Chapter30

“That Dong woman actually dared to laugh at me. I guess she forgot how many eyes the Horse King has!”

Qiao Ling turned her head, sneered, “It’s just three days in jail, what’s the big deal? It’s not like I haven’t been before. This time, I’m going to teach her a lesson!”

Zhang Yuying felt her head spinning, “Lady, ah…”

She tried her best to persuade her, but for a moment, she didn’t know how to start. In the end, she could only watch as Qiao Ling picked a basket of ripe and fragrant melons from the old melon seller, paid for them, and carried them to the carriage with one hand.

Then she heard Qiao Ling instruct the coachman, “Go to the Marquis of Huai’an’s Mansion!”

Zhang Yuying exclaimed, “Lady! It’s different when you smash melons on people in your own home compared to going to someone else’s home to smash melons. The punishment will be heavier! It won’t be a matter of just staying for a few days!”

She used a coaxing tone, softly, “We don’t hold grudges against petty people, a prime minister’s belly can hold a boat, we don’t stoop to their level…”

But Qiao Ling said, “I don’t plan to barge in. I’m just going to the front gate of the Marquis of Huai’an’s Mansion,I’m not going inside.”

Zhang Yuying was stunned, “Ah?”

Qiao Ling kept her word, and she really didn’t barge in. She had someone lead her to the front gate of the Marquis of Huai’an’s Mansion, put the basket of melons at her feet, held a melon in her hand, and set up a stool, waiting with ease.

Zhang Yuying: “…”

She finally understood her lady’s plan.

With the lingering power of the melon-smashing warrior, the basket of melons, before being thrown, had the greatest deterrent…

A group of people arrived at the front gate, and the gatekeepers of the Marquis of Huai’an’s Mansion weren’t blind. Of course, they could see them.

If it were ordinary peddlers, they would have been chased away long ago. However, they glanced at the clothes of the group, then at the vermilion-wheeled carriage reserved for noble families—could they be guests?

But looking at their posture, it didn’t seem like it.

Plus, the basket of melons at their feet, and recalling what happened at their own mansion a few days ago, the gatekeepers vaguely guessed.

They could only muster their courage and step forward, “Madam…”

Qiao Ling immediately corrected him, “Call me madam!”

The gatekeeper readily agreed, “Alright, madam, are you a guest of the mansion?”

Qiao Ling shook her head, “No.”

She immediately asked back, “This street isn’t yours either, right? Can’t I stay here?”

The gatekeeper was in a difficult position, but he could only say, “Of course you can…”

He knew that this was a tough nut to crack. Didn’t their master and mistress get a bloody nose from her?

He could only send someone to report to the inner mansion.

The Marquis of Huaian was furious when she heard the news, “How dare she come to my doorstep to make trouble? Get rid of her!”

The steward replied through the curtain, his brows furrowed, “She’s not exactly blocking the front gate, we can’t just chase her away without a reason…”

The Marquis of Huaian was exasperated, “That scoundrel! Go find the people from Jingzhao Prefecture!”

Qiao Ling sat on the stool and waited for a while, then she saw several officers from Jingzhao Prefecture come over. They bowed to her, “Duchess of Yue, you can’t stay here for long. Would you like to go somewhere else?”

Qiao Ling reached out, “Which law in our dynasty states that I can’t sit on the street with a basket of melons? Take it away, and I’ll leave immediately!”

The officers from Jingzhao Prefecture were in a difficult position, “It’s just that the Marquis of Huai’an’s Mansion sent someone to say something, we can’t do anything about it…”

Qiao Ling sneered, “I’m happy to sit here with my melons. It’s my right. If the Marquis of Huai’an’s Mansion doesn’t like it, that’s their problem. Why should I change?!”

“By the way,” she also asked the stewards from the Marquis of Huai’an’s Mansion who were cautiously looking this way, “When does your Marquis get off work and come back? It’s fine if you go through the side gate and avoid me. I don’t believe he’ll never go to court again, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or the day after that. There’s only one way in!”

The Marquis of Huaian was also waiting for news inside. Hearing this, she couldn’t hold back any longer. She stomped her feet behind the door and said, “She’s already said that, and you, Jingzhao Prefecture, still do nothing? Such a rogue, why don’t you arrest her quickly?!”

Qiao Ling heard her voice and immediately stood up, holding a melon in her hand, “Come out! Don’t hide inside and be afraid to show your face. I know you’re there!”

The Marquis of Huaian ignored her, she was furious, “What is Jingzhao Prefecture doing? Are you not going to do anything?!”

