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

Xu Yan is undoubtedly a smart man.

Therefore, Chaoyang thought that his father was probably satisfied with him.

In fact, as the only child of her father and the most noble princess in the entire Great Zhou Dynasty, at her level, she did not care about the identity or status of her other half.

No matter how high he goes, he will never be higher than his father.

As long as she likes it, as long as it has value.

Xu Yan is undoubtedly the most valuable.

His good looks and eloquence are far more valuable to Chaoyang than any so-called status or position.

Is it possible... to marry Xu Yan, but Xu Yan doesn't die?

Chaoyang carefully considered the possibility, but quickly dismissed it.

She's not stupid.

If she were to become empress and take Xu Yan into her harem, it wouldn't matter if he didn't die, even if she bore him a child.

Chaoyang has been a selfish person since childhood. What does he care about the future generations or the continuation of his lineage?

As long as she's happy while she's alive, who cares about anything else?

After she dies, her child with Xu Yan can sit in that position, or even if Xu Yan is capable enough to seize the throne, what then?

Anyway, she's already dead, so there's nothing left to see.

The Great Zhou Dynasty has existed for hundreds of years. Didn't it also seize power from others hundreds of years ago?

But what if she had a child first, what if her father took that child away first and raised him to be the next emperor, what if her father passed away first...

Chaoyang knew that would be the biggest risk.

The ruler is young and the country is in doubt.

With the Emperor gone, who can control the court officials? She might not be able to control Xu Yan either.

Xu Yan is an extremely intelligent person.

If he had seized power directly while she was still alive.

Wouldn't she have ended up with nothing?

Can she accept that after her death, Xu Yan will seize power, and even that her child will be reinstated to the ancestral lineage for three generations? Can she accept that while she is alive, she will be doing all the work for someone else?

Chaoyang squinted slightly.

No.

She absolutely cannot accept it.

So... Xu Yan is alive, and has a child with someone else?

To her, that child was nothing more than a puppet.

Then she'll pick the weakest and most useless of her male lovers and have him pregnant...

That night, Chaoyang stayed at the home of another male concubine.

The man's surname was Zheng, and his given name was An. He came from a merchant family, was fair-skinned, had gentle features, and always spoke with a hint of a smile, never daring to raise his voice.

Three years ago, he was sent to the princess's residence. Chaoyang met him a few times, but found him boring, so she put him aside and ignored him.

Now it has come in handy.

Zheng An was flattered and overwhelmed, yet also extremely cautious, serving the man with utmost care.

Chaoyang let him take care of her, laughing when he should and being tired when he should, as if she were a handy object.

It's just an object.

For the next few days, Chaoyang stayed at Zheng An's place every day.

Sometimes it's afternoon, sometimes it's late at night, and sometimes it's early morning.

The news spread quickly, and everyone in the household knew that the princess had found a new love interest and hadn't changed her for quite some time.

As for Xu Yan...

Xu Yan lived in a separate courtyard, spending his days reading, writing, appreciating flowers, and brewing tea, as if nothing had happened.

Someone handed him the message, and he simply nodded, said he understood, and then said nothing more.

The servants in the princess's residence whispered among themselves that Young Master Xu had fallen out of favor.

Some say that this is how princesses are; they are cherished when they like them and discarded when they don't, which is perfectly normal.

Only Chaoyang herself knows what she is doing.

She is waiting.

When Father Emperor finds out.

When her father realized that she was not a pawn to be manipulated at will.

……

Qianqing Palace.

As usual, Princess Chaoyang did not wait outside the palace gates and went straight inside.

Before going in, she straightened her clothes and stepped over the high threshold.

Inside the hall, ambergris incense burned in wisps and strands, a fragrance that the Emperor Emperor was accustomed to using.

Emperor Qianwu sat behind his desk, holding a folded document in his hand. When he saw her enter, he put down the document and looked up at her.

That glance, his eyebrows were lowered, his eyes were heavy.

Chaoyang bowed respectfully, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

Emperor Qianwu did not wake him.

He just stared at her for a long time.

