Chapter 29: Wow! The Crown Prince is going to betray the court for his grandfather’s concubine and abandon his position as Crown Prince!

Xu Yanmiao was very worried.

After parting from Gao Xiang, he walked dejectedly to the Eastern Market and bought a bag of sweet and sour snails to munch on.

“Delicious!”

Indeed, eating makes him happy!

The young man thought as he ate, his eyes squinting with joy.

As for Ji Sui’s dead daughter and the fact that she left behind a granddaughter, he had come to terms with it. If necessary, he could just leave a note at Ji Sui’s house.

“This pickled cabbage, I’ll take a jar.”

“This duck feet, I’ll take a bag.”

“This fried watermelon seeds, I’ll take a pack.”

“And this…”

As he was about to leave the Eastern Market, passersby looked at Xu Yanmiao, who was laden with packages and chewing on a bag of sweet and sour snails, and worried whether he might trip and fall.

Passing by a rouge shop, Xu Yanmiao heard a familiar voice that seemed amplified, coming directly from the store to the street.

“This Yuhua flower powder, I’ll take six boxes.”

“This Yunu peach blossom powder, I’ll take six boxes.”

“This cedar charcoal, I’ll take six pieces.”

“And…”

Such familiar phrases!

Xu Yanmiao peeked in and saw that the person buying the items was the Crown Prince himself!

Perhaps sensing his gaze, the Crown Prince turned around and saw Xu Yanmiao with his strange and curious expression, and also thought to himself…

【Wow! Buying six of everything, is he that extravagant!】

— A fatal blow.

The Crown Prince rubbed his face, enduringly explained: “…This is for my mother. This is for my wife. This is for my four daughters.”

Xu Yanmiao blinked: “…Oh.”

【So that’s what it is…】

The regretful tone in his thoughts—what was that about? I’m not that extravagant Crown Prince; I’m sorry!

Realizing the misunderstanding, Xu Yanmiao quickly took his leave and slipped away.

【Thank goodness, thank goodness! I only thought about it in my mind!】

The next day at court, Xu Yanmiao also only thought about it in his mind…

【Why hasn’t it reached New Year’s Eve yet? Why hasn’t the official sealing ceremony taken place? Why can’t I sleep until I wake naturally—let me see what Concubine Qin is up to!】

This twist almost caused a commotion among the court officials.

The old emperor’s face turned green.

It’s been over a month, almost two months, and you’re still thinking about Concubine Qin? Can’t you forget about her!

I finally managed to forget that I was cuckolded!

The officials nodded in agreement.

— Can’t you forget about Concubine Qin? We don’t want to die or get involved in dangerous matters regarding the Crown Prince and the emperor’s concubine!

Moreover…

Concubine Qin is still alive? Considering there had been no news, they thought the emperor had secretly executed her.

【！！！】

【How did Concubine Qin deliberately fall down the steps!】

【She wants an abortion!!!】

“Ugh—”

The Minister of Revenue pulled out a beard hair, glancing quickly at the Jin Tai.

He guessed that Concubine Qin’s survival was likely because she was still carrying the Crown Prince’s child. Even if it was an illegitimate child, given the emperor’s concern for bloodlines, he would at least wait for the child to be born. And it was the Crown Prince’s first child.

But now…

The old emperor stood up abruptly.

And left the court again.

And ran off again!

【Ah…】Xu Yanmiao was confused: 【Why did the court session get interrupted again?】

The officials: “…”

What do you think?

It’s the emperor’s great-grandson, the emperor’s favorite eldest grandson’s first child—how could he not be anxious?

Even the Crown Prince must be…

“This… Concubine Qin is quite pitiable…”

Yes…

Prime Minister Dou nodded slightly.

She was fine before, but now that she’s fallen down the steps, it’s because both inside and outside the palace are spreading rumors that she seduced the Crown Prince and did not uphold her womanly virtues. She could no longer bear it and decided to seek an abortion and end her life?