The officers from Jingzhao Prefecture could only reluctantly say, “Marquis of Huaian, she hasn’t done anything to you yet, how can we do anything?”

The Marquis of Huaian was furious, “She threatened me, didn’t you hear?!”

The leading officer said, “She’s just talking, she hasn’t done anything yet. What can we do?”

Qiao Ling laughed twice, “Dong, you better never come out! Old lady, I’m not waiting for you. I’m going to find the Marquis of Huai’an!”

She then turned and left decisively.

The Marquis of Huaian was anxious, “You scoundrel, stop!”

She had someone open the door, her face was ashen, and her body trembled, “What do you want?!”

Qiao Ling turned back to look at her, “Apologize to me! That night, you didn’t understand anything, and you just carelessly slandered me. Apologize to me right now!”

The Marquis of Huaian was speechless, she wanted to argue, but when she saw the melon in her hand, she felt a chill in her heart. Her eyes closed for a moment, and she said with difficulty, “I’m sorry, it was my fault…”

Qiao Ling then said, “From now on, keep your mouth shut about anything related to me. Don’t talk nonsense! If I hear you mention me again…”

The melon in her hand “smack” against the stone lion in front of the Marquis of Huai’an’s Mansion. A crisp sound, and the juice splattered!

The Marquis of Huaian remembered the fear of being dominated by melons, her eyes welled up with tears, and she nodded tremblingly, “Okay, I understand…”

Qiao Ling, “Louder!”

The Marquis of Huaian shouted with a sob, “I understand!”

Qiao Ling sneered, clapped her hands, then she lowered her flag and beat a retreat, strutting back home.

Even before Qiao Ling was released from prison, many people were waiting outside for news.

The top tier of Capital had its own unique jungle rules. Whether it was the royal family or the noble officials, every household inevitably had some dirty secrets. However, they all followed the established rules, suppressing those dirty things. As for their public image, they presented a respectable and bright facade.

Qiao Ling was an anomaly in this jungle.

And because of this, how could they not pay attention to this leopard who had suddenly burst into this jungle, this leopard who was fearless and reckless?

The Princess, upon hearing a report from her Lord Cheng’en, learned that several imperial physicians were staying at the Duke of Cheng’en’s Mansion, and she felt a bit reassured. She had someone serve her and change into her going-out clothes.

Before she was finished changing, she heard another report, saying that the Duke of Yue had been released from prison, but she didn’t go back to the mansion. Instead, she went to the Marquis of Huaian’s door to seek revenge.

The Princess understood her servants’ intentions.

They knew she didn’t like the Marquis of Huaian, and now that they saw the joke that happened to her family, they deliberately told her to make her happy.

She was indeed happy.

Who doesn’t like to see the consequences of ungrateful people?

Perhaps it showed on her face, because when she arrived at Jianzhang Palace, bowed, and sat down, she heard the emperor leaning against the jade table and asking, “My daughter, what good fortune have you encountered?”

The Princess couldn’t help but touch her face, “Is it that obvious?”

The emperor said,”Not really, but it’s noticeable.”

A servant brought tea, then quietly retreated. Only the historian knelt behind the curtain, like a silent shadow.

The Princess didn’t hide anything from her father, she told him the news she had just received, “The Duchess of Yue is truly a remarkable person!”

The emperor laughed after hearing this, he rested his chin on his hand and said “She’s so bold.”

The Princess, who wasn’t actually there for that matter, took a sip of tea and then picked a lychee from the jade plate. As she peeled it, she said, “Father, you know Lu Mengqing’s personality. Although he’s a politician, he’s still a principled scholar at heart. Why bother with him?”

After peeling it, she put the smooth and white lychee in her mouth, “And Minister Han, there’s no need to say anything about him. He’s been with you since the East Palace. This time, he was decided to be demoted, not exiled, which shows that you’re not really that angry, you still care about him. Now that he’s about to leave, let Minister Lu out. The two of them can have a farewell drink and send him off.”

The emperor listened in silence, and after a long time, he tapped the jade table and said, “Peel one for me too.”

The Princess smiled and said, “Okay,” and peeled another one for him.

The emperor took it and put it in his mouth, chewed it a few times, and spit out the pit, “The Prime Ministers are too united, it’s not a good thing.”

The Princess said, “Then choose one who doesn’t agree with them and put him up there.”

The emperor nodded slightly, then suddenly said,”Go see the Duke of Cheng’en. After all he’s your grandfather.”

