Zhi Xuan

Prince Huai hurried through the corridor, his brows were tightly knit and his expression was solemn.

The servants at the side were about to salute, but Prince Huai had already walked a few steps away.When the waiter raised his head, he could only catch a tall and straight figure.

This time when he entered the palace, Prince Huai did not do any political affairs, but only to see the queen.

Since the king fell into a coma, he was in charge of the government, and the queen repeatedly rewarded the wives and concubines in the mansion to show her favor.This move is beyond reproach, it shouldn't be a side issue, the problem lies in the rewarded items.

Inventory of gold and silk jewelry, Yuan Tao and Mrs. Ji are not much different.Once a jade ring was given, and the two were exactly the same!

Yuan Tao, as the daughter of the Yuan clan and the younger sister of Marquis Xiyuan, is indeed of high status.But as a side wife, it is impossible for her to be on an equal footing with the main wife.Since getting married, she has followed the rules and never overstepped.Mrs. Ji reciprocated and took good care of her.

His wives and concubines are harmonious and beautiful, and the prince Huai's family is stable, so he can devote himself wholeheartedly to the government.

The behavior of the queen broke this tacit understanding and balance.

Even though Yuan Tao didn't do anything out of the ordinary, and Mrs. Ji didn't have any suspicions, there were rumors in Zhongdu, and they spread wildly.All kinds of guesses come out frequently, some of which are outrageous.The sound spread to the mansion, making people's hearts unstable and giving Prince Huai a headache.

Because of this matter, Marquis Xiyuan wrote a letter to the Patriarch of the Ji family.

Mrs. Ji received news from her family and specially informed Prince Huai to express her attitude.Yuan Tao is still very respectful to Mrs. Ji, and uses actions to defeat the rumors.

Rumors in the mansion were suppressed, and anyone who instigated it was severely punished.Mrs. Ji showed her skills and Yuan Tao cooperated tacitly. After a storm, the relationship between the two became closer.

The Prince's Mansion is as solid as gold, and in front of the tough Mrs. Zheng and Mrs. Side, any provocations are in vain.

The inside of the mansion is stable, but the outside of the mansion is just the opposite.

Regarding the changes in the Prince's Mansion, some people speculated wildly, claiming that the wife and wife had long been at odds.The reason Mrs. Ji didn't make trouble is all because Mrs. Fang's background is too strong, and Mrs. Ji dared not act rashly.

These people's eloquent words made the rumors spread more and more widely, and the more they spread, the more outrageous they became.

Grasping everyone's novelty-seeking psychology, some people with ulterior motives fished in troubled waters and did everything possible to pull Zhi Xuan into the center of the storm, accusing him of disrespecting the royal family and bullying the weak.Under his protection and connivance, Yuan Tao, as a side wife, is arrogant and rude, disregards the rules, and doesn't pay attention to the difference between wives and concubines at all.

In order to prove the above point of view, someone turned up the old affairs between Xiao Liang and Yuan Tao, turned black and white, and slandered Yuan Tao for wanton actions.

While the rumors were on the rise again, when Yuan Taochu arrived in Zhongdu City, the matter of ordering soldiers to break away from the blocking clan was also brought up.

The rumor-mongers never mentioned the clan's rudeness. They told stories and slandered Yuantao's arrogance.

Prince Huai sent people to search for the source several times, but they all cut off the clues halfway.Not to mention the instigator, few of the accomplices were caught.

As the rumors spread more and more widely, his mood became more and more anxious, and he was very uneasy, always feeling that something was about to be released.

Unexpectedly, the room leaked and rained overnight, and the palace sent another reward, the same two jade rings, the jade colors were different, but the carving and preciousness were exactly the same.

The servant conveyed the queen's will, and the jade ring was given to Mrs. Ji and Yuantao.

A reward is a good thing, but this kind of reward is not what everyone in the Prince's Mansion likes to see.

Mrs. Ji and Yuan Tao looked at each other, feeling that the matter was tricky.The two did not suspect each other, after all, Zhi Xuan and the Patriarch of the Ji family had reached a tacit agreement.It was the Queen's attitude that worried them.

"What does the empress mean?" Mrs. Ji frowned.

To be honest, Prince Huai couldn't figure it out either.

Not understanding breeds worry, and not being able to find an answer makes you even more upset.

The three discussed behind closed doors, but couldn't figure out why.The rumors were rampant and gradually began to spiral out of control.Prince Huai thought hard, and finally decided to enter the palace and ask the queen face to face.

"Your Highness, is it appropriate?" Mrs. Ji asked.