“If only my troublesome son could treat his savior properly, either by giving money or a position, things wouldn’t have developed this way.”

The Minister of Rites nodded.

Yes, if the Crown Prince had upheld propriety, things wouldn’t have…

Wait? “My troublesome son”? “My palace”?

The Prime Minister and the Ministers of the Six Departments turned their heads simultaneously: “Your Highness?!”

The Crown Prince had a face full of emotion, and… sympathy for Concubine Qin. Then, seeing their expressions, he was particularly surprised: “Why do you all look like that?”

“Not… Your Highness…”

The Minister of Rites was struck as if by lightning: “Your Highness, that child in Concubine Qin’s womb is the Crown Prince’s eldest grandson!”

How can you not care about your legitimate eldest grandson and instead be concerned about that insignificant concubine?

“Hmm… so?”

“She almost confused the royal bloodline!”

The Crown Prince explained with complete seriousness: “Minister, my father came from a farming background and later became a slave. Our family was once a beggar, a refugee, and a soldier and soldier’s family…”

Nearby officials wanted to cover their ears.

The Crown Prince dared to say such things, but they did not dare to listen!

The Crown Prince sincerely continued: “So our family doesn’t follow such strict rules. You all know of Concubine Zhang, right?”

Several ministers nodded instinctively.

They knew she was the first concubine taken by the Emperor when he first rose to power.

“The daughter of Concubine Zhang, Princess Wanquan, you know her, right?”

Several ministers nodded again.

The child born from Concubine Zhang and her previous husband was not ranked among the royal princes and princesses but was raised as a member of the imperial family. The Emperor even granted her a title, though not a princess, but a county princess.

The Crown Prince clapped his hands and shrugged: “Isn’t this acceptable? My father had very simple values. The more descendants, the better. Before he became emperor, he adopted a lot of foster sons, boasting about having a hundred children, but in reality, he had fewer than ten biological sons. He often lamented how the children of Concubine Zhang and her previous husband were not male. If he had a strong son, his confidence in battles would be greater.”

“My father even had a plan where he would take concubines, and his courtiers would manage his inner quarters to ensure his concubines would get pregnant, thus producing as many sons as possible to strengthen the family. For this goal, none of his concubines was shorter than seven feet. The plan failed only because he did not anticipate that he would be so extraordinarily talented, unifying the world so quickly, within thirteen years. Once he became emperor, he could no longer pursue this plan.”

Prime Minister Dou’s pupils shook.

The six ministers’ pupils shook.

No wonder they always felt the Emperor’s gaze was strange during the conquest—especially from the military generals. No wonder the Emperor would often seek their company and worry about their health… particularly their height!

These officials donned masks of pain.

Why did they have to know these things? Couldn’t the Crown Prince keep these matters to himself?

The Crown Prince glanced at them sideways and shook his head: “Why are you all so conservative?”

After shaking his head, he sighed deeply, lamenting how things were.

“So, what my father really hated was being cuckolded by the Crown Prince and Concubine Qin. He never got angry about confusing the bloodline. Understand?”

Anyway, even if this matter wasn’t exposed, Concubine Qin’s child wouldn’t have a chance to inherit the throne.

As a simple farmer, he would be pleased to have more male descendants to work the land, especially if the descendants carry his blood.

The six ministers nodded dazedly.

Understood.

But we don’t want to understand.

The Crown Prince looked at these high-ranking officials, all stunned, and felt a sudden sense of pleasure, even more than when eating melon seeds.

So this is the joy of watching people lose composure!

The Crown Prince smiled modestly: “So, there’s nothing in the matter of Concubine Qin and the Crown Prince that can shock me anymore…”

【Wait! Concubine Qin’s abortion was for the Empress!】

“I—”

The Crown Prince’s pupils shook, and the next second, he covered his mouth.

…Ugh, bit my tongue.

But he still nearly couldn’t contain his shock—

What did you say?!

For whom?!

Concubine Qin’s abortion was for whom?!

