Chapter 260: Chapter 261 - The Mother and Son

Next day, the news from the imperial palace was the same as what Jian Xubai said. One of the Nine Concubines, Concubine Chen was pushed out to take the blame for somebody else. The Empress Dowager’s maid Yuguo came to Grand Princess Daiguo’s residence to read the decree that the grand princess’ two maids used to be Noble Consort Cui’s and had been bought over by Concubine Chen. They had been arranged by Noble Consort Cui in name. Concubine Chen did that behind the scenes in order to cause the fight between Cui and Daiguo.

Concubine Chen did that because she had fought for the emperor’s love with Noble Consort Cui in the early years, but unfortunately, she gave birth to three princes yet none of them survived, while all Cui’s sons survived and even her eldest son became the crown prince, so she bore a grudge against Cui and wanted to make use of Grand Princess Daiguo to harm Cui.

The “truth” had been found, so the punishment was logical. Concubine Chen was degraded to be a civilian and sent to the Cold Palace. Noble Consort Cui’s maids were beaten to death by flogging.

Meanwhile, although Noble Consort Cui “didn’t know anything”, she was not strict with her servants, so she was degraded to be a consort.

Moreover, Grand Princess Daiguo was rewarded with one thousand tales of gold and ten pairs of white jade as a comfort.

“Hexiao, I am sorry.” By the west window, Noble Consort Cui, oh, no, Consort Cui talked to the crown prince apologetically. “I wanted to share your pressure, but I drag you down unexpectedly.”

The crown prince was named Lu Hexiao. It was impossible that he was not unhappy with this matter. After all, the emperor had visited him in person and gave the title of Prime Minister back to Gu Shao. It was safe to say that the Eastern Palace was in the limelight these days. Many people who had chosen Prince of Wei or Prince of Zhao regretted it a lot, and some of them with no strong will even wanted to cross over to the Eastern Palace openly or secretly.

As a result, after just a few days, Grand Princess Daiguo had found such a big mistake of Consort Cui’s.

Even though Emperor Xianjia was partial to the crown prince once more, anybody knew that this issue wasn’t over.

Since ancient times, few people who failed in the fight for the title of heir to the throne could have a good ending. This was something significant about life and death instead of a joking matter. Moreover, the crown prince was the heir to the throne since childhood and stayed with Emperor Xianjia all the time later. He was not like Prince of Liang, who lived with Consort Cui from morning to night, and the mother and son loved each other deeply.

He loved Consort Cui, but he couldn’t have no regret when his future and destiny were implicated by his biological mother.

Hearing Consort Cui’s words, he showed his feelings inevitably and just expressed impassively, “Mother, don’t take it to heart. In fact, it’s Aunt Daiguo’s fault. If she didn’t bully you too much in the early years, how would you be like this?”

“I am aware that I know little about the things in the previous dynasty, so I don’t dare to comment randomly.” Consort Cui could certainly notice the grudge in her son’s tone. She sighed in secret and coughed before saying gently, “However, perhaps the Empress Dowager has her own thought this time. After all, Daiguo is her biological daughter.”

The crown prince heard that and frowned subconsciously. This was what he worried most about currently, yet even Gu Shao could do nothing. Now Consort Cui mentioned it to his face, and he felt more annoyed. However, after all, she was his mother, and he couldn’t criticize her. He pursed his lips and then stated, “Grandma loves Aunt Daiguo, but you served her these years diligently and respectfully, so I think she would consider your relationship. As for me, I am her grandson. In the future, we should serve her more, and in a few days, she won’t be angry with us anymore.”

It was obvious that he said that perfunctorily. The Empress Dowager was aged, yet she was not brainless. How could she not see that Consort Cui and Grand Princess Daiguo had too many conflicts and tried to kill each other? It was pointless to mediate. If the Empress Dowager continued to support the crown prince in taking the throne, it meant that she would give up her youngest daughter’s family. By contrary, if she chose to help Daiguo, Consort Cui and her son, the people in the Eastern Palace wouldn’t have a happy ending in the future.

In short, the Empress Dowager had to make a choice between her daughter and her eldest grandson.

