Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 368: Heavenly Family’s Strategy

"The ceremony is over!" Shang Yi shouted loudly.

Emperor Zhaoming smiled and bowed: "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager got up early today, can you have breakfast?"

Tai Shang said nothing.

"I got up early and don't want to eat yet." The Queen Mother glanced at him and replied with a smile, "You don't have to worry about us.

“Zhaoqing, Hongchang and Yimin accompanied us and took good care of our diet.

"There are many important things to do today, so don't delay. Go now."

Emperor Zhaoming lowered his eyes and bowed in agreement.

As everyone was about to leave, the Emperor suddenly spoke up, "I haven't seen the emperor's grandchildren for a while.

“The prince has to follow the emperor around today, so the others should stay here with me.

"The princes' mothers also stayed behind to look after them and fulfill their filial duties to the Queen Mother on behalf of the Queen."

Emperor Zhaoming raised his eyebrows and subconsciously looked back at the princes and concubines.

Suddenly, he stopped at one glance.

He also saw the inappropriate court crown on Daiyu's head, and Yuanchun standing behind Daiyu and the other two.

It turned out to be the case.

Emperor Zhaoming turned around and bowed with a smile: "It's all my son's fault for not thinking it through. I should have asked the children to come and pay their respects to the Lord and listen to His Majesty's teachings more often."

Queen Wan looked confused but didn't dare to ask more questions. But then she remembered that she had no children and felt aggrieved again.

Why are you talking about this at this time?

Is it all my fault that I can’t have children?

Your Majesty has not been close to women for many years, and there has been no concubine in the harem for seven years. What does this have to do with me? !

But on such an important day as the New Year's Eve, how could she dare to show any sadness?

He just lowered his head and followed Emperor Zhaoming silently.

After leaving the Yanjia Palace, Empress Wan didn't even care about the Crown Prince. With red eyes, she pulled Emperor Zhaoming's sleeve and asked with a sob:

"Yuan Zheng's head, is the Supreme going to despise me for not having children in front of everyone?"

Emperor Zhaoming looked at her calmly as she pulled his hand and said, "Are you trying to make me disobey the Lord? Go and ask for justice for your words, Queen?"

On this New Year's Day, you are instigating the emperor to be unfilial!

What a huge crime this is!

Queen Wan suddenly became frightened and let go.

Emperor Zhaoming ignored her and got on the imperial chariot. Seeing her still standing on the ground in a daze, he could no longer bear it and said to her:

"If the Queen does not wish to go with me to offer sacrifices, I can go alone."

When Empress Wan heard this, she panicked: "I didn't! I just, just..."

As he spoke, his body swayed.

Su Hong hurried forward and held her, whispering something quickly in her ear.

Empress Wan quickly followed and said, "I just regret that I was too suspicious and was distracted for a moment. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"

Having said that, he hurriedly got on his phoenix chariot with the help of Su Hong.

The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess just lowered their heads, their eyes looking at their noses and their noses looking at their hearts, and they were completely oblivious to everything.

It was not until the imperial chariot started that Empress Wan quietly wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, looked down at Su Hong who was walking on the ground, and said gratefully:

"Thanks to my aunt."

Su Hong waved her hand hurriedly, glanced around, winked at her to stop her from saying anything more, and whispered: "Madam, calm down. You are still tired today!"

Only then did Queen Wan sit back in her phoenix chariot with peace of mind.

At the back, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess walked hand in hand towards their sedan chair, discussing in low voices:

"Who is Tai Shang thinking of?"

"When Father looked back just now, it seemed that the person he saw was not the prince, but the concubine..."

"...Jia!"

“…Royal Concubine!”

The young couple spoke in unison, looked at each other, and frowned again.

The two were present at what happened in Linde Hall last night.

But when the Supreme Lord and Emperor Zhaoming were around, the Crown Prince always cleverly treated himself as an invisible man.

Therefore, he only found out that the poison was done by the King of the West, and he did not investigate further.

The prince's biological mother was Emperor Zhaoming's first wife.

