Raising a wife? The mistress of the Hou family divorced and remarried her younger uncle

Chapter 192 Negotiation
Deep in the palace, the candlelight flickered, reflecting the emperor's exhausted face. Su Qingwan saw the emperor's haggard appearance, and she couldn't help but feel a complicated emotion in her heart. His face seemed to be drained of vitality, bloodless, as if a gust of wind could blow him down. Thinking of Lu Jing's words that the emperor would not live long, it seems that he is really terminally ill.

"Your Majesty," Su Qingwan spoke softly, her voice cold, "Lu Jing told me that you have been on the throne for eleven years and have been a wise ruler. During this period, the country has been peaceful and the people have been safe. Even though my father has a large army and poses a threat to you, and it is difficult for you to have children, you have never played tricks on the generals on the battlefield. You helped the princess to pacify the border, and the land of Jiangnan is even more prosperous. Even if my father ascended the throne and seized the throne, he might not have done better than you. In fact, I have always felt that you are a good emperor, and it is a great blessing for the people of the world."

The emperor raised his lips slightly, revealing a faint smile. He picked up the wine glass, took a sip of the wine, and said, "I am very pleased that Xiaojiu can say that."

Su Qingwan bowed slightly and continued, "I have never wanted to be your enemy, and so does my father. We are vindicating Huainan just to seek justice."

The emperor frowned slightly, his eyes full of confusion, and asked back: "The Huainan clan has its own army and does not obey orders. I killed them to eliminate future troubles. What's wrong with that? If Huainan really rebelled, with my power at that time and the influence of the imperial power in the army, there would be no chance of victory. I am also for the Li family. You are surnamed Li, but you don't understand my painstaking efforts."

Su Qingwan's eyes were firm, and she said slowly: "If Huainan really wanted to rebel, he would have rebelled long ago. Why wait until the palace coup? In fact, it is meaningless to entangle in right and wrong now. The emperor has his position, and I have my own position and opinion. The current situation is also forced to this point step by step by you. We just want Huainan to be vindicated, and we don't want to start a war."

Upon hearing this, the emperor sneered and said firmly: "It is impossible for me to issue an edict of guilt! If it weren't for these coincidences, why would I persist? I have been bedridden for more than ten years, who caused it? Each of you has stood on Huainan's side, who has ever thought about me!"

Seeing this, Su Qingwan didn't want to argue with him. She knew very well that it would be difficult to reach a conclusion on this matter.

She suddenly asked, "Your Majesty, if it's for the eldest prince, are you willing to pave the way for him? The eldest prince has been well-educated, innocent and cute, and I like him very much. You train him as the crown prince, and you rashly launched a coup to help him clear the obstacles. But the eldest prince's obstacle is not my father, but the capital. You know this better than anyone else. You have put the cart before the horse."

Upon hearing this, the emperor couldn't help but look at Su Qingwan with admiration.

He said slowly, "When the Jinyiwei investigated the emperor's uncle, they said that the princess of Southwest had traveled far and wide, was smart and steady, and had the style of the emperor's uncle. She was more supported by the people than the prince. Under your governance, Southwest has been completely transformed in just five years, and tax revenue has increased greatly. You have made an indelible contribution. At that time, I thought it would be great if you were a princess with pure blood and were born in Kyoto. You understand the situation of Yu'er better than the noble ladies in the capital. If you are not a girl raised in the boudoir, I can understand why Lu Jing took the initiative to ask for marriage."

Su Qingwan was stunned when she heard this, and asked in confusion: "Lu Jing took the initiative to ask for marriage?"

"Don't you know?" The emperor looked surprised.

Su Qingwan shook her head slowly, and Lu Jing's face appeared in her mind. He seemed to have said that, but she didn't take it to heart at the time, nor did she think about it deeply. It turned out that he had asked for this marriage.

The emperor continued, "I originally did not want to marry you to Lu Jing, but planned to marry you to a poor family to help me win over students. It was Lu Jing who took the initiative to ask for marriage, so I agreed to this marriage."

Su Qingwan felt mixed emotions and had a lot of thoughts in her mind. There was actually such a story behind his proposal to marry her.

"He really likes you." The emperor said, "You two are a perfect match. Lu Jing is loyal to me and I am willing to support him. Marrying you is a good choice."

Su Qingwan finally understood the whole story. No wonder the eldest princess was so sure that Lu Jing would be loyal to her and betray the emperor. She probably also knew the reason.

"Your Majesty, I will marry Lu Jing as you wish. I also have ways to slowly take care of your body and give you enough time to educate Yan'er. If so, are you willing to overturn the case for King Huainan and stop making things difficult for the southwest?" Su Qingwan knelt on the ground and kowtowed heavily. Her only purpose in going to the capital was to redress the injustice.

But the imperial power is unshakable, and the emperor has powerful ministers like Lu Jing around him. She can't tell where Lu Jing's bottom line is towards her and the emperor, so she can only go all out.

"Can you help me recuperate?" The emperor narrowed his eyes. "My body has long been damaged and there is no cure. The entire Imperial Hospital is helpless. What can you do?"

"I know where the poison in the southwest comes from!" Su Qingwan said softly, "The emperor's body has been damaged too much because the remaining poison has not been cleared. It is impossible to recover as before and be healthy like an ordinary person. But it is not a problem to guarantee the emperor's life for another five or six years. If you have another five or six years to live, it will be enough for you to raise the eldest prince and clear the obstacles for him."

"Xiao Jiu, is this your idea or the emperor's uncle's?"

"Father...he once really coveted the throne, but he has seen your achievements in the past ten years. He once said that even if he won that year, he might not have done better than you. Southwest is located in a remote corner, guarding the border for the emperor, and has been loyal for generations. This is the mission of Southwest. Southwest does not really want to rebel, what we want is justice!" Su Qingwan said.

"Why did you change your mind? I know you are determined to overturn the case in Huainan."

"Because we have no other way out!" Su Qingwan's heart ached slightly, her eyes were dim, she was really at a dead end. She realized that if she continued to let the situation develop, there would inevitably be rivers of blood, and the imperial city would once again experience the palace coup twelve years ago, and countless people would die because of it. Su Qingwan did not want the situation to escalate.

The trouble should end it!
"Are you afraid that I will catch you all in one fell swoop? Since you came to the capital, you have caused so many troubles. Now you know that you are desperate and want to make peace again?" The emperor said with a smile, "How come you have taken all the benefits, Xiaojiu."

"Your Majesty, you have an advantage too. Father is the most important member of the royal family. If I were to die with the eldest prince, Southwest China would only lose a princess, but you would lose the crown prince. Yan'er is your only child. Where can you find another child? To be honest, you are not in good health and I don't know how long you can hold on. Sooner or later, the throne will fall into the hands of my father, isn't it?"