si-mexico Chapter 414 A Child as a Hostage
Chapter 414 A Child as a Hostage
"Dong dong dong..."
Early in the morning.
The sky was just beginning to lighten.
Someone knocked on the gate of the princess's residence.
Upon seeing that it was someone from the palace, Granny Feng dared not linger for a moment and without hesitation woke the still-sleeping Princess Yuqing: "Your Highness, wake up, someone from the palace has come..."
I heard Granny Feng's voice.
Little Miaomiao, who was sleeping next to Princess Yuqing, naturally woke up as well.
With her hair a mess, she sat up and looked at the princess sleepily: "Mother, is it time to get up?"
"Not yet, Miaomiao, sleep a little longer." Princess Yuqing gently patted her little girl's back.
Seeing that she had fallen asleep and closed her eyes, breathing evenly, he put on his clothes, got out of bed, and looked at Granny Feng: "Speak, what is it?"
After the princess left the inner chamber, Granny Feng whispered, "The Emperor forcibly took away the Crown Prince, which caused his condition to worsen. As a result, the Empress argued with the Emperor and was confined to her quarters."
"What?" Princess Yuqing's eyes widened.
Father has lost his mind.
Granny Feng frowned and continued, "The Emperor said that the Crown Princess died early and the Crown Prince had no other female relatives. Considering the Empress's hard work in managing the harem, he took the Crown Prince under his care and raised him personally. But the palace servants said that the Crown Prince was actually being looked after by the palace servants and Consort Zhen. The Emperor had no time to take care of him at all."
"What is Father Emperor doing?" Princess Yuqing gasped.
The Crown Prince valued Yu'er more than his own life, and he could only feel at ease when he saw Yu'er every day.
The Emperor's actions were undoubtedly aimed at taking his life.
He's getting senile.
She then asked, "Was this instigated by Consort Zhen?"
Granny Feng shook her head: "It was the Emperor's own idea, but there's one thing that Consort Zhen instigated..."
"What's the matter?"
"It was Eunuch Yu who came to deliver the imperial decree just now. He told me that the Crown Prince has been crying and making a fuss all day at Consort Zhen’s place. Consort Zhen suggested to the Emperor that he find him a companion, and she even mentioned our little princess, wanting her to go and keep the Crown Prince company."
"You wretch..." Princess Yuqing was so angry she wanted to slam her fist on the table.
The outstretched hand hovered in mid-air, and fearing it might wake her daughter, she withdrew it.
"So... Father Emperor agreed?"
Granny Feng nodded: "His Majesty sent Eunuch Yu to summon you to the palace, and also ordered you to bring the young princess. Your Highness... this servant is worried that woman might harm the young princess and the Crown Prince..."
"After all, Yu'er was handed over to her by the Emperor himself, so she wouldn't dare to do anything to her, but it's hard to say what she would do to Miao Miao."
Princess Yuqing paced back and forth in the room, her eyes lowered as she pondered how to deal with the current situation.
Miaomiao absolutely cannot enter the palace.
"Or should we just say the child is sick?"
"Your Highness, you've forgotten that the palace has the best imperial physicians. It's definitely not acceptable to feign illness and not go."
After thinking for a moment, Granny Feng continued, "Why don't we call Yan-ge'er over to ask? That child is very intelligent; perhaps he has some good ideas?"
"Well, go ahead..."
"Help me wash up and change, and then have someone inform Prime Minister Cui so that he won't worry."
After the last argument, Princess Yuqing realized her mistake.
She was the most esteemed eldest princess of the Great Liang Dynasty.
I usually do things my own way.
I never thought about consulting with anyone or reporting to anyone before doing anything.
But Cui Yan was right about one thing.
They are Miaomiao's parents, and everything concerning Miaomiao should be discussed and decided upon together.
He, as the father, should know all of this.
So now she is trying to get used to having Cui Yan around.
They would even send someone to inform him of everything.
"Your Highness, should we speak with Prince Jing?"
"Not for now. My fifth sister-in-law is about to give birth, so let him stay with her. His most important task right now is to ensure the safety of my sister-in-law and her baby."
It can be said that Prince Chen's biggest rivals right now are his fifth brother and the eighth prince.
The fifth brother has the Cao and Mu families behind him, and naturally there are others that Prince Chen is unaware of...
Even if the fifth brother does nothing, he will still be watched.
Then there's the Eighth Prince. On the surface, the Emperor favors Prince Chen, but it seems like he's actually protecting the mother and son.
Princess Yuqing finished washing up and went out, where Jiang Ziyan was already waiting.
Jiang Ziyan stepped forward: "Your Highness, the nanny has told me everything. I think the Emperor may have two intentions in doing this. One is to use the Crown Prince to threaten the Empress and the Crown Prince..."
Jiang Ziyan didn't dare say that he wanted the Crown Prince to relinquish his position voluntarily.
Or perhaps the emperor intended to use the crown prince and the imperial grandson to blackmail the empress.
After all, the Emperor's fear of the Empress was not something that had just begun, and he had long wanted to depose her.
But if the Empress were to depose him...
"I know that, but what's the second point?" This was what angered Princess Yuqing the most about her father.
One was his first wife, and the other was his son and grandson.
They were incredibly cruel as to use a young child as leverage.
No wonder people say that emperors are often heartless; they are absolutely right.
It seems that the King's deepest affection was given to the deceased Consort Zhen and the current Consort Zhen.
Jiang Ziyan continued, "As for Miaomiao, she is said to be accompanying the Crown Prince, but in reality she is a hostage... Regardless of whether the Emperor knows that Miaomiao is your own daughter and his own granddaughter, in his eyes, taking Miaomiao away can not only restrain you, but also my mother. Restraining my mother is equivalent to restraining my maternal grandfather and uncle."
Consort Zhen was merely complying with the Emperor's wishes and saying what he wanted to say.
"Unless Consort Zhen intends to rebel, she probably won't harm Miaomiao and the little prince for the time being, but they will inevitably suffer hardship and injustice."
Especially the Crown Prince.
A child that young, separated from their parents and relatives, is in a very difficult situation.
Princess Yuqing saw a resemblance between Cui Yan and the young man.
They are indeed from the same school; they are both equally intelligent and insightful.
"You mean Miaomiao can be sent to the palace?"
“Since it is the Emperor’s will, Your Highness cannot refuse. Why don’t you come into the palace with me to take care of these two children, in case something happens in the palace…” Jiang Ziyan did not want to put his sister in danger.
But if his sister doesn't go, the little prince probably won't survive either.
The emperor's favorite concubines often arouse jealousy and envy.
If that child were placed next to someone like that, he would probably become a target for others.
It met the same fate as those dead cats.
When Miao Miao enters the palace, the princess naturally follows suit, which could disrupt the emperor's plans.
He believed that Prime Minister Choi had the ability to protect the mother and daughter.
“Then let’s go to the palace.” For Princess Yuqing, the palace was, after all, the place where she had grown up.
She was also the one who least wanted to see her father and mother fall out of favor.
Returning to the palace was almost like going home for her.
Since we cannot disobey the imperial decree, we might as well go with the flow.
She looked at Jiang Ziyan and said, "After I bring Miaomiao into the palace, you should go to the Lu family. Don't stay at home alone."
The Emperor now favors the Lu family.
The Lu family is a piece of fat meat, and everyone is eyeing it.
The house is full of women, so there's no way to discuss things when something happens.
Although Jiang Ziyan was a frail scholar, his mind was no less sharp than that of the most skilled martial artists.
……