In the evening, Fan Zehao returned, acting as if nothing had happened, and ate dinner and chatted with her.
She didn't believe her husband hadn't received the news from the capital!
If he didn't tell her about this, it was because he was afraid she would worry and make herself sick. Other than that possibility, she couldn't think of any other reason!
"Duke Liu is leading the ministers in demanding that you abdicate and let Huangfu Xi ascend to the throne. They are already on their way!"
Fan Zehao was shocked. Who had told her such confidential information?
"Su Ya, come in. Who visited the estate today?"
Su Ya, who was serving outside, trembled all over and immediately lowered her head and walked in. She glanced at the enraged prince and was terrified.
Zhao Jiaqi placed the stack of small notes from her wide sleeves on the table and looked at Su Ya. "You may go."
Turning back to the furious man, she said, "Even if someone else didn't tell me, you would have told me in the end. Now I just want to know what you plan to do!"
Fan Zehao flipped through the notes one by one. The intelligence was accurate, but it was three days later than the information he had received.
"We'll use their plan against them and go with the flow!" Fan Zehao casually threw the notes into the gold-plated charcoal basin. They instantly ignited and turned to ash. He said, "Duke Liu is desperate to save his legitimate son, and he's not afraid to incite Huangfu Xi and provoke the ministers. 'A country cannot be without a ruler for a day.' He's coming with the royal scepter and the death-exemption medal, intending to persuade me!"
He sneered, "If I can let his son go, then as the former Emperor, I can continue to control the court steadily. If I insist on killing his son, then Huangfu Xi will ascend. In that case, he will be a meritorious official for supporting the new emperor, holding the royal scepter and death-exemption medal, and will be able to protect his son. This is a plan to kill two birds with one stone!"
This analysis was very thorough!
"This Duke Liu is truly not to be underestimated. He can guess that you don't care about the two items he holds, so he planned a way in advance. It's not simple!"
He picked up the nourishing tremella soup and fed her spoonful by spoonful, smiling, "If no one had informed him, how would he have known I didn't care about what he held!"
"Speaking of which, we should thank the informant. They helped us solve a major problem. I must thank them properly later!"
Eating it spoonful by spoonful was a bit of an effort. She finally took the bowl and decided to eat it herself.
"How will you 'use their plan against them and go with the flow'?"
"Huangfu Xi is capable enough, and so far, he hasn't heeded Duke Liu's instigation. I've decided to follow Duke Liu's advice and let Huangfu Xi ascend. However, the inner city must break away from the Yun Kingdom. I can't guarantee the breadth of heart of their emperor, but I must protect you all!"
This was his condition. If they couldn't agree, he wondered who would dare to claim emperorship!
This idea... when did husband start contemplating it?
However, once the inner city separated from the Yun Kingdom, it would face pressure from the Yun Kingdom. With one wrong step, disputes or even war could erupt.
But from another perspective, this method was undoubtedly the best way to protect his family!
"What do you think? Do you agree!"
She looked into her husband's deep eyes and solemnly nodded, "Go ahead and do it with all your might. I support you!"
He couldn't be happier to receive his wife's support, and his heart felt more settled!
The next day, Fan Zehao summoned Fan Xudong and Huangfu Pingting. After explaining his idea, he gained their agreement and they secretly planned.
After entering the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, the festive atmosphere of the New Year in the inner city became increasingly strong. The streets and alleys were cleaned, and red lanterns and red silk flowers were hung in advance.
The surface calm was finally broken on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month!
Duke Liu, who had traveled day and night, rushed over. For his unfilial son, this father was truly worried sick!
The Wangfu, front hall!
Duke Liu saw the person seated on the grand chair, lowered his proud head, lifted his brocade robe, and knelt. "This minister, Liu Sheng, pays respects to the Former Emperor and wishes him longevity!"
"If this Former Emperor were to live long, I'm afraid many people would resent me!" He looked down at Liu Sheng and said contemptuously, then glanced at him. "Rise, and be seated!"
"Thank you, Former Emperor!" Liu Sheng rose, his imposing manner undiminished, and sat down on the chair with a hint of anger.
Behind him, two guards in armor stood, each holding something wrapped in golden silk.
With just one glance, he knew what those two items were. Even without seeing the golden yellow silk embroidered with dragon patterns wrapping the items, he could guess most of it.
Duke Liu sat for a few moments and, seeing that he hadn't asked why he was here, raised an eyebrow and said, "My only legitimate son, Liu Qian, broke the law in the inner city. It is my failure to educate my son. I beg the Former Emperor, for the sake of this old minister who has served for three dynasties, to show mercy and allow me to take my son back and supervise him more closely!"
How ironic were these words! Fan Zehao twitched his lips and scoffed, "Since you are a veteran of three dynasties, you should know that a prince who breaks the law is the same as a commoner. You cannot trample the law underfoot just because of your contributions. Even if the late Emperor were alive, he would absolutely not allow you to act so recklessly!"
"Instead, you should set an example and uphold justice with righteousness!"
Duke Liu's expression suddenly changed. This uncultured man was truly not giving him any face. His voice became a little tougher. "Does the Former Emperor mean that he is unwilling to give this old minister any face?"
"Duke Liu is no longer young, and he seems to have trouble hearing clearly. It would be best for you to return home and enjoy your old age!"
Fan Zehao said this with a sarcastic tone! It was also a way of giving him an escape route!
If he were to present the blood-written petition signed by the ministers that asked Huangfu Xi to ascend the throne, their paths would change drastically.
Unfortunately, he had played up Liu Sheng's eagerness to save his son to perfection!
With a wave of his hand, the armored guard presented a small item. He carefully opened it and placed it in front of Fan Zehao!
Arrogantly, with his head held high, he held up the death-exemption medal and said, "Seeing this golden medal is like seeing the Emperor. Doesn't the Former Emperor kneel!"
Fan Zehao laughed. Even Zhao Jiaqi, who was hiding in the side hall, almost burst out laughing!
She shook her head and muttered to herself: No matter how powerful the Emperor is, he wouldn't dare to make the Former Emperor kneel?
Sovereign and subject were Emperor and son.
The Former Emperor happened to be the Emperor's father!
Even though they didn't share the same surname, their positions were clear. How could one possibly kneel?