The Princess replied perfunctorily, “I’ll go when I have time.”

The emperor chuckled, “Everyone says you’re honest, I think you’re just cunning…”

The Princess stayed there and peeled the whole plate of lychees before leaving. As she left the hall, she sent someone to inform Tai Shu Hong, the Mayor of Jingzhao, “Release Lu Xianggong.”

Qiao Ling was still on her way back to the Duke of Yue’s Mansion. On the way, she couldn’t help but ask Zhang Yuying, “The Duke of Cheng’en is actually the Princess’s grandfather!”

Zhang Yuying said, “Yes, the Princess’s mother, Consort Xian, was the Duke of Cheng’en’s daughter, which means she was the Queen Mother’s niece. She was one of the earliest people to serve the emperor.”

Qiao Ling couldn’t help but sigh, “The Queen Mother’s niece, why didn’t she become Empress?”

Zhang Yuying looked at her strangely and said, “Because almost all the Empresses of our dynasty are from noble families!”

Speaking of this, Zhang Yuying laughed, “But speaking of which, although the Queen Mother was also the Empress of the previous Emperor, she wasn’t from a noble family…”

She then said, “And in our dynasty, the royal family has never had a precedent of marrying a cousin. Not only as Empress, but also as a concubine. It is said—just a rumor—that this was a rule left by the Sage, Emperor Gao. He prohibited marriage between people with direct kinship within three generations, saying that the bloodline was too close and would produce unhealthy children. The nobles generally followed this example. Although they have intermarried, it’s very rare.”

A maid beside her interjected, “It’s not certain whether this is a rule left by the Sage or not. Lady, just pretend you don’t know. Don’t mention it when you go out.”

Another maid said, “Yes, otherwise, it will seem like you’re using the rules left by Emperor Gao to criticize the Princess.”

Qiao Ling thought about it and couldn’t help but ask, “Since there has never been such a precedent, why did the emperor marry his cousin as a concubine?”

Zhang Yuying didn’t say anything, but the maid said, “Because it’s the emperor’s filial piety!”

Another maid said naturally, “Lady, you should know that the Duke of Cheng’en’s Mansion doesn’t have any promising men. Once the Queen Mother passes away, they will likely decline. Now that they have a Lady Xianfei, and a granddaughter like the Princess, as long as they don’t do anything wrong, they can at least remain prosperous for another few decades!”

Zhang Yuying, however, looked at her and said meaningfully, “The year the emperor took over the throne, the Duke of Cheng’en’s daughter entered the palace and became Lady Xianfei.”

A bolt of lightning flashed through Qiao Ling’s mind, “Before the Emperor took over the throne, who held the power?”

Zhang Yuying was used to her ignorance about the stories of this dynasty, and she naturally answered, “The Queen Mother. At that time, the Queen Mother wasn’t called Empress, but Queen Mother. She ruled as regent, acting on behalf of the emperor—not only after the previous Emperor passed away, but also during the middle of the previous Emperor’s reign. The Queen Mother ruled in place of the previous Emperor, governing the four corners of the land, and she was regent for decades. She had great achievements, until the emperor came of age and took over the throne.”

Qiao Ling glanced around discreetly, without saying anything.

It wasn’t until the carriage arrived outside the Duke of Yue’s Mansion, and she got off and was alone, that she quietly asked Zhang Yuying, “Did the Queen Mother have a bad relationship with the Duke of Cheng’en’s Mansion?”

Zhang Yuying whispered to her, “The second year the Queen Mother ruled as regent, she ordered the execution of her own brother. There were even rumors among the people that there was something fishy about the deaths of the Queen Mother’s parents.”

But she also said, “But the Queen Mother still made her younger brother the Duke of Cheng’en and didn’t abolish the title—the Duke of Cheng’en was still very young at that time.”

Qiao Ling recalled what Lu Mengqing had said in prison, and she understood.

The emperor had always protected the Duke of Cheng’en’s Mansion, and he didn’t necessarily truly respect his uncle.

For him, it was a way to show filial piety—you see, the Queen Mother’s family has repeatedly broken the law, and the Prime Ministers even rebuked them in court, but I have pardoned them. What could it be if not filial piety?

At the same time, it was also a blow to the Queen Mother’s reputation and achievements.

Such an undignified family, such a reckless brother and niece, as the former Empress and now the Queen Mother, she couldn’t control her relatives. Isn’t that negligence?

