Chapter 9: The Cuckold's Scheme!
Those heartfelt exclamations of amazement stirred the hearts of all the civil and military officials, making them eager to try their luck.
Even the Empress Dowager on her throne raised an eyebrow, her hand holding the teacup pausing slightly, clearly intrigued.
Just how interesting is Yu Jingchuan's background that made Xiao Zhaoning exclaim, "When a person is shameless, they are invincible"?
However, Consort Mei, the First Prince, Cui Yue, and the others could not hear these thoughts. They were all somewhat bewildered, feeling that the morning court was too quiet.
The civil and military officials behind them craned their necks in anticipation, and heard that soft, sweet, and slightly troubled childish voice ring in their minds once again.
[Oh my goodness, I really didn't expect this!]
Yu Zhaoning rested her chin on her chubby little hands, looking deep in thought.
[I always thought my eldest brother, the Crown Prince, was just a bit stupid and a bit wicked, at most a simpleton who wanted to usurp the throne.]
[It turns out that after all this fuss, his identity was fundamentally flawed!]
These words caused all the ministers who could hear his inner thoughts to have their heads buzz and their vision to go black for a moment.
Is there a problem with his/her identity?
What problems could there be with the eldest prince's identity?
Are you kidding me!
The old tutor was so angry that his beard trembled, and he instinctively opened his mouth to retort.
"Your Majesty! The First Prince is..."
He had barely begun to speak when he felt as if an invisible hand was gripping his throat tightly, and he couldn't utter a single word after that!
"Ugh, uh..."
The old tutor's face turned red, and he kicked his legs in a panic, looking like an old goose whose neck had been choked.
The other ministers were the same; they were full of disbelief, convinced it was absolute slander, that Your Majesty had been deceived…
Everything was stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single sound.
They could only stare wide-eyed and frantically signal with their eyes.
But none of their actions were of any use, because the Empress on the dragon throne didn't even glance at them.
A glint of light flashed in Yuan Hua's eyes as he sat on the phoenix throne.
Is there a problem with his/her identity?
She glanced discreetly at Consort Mei kneeling below.
If Yu Jingchuan's identity is really problematic, then things will be much easier to handle!
To confuse the royal bloodline is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family! Let alone a prince, even if the Heavenly King himself came, he wouldn't survive!
Just as the atmosphere in the main hall remained tense, Yu Zhaoning continued speaking.
As she mentally scrolled through the short videos sent by the system, she marveled at them, her little head nodding in amazement.
Wow, this is amazing! This itinerary is incredible!
[While causing trouble in the State of Yu, he also had to find time to return to the State of Yan to handle government affairs, and in his spare time, he would even go to the southern border to put an environmental hat on the emperor...]
[How does one do that? In the world of the Empress Dowager, wouldn't someone like that be called a time management master?]
In my mind, the system's mechanical voice sounded at just the right moment.
[Ding! Answering the host, yes! Extraordinary people do extraordinary things. To be able to send warmth to the monarchs of several countries simultaneously, this person is truly a role model!]
Time management guru?
What kind of master is that?
I've never heard of that before!
Also, what does it mean to send warmth to the monarchs of several countries?
The ministers were completely bewildered and were so anxious that they scratched their heads and wished they could pry open the young emperor's head on the spot to see what strange and wonderful things were inside!
Just when they were completely baffled, Yu Zhaoning revealed the main text.
She pinched her soft little chin, her voice sweet and childlike, tinged with a hint of sympathy.
[Tsk tsk tsk, the eldest prince truly lives up to his reputation as the emperor's son from the neighboring Yan Kingdom!]
[Look at his composure, unwavering even in the face of imminent danger; look at his tender affection, still protecting his beloved palace maid even when the situation is dire.]
[His acting skills and sense of responsibility are a perfect inheritance of his father's fine traditions!]
"!!!!!!!"
At that moment, the entire Golden Palace was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
All the ministers who heard the heartfelt words froze on their faces, their eyes widened like copper bells, and their mouths seemed to be stuffed with invisible chicken, duck, or goose eggs.
What is that?
The eldest prince is the son of the Emperor of Yan.
How is that possible!
That's absolutely impossible!
A group of ministers were screaming inwardly, preferring to believe that pigs could fly rather than believe this utterly absurd news!
They watched the eldest prince grow up!
He was the late emperor's most beloved son!
When Consort Mei gave birth, the late emperor didn't sleep a wink all night and personally stood guard outside the delivery room. The moment the child was born, it was the first thing the late emperor held in his arms!
How could he possibly be the son of the Emperor of Yan?
It must be a slander!
It was a shocking lie fabricated by this four-year-old empress in order to eliminate dissidents, in collusion with treacherous villains!
Yes! That must be it!