Consort Cui stated bitterly, “The Empress Dowager had five daughters, but there are only two alive now. These two grand princesses are meritorious politicians who helped His Majesty ascend the throne, and they experienced a lot with the Empress Dowager. Even though she always supported you in the past and rebuked Grand Princess Daiguo many times, she just rebuked her. You are her grandson as you said, but I will say something that may be unpleasant to hear. Prince of Wei and the others are also her grandsons. Prince of Zhao is even her only legitimate grandson.”

The crown prince’s face darkened. He glanced at the hall, to see that the maids stood in the distance and must be unable to hear their whispers, yet he still raised his voice and told them to go out. Then he asked, “Mother, what do you mean by saying that?”

“As for the conflicts between me and Daiguo, even the Empress Dowager has to admit that Daiguo played the bully then.” Coldness flashed in Consort Cui’s eyes, and she added in a deep voice, “However, both the Empress Dowager and your father think that I should bear with her, so she can insult me and suppress you repeatedly, and she even openly supports Prince of Wei in fighting for the title of heir to the throne with you. I just sent two spies into her mansion to deliver messages occasionally and never harm her, but I irritated the Empress Dowager. Even your father won’t spare me if not for your sake.”

She raised her hands to cover her eyes and smiled bitterly. “Although the Empress Dowager and your father told me to push Concubine Chen out as a scapegoat, after this matter is forgotten by the public, we are clear what the Empress Dowager would do, not to mention your father. I deserve it and don’t think I was wronged. I just worry that the Empress Dowager would harm you because she fears that after she punished me, you would take revenge on Daiguo for me.”

“So I thought for a whole night about what we should do.”

Consort Cui put down her hands and stared at the crown prince who was pondering with a frown. Her eyes were as cold as ice. “Now we can do nothing but let Hehao suffer.”

“My brother?” The crown prince was stunned to hear that his mother mentioned his brother Prince of Liang, Lu Hehao. “What can he do?”

He said that not because he looked down upon Prince of Liang. However, Prince of Liang was always raised by Consort Cui as a spoilt child. He just came to the imperial court with the other princes and started to deal with the government affairs at the beginning of this year. After all, he was raised as an idle prince. Although the crown prince promoted him many times, judging from the reports from the subordinates, Prince of Liang just behaved properly.

At the same time, even Gu Shao thought the predicament that the crown prince faced currently was difficult to handle. What solution did Prince of Liang have?

“The Empress Dowager always supported you originally. Now she wants to change her attitude just because a grandson is not as important as her child to her.” Consort Cui straightened her back while sitting and pulled her son’s hand, saying in all earnestness, “However, fortunately, the Empress Dowager doesn’t have only one daughter who is alive.”

The crown prince understood her plan yet looked disappointed. “Aunt Jinguo never asks about the government affairs. Although she loves Xubai, he is unable to convince her when it comes to this matter.”

If he could use this solution, he would have sent Jian Xubai earlier to talk into her.

“Grand Princess Jinguo is famous for loving her children. She is unwilling to join the fight for the title of heir to the throne just because she doesn’t need to worry about her children for now. If any one of her children is in danger, can she keep calm?” Consort Cui shook her head. “Her first child Commandery Princess Qingjiang is the old Earl Shouchun’s eldest legitimate daughter, with an honorable identity, and she remains the Commandery Prince’s widow. Her only son was born to be stupid. All people in the imperial capital should consider her dignity out of respect or pity.”

“The second child, her son Earl Shouchun is always quiet and modest, with a good reputation among his fellow officials. His wife Madam Bai doesn’t have an honorable family background, but she has seven or eight relatives in her family who are officials at the imperial court or outside the capital, so her family is not bad. And he and his sister Commandery Princess Qingjiang never join the fight for the title of heir to the throne. If there is no accident, for the next two or three generations, even if their sons and grandsons are ordinary, they can keep their wealth depending on their titles of nobility.”

“Grand Princess Jinguo must worry least about her eldest daughter and son.”

