My wife has a secret

Chapter 155 Calculation
"Stop being so hypocritical!"

Thinking of the indifference of Empress Dowager Xu in recent years, the betrayal of the Empress and his first wife, and the loss of the country, the little emperor's originally handsome features became a little crazy.

He shouted at the Queen Mother who was approaching slowly, "Even if I die, I will never submit to the control of you traitors!"

After saying this, his eyes passed the Queen Mother and looked towards a beautiful figure in the distance.

The woman was wearing gorgeous clothes, with long flowing hair, and had an extremely beautiful face that was extremely sweet.

The perceptive Princess Danyang felt this scorching gaze, her thin eyebrows were slightly wrinkled, her expression was sad, and she seemed to be sighing secretly.

This scene was seen by everyone present. Everyone thought that the twelve-year-old emperor would compromise with the empress dowager for the sake of his sister's survival. However, unexpectedly, the boy never looked back at the crowd, turned around and jumped into the abyss.

Queen Mother Xu stopped walking and looked at the scene in front of her for a long time.

Finally, Lianhua Jun, who was at the front of the crowd, moved first and came to Queen Mother Xu and whispered a few words.

After getting the Empress Dowager's opinion, she turned around and gave instructions to the officials below the stage.

"Her Majesty has ordered that what you have seen today is true. The Censorate and the Ministry of Rites are responsible for sorting out the cause and process of the ceremony and explaining it to the public...Except for Xu Qing from Xu Mansion in Suzhou and Princess Li Jin'er of Danyang, everyone else is to leave immediately."

The eunuch in charge shouted loudly: "All officials, leave immediately!"

The sound of exit echoed in the air, and more than a thousand civil and military officials stood up, bowed to the figure of Empress Dowager Xu, and turned to leave.

A general wearing a tiger-faced armor of the Imperial Guards, stained with scarlet blood, stood out from the crowd, bowed his hands in the direction of the prayer platform, and asked, "May I ask Lord Lianhua, the prayer platform is a royal holy place, and now it has been stained with the blood of the White Lotus rebels. Should I lead the Imperial Guards to clean up the surroundings?"

Lord Lianhua stood on the prayer platform, looking down at the chief of the imperial guards, Shi Chen.

Maybe it was because she often followed the Empress Dowager, but her eyes were cold and her every move, every glance, really had some of the majesty and dignity of an emperor.

"Commander Shi, there are a total of four deputy commanders in the Imperial City's Forbidden Army. Apart from Commander Dou Yalong who was killed by the rebels on the night of the riot in the capital... the three commanders just now all rebelled first. Do you know the fault of your subordinates?"

Upon hearing this, Shi Chen knelt on one knee, and the tiger-head skirt armor on his body made a clearly audible crackling sound when it touched the ground.

"It is my fault. I beg the Queen Mother to punish me."

Lianhua Jun said in a calm tone: "Her Majesty remembers your contribution in suppressing the rebellion in the capital, so this time the punishment is to deduct one year's salary. The specific matters will be notified to you after the ceremony... Let all the imperial guards withdraw."

"Yes!"

Shi Chen could sense the Queen Mother's dissatisfaction with the Imperial Guards from Lian Huajun's attitude and tone towards him.

Previously, the imperial guards had been infiltrated by the Prince of Dongwan. Some of their captains and generals had secretly signed some agreements with Prince Kang, planning to stand idly by when the capital was in turmoil.

Although after the turmoil that day, everyone with a discerning eye could see that the Prince of Dongwan was doomed, the remaining imperial guards were afraid that their crimes would be exposed, and were still persuaded by the White Lotus Sect to rebel, causing chaos during the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven.

This is also the reason why the deputy commander and the captain of the imperial guards rebelled after the little emperor's first countdown.

When Shi Chen led the imperial guards to retreat from the prayer platform and took the soldiers to guard the Hanyuan Hall at the foot of the peak, Xu Qing and Princess Danyang walked slowly forward at the signal of Lord Lianhua and came behind Empress Dowager Xu.

As soon as he stepped onto the prayer platform, Xu Qing felt the cold mountain wind sweeping towards him, making his clothes rustle and dispersing a lot of the strong smell of blood.

Queen Mother Xu pursed her lips slightly, turned around in her gorgeous dress, and her beautiful eyes swept over Princess Danyang and stopped on her most beloved nephew.

She said in a clear, melodious, and expressive voice: "Qing'er, leaving aside the matter of the Suzhou Winter Storage Envoy, you thwarted the White Lotus Sect's plot at the ceremony today. This is the second time you have dealt a heavy blow to the White Lotus Sect, and you have made great contributions to the court."

Xu Qing replied respectfully: "Your Majesty has said so."

"Qing'er, what did you call me?"