Prince Huai sighed, whether it was appropriate or not, he could no longer care about it.The most urgent task is to figure out the Queen's intentions, so that she is no longer like a headless chicken surrounded by rumors.

The carriage left the Prince's mansion and passed through the city all the way. The voice of discussion did not decrease, but became louder and louder, as if it was deliberately speaking to Prince Huai.

Sitting in the car, Prince Huai's face was gloomy, his heart sank, and his premonition became stronger and stronger.

Thinking of Zhi Xuan's letters and gifts, he couldn't help clenching his fists.If this matter cannot be handled properly, the consequences will be disastrous once Marquis Xiyuan is furious.

Thinking of this, he hated those who spread rumors even more.

Create something out of nothing, fuel the flames, push him to the cusp of the storm, what vicious intentions!

When he was the most irritable, he actually felt a little dissatisfied with the queen.Although pressed down quickly, cracks appeared in the end.If they can't try to bridge, the mother and son are doomed to drift apart.

After arriving at the palace, Prince Huai hurried all the way, his expression neither concealed nor concealed.

The servants and maidservants who met him were all trembling, lest they be angered.Fortunately, Prince Huai's purpose was to meet the queen, so he didn't stop on the way, and he didn't give anyone else a look from the beginning to the end.

The servants and maids let out a sigh of relief as if they had been pardoned.

After a short period of relaxation, everyone guessed the purpose of Prince Huai's entry into the palace.Thinking of the rumors in the city, everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, their hearts suddenly thumped, and their scalps felt numb.

Things may not go well today.

Amidst the anxiety of everyone in the palace, Prince Huai saw the queen.

Even though he was extremely anxious, Prince Huai did not forget etiquette.After saluting according to the rules, he was sitting opposite the queen, and asked the queen to retreat the servants in the hall so that the two could talk in detail.

"Hong stayed, and the rest retreated." The queen said.

Hong is a middle-aged servant with a medium build and an ordinary appearance. He is inconspicuous among the crowd and easily overlooked.He has been with the queen for many years, and has been indifferent.He was left in the palace at this moment, so he knew the queen's trust in him.

When the palace door was closed, Prince Huai suddenly hesitated, opened his mouth several times, and swallowed the words again.

Seeing this, the queen didn't want to say much, and motioned to Chao Hong: "Show the prince."

"No." Hong took out a piece of silk from his sleeve, and respectfully handed it to Prince Huai.

"Mother's queen?" Prince Huai looked at the opposite queen with doubts on his face.

"Look at it first, then we'll talk." The queen ordered a piece of silk folded into a small piece, took a sip of the sweet soup, and picked up a piece of dessert, as if she didn't care about Prince Huai's anxiety and doubts at all.

Prince Huai took a deep breath, suppressed the boredom in his heart, and unfolded the silk in his hand.

This piece of silk is extremely thin, less than half the palm of a hand when folded, but can cover half a table when unfolded.

The silk is plain, with handwriting all over it. It is a neat name of each person, briefly mentioning what they are doing and what role they play in the rise and spread of rumors.

After reading all the content, Prince Huai gasped, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.

"See clearly?" The queen put down her long chopsticks and took a silk handkerchief to wipe her hands.

"Mother, I sent people to investigate carefully, but the clues were cut off halfway." Prince Huai's voice was dry.

"I did it." The queen gave the answer directly, "The people under your command are not secretive, and they are easy to startle the snake."

Prince Huai could not help but smile wryly.

"Huai, now that the matter is cleared up, what should you do?" The queen did not give Prince Huai a chance to hesitate, and asked him to make a decision immediately.

"I..." Prince Huai hesitated.

The list in his hand was too heavy, and he could hardly hold it.

If it is punished severely according to the law, none of the above people will be able to escape.At that time, there will be an earthquake in the capital city.

"If you keep going, you will suffer." The queen's voice did not rise, but she could hear the sharpness and chill between the lines, "It's okay to let you know that some of them are innocent and did not participate at all. But they must leave the capital city, Give up your power."

Prince Huai raised his head suddenly, with a shocked expression, as if he couldn't believe it.

Could it be that from the very beginning, everything was planned by the queen mother?

"These families are loyal to your father and have in-laws of your three elder brothers. Most of them have been operating in Zhongdu for several generations, and their roots are deep. If you want to completely control the court, they will be a big obstacle." The queen locked on the prince with a solemn expression. Huai's gaze did not allow him to escape, "Do you know what I mean?"

Prince Huai fell into silence, and nodded after a long time.

"My son understands."

"As long as you know."

