binnovel Chapter 155 Shi Hui's Surname!
Chapter 155 Shi Hui's Surname!
The Crown Prince deeply agreed with Jian Xiyan's words; he had never taken the Eldest Princess, a mere woman, to heart.
However, there has always been one thing he has been very curious about.
Where did Jiang Yueli get her 500,000 troops?
Every time this was asked, the Empress would evade the question, but if pressed further, she would say it was due to the Emperor of Zhou's favor.
When Jiang Yueli was mentioned again, the Crown Prince asked, "Mother, where did my elder sister's military power come from?"
"Why was she so confident and assertive when she demanded military power from me, and even dared to ask the Imperial Noble Consort to make the decision in the court?"
The Crown Prince thought the Eldest Princess was simply unreasonable; what right did she have to ask for something back after giving it away?
The Empress's eyes flickered, and she replied perfunctorily, "Didn't I already say that it's because of His Majesty's favor?"
“From the moment Yue Li was born, His Majesty treated her differently, wishing he could give her all the good things in the world.”
"What does 500,000 troops mean to His Majesty? I am your birth mother, would I lie to you?"
The Crown Prince nodded thoughtfully: "Mother would never lie to me, I just find this matter very strange."
It's not strange at all!
The Empress knew that the Eldest Princess had been to the battlefield, thanks to her good sister, Consort Li.
However, after learning about it, the Great Zhou Emperor sternly warned the two that Jiang Yueli's going to the battlefield should not be known to more people.
Otherwise, don't blame him for disregarding the Emperor and Empress's relationship!
After Jiang Yueli's meridians were damaged and his cultivation was destroyed, Consort Li took the opportunity to demand military power from him.
The disheartened princess did not guard against her birth mother and easily handed over the tiger tally.
Although the Empress could not speak of this matter, she could hint at it to the Crown Prince.
After all, she only knew that the eldest princess had been on the battlefield, but she did not know what kind of demeanor the Blue-Faced War God had on the battlefield!
“My son, there is no need to be too anxious. Giving a princess the power of 500,000 troops is against the rules.”
"Even if she wanted to ask for it, it would be without proper justification."
Especially since Jiang Yueli has lost all her cultivation, a woman without cultivation abilities cannot hold onto military power even if given it to her.
To the Empress, the Eldest Princess is now nothing more than a useless person with the status of a member of the imperial family!
"As long as my son wins over the military generals and firmly grasps military power, great things can be accomplished."
The crown prince took a deep breath and forced down all the worries in his heart.
As the crown prince, he has been forced into this situation. If he does not resist, he will be at the mercy of others.
It wasn't that he wanted to rebel, but that the Imperial Noble Consort forced him to rebel!
"Mother, Xingyue promises to provide sufficient food and charcoal to resolve the snow disaster in the capital."
"But if the grain and charcoal are handed over to the Ministry of Revenue and Luo Maocheng is given full authority, who in the capital will remember my kindness?"
The Crown Prince's words reminded the Empress.
As the saying goes, fortune and misfortune are intertwined. Although the Crown Prince was in crisis this time, the food and charcoal provided by Mei Xingyue gave him an opportunity.
This allows him to take the opportunity to increase his popularity among the people!
"Alas, it's a pity that Lady Li committed suicide. There are no women in the Eastern Palace who can step forward. Otherwise, if Lady Li had been allowed to distribute food and charcoal in the capital as a concubine, the people would surely have been grateful to the Eastern Palace."
The Crown Prince hesitated, and the Empress knew what he wanted to say, but she didn't respond.
Helpless, the Crown Prince could only take the initiative to speak: "Mother, since there is no one left in the Eastern Palace, why not let Xingyue replace Li Shi?"
Seeing that the Empress was about to get angry, the Crown Prince explained, "Mother, the food and charcoal were provided by Xingyue. If I don't give her a proper title, wouldn't that confirm my reputation for being heartless and cold-blooded?"
"After the court assembly, the ministers all know about my relationship with Xingyue. If we can overcome this difficulty, Xingyue will surely enter the Eastern Palace."
Upon hearing this, the Empress sighed deeply.
The Crown Prince was telling the truth. Although Jian Xiyan didn't know where Mei Xingyue's food and charcoal came from.