Hearing the slightly dissatisfied and somewhat angry voice of Empress Dowager Xu, Xu Qing was slightly startled and quickly corrected: "Aunt."

"You... there's no outsider here, so there's no need to think too much. Besides, Qing'er has done a lot today. If it weren't for your quick thinking and stepping out to expose the White Lotus's tricks and conspiracies, it would have been difficult for Aunt to handle this matter."

Empress Dowager Xu suddenly changed the subject and asked Lianhua Jun beside her: "Lianhua Jun, after today's ceremony, how many people in the court will still oppose my becoming emperor?"

Lian Huajun bowed his head and replied, "To answer the Queen Mother, it should be less than 10%."

"Well, you have seen what Qing'er has done in recent days. Do you think it is feasible for me to help him succeed to the throne after I gain power?"

Before asking Xu Qing for his opinion, Lord Lianhua responded, "Young Master has an active mind, is resourceful, and is calm and composed when faced with difficulties... In my opinion, Young Master has natural talent, and is more than qualified to be the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace."

Xu Qing stood there in a daze upon hearing this, and looked at his aunt and Lianhua Jun in front of him in disbelief.

His predecessor in Suzhou only knew how to eat, drink and have fun, and had no talent at all. Now he has traveled through time and replaced the other person. How can he become a prince after solving two cases?
And did my aunt really intend to let me inherit the throne she had worked so hard to obtain? With her current strength and status, it should not be surprising for her to have two concubines after ascending the throne.

"Aunt, this matter..."

Although Xu Qing's remarks were somewhat abrupt and impolite, the Queen Mother did not seem to care about them.

On the contrary, this powerful and beautiful woman, who possessed unrivaled elegance, seemed to be able to guess her nephew's inner thoughts and asked, "You don't want to stay in the palace, do you?"

"Yes."

Xu Qing didn't expect that Empress Dowager Xu could see through his thoughts, so he said directly: "There are too many tedious things and rules in the capital. Qing'er would rather return to the countryside of Suzhou and live a free life."

"So you don't want to see your aunt anymore in this life?"

The coquettishness and resentment in Empress Dowager Xu's words were like a mother who was dissatisfied with her child's mischief. Xu Qing's scalp tingled and he didn't dare to talk back.

"No, please rest assured, Qing'er will come to the palace to visit you every year..."

After considering many aspects, Xu Qing felt that it would be best for him to stay away from the capital.

Although Empress Dowager Xu was his aunt and loved his predecessor very much, he could live a luxurious and wealthy life here.

But referring to the history of his previous life, if he really wanted to secure his position as Crown Prince and Emperor, he would have to worry a lot about the current situation.

Apart from the fact that my aunt is very likely to give birth to a new heir in the future, Da Qi is also facing internal and external troubles at the moment. In addition to the mysterious White Lotus Sect, there are also the Jin Dynasty and the Liao Dynasty outside Huangling Pass, as well as the most powerful Mongols.

"If you don't want to stay in the capital, your aunt won't force you to stay."

Contrary to Xu Qing's expectations, Queen Mother Xu seemed to have anticipated his answer and accepted it calmly.

There was no change in expression on her delicate face, except that there was a hint of distance in her eyes.

Lianhua Jun spoke frankly on behalf of the Queen Mother: "Mr. Xu, a few days ago, the Queen Mother ordered me to seal off the residence of the Prince of Dongwan and clean it up overnight... After the Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony is over, you will be canonized as Marquis of Guangping, replacing the original Prince, and stay in the capital to work."

"Aunt..." Lian Huajun interrupted Xu Qing's address and continued, "When the traitors in Chengxuanfang are found and Shen Shuangxu takes over the post of the master to investigate the White Lotus Sect, you can resign your office and return to Suzhou."

Xu Qing felt relieved when he heard that the Queen Mother was not trying to force him to stay but wanted to investigate Chengxuanfang and deal with the White Lotus Sect.

After all, Empress Dowager Xu was his elder and knew his past very well. Although her love for him seemed like motherly love, it was somewhat unacceptable to him.

But if Empress Dowager Xu was like Wu Zetian in previous life history, and put the emperor's foundation first in everything, then he wouldn't have to worry too much.

After all, Emperor Wu had a clear distinction between rewards and punishments, and was extremely strict with his successors. As long as he did something stupid and overshadowed the Queen Mother's good impression of him, he would naturally be kicked off the list of candidates by Queen Mother Xu.

But before that, the issues between Chengxuanfang and the White Lotus Sect must be resolved.

Otherwise, with the temperament of those crazy people in the White Lotus Sect, who knows what they might do to me.

"Yes."

"Step back, Marquis Guangping."

Seeing that the title of Lord Lianhua was changed from Young Master to Marquis of Guangping, Xu Qing felt a little relieved. He bowed and left the prayer platform.