When the Queen Mother ruled as regent, the Duke of Cheng’en was still very young. He truly started to act up and cause trouble probably towards the end of the Queen Mother’s reign, especially after the current Emperor ascended the throne. How could it not make people wonder!

And with the passage of time, the erosion and damage to her own reputation, as a politician who had been regent for decades, should have been easy to see through. Did the Queen Mother really not know about this?

But she didn’t seem to have tried to stop it deliberately.

Qiao Ling understood and couldn’t help but say, “The Emperor must really hate the Queen Mother.”

Zhang Yuying’s feet went weak, and she hurriedly said, “…Keep your voice down, is this something you can say out loud!”

Qiao Ling looked around and whispered, “Do you have any inside information? I think there’s a lot to this story!”

Zhang Yuying looked helpless, “Lady, this kind of palace secret, even if there’s a lot to it, it’s not something I can know. When my father was in office, he was just a junior official in the Ministry of Revenue, he wasn’t from a noble family, where would he learn about these things?”

Qiao Ling was enlightened by her words, “There’s one person who must know!”

Zhang Yuying looked slightly confused, “Huh?”

Qiao Ling ran into Madam Liang’s courtyard. As soon as she entered, she started greeting cheerfully, “Mother-in-law Mother-in-law”

Madam Liang and her daughter-in-law had a rather complicated relationship.

Moreover, on their wedding night, Qiao Ling had sent Jiang Yu away and taken responsibility for everything. Granted, she was the one who smashed the melons that sent her to Jingzhao Prison, but Jiang Yu had also owed her a favor.

For this favor, she had people tidy up from the afternoon, preparing to welcome her daughter-in-law back from prison.

Now, she heard her daughter-in-law’s cheerful voice, as lively as before, through the door. She couldn’t help but put on a smile.

Qiao Ling didn’t stand on ceremony at all. As soon as she entered, she acted as if she were the mistress of the house, and she calmly directed Madam Liang’s servants, “You guys go out first. I have a few words to say to Mother-in-law.”

The servants subconsciously looked at Madam Liang.

Madam Liang frowned slightly and waved her hand.

They then quickly went out, lowering their heads, and closed the door behind them.

This left Qiao Ling and Madam Liang alone in the room.

Madam Liang was still wondering, “What do you want to say?”

Qiao Ling got straight to the point and whispered, “Mother-in-law Did something happen between the Queen Mother and the Emperor? I feel like the emperor really hates the Queen Mother…”

Madam Liang’s eyes went dark.

The smile she had put on for the sake of the favor and their previous interactions immediately disappeared, replaced by anger. She held back from yelling and whispered, “Mind your own business!”

Madam Liang said angrily, “What does this have to do with you?!”

“I don’t know, I just wanted to ask.”

Qiao Ling was used to her attitude and didn’t mind. She blinked her eyes and asked, “Grandmother is the emperor’s sister, and the Duke of An Guo’s Mansion is one of the founding noble families. You must know a lot about what goes on in the palace, Mother-in-law.”

Madam Liang rolled her eyes at her, hesitated for a moment, and finally said, “I’ll only say it once. You listen and then forget it. Don’t go spreading rumors!”

Qiao Ling immediately gave her assurance, “I’ll forget it after I hear it, I won’t spread rumors!”

Madam Liang then asked her to sit next to her.

Qiao Ling obediently sat down.

Madam Liang whispered, “The previous Emperor’s health wasn’t actually very good. Although most people believe that the Queen Mother started participating in politics in the middle of the previous Emperor’s reign, in reality, many things in the court started to be controlled from behind the bead curtain during the early part of his reign…”

“At that time, the Queen Mother had a lot to do, and human energy is limited. It was difficult to manage the court and take care of her children at the same time. At that time, the one who accompanied the emperor was his wet nurse, Lady Fengsheng Xu.”

Qiao Ling repeated softly, “Lady Fengsheng?”

Madam Liang told her, “This is the title the Ministry of Rites used for Xu in a non-public document after the emperor ascended the throne. It’s not used in formal occasions. It’s just that many people, anticipating the emperor’s attitude, showed respect to Xu, so they usually called her Lady Fengsheng.”

Qiao Ling whispered, “But I didn’t see Lady Fengsheng in the document my aunt gave me.”

Madam Liang’s expression was a bit complicated, “At that time, the emperor was the only child of the previous Emperor and the Queen Mother. As the Emperor’s wet nurse, Xu’s status naturally rose. Xu’s family, relying on her, acted illegally outside. Later, the Queen Mother found out and ordered a reprimand, and they became more disciplined. Later…”

Qiao Ling couldn’t help but lean forward, “Later?”

