It’s hard to break a phoenix’s destiny

Chapter 475: Secretly Surges and Many Transactions

A notice was posted in Luoyang City, saying that the new emperor Sima Chi was diligent and brave, and personally led his troops to flatten the bandits in Zijing Mountain Stronghold, and a big fire burned most of Zijing Mountain. However, the bandit troubles that had plagued the local people for decades had been eliminated, which was a blessing to the country and the people.

Sima Chi's personal expedition had an influence that was indispensable and could even go down in history. He was more profound than his father and more powerful than his brother. He must have been the best, most enlightened, and most wise emperor of the Jin Dynasty.

For a time, voices of praise and glorification arose everywhere, and even the casual conversations of people in the streets were about this matter.

In the court, there were more and more compliments for Sima Chi, and everyone looked at him with awe. After all, Sima Yue was still fighting outside and couldn't come back to manage too many things for a while. Although Concubine Pei was also in charge, she was a woman after all, and her authority was limited.

Gradually, the father and brother of Queen Liang began to rise to power and had a say in the court. But Concubine Pei looked down on their family and often set obstacles inside and outside. A new political situation was taking shape, and many things were also surging secretly.

Yang Xianrong was in poor health, so she closed the gate of Tianyuan Palace, but she opened the gate to Sima Chi and did not stop him. However, Sima Chi rarely came. He only came to visit them twice when they just returned to the palace, and then rarely came. Even if he came, he would just sit for a while, leave some precious medicinal materials or gold and silver jewelry, and then leave in a hurry.

But within a month, the rumors about Sima Chi and Empress Hui disappeared, and there was even talk of enmity. When Concubine Pei visited Yang Xianrong in the palace, she whispered about these things. Yang Xianrong just smiled, showed her those expensive and exquisite jewelry, and asked Concubine Pei: "Love but not being able to get it is the most frustrating thing, right?"

Concubine Pei was stunned for a moment before she said, "You can do it."

"So what? Just think positively." Yang Xianrong smiled again. Although she had lost a lot of weight, she was still recovering. Even though she looked pale and weak, the brilliance in her eyes was always captivating. Even Concubine Pei looked at her a few more times and felt as if she had seen through her thoughts. She immediately turned away and touched the gilded and kingfisher hairpins, envious. "Who knows, the emperor may need me to do something, too."

"What does this mean?" Concubine Pei was puzzled.

"There is no one around him." Yang Xianrong smiled playfully.

"I heard that Empress Liang is trying to find a few more beauties for the emperor to enter the palace. If one of them is pleasing to the emperor's eyes, she will be promoted to imperial concubine. She is so jealous, how come she suddenly changed her nature? What did you say?" Concubine Pei smiled strangely, "I won't hide it from you. There is a girl from my clan who is not bad. I originally prepared her for Rui'er."

"Sima Rui?" This time it was Yang Xianrong's turn to look at Concubine Pei a few more times, "What is the relationship between you and him? Why do you care so much about him?"

"You are quite straightforward. Let me put it this way. This child has grown up in front of me, so naturally we have a very good relationship. It is not an exaggeration to say that we are mother and son. I will not go into details about the twists and turns here, but this child has a good heart. I intend to rely on him for my old age." Concubine Pei said sincerely, "I don't count on my current son. Haha, I'm afraid that he will poison me to death in the future..."

"That won't happen?" Quite a few members of the Sima family were poisoned to death. After hearing what Concubine Pei said, Yang Xianrong could only respond weakly with a few words.

"Is it still not enough?" Concubine Pei narrowed her eyes and smiled, which naturally meant something.

"Forget it, I won't ask about these things. Who do you want me to pick out? I may not have the ability to do that." Yang Xianrong coughed a few more times and sat up straight. "The youngest daughter of Minister Yuan is not young anymore, and is almost the same as you. She has been waiting to be married and has refused to marry. She and Rui'er are in love, but her father has always refused because Rui'er has a very powerful wife, Wang... You also know that Rui'er can now occupy the south and form his own power, thanks to this Wang. But now..."

"The situation is different now, because Minister Yuan hates the current emperor and thinks it would be better to let his daughter marry to the south, right?" Yang Xianrong sneered, "If I had known this would happen, why would I have been so determined in the first place?"

"Everyone knows that the current man is just... Well, anyway, looking at his behavior, it's really bad to marry him." Concubine Pei sighed, "The character of the Yuan family's little daughter is also good. If you meet her, you will like her."

"But why should I help her? Why should I help you?" Yang Xianrong looked at Concubine Pei with her bright eyes, which made her speechless.

"The world of Dajin is bound to be in chaos, you should also find some helpers, right? Besides, you have old people and young children to take care of, and you also have a...sister, and there is not much people around you...it would be good to have more sisters." Concubine Pei said earnestly, "Don't be so nervous, I will definitely support you. Of course, I also have something to ask for, but I just hope that it won't be too chaotic for the time being, so that Rui'er has time to make plans..."

"So, he is the next one to march to Luoyang?" Yang Xianrong clenched his fist again. "After so many years of chaos, is it interesting just for such a position?"

"Don't get excited." Concubine Pei held her hand. "I'll tell you the truth. After Sima Yue dies, I will go to the south to live with Rui'er. He will definitely go to Luoyang to fight... Then, when everything is peaceful, you will also be able to have a place with Rui'er."

The words were not said explicitly, but in fact it meant that the country had changed hands and rewards were given according to merit. If Yang Xianrong had helped Sima Rui at this time, she would have been able to live in peace in the future.

But is it really possible?

Yang Xianrong trusts no one.

"Besides this little daughter of the Yuan family, what else does he want? The imperial seal is not with me." Yang Xianrong said bluntly: "My current status is even more embarrassing. I don't want anything, and I don't want to go to the south. I just want to return to Tai'an County to retire."

"Tsk tsk tsk, you are so young, why are you talking about retirement?" Concubine Pei curled her lips, "There is still a long time to live, who knows, there may be many good things waiting for you."

"Yes, life is still long, but our life may not be in our own hands." Yang Xianrong sighed softly.

"Rui'er has no money now, and the princess may not have that much silver either..." Concubine Pei said cautiously.

Yang Xianrong looked at her and suddenly laughed again, "You think I speak frankly, don't you? Sima Rui has no money, so he has no army. So, you want me to give him the little money left in Sima Zhong's hands, and then rebel against the current emperor? Concubine Pei, do you think I can do this now? Wouldn't that mean I'll be killed sooner rather than later?"