After the wrong flirtation, I became the villain's favorite

The emperor ignored the frightened Concubine Rong and said to himself, "Xiao Huang, you made me feel the heart-wrenching pain of a young man sending off his loved one. The Empress also hates me because of this. Do you think I was too harsh on Wang Clan of Langya?"

"Are all the people in the world cursing me?"

Concubine Rong whispered, "How could that be? All the people in the world are your subjects, Your Majesty. How, how could they scold you?"

She had no family background and was originally a merchant's daughter. Suddenly one day, two people came to her house and said that great wealth had come to her and respectfully asked her to accept it.

The two men were wearing flying fish suits, and her father said they were from the Eastern Depot.

Later she entered the palace, and it was not until she met the emperor and was made a concubine that she looked at the man sitting high on the throne and suddenly realized that everything was not a dream.

It seemed that she didn't need to compete for favor or do anything, and the emperor was especially fond of her.

She would often wake up in the middle of the night, fearing that this huge wealth was just a dream.

She was shallow and ignorant and had no distinguished family background, so the emperor's favor only made her feel uneasy.

Just like now, the emperor actually asked her about the issue of appointing a crown prince, she was almost scared to death.

The emperor ignored Rong Fei's stiff flattery and continued, "They say that the eldest son should be the heir, but I don't have any legitimate son anymore. The eldest son... the eldest son, is my first child. Among all my children, the eldest son is the most sensible and acts like an older brother."

He even recognized Xiao Tan for me, and the emperor smiled.

"I know that the eldest brother suffered in the North. He won the military merits through hard work. He has always been a down-to-earth child."

He doesn't have any favorite child. The one he wants to favor is not legitimate and cannot be favored.

The most outstanding son among the princes now is the sixth one. Especially in recent years, he has stood out from the other princes in all aspects.

The emperor knew that Xiao Shen had restrained his edge, but even so, he could still see the unconcealable ambition and desire in Xiao Shen's eyes.

It looks so much like him, exactly the same as he was back then.

Unexpectedly, Lao Liu was the one who looked most like him.

Will the Sixth Brother also kill all his brothers and sisters who may pose a threat to him after he succeeds to the throne?

Just like he did back then, he would never cause any trouble again. The only time he was soft-hearted was when he caused the "Qi Wang Rebellion".

"The sixth brother...what do you think of him? Can I make him the crown prince?" the emperor asked again.

Concubine Rong's heart was beating like a drum and sweat broke out on her forehead. She really didn't know how to answer. The battle for the crown prince was filled with smoke of gunpowder, but the harem was not allowed to interfere in politics. Besides, who would be made the crown prince had nothing to do with her, as she didn't have any children.

Concubine Rong looked at the old eunuch beside the emperor for help.

Although the old eunuch did not hold any official position, he had been by the emperor's side since he was a child. Even the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department had to bow to him when he saw him.

The old eunuch winked at her, indicating that she should just be an obedient ear and not need to answer.

As expected, the emperor said to himself, "The eldest son is gentle and kind. If he becomes the emperor, he will definitely be a benevolent ruler. But if the sixth son comes to power, he may not be able to tolerate the eldest son."

It certainly cannot accommodate a general with great military achievements.

The emperor's cloudy eyes lit up and he had the answer in his heart.

*

After the turn of the year, on the first day of the Grand Court (Note 1), the emperor suddenly issued an edict, appointing his eldest son Xiao Xuan as the crown prince.

The position of crown prince has finally been decided.

The director of the East Depot stood behind the emperor, looking at the second imperial edict he was writing. It contained the names of some young scholars, with Xie Yunji's name being the first one to be mentioned.

"Thank you, sir. That's good, isn't it?" The emperor's words did not sound like a question but more like an affirmation.

Because of Jia Niang, he did not make use of Xie Zhihuan, and he felt a little guilty about it. Fortunately, there was a talent like Xie Yunji among the younger generation. His excellence was enough to make the emperor put aside the grudges of the previous generation.

The head of the East Factory nodded, "That's right."

"Supervising the Wang Clan of Langya has caused Xie Qing a lot of suffering." The emperor sighed, "During the New Year, I received a congratulatory letter from him from Chen County. How is he doing? Has his injury healed?"

"It's almost healed. Master Xie is young after all, so he recovers quickly."

"Well... I have to make it up to him. What kind of official position should I give him?" The emperor pondered, and he was hesitant to write with the brush he was holding.

Xie Yunji was promoted to the sixth rank as a Hanlin editor, and also served as deputy historian of the Censorate. He did both noble and offensive work, which was a great experience for him.

His eyes fell on the book "Canal Running Script" on the table again.

The supervisor of the East Factory said, "Master Xie is right in everything he does. I dare to tell you the truth. I have always thought that scholars are pedantic, but Master Xie is very smart and prudent in handling the case of Wang of Langya. I am impressed by him."

"I also heard that Master Xie spent the New Year in Chen County this year. The entrance to the Xie Mansion in Chen County was crowded with people and cars, but guess what, Your Majesty, Master Xie didn't see anyone, not even the people from the Sixth Prince's Mansion went in."

The emperor liked this about Xie Yunji very much. Everyone knew that he was favored by the emperor, but he was not arrogant or abusive.

Don't associate with members of the royal family and don't take sides.

He is worldly but not tainted by the dust of the world, and is particularly good at finding the right identity for himself.

This is the kind of courtier he wants.

He also wanted to leave him as Xiao Xuan's direct descendant. After a few years, he would enter the cabinet and become an important official, capable of becoming the pillar of the country.

The emperor was in a good mood. With a stroke of his pen, the imperial seal fell.

The news of the succession and the imperial edict were transmitted to the Xie Mansion in Chen County.

Xie Yunji had just recovered from a serious illness, and during the New Year holidays he wore a bright red robe, which looked very festive and made his pale face look more vibrant.

"The Emperor, in accordance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims: I rule the country with literature. You, Xie Yunji, have mastered the classics, are knowledgeable about worldly affairs, and are a great help to the country. Based on your performance, I hereby appoint you as the Crown Prince's Secretary and concurrently the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. I decree this!"

After the eunuch finished reading the imperial edict, he looked at Xie Yunji and said, "Master Xie, please accept the edict."

Xie Yunji's face showed no emotion. He kowtowed respectfully to express his gratitude: "I accept your order."

The kneeling members of the Xie family were all very nervous. Being a third-rank Prince's Secretary and concurrently serving as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, this was undoubtedly a standard path to enter the cabinet.

The emperor's intentions were already very clear.

Song Nihuan knelt behind Xie Yunji, her eyes always on him.

His back is like a pine tree or a bamboo, upright and firm, and his every move is full of dignity.

Song Nihuan felt a surge of pride and joy in her heart, because this man was her husband, such an excellent and outstanding person.

Her eyes were sparkling.