Madam Liang pushed her head back with a look of disgust and continued, “Later, the Emperor fell ill, very seriously. For a while, there was panic in the court—you have to understand, he was not only the Queen Mother’s only child, but also the previous Emperor’s only child.”

Qiao Ling thought about it, “Was Lady Fengsheng blamed for this, because she didn’t take good care of him?”

“No,” Madam Liang said, “The Emperor eventually recovered, but in the years that followed, his health was always weak. It was after that that the Queen Mother had a second child, Prince Qi, and she raised him by her side.”

Qiao Ling couldn’t help but exclaim, “Ah… It’s not the lack of something, but the unevenness!”

She could actually understand the Empress Dowager’s actions at that time.

Whether it was for the sake of the country or for herself, when the only heir to the vast empire was young and frail, she should indeed try to add another insurance to the list of heirs.

But for the first child, it was too cruel.

Madam Liang looked into her eyes, her voice so soft it seemed to melt into the air, “Prince Qi was born less than a year before Lady Xu was executed by the Empress Dowager, and her family was exterminated. Some people say that Lady Fengsheng was discovered plotting to poison Prince Qi…”

Qiao Ling felt a chill, she said “Oh” and didn’t pursue the matter further. Instead, she brought up another topic, “I noticed on my wedding day that there aren’t many close relatives of the royal family.”

The previous Emperor had two sons, the Holy Lord and Prince Qi.

The Great Princess Wu’an was the previous Emperor’s sister, and King Han was the previous Emperor’s younger brother.

And then?

That’s it!

There were also distant branches of the royal family, but their bloodline was a bit distant.

Madam Liang glanced at her and said vaguely, “Emperor Hui was the posthumous title of the previous Emperor. Before the previous Emperor, there was Emperor Mingzong. Emperor Mingzong was in trouble in his later years.”

She also looked a bit troubled, “Don’t go out and cause trouble. Read some books. It’s embarrassing to have a daughter-in-law who hasn’t read any books…”

“Oh,” Qiao Ling hung her head dejectedly, shrinking back, “Okay.”

Madam Liang glanced at the time and said, “The Old Lady will be back later, we’ll go have dinner together. Sigh, this is actually the first time our whole family has gotten together since the wedding.”

Qiao Ling said cautiously, “This kind of thing, no one wants it to happen…”

Madam Liang then rolled her eyes at her again.

The Old Lady hadn’t gotten off work yet, and Jiang Yu hadn’t come back either. Qiao Ling didn’t rush to leave, she borrowed Madam Liang’s study and found a history book of this dynasty to read.

She didn’t rush to read the recent parts, but started from the beginning, with Emperor Gao’s chapter.

The beginning was just the usual stuff. Emperor Gao was born with a five-colored cloud in the sky, his mother dreamed of a golden dragon coiled around her belly when she was pregnant. Then, he raised an army and rebelled against the tyranny of the previous dynasty. The book wrote in great detail about Emperor Gao’s glorious deeds and martial prowess, and finally, he established the dynasty and became Emperor, bestowing titles on his meritorious subjects.

Turning to the second page, the records became much more concise.

Emperor Gao’s sixth year, Empress Gao and her family, the Deng clan, rebelled. The emperor poisoned Empress Gao and exterminated her family. The world mourned her.

He then heard that the Dou clan had beautiful women, so he made her Empress. Empress Dou gave birth to Emperor Wen, the Taizong.

Qiao Ling couldn’t help but smile subtly when she saw this.

Whether it was “the world mourned her” or “the Dou clan had beautiful women” later, it inevitably revealed a certain political bias.

Qiao Ling put her finger between the current page and flipped to the title page. Sure enough, she found that the book was printed decades ago.

Not very long ago.

She didn’t rush to read the rest, but secretly made a bet with herself.

It seems like the current royal family is descended from Empress Gao.

She continued reading, and sure enough, it was true.

“The Hidden Crown Prince was Emperor Gao’s legitimate son. He loved poetry and books, and he was of noble character. When former dynasty hermits talked to him, they would burst into tears and hold his hand, saying, ‘The hope of prosperity for the world, of returning to the glory of the Three Dynasties, rests on you!'”

“At that time, the Deng clan made enemies in the court and repeatedly spread rumors, causing Emperor Gao to misunderstand and distance himself from Empress Gao.”

