Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 891 The Little Princess Arrives

At this time, the Cining Palace had essentially become the Qinzheng Hall.

It was even busier than usual at the Diligent Governance Hall.

Orders and messages concerning both internal and external matters were constantly being sent and received.

News from the Palace Guard, the Infantry Commandery, the Cavalry Commandery, the Privy Council, the Censorate, and the Imperial City Guard's office being besieged by Wu Ting...

The young emperor Zhao Dun watched from the side.

Because some orders required the emperor's personal approval.

As he looked around, Zhao Dun suddenly realized, "Why am I so foolish? Why am I so naive?"

The Prince of Yan has already amassed such immense power. What was I thinking, actually despicable enough to want to eliminate him!

I actually thought that as long as I killed him, such a huge force would obediently submit to my judgment?

Because Yang Yuan had already planned ahead, he arranged everything in an orderly manner.

At this time, he even made arrangements for some places outside Lin'an City in front of the emperor.

Zhang Jiaquan temporarily took charge of the Ministry of Personnel, Zheng Zeming controlled all transportation affairs inside and outside the capital, and Lin Rongyue, the Coastal Defense Commissioner and Grand Admiral of the Navy, immediately sailed the warships into the Yangtze River...

Yang Yuan even wrote a letter to Zhang Xiaoxiang, the governor of Jiankang, in front of the young emperor.

Attached to the letter was a secret letter seized from Vice Minister Huang, which he had forged in imitation of Yang Yuan's handwriting and intended to implicate Zhang Xiaoxiang.

Zhao Dun was completely disoriented and his face turned ashen.

The idea that Yang Yuan was invincible was thus etched into Zhao Dun's mind and could never be shaken off.

Finally, after a busy period, I got a chance to catch my breath.

Yang Yuan put down his pen, picked up his tea, and let out a long sigh.

Upon seeing Zhao Dun sitting beside her, looking like a clay or wooden sculpture, Yang Yuan smiled slightly.

He had no intention of killing Zhao Dun, much less deposing him.

Zhao Dun was the one who deposed Zhao Qi and put him on the throne.

If he were to depose Zhao Dun now, wouldn't he be contradicting himself?
Furthermore, having deposed two emperors, he had no way to clear his name, no matter how much grievance he felt.

Looking at the whole history, if any powerful minister has done these things, then who else could be a treacherous minister if not him?
Even his descendants are embarrassed to try to whitewash their ancestor.

However, Zhao Dun's brain ailment could no longer be concealed this time.

Yang Yuan didn't want to hide it; in fact, she wanted to help him spread the word.

An emperor suffering from a brain disease!

With this label imprinted on him, I ask you, from now on, which minister would be so brain-dead as to support him and oppose the Prince of Yan?

Yang Yuan had already made up his mind; he wanted to involve the Second Prince, Zhao Kai, in politics.

In this way, the people who still value the Song Dynasty more than Yang Yuan in their hearts can be appeased to the greatest extent.

The two kings participate in government affairs and assist the emperor, seemingly... they could replace him at any time.

With this carrot hanging there, the Second King Zhao Kai can control it.

Since the emperor could cease to be emperor at any time and suffered from a brain ailment, there was no one available to use, leaving Zhao Dun at his mercy.

This is the best arrangement for Yang Yuan at the moment.

Yang Yuan no longer considered Zhao Qu.

The moment Zhao Dun prepared to take action, all ties between him and the Zhao Song imperial family were severed.

From then on, Zhao Qu was simply Zhao Qu, and it had nothing to do with whether he was the Prince of Jin of the Song Dynasty!
Yang Yuan will not harm the Goose King, and will ensure his continued carefree life.

But things had already come to this point, shattering Yang Yuan's last shred of soft-heartedness and naivety.
From this moment on, he will pave the way for becoming emperor!
Liu Dazhuang tiptoed in.

He had just learned this gait from the palace eunuchs.

He thought it looked really cool, and he felt his king deserved that coolness, so...

Liu Dazhuang walked around like a grand eunuch, completely unaware of his own presence.

"Your Majesty..."

