jdhmnovel Chapter 170 Everyone has their own agenda
Chapter 170 Everyone has their own agenda
On the very night the eldest princess left Baiyu Courtyard, a person dressed in a black cloak entered the study of the mansion.
Feng Rui entered the room, lifted his hood, and sat directly in the main seat. He frowned and asked, "Xin'er sent someone to inform me that I have something important to discuss. May I ask what it is?"
Feng Xin frowned inwardly as she looked at the other party's slightly arrogant attitude. She hadn't expected that her Uncle Rui, who had looked like he had no will to live when he was divorced, would suddenly become so confident.
If she weren't after that position and still needed the other party, she wouldn't have to put up with this kind of mistreatment.
Although Feng Xin thought so, she smiled and personally poured Feng Rui a cup of hot tea. Only after he accepted it did she say:
"When I entered the palace today, I noticed that Mother Empress's health probably wouldn't last much longer! It's time to put that matter on the agenda!"
Just as Feng Rui brought the teacup to his lips, he heard these words and stopped in his tracks, somewhat surprised: "So fast?"
Feng Xin looked at Feng Rui with suspicion. Wasn't it him and the Grand Tutor who had given her the drug? Why did he seem even more surprised than she was?
"When does Xin'er plan to make her move? Do you have a plan?" Feng Rui took a sip of tea, then put down his teacup and asked.
He naturally noticed Feng Xin's gaze, but he didn't think much of it. Perhaps his father had increased the dosage, and he wanted to avoid entering the palace to clear himself of suspicion.
"The Empress's birthday is in half a month. If the Empress is 'terminally ill' and collapses in front of the ministers, whether she can come back to life or not is up to the Imperial Uncle and Grandfather. As long as the Empress dies, everything will fall into place!"
A bloodthirsty smile appeared on Feng Xin's face. He slowly turned his five fingers and clenched his fist.
"It is indeed a good plan, but the Empress does not intend to hold a birthday celebration this time. Moreover, not to mention the Crown Princess and the Imperial Guard outside the city, even the five thousand Imperial Guards in the city are not to be underestimated."
Feng Rui didn't say whether he agreed or disagreed. He and his father were currently short-handed and didn't dare to take any risks without being absolutely certain of success.
Upon hearing this, Feng Xin looked at Feng Rui with a meaningful smile and said:
"So, it all depends on what Grandfather does! I heard that Grandfather has people at the East Gate garrison. My people will be arranged to enter the capital in advance. As long as we can keep the Capital Guards from entering the city, the mere Fengzhao and five thousand Imperial Guards will be no threat at all!"
Seeing that Feng Rui still hesitated, as if he didn't believe her, Feng Xin pretended to be in pain and spoke again:
"How about this? I will assign Commander Chen Ping and her seven thousand guards to the Imperial Uncle to assist in the operation."
Feng Rui was surprised. Chen Ping was his niece's mother-in-law and his greatest reliance. The fact that she was willing to send this person to him showed some sincerity, but he didn't show it on his face.
"Xin'er, is what you're saying true? If Chen Ping is given to me, you'll have no one left to use."
Chen Ping didn't care, but once he had given away the seven thousand guards, it wouldn't be so easy to take them back after the mission was accomplished.
“Of course it’s true. Right now, I still have to rely entirely on my uncle and grandfather! Chen Ping is nothing. I’d give him to you, let alone assign him to you!” When Feng Xin spoke of Chen Ping, the emotions in her eyes were complex and unreadable to others.
Looking at her expression, Feng Rui felt uneasy, as if cooperating with his father and Feng Xin was like dealing with a tiger for its skin.
However, now that things have come to this, there's no going back, and besides, the final outcome is still uncertain: "Since that's the case, it's settled then. I'll find an opportunity to contact my father!"
"Haha, that's wonderful! Then I, your nephew, will now thank you, Imperial Uncle!"
"Rest assured, Uncle, once I ascend to that position, I will certainly not forget your and Cousin Wanzhen's contributions. At that time, I will definitely ensure that my cousin attains her wish of becoming the Heir Apparent of the Prince of Dingbei."
