Speaking of shamelessness – at a time like this, could face save them? Of course not! So these senior officials knelt with perfect posture. Seeing this, the ministers behind them, though hesitant at first, all followed suit and knelt.
“We humbly obey Your Highness’s command!”
Yin Gezhi narrowed his eyes, staring at Chief Imperial Censor Qiao Tangjie who led the group, and said with a cold smile, “Does the Minister think this will make this Prince willing to ascend the throne?”
“Your Highness!” Qiao Tangjie, despite his advanced age, looked up at him pitifully. “The imperial throne, such supreme honor – how many people would rush headlong toward it? You are the legitimate prince, why are you reluctant to accept it?”
“What benefits does this position offer?” Yin Gezhi asked expressionlessly. “Not only is the responsibility enormous, but one’s actions are also constantly restricted. Take the imperial harem for example. When Father Emperor was on the throne, all consorts were selected and sent by you ministers, ten each year. Even in years when Father Emperor didn’t wish to accept new consorts, wouldn’t you still submit memorials and make a fuss?”
The officials looked at each other in surprise. Qiao Tangjie quickly bowed his head and said, “These are minor matters that can be discussed further!”
“Who wants to discuss anything with you?” Yin Gezhi said coldly. “I am perfectly content being a prince, free to marry whom I wish without interference. Why would I be foolish enough to jump into the trap you’ve set?”
With that, he waved his hand and said, “I came to the palace only to determine the Shi family’s crimes and stabilize Limu’s court politics. I’ve said what needed to be said. I take my leave.”
“Your Highness!” Multiple voices called out to retain him, but Yin Gezhi left without looking back, his robes swishing as he departed the palace.
Qiao Tangjie realized this was a serious problem. With Wei State about to join forces with Wu State against Song, without someone on the throne to stabilize the realm, wouldn’t Wei State fall apart? If it weren’t Prince Xiao’an, anyone else who took the throne wouldn’t be able to maintain stability. But this Prince Xiao’an, why would he…
Wait, didn’t the Prince just say something?
A flash of inspiration struck, and recalling the scene he’d witnessed at Prince Xiao’an’s residence, Qiao Tangjie’s eyes narrowed. Having quickly grasped the key point, he immediately shouted, “This old official has a way to convince Prince Xiao’an to ascend the throne!”
Hearing this, the other ministers quickly gathered around. Whether they were originally from the Crown Prince’s faction or had supported Yin Chenbi, they now all eagerly hoped for Prince Xiao’an to clean up the mess and stabilize the situation – they would agree to anything!
Yin Gezhi returned to his prince’s residence and glanced at the bed in the main chamber. Fengyue still lay there with furrowed brows and closed eyes – rather than being unconscious, she simply refused to wake up.
He beckoned the physician to check her pulse again, and both Yin Gezhi and Ling Shu followed the physician to the outer chamber.
“How is she?”
“It’s a slippery pulse!” The physician confirmed. “After taking several doses of medicine, her pulse is now much clearer and indeed very smooth – she is certainly with child.”
A sudden light appeared in his dark eyes. Yin Gezhi took a deep breath, clenched his fist, and though his expression remained controlled, his eyes couldn’t help but overflow with radiant joy!
Beside him, Ling Shu was much more straightforward, jumping up and shouting happily, “Wonderful!”
Finally, I’m pregnant! All her efforts convincing and tricking her mistress to drink the body-strengthening medicine hadn’t been in vain, even when she had to lie that the different taste was due to different prescriptions between Wei and Wu States! Haha, heaven hadn’t shortchanged her mistress after all!
Excitedly spinning in a circle, Ling Shu was still laughing when she suddenly met a pair of eyes that had opened behind her.
Fengyue stood by the partition, pale-faced, wearing only her sleeping clothes, her bare feet on the carpet.
Ling Shu’s laughter stopped abruptly. Yin Gezhi sensed something was wrong and slowly turned around.
Fengyue, with disheveled hair, looked at him, then at Ling Shu, and finally at the physician. Then she slowly raised her hand to cover her belly, her expression bewildered.
“Mis… Mistress.” Ling Shu blinked and bounced over, shaking off her previous stiffness. She smiled and said, “Why did you get out of bed? I was planning to tell you this good news after you woke up.”
Good news? Fengyue gave a cold laugh and narrowed her eyes at her. “My pregnancy is good news?”
“Of course!” Despite her chilling spine, Ling Shu forged ahead stubbornly. “The arrival of new life is certainly good news.”
Fengyue seemed unable to process this “good news.” She chuckled twice, then turned and walked dazedly back to the bed.
Watching this, Yin Gezhi pondered briefly, then dismissed the physician and followed her.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Fengyue looked utterly perplexed. Seeing Yin Gezhi sit down as well, she frowned and asked, “What are you doing here?”
“Me?” He gave her a sidelong glance and replied calmly, “This is my room.”
She blinked, looked around, and frowned, “Then why put me here?”
“Because I wanted to.”
“Well, I don’t want to be here!” Bloody images flooded her mind, and Fengyue’s face darkened. “Did you and Ling Shu get that physician to deceive me? How could I possibly be pregnant!”
Looking at her, Yin Gezhi asked, “What, you’re not happy about the pregnancy?”