The queen ordered Hong to retreat, and the door of the palace was closed, leaving only the mother and child in the room.

"The royal family is weak. This is an indisputable fact. You will ascend to the throne sooner or later. You can bow your head to the Marquis of Xiyuan, but you must not give in to cowardice." The queen paused and continued, "The throne has changed in the past, and the capital city is rarely stable. Although Today is not the same as it used to be, but it will be no exception."

"The reward from the queen mother is the bait?" Prince Huai's voice was dry.

"Of course." The queen nodded and said, "How can we get the snake out of the hole if we don't let the snake see the opportunity?"

"Mother, have you ever thought about what to do if things go out of control and Marquis Xiyuan is furious?" Prince Huai asked again.

The queen laughed, shook her head and said, "Huai, you underestimated Marquis Xiyuan."

Prince Huai was stunned.

Seeing his appearance, the queen sighed and said, "It would be great if Marquis Xiyuan was my son."

Prince Huai's face turned green.

"If you can't figure it out, think about it carefully. You are the one who sits on the throne. I have to explain everything to you. How can you sit firmly on the throne?" The queen was not polite, and she didn't slow down her tone just because Prince Huai was her son.

Prince Huai showed embarrassment, his face flushed a little bit, and soon even his neck was red.

After all, the queen couldn't bear it, sighed, explained the cause and effect to him, and revealed the true meaning of the plan.

The human king fell into a coma and did not die after all.

Prince Huai is currently ruling on his behalf and has not officially ascended the throne.

The mother and son knew the fate of Zhongdu City well, but most clans might not.In their eyes, the weakness of the royal family is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is convenient for the ministers to flourish and gain benefits for the family.

The previous solidarity was short-lived.

The short-term excitement dissipated, and the city of Zhongdu was still a mess of sand.

Prince Huai made up his mind to hug his thigh, but he had to hold on to the inside.If even the clans in the city can't be controlled, and they end up like Nan Youhou, how can they keep the face of "the co-lord of the world".

At that time, the price of hugging the thigh will definitely be higher.

If you don't want to fall into a miserable situation, you must, as the queen said, manage the capital city as a monolith.

Rewards are the bait, rumors are the process, vigorous punishment is the goal, and solid foundations are the result.

The queen planned all this for Prince Huai.

After the matter is over, the cause and effect will be known, and the evaluation will be mixed.But for Prince Huai, the momentary reputation is nothing to worry about, the real thing is to control the court.

"I admire Marquis Nishihara the most, being pragmatic." The queen took up the sweet soup to moisten her throat.The sweet soup is cold and tastes a bit greasy.She didn't care at all, just raised her head and gulped it down.

"The thing is that you benefit, Ji and Yuan suffer innocently, so they should make compensation."

Hearing "compensation", Prince Huai couldn't help but feel his scalp go numb.

"When you ascend to the throne, the Ji family will be the queen, and those with talents in the family will be promoted and rewarded generously. His father will be in the high position." The queen paused, and continued, "The heir must be of the Yuan family's blood. Once there is a son, immediately For the prince."

Hearing these words, Prince Huai froze on the spot.

Make the bastard the heir?

"No one dares to criticize Xi Yuanhou. Even if there is, it can be attributed to me." The queen said.

She rewarded Yuan Tao not only to lure the snake out of the hole, but also to pave the way for the future.

In her opinion, as long as there are no accidents, at least 30 years, Zhixuan will be the most powerful prince in the world.

The decline of the royal family cannot be reversed.

Once the vassals of the world rise together, the status of the central capital will be very embarrassing, and sooner or later it will be reduced to a small vassal state, surviving in the cracks.

Fortunately, Prince Huai married the Yuan family.

This also meant that the heir of Prince Huai must come from Yuantao, not anyone else, including Mrs. Ji.

The queen rewarded the original peach many times, which was regarded as provocation at this time, but could be regarded as favoritism in the future.

When questioned by the royal family, Prince Huai could not break the rules, she could become an unreasonable queen mother, because of her preference for Yuan Tao, she forced Prince Huai to make an order.

"Huai, the rules cannot be changed, but they can be modified."

The clan is based on the family, and filial piety is one of the foundations.In front of filial piety, how can a son not bow his head.What's more, there is still Xiyuanhou standing behind Yuantao.

After listening to the queen's narration, Prince Huai's expression was dull, and he didn't speak out for a long time.

Seeing his appearance, the queen sighed again, and thought to herself: If Marquis Xi Yuan is her son, why bother so much.I don't know how good it would be to have my son solve everything by himself.