Changsheng: Peak at the Beginning

Chapter 1820 Water Dragon's Chant 23

When Jiang Xinxin returned, she told Empress Tang that someone had tattooed a butterfly on Zhong Chunmei's shoulder near the back of her neck. Empress Tang immediately understood that someone was targeting Jiang Xinxin, but her suspicions broadened considerably.

Empress Tang snorted coldly, looked out the window and said with a forced smile, "Now your father has many children. Even though his health has never been a problem, those princes have grown up. I have no legitimate son, and the position of Crown Prince has not yet been decided. There are many people who will use their own abilities to get ahead."

Jiang Xinxin put on an indifferent expression, moved a plate of milk cakes closer to Empress Tang, and said with a smile, "Mother, don't worry. I am just a princess after all. Anyone with eyes should know that I can only win them over, and I must never offend them."

"But if someone really can't even figure this out, then even if they manage to sit in that chair by chance, they will only deplete the fortunes of the Great Yong Kingdom. It would be better to deal with them as soon as possible."

Empress Tang couldn't help but sigh softly, "But some people are just so unreasonable, always doing things that are both laughable and absurd."

"What you've said is all normal, but what if there really are some dim-witted people who think that you, a princess, have infringed on their interests or blocked their way? It's not impossible that they might take action against you."

Therefore, Empress Tang suspected that someone in the palace or the court was colluding with the brothel. The butterfly tattoo on Zhong Chunji's back was not really aimed at Princess Jiang Xinxin of Langya, but rather at plotting against Jianwang City.

Jiang Xinxin understood Empress Tang's meaning, so she immediately stated, "Mother, if Father really ignores us mother and daughter for the sake of others, I beg you to give up the position of Empress."

At first, Empress Tang didn't quite understand, but she quickly realized, "You want to use this position of Empress to completely incite the ambitions of the princes and concubines in the harem, so that you can take revenge on your father?"

Jiang Xinxin nodded directly and admitted: "Mother, when I was lost among the common people, I was initially cut off from news and could only focus on practicing martial arts to strengthen myself. Later, I traveled the world. The reason why I didn't find you immediately was because I was unsure whether you and Father still hoped for me."

“I vaguely remember someone telling me when I was a child that the reason my family was exiled by the late emperor was because my father wanted to protect me from his persecution. I am naturally very grateful for my father’s love for his daughter back then. But people’s hearts are unpredictable. Who knows if my father will still treat me the same way after more than ten or twenty years?”

"But I also remember how kind Father Emperor was to me. If things really come to the point where Father Emperor has to sacrifice me for those so-called brothers, I can't bring myself to take revenge on Father Emperor. But I can at least cause trouble and make things difficult for him, right?"

Empress Tang believed Jiang Xinxin's words wholeheartedly, and even thought that it was perfectly normal for Jiang Xinxin to make such a decision. After all, over the years, she and her husband had gone from being a harmonious couple to being mutually disgusted with each other, but on the surface they still had to put on a show of being a loving and respectful wife to secure their respective interests.

After everything was approved by Empress Tang, Jiang Xinxin felt relieved and went out of the palace to play, leaving the emperor, who wanted to have lunch with her, empty-handed.

The Empress received the Emperor with a dignified and elegant demeanor, only saying that Jiang Xinxin had grown up among the common people since childhood, and later studied under a pure martial arts sect, so she naturally couldn't stand being restrained, and even more so, she couldn't stand the scene of having a room full of people watching her when she ate in the palace.

When the emperor came to see Jiang Xinxin, all he could talk about was the ownership of Sword King City and her marriage.

Especially regarding Jiang Xinxin's marriage, since the main bride was not present, the emperor directly said to Empress Tang: "The princesses of our Great Yong have never had to worry about marriage, especially Langya, who is the empress's legitimate daughter and has a noble status. We must be careful in choosing her husband."

Empress Tang said directly, "I owe that child a lot. Now, I hope that Xin Xin can choose a good man she likes. Even if she doesn't choose well, she can divorce and remarry in the future. In any case, Xin Xin is just a princess and does not have a title to inherit. She is far less important than the princes. Freedom of marriage is the best thing."

The emperor was rebuked by Empress Tang and left in a huff. Even after leaving the palace, he pretended that nothing had happened and could only sulk in his own bedchamber, naturally becoming more and more dissatisfied with Empress Tang.

However, with the concubines in the harem and the ministers in the court making frequent changes due to the unresolved issue of the crown prince's position, it was impossible for the emperor to do anything to Empress Tang. If anyone were to discover that he had even the slightest dissatisfaction with Empress Tang, not only would the situation in the harem be in turmoil, but the court would also be thrown into chaos. Therefore, the emperor still had to go to Empress Tang's palace every day to pretend to be an old married couple.

Moreover, in his heart, the emperor still trusted Empress Tang and did not have any suspicions. At most, it was just that their past feelings were no longer there. He really couldn't bear to see Empress Tang being bullied by the inner palace and the court.

Jiang Xinxin was enjoying a rare moment of leisure in the capital. Her Princess Mansion had been renovated and was almost ready for her to move in. The Emperor specially selected thirty young men from the Imperial Guard to serve as her bodyguards and ceremonial attendants, and Empress Tang also selected thirty capable subordinates for her through the Tang family.

As for the officials of the outer palace, such as the steward, the prefectural assistant, the registrar, the clerk, the attendant, and the servant, who were set up in imitation of the previous dynasty's royal palace, Jiang Xinxin had to select them personally. In particular, the wet nurses, eunuchs, female officials, and palace maids who managed the affairs of the palace were people that Empress Tang believed had to be personally selected and confirmed by Jiang Xinxin, because these people were the ones who served her closely.

In addition, there are the county officials who manage the fiefdom, as well as the artisans, musicians, singers and dancers who must be supported. It would be best if Jiang Xinxin personally oversaw all of these.

Jiang Xinxin's feelings for the emperor had changed, so she no longer found it difficult to select and arrange these people. She even wanted to personally select the guards.

With so many things to do on her end, and because she had given Tang Licheng some good medicine to help him when they parted, she naturally forgot about Tang Licheng's injuries. It wasn't until Wan Yuyuedan wrote to say that Tang Licheng's hair had turned white overnight due to severe loss of essence and blood that she realized she needed to go find him.

However, it was already quite late when she arrived. Tang Lizhi had gone out to look for someone. Jiang Xinxin couldn't sit still and asked Shen Langhun directly, "Where did he go? When did he go?"

Shen Langhun already had a bad feeling, so he told Jiang Xinxin everything when she asked: "Tang Fox left around the end of Chen Shi (7-9 AM) and went to Baojing Mountain. The divine doctor said that Baojing Mountain has herbs that can temporarily alleviate his injuries. Xiao Shi went up the mountain early in the morning, and Tang Lizhi went with him..."

Actually, everyone felt that something was wrong, but no one suspected the miracle doctor. After all, the miracle doctor had been famous for a long time and had no connection with Tang Lizhi. In fact, he did try his best to treat Tang Lizhi's injuries.