The fake prince was exposed at the beginning, and I took office as emperor on the spot

Chapter 145 The Officially Certified Heir of the Prince of Zhenbei (5k)

Xiao Yinghao had already shed her silver armor and resumed her attire as the eldest princess.

This demon, who had slain generals and captured flags on the battlefield, was now dressed in magnificent robes, making him even more elegant and dazzling than the most precious peony in the imperial city.

The magnificent crimson long dress has layers of wide sleeves, and peacocks embroidered in gold thread spiral upwards from the hem of the dress, their tail feathers wrapping around the slender waist, supporting the full curves of the chest, and finally resting on the delicate collarbone.

Above her collarbone, a small mole adorned her fair and delicate skin, its flowing texture particularly alluring, as if waiting to be plucked.

A red and gold hairpin dangled from her temple, its light swirling around her, clearly illuminating the pale blue veins along her slender neck. Her thin skin appeared fragile, as if it could be easily manipulated.

On her stunningly beautiful face, a pair of phoenix eyes flew backward, with a touch of crimson at the corners, sharp as a blade, looking down upon all the heroes of the world as mere dust.

These are the beautiful eyes of a "war goddess," belonging to the current dynasty's eldest princess; no enemy soldier dares to look directly into them.

At this moment, she looked at Gu Fangchen with a smile, examining his handsome face with great interest, her eyes revealing a mixture of dissatisfaction and satisfaction.

Gu Fangchen was startled.

He never expected Xiao Yinghao to come back today!

Although he turned the tide of the battle in Qiu'an Road, it is a fact that the White Dragon Army lost tens of thousands of men. It will take time to reorganize the troops and clean up the mess.

In theory, Xiao Yinghao should have continued to oversee Qiu'an Road, but she actually returned ahead of schedule...

Moreover, what's with her attitude?

Gu Fangchen was in disguise at the time, and Xiao Yinghao was trapped in the Blood River Repentance Formation the whole time, so she shouldn't have had a chance to find out who did it.

Although, from a broader perspective, he undoubtedly did his best at the time.

However, in the end, the White Dragon Army lost 70,000 men, and the protective array of the Fire Essence Stone mine was also drained by him, which was equivalent to its destruction.

Rebuilding would require a significant amount of resources.

From the perspective of the White Dragon Army Commander, it's inevitable to feel like someone has outmaneuvered you and completely outmaneuvered you...

More importantly, he also falsely claimed to be Xiao Yinghao's husband.

Although erecting chastity arches is not popular in the Great Wei, and marrying widows is quite common, since it represents fertility, such things are ultimately just rumors.

Gu Fangchen dared to act recklessly because Xiao Ying was completely unaware of the situation.

If Xiao Yinghao finds out, she'll settle scores later, and that would be terrible...

Gu Fangchen's mind raced, and she had already figured out how to deal with it—

Maintaining the status quo.

Even if Xiao Yinghao has suspicions, there should be no evidence at present.

Since he's still a playboy, he might as well continue being one.

This is the complete opposite of the image of the "Prince Consort" who was a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, and it is also the kind of person that Xiao Yinghao despises the most.

As everyone knows, there are only two kinds of people who can catch Xiao Ying's eye.

First, he made contributions to the country and its people.

Secondly, he reached the pinnacle of spiritual practice.

Conversely, there were the "bookworms" she never bothered to pay any attention to in her entire life.

Gu Fangchen's original self was practically the exact opposite of these two perfectly tailor-made traits.

Completely embroidered pillows and straw bags.

Gu Fangchen snapped her fan shut, coughed twice, recalled some of the original owner's memories, looked at the princess, revealed a very wicked and flamboyant smile, and bowed respectfully:

"Greetings, Your Highness. I have long admired Your Highness's unparalleled beauty and the most beautiful woman among all. I have long yearned to see you, but unfortunately, I have never had the chance to meet you when I accompanied my mother to the palace in the past... Now that I have seen you today, I can confirm that your reputation is indeed well-deserved!"

As he spoke, he secretly glanced at the other person, his eyes filled with amazement.

Of course, not in the chest... that wouldn't just make the other person hate you, it would be courting death.

He stared intently at the small mole on her collarbone and her fair, slender neck, his expression obscure, revealing the sophistication of a seasoned lecher.

Without a doubt, these two areas, because of the vulnerability that contrasts with her fiercely beautiful and aggressive face, are what make Xiao Yinghao the most sensual.

If such a powerful woman, who is almost at the pinnacle of power, were to one day willingly reveal her most vulnerable spot to someone, allowing him to manipulate and play with her at will, it would be a terrible situation.

