concubines

Chapter 45 Thinking Too Much

In the East Palace, the prince is in a daze in the room, he has not recovered from what Zhou Shuxuan said that day.

This year the emperor invited Zhou Shuxuan to the palace to celebrate the new year for the first time, he didn't dare to think carefully about the meaning expressed in it.

"Your Highness, it's time to rest. I boiled a bowl of soothing soup for Your Highness."

If it were someone else, the prince might just tell her to get out, but the princess is different.After the princess had an abortion, she was always reluctant to talk to him too much, and she just got better recently.

However, the prince's interest was still not high, and he said coldly: "I'm not sleepy yet, you can go to sleep first."

The crown princess asked with concern: "Is there anything troubling your Highness recently?"

The prince glanced at her, shook his head and said, "It's okay, you can go to sleep."

What's the use of these things with what women say?He might as well be upset by himself.Besides, she didn't know how many days she could be a princess. The imperial doctor said that she had a miscarriage and hurt her body, and she might not be able to conceive again in the future.If it wasn't for her father, he would really consider changing the princess.

At this time, someone from outside came in and reported, "Your Highness, there are people coming from the palace."

This point should not be sent by the emperor, it means that something bad happened to him in the palace.

The prince suddenly sat up straight and said, "Quickly declare."

The little eunuch who came from Qinzheng Hall knelt down at the Prince's feet, "I have something important to report to Your Highness."

He had a bad premonition recently, and the prince eagerly said to the little eunuch, "Say it directly."

"Today when King Qin entered the palace, the emperor went to Qingquan Palace and played chess with His Royal Highness Qin all afternoon. When he returned to Qinzheng Hall, he wrote an imperial decree with his own hand. The servant secretly took a look. The situation is too urgent. I read it too carefully, but the general meaning is that the emperor wants to make Concubine Liang a noble concubine. Now that imperial decree has been put away, it should be announced after the next year."

The prince is very suspicious of his ears now, but he still said that Zhou Shuxuan deliberately led him to think where he shouldn't think.

He couldn't figure out what the emperor was thinking?Is he really going to abolish the prince?how is this possible!He has been the prince for 20 years, and as long as the emperor dies, he can achieve a positive result.

Are you going to abolish him now?Impossible, it's all fake, it's because he thought too much, the prince kept comforting himself.

"Your Highness, Your Highness." The little eunuch raised his head and shouted twice, and the prince came to his senses.

The prince asked coldly: "Is there anything else?" Is there more than one bad news today?
"Nothing."

"Then you go back after receiving the reward, and notify Gu as soon as there is any new situation."

The little eunuch left, and the prince was even more upset.He still couldn't believe it was all fake.He is the emperor's favorite son, and his mother is the emperor's favorite woman. How could the emperor not hand over the country to him?
Could it be that the emperor thinks that Zhou Shuxuan is the best candidate to inherit the throne, like those ministers who don't have long eyes, and praises Zhou Shuxuan whenever he mentions Zhou Shuxuan like those ministers.He only regretted not killing Zhou Shuxuan at that time, but only breaking his legs.That's right, he can't even stand up, what kind of emperor is he?But the emperor has other sons, and an eldest son.

The prince kept telling himself that it was impossible, his position was very stable.

However, the emperor can even do such a thing as chasing a good concubine, what else can't he do?Did the emperor find out that something was wrong back then, so he is no longer his favorite son?

Countless thoughts kept circling in the prince's mind, and he didn't even close his eyes for a whole night.

In Qingquan Palace, Zhou Shuxuan also had a sleepless night.

He is almost useless now, if the emperor insists on letting him go to Qiongzhou, there is no point in his life, he does not want to be a leisurely prince who enjoys peace.At this time, it is not necessarily that there is no way, as long as he releases the news, some people will stand up and speak for him.But what is the difference between that and forcing the emperor to make a decision?

The emperor was not like this when he was young, and he was also a capable and wise emperor.It's really old and stupid, and the fame of the first life will be ruined in his later years.

Or is it that he has experienced too little to understand the emperor's feelings for the former empress.Can't figure it out?How can one person sway another for so long?Still just relying on memories and the past.

If he is just an ordinary person, he will definitely not care about these things, what is the difference between who is the emperor and him?It's a pity that he is the son of Emperor Zhenlong. He has worked for the people all these years and sincerely wants the people to live a good life.He knew that it was the common people who suffered when the crown prince was in power, so he couldn't just watch things happen.

No matter what method he uses, he will never watch the crown prince ascend the throne.

In the early morning of the next day, Sun Bo returned to the army, and the prince and princess went to the palace to celebrate the New Year as usual.In the past few years, the emperor didn't like to stay with the concubines in the harem, and preferred to have the prince by his side.

In the Longde Hall, the emperor glanced at the haggard and disfigured prince, and asked with concern: "Did the prince not sleep well last night? I see that you are not in a good mood today."

The prince's mind was not here at all, and he didn't answer for a long time. The princess touched him lightly beside him.

The prince stood up reflexively, bowed politely and said, "Please show me, Father."