But since she risked her life to enter the Fengtian Hall and made a promise, the Crown Prince must not betray her!
Given Mei Xingyue's current appearance and physical condition, she is indeed not qualified to enter the Eastern Palace.
For such a meritorious act as saving the people of the capital, the position of Crown Princess may not be given, but the position of Consort may be given.
Since she couldn't stop this woman from entering the Eastern Palace, the Empress had no choice but to reluctantly accept it.
“What you say makes sense, but Mei Xingyue’s face is disfigured and her legs are crippled. Wouldn’t it be a loss of royal dignity to let her show her face in public?”
The Crown Prince was speechless. What kind of time is this to be considered dignified?
Besides, this is a good opportunity, a good opportunity to distort the truth.
"Mother, Xingyue fought a fierce battle with the fox demon at the Literary Ceremony."
"If we let her distribute food and charcoal to the people in the name of the Crown Prince, we can use the people's words to blame Xingyue's injuries on the fox demon."
"Mother, think about it. A woman who solved the snow disaster in the capital and whose appearance was ruined and whose legs were crippled while fighting a fox demon to protect the people has become my woman."
"The people of the world will only praise the royal family for their kindness and righteousness!"
The Empress was speechless. What kind of royal family was this, full of affection and loyalty?
It was clear that the Crown Prince wanted to use this opportunity to wash away the stain on Mei Xingyue's reputation.
We must also shatter the reasons that prevent her from becoming the Crown Princess.
Ultimately, her son was still unwilling to accept this situation and insisted on marrying Mei Xingyue as the Crown Princess.
"But my son, all your scheming for Mei Xingyue will be in vain in the end!"
“Yue Li is the Grand Master of Ceremonies. She gave an order before Li’s body that Mei Xingyue must never be included in the Imperial Genealogy.”
"Although you are the Crown Prince, the Grand Master of Ceremonies manages all members of the imperial clan, and her orders must not be disobeyed."
The thought of Jiang Yueli wielding the Grand Clan Seal and acting arrogantly filled the Crown Prince with resentment.
What qualifications does Jiang Yueli, a princess, have to be the Grand Master of the Imperial Clan?
The position of Grand Master of Ceremonies has always been held by the highest-ranking prince.
Even if the eldest and second princes are sent to other places, the position should fall to the third prince, Jiang Yuelin.
What does it have to do with her, a princess?
"Mother, rest assured, if I can overcome this seven-day crisis and secure my position as Crown Prince, Jiang Yueli's tenure as Grand Master of Ceremonies will be over."
Once he ascends the throne and becomes emperor, he will take back all the privileges and power that the eldest princess enjoys!
Since the Crown Prince had already made his decision, the Empress could no longer object.
Mother and son are one; their fates are intertwined. If the Crown Prince is determined to take Mei Xingyue as his concubine, the Empress's opposition will only exacerbate the rift between them.
“In that case, I will send someone from Kunning Palace to assist Mei Xingyue, so that she will not be ignorant of the rules and make a fool of herself.”
Seeing that the Empress was willing to lower her head, the Crown Prince smiled.
"Your Majesty, I thank you!"
After the Crown Prince left, Jian Xiyan sat back in her chair, looking lost and forlorn.
Changpei came in to serve her and, seeing her like this, carefully comforted her: "Your Majesty, please don't think too much. Given the current situation, all forces must unite to help the Crown Prince overcome this difficulty."
Jian Xiyan nodded helplessly: "I know that makes sense, but... I just can't stand Mei Xingyue."
"This woman is incredibly alluring, and has driven the Crown Prince to madness with her. If she were to become the Crown Princess in the future, I fear she would bring disaster upon him."
Changpei massaged Jian Xiyan's shoulders and said softly, "We can only wait and see what happens in the future. Right now, it's more important to secure the Crown Prince's position."
Jian Xiyan squinted, looking exhausted. After hearing this, she thought carefully for a moment and then gave instructions to Changpei.
"Although I dislike Mei Xingyue, the matter of distributing charcoal and food to the people is important. You should assign some elderly people from Kunning Palace to assist her, and they should be capable and meticulous in their work."
"Remember, do not make things difficult for Mei Xingyue. The position of Crown Prince is of utmost importance!"