Chapter 337: This Child Has Major Implications

Sang Zhi’s small face hardened. "I don’t have an aunt."

"Eighth Brother, even if you don’t like her, you mustn’t show it. And even if you do, you mustn’t show that either. You have to learn to hide your emotions. This will protect others, and it will also protect you."

"Third Brother, don’t worry. I understand."

"Good. I’ll take you out of the palace again another day."

Sang Zhi was reluctant, but he still nodded.

Seeing that he had taken the advice to heart, Sang Yan felt relieved. "It’s late. You should go back and rest. Your third sister-in-law is still waiting for me."

"Okay. Take care, Third Brother."

Sang Yan departed.

Sang Zhi stood motionless for a long time, his gaze fixed in the direction of the Imperial Study.

In the dead of night, only the chirping of insects could be heard in the Imperial Garden.

The wind blew, making the palace lanterns sway.

「 」

In the Imperial Study.

After the palace banquet ended, the Beili Emperor hurried to the study. He summoned his Hidden Guards and questioned them in detail about why a single child was connected to four prominent families.

The Hidden Guard reported what they had learned from the General’s Residence, as well as the events that had occurred back in Nanyuan involving Xiang Minghou and the other three. However, they had been discovered by the General’s own hidden guards at the time and hadn’t personally witnessed the result of the blood-typing test.

"Go and investigate the results of that blood-typing test." From the moment the Beili Emperor had seen the child, he hadn’t believed she was Xiang Minghou’s daughter.

Because although Ye Qianning was chubby, her little face was quite beautiful.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The Hidden Guard departed.

The Beili Emperor fell into deep thought. ’No matter which family’s bloodline Ye Qianning belongs to, none of the four families will likely let her go. Xiang Minghou’s attitude in the great hall today made it clear he dotes on the girl to the bone.’

’The Gu family is no different. I heard that old man Gu has been climbing over the walls of the General’s Residence for some time now. Judging by the way he defended the girl, his affection for her is no less than Xiang Minghou’s.’

’Qian Fu isn’t one for idle talk, yet he broke his usual silence in the great hall today. That proves he also holds Ye Qianning in high regard. The child is very likely from the Qian family or the Zhan family.’

Moreover, the child’s appearance suddenly reminded the Beili Emperor of Zhan Susu.

The Beili Emperor’s eyes grew dark. He slammed his large hand on the table. ’How could I be thinking of that woman?’

"Your Majesty, Consort Yuan requests an audience," Mr. Li reported.

The Beili Emperor suppressed his anger. "Let her in."

In the next moment, Consort Yuan, dressed in magnificent palace attire, walked in. "Greetings, Your Majesty."

"My dear consort, you must be here about Qi’er."

Consort Yuan rose and walked to the Beili Emperor’s side. As she always did, she moved behind him and began to massage his shoulders. "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is still young. Why are you in such a hurry to arrange his marriage?"

"It all happened so suddenly today. However, this marriage will be beneficial for the Crown Prince in the future." The Beili Emperor leaned back in his chair, rolling his neck with the pressure of her massage.

"Your Majesty, that girl may be Xiang Minghou’s daughter, but she is illiterate, crude, and unbearable. Even if she has become Dean Chen’s student, she won’t be able to change her lazy and uncouth habits."

"I, too, feel she is not worthy of Qi’er. But I have already given my word. There is still a long time, and she can be slowly educated. If she remains incorrigibly mischievous after they are married, we can simply find an excuse to set her aside."

Consort Yuan understood the Emperor’s hidden meaning. ’If he dislikes her, why betroth her to Qi’er?’

"The child herself may be unrefined, but she involves many important people. If Qi’er can gain their support, you and I will have fewer worries in the future," the Beili Emperor said, raising his large hand to cover the delicate one on his shoulder.

"Your Majesty, this consort does not understand," Consort Yuan said, her brows knitting together.