The affection that Emperor Zhaoming showed to all his princes combined was not as deep as the affection he showed to the crown prince who had lost his mother.

Therefore, the prince always abides by the rules and never does or says anything out of the ordinary.

Many of the civil and military officials, nobles and royal family members in the court wanted to curry favor with the prince, but they were all rejected by the prince.

Emperor Zhaoming was a man of great talent and vision, and he was in his prime. He would rule the country for at least another twenty or thirty years.

If the Crown Prince starts to have evil intentions at this time, it is almost foreseeable that Emperor Zhaoming will find an opportunity to take him down in three to five years.

As for the Crown Princess, although she was personally selected by the Emperor, she was dignified, virtuous, and talented, but there was one thing that the Emperor did not expect: she was timid.

The Crown Princess is even more timid than the Crown Prince!

Now they saw with their own eyes the conversations between the Emperor Taishang, the Empress Dowager, Emperor Zhaoming, and Empress Wan, and the two were so scared that they just had to hide away, the farther the better!

But once they found out that the cause of this confrontation was actually Concubine Jia, the young couple couldn't help feeling uncomfortable.

In particular, Jia now has a very intelligent seventh prince.

"Did anyone come to the Duke Rong's Mansion last night?" the Crown Princess suddenly asked.

The prince nodded: "Before the emperor sealed it, my father issued an order saying that the two Jia family members would be punished first. The relatives of their two families were also implicated and asked to go to the capital to defend themselves."

The couple looked at each other again, puzzled.

Since no one from the Jia family came, then the incident last night should have nothing to do with them. Then why did the Supreme Lord think of keeping Jia?

While thinking wildly, they each got on the sedan chair and chased after the emperor and empress.

As soon as the Empress and the Crown Prince left his side, Emperor Zhaoming whispered to Tao Xingjian: "When Jia leaves Yanjia Palace, immediately confine her to Fengzao Palace! No one else is allowed to enter, but not leave!"

Tao Xingjian was startled and nodded his head in agreement.

"And Xiao Qi." Emperor Zhaoming pondered for a long time before asking, "How is he in the East Palace?"

Tao Xingjian reported in a low voice: "The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess were both very considerate and courteous."

polite?!

Emperor Zhaoming frowned and said, "During the New Year holidays, the Eastern Palace has a lot of things to do. Send Xiaoqi to Xiaoer first."

The second prince's maternal family lived far away in northern Shaanxi. His mother, Kou Zhaorong, was straightforward and easy to get along with.

Tao Xingjian nodded, hesitated for a moment, and then asked in a low voice: "I just saw that Princess Zhaoqing's court crown is made according to the princess regulations.

"I'm afraid that when someone comes to pay respects to His Majesty and the Queen Mother, gossip will spread."

Emperor Zhaoming glanced at him and said, "I was just about to ask you what's going on. You come to me for advice!"

"Yes, yes! I am confused. I will send someone to find out right away." After receiving the Emperor Zhaoming's instructions, Tao Xingjian immediately sent two clever eunuchs back to the Yanjia Palace.

Inside the Yanjia Palace.

The Supreme Emperor asked about the emperor's grandchildren's food, clothing, housing and transportation with a smile, and then happily held the coquettish Seventh Prince in his arms.

Then he looked at Jia Yuanchun and asked coldly, "I heard that although Xiao Qi is said to be raised in your palace, he has been following his elder brother and sister-in-law in the East Palace these days. Is that true or not?"

Jia Yuanchun knelt straight down, bowed her head and answered, "Yes.

“Although the Emperor said that he wanted me to raise the Seventh Prince, the Seventh Prince has lived with me for several months.

"Although the Seventh Prince is now studying with his elder brother in the East Palace, in my heart, I still consider myself as the Seventh Prince's mother."

Before he could finish his pretentious statement, the seventh prince's clear voice rang out:

“My mother is Concubine Wu!

"You are not on my jade list!

"You are not my mother!

"Father doesn't want you to support me at all!"