Daily Life of a Powerful Official Supporting His Wife

Chapter 63 Completed

Chapter 63

The Emperor has six sons. The eldest, Su Yi, is the Crown Prince, born to the late Empress. At thirty-three, he holds the title of Crown Prince, diligently studying the art of statecraft. The second, Su Huai, is the son of Concubine Shen, already in his twenties. Following the late Empress's passing, the throne of Empress remains vacant, and rumors circulate that the Emperor intends for Concubine Shen to inherit the Phoenix Seal and succeed her. Rumors often go unfounded, especially regarding matters of the Imperial family. If rumors are disseminated to the public, it's likely that the Emperor is deliberately turning a blind eye.

As a result, Crown Prince Su Yi became a little restless. He looked at the huge palace and thought that when he ascended the throne in the future, this would be his residence, and every blade of grass and every tree would be preserved for his descendants to admire. Now, why did his father make his second brother's mother, who always suppressed him, the queen? Although there are no legitimate or illegitimate children in the royal family, all are the sons of the emperor. However, the position of the queen still has some weight. The sudden complications of the throne, which was originally without any obstacles, made Su Yi a little worried. He thought, could it be that the emperor has some other ideas?
Throughout history, there has been a saying that the eldest son should be deposed and the youngest son should be enthroned. What should be done if Concubine Shen keeps whispering in his father's ear and the emperor becomes disloyal to him?

To avoid a falling out between the brothers, the emperor had already chosen a crown prince. Su Yi had been crown prince for over a decade, never dreaming that he would one day hand over the throne, which he had always considered his.

Just because his father didn't intend to depose him didn't mean Su Huai didn't have that intention. When he was twenty, Su Huai was just a younger brother with no intimidation, and he had performed the drama of brotherly love and respect to entertain his parents. But Su Huai was twenty years old now, and he was no longer the yellow-haired boy who only knew how to cry.

Could it be that at a time when he was unaware, Su Huaizi had developed thoughts that he shouldn't have had?

Damn!

Su Yi gritted his teeth, his eyes were gloomy and fierce. Thinking of the impending storm, he decided to strike first.

A few days later, Crown Prince Su Yi was impeached for the assassination of Second Prince Su Huai. Although the allegations were unfounded, some evidence was provided, and the memorial was quietly presented to the emperor. Su Yi, of course, denied any wrongdoing. He believed his actions were secretive, and believing Su Huai wouldn't be able to discover them, he secretly instructed his staff to find a way to disprove the alleged evidence.

The emperor believed his words, but he still had doubts in his heart. Over the years, the emperor had also studied Su Yi in many ways and found that he was not suitable for the position of crown prince. On the contrary, Su Huai had a lot of insights into state governance and could often discuss state affairs with him.

In his dreams at midnight, the emperor even wondered if it would be better to train Su Huai as the crown prince. However, since ancient times, the eldest son of the legitimate wife has always been the heir. Su Yi had not committed any major faults, so he couldn't bear to depose him. Perhaps if he was given more time, Su Yi would make him look at him with new eyes.

Crown Prince Su Yi, however, harbored a grudge against Su Huai because of this incident. He believed that Su Huai must have informed His Majesty of these matters in an attempt to sow discord between his father and him. This showed that Su Huai was indeed rebellious. Such an imperial brother must not be kept at all costs!

My father could easily believe the evidence of his guilt. What if one day Su Huai really succeeded in framing him?
Su Yi was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat. He suddenly had a bold idea, but he suppressed it in his heart and endured it without expressing it.

When he left the imperial city and summoned his staff to discuss the matter, they were all frightened out of their wits. Anyone who dared to spill the beans was stabbed to death outside the study. The staff, with the heart of a hero emerging in troubled times, gritted their teeth and decided to follow Su Yi. They immediately knelt and said, "The Crown Prince is the true Dragon Son of Heaven. Long live the Crown Prince."

The original "Long live a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand years" was changed to "Long live a thousand years" to please Su Yi. Su Yi smiled and praised him for being sensible.

Thus, Su Yi secretly took over several hilltops outside Kyoto, trained his troops, and purchased countless weapons, waiting for the day to force a palace attack. Rather than anxiously awaiting his father's decree, it would be better to take the throne first. If his father was sensible, he would naturally let him live out his days in peace. If not, since the royal family has always been free of blood relatives, it's no wonder he's ruthless. Back then, his father also founded the country in blood. This is the Su family's inherent coldness.

