. I will definitely not make things difficult for you."

Ruan Chizheng raised his chin slightly. He was indeed a lowly creature born from a person who was not worthy of being in public. He was so shameless.

But this is exactly what he wants. Recently, His Majesty seems to be paying more and more attention to Zhang Cen'er.

As long as the rumor spreads that Zhang Cen'er likes women, if such a person is made the crown prince, the country will be difficult to succeed.

Zhang Cen'er will completely lose the right to inherit the throne.

Jian Xi opened her mouth slightly in surprise.

Just as he was about to explain, Ruan Chizheng stood up and said, "Since you insist on doing this, I will go back and report the Sixth Princess's idea to the Empress."

Zhang Cen'er smiled contemptuously.

"Thank you very much."

Zhang Lan'er wanted to say something but was pulled away by Ruan Chizheng.

All the way to the frame.

Zhang Lan'er finally broke free from her father's clutches.

"Father, Cen'er was clearly speaking in anger just now. Are you really going to report this to the Queen Mother?"

"She said these words herself. You heard them, Lan'er. There's nothing wrong with responding this way."

"Father!" Zhang Lan'er yelled. "She is my sister. What will happen to her in the future if you do this?"

Ruan Chizheng's face darkened, "Lan'er, you are too kind-hearted."

Seeing Zhang Lan'er sad, Ruan Chizheng softened his tone and said, "Your father is backed by the No. 1 family in Xuanwu. You are destined to be the empress. As long as you become the empress,

Our Ruan family can continue the glory, and they will also be the biggest support behind you, do you understand?" As he said this, he pinched Zhang Lan'er's arm slightly.

Zhang Lan'er looked at the earnest expectation in her father's eyes and couldn't say a word that she didn't want to be an empress at all.

"Even if that's the case, there are still the Second Imperial Brother, the Third Imperial Sister, and the Fourth Imperial Brother. It's definitely not the Sixth Imperial Sister's turn. Why does Father always target the Sixth Imperial Sister?"

"Fool, I have been married to your mother for many years, how could I not know what she is thinking? Among you brothers and sisters, Zhang Cen'er is the most like the empress. Although your majesty does not say it, I know.

She likes Zhang Cen'er the most. This time Zhang Cen'er is able to come back alive. I am worried that she will threaten your position as the crown prince."

Ruan Chizheng's only hope now is to have his daughter become the crown prince, so that he can give an explanation to his family and die without regrets.

He would remove any stumbling blocks that stood in his way for his daughter.

inside the hall.

Jian Xi felt a little stomachache because of Zhang Cen'er's nonsense.

Zhang Cen'er helped Jian Xi sit down affectionately, "Come, sit down quickly, I haven't congratulated you yet for being appointed as the Minister of Agriculture by the Queen Mother."

Jian Xi just felt her head buzzing.

"Don't change the subject. You just told the Emperor that you like me. Aren't you trying to trip me up? If His Majesty knew about this, he would definitely skin me alive."

"Tsk! My mother wouldn't believe it. Don't worry. The Emperor's husband used to be well-educated and well-mannered. He seems to have gone insane in recent years. He wants my eldest sister to be the crown prince. Even I can't hide her thoughts, let alone my shrewd mother. Don't pay attention to him."

Hearing this, Jian Xi felt relieved.

As long as it doesn't affect her, nothing else matters.

The farce in the princess's mansion soon spread to the palace.

Xuande Store.

Wu Lanya and Zhang Qiao sat opposite each other.

There is a chess game with clear black and white between the two people.

The spy repeated to the two men what had happened word for word.

The white pieces in Zhang Qiao's hand went from being decisive at the beginning to being hesitant later on.

"Okay, I understand. Go down."

"Yes."

Wu Lanya looked at the chessboard with a smile. "Your Majesty, are you going to admit defeat?" She should be the first person in the entire Xuanwu Dynasty who dared to beat the empress in chess.

Zhang Qiao frowned, and rested his right fist on his chin, "Let me think about it again."

After thinking for a moment, he made a move.

Wu Lanya placed her pieces slowly, one after another, in no more than seven or eight moves.

Zhang Qiao threw the chess piece in his hand directly onto the chessboard, "I lose."

The wrinkles on Wu Lanya's face were almost squeezed together due to her smiling face.

"Your Majesty's chess skills are improving, which is not easy. I play chess and write chess scores every day when I am free. It is normal for Your Majesty to lose."

Zhang Qiao said in a coquettish tone, "Grandma Witch, you are the only one who can make me happy. Do you think what the spy said just now is credible?"

Wu Lanya said calmly, "The Wu Clan only predicts matters related to the life and death of the royal court. This is your majesty's family affair, and I, an old woman, don't know."

Zhang Qiao shook his head and sorted and placed the chess pieces on the board himself.

"Ah! I can easily guess that the Emperor is afraid that Cen'er's return will affect Lan'er's position as the crown prince. I am old, and the surrounding tribes are eyeing me covetously. Lan'er is not ruthless enough, nor is she smart enough.

He was unable to make a decision. He was only thinking about his daughter's future and never thought about the painful price he would pay if he could not deter his subjects. "

"I believe your majesty has already made up his mind."

"I have asked the high priest to come today to discuss something important."

Zhang Qiao sat up straight. In her opinion, these little jealousies were just trivial matters, and the final decision still lay with her.

"Your Majesty, please speak." Wu Lanya is over a hundred years old. Her hair is gray, and her clothes are braided into ropes. Her head is full of white braids decorated with feathers in the middle. There are three lines of yellow-green oil paint on both sides of her cheeks.

In the witch clan, the higher the ability, the more oil paints one has. Three oil paints are the symbol of the high priest and also the symbol of the most powerful person in the witch clan.

"Thirty years ago, I asked the high priest to make a divination to predict the development of the fortune of the Xuanwu Dynasty in the next thirty years. Now that the thirty-year period has arrived, I beg the high priest to make another divination."

Wu Lanya said nothing and took out two bones from her arms.