That was the moment when she completely surrendered and blossomed, the most captivating moment.

And this is the look that Xiao Yinghao hates the most—

It wasn't just out of disgust for spoiled brats, but also because a top cultivator was wary of vital areas.

Moreover, the other party was an overconfident weakling and a notorious playboy.

Gu Fangchen looks much the same as the original owner of this body when she went to brothels for entertainment.

Without mentioning Xiao Yinghao's outstanding achievements, they only talked about her stunning beauty.

To treat the princess in this way is undoubtedly a desecration.

Gu Fangchen was already prepared to walk away in a huff.

But Xiao Yinghao merely raised an eyebrow and said calmly:
"Long-awaited, huh... Ha, what a load of lies."

She reached out and placed her hand on the hilt of the longsword hanging at her waist, her slender fingers lightly tapping it. She narrowed her eyes, still smiling, and said:

"I heard that the young master once said that most women who practice martial arts are thick-skinned and hard as stone, and are not worth looking at at all."

Gu Fangchen: "..."

Was the original owner of this body really so reckless?

He thought for a moment and realized that the original owner of this body must have said something similar when flirting with a famous courtesan.

No, how come Xiao Yinghao even knows about such private matters?

In theory, Xiao Yinghao, who doesn't care about anyone, shouldn't pay any attention to this kind of gossip.

So... in other words, she has likely recently investigated all of Gu Fangchen's experiences and information.

Gu Fangchen twitched her lips.

Oh no, this level of suspicion isn't just ordinary suspicion, it's extremely high suspicion!

He reflected on his actions on Qiu'an Road and didn't think he had left any flaws...

Unless someone at the time could see through his disguise and discover his true colors, it would have been impossible for anyone to associate him with him.

How could a spoiled brat possibly be part of the White Dragon Army?
He was certain of himself.

Xiao Ying was probably bluffing him!
Gu Fangchen immediately denied it with a serious expression:
"Young and ignorant, completely young and ignorant!"

Then he shook his fan, puffed out his chest, and said with a grin:
"Now I think that women who practice martial arts are the best. Ordinary women are too weak; they cry out in pain at the slightest touch. But if they are martial artists, no matter how you handle them..."

He immediately stopped, pretending to have just blurted things out, and guiltily changed the subject:
"By the way, the princess just asked me what story I was telling. Actually, it was just a little accident that happened on the road."

He then recounted Gu Yuandao's little story again.

Xiao Ying listened quietly, her gaze fixed on him, her smile deepening, exuding an overwhelming sense of pressure.

As Gu Fangchen spoke, her face grew increasingly stiff, and cold sweat began to pour from her forehead.

He's gone this far; given Xiao Yinghao's personality, she should have been angry long ago...

But Xiao Yinghao's words just now did indeed suggest a hint of anger; however, the reason for her anger was clearly not quite right.

After Gu Fangchen finished speaking, Xiao Yinghao nodded and clapped her hands, saying:
"I see, that is indeed a wonderful story."

She glanced at Gu Yuandao and sneered:

"I was supposed to be a disciple of a sage, so what was so special about me? It turns out I'm nothing special. Even with the righteous spirit, I can't suppress the mere 'Buddha's Hand Pulling Silk'."

"When I was ten years old, I was already able to identify a thousand kinds of poisons and explain the corresponding antidotes. How could a top scholar have such shallow knowledge?"

Xiao Ying looked at Gu Yuye beside her and said calmly:
"After all, he was raised in a small, rural area and was never properly educated. He has a lot of classical Chinese phrases to say but no practical skills. You should train him more in the future, Prince Zhenbei."

Gu Yuye's eyes instantly turned extremely sinister and cold, his fists clenched, and he said in a deep voice:
"Your Highness, you flatter me. My son is simply too gentle and kind-hearted, and doesn't understand these insidious and despicable things very well."

"Oh? With such a temperament, if you become indecisive in the future, how will you serve the people in the court? You might as well just study. If the prince forces you into the court, it will be truly pitiful."

"Your Highness is mistaken. Do you not know that oppressive government is more ferocious than a tiger? If one is violent and cruel to subordinates, one will likely be betrayed by one's own people and die without a burial place!"

The two were locked in a fierce battle, exchanging blows that drew blood with every strike, resulting in real injuries.

Gu Fangchen was amazed by what she saw.

When it comes to hitting a nerve, it has to be the old rival that's the most effective!