【For the Empress not to be criticized!!!】

【Wow! Over the past month, the Empress has been visiting her daily, caring for her.】

【Wow!!! Concubine Qin said to the Empress herself that she was just a farmer’s daughter, and the Crown Prince is so noble and handsome, and he even said he loved her. She was overwhelmed and grateful. She never imagined that someone so lowly could receive the favor of the heavenly dragon’s son. For this love, she was willing to die.】

【And then! She said she now realizes that the Crown Prince’s love wasn’t genuine, and the Empress truly loves her.】

“Slap—”

Prime Minister Dou’s tablet fell from his hand.

What does it mean that the Empress truly loves her?!

This… Concubine Qin wouldn’t have been referring to her younger sister, would she…

【Caring for her as a person, not as the Emperor’s concubine, the Crown Prince’s mistress, or the great-grandson’s mother.】

Prime Minister Dou: “…”

Prime Minister Dou sighed and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

Xu Yanmiao, can you please speak without taking deep breaths? Just saying ‘caring’ without a word can be terrifying.

He’s seventy-seven and can’t handle such shocks.

“Phew—”

Many officials took deep breaths.

They were scared too!

They didn’t dare breathe a moment ago!

【Recently, there’s been gossip in the palace about her not adhering to womanly virtues. The Empress quickly suppressed it, but a few rumors still reached her ears. She initially wanted to rely on the child in her womb to survive, but she didn’t want to implicate the Empress’s reputation. She didn’t want to be criticized as ignorant and ineffective for protecting a disreputable woman.】

【So she took advantage of the moment when no one was watching, jumped down the steps, and rolled all the way, dragging a trail of blood. It was so tragic. Ji Sui’s actions were truly despicable. If not for him discussing ‘The Female Precepts’ with the Emperor, it wouldn’t have ended like this.】

【So tragic that even melon seeds are hard to eat…】

【Sigh. Fortunately, Concubine Qin didn’t know what the Crown Prince said in prison; otherwise, after being rescued by the imperial physician, she would probably have jumped into a lake.】

What did the Crown Prince say in prison?

Although knowing he shouldn’t listen, he was really curious…

The officials, having just recovered from the shock of the Concubine Qin and Empress situation, couldn’t help but be drawn into the next scandal.

One by one, they picked up their curiosity and perked up their ears.

【Oh my! Right after saying that, the uncle slapped him—earlier, the scene of the uncle welcoming his nephew out of prison was so warm, and now he’s slapped him… Haha, the Crown Prince was stunned. Covering his face in disbelief, hahaha!】

【No wonder, the Crown Prince says anything without hesitation…】

【Tsk tsk… ‘I don’t want to go out. If Ah Zheng is dead, I don’t want to live!’ If you didn’t want to live, why didn’t you fast and wait for death before?】

【‘If I had known this earlier, I would have taken Ah Zheng and left the court, abandoned the identity of Crown Prince, and hidden away in Dali to live as a pair of celestial lovers, only envying the mandarin ducks and not the immortals!’】

Wha… What?!

The officials’ eyes widened in disbelief, exchanging incredulous glances.

Is this how you express love? You’re practically trying to force the other person to death!

“Slap—”

Prime Minister Dou, who had just picked up his tablet, accidentally let it fall again.

Prime Minister Dou bent over, maintaining the same position, completely stunned.

He must be getting old, hearing things that aren’t there. Did he just hear… leaving the court?

He must have misheard… right?

Prime Minister Dou’s fists were clenched tightly.

How could his younger sister have such a grandson! He should have drowned him in the washing basin from the start.

At the end of the path.

The Commander of the Royal Gurads had his scalp tingle, his face turning pale with fear.

— They had just returned because the Emperor decided the Crown Prince needed to be included, and now they heard…

“Leaving the court? Not being the Crown Prince?” The old Emperor repeated these two sentences, his anger turning into a mocking laugh: “Good, let’s see if he has the courage.”