One day, six months later, Xie Junling was discussing a case with the emperor in the imperial study when the palace gates suddenly slammed shut and the candlelight outside suddenly went out. A deep silence fell, and the emperor and Xie Junling immediately became suspicious. A close eunuch also couldn't understand the situation. After a moment's hesitation, he swallowed his saliva and said to the emperor, "This old servant will go and see what's going on. Your Majesty and Master Xie, please wait here."

This eunuch had grown up alongside the emperor. His lowly body wasn't worthy of the true dragon emperor, but his unwavering loyalty was rare. For his majesty, even if it meant risking his life, what was wrong? He knew the unrest in the imperial city must be a major event. Otherwise, who would have the audacity to extinguish the lights outside the imperial study? Could it be a tsunami? In the old days, tsunami were extremely brutal. While they were called tsunami, they were actually forced abdications. This was a commonplace yet unspoken secret.

The emperor and Xie Junling in the imperial study were also getting a little restless. One of them didn't expect that someone would be so bold as to cause trouble in the imperial city, and the other regretted not being at home with his little wife Lu Baoer today and instead peeking into the royal family's affairs. However, no matter how surprised he was, Xie Junling still didn't forget the rules of not losing his manners in front of the emperor, and continued to drink tea quietly. The emperor was a little impressed that Xie Junling could sit still like this, and he felt a sense of sympathy. When the sound of fighting was heard outside the imperial study, the two of them guessed a lot in their hearts. It must be that someone was forcing the palace to seize the throne. The emperor spoke much older than usual and said to Xie Junling: "I'm sorry to let Xie, my dear, see such a dirty royal family affair."

Xie Junling comforted His Majesty: "Your Majesty can sit still like this, he must have a backup plan. I admire your Majesty's foresight and foresight, and you always know how to prepare for everything."

His Majesty had a reason for waiting in the Imperial Study. He brought the Imperial Seal and led Xie Junling to a secret door behind a screen. Together, they fastened the seal onto the square seal, the grooves aligning perfectly with the seal's base. After they entered the secret room, His Majesty removed the seal, and the secret door slowly closed.

Xie Junling discovered a hidden slot in this narrow corridor, presumably one that could be locked with the imperial seal to unlock the door from the inside. It turned out the emperor always held important meetings with his ministers in the imperial study for a reason: a safe haven in case of trouble. This place was hidden from the concubines and the princes. The phrase "alone and widowed" meant he was wealthy yet still single. Thinking of this, Xie Junling felt fortunate. He had a wife and children at home, a far greater happiness than the emperor himself.

The corridor was long. Xie Junling lit a spare tinder in the corner and used the small bamboo tube filled with saltpeter to illuminate the way ahead. This corridor led to the outside of the palace. There was a big commotion inside, and the superiors fled. Just imagine how ridiculous the perpetrators would be in the future.

After leaving the palace, Xie Junling led the emperor along the appendix path to his home. Soon, other officers and soldiers surrounded the imperial city. This battle to force the emperor to abdicate would probably last until the early morning.

Xie Junling boldly stripped the emperor's bright yellow outer robe, leaving only his white undergarment. Once they had safely returned to the Xie residence, Xie Junling had the old maid bring him a cloak. It was cold, but fortunately, there was a heating system in the hall. The emperor surveyed the Xie residence's decor. From the hall to the courtyard, there was a rich, vibrant atmosphere beloved by women, filled with flowers and plants. It was clear that Lu Bao'er held a special place in Xie Junling's heart. His Majesty had previously investigated Xie Junling and expressed interest in him, in fact, because he had married a woman from a humble family. Many officials, upon achieving promotion and wealth, would seek to divorce their wives and find a wife from a less privileged family. Xie Junling, however, was different: he held his word and treated others with sincerity. His Majesty wasn't sure whether this elicited envy or admiration. He recalled a similarly profound love he had shared with the late empress, but her efforts to gain power for her relatives had gradually derailed their relationship, and the two drifted apart. Later, when the late Empress passed away, the Emperor occasionally returned to her chambers for a short visit. On her dressing table lay the white jade hairpin he had purchased for her. The sight brought back memories of her youth. Perhaps seeing Xie Junling reminded the Emperor of his younger self, and over time, he developed a blind trust in Xie Junling that surpassed that of other ministers.

The emperor is Madam Su's cousin, and can be considered Lu Baoer's uncle. At this moment, he smiled amiably at Lu Baoer and said, "That boy must be Brother Jin, right? Bring him here for me to see."