As she spoke, Feng Xin diligently refilled Feng Rui's teacup, bowing slightly as if she were happy, but her lowered eyes were full of calculation.
Feng Rui was unmoved by her words, but he was quite pleased to see a princess acting so subserviently towards him. He waved his hand and casually said, "If there's nothing else, I'll head back now."
Having said that, without even drinking the tea, he got up and left the First Princess's residence through the side door.
Once seated in the carriage, a hint of disdain appeared in Feng Rui's eyes. She actually intended to fool him with the title of the Crown Princess of Dingbei!
The position he was to hold was that of regent, second only to the emperor. If it weren't for his father's instructions to use Feng Xin as a shield, he would have already turned against him!
The First Princess's Study.
Feng Xin glanced at the seat Feng Rui had just been sitting in and the teacup he had used, then looked at the backs of the others who were leaving, her eyes filled with mockery.
The woman in black also emerged from the shadows, following Feng Xin's gaze, and said worriedly, "Your Highness, this Prince Rui seems to have grand ambitions. If you give him the guards, won't that...?"
"Heh!" Feng Xin sneered, then suddenly turned back meaningfully and patted the woman in black on the shoulder, asking in confusion:
“Aru, what are you talking about? It’s obvious that Feng Rui and Chen Ping colluded with the Northern Wilderness, letting the people of the Northern Wilderness impersonate soldiers of the guard post, intending to rebel. I just led people into the palace to quell the rebellion and protect the emperor.”
The woman in black pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized something and exclaimed, "Your Highness is wise! I admire you! This truly kills multiple birds with one stone! No wonder you had those Northern Wilderness people come to the capital ahead of schedule some time ago..."
Feng Xin frowned and glanced back at the woman in black, signaling her to lower her voice and be careful of being overheard. Then, as if talking to herself, she continued:
"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind! No matter what Feng Rui and Tai Jun are up to, in the end, only Feng Xin will benefit."
……
In the backyard of the First Princess's residence, in the courtyard of the master Chen.
The commotion in Baiyu Courtyard was clearly heard by everyone. The husbands and servants of the First Princess's residence were all in a state of panic, especially their master, Madam Chen.
After all, Bai Yu knew better than anyone where the fetus in his womb came from.
In fact, Madam Chen had long harbored doubts about whether the eldest princess could have an heir. There were many male servants in the mansion, but apart from Bai Yu, no other man had ever become pregnant.
Therefore, Madam Chen secretly instructed the royal physician who performed the monthly pulse check to pay special attention to whether the eldest princess had any defects in her offspring, and ultimately received a positive answer. (The royal physician in the eldest princess's residence performs monthly pulse checks, but without a thorough examination in this area, it would be difficult to make a diagnosis.)
Chen naturally informed her mother, Chen Ping, about this matter.
After pondering for a long time, Chen Ping uttered a statement that left him speechless: "Confuse the bloodlines, remove the father and keep the daughter, and give her to the Chen family for adoption after she is born."
In the end, though he was shocked, he chose to compromise. He was of ordinary appearance, and if he didn't have anyone to rely on, he probably wouldn't live much longer!
He then approached Bai Yu, threatening her with the fact that the child she had conceived was not the eldest princess's, and forced her to have an affair with Chen Ping, which resulted in her becoming pregnant.
This news not only delighted Ms. Chen, but also thrilled her mother, Chen Ping, after all, who hasn't harbored ambitions for a high position...
If things were as they wished, that would be wonderful. However, the eldest princess's attitude and the commotion in Baiyu Courtyard today have left Chen feeling uneasy.
It wasn't until evening that the eldest princess, who had always disliked Chen's plain appearance and rarely set foot in the master's courtyard, suddenly came to visit and treated him with great tenderness. This made him breathe a sigh of relief, thinking that things had not yet been exposed!
Moreover, the eldest princess had stayed in his room for several days in a row, showing him care and affection day after day. As a result, he felt at ease and suppressed his desire to consult Chen Ping for a solution.
Little did they know that Chen Ping would also fail to investigate the eldest princess's plans in advance, and would ultimately die a gruesome death!
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