A middle-aged emperor, childless, was blessed with a beautiful and pregnant concubine who entered th

Princess Chaoyang slowly curled the corners of her lips into a smile.

She couldn't help but feel happy whenever she thought of her father and grandmother's boundless favoritism.

However, she has grown up, and what she needs is no longer simple favoritism and protection.

She wanted more, she wanted to control more things herself.

However, at that very moment, a thought suddenly popped into my head.

unless……

Unless, of course, what Father Emperor wants is a useless person.

A person who can be manipulated.

Someone who, in the future... can be discarded and disappeared at any time...

Chaoyang's brow twitched suddenly, her face paled slightly, and she subconsciously touched her lower abdomen...

Is it really as she thinks?

She suddenly dared not think any further.

But that thought was like a thorn stuck in my mind, and I couldn't pull it out.

Leave the father behind and keep the son!

She had heard of those four words before.

There was a similar case in the previous dynasty: the prince consort was useless, the princess gave birth to a child, and that child became a royal child.

If her father truly harbored such thoughts, then she…

No.

She must not panic.

The Emperor's passing the torch to Xu Yan may not have meant that.

Maybe it was just a warning to her, maybe it was just a test, maybe it was just to see what kind of people were around her.

She cannot afford to lose her composure.

But what if?

What should she do if her father really had such intentions?

She married a male favorite, had a child, and then the child was taken away by her father—what was she in this life?

If her father had revealed this intention before Xu Yan reminded her, she might have gladly agreed.

After all, being a leisurely but dignified woman, just like the Empress Dowager, isn't bad.

But the ambition in her heart had already become a raging fire; she was no longer satisfied with being the new emperor's birth mother...

Chaoyang opened his eyes, a hint of coldness in them.

She needed to figure out what her father was trying to do.

Also, there should be some activity from the Crown Prince's side.

She remembered meeting Xie Jing on the palace road that day; he stood in the snow, watching her leave with the look in his eyes.

She could see it clearly in those eyes—it was alertness, defensiveness, and weighing of options.

Xie Jing is not stupid.

He must already know what she said when she went to Qianqing Palace that day.

Once they know, they will take action.

What will he do?

Investigate her.

Investigate her activities outside the palace over the years, the people she has associated with, and the things she has done.

Then she let him investigate.

Some things can be found out.

But some things can't be found out.

The information he found out proved to him that she was not someone to be trifled with.

Unable to find...

A slight smile appeared on Chaoyang's lips.

Then let's wait and see.

The Eastern Palace.

Xie Jing sat in his study, a secret report spread out in front of him.

The secret report said that this afternoon, His Majesty summoned a scholar surnamed Xu to the palace.

That man had lived in a separate courtyard of the princess's residence and had a close relationship with the princess.

A scholar surnamed Xu.

A detached courtyard of the princess's residence.

They had very close contact.

Xie Jing tapped his fingers on the table, one tap after another.

What did the Emperor appoint this person to do?

He recalled that day in the Qianqing Palace when his father had asked him to investigate the movements of Chaoyang over the years.

He thought his father wanted to know what Chaoyang was doing, whether he was forming cliques or coveting the throne.

But now it seems that it's more than that.

The Emperor summoned a man with a secret relationship with Chaoyang to the palace.

Do you want to see this person?

Do you want to know what's going on with this person?

still is……

Xie Jing suddenly remembered something.

My father is thirty-seven years old this year and has no sons.

Although he was the crown prince, he was adopted and his blood was not his own.

His father may not have truly considered him his heir.

To whom will Father Emperor hand over the throne?

Chaoyang?

But Chaoyang is a woman. There has never been a female emperor in this dynasty, and the court officials will not agree to it.

that--

Xie Jing's gaze suddenly sharpened.

Children of the rising sun!

If Chaoyang has a child, that child will be the Emperor's grandson, with Xie family blood flowing in his veins.

If the Emperor were to support that child, would the court officials agree?

The court officials would certainly not agree to a mere infant.

But if Father Emperor were to first appoint Chaoyang as regent, and then wait until that child grows up...

He dared not think any further.

But once that thought arises, it can no longer be suppressed.

Mr. Cheng, standing to the side, noticed the change in his expression and whispered, "Your Highness?"

Xie Jing snapped out of his daze and glanced at him.

"Mr. Cheng," his voice was extremely low, "tell me, if Father Emperor wishes to... support Chaoyang's child, what should I do?"

Mr. Cheng's expression also changed.

As a strategist, his future was closely tied to Xie Jing's.

Since it concerned his own interests, Mr. Cheng had to be serious.

He remained silent for a long while before speaking: "Your Highness, this matter is still just speculation and may not be true."

"The most urgent task is to find out exactly what His Majesty wants to do."

Xie Jing nodded.

"That Xu fellow," he slowly frowned, his expression grave, "investigate him for me."

"Investigate his background, investigate his history, and find out what he has been doing all these years."

"Also, investigate what the Emperor said to him after he entered the palace."

Mr. Cheng agreed.

Xie Jing stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the snow outside.

The snow fell heavier and heavier, blanketing the entire East Palace in a white mist.

He suddenly remembered many years ago, when he had just entered the palace.

He was young at the time, and it was the first time he had met his father. He wanted to do his best to show his best side and leave a good impression.