Liu Dazhuang whispered into Yang Yuan's ear, mimicking the mannerisms of a eunuch.

"Oh? Then please..."

Just as Yang Yuan was about to say, "Please invite Princess Jia to the palace," his mind suddenly changed.

Wait a minute, why did Dazhuang report this in private?
Could it be that the princess of Jia Kingdom instructed them not to let too many people hear or see this?
Thinking of this, Yang Yuan turned his head and whispered in Da Zhuang's ear, "Please invite the princess to the Empress Dowager's bedroom. I will go there immediately."

Dazhuang nodded quickly and tiptoed away.

As he turned around, a smug look appeared on Dazhuang's face.

As expected, this kind of news is not suitable for public dissemination.

As Dazhuang grew up and spent more time with Yang Yuan, his eyesight and knowledge gradually diminished.

Even the simple-minded Yang Shou had his "sudden inspiration," and Da Zhuang, seeing this, couldn't help but understand it.
Dazhuang also wants to improve, right?

At this moment, he felt that he had figured out the king's intentions and happily went out.

"Your Highness, please come with me."

Dazhuang whispered something, waved his hand, and then led the way.

Princess Zhao Ning'er of Jia Kingdom followed Liu Dazhuang and entered the sleeping quarters of Empress Dowager Wu through a side door.

Princess Jia had been to this place before, and upon seeing that it was the Empress Dowager's bedroom, she felt a chill run down her spine, a girl's sensitive nature.

Why did Your Highness Prince Yan allow me to meet you here?

Is it...

Upon thinking this, Princess Jia felt a sudden panic, and her fair face flushed red.

At this moment, Liu Dazhuang gave her a mysterious smile, thinking he was being clever.

"Your Majesty will be here soon, I shall take my leave."

Liu Dazhuang walked out with the gait of an eunuch and the delicate gesture of his fingers.

He could almost see himself getting promoted, receiving a raise, becoming a great general, governing a region, marrying a beautiful and wealthy woman, and reaching the pinnacle of life...

Think a little excited.

At this time, the Cining Palace was practically a hall for diligent governance, teeming with people. Only the Empress Dowager's bedroom remained a very private space.

Out of respect for the Wu family, Yang Yuan forbade anyone to enter, which calmed things down considerably.

The reason Yang Yuan hadn't returned to the previous court to handle affairs, but instead remained in Cining Palace, was that he was waiting for the Empress Dowager.

He wanted to make a deal with Empress Dowager Wu.

He promised not to kill the emperor, not to harm the royal family, and to preserve all the royal family's privileges.

However, in the subsequent power structure of the court, he, the prime minister, the regent Zhao Kai, and the emperor Zhao Dun would form the three pillars of the Song Empire.

That's right, Yang Yuan wants to abolish the Left Chancellor and become the sole Chancellor.

Given Empress Dowager Wu's high prestige in the Song Empire, many troubles could be easily resolved if she compromised.

As for the Goose King, although he has already made a decision and will not be swayed by his personal relationship with Zhao Qu.

But what should he say when he sees Zhao Qu?
However, with Zhao Qu's adoptive mother, Wu, acting as a lubricant, their friendship could be protected to the greatest extent possible.

Now, the princess of Jia Kingdom has arrived.

Moreover, Princess Jia requested a private meeting, which suggests that she was acting on behalf of the Empress Dowager.

That's right. The Empress Dowager is still the Empress Dowager. Even though things have come to this, she should maintain the dignity of the royal family. There's no reason for her to lower herself to come see him in person.

However, given what had just happened, the Empress Dowager would likely be unable to bring herself to summon him.

He wanted to see what conditions the Empress Dowager intended to offer, and whether she could accept them.

"Your Majesty..."

Zhao Ning'er was led by Yang Yuan's men to the Empress Dowager's bedroom, where the bed was right next to her.

It would be strange if a young girl, who had always harbored feelings for Yang Yuan and regarded him as the object of her romantic affections, didn't have wild thoughts at this moment.