“How could I be happy?!” Slightly agitated, Fengyue raged, “Carrying the demon spawn of your Yin family – am I supposed to feel honored?!”
Ling Shu heard this and panicked, wanting to pacify her. After all, he was a prince – wasn’t such an insult including him as well?
However, Yin Gezhi paid it no mind. He rolled his eyes and said very calmly, “I thought you were clever enough to understand the key point here, but it seems pregnant women are all fools, and you’re no exception.”
Both Ling Shu and Fengyue were stunned, looking at him uncomprehendingly. “What do you mean?”
Straightening his sleeve, Yin Gezhi asked softly, “You hate my Yin family, correct?”
“Yes.”
“But you can’t kill everyone in the Yin family,” Yin Gezhi raised an eyebrow. “You originally had no way to take revenge. The game was over at this point, dead. But heaven has granted you a favor, giving you a chance to turn the tables. Instead of being grateful, you complain?”
A chance to turn the tables? Fengyue looked bewildered, holding her belly as she asked Ling Shu, “Do you understand what he’s saying?”
Her watery eyes darting around, Ling Shu looked at Yin Gezhi’s expression and suddenly understood: “Yes, I do!”
“What?”
“Think about it, Mistress!” Sitting on the edge of the bed, Ling Shu grabbed Fengyue’s arm and said earnestly, “How can you kill all the Yin family members? When one dies, another can ascend the throne – they’ll pass down the throne generation after generation. There might be another Emperor Wen of Wei and another after that. But now you’re with a child! Once the Prince ascends the throne, the child in your belly will be a prince! With a Yin family prince in your hands, isn’t that your chance to turn the tables?”
Fengyue frowned, “Do you think I’m stupid? Even if he ascends the throne, my child won’t be a prince!”
“With enough persistence, an iron pestle can be ground into a needle – nothing is impossible in this world, right, Your Highness?” Ling Shu turned her head, blinking at Yin Gezhi.
Yin Gezhi said, “You may be heartless, but I am a man of flesh and blood. This child is my first offspring, naturally, I won’t mistreat them. If I ascend the throne one day, they will be the Crown Prince.”
These words carried significant weight – even Ling Shu was startled. Fengyue shook her head: “What nonsense are you talking?”
“Nonsense?” He gave her a deep look, then turned to ask outside, “Guanzhi, do we have visitors?”
“Yes, Master. The Imperial Censor is already at the door presenting his card.”
Yin Gezhi stood up, lowered the curtain at the partition, then sat in the outer chamber and said, “Show him in.”
“Yes.”
Qiao Tangjie entered with six senior ministers. Upon seeing Yin Gezhi, they immediately knelt and presented something with both hands: “Please review this, Your Highness!”
Glancing at the document-like object, Yin Gezhi asked indifferently, “What is this?”
“Your Highness, this is a covenant signed by all officials,” Qiao Tangjie looked up and said very seriously. “All court officials respectfully request Your Highness to ascend the throne. As long as Your Highness is willing to save the country from crisis, the officials promise not to interfere in any harem matters, including the establishment and removal of the Empress, the ranks of consorts, and the annual selection of family members entering the palace. All harem rules will completely follow Your Majesty’s wishes!”
Taking the particularly thick document, Yin Gezhi raised an eyebrow and pulled both ends. The folded papers in the middle fell to the ground with a “whoosh,” covered densely with officials’ names.
Even Guanzhi nodded secretly – Qiao Tangjie truly deserved his reputation as the one who best understood human nature in court. This movie was brilliant!
But was Yin Gezhi the type to accept benefits without playing hard to get?
He was not!
Standing up with a worried expression, Yin Gezhi sighed, “I appreciate the ministers’ efforts, but Wei State currently faces both internal and external troubles, declining national power, and unstable loyalty among officials. Even Chenbi wouldn’t dare to ascend the throne rashly.”
“Your Highness is too modest!” Qiao Tangjie quickly said, “As long as Your Highness is willing to ascend the throne, we old ministers will fully support you in purifying court conduct and restoring prosperity!”
“But many of Chenbi’s ideas conflict with the ministers’ views.”
“No matter, everything can be properly discussed!”
“What if I insist on my way?”
“Your Highness is not unreasonable. If there are matters Your Highness insists upon, there must be good reason – we ministers can compromise!”
With such words expressing sincerity, Yin Gezhi was finally satisfied. He sighed softly, his expression softening.
Seeing this, Qiao Tangjie was overjoyed and immediately said, “We shall return to prepare! We welcome our Emperor’s ascension!”
With that, they all bowed, then rose and hurried out, their official robes fluttering as they ran, shouting, “Quickly, joyous news! Great joy for Wei State!”
Their voices carried from the prince’s main courtyard to the imperial palace.
Yin Gezhi turned his head and lifted the curtain at the partition.
Inside, both Ling Shu and Fengyue stared at him in shock.
“Make a choice, Guan Qingyue.” Leaning against the partition, Yin Gezhi glanced at her sideways and said calmly, “First path: give up this child. Since you couldn’t achieve your revenge anyway, you might as well abandon everyone and die alone – that would be easier.”
“Second path: marry me as Empress, bear the Crown Prince, and let someone with your Guan family blood rule my Yin family’s empire!”