Chaoyang knelt there, the gold bricks beneath her knees were icy cold, and the chill crept up her knees, but she remained motionless, her back ramrod straight.

After a long silence, Emperor Qianwu finally spoke: "Get up."

Chaoyang stood up, lowered his eyes, and waited.

Emperor Qianwu did not offer her a seat.

The father and daughter remained locked in this stalemate.

About fifteen minutes later, Emperor Qianwu finally spoke, "What have you been doing these past few days?"

Chaoyang looked up at him.

That look in his eyes was different from usual.

In the past, when she looked at her father, her eyes showed dependence, closeness, and affection.

Now, however, his eyes carry arrogance, along with a hint of indifference and agitation.

"Does Father want to know?"

Emperor Qianwu remained silent.

Chaoyang smiled.

That smile was different from usual.

Her usual smile was bright, exuberant, and tinged with the innocent charm of a young girl.

Now, there's something else in that smile; it's the unrestrained, arrogant smile of someone in a position of power.

"Father."

"What did you mean by summoning Xu Yan to the palace and asking him if he wanted to marry me?"

Emperor Qianwu's eyes flickered slightly, and he pursed his thin lips, remaining silent.

"After you finished asking, Xu Yan went back and told your son."

"Your Majesty is thinking... is he going to choose a consort for me?"

"Once chosen, let me marry her, let me bear her, and Father will take the child and raise it. In the future..."

She paused.

"What will happen in the future is clearer to Father than to his son."

Emperor Qianwu's expression darkened.

"Sunrise".

His voice turned serious. "Do you know what you're saying?"

Chaoyang stubbornly pursed his lips, "Your subject understands."

"Father wants a grandson."

Emperor Qianwu frowned.

He looked at her, at that familiar face, at those familiar eyes, and suddenly felt a little unfamiliar with her.

Is this his daughter?

Is this the little girl who followed him around calling him "Father" since she was little?

"Sunrise".

He frowned, then softened his voice, "I'm doing this for your own good."

"You are a woman, and you will need someone to rely on in the future."

"The person I chose for you will not harm you."

"I've seen Xu Yan; he's a good man. His humble origins don't matter, as long as you like him—"

"like?"

Chaoyang chuckled softly.

The laughter was louder and colder than before.

"Father..."

After she finished laughing, she looked at him and said, slowly and deliberately, "Does it matter who I like?"

Emperor Qianwu was stunned.

Chaoyang took two steps forward, getting closer to the imperial desk.

This was the first time in her life that she had stood on such a high place and looked at him like this.

"Father desires a grandson; I am willing to give birth."

"It doesn't matter who you have the child with. Zheng An is fine, Xu Yan is fine, either of your lovers is fine."

"Anyway, as long as they come out of my womb, they are my father's grandsons and have my father's blood flowing in their veins."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Why did Father insist on choosing Xu Yan?"

"you……"

Emperor Qianwu was speechless.

Chaoyang scoffed lightly, "Father desires a grandson, and I will grant your wish. But shouldn't I also choose the father of this grandson myself? That would be fairer, wouldn't it?"

"Or perhaps, Father, you are afraid of something?"

"Afraid of Xu Yan? That penniless scholar?"

"Are you afraid he will bewitch me? Or are you afraid I will fall in love with him?"

Emperor Qianwu's pupils contracted slightly.

Looking at his expression, Chaoyang suddenly understood.

She guessed right.

The Emperor chose Xu Yan not only because Xu Yan was suitable, nor only because Xu Yan was easy to control.

The Emperor chose Xu Yan simply because she had been close to him lately, and because Xu Yan had been by her side before she declared she would never marry.

It's true that the Emperor needs a grandson, but he also wants to take this opportunity to get rid of Xu Yan.

But Father!

Isn't your daughter's ambition precisely what you nurtured with your own hands?

Xu Yan was just a facilitator; he simply helped her break through that barrier.

The one who truly wanted to be emperor was Xie Yunhuan.

Chaoyang was her title, and after her birth, her father bestowed upon her the name "Yunhuan".

