Peasant Woman’s Decreed Life as a Wife-Chapter 2346 - 2343: Scheming
Emperor Xuanming inquired once more.
The Dowager Empress did not answer immediately, instead she pondered for a while and said cautiously: "No, I have attempted to probe several times, and indeed there is no relation between the two of them. Furthermore, before Chu Heng’s incident, there was no intimate interaction with Jin’er, and Ziluo, that child, though young, is sincerely courteous to others. Even if her thoughts are profound, it is impossible to leave no trace. If she were a girl from an ordinary family, hearing my hints, even if she fears showing too much joy might irritate me, she would still find it difficult to suppress her delight."
"Yet Ziluo finds various reasons to leave, just like Madam’s reaction when I probed about the child’s marriage before."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Xuanming’s wariness towards the Chu family was largely dispelled: "If that’s the case, then let’s settle the marriage between the Chu family and the fourth prince."
"Is it right to set things directly like this?" The Dowager Empress wasn’t worried about other things; she just felt it somewhat unfair to Li Chongjin: "Isn’t this plainly showing Hetu that Jin’er is quite capable?"
"Mother, the Northern Region needs a stabilizing force right now." Emperor Xuanming did not refute the Dowager Empress’s words, instead calmly explained: "Beirong has already killed Chu Heng to prevent the rise of Great Chu. However, I must not give them such an opportunity."
"The fact is, the cavalry force of Great Chu is still insufficient; yet if the fourth prince marries into the Chu family, even people of Great Chu would believe that the fourth prince had learned Chu Heng’s methods of training, and pre-trained a formidable batch of cavalry. In this way, even if Hetu clamors menacingly, the Beirong Emperor might not dare to dispatch troops since they do not know our military strength."
"Secondly, only by deterring Beirong can the situation with Hera be completely resolved this time."
"Moreover, Chu Heng has done quite a bit for me, and only in this way can his family be protected. Once Chu Heng regains consciousness, even if he is unwilling, he will have no reason to resent me." Emperor Xuanming carefully measured everything from beginning to end.
The Dowager Empress, seeing that the Emperor was well-prepared, felt relieved knowing Jin’er was a good child and the lady of the Chu family was capable enough to not hold Jin’er back.
"However, if Chu Heng awakes, the Chu family will automatically be aligned with Jin’er. Emperor, your health is still good; there’s no need to rush in grooming the next generation, is there?" Only the Dowager Empress dared to address such a sensitive topic in front of Emperor Xuanming.
After all, as an emperor, he doesn’t like appointing a Crown Prince; even if it’s his own son coveting his position, it wouldn’t be pleasing.
Emperor Xuanming was not angered by the Dowager Empress’s words, he simply closed his eyes mysteriously: "Mother, I trust my ability to govern. Since it’s bestowed by me unto the fourth prince, it can also be retracted. Besides, the Qi family now understands how to operate in low profile, though unfortunately, traces of their ambitions are still revealed."
The Dowager Empress understood, the Emperor’s action was thoroughly strategic, first expressing dissatisfaction with the Qi family, and then aiming to eliminate Beirong’s renowned general Hera, while simultaneously intimidating Beirong.
No matter if Beirong initiates war this time or not, she could see Emperor Xuanming’s ambition to wage war against Beirong.
The court’s various factions balanced, so Beirong could be addressed without worries, otherwise, internal and external turmoil would incur considerable losses.
Moreover, had it not been for Chu Heng’s incident, perhaps the Emperor wouldn’t have set his sights on Miss Chu; alas, Chu Heng fell into the enemy’s scheme.
