lcionline Chapter 246 Appreciation
Chapter 246 Appreciation
Chen Tongyu paused briefly, then said, "Your Majesty, I am truly ashamed. I acted impulsively and broke the rules. I humbly beg Your Majesty to punish me!"
After saying that, he respectfully lowered his head, awaiting Xue Huaiyu's judgment.
Xue Huaiyu waved his hand gently, a faint smile on his face, and replied in a calm tone, "Lord Chen is exaggerating. It's just a small matter, there's no need to make such a fuss."
And so, the two walked side by side, chatting about court affairs, and soon arrived at the Imperial Garden.
They had barely stepped into the Imperial Garden when Xue Huaiyu smelled an exceptionally delicate and elegant fragrance.
The fragrance seemed to possess some kind of magic, instantly making him feel incredibly happy.
At this moment, Chen Tongyu stopped, turned slightly to the side, gestured to Xue Huaiyu as if to invite him, and showed a knowing expression.
Upon seeing this gesture, Xue Huaiyu naturally understood what the other person meant. He stepped into the pavilion surrounded by flowers not far ahead.
In the center of the pavilion stood a graceful woman. She wore a veil, obscuring her face, but her exquisite figure suggested she was a beauty.
The woman was holding a pipa in her arms, and it seemed she had been waiting there for a long time.
"Lord Chen, what is this...?" Although he already knew the answer, Xue Huaiyu still pretended not to know and asked.
Upon hearing the emperor's question, Chen Tongyu quickly replied with a smile, "Your Majesty, this young lady is a musician from the Jiangnan region. It is said that her musical skills are unparalleled in the world."
"I specially invited her here today so that Your Majesty could hear this unparalleled beauty of music with your own ears!"
Chen Tongyu smiled obsequiously and gestured to Xue Huaiyu as if to introduce him.
"I see." Xue Huaiyu nodded, his gaze fixed on the woman in plain clothes in the pavilion.
The woman was slender and graceful, with skin as white as snow. Her long, black hair was styled in a bun at the back of her head, held in place by a jade hairpin, giving her a charming and innocent appearance.
The woman noticed Xue Huaiyu's gaze, slowly turned around, removed her veil, and revealed her delicate features.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" The woman bowed gracefully, her soft and gentle voice like a spring breeze, soothing and comforting.
Xue Huaiyu saw that the woman was indeed exceptionally beautiful. Every smile and frown of hers exuded charm and allure, making one's heart flutter.
...........
Prime Minister's Mansion
“Father, Consort Yue, who has recently arrived in the palace, is quite favored. However… I really don’t understand Chen Tongyu’s actions this time!” Zheng Luoqi said as she steadily placed a black piece on the chessboard, her eyes full of doubt.
Zheng Yuxiang smiled slightly and replied unhurriedly, "So what exactly is puzzling you? Is it that you can't understand why Chen Tongyu sent another one into the palace as well, or that you don't understand why they, as members of the Chen family, didn't help each other?"
Upon hearing her father's question, Zheng Luoqi thought for a moment and then followed up with, "I just don't understand why they don't help each other?"
"Even if the Empress doesn't know the other person's identity, she should know that the other person was sent by her father!"
Zheng Yuxiang sighed softly and said slowly, "This empress's ambition is truly considerable!"
Zheng Yuxiang's erratic thinking when answering questions left Zheng Luoqi unable to fully grasp it at first. She frowned and asked again with a suspicious look, "Father, could you explain it more clearly? What does this have to do with the Empress's ambition?"
“At first, Chen Tongyu may have just wanted the Chen family to have an heir, but the Empress did everything she could to obstruct it. What benefit did that bring to the Empress?” Zheng Yuxiang patiently explained.
"Chen Tongyu has probably already guessed the Empress's ambition. Once the Chen family really has a prince, the Chen family will definitely do everything they can to cultivate that prince. Then everything the Empress has done will just be paving the way for someone else. How could she be willing to do that!"
"Chen Tongyu knows he can no longer control the Empress, so he will naturally choose someone else. That leaves only one person. Unlike the Empress, her mother is still in the Chen family, so she is naturally easier to control!"
Zheng Luoqi immediately understood Zheng Yuxiang's implied meaning and said, "So, Chen Tongyu wants another person to replace the Empress. As long as the other person gives birth to a prince, the Empress will be abandoned!"
"Although Consort Jiang is also pregnant, she comes from a humble background. As long as another member of the Chen family gives birth to a prince and then adopts him into the Empress's family, Chen Tongyu's goal will be achieved!"
"The Empress was able to sit in that position because she had the Chen family as her backer. Similarly, if the Chen family wants to have more say in the court, the Empress is also the Chen family's backer!"
"So in the current situation, the two of them are temporarily bound together, and neither can make a move against the other. But if another heir emerges in the Chen family, then it will be a different story!"
"Given Chen Tongyu's thinking, he will definitely do everything in his power to cultivate a prince with Chen family blood. How could the Empress be willing to let her power be replaced by others little by little!"
"The Empress did not want the Chen family's power to be taken away; she wanted the Chen family to be used by her and wanted to firmly grasp all the power of the Chen family in her own hands."
"What exactly does she want to do? Does she want to take things further?" Zheng Luoqi was startled by the thought that suddenly popped into her mind as soon as she said the question.
"Could it be... that what she covets is the throne?" Zheng Luoqi murmured to herself.
At that moment, Zheng Yuxiang, who was standing nearby, happened to hear her words. He was slightly taken aback at first, and then couldn't help but laugh out loud.
After laughing, he turned to Zheng Luoqi and replied, "Haha, maybe!"
Zheng Yuxiang paused for a moment, then analyzed, "If she can really succeed in taking over all the power in the Chen family's hands..."
"Then she will try to control the emperor and take the opportunity to bring the Pei family army under her control. In this way, she will not only have a large army at her disposal, but also many civil officials as her backing."
"At that time, ascending the throne that everyone dreams of will probably not be difficult for her!"
"But until then, we are the ones standing in her way. Taking that position won't be so easy!"
“Even if she consolidates all the power of the Chen family, my Prime Minister’s Mansion still holds more sway in the court. If she wants to take that position, she’ll have to eliminate us first. Besides, there’s no precedent for an empress before her!”
"If she can really muster the courage to fight back, I would really admire her ruthlessness!"