dognovel Chapter 85 Eliminate it
Chapter 85 Eliminate it
Upon hearing this, the emperor's gaze sharpened slightly: "Weren't you interested in Chi Yu before? I've seen her running to your palace every day, so how come this second young lady of the Jiang family suddenly appears?"
"Your Majesty, I initially thought that it would be fine as long as the Empress Dowager made the choice. However, after I met Miss Jiang by chance, I missed her day and night and my heart was in turmoil. Only then did I realize what love is. But I know that the position of Crown Princess is very important, so I have come to petition Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will grant my request."
His words were earnest, and his eyes flashed with a hint of urgency.
But the emperor remained silent, staring intently at him with a calm and sharp gaze.
Observing, pondering.
Those of the imperial family do not act superficially. Even if the person standing before him is his own son, with the regime in power, the two are still ruler and subject.
A ruler always assumes ill intentions towards his subjects.
Moreover, Ning Zhi was brought up by Duan Zhi'an.
He has been involved in politics since childhood, and it is impossible for him to simply hand over the position of Crown Princess.
Admire?
They probably realized that Jiang Xun's military power was much greater than that of the Chi family, and that's why they wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Jiang family.
For the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, any marriage to a powerful family would be a threat. He had thought the Xie Marquis's family, which was only a nominal title, was acceptable, but the marriage didn't go through.
Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince's ambition could not be concealed even though the Third Prince had just fallen.
They actually set their sights on military power; it's unclear whether this was Ning Zhi's intention or Duan Zhi'an's doing behind the scenes.
A silence fell over the hall; it was so quiet that the sound of the curtains being blown by the wind could be heard.
After a long while, the emperor finally spoke slowly, his tone indifferent: "This matter is of utmost importance and needs to be discussed with the empress before a decision is made. Let's discuss it another day. You may leave now."
Ning Zhi was slightly taken aback, noticing the cold expression on the person on the dragon throne. He felt a chill run down his spine, realizing he had been too hasty. He wanted to explain further, but the emperor had already looked away and waved for him to step down.
He could only bow slightly and leave the hall, a sense of unease gradually spreading in his heart.
Turning back to the side hall of the Grand Tutor, after explaining the whole story, Duan Zhi'an, as expected, also felt something was amiss.
"His Majesty is always sensitive and suspicious. Your Highness's impulsiveness is pushing Miss Jiang towards Prince Beiqin."
Ning Zhi gritted his teeth, his brow furrowing slightly: "Could the Grand Tutor help me turn this matter around?"
Duan Zhi'an turned the petals in the basket with his fingers, his eyes darkening as he whispered, "If the Prince of Beiqin is truly a Chinu, even if you can marry Miss Jiang, you'll have to be constantly on guard against him. Although His Highness has many secret guards, he is still a potential threat. The best way to eliminate this threat is..."
"Does the Grand Tutor mean... to eliminate him?"
Duan Zhian nodded slightly, his gaze cool and aloof.
He thought, how dare a mere slave defy the world and claim to be the Empress Dowager's grandson, and calmly deal with the questioning in the court without revealing a single flaw.
Such scheming methods demonstrate his deep cunning and composure. His entry into the court remains unknown, but sooner or later he will bring disaster upon himself.
Why not use the Crown Prince to eliminate future troubles?
"Your Highness, please think it over carefully."
After he finished speaking, he stood up, leaving Ning Zhi sitting alone in silence.
......
In the days that followed, the old residence of the Prince of Beiqin was renovated and the house was arranged in an orderly manner. The trivial matters inside and outside the mansion gradually settled down.
Since Xiao Hengzhi officially moved into the Prince of Beiqin's residence, congratulatory gifts have been continuously sent in.
The capital was abuzz with discussion about the newly returned prince, and all sorts of rumors spread throughout the city. Noble families and powerful figures, knowing the Empress Dowager valued him highly, showered him with lavish gifts, unwilling to miss the opportunity to curry favor.
The Xie family mansion was no exception. In the main hall, Lord Xie and his wife sat in the seats of honor, slowly discussing what congratulatory gifts to prepare for the Prince of Beiqin.
Lord Xie stroked his beard and caressed the teacup in his hand: "Now that his title of king is confirmed, and the Empress Dowager dotes on him, he will surely gain a foothold in the court in the future. This time, we must do our best to present him with a congratulatory gift."
Lady Hou nodded slightly, a hint of calculation in her eyes, and said, "What you say is very true, sir. I also heard that the Prince of Beiqin has broken off the engagement with the Wen family and wants to marry the eldest daughter of the Jiang family. This Jiang in my household has mistreated them quite a bit in the past, so we must not let this bring trouble to the Xie family. We must be extra careful with this matter."
At this point, she casually glanced at Jiang Li and gave a cold snort.
Jiang Li stood to the side, forced to suppress her anger, and replied softly, "Madam is right."
She lowered her head and clenched her fists, her anger finding no outlet.
She hadn't expected that the Crown Prince wouldn't be able to stop it! Xiao Hengzhi was still granted the title of Prince!
Are we really going to watch Jiang Wan become the queen?
She was still in a state of turmoil when the Lady Hou's cold shout brought her back to her senses: "Jiang Li, what are you standing there for? Didn't you see that the young master's tea has gone cold? Go and get a fresh pot."
Jiang Li dared not delay and quickly poured Xie Cen a full cup of osmanthus tea, then respectfully presented it to him.
Xie Cen took the tea, took only one sip, and then threw the cup down: "It's hot! It's hot!"
The porcelain cup made a crisp sound, and she quickly reassured him, "Husband, don't worry, I'll add another warm cup."
"Clumsy, you can't even do this little thing right!" Madam Xie rolled her eyes at her.
Jiang Li suppressed her anger, served the tea, and stood aside with her eyes downcast.
Her face remained gentle and respectful, but her heart was already burning like a raging fire, surging with hatred—she was unwilling!
She had been pampered and respected since childhood, even more so than Jiang Mian, the legitimate daughter. When did she ever have to be so humble?
But now, she has to serve a fool and endure all sorts of cold looks.
All of this was caused by Jiang Mian.
It was Jiang Mian who caused her to end up like this. She would never watch Jiang Mian marry into the royal family and become a princess!
The next morning, Marquis Xie went out with his friends. When Jiang Li learned that Madam Xie was preparing to enter the Prince's mansion, she had an idea. After thinking for a while, she said, "Mother, I am an old friend of the Prince. I have offended him in the past. If I go with you, it will show my sincerity."
Seeing her so attentive, Madam Xie vaguely understood her thoughts.
Isn't it just a way to take advantage of the opportunity to build some connections so that I can live a better life in the Marquis's mansion?
However, she was right; she should personally apologize to the prince to avoid affecting the Xie family in the future.
She pondered for a moment, her expression unchanged, and nodded, saying, "In that case, come with me. However, once we arrive at the Prince's residence, you must observe proper etiquette and avoid any unexpected incidents."
Jiang Li lowered her head and obediently replied "Yes," secretly rejoicing at having this opportunity.