“The Hidden Crown Prince then removed his hat and walked barefoot in the countryside, saying, ‘Father gave me life, Mother raised me. They cared for me, nurtured me, raised me, and educated me. They looked after me, protected me, and I entered and exited their bellies. I want to repay their kindness. The vast heavens are boundless!’ He was caught in a predicament where his parents were enemies.”

“After Taizong, Emperor You rebelled, violating the ancestral virtues, which angered both Heaven and man. At that time, the imperial lineage was in danger of extinction. There were elders in the court who said that the Hidden Crown Prince was Emperor Gao’s legitimate eldest son and was a wise and capable person. They should welcome his descendants to be Emperor. Everyone agreed. So, they welcomed the Hidden Crown Prince’s descendant to Capital of God, who became Emperor Shizong.”

Qiao Ling flipped through the rest of the book roughly, and she found that she hadn’t guessed wrong.

The current dynasty is indeed descended from Empress Gao’s Deng clan. The descendants of Empress Dou’s line lost in the power struggles within the royal family, and the historian’s writing about them was obviously less detailed.

Fortunately, there was still “Emperor Wen, the Taizong” to support them—according to the rules of posthumous titles, only emperors who were capable of ruling the world and creating a prosperous era could receive this posthumous title—otherwise, Empress Dou’s line would have been completely forgotten among the emperors.

Qiao Ling shook her head and laughed, a bit wistful. It’s good to be capable.

The current dynasty must be trying to weaken the influence of Empress Dou’s line in this dynasty. Even the records of Emperor Wen, the Taizong, are relatively concise. But later generations, seeing the temple name and posthumous title, know that he was someone with substance…

Halfway through her laughter, she suddenly stopped.

Unconsciously, she thought of what Zhang Yuying had told her before.

“Since the previous dynasty, there has been a saying among the people, ‘Yellow flag, purple canopy, the emperor will come from the southeast.’ It says that there is an Emperor’s aura in Jiangdong. So, during Emperor Xianzong’s reign, they started construction on Qujiang Pond in the southeast of Shendu. They dug a low foundation, filled it with water, and used the royal aura of Shendu to suppress the southeast.”

“At the same time, Emperor Xianzong also used a place name in the southeast to bestow a title on his legitimate eldest son, making him a king, and he was sent to his fief. The following year, he crowned the Crown Prince, who became Emperor Suzong after Emperor Xianzong’s death.”

“A prince who was enfeoffed in the southeast became Emperor. This fulfilled the prophecy of ‘the emperor will come from the southeast.’ This is called ‘fulfilling the omen.'”

She could actually understand the Empress Dowager’s actions at that time.

Whether it was for the sake of the country or for herself, when the only heir to the vast empire was young and frail, she should indeed try to add another insurance to the list of heirs.

But for the first child, it was too cruel.

Qiao Ling immediately flipped to Emperor Xianzong’s chapter, and then she naturally discovered that Emperor Xianzong was the son of Emperor Shizong—and Emperor Shizong was the descendant of the Hidden Crown Prince who successfully seized the throne from the descendants of Empress Dou!

Could it be that Emperor You, or Emperor He, his father, still had other descendants alive? After the power struggle within the royal family, were they taken away from Divine Capital and sent to the southeast?

If that’s the case, then Emperor Xianzong’s strict precautions against the prophecy of “the emperor will come from the southeast” seems to have a reason.

In terms of legal legitimacy to the throne, both sides are actually similar, and Emperor You’s side is even stronger.

My ancestor was Emperor, your ancestor was just a deposed crown prince. What Hidden Crown Prince? Do you even know your own weight?

Qiao Ling’s heart beat a little faster. She closed her eyes and felt as if she could hear the sound of her blood rushing through her veins.

My masters told me to come to the capital at this time, and they never mentioned anything that happened after Emperor Gao…

Madam Liang entered the room and saw Qiao Ling lying on the couch, holding a book in her hand, looking up at the ceiling.

She wanted to get angry again.

She took a deep breath and suppressed it, “If you’re reading, you should look like you’re reading. Sit up straight!”

Qiao Ling obediently sat up, but she hesitated and said, “Mother-in-law.”

Madam Liang said, “What is it?”

Qiao Ling shook the book in her hand, “You must have read the section about Emperor You, right? Because Emperor You had no descendants, the court welcomed the Hidden Crown Prince’s descendants to be Emperor.”

Madam Liang said curiously, “I did read it, what about it?”

Qiao Ling asked seriously, “Did Emperor You, or Emperor He, his father, really have no descendants left in the world?”

Madam Liang was taken aback, then she told her, “The court says there aren’t any, so there aren’t any.”

