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

Chapter 359 Disagreement
Princess Chang understood Su Qingwan's words perfectly well: son or power? You chose power and abandoned your son. Nianqing, such a perceptive child, surely understood this.

Su Qingwan wanted Nianqing to inherit Huainan because he was the only bloodline of Huainan. She was going to the capital for a marriage alliance, and Huainan couldn't fall into the hands of others; it was the hard work of their ancestors and their foundation. The Eldest Princess wanted Nianqing to inherit Huainan for power. She was the late Emperor's sister, deeply favored, and in charge of the Grand Council. Even though Nianqing was nominally a descendant of the Lu family, as long as the Eldest Princess wanted to protect him, Nianqing still had a bright future. There was no need for him to go to Huainan.

She never doubted the princess's feelings for her brother, but the feelings of youth have been worn away by time. How much is left? She didn't know. Or perhaps the princess had no selfish motives and only hoped that her brother's bloodline would be recognized as a descendant of the same family. She didn't want to speculate; it was pointless. She wasn't the princess, she couldn't stand in her shoes, and she couldn't understand her difficulties.

The eldest princess chuckled, "Little Fifth, why do you always disbelieve me? From beginning to end, I have never done anything to hurt you. I even helped you go to the capital to seek revenge. I also personally facilitated your marriage with Lu Jing. Although I had my own selfish motives, it was all for your happiness. Lu Jing is someone you can entrust your life to. Because of Nianqing, we are family, not enemies. You don't need to be hostile towards me."

Su Qingwan hadn't expected her to be so direct. "Your Highness, I have never harbored any hostility towards you. You've seen me hostile towards others. As you said, because of Nianqing, we are family, and I will be grateful to you for the rest of my life. I will never forget your kindness to the Su family. But the Li family is the culprit who caused the extermination of my entire family. I cannot erase the past grievances. I will not hold a grudge against you, but I will always be wary of the royal family. You are Nianqing's mother, and you are also the late emperor's sister and the emperor's aunt. You hope that Nianqing will go to Huainan, perhaps because you still have genuine feelings for your brother and hope that his bloodline will be recognized by the family. But the biggest reason is that if Nianqing is in Huainan, at least three generations will not rebel. The situation in Huainan is complicated. The court has been turning a blind eye for so many years because they know that my family has been deeply rooted in Huainan for six generations. The people only recognize the Su family in their hearts and will not recognize others. If Nianqing goes there, he will marry and have children in the future, and the royal family can rest easy for three generations, right?"

"What have I done wrong? Nianqing is my son, and the Emperor is my nephew. They are all my closest relatives. I want to maintain the peace and stability of Dayuan. What's wrong with that?" The Princess looked at Su Qingwan with a solemn gaze. "Fifth Princess, I sent Nianqing away when he was three years old. It wasn't because I was heartless. First, I didn't want him to recognize a traitor as his father and develop feelings for the Lu family. You want to exonerate Huainan, and so do I. Second, I wanted Nianqing to return to Huainan. I know that only when Nianqing is in charge of Huainan can Dayuan truly be stable. I started planning this ten years ago. With you or without you, I would have pushed it forward anyway. That's why Nianqing and I have spent little time together. I made the difficult decision to send him to the battlefield for training. Among all the officials of the third rank and above, which family would be willing to send their child to the battlefield? Especially me, the Princess." He is the eldest son and grandson of the Lu family. What am I doing this for? It's never for personal gain; I only hope for stability in Dayuan. I once considered becoming Empress because I have the ability. For so many years, the Southwest and Xilin have been fighting. Who has been providing them with food and weapons? Who has been working tirelessly for them? Even during famine years, there was never a shortage of supplies for the front lines. The late Emperor was ill and weak, and the Lu family was powerful. It was I who painstakingly maintained the precarious Dayuan, striving to balance the various struggles. What's wrong with wanting to be Empress? Now that Lu Jing is regent, I have no objections, because Dayuan is stable, and the people live in peace and prosperity. As long as Nianqing conquers Xilin and takes control of Huainan, the court and Huainan will reconcile, the situation will be stable, and it will be good for everyone. The Su family of Huainan has been loyal for six generations. Isn't this what you desire?"

“Yes, I also hope for stability in Dayuan and for Nianqing to be in power. But my thoughts and Your Highness’s thoughts will likely never be the same. I hope Nianqing is loyal, and I also hope that Nianqing has the ability to protect himself and not lose the power to protect Huainan.” Su Qingwan said calmly, “Your Highness, Huainan has experienced the calamity of extermination once, and I do not want it to happen again. The Emperor is now being personally trained by you and Lu Jing, so he will have goodwill towards Huainan. But what about the next generation, and the generation after that? I cannot guarantee it. Lu Jing said that Nianqing only sent me gifts on New Year’s Eve and did not send any to the Princess’s residence. I knew then that you and your son had a conflict. I guess… Your Highness is perhaps hinting that after Nianqing conquers Xilin, he might reduce the scope of his territory or directly transfer military power? Nianqing obviously disagrees, which is why you and your son have a conflict.”

"I raised this son for over a decade, but in the end, I favored you." The princess smiled bitterly.

“Nianqing and I never discuss politics. Our letters are all about daily life and the affairs of the Huainan region, as well as interpersonal relationships. I tell him which of our fathers’ influences we can use. Nianqing also asks me for advice on how to manage the internal affairs of the Huainan region. I have never guided him to be an enemy of the court.” Su Qingwan felt a little wronged, but she didn’t blame the princess for thinking that way. Their positions were different, so disagreements were bound to occur.