The Red Mansions

Chapter 1640 Jia Heng: This mother-in-law is clearly anxious

Chapter 1640 Jia Heng: This mother-in-law is clearly anxious...

Funing Palace, in the hall——

Under the vermilion beams with pale yellow curtains hanging, female officials and eunuchs could be seen standing by, not daring to make a sound, clearly sensing the tense atmosphere in the hall.

Princess Xianning looked at the young man in the python robe with concern and said, "Sir, your mother just recounted what happened before and has no other intention."

"No other intention?" Jia Heng raised his sword-like eyebrows, looked at Princess Xianning with a stern gaze, and said in a deep voice: "The cabinet has already planned to strip me of my title and military power. Is the next step to imprison me and sentence me to death?"

He still hoped that Xianning would not have any conflicts with him because of this matter. The two of them had just conceived a child, and they were deeply in love and united as one.

The white and tender face of Concubine Duanrong suddenly changed. Under her emerald eyebrows, her cold eyes were like a clear spring, shining with soft light. She pursed her soft and slightly pink lips and said, "Zi Yu, Lord Li and I have no such intention."

Jia Heng said, "My lady, Li Zan, Xu Lu and others are deposing and enthroning the emperor based on nothing but conjecture. They are on guard against me based on nothing but conjecture. How can we know that they will not go even further and intensify the persecution in the future?"

When Concubine Duanrong heard this, her heart trembled inexplicably, and she said in defense: "Zi Yu, isn't this also for the sake of the Han Dynasty?"

Jia Heng's face was filled with anger, and he said in a deep voice, "Deposing the son of Emperor Guangzong is against the original intention of Emperor Shizong Xian. Now the political situation is turbulent and the people are in turmoil. Your Majesty, why bother to say that it is for the sake of the Han Dynasty?"

If it is for the sake of the Han Dynasty, then there should not be a coup to seize the throne.

Concubine Duanrong's face was uncertain, and her heart was covered with a thick haze. She hesitated and said, "Zi Yu, now that things have come to this, and the Empress Dowager has already issued an edict, which has been announced to the whole country and abroad, if there is any more reversal, how will people in the world view the royal family?"

Jia Heng said: "Chen Ze's succession to the throne is against the usual rules. It was all planned by the cabinet. It is really hard to convince the public that he usurped the throne and seized power."

When Concubine Duanrong heard this, her heart skipped a beat. A hint of fear flashed through her beautiful eyes beneath her dark eyebrows. She asked in shock, "Zi Yu, what are you going to do next...?"

Jia Heng interrupted and said, "It's just a re-discussion of the crown prince."

When Concubine Duanrong heard this, her heart skipped a beat and she exclaimed, "Zi Yu, do you really want to cause unrest in the court?"

Jia Heng raised his eyebrows, looked deeply, and said in a deep voice: "Emperor Guangzong died, leaving behind only this pair of orphans and a widow. Now they are being bullied by civil officials in every way. If Emperors Shizong and Guangzong knew about this, how heartbroken they would be? How can they rest in peace in the afterlife?"

However, Concubine Duanrong felt somewhat disapproving in her heart, and thought to herself, how dare you mention Emperor Shizong Xian?

But the beauty suppressed all the thoughts that surged in her mind at this moment, and asked: "Who do you want to make the king, Zi Yu?"

Jia Heng remained silent for a while, and said in a deep voice: "Song's son Chen Luo is the youngest son of Emperor Shizong Xian. He has a pure bloodline and can also be the ruler of the country."

When Concubine Duanrong heard this, she was suddenly shocked.

No wonder Zi Yu disagreed. It turned out he still wanted to make his own son the emperor.

Then isn’t Chen Luo his child?

As the beautiful lady lowered her brows in thought, she suddenly recalled the scene she had seen outside the palace that day, and an inexplicable anger surged in her heart.

At this moment, Jia Heng was observing the changes in Concubine Duanrong's expression, and felt a little strange in his heart.

The mother-in-law was clearly anxious.

How can you not be anxious? The throne you have obtained is like a cooked duck that flies to the sky. Even if you are a Buddhist, you will still generate the fire of ignorance and karma.

Besides, Concubine Duanrong had previously stopped her efforts only because her sister was the queen and had two princes, and she knew that she had no hope of competing for the throne.

Upon hearing this, Concubine Duanrong looked at the young man in the python robe with sparkling eyes and said, "Zi Yu, what do you mean?"

Jia Heng was silent for a moment, then said, "As for Li and Xu, they deposed the emperor as a minister and disrupted the government. They will be punished according to the law of the country."

Princess Xianning saw that the conversation was a little awkward, so she tried to persuade him, saying, "Sir, my son has been thinking about you a lot these days."

Upon hearing this, Jia Heng temporarily suppressed the questioning in his words, softened his expression, and turned to look at Jia Zhuo in his arms with a smile.