The road back was littered with corpses and he almost tripped over the skeletons.

Fortunately, he was already familiar with the way of walking in the complicated brocade robe, and finally he limped and disappeared in the distance.

After Xu Qing left, Lianhua Jun bowed to Queen Mother Xu and stepped aside.

In the entire Great Qi Dynasty, Princess Danyang was the only person who had the privilege of not having to pass on messages for the Queen Mother herself.

"Jin'er, your brother is dead."

Princess Danyang had a bright smile on her pretty face. Her beautiful, bright and clear eyes were shining as they met the majestic gaze of Empress Dowager Xu.

"Aren't you afraid that I will sentence you to death here?"

The Queen Mother's cold words were as shocking as drumbeats, and she was not exaggerating.

Princess Danyang, as the elder sister of Emperor Xuan, was brought to the capital by Empress Dowager Xu for training. However, unlike the puppet Emperor Xuan who ascended the throne, although Princess Danyang's status and position seemed unattainable to outsiders, it was all given by the Empress Dowager.

In other words, at this moment, Princess Danyang is like a vicious dog raised by Empress Dowager Xu, who comes when she is called and leaves when she is dismissed.

From the beginning to the end, Empress Dowager Xu never treated Princess Danyang as a human being.

Princess Danyang was of course aware of this, and said with a slight curl of her lips: "Xuan'er is disobedient, but Jin'er is different. As long as it is something that the queen has instructed, Jin'er will complete it well."

Although Lord Lianhua, who was standing not far away, looked normal, he could not hide his disgust for Princess Danyang in his eyes.

As the empress dowager's messenger, she naturally knew how many evil deeds Princess Danyang had committed.

The Empress Gongsun was so angry that she held a banquet of bliss and imprisoned the wives of guilty officials, but these were just the tip of the iceberg of her evil deeds.

For example, sending away the imperial guards last night and giving the young master of the Xu family the key to Hanyuan Hall were all this guy's ideas.

"Over the years, I have been most confident in Jin'er's work..."

Empress Dowager Xu slightly opened her red lips, brushed her skirt lightly, and changed the subject with an indifferent expression.

"If Qing'er can keep the Queen's child, you will have made an invaluable contribution to this matter. I will set a date for your wedding and let you marry into our Xu family."

"Thank you, Queen Mother."

Princess Danyang had a sweet laugh, with a hint of seductive shyness on her face.

She is like a pure young girl in love, dreaming of finding her own perfect match.

Xu Qing, who had already walked far away, would never have thought that his behavior last night was completely calculated by Princess Danyang.

From forcing Empress Gongsun to keep vigil to secretly helping Xu Qing enter Hanyuan Palace, Princess Danyang's goal was to make the other party have offspring.

If the child born by Empress Gongsun was said to be Emperor Xuan's posthumous child, there would naturally be less resistance in the court to this child inheriting the throne, and even those old-fashioned people who were kept in the dark would turn to support the Empress Dowager's faction.

After all, in their view, as long as the Li Qi royal family's great cause could be preserved for eternity, even if Empress Dowager Xu wanted to ascend the throne and become emperor, it would only be a temporary change.

……

When Xu Qing returned to his room, he felt dizzy and the place where he was hit last night still hurt.

Not long after, he saw Empress Gongsun, dressed in gorgeous clothes, coming to the door surrounded by her maids. As the queen of the Great Qi Kingdom, her pomp and dress were not inferior to those of Empress Dowager Xu, although she might be slightly inferior to her in appearance.

"You wait outside the door."

"Yes."

Empress Gongsun took the tray from the maid and walked in from the palace gate.

Her pair of slender, perfectly lined white long legs shone out from under the silk gauze, making Xu Qing slightly stunned.

Xu Qing immediately realized that something was wrong. After all, there were a lot of people present, and the Hanyuan Hall was not far from here, where civil officials and officials were paying homage.

This is different from the situation at night when there is no one on duty and the sky is dim. The place on the mountain is so small that you can hear the noisy voices coming from the Hanyuan Hall even when you stay in the bedroom.

Therefore, the fact that the queen entered her own room would definitely be seen clearly by those civil officials.

"The Queen."

Empress Gongsun placed the tray on the table, on which were gauze and medicines for healing.

The moment she saw Xu Qing, Empress Gongsun might have thought of the madness of that night, her face flushed slightly under her exquisite makeup.

She pretended nothing had happened and asked softly, "I heard from Lord Lianhua that the Queen Mother is planning to confer the title of Marquis of Guangping on you?"

Xu Qing really didn't expect that before his decree as Marquis of Guangping came down, everyone in the palace already knew about it.

Moreover, facing this queen with whom he had a connection several times, he did not know what to say, and could only answer under the pressure of the noisy voices outside: "Yes, I am sorry to trouble the queen."

(End of this chapter)