Xiao Yinghao and Gu Yuye were political rivals for many years, and they could pinpoint each other's most sensitive points with ease. Both were military generals who commanded large armies and were used by Emperor Yong'an to check and balance each other. For many years, they had been plotting to eliminate each other.

The reason Xiao Yinghao was trapped this time was because Gu Yuye planted people in the White Dragon Army, which led to the leak of military intelligence.

Xiao Yinghao sneered:
"Without a compassionate heart, no matter how charitable one is, one is ultimately nothing more than a monkey in a crown."

"I only hope that the name of the saint will not be used as a shield by some people to desecrate it again and again."

Ultimately, Gu Yuandao has failed, and he himself is a prime example of that.

Xiao Yinghao's insistence on this point was enough to embarrass Gu Yuye.

Fortunately, at this moment, Xiao Qiu stepped forward with a smile and tried to smooth things over:
"Princess, Your Highness, His Majesty has been waiting for this banquet for quite some time. Please calm down and come inside to take your seats."

Gu Yuye flicked his sleeve, snorted coldly, and forcefully suppressed the anger in his heart.

Xiao Yinghao and Gu Fangchen were first invited inside by Xiao Qiu.

Gu Yuye's gaze swept over Gu Fangchen and Xiao Yinghao with a deep look. Thinking of the attitude between the two just now, he narrowed his eyes and walked towards the Ziji Palace.

The most important step in his entire plan was the change in the battle situation on Qiu'an Road.

If Qiu Andao had developed as he had anticipated, without any unexpected problems, Xiao Yinghao would still have been trapped, and the White Dragon Army would have suffered a crushing defeat.

At this moment, he would never so absurdly and humiliatingly yield to that imperial edict, watch helplessly as Gu Fangchen humiliates his own son, and immediately regain his position as heir apparent in front of all the high-ranking officials!
The arrangements made in Qiu'an Road were the source of his confidence to publicly acknowledge Gu Yuandao in the Ziji Hall.

If the war with the Qingman becomes unstable, even if Emperor Yong'an is wary of him, he will have no choice but to entrust him with important responsibilities.

At the same time, it is impossible to comment on their father-son reunion.

Only then can we proceed to the next step.

Gu Fangchen wasn't even in their considerations...

However, the battle situation in Qiu'an Road has been completely disrupted by the sudden appearance of the princess's consort.

According to several detailed battle reports that Gu Yuye later received, the sudden appearance of this prince consort, his killing of traitors, his opening of the army formation, and his flooding of the Qingman tribes were as if divinely inspired.

Even more incredibly, after this battle with no commander and a huge disparity in strength, although the White Dragon Army also suffered heavy casualties, for some reason, over a thousand of the survivors suddenly experienced a rapid increase in strength overnight.

Among them, more than a hundred people reached the sixth rank!
It should be noted that originally, within the White Dragon Army, only the eldest princess's twelve personal guards possessed the strength of the sixth rank. The remaining guards consisted of four hundred seventh-rank guards, over a thousand eighth-rank guards, and ten thousand ninth-rank guards. The rest were all ordinary people who did not hold any rank.

Now that twelve have become more than a hundred, even if many die, they can be directly replenished.

What's more, there are a lot of people here who suddenly rose from the ninth rank or even ordinary people!
It's nothing short of a miracle!
So much so that there are now rumors in Qiu'an Road that the prince consort was actually a god descended to earth to specifically assist the Great Wei.

All sorts of bizarre stories have emerged, it's almost as if they're about to build a shrine to this person.

Furthermore, the rapid reversal of the battle situation led to the Princess breaking through the Blood River Repentance Formation ahead of schedule, which made the Qiu'an Road Battle end even faster, far exceeding the original expectation of a protracted war.

The Qingman army, which had originally pressed into Qiu'an Road, retreated thousands of miles after this battle, and the pressure from the Bailong army was completely gone.

Gu Yuye's plan to take charge and turn the tide while damaging Xiao Yinghao's reputation was naturally thwarted.

All of this is because of that prince consort who should never have existed!
Gu Yuye had actually harbored doubts about this person's identity—

This so-called "prince consort" might just be Gu Fangchen!
Emperor Yong'an had told him personally that he knew this person, and was even very familiar with him. Furthermore, the time when Gu Fangchen disappeared from the Qionglin Banquet coincided with the time when that person suddenly appeared on Qiu'an Road.

When the "Six Star Lords" located Gu Fangchen, they also discovered that he was on Qiu'an Road.

However, there are two points that Gu Yuye cannot be 100% certain about.

Firstly, this person is skilled in the White Dragon Army formation.

