Chapter 528: Chapter 19: Old Friend’s Scheme

Hearing this, Lin Wanyi finally understood.

The Emperor had mentioned earlier that the selection process was to be used to lure out the person behind the scenes.

She just didn’t expect that these two were individuals she had carefully examined before, and there shouldn’t have been any issues.

Yet, the Emperor had uncovered the matters behind them, which truly frightened her and filled her with doubt.

"Your Majesty, how could they..."

"Do not underestimate the person behind this; previously, I was indeed short-sighted and didn’t see her abilities."

"Her?"

"Yes, an old acquaintance perhaps."

"Who?"

"Consort Qian."

"What?"

Lin Wanyi was clearly a bit shocked by this; over the years, she had almost forgotten this person.

If the Emperor hadn’t mentioned it today, she would never have thought it was related to Consort Qian.

After some thought, she spoke.

"Is it for the Spirit King (Third Prince)?"

"Yes, the Fourth Prince Uncle just sent a secret report, the Vice Marshal of the Zhang Family Army in Ce State has pledged allegiance to the Spirit King, and now they hold an army of a hundred thousand, practicing day and night with the intention of rebellion."

When the word "rebellion" came out from the Emperor’s mouth, Lin Wanyi felt a chill down her spine.

Once upon a time, the Northwest Liu Family was destroyed due to the crime of rebellion.

Could it be that the thoughts nurtured by Liu Xu’er over the years also exist in the Spirit King’s mind?

Thinking he is now already twenty-three years old.

It’s heard that he has a harem of wives and many children.

In the past, Lin Wanyi found it inappropriate to comment on this, but now it seems he’s planning to leave himself enough descendants for some purpose?

Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but shiver.

And there was a growing anger in her eyes.

"So the matter of the black bear was also their doing behind the scenes?"

"Mm."

Then the Emperor explained the background of the matter to Lin Wanyi.

"Zeng Konghou had been investigating this matter, and discovered some anomalies regarding the bear’s origin; there are no continuous mountain ranges near Shengjing City, so this bear could not have matured in the suburbs, it must have been deliberately sent over."

"Along the way, it was necessary to ensure the bear caused no trouble and also to bribe those at the hunting grounds to set this up; these people had put in considerable effort."

"Unfortunately, they made a wrong move, and my people managed to uncover it. Moreover, all these years, Little Six has been in Huazhou, appearing to train with the Fourth Prince Uncle, but in reality, he has long been the deputy leader of the Dark Guard Camp under the Prince Mansion, learning quite a lot from Jiang Huanqing."

"This time, it was he who uncovered the Spirit King’s collusion with the Vice Marshal of the Zhang Family Army."

Lin Wanyi was utterly surprised.

"Little Six? Dark Guard Camp?"

Lin Wanyi didn’t know much about Royal Family matters.

But she also knew that any ruler would not only show a bright side.

But she didn’t expect this to be related to Little Six.

"Don’t worry, his abilities far exceed what you imagine."

The Emperor’s eyes were full of admiration when mentioning the Sixth Prince, the Spirit King.

However, Lin Wanyi still felt anxiety; after all, he was not yet even fifteen years old.

The Dark Guard Camp, Lin Wanyi didn’t exactly know what they did, but it certainly wasn’t something done in the light of day.

This way, isn’t it laden with dangers?

With her brows furrowed, she felt a sense of panic but didn’t know how to express it.

Of course, the Emperor could also see her maternal concerns.

Thus, he took her hand, and promised reassuringly.

"Rest assured, with the Fourth Prince Uncle and Jiang Huanqing present, they will not let any harm come to Little Six."

Hearing the Fourth Prince Uncle’s name, Lin Wanyi felt slightly at ease.

But the Fourth Prince Uncle is nearly seventy now, he should have long retired, yet all these years he has stayed in Huazhou, merely to further hone Little Six’s skills.

It is known that Da Wei’s dynasty requires not only an enlightened monarch but also formidable generals and wise ministers.

Therefore, all these years, he has been devoted to nurturing the Spirit King to become the next National Guardian Stone of Da Wei.

Fortunately, the Spirit King did not disappoint his intentions.

His rapid growth over the years has given the Fourth Prince much ease of mind.

"Then what does Your Majesty plan to do about Ce State?"

Lin Wanyi did not bring up the Spirit King, for in any case, he is the Emperor’s own son.

Even though he hasn’t been raised by his side all these years, he remains his flesh and blood.

Father-son bonds are not easily severed.

Lin Wanyi understood, and naturally, the Emperor had his considerations.

His expression remained a picture of tranquility, yet this very demeanor increased Lin Wanyi’s fear.

Over the years, the Emperor has become more and more unfathomable.

His thoughts are hard to gauge; even she, lying next to him, may not understand.

Moments later, the Emperor spoke.

"Before the Empress Dowager went to Wutai Mountain, she had a lengthy conversation with me, discussing arrangements for the Spirit King, and even great scholars and virtuous ministers couldn’t change his mind, which shows that the root is fundamentally rotten."

"He is indeed my son, but if he truly rises in rebellion, then he is a traitor, a rebel for everyone to punish. As for Consort Qian, the Vice Marshal of the Zhang Family Army, and those who sided with the Spirit King, they too shall be dealt with."

"The Crown Prince should not be tainted with the blood of his brother; let me bear this infamy."

Hearing this, Lin Wanyi’s heart tightened.

She held tightly onto the Emperor’s hand.

When she first entered the palace, she had heard some things.

The Emperor had once devoted all his efforts to raising the Third Prince.

Not for anything else, simply because he was then the most likely to inherit the throne.

Humans are not plants, it’s hard not to be sentimental.

The Emperor, although putting Da Wei’s dynasty first and thinking of the Crown Prince’s future succession, was indeed cruel.

Seeing Lin Wanyi’s concern and worry in her eyes, the Emperor softly smiled.

He reached out and stroked Lin Wanyi’s still smooth and soft hair, then gently said.

"For the sake of this empire, the Empress Dowager once endured the pain of sending Hui Xian to her death; now this suffering is mine to taste."

His words carried a sense of helplessness, but more so, they were laden with sadness.

Lin Wanyi couldn’t help but understand.

She did not know how to utter words of comfort.

She could only stand by quietly, still holding a sliver of hope in her heart that the Spirit King might see the error of his ways and refrain from any disastrous actions that harm the country and its people.

A sleepless night.

The moonlight was so cold, Lin Wanyi felt as if winter had already arrived ahead of time.

The Emperor continued his routine of getting up early for court, while the matter of the selection concluded with a few marriage edicts.

In a flash, more than a month had passed.

As Shengjing City officially entered the winter month, the weather grew colder day by day.

The north wind howled, and the snowflakes fell.

Everything was once again draped in a blanket of silver.

In Yihua Palace, Lin Wanyi was accompanied today by the Han Prince Consort, Lin Xiruo (Second Princess), the Third Princess, naturally also with Wan’er, Miss Li who was about to become Princess Pei.