Zhao Ning'er immediately thought of many unhealthy things and was feeling quite flustered when Yang Yuan suddenly walked in.

Zhao Ning'er subconsciously called out "Your Majesty" to him, but her body's instinctive reaction was to take a step back in a panic.

"Your Highness, please have a seat."

Yang Yuan offered her a seat, and seeing that the little princess looked a little flustered, he smiled slightly and went to sit down at the table first.

Seeing Yang Yuan sit down, Zhao Ning'er felt a little safer and then mustered up her courage to sit on the other chair.

The two were separated only by a tall table.

However, Zhao Ning'er was only half-sitting on the chair, so she could jump up at any moment.

Zhao Ning'er had feelings for Yang Yuan, and it was a secret crush, but she suddenly had a premonition of the situation she might be facing...

For a young girl who has never experienced such things, feeling nervous and afraid is an instinctive reaction.

The two sat down, but no one came to serve tea, and they fell silent again.

Zhao Ning'er could only think, if... if His Highness the Prince of Yan wanted me to serve him before he would let my family go, then... what should I do?
His Highness the Prince of Yan is so brave and powerful, even if I wanted to resist, I... I couldn't possibly resist him, could I?
But...but...

Zhao Ning'er bit her lip, her face growing hotter and hotter.

Yang Yuan assumed that Zhao Ning'er had come with the intentions of the Empress Dowager Wu.

He originally intended to remain unchanged in the face of all changes.

In these kinds of negotiations, whoever is more anxious will be at a disadvantage.

Yang Yuan is definitely not as anxious as the Empress Dowager.

However, to my surprise, this little princess was quite composed!
She remained silent, waiting for him to speak.

This is where the advantage of beautiful women in dealing with men lies.

If the Empress Dowager had sent a man or an ordinary-looking woman to negotiate, Yang Yuan could have continued to wait patiently.

Let's see who can outlast whom.

However, just a table away from her sat Princess Ning'er.

He had watched Lu Xi grow up since she was a child, and every time he accompanied Lu Xi to the palace for family banquets, he would sweetly call him "uncle"...

That's it!

Yang Yuan's heart softened, so she cleared her throat and took the initiative to speak.

“Princess, what happened today was not what I, Yang, wished for.”

Zhao Ning'er responded softly, "Yes, I understand."

As a princess of the Jia Kingdom with an official title and a palace to reside in, Zhao Ning'er can refer to herself as "this palace".

Within the royal family, especially the Song Dynasty royal family, at family banquets or private gatherings, they addressed each other in much the same way as ordinary people.

However, starting from the Song Dynasty, there was an emphasis on civil affairs and a de-emphasis on military affairs, leading to cultural prosperity and a gradual tightening of the traditional rites and regulations...

In certain special occasions, even someone as noble as a princess must use humble terms.

For example, when a princess is with her husband and his elders, she must refer to herself as "this concubine."

"妾身" is not a humble term exclusively used by married women; it can also be used for unmarried women.

However, if an unmarried woman refers to herself as a concubine, it might mislead unfamiliar people into thinking that she is already married.

Therefore, more commonly used humble terms are "this humble woman" or "this humble servant".

Now, in front of Yang Yuan, how could Zhao Ning'er still act like a princess?
The lives of the entire family are in their hands.

Therefore, the word "this humble servant" was uttered.

This was the first time Zhao Ning'er had referred to herself as "this humble servant".

Especially in front of Yang Yuan, the man she had long admired, her pretty face turned even redder when she uttered "this humble servant."

Yang Yuan then turned to look at Zhao Ning'er.

Yang Yuan noticed that her pretty face was flushed, and assumed it was because she was embarrassed and ashamed of being subservient to him, without thinking of anything else.

Yang Yuan then said, "Your Highness need not do this. In fact, I have never been disrespectful to the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, and Her Highness the Princess, and I am still like this now."

Zhao Ning'er was overjoyed upon hearing this. Judging from the Prince of Yan's words, things did not seem to have reached the point of no return.

Then... if I plead with him in a soft voice, will he spare Third Brother's life and spare my entire Zhao family?

(End of this chapter)