But when faced with the imposing emperor, he instinctively showed his fear.

At that time, he did not see Emperor Qianwu's expression.

But he thought he must be somewhat disappointed.

However, he was forced by the court officials to establish an heir, so whether his adopted son was truly respectable and proper was perhaps not important at all.

Thinking about it this way, he calmed down.

As long as he doesn't make any major mistakes, his father has no reason to depose him.

He can then remain firmly in the position of crown prince.

If he's lucky enough to outlive his father to death, he'll rise to the top in one fell swoop!

During his years as crown prince, Xie Jing also managed to nurture his ambitions to grow ever larger.

He knew that no one else could necessarily do a better job than him if they became the crown prince.

But now—

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Even though he knew Emperor Qianwu was heartless towards him, he still couldn't help but feel disappointed when the facts were laid bare before him...

Emperor Qianwu died without an heir, so his son, the crown prince, was adopted.

But over the years, he has always been conscientious and never caused him any trouble; he has done everything he was supposed to do.

If Emperor Qianwu is still dissatisfied, it certainly isn't because Xie Jing is bad.

Rather, it is his bloodline that is the original sin.

Then... what does that have to do with him?

Xie Jing's eyes were extremely gloomy, and his handsome face was slightly distorted.

Even if he couldn't kiss the sunrise as much as the sunrise, he still couldn't kiss the sunrise's children as much.

so what?

What if Chaoyang can't have children either...?

The idea had barely taken hold when it grew wildly, like weeds.

Xie Jing stood there for a long time before turning around.

"There's one more thing,"

"Has there been any movement from Consort Chen's side lately?"

Mr. Cheng nodded.

"Chen, the old nanny serving Consort Chen, has been leaving the palace several times these past few days to check out a certain medicine at a pharmacy in the south of the city. That medicine is said to be the calming pills that Princess Chaoyang has been sending to the palace for years."

Xie Jing's eyes flickered slightly.

An Shen Wan (a traditional Chinese medicine).

It was a gift from Chaoyang.

Is Consort Chen investigating?

After giving birth to Princess Chaoyang, Consort Chen remained infertile for many years. People in the palace said she was not blessed and that it was wishful thinking for her to have another child for Emperor Qianwu.

Emperor Qianwu was tricked back then, making it difficult for women to conceive.

But what if there's something wrong with those tranquilizers...?

The corners of his mouth slowly curved into a smile.

"Mr. Cheng," he said, "send someone to help Granny Chen."

"We'll find out for her what she can't."

Mr. Cheng was taken aback for a moment, then understood what he meant.

"Your Highness means..."

Xie Jing did not answer, but looked at the snow outside the window with a faint smile in his eyes.

If Consort Chen knew that she had been taking sterilization drugs all these years, and that those drugs were a gift from her own daughter...

What will she do?

he does not know.

But he really wanted to see it.

And some are even impatient...

These past few days, Zhou Mingyi has had an exceptionally peaceful time.

Her people delivered Princess Chaoyang's message to the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince's message to Princess Chaoyang.

Then, through Emperor Qianwu's own "net," he would naturally learn what his "good children" had done.

Zhou Mingyi didn't do anything more.

With just a little guidance, everything started working naturally.

No one would suspect her.

Everyone assumed that it was the informants they had each placed that had worked.

Chaoyang naturally had spies in the palace.

As soon as the Crown Prince made a move, her people noticed.

Zhou Mingyi simply had Fuquan deliver a message to those spies at the right time.

Chaoyang found out that very day.

She was flipping through a book on the couch when she heard this and stopped.

After a while, she threw the book aside and sat up straight.

"The pharmacy in the south of the city,"

She repeated herself slowly, "Which pharmacy?"

The person who came gave a name.

Chaoyang narrowed his eyes.

That pharmacy was a place she frequented.

The calming pills she sent to Consort Chen came from there.

The Crown Prince went to investigate there... What does he want to do?

Do you want to report her?

It has to be said that this is also what Chaoyang is afraid of.

She is not yet at the point of being completely fearless.

At least, Consort Chen was her birth mother, so she would care about her thoughts to some extent.

Her fingers tightened slightly.

How did the Crown Prince know about that pharmacy?

Unless someone tells him.

But who told him?

She remembered meeting Xie Jing on the palace road that day, and the way his eyes looked at her.

At the time, she thought he was just being cautious, but now she thinks he probably already knew something.

"Anything else?"

"Furthermore," the visitor lowered his voice, "His Highness the Crown Prince's men have gone to Young Master Xu's hometown."

The rising sun paused for a moment.

Xu Yan!

The emperor had just passed the throne to him when the crown prince went to investigate his place of origin...

She suddenly understood.

The Emperor summoned Xu Yan to see him.

The Crown Prince investigated Xu Yan to guard against her.

Both sides were in motion, and she was caught in the middle.

Chaoyang closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When she opened her eyes again, the previous turmoil was gone, replaced by a deep calm.

"Go and find out," she said, "who is helping the Crown Prince investigate."

"Tell me you found it."

The person acknowledged and left.

Princess Chaoyang was still sitting on the couch, but she no longer had the leisure she had at the beginning.

She even thought that Xu Yan was indeed a bit of a hindrance...