Her father hoped that she would live a life of joy and happiness.

But why is it that all she wants is to be the emperor, and her father refuses to grant her wish?

The Emperor believed that by treating Xu Yan differently, she could make her give up her ambition, stay put, live a good life, and have children.

But the Emperor didn't know—

She's more afraid of the people she likes.

She was afraid she wouldn't be able to control him, afraid she would be controlled by him, afraid she would be trapped by him, afraid that she would give up that position for him.

Chaoyang lowered his head and looked at Emperor Qianwu.

She suddenly felt like crying.

But she didn't cry.

She just smiled, a cold and indifferent smile.

"Father,"

"Don't worry. Your son will not fall in love with anyone."

Emperor Qianwu raised his head and looked at her.

Looking at that face, those eyes, that appearance he had never seen before.

He suddenly remembered that many years ago, when Chaoyang was still a child, he fell down and scraped his knee.

She ran to him crying, and he picked her up. She leaned on his shoulder and sobbed, "Father, it hurts."

He gently patted her back and said, "It doesn't hurt anymore, Father is here."

At that time, he thought that he must protect this child for the rest of his life and never let her suffer any injustice.

But now—

Now, it is he who is causing her distress.

Emperor Qianwu closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When I opened my eyes again, everything had returned to calm.

"The rising sun..."

"If you really like Xu Yan, then keep him."

"I... won't force you anymore."

Chaoyang stood still, looking at him.

The man sitting behind the imperial desk was still imposing, still someone people dared not look directly at.

But she saw it.

I saw a momentary moisture in those eyes.

She couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips into a smile.

Look, she is the Emperor's only child, and he still softened towards her in the end.

She didn't say anything, she just knelt down and kowtowed.

"Your subject takes his leave."

She stood up, turned around, and walked out step by step.

He walked to the door and suddenly stopped.

"Father..."

Chaoyang didn't turn around. "Your son will not let you down."

After saying that, she lifted the curtain and went out.

Emperor Qianwu sat there, gazing at the swaying curtain, his eyes filled with inscrutable emotions…

……

Weiyang Palace.

After listening to Lianwu's words, Zhou Mingyi leaned back on the soft pillow and remained silent for a long while.

Then he couldn't help but click his tongue.

What a touching scene of father-daughter affection!

A surge of intense anger welled up within her.

Because she is the only heir, would she not hesitate to defy the world and seize the throne as a woman?

It was because of this favoritism that her brother died so tragically in her previous life, while Chaoyang, the instigator, did not receive any punishment!

Zhou Mingyi slowly closed her eyes and took several deep breaths before she could barely suppress her anger.

She cannot get angry.

Anger makes it easy to make mistakes.

Once she calmed down, she actually felt a little envious of Chaoyang.

Sometimes you have to admit that some people are just born lucky.

The Emperor's only child, his only princess—what a noble status, what a wonderful life!

She opened her eyes, her expression having returned to normal.

At least, this was the first time the father and daughter had argued.

For Xu Yan? For the prince consort? For that child who hasn't even been born yet?

Whatever the reason, one thing is certain—

The rising sun is beginning to show its claws.

Emperor Qianwu ultimately failed because of his soft heart towards his own sons.

Zhou Mingyi leaned back on the soft pillows, slowly making plans in her mind.

She needs to make this fire burn even brighter.

Or, perhaps we could have Xie Jing do something else...

The Empress Dowager has moved back to Cining Palace, and her confinement period is over. Now it's time for her to recover and give birth to a child for His Majesty.

She wondered what would happen to the father and daughter once she actually gave birth to another healthy prince for Emperor Qianwu.

She wanted to know whether Emperor Qianwu was soft-hearted towards Princess Chaoyang because she was his offspring, or because she was his only offspring.

If this unique person no longer exists, will Emperor Qianwu still treat her with such leniency?

Add to that a covetous crown prince, and Consort Chen who knows she's been taking sterilization drugs for four years—

This show is getting more and more exciting.

She needs to pick a good time for her child...