Lu Baoer was catching a glimpse of the Emperor's face for the first time and was a little nervous. Seeing that His Majesty was about the same age as her grandmother, and also had a kind and gentle demeanor, she nodded immediately and led Xie Jin, who was behind her, to His Majesty, saying, "Jin's a very naughty boy. Please don't be offended by his presence, Your Majesty."

The emperor gave a bitter laugh and said, "Speaking of being naughty, is he as naughty as my prince? He used to be just like Jin Ge'er, but now he dares to force the palace to rebel."

Lu Bao'er didn't dare to respond. She was already curious about why Xie Junling had brought the emperor, dressed like this, to the official residence. It turned out he had escaped from the palace. She had heard the noise an hour earlier, but she didn't dare say anything. She simply asked the old nanny to inform the Fu family, then bolted the door tightly, guarding it tightly, and had someone guard the door tightly.

She was worried about Xie Junling's safety, but also thought that he should be safe in the palace. Little did she know that the place where he fell was the imperial city.

Fortunately, Xie Junling and the emperor are both safe. With a backbone, this farce should be settled soon, right?
Seeing the family worried, the emperor laughed: "Don't worry so much. If something happens in Kyoto, someone will surely set off a beacon fire. Then the generals from the surrounding states will lead their troops into Kyoto, and then we will be safe. Besides, I know it's the Crown Prince who is rebelling, and my Second Prince will naturally come forward to suppress it. It's just a trick to depose the Crown Prince, which benefits my second son, so how could he miss this opportunity?" Lu Baoer couldn't hear the sadness in the emperor's words. She just felt that he made the matter sound nonchalant, without any fear or deep father-son affection, which made people feel absurd but also reasonable. Could it be that the royal family is all hypocritical, and only considers the pros and cons of everything?

Thinking of this, Lu Baoer felt that the royal family's wealth and splendor were not so tempting anymore.

Meanwhile, Su Yi was furious in the palace. He had gathered the Minister of Revenue, Lord Gu, and other important officials, and, clad in imposing armor, he had finally fought his way to the Imperial Study. He took several deep breaths before daring to face his elderly father. But he had actually escaped! Where had he escaped to?! The entire palace was surrounded, so how could he escape?! Even if he did escape, what if he could forge a decree of abdication, allow him to ascend the throne? Then, he could give the Emperor a respectful look and simply dethrone him as the Supreme Emperor? Su Yi calmly considered several solutions, but just as he was about to act, he realized the Imperial Seal was missing. Without the Imperial Seal, the seal of the Heavenly Family, how could he convince the officials and ascend the throne?
Damn damn it!

Su Yi smashed everything in the Imperial Study and even stabbed the Emperor's closest eunuch to death. The important officials accompanying Su Yi saw the situation was not going well. They also knew that the Emperor had escaped and might even have a backup plan. They were terrified. If they failed, they would die. If they failed, their entire clan would be implicated! They had no choice but to order the soldiers to continue searching the Imperial City, determined to capture the Emperor!

Just as Su Yi was irritated, the Second Prince, Su Huai, summoned the troops from all directions who had come to Kyoto to rescue him and marched straight towards the Imperial City. As the saying goes, "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind." Regardless of whether Su Huai had any intention of rebellion, his intentions were clear to everyone except Su Yi. This just happened to give him a legitimate excuse to kill his enemy, so why not?
Su Huai remained gentle and refined, in stark contrast to Su Yi's exasperated demeanor. He smiled and said, "Your Highness, long time no see."

"Second brother." Su Yi calmed down and said, "I see that there are traitors around the emperor, so I am summoning troops to the imperial city to rescue him. I am the crown prince, and it is my duty to protect my father, but what about my second brother? As an ordinary prince, he actually brought weapons into the imperial city. If he is not careful, he will be charged with treason!"

He was conflating right and wrong, striking first. Su Huai, however, was not frightened by his flattering words. Instead, he thrust his sword into Su Yi's chest with lightning speed, saying, "Traitor? I only saw His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Su Yi never thought that Su Huai could be so bold as to assassinate the crown prince. He stared at Su Huai in disbelief, and as soon as he opened his mouth, he spat out a mouthful of blood. He couldn't say anything more: "You...you dare!"

Su Huai leaned close to Su Yi's ear and chuckled softly, "Doesn't my royal brother know whether I dare or not?"

Su Yi couldn't say anything more at this moment. He just stared blankly, and even after the blood had run out, his eyes didn't close. This farce ended with the eldest prince Su Yi dying with his eyes open.