"That child has connections to the Zhan family, the Gu family, the Qian family, and the Xiang family. Xiang Minghou is a rare and fierce general, unrivaled on the battlefield. The Gu family possesses immense wealth, rivaling, if not surpassing, the national treasury. The Qian family is brimming with talent; when it comes to the intellect of civil officials, no one in the entire court can match Qian Fanji. And while the Zhan family has not entered officialdom, they are not to be underestimated. If the Crown Prince has the assistance of these four families, will you still worry that Qi’er cannot secure his position?" The moment the Beili Emperor had learned of the connection, his thoughts had turned to the Crown Prince.

"The girl is connected to all four families?" Consort Yuan was even more confused.

"That’s right. Although we are not certain who the child’s biological father is, what happened in the great hall today was enough to show her importance in their hearts." The Beili Emperor patted her hand. "Everything is for Qi’er’s sake. Tomorrow, you must persuade him. Tell him not to cause a fuss for now. The future can be decided when they are older."

Although Consort Yuan didn’t fully grasp all the intricacies, she was moved by his words. "This consort understands. I will speak with Qi’er tomorrow."

"Good. Rest assured, since I have named Qi’er as the Crown Prince, I will certainly arrange his future, cultivate capable people, and ensure his protection."

"But... will the Zhan family really support the Crown Prince?" Consort Yuan was skeptical.

’Noble Princess Consort Zhan also has a son. Doesn’t the Zhan family have ambitions of their own?’

"The heads of the Zhan family dote on Zhan Chi the most. If we win over Zhan Chi, the rest of the family will be easy to deal with." The Beili Emperor knew the Zhan family well. "Even if we exclude the Zhan family, the Xiang, Gu, and Qian families are more than enough."

’A general, a strategist, and wealth—all three are indispensable, and they happen to provide them all.’

"This consort understands," Consort Yuan nodded.

"Alright, it’s getting late. You should go back and rest."

"And you, Your Majesty?"

"I still have some memorials to review."

"Today is Your Majesty’s birthday. You shouldn’t work so hard."

"It’s fine. These are just missives from the envoys of the three nations. I’ll review them quickly so we can send our replies early tomorrow."

Consort Yuan glanced at the missive from East Shu and said nonchalantly, "East Shu seems to care a great deal about the Eighth Prince."

"East Shu used to give Princess Consort Zhen endless trouble. How could they possibly care about him? They’re just trying to use Sang Zhi to curry favor." The Beili Emperor was completely unconcerned.

"This consort thinks the Seventh Princess of East Shu and her husband don’t seem like good people."

"My dear consort, you worry too much. They can’t stir up any trouble here in Beili."

Consort Yuan shook her head slightly. "I heard from Qi’er that when they went to the General’s Residence a few days ago, the Seventh Princess sought out the Eighth Prince in private. It seems that since that day, the eunuchs in the Eastern Palace have told this consort that Qi’er has been having nightmares. He wakes up screaming the Eighth Prince’s name every time."

"Oh? Is that so?" The Beili Emperor frowned.

"Yes. This consort personally examined Qi’er. There’s nothing wrong with him physically, but he has nightmares every night. I feel it might be because Qi’er has been spending time with the Eighth Prince recently."

The Beili Emperor thought of Sang Zhi’s eyes. When he had first met Princess Consort Zhen all those years ago, her gray eyes had pierced him to the core, and he too had been plagued by nightmares for a long time.

"Tomorrow, I will issue an order for the Eighth Prince to withdraw from the academy. From now on, he is to remain in West Splendor Garden and is not permitted to go out without permission."

"The Eighth Prince will surely be unhappy about that..."

"He has only his inauspicious eyes to blame." The Beili Emperor felt a sense of ill fortune just thinking about those eyes.

Consort Yuan’s troubled mood finally lifted a little. ’I can’t stop the Crown Prince’s marriage, but at least if the Eighth Prince withdraws from the academy, Qi’er can study in peace.’

Though she didn’t know why the child was connected to the four families, she understood the Emperor’s meaning perfectly.

’The child can be used to control Xiang Minghou and the others. The title of Crown Princess Consort is just a pretense.’

’In the future, once Qi’er has established himself, Ye Qianning can be cast aside at any time.’