“The third child of hers, Jian Yiyou married Princess Changxing and sides with Prince of Zhao, and the fourth child Jian Xubai follows you. Grand Princess Jinguo refuses to join the fight for the title of heir to the throne now because her two sons choose to follow different princes, and she is their mother, so it’s difficult for her to make a choice, and she has to stand by and do nothing.”

While speaking, Consort Cui sneered. “But there are not only four younger masters in the mansion of Grand Princess Jinguo. The girl whose family name is Nie is her foster daughter, yet she is ranked with her four children, and she looks just like Jinguo at that age. Who doesn’t know what is going on with this so-called sworn daughter?”

She looked at the crown prince. “Grand Princess Jinguo is worried most about this girl because she doesn’t get the favor of her father. Once Jinguo dies, she has to face her foster father’s threat. After all, which man can endure such a humiliation? Jian Likuang doesn’t dare to do anything because Grand Princess Jinguo is still alive. If the grand princess dies someday, Nie Wuying would be fine once she marries a good husband. If she marries into a less powerful family or she intentionally plays up to Jian Likuang, would she live a good life?”

The crown prince’s expression changed. After a while, he asked, “Mother, do you mean that you will tell my brother to marry Nie Wuying? However… Even though with this girl’s family background, she would marry above herself if she becomes Hehao’s side concubine, while his wife doesn’t have a good reputation, so I don’t know if Aunt Jinguo will agree.”

“You underestimate Grand Princess Jinguo’s love for this daughter.” Consort Cui heard that but sighed and reminded him. “Have you forgotten that this girl lost temper and left home last year because her brothers were absent from her birthday banquet, so Grand Princess Jinguo was furious? Jinguo is always soft-hearted to the younger generations. In a word, she would be partial to anybody who is more pitiful. So as soon as Pei Yourui’s husband was stolen, Grand Princess Jinguo took this future daughter-in-law as her foster daughter. Then Pei Yourui’s father died, and she was mistreated by her brother and his wife, so Grand Princess Jinguo sent people to Youzhou repeatedly and brought her to stay with her, taking her as a daughter.”

“The other day, Jian Yiyou ignored the rules and got his concubine pregnant before Princess Changxing, and he even revealed the news at his birthday banquet. Then Jinguo comforted Changxing a lot.”

Consort Cui sighed. “While Nie Wuying’s identity makes Jinguo worry more about her. So how would Jinguo let her be lower and below the wife as soon as she gets married? However, as long as Hehao marries this girl, we won’t be afraid that Jinguo wouldn’t surrender because of her.”

The crown prince was surprised to hear that and then stated subconsciously, “But Hehao’s wife is pregnant.”

If Princess Consort of Liang wasn’t pregnant now, they could find a reason to divorce her and then gave the Sikong Family some profits, and it was not difficult to solve it. Anyway, Sikong Yihan made a scene several times and her fame was ruined since long ago. The problem was that she was pregnant with a boy.

Under the situation, how could they tell Sikong Yihan to give up her position to Nie Wuying?

“Since ancient times, there are many women who died during childbirth,” Consort Cui explained peacefully. “Not to mention others, when Jian Yiyou’s aunt, Commandery Princess Yishui, whose title was given by the late emperor, gave birth to a child, it was said that even a woman doctor was there. The doctor was left by Elder Lady Duanmu before she was banished and had received education in the Jinxiu Hall, but she couldn’t save Yishui’s life, and even the baby didn’t stay alive.”

She continued coldly, “Moreover, I don’t harm Sikong for no reason. Do you know that she caused trouble again at Daiguo’s birthday party this time? When we went there that day, she quarreled with Princess Consort of Wei, who gave in at last, so it was settled. But don’t you know Princess Consort of Wei and her mother Daiguo? When would they suffer losses? It’s better to make Sikong atone for her guilt by devoted service than to let them bring it up and put more pressure on you.”

Consort Cui looked cold and sneered. “After all, it was not the first time for Sikong to cause trouble to you. It’s a disaster to keep such a woman. Only Hehao would suffer from injustice and his eldest legitimate son… However, your future is the most important, Hexiao!”

The crown prince kept silent for a long time and then asked, “Is Hehao willing to do that, too?”