They cannot allow the eldest prince to suffer this injustice! They cannot allow the late emperor to find no peace even in the afterlife!
Just then, Lin Qingyan, who had been silent all along, slowly walked out of the queue.
With a hint of sorrow on his handsome face, he bowed deeply to Yuan Hua, who sat at the head of the table.
"Empress Dowager".
His voice was clear and firm.
"The eldest prince has been intelligent since childhood and was the late emperor's most beloved prince. If the late emperor knew in the afterlife that he was now imprisoned, I don't know how heartbroken he would be."
After saying that, he suddenly raised his head and stared intently at Yuan Hua.
"Your Majesty, if you wish to convict the First Prince, please provide concrete evidence! Without solid proof, relying solely on unfounded rumors is unacceptable to me!"
"I have received the late Emperor's favor and kindness, and I cannot stand by and watch his bloodline be so slandered!"
Lin Xiang's words were like a reassuring pill, instantly giving the panicked ministers a sense of direction.
"Yes! Prime Minister Lin is right!"
"We beseech Your Majesty to investigate this matter thoroughly!"
The old tutor also recovered and knelt down, wailing, "Empress Dowager, His Majesty is young and may have been deceived by treacherous people! The eldest prince is a prince of our Great Yu, how could he do such a heinous thing? There must be a huge misunderstanding here!"
"Please, Your Majesty, reconsider!"
"Your Majesty, please produce the evidence!"
A group of civil and military officials knelt down in a great uproar, creating a scene reminiscent of a coup attempt.
Yuan Hua, sitting on his throne, looked down at his loyal ministers and was so angry he laughed.
"evidence?"
She slowly stood up, looking down at everyone with a mocking gaze in her phoenix eyes.
"I have no evidence? What constitutes solid evidence?"
"The monarch of a nation, His Majesty the Emperor, personally identified it—isn't that evidence enough?"
Her voice gradually rose, carrying an indescribable air of authority.
"Does it have to be approved by you ministers for it to be considered evidence?"
"I'd like to ask you something!"
"Is the dragon throne in this Golden Palace reserved for His Majesty of Great Yu, or for you civil and military officials?"
These words instantly sent chills down the spines of the kneeling ministers, who fell silent, too afraid to utter another word.
Silence fell once again inside the main hall.
Just then, that familiar and excited little voice rang in everyone's minds once again.
[Here it comes! The main event is here!]
Yu Zhaoning clapped her little hands excitedly.
[I knew it! How could Father, so wise and powerful, have such a foolish son!]
[Oh dear! I'm really curious, how exactly does the emperor of an enemy country manage his time?]
[Oh wow, so the Emperor of Yan is quite familiar with this kind of thing. He's actually been diligently working as a bodyguard and groom every day, personally sowing the seed!]
[The enemy emperor, adhering to the principle of "even if I can't win, I'll definitely get a cuckold's son," has successfully groomed several heirs to his kingdom! Efficient! Amazing! Truly unbelievable and breathtaking!]
General Weiyuan almost fainted on the spot because he couldn't catch his breath.
Lin Xiangjun's face cracked, and his lips twitched.
The old tutor rolled his eyes, swayed precariously, and felt as if his entire life's understanding had been overturned.
What kind of mess is this?!
An emperor who neglects state affairs and makes it his life's work to cuckold other emperors?!
What a display of perseverance and ruthlessness!
Yu Zhaoning's little head was still churning with confusion.
[Sigh, if I told these old fogies something this outrageous, they definitely wouldn't believe me, right?]
[Will they think I'm crazy? Or that I'm spouting nonsense?]
[If I made them faint from anger on the spot, or even vomit blood, would that count as a work-related injury?]
[But who could have imagined that an emperor, for the sake of revenge, would endure such humiliation, going to the stables of our Great Yu palace and grooming the horses for ten days and ten nights! Even a eunuch disguised himself as one!]
[Just to find an opportunity to get close to Consort Mei! Such perseverance, such dedication, truly moves one to tears!]
At this moment, the expressions of all the ministers in the Golden Palace could no longer be described as shock.
A picture simultaneously appeared in their minds.
A handsome emperor, dressed in a dragon robe, would be surveying the land by day, but at night he would change into coarse linen clothes and sneak into the enemy's palace, covered in sweat...
Shoveling horse manure...
This scene...
It's so beautiful, they can't even imagine it.
Everyone's gaze, subconsciously and slowly, turned to Yu Jingchuan and Consort Mei, who were kneeling in the hall.
I thought to myself, "What an amazing person! No wonder he won the favor of Consort Mei!"
No wonder the late emperor lost to his son and ended up with a hat on his head. It was truly impossible to guard against, and he simply couldn't win!
Consort Mei looked over blankly.
I was thinking, what's going on?