Qiao Ling’s shoulders relaxed, and she mumbled, “Right.”

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law fell silent.

Madam Liang took the book from her hand and, following the order, put it back on the bookshelf.

At this moment, Qiao Ling suddenly said, “Mother-in-law.”

Madam Liang turned around, “Hmm?”

Qiao Ling asked seriously, “Do I look like a princess?”

Madam Liang: “…”

Qiao Ling was hurt, she was indignant, “Mother-in-law! What kind of expression is that? That’s too much!”

Madam Liang sneered, “I didn’t say anything!”

Madam Liang looked into her eyes, her voice so soft it seemed to melt into the air, “Prince Qi was born less than a year before Lady Xu was executed by the Empress Dowager, and her family was exterminated. Some people say that Lady Fengsheng was discovered plotting to poison Prince Qi…”

Qiao Ling felt a chill, she said “Oh” and didn’t pursue the matter further. Instead, she brought up another topic, “I noticed on my wedding day that there aren’t many close relatives of the royal family.”

The previous Emperor had two sons, the Emperor and Prince Qi.

The Great Princess Wu’an was the previous Emperor’s sister, and King Han was the previous Emperor’s younger brother.

And then?

That’s it!

There were also distant branches of the royal family, but their bloodline was a bit distant.

Madam Liang glanced at her and said vaguely, “Emperor Hui was the posthumous title of the previous Emperor. Before the previous Emperor, there was Emperor Ming. Emperor Ming was in trouble in his later years.”

She also looked a bit troubled, “Don’t go out and cause trouble. Read some books. It’s embarrassing to have a daughter-in-law who hasn’t read any books…”

“Oh,” Qiao Ling hung her head dejectedly, shrinking back, “Okay.”

Madam Liang glanced at the time and said, “The Old Matriarch will be back later, we’ll go have dinner together. Sigh, this is actually the first time our whole family has gotten together since the wedding.”

Qiao Ling said cautiously, “This kind of thing, no one wants it to happen…”

Madam Liang then rolled her eyes at her again.

The Old Matriarch hadn’t gotten off work yet, and Jiang Yu hadn’t come back either. Qiao Ling didn’t rush to leave, she borrowed Madam Liang’s study and found a history book of this dynasty to read.

She didn’t rush to read the recent parts, but started from the beginning, with Emperor Gao’s chapter.

The beginning was just the usual stuff. Emperor Gao was born with a five-colored cloud in the sky, his mother dreamed of a golden dragon coiled around her belly when she was pregnant. Then, he raised an army and rebelled against the tyranny of the previous dynasty. The book wrote in great detail about Emperor Gao’s glorious deeds and martial prowess, and finally, he established the dynasty and became Emperor, bestowing titles on his meritorious subjects.

Turning to the second page, the records became much more concise.

Emperor Gao’s sixth year, Empress Gao and her family, the Deng clan, rebelled. The emperor poisoned Empress Gao and exterminated her family. The world mourned her.

He then heard that the Dou clan had beautiful women, so he made her Empress. Empress Dou gave birth to Emperor Wen, the Taizong.

Qiao Ling couldn’t help but smile subtly when she saw this.

Whether it was “the world mourned her” or “the Dou clan had beautiful women” later, it inevitably revealed a certain political bias.

Qiao Ling put her finger between the current page and flipped to the title page. Sure enough, she found that the book was printed decades ago.

Not very long ago.

She didn’t rush to read the rest, but secretly made a bet with herself.

It seems like the current royal family is descended from Empress Gao.

She continued reading, and sure enough, it was true.

“The Hidden Crown Prince was Emperor Gao’s legitimate son. He loved poetry and books, and he was of noble character. When former dynasty hermits talked to him, they would burst into tears and hold his hand, saying, ‘The hope of prosperity for the world, of returning to the glory of the Three Dynasties, rests on you!'”

“At that time, the Deng clan made enemies in the court and repeatedly spread rumors, causing Emperor Gao to misunderstand and distance himself from Empress Gao.”

“The Hidden Crown Prince then removed his hat and walked barefoot in the countryside, saying, ‘Father gave me life, Mother raised me. They cared for me, nurtured me, raised me, and educated me. They looked after me, protected me, and I entered and exited their bellies. I want to repay their kindness. The vast heavens are boundless!’ He was caught in a predicament where his parents were enemies.”