It's not just that he didn't sleep well, but he was still distracted.The emperor didn't take it to heart, but said with more concern: "I don't have any instructions, I just asked you if you didn't sleep well last night?"

"Return to father, my son drank a cup of strong tea last night, and really didn't sleep well, let father care."

Not just a cup of strong tea, but a heart-piercing cup of strong tea.It's not just that he didn't sleep well that night, I'm afraid he won't sleep well until the emperor dies.I used to think I could sit back and relax, but now I can hardly keep my pillow.

The emperor said compassionately: "You have been tired for a year, and you should take a break during the Chinese New Year and put down what you are doing."

It was originally a word of concern, but when it fell into the ears of the now suspicious prince, the meaning of the words changed.

The emperor asked him to fill up the treasury's silver years ago, but he has not made up three-tenths until today.Now that the emperor said that, did he not want him to manage the household department?Or are you mocking him for not doing anything this year?
"The sons and ministers work for the father and the people, just want to be able to devote themselves, not afraid of hard work."

The emperor paused for a moment, this sentence did not seem to be talking about the prince, but it seemed to be talking about Zhou Shuxuan, Zhou Shuxuan was the only one who really did the four words of dedication.

The emperor took this opportunity to remind him, "Speaking is very easy, I hope you can do the same in the new year."

The prince was already very disturbed, but the emperor's words undoubtedly made the situation worse, and made the prince's heart tremble.Is this reprimanding him in person?
The prince lifted his robe and knelt down, "My son and minister must obey the teachings of the emperor." The prince is now sparing no effort to curry favor with the emperor, just to keep his position.

It was just a small reminder, but the prince actually valued it so much, the emperor was very pleased, thinking he had figured it out. "Get up, it's so cold that you don't need to come and visit. This year, with your third brother, our family will spend a good year in the palace. Other things, we will talk about it after the new year."

The prince skipped a beat in his heart, what are the other things referring to?It means that he colluded with the Xia family to frame Zhou Shuxuan.Or is it referring to the fact that he bloodbathed the entire racecourse in order not to be discovered for his crime?
Mutilating siblings, killing innocent people indiscriminately, which line is not a serious crime?It's over, he really is.

The emperor didn't notice his expression, and said to himself: "The third son brought in some souvenirs, and I have already asked the imperial dining room to prepare them, all made according to your taste."

The emperor really cared for him, and it was clearly Zhou Shuxuan's gift, but he specifically ordered the imperial dining room to make it according to the prince's taste.

The prince only heard the first half of the sentence, the emperor was talking about the souvenirs sent by the third child.If he was to be praised for giving souvenirs, wouldn't he be reprimanded by the emperor for giving those gold, silver and jewelry?Saying he doesn't care, do you still have to ask him where the money came from?

The more the prince thought about it, the more guilty he felt, his face was pale when he entered the door, but now he was sitting on the seat like a paper man.

The emperor finally found out that something was wrong with him. He didn't reprimand the prince today, and he didn't beat him or scold him. Why did he react like this?
"I see that your spirit is getting worse. Find a place to rest. You don't need to stay here anymore. The third child is coming to pay his respects soon."

What the emperor meant was that he was accompanied by someone, so that the prince could rest well without worrying about him.What the prince heard was that the emperor liked the third son even more now and didn't want him as a son anymore.

The crown prince stood up in a daze and saluted, "My son will take his leave."

Catching the wind and misinterpreting people's will is enough to change a father's love for his son into another meaning.

After leaving the palace gate, the Crown Princess asked anxiously: "What happened to Your Highness today? Seeing the Emperor is like seeing a cat when a mouse is seen."

He has been the crown prince for so many years, it is ridiculous to see the emperor like a mouse seeing a cat.There are indications that there is a real problem with his current status.He is no longer the emperor's favorite son.

The emperor didn't like Zhou Shuxuan, mostly because of his concubine Liang.Now the emperor has the intention to forgive Concubine Liang, and his attitude towards Zhou Shuxuan will definitely be much better.

The more the prince thought about it, the more frightened he became, as if the thing with his name engraved on it was about to be snatched away.No, he is not reconciled.Zhou Shuxuan was not killed at the racecourse that day, but today he will kill Zhou Shuxuan in the palace, so that he will never return this time.

The emperor still has so many sons, including the king of Qi, who are all in peace. When will it be his turn to speak?
In Qingquan Palace, Miaoli had added charcoal to the charcoal basin twice, but Zhou Shuxuan still had no intention of getting up.Miao Li didn't know that he only went to bed when the sky was turning white, and thought that his illness had relapsed.The imperial physician clearly said that it could be delayed for three months, and Zhou Shuxuan also took the medicine on time, so the poison should not be released.

But these things are not accurate, Miao Li is still worried, and it is time to go to the emperor to pay his respects, he can no longer sleep, Miao Li directly broke into Zhou Shuxuan's bedroom.

"My lord, it's time to get up."

Zhou Shuxuan fell asleep very lightly, and was woken up with a sound.Because I just woke up, my brain has not reacted yet.Forgetting that he has a broken leg now, he moved his leg subconsciously, and it was able to move.

(End of this chapter)