This was something witnessed by tens of thousands of people at the time, and no matter how much Gu Yuye didn't believe it, there was no possibility that it was faked.

Tens of thousands of White Dragon Army soldiers are witnesses, and once the White Dragon Army formation was complete, its momentum was immense, and the Life Flame Banner, burning across the entire Qiu'an Road, could be seen everywhere.

As a master of military strategy, Gu Yuye was extremely knowledgeable about military formations.

Cultivation can be achieved quickly.

However, military formations cannot be quickly deployed, no matter how hard you try!

Connecting to the consciousness of tens of thousands of people simultaneously, without sufficient cultivation to support the strength of one's soul, one would instantly lose their mind due to the massive amount of information and become an idiot.

Even if they managed to hold on, it would have been impossible to command things so smoothly.

Even for a normal person, it often takes a long time to think deeply about playing a game of chess.

The computing power required for the military formation is to simultaneously consider the placement of tens of thousands of pieces.

Without a strong spirit and proper training, it is absolutely impossible to master the art of war overnight.

Judging from the battle reports sent to him, his overall command style was conventional, but every step he took was in accordance with the "Huabiao Bingshu"—the most widely circulated basic book on military strategy.

Not out of line, but very experienced.

He was very adept at assessing the enemy situation and controlling the White Dragon Army, and he was quite composed in his advances and retreats.

This is definitely not an effect that can be achieved in a short period of time.

Therefore, this person must be skilled in military strategy and a veteran in this field.

Secondly, it has become a legend of a celestial being descending to earth.

If Gu Fangchen really had such divine power that he could improve the cultivation of so many people, why would he be locked in such a tug-of-war with me?

We could even rebel!

Gu Yuye remained undecided about his status as the "imperial son-in-law".

But at this moment, the princess's sudden return and her familiar attitude instantly dispelled any doubts in Gu Yuye's heart.

He was absolutely certain that Gu Fangchen was indeed the so-called "imperial son-in-law"!

Gu Yuye's judgment was not arbitrary.

Before this, Gu Fangchen and Xiao Yinghao had never even met.

Xiao Yinghao was aloof and arrogant, not even taking those talented young men seriously, let alone a good-for-nothing playboy. In addition, she was away fighting for many years, so Gu Fangchen never had the chance to see her.

But Xiao Yinghao, who was usually so aloof and arrogant, actually smiled at Gu Fangchen!
You should know that, given Xiao Yinghao's personality, she rarely smiles throughout the year, and most of her smiles are cold or sneer.

And if she smiles, someone is bound to be in trouble.

Gu Yuye stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes flashing, and looked up at the plaque above the Ziji Hall.

If the prince consort is indeed Gu Fangchen, things will be much easier...

The imperial son-in-law, also known as the royal son-in-law, was historically not allowed to hold any official position with real power.

Therefore, it is absolutely impossible for Gu Fangchen to take the position of heir apparent.

At worst, it means that Gu Fangchen will no longer have access to the core of power.

In the Great Wei Dynasty, the will and power of all beings can only be gathered into an individual if it is recognized by the imperial court, just like the birth of those pseudo-third-rank officials.

If a name is not correct, then words will not be proper. As long as Gu Fangchen does not hold an official position recognized by the court, then anything she does will no longer be able to garner the support of the masses.

Once they unite, it's tantamount to stealing the nation's destiny!
Therefore, he would naturally be no match for Gu Yuandao.

……

With Xiao Qiu's name announced.

Gu Fangchen stepped into the Purple Extreme Palace, facing the shocked or incredulous gazes of the crowd.

From this moment on, the only one officially recognized as the heir of the Prince of Zhenbei is "Gu Fangchen"!

He walked up the central steps, grinned, raised the imperial edict in his hand, waved it, and said loudly:

"I have successfully completed my mission and brought good news to His Majesty!"

Emperor Yong'an said with a smile:

"Not bad, not bad... good boy, you haven't disappointed me."

He looked around, pointed casually, and said:
"There aren't many seats left, so please sit there."

In an instant, Crown Prince Xiao Sheng's pupils contracted, and he almost stood up.

That empty seat belonged to none other than the Third Prince, Xiao Shen, who was still practicing at the Garan Temple and had not yet returned!

What does it mean that Father Emperor gave this position to Gu Fangchen?
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

PS1: Waaah... I'm Haji, ugh, so annoying! I was about to finish writing, but the delivery guy couldn't find the location, it's so frustrating!

P.S.: I recommend a book by a close friend, "Craftsman Lord, Truth Lies Within Range," the link is below. Feel free to check it out if you're interested.
(End of this chapter)