The Rebellious Officials and Traitors of the Late Han Dynasty

Chapter 536 Sima Yi's Decision
Qin Chengji heard this and immediately stood up and knelt on the ground, his forehead pressed against the ground: "Mother, please understand, I have no other intentions! I just admire Miss Sima's talent and virtue."

Cai Zhaoji snorted coldly and tapped the table with her slender fingers: "Get up. I am your biological mother. I know exactly what you want to do."

Qin Chengji slowly stood up, tears welling in his eyes, and cried, "How dare I lie to you, mother?"

The palace was silent for a moment, with only the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire. Cai Zhaoji stared at the prince she had raised since childhood, and her expression gradually softened.

"Chengji," she sighed softly, "Do you know what the prince has been doing these days?"

Qin Chengji's expression changed slightly, and he lowered his head and replied, "I heard that the prince is reviewing memorials day and night and is diligent in supervising the country."

"That's right." Cai Zhaoji looked at him meaningfully and said, "Your brother is steady and has won the favor of His Majesty. But you are asking to marry the daughter of the Sima family at this time?"

A cold wind blew past the window, making the window lattice creak slightly. Qin Chengji felt a chill on his back, and beads of sweat oozed out of his forehead. He tried to argue, "Brother is brother, and son is son. I don't find anything wrong, please forgive me, mother."

Cai Zhaoji listened and smiled bitterly, then sighed, "Chengji, the throne has been decided, and the harmony between you two brothers is what His Majesty wants to see most. You want to marry into the Sima family at this time, do you think your father doesn't know?"

"Mother, my father is an emperor who will be remembered throughout history, and his successor should also be excellent. Why can Qin Chengqian be the crown prince? Is it just because his mother is the queen? In terms of status and position, the position of queen should belong to my mother." Qin Chengji said unwillingly.

"How dare you say these words? The Queen and your father are married forever. Their love is stronger than gold. It has nothing to do with your status." Cai Zhaoji's expression changed drastically and she scolded immediately.

"Mother, this is not only my son's idea, but also the idea of ​​the ministers in the court. They hope that you can become the queen." Qin Chengji said solemnly.

In terms of birth, talent, and background, Du Shiniang cannot be compared with Cai Zhaoji at all. If the other party had not married Qin Shou first, how could it be Du Shiniang's turn after the queen?

Now those ministers from aristocratic families in the court urgently need to replace the queen to achieve their political goals, which is the same idea as Qin Chengji.

"With your father here, who dares to replace the queen?" Cai Zhaoji sneered, "Chengji, don't trust those ministers. They are using you as a knife to deal with your father."

Cai Zhaoji saw through the thoughts of those ministers at a glance. Those who had these thoughts must be those who came from aristocratic families and did not benefit from the new dynasty. They tricked Qin Chengji into finding Qin Shou, and then added fuel to the fire to achieve their own goals.

But she had never thought about what kind of person the Emperor of Tang was. Anyone who dared to offend the Emperor of Tang would die. She had been with Qin Shou for so many years and knew him very well, so she didn't want Qin Chengji to be used by others.

"Mother, isn't what they said true?"

Qin Chengji asked.

"Some things cannot be solved by facts alone." Cai Zhaoji shook her head and said, "As for your marriage, wait a moment. I believe your father will definitely arrange it for you in the future. Remember, don't get too close to those aristocratic families."

"Yes, I understand." Qin Chengji could only hum after hearing this. As for what he was thinking in his heart, only he knew it.

In the study room of Sima Mansion in the east of Luoyang, a wisp of green smoke rose from the bronze incense burner. Sima Yi sat in front of the desk, holding a secret letter that had just been delivered, his brows furrowed. The spring rain outside the window made a crisp sound on the bluestone slabs, but it could not cover up the waves in his heart.

"Second brother, what's so urgent?" Sima Lang pushed the door open, his official uniform still damp from the rain. He had just returned from Yanzhou when his servant told him that Sima Yi had something important to discuss with him.

Sima Yi did not answer immediately, but handed the secret letter to his brother, and at the same time signaled Sima Fu and Sima Kui who came in later to close the door. Under the candlelight, the shadows of the four people stretched long on the wall, looking a little distorted.

"What? Prince Qin Chengji wants to marry Yuan'er?" Sima Lang's voice suddenly rose after reading the letter, "This is a good thing! If you can become a royal relative, our Sima family will..."

"Brother, be careful with your words!" Sima Yi raised his hand to interrupt, and glanced out the window. After confirming that no one was eavesdropping, he whispered, "This matter is definitely not as simple as it seems."

Sima Fu took the letter and read it carefully, frowning more and more, and said with some worry: "Three days ago, Qin Chengji mentioned this matter in the palace of Concubine Cai. After being rejected by Concubine Cai, he still did not give up. This..."

"What a shrewd person Concubine Cai is. Since she has declined politely, there must be a deeper meaning behind it." Sima Yi slowly stood up and walked to the window. Raindrops were blown in by the wind and wet his sleeves. He smiled bitterly and said, "Qin Chengji's move may be suspected of stealing the throne."

Sima Kui was the youngest. He took a deep breath and exclaimed, "Second brother, are you saying that he wants to use marriage to win over our Sima family and fight against the crown prince?"

The study was silent for a while, with only the sound of rain hitting the window. Sima Lang's face was uncertain, and after a while he said: "Even so, it is still a chance. Although the prince is the eldest son, Qin Chengji is deeply loved by Concubine Cai, so there may be a chance."

"Brother!" Sima Yi turned around abruptly, a sharp look flashed in his eyes, and he frowned and said, "If this word gets out, the entire Sima family will be executed!"

He is cautious by nature, especially now that the Tang Emperor is in power, the entire Sima family has to be honest.

Sima Lang was frightened by his brother's momentum and was speechless for a moment. Sima Fu hurriedly tried to smooth things over and chuckled, "Brother, you are also thinking about the family. But what you said is absolutely right. This matter is too risky. Your Majesty hates the princes forming factions the most, and he hates the relatives of the emperor interfering in politics even more. If we get involved..."

"Wealth and honor are achieved through risk." Sima Lang retorted unwillingly, gritting his teeth and saying, "Since the establishment of the new dynasty, although my Sima family has been given important positions, we have never been able to enter the core of power. Humph, in fact, you are the same, you are not trusted by the emperor. If you can take this opportunity..."

Sima Yi shook his head and interrupted: "Brother, do you still remember the fate of the Liang and He families in the previous dynasty? Liang Ji, as a relative, supported the young master, but in the end his entire family was executed. Your Majesty is a man of great talent and strategy, and the position of the crown prince is stable. Qin Chengji is just wishful thinking."

The winter rain was getting heavier, and a flash of lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating Sima Yi's angular profile.

He walked back to the table and tapped the tabletop with his fingers: "Your Majesty attaches great importance to the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children. Although Concubine Cai is of a better family, Empress Du and Your Majesty have been through thick and thin together, and their friendship is stronger than gold. Crown Prince Qin Chengqian is diligent in his supervision of the country and is deeply supported by the government and the people. Qin Chengji's move is tantamount to hitting a rock with an egg."

(End of this chapter)