“You mean…”
The Emperor had been “pampered” by Jiang Xinyue for thirteen years, living a life of ease where he no longer needed to use much mental effort, but that didn’t mean he had lost the ability to think independently.
Xinyue’s implication seemed to be that the Jing Family Eldest Son had deliberately spread rumors about the Crown Prince being out of favor and the Empress being on the verge of being deposed. On the surface, it appeared as though someone was intentionally targeting Jiang Xinyue and trying to undermine the Crown Prince’s position.
The rumors also purposefully mentioned The third prince and Fifth Prince, making the Emperor suspect that they were the ones spreading the rumors to seize the Crown Prince’s position.
As soon as the Emperor heard that Jiang Xinyue and the Crown Prince were being falsely accused, he would be incensed, possibly punish the two princes, and might even drive them out of the capital in a fit of rage.
In this scenario, the one who ultimately benefits is still Jiang Xinyue and her son.
Therefore, the rumor wasn’t targeting the Crown Prince or Jiang Xinyue, but rather The third prince and Fifth Prince.
At the gates of Kunning Palace, Fifth Prince shot The third prince a glare, “Why are you here?”
The third prince stepped over the threshold with long strides, “How did you get here, and I followed the same path.”
“I am…”
Fifth Prince hesitated, his words caught in his throat, and he swallowed them back. He fell silent and followed The third prince, waiting for the palace maid to summon them before they walked side by side into the inner chamber.
“Your son pays respects to the Emperor and Empress.”
“Your son pays respects to the Emperor and Empress.”
The Emperor and Jiang Xinyue exchanged a glance. This was indeed the saying, “Mention Cao Cao, and Cao Cao appears.”
Since the matter involved Jiang Xinyue, the Emperor thought it inappropriate for her to speak first, so he took the lead, “Why have The third prince and Fifth Prince come?”
The third prince didn’t believe the Emperor was unaware of their purpose, but as a monarch, he was accustomed to taking the lead, wanting them to explain their intentions first.
“Your son has come to bid farewell to the Emperor and Empress.”
The third prince swept his robe aside and knelt on both knees, “The one desire of your son’s life is to traverse the magnificent landscapes of Great Yan. Your son wishes to set off immediately after the Crown Prince’s wedding, and humbly requests the Emperor and Empress’s permission.”
He knew that no matter how much he explained, the Jing Family wouldn’t believe he had no ambitions for the throne.
Only by leaving the capital and living the life of a recluse would he preserve the past’s beauty, and if his future Emperor brother ascended the throne, he might still remember his good qualities.
Staying in the capital would only lead to endless slanders and plots by those with malicious intentions.
Jiang Xinyue sighed and walked out from behind the table, “Xuan, I know you’ve come today regarding the rumors about Qingqing. I’m not someone who’s easily manipulated. Those baseless rumors hold no sway over me. You and Fifth Prince are both children I’ve watched grow up. I know your characters, and if any of you genuinely cared for Qingqing, I wouldn’t object.”
Her implication was that if Shen Mingxuan truly wished to explore the beautiful landscapes of Great Yan, she was elated to see him find his true calling.
But if he only wanted to leave the capital to avoid her misunderstanding due to the rumors, there was no need.
If he genuinely loved Yan Qingqing, she wouldn’t begrudge the power of the Cavalry General’s Mansion and would approve of the union.
The only consideration was whether Qingqing also loved him and was willing to marry him.
Fifth Prince stood behind The third prince, his hands clenched tightly at his sides as he listened to Jiang Xinyue’s words.
But according to his uncle, he could marry anyone except Yan Qingqing.
Originally, the Zhu family had been charged with treason, and it was the Jiang family who had campaigned for the Zhu family, allowing his uncle Zhu Qianyi to redeem himself and bring the Zhu family out of their lowly existence.
As the Zhu family had been out of their confined life longer, some had forgotten why they had been freed in the first place.
Especially after Fifth Prince returned from the Imperial Mausoleum to the capital, they likely felt that they could still vie for the throne, so they began making covert moves.
His uncle could control those in the Zhu family who listened to him, but he couldn’t discipline those who refused to heed his words.
Despite repeatedly expressing to the Zhu family that the Late Empress’s wish was for him to stay away from the palace and live as a carefree prince unbound by court rules, they still wanted to thrust him into that position.
Why wouldn’t they give up?
The Emperor’s affection for Empress Jiang was only growing, and he was increasingly reliant on her in affairs of state. He simply couldn’t afford to lose her now.
How could he possibly want to depose Empress Jiang? And how could he possibly want to depose the Crown Prince?
Even a three-year-old wouldn’t believe such nonsense, only those still covetous of the throne would be deluded by these words.
The Jing Family likely wanted him and his elder brother to act, only to be eliminated by Empress Jiang.
Who was Jiang Xinyue?
She was an extremely protective person, especially when it came to her children. This was no mere lip service.
If they lived peacefully and benevolently, she would protect them equally.
But if anyone coveted the Crown Prince’s position, harming him, they would be utterly destroyed by Jiang Xinyue, never again to cause harm.
She was ruthless and unyielding, never showing mercy.
Fifth Prince understood this, even envying the Crown Prince for having such a mother.
He had once had a similar figure, but everything changed…
The third prince was helped up by Jiang Xinyue, his eyes filled with disinterest in the worldly affairs, “Your son genuinely wishes to travel through Great Yan for one reason, and for another, your son has no desire to marry in his lifetime. Lastly, your son knows that as long as he remains in the capital, these rumors are just the beginning. There will be countless instances of separation and slander in the future. Even if the Crown Prince doesn’t believe them, what about his advisors? What about his trusted ministers? When everyone says your son intends to rebel, even if he doesn’t believe it, shouldn’t he also give his supporters an explanation?”
Once Emperor Shen Mingye ascended the throne, many things wouldn’t be a matter of what he wanted but rather what the public opinion would force him to do.
As long as he didn’t wish to be seen as a tyrant, he had no choice.
These words, The third prince didn’t say, but the Emperor deeply understood.
Jiang Xinyue was no longer the naive newcomer who had just traveled across dimensions.
She had managed to change the status of women, thanks not only to the Emperor’s support but also to the countless women in the world who wished to escape the bonds of feudal oppression.
Yet, changing an entire dynasty and shaping the future of an Emperor was something she believed she couldn’t do.
From the inner palace to ruling behind the throne, she had spent fourteen years, all thanks to the Emperor’s unconditional love and trust, his willingness to feign illness to support her, and the ministers’ reluctant acceptance.
Once the Crown Prince was married, she, as a woman, would have to retreat into the background.
The Emperor’s frustration stemmed from the deeply entrenched traditions of the imperial court.
She couldn’t change it.
She knew that much of her thinking had been influenced by this era, but that was the reality. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t change it.