“After Taizong, Emperor You rebelled, violating the ancestral virtues, which angered both Heaven and man. At that time, the imperial lineage was in danger of extinction. There were elders in the court who said that the Hidden Crown Prince was Emperor Gao’s legitimate eldest son and was a wise and capable person. They should welcome his descendants to be Emperor. Everyone agreed. So, they welcomed the Hidden Crown Prince’s descendant to Shendu, who became Emperor Shizong.”

Qiao Ling flipped through the rest of the book roughly, and she found that she hadn’t guessed wrong.

The current dynasty is indeed descended from Empress Gao’s Deng clan. The descendants of Empress Dou’s line lost in the power struggles within the royal family, and the historian’s writing about them was obviously less detailed.

Fortunately, there was still “Emperor Wen, the Taizong” to support them—according to the rules of posthumous titles, only emperors who were capable of ruling the world and creating a prosperous era could receive this posthumous title—otherwise, Empress Dou’s line would have been completely forgotten among the emperors.

Qiao Ling shook her head and laughed, a bit wistful. It’s good to be capable.

The current dynasty must be trying to weaken the influence of Empress Dou’s line in this dynasty. Even the records of Emperor Wen, the Taizong, are relatively concise. But later generations, seeing the temple name and posthumous title, know that he was someone with substance…

Halfway through her laughter, she suddenly stopped.

Unconsciously, she thought of what Zhang Yuying had told her before.

“Since the previous dynasty, there has been a saying among the people, ‘Yellow flag, purple canopy, the emperor will come from the southeast.’ It says that there is an Emperor’s aura in Jiangdong. So, during Emperor Xianzong’s reign, they started construction on Qujiang Pool in the southeast of Shendu. They dug a low foundation, filled it with water, and used the royal aura of Shendu to suppress the southeast.”

“At the same time, Emperor Xianzong also used a place name in the southeast to bestow a title on his legitimate eldest son, making him a king, and he was sent to his fief. The following year, he crowned the Crown Prince, who became Emperor Suzong after Emperor Xianzong’s death.”

“A prince who was enfeoffed in the southeast became Emperor. This fulfilled the prophecy of ‘the emperor will come from the southeast.’ This is called ‘fulfilling the omen.'”

Qiao Ling immediately flipped to Emperor Xianzong’s chapter, and then she naturally discovered that Emperor Xianzong was the son of Emperor Shizong—and Emperor Shizong was the descendant of the Hidden Crown Prince who successfully seized the throne from the descendants of Empress Dou!

Could it be that Emperor You, or Emperor He, his father, still had other descendants alive? After the power struggle within the royal family, were they taken away from Divine Capital and sent to the southeast?

If that’s the case, then Emperor Xianzong’s strict precautions against the prophecy of “the emperor will come from the southeast” seems to have a reason.

In terms of legal legitimacy to the throne, both sides are actually similar, and Emperor You’s side is even stronger.

My ancestor was Emperor, your ancestor was just a deposed crown prince. What Hidden Crown Prince? Do you even know your own weight?

Qiao Ling’s heart beat a little faster. She closed her eyes and felt as if she could hear the sound of her blood rushing through her veins.

My masters told me to come to the capital at this time, and they never mentioned anything that happened after Emperor Gao…

Madam Liang entered the room and saw Qiao Ling leaning on the couch, holding a book in her hand, looking up at the ceiling.

She wanted to get angry again.

She took a deep breath and suppressed it, “If you’re reading, you should look like you’re reading. Sit up straight!”

Qiao Ling obediently sat up, but she hesitated and said, “Mother-in-law.”

Madam Liang said, “What is it?”

Qiao Ling shook the book in her hand, “You must have read the section about Emperor You, right? Because Emperor You had no descendants, the court welcomed the Hidden Crown Prince’s descendants to be Emperor.”

Madam Liang said curiously, “I did read it, what about it?”

Qiao Ling asked seriously, “Did Emperor You, or Emperor He, his father, really have no descendants left in the world?”

Madam Liang was taken aback, then she told her, “The court says there aren’t any, so there aren’t any.”

Qiao Ling’s shoulders relaxed, and she mumbled, “Right.”

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law fell silent.

Madam Liang took the book from her hand and, following the order, put it back on the bookshelf.

At this moment, Qiao Ling suddenly said, “Mother-in-law.”

Madam Liang turned around, “Hmm?”

Qiao Ling asked seriously, “Do I look like a princess?”

Madam Liang: “…”

Qiao Ling was hurt, she was indignant, “Mother-in-law! What kind of expression is that? That’s too much!”

Madam Liang sneered, “I didn’t say anything!”