Su Huai threw the sword to the ground in disgust, wiped his palms with a handkerchief, and muttered to himself: "It's disgusting."

Seeing that the situation was not good, the important officials accompanying the crown prince immediately knelt beside Su Huai's shoes and said, "The Second... The Second Prince is the true Dragon Emperor! Now that the thieves have been eliminated, we congratulate the Second Prince on his ascension to the throne."

This flattery was extremely inopportune. Su Huai glared at him coldly and said, "The Crown Prince and I are the only princes of the right age to be crown princes. Do you think I still need your congratulations?"

It was clear that Su Huai was determined to take the throne. His Majesty was not stupid either. Whether it was for the sake of his life or other reasons, within three years, His Majesty would definitely abdicate the throne to Su Huai. Why would he bother to force the throne like Su Yi did?

He really didn't like the label this old minister had given him. He was the true dragon emperor, so why did he need others to say that?
Su Huai had taken care of things, and the emperor, at the Xie residence, heard the trumpet call for reinforcements and knew the drama was over. Old Madam Su, donning the phoenix coronet and bridal robe worthy of a first-rank imperial decree, a red python robe, and an official green skirt, came to greet the emperor. Lord Fu, being the Minister of the Chancellery, effectively serving as prime minister, saw no need to follow Su Yi into the palace to secure a higher position. So, he feigned deafness and muteness, adamantly ignoring Su Yi's inquiries.

The emperor was welcomed back to the palace, where he dealt with the matter. He then announced that Su Yi had died of illness, re-established Su Huai as the crown prince, and named his mother, Concubine Shen, as empress. All the important officials who had followed Su Yi in his rebellion were beheaded, and their families were exiled, forbidden from returning to the capital for generations, including the Gu family.

Xie Junling hadn't thought about the Gu family for a long time, but occasionally he'd think of his poor mother, and his conscience would get the better of him, so he'd go to the guillotine and pour a glass of sake on Master Gu. From then on, dust returned to dust, and all grudges were over.

Because of his contribution in saving the emperor, Xie Junling entered the Privy Council. At first he was an ordinary candidate, then he became a consul, and finally he was appointed Shangshu Zuo Pushe, that is, the left prime minister.

Some lamented Xie Junling's good fortune, rising from humble beginnings to his current position of power within a decade. But those who knew him well knew that Xie Junling had always been down-to-earth, doing his job within his position without ever overstepping the bounds of protocol. His colleagues, familiar with him, were convinced and had few objections.

After Lu Baoer gave birth to her second daughter, the Xie family prospered, and her reputation as a blessing to her husband spread. The birth went smoothly, and Lu Baoer didn't suffer much. Xie Junling also became more fond of his daughter. He named his daughter "Zhuzhu'er," which also means "jewels, jade, and treasures."

Xie Junling doted on his youngest daughter very much, but his daughter was closer to her brother Jing'er. She would hold Jing'er's white and tender little hand and smile at him every day, which made Xie Junling look gloomy and he could only stick to Lu Bao'er.

Lu Baoer couldn't stop laughing. This could be considered as "retribution". It was Xie Junling's fault for neglecting Jing'er before. Now it was Zhuzhuer's turn to compensate Jing'er.

One day during the Mid-Autumn Festival, after Xie Junling had finished his palace banquet, both of his children were asleep.

He secretly ran out of the house with Lu Baoer in his arms. Kyoto has the custom of setting off fireworks during the Mid-Autumn Festival. At this time, fireworks filled the sky, and silver light fell, illuminating people's eyes.

Lu Baoer cheered. Xie Junling looked at her with eyes curved like crescent moons, and a sweet feeling welled up in his heart. He said to her, "Do you really like watching fireworks?"

Lu Baoer turned around and glanced at the handsome Xie Junling. Suddenly she felt like teasing him and said, "It's not that I like watching the fireworks, it's that I like being with my husband."

"Is that so?" Xie Junling was very pleased to hear this. He cunningly took Lu Baoer's hand, kissed her, and said lightly, "I like you too."

"..."Eh?! Lu Baoer's cheeks flushed, and she couldn't breathe out. She was talking about staying together, not confessing her feelings to Xie Junling! This guy was shameless, always thinking of taking advantage of her words!
However, if Xie Junling was only so frivolous to her in his life, then she would be magnanimous and forgive him.

(End of full text)
　I will write some more extra stories, Deng Deng is finished~~!

　　
　　
　
(End of this chapter)