freenovelworld Chapter 406 Fulfilling Your Devotion
Chapter 406 Fulfilling Your Devotion
After all, she was a woman he had cherished for so many years, so the Emperor gently comforted her, "Alright, stop crying."
Lady Zhaohua never put on airs and was always the most sensible. She wiped away her tears and immediately ordered someone to bring her a bowl of white fungus soup: "The Emperor hasn't come these days, but I've had it prepared for me every day."
The palace servants quickly brought out the white fungus soup. Lady Zhaohua personally served the Emperor, and as she handed him the bowl, her fingertips lightly brushed against the back of his hand, her voice soft and gentle: "Your Majesty, please try this. In previous summers, you always loved to drink this."
The emperor accepted the white porcelain bowl, his gaze softening considerably; she was always so considerate.
"My dear consort, have you already heard about Jun'er and the Liang family girl?"
"good."
Lady Zhaohua sighed softly, leaning against the sleeve of the dragon robe. "I'm not entirely sure of the specifics, but it seems we met on the road, Jun'er helped her, and that's how they got to know each other."
“A few days ago, Jun’er came to see me and brought up this matter. I refused him on the spot. I never expected him to do something so foolish.”
The emperor narrowed his eyes: "What a coincidence."
"Since it concerns the child, I was very cautious and sent someone to investigate. It was a coincidence, but no one deliberately did anything wrong."
Lady Zhaohua glanced at the Emperor, then hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.
The Emperor touched her hand: "Speak your mind."
"I asked my family to inquire about this young lady, and they said that the person this Miss Liang likes is Lord Lu."
The emperor's gaze suddenly sharpened: "Lu Jiangnian?"
Lady Zhaohua smiled and said, "That's right, I was wondering about it too at the time."
She observed the emperor's expression and picked up a round fan to gently fan him, saying casually, "On second thought, the Lu family and the Liang family live next door to each other, and Lord Lu is young and promising, a man of great talent and charm. It is common for young ladies to be attracted to him."
Then, frowning, she said, "Originally, I didn't want to have anything to do with the Liang family after what happened. Now that I've heard this news, I'm even more unwilling for Jun'er to have anything to do with Miss Liang."
The emperor tapped the table lightly with his knuckles, a deep calculation flashing in his eyes.
The candlelight cast flickering shadows on the calculations in his eyes—the Crown Prince's prestige in court had been rising, while the Fifth Prince, Murong Jun, had accomplished nothing yet, but was more obedient than the Crown Prince.
He is currently in good health and in his prime, and has no intention of stepping down from this supreme position.
Prince...
The threat is still too great.
It would be better to give Murong Jun time to grow; he can then mentor another outstanding crown prince. There's still time.
Lady Zhaohua covered her face with a round fan, concealing the shrewd glint in her eyes. She understood this man better than anyone else.
She understood that what he needed now was not a renowned and capable crown prince, but a puppet who would not threaten the throne.
Lady Zhaohua softened her body and nestled gently in the Emperor's arms: "Your Majesty, how can we dissuade Jun'er from this idea?"
"Your Majesty, I truly have no other choice but to beg you to make the decision. You are his father, and you cannot abandon him."
The emperor suddenly burst into laughter, pinching Lady Zhaohua's chin: "My beloved consort, don't worry, I already have a plan."
He traced the smooth, warm skin with his fingertips. "I have to thank you for reminding me."
"Really?"
Lady Zhaohua hugged the Emperor excitedly and said softly, "Then I can rest assured."
"You are my heaven and earth. I rely on you to make decisions on everything, big or small."
"You can't scare people like that again."
She pouted coquettishly, tilting her head back to gaze at the Emperor with tender affection, which ignited a fire in his heart.
"Alright, let's not talk about it anymore, let's get settled."
The next morning, Lady Zhaohua saw the Emperor off, a smug smile playing on her lips. She knew there was going to be a good show to watch.
-
There was no grand court assembly today, and the people from the second branch of the Liang family hurriedly entered the palace early in the morning.
Hearing the commotion next door, Lu Jiangnian frowned and pondered. Why would the Emperor want to see these people out of the blue?
However, no matter how hard he racked his brains, he could never have imagined that the palace would be in such a state.
The members of the second branch of the Liang family knelt on the cold gold bricks. The smoke from the incense burner in the main hall meandered through the room, and the kneeling figures of the Liang family members appeared particularly shivering in the morning light.
The emperor lightly tapped the dragon table with his fingertips, each tap feeling like a blow to Liang Shangde's taut back.
"The evidence against Liang Shangjiong for treason is conclusive."
The emperor spoke slowly, "If it weren't for Liang Jingyou's dignified act of self-immolation, you would probably all be wandering ghosts by now."
Liang Shangde trembled with fear and suddenly kowtowed to the ground, saying, "This humble subject... knows his crime."
Liang Nian was uneasy, feeling that something strange was amiss with today's meeting. Why did the Emperor suddenly want to see them?
Apart from Liang Nian, whose thinking was still relatively clear, everyone else in the second branch of the Liang family was trembling like leaves. The Emperor saw this and felt nothing but contempt.
Liang Jingyou has raised a bunch of useless people.
However, he can now make use of this waste.
"The Fifth Prince wants to take Liang Yuhua as his concubine, and you..."
He paused deliberately, then asked, "What do you think?"
Liang Shangde trembled even more violently and couldn't speak.
Liang Nian's hands, which were hanging in his sleeves, clenched tightly. He realized that his mother had collapsed to the ground and his father was unreliable. He could only bite the bullet and answer.
“Your Majesty,” he kowtowed heavily, his voice hoarse, “the Liang family is now guilty and dares not tarnish the imperial bloodline.”
"oh?"
The emperor drew out the last syllable of his sentence, then changed the subject, "Your Liang family has quite the audacity; do you look down on my son?"
With all her might, Liang Yuhua suddenly spoke: "This humble woman wishes to become a nun, I beg Your Majesty to grant my request!"
The hall was dead silent.
Liang Nian closed her eyes, only hating herself for being weak and powerless.
"Become a monk?"
The emperor squinted at the frail young woman and said, "Guards, take everyone else away. I want to speak with Miss Liang alone."
If Liang Nianruo hadn't still retained a shred of reason, he would have jumped up to protect his family. But under the wrath of Heaven, his power was so insignificant that he could only leave his timid sister behind to face the high and mighty monarch alone.
-
Only Liang Yuhua remained in the hall. Her face was pale, and she bit her lower lip hard, where beads of blood had already seeped out.
"Raise your head and let me see."
The girl looked up timidly, meeting the emperor's chilling gaze.
His gaze, like a viper's tongue, licked her pale cheek inch by inch.
Liang Yuhua was terrified; she was extremely frightened and didn't know what the Emperor was going to do.
The Emperor chuckled, "He's quite handsome; no wonder the Fifth Prince can't forget him."
The emperor leisurely used the tea lid to skim off the foam, then suddenly slammed the teacup down heavily.
Do you know why I left you alone?
Liang Yuhua shook her head.
"I heard you like Lu Jiangnian?"
Her pupils contracted sharply, her eyes widening in fright. But when she met that cold, authoritative gaze, she quickly lowered her eyes again.
Liang Yuhua's slender back was instantly soaked with cold sweat. She shook her head desperately, "This humble woman... dares not."
The Emperor, however, said with certainty, "As I thought."
The room was completely silent.
Liang Yuhua's heart pounded like thunder. What did the Emperor mean by this?
Suddenly, a voice was heard: "I grant your wish and bestow you upon Lu Jiangnian as a concubine."
"It's just taking a concubine, there's no need for a special day, she'll be married tomorrow."