The little fellow's eyes, like two black grapes, rolled around, and his rosy little face was filled with a carefree smile.

Jia Heng came closer, hugged his son and gave the little guy a kiss on the chubby face. The sweet, soft and sticky taste flowed out between his lips and teeth.

"Call me daddy." Jia Heng reached out and pinched the little guy's chubby and soft hand, and called out softly.

Jia Zhuo uttered "ah ah" twice, stretched out his two chubby and soft little hands, saliva flowing from the corners of his mouth, clearly looking like a child.

Princess Xianning's beautiful face seemed to show a smile, and she said in a soft voice: "Sir, my son is still young and can't speak well yet."

The baby in the cradle is just babbling at this moment and won't say much.

Jia Heng's resolute and calm face showed a smile like an old father, and he said, "Then I will hug him more often and teach him."

Princess Xianning's pair of crystal clear eyes flickered under her slender eyebrows. She pursed her pink lips and said, "Sir, Chanyue and Yan'er miss you a lot, too."

Jia Heng smiled and said, "We'll go see them later. Xianning, you can also hold the child and go back with us."

Hearing this, Concubine Duanrong bit her pink lips with her pearly teeth and said, "Xianning and Zhe'er, I want to keep them here for a few more days."

Jia Heng said, "Let's go back today and come back in a few days."

At this moment, the palace ban has gradually begun to fall into Jia Heng's hands.

In other words, Jia Fang and others were just hiding temporarily.

When Concubine Duanrong heard this, the expression on her fair and jade-like face froze. She pursed her slightly pink lips, and felt a little gloomy in her heart.

Zi Yu was determined not to let Ze'er ascend the throne smoothly.

We are all family, why bother?

While Jia Heng was talking, he didn't say much. He picked up the baby in the swaddling clothes, then looked up at Concubine Duanrong and said, "My Lady Rong, if there is nothing else, Xianning and I will go back first."

When Concubine Duanrong heard this, her beautiful eyes sparkled like water, and her heart trembled inexplicably.

Zi Yu doesn't want to have a good talk with her.

While Jia Heng was talking, he said no more. He stood up, holding the baby in his arms, and strode out of the warm room.

To some extent, Jia Heng just walked away in anger.

But if we consider that Jia Heng was previously plotted against by his mother-in-law and outsiders, this reaction is not surprising.

Princess Xianning's clear eyes showed a hint of worry under her willow-leaf brows, and she said comfortingly, "Mother."

Concubine Duanrong's face, as white as snow, turned pale as paper, and her sparkling eyes were slightly red. She said, "Xianning, you should go back first."

If she couldn't convince Ziyu, she would...

Princess Xianning nodded and said, "Mother, I will persuade you, sir."

Concubine Duanrong had long eyebrows as beautiful as dark green. She watched Jia Heng leave, with a gloomy look in her eyes.

Jia Heng, holding his infant child in his arms, walked quickly toward the outer room along the palace path flanked by tall palace walls.

Shenjing City, Princess Jinyang's Mansion——

Princess Chen Li of Jinyang was sitting on a wooden couch by the window. Her face, as white as snow, was flushed with fiery red on both sides of her cheeks.

Princess Jinyang looked at her son intently. Her clear eyes sparkled under her beautiful and curved eyebrows. She smiled and said, "Jie'er, how many words have you learned recently?"

Jia Heng's eldest son has now reached the age of enlightenment. He has been reading "Thousand Character Classic" recently. His young face is full of concentration.

Lian Xue came closer with light steps and said, "Your Highness, the Princess, Prince Wei has returned to the capital."

Princess Jinyang pinched her son's chubby face, chuckled and said, "Well, Jie'er, your father is finally back."

Having said that, with such a big thing happening in the capital, it’s time for him to come back.

At this moment, a young eunuch came in from the outer room and said, "Your Highness, the Prince of Wei has returned."

Princess Jinyang's beautiful eyebrows were as green as spring mountains, and her eyes were charming and flowing. The light in her eyes flickered, as if moistening the water waves, and she said, "Speak of Cao Cao, and here comes Cao Cao."

As they were talking, everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw the young man in the python robe walking quickly from outside. He had a heroic and upright face, but in his arms was a baby in swaddling clothes. It was Jia Zhuo, the son of Jia Heng and Xianning.

Jia Heng took a few quick steps, his face gentle, and said softly, "Jinyang."

Princess Jinyang asked, "You're here."

"Daddy~" At this moment, Jia Jie called softly, and his voice could hardly conceal his excitement and joy.

At this time, Jia Jie has not yet felt the severity of Jia Heng, the "iron father". He will feel this when he grows up.

As he spoke, Jia Heng handed the baby in the swaddling clothes to Princess Jinyang, then turned to look at Jia Jie and asked, "Jie'er, are you reading a book?"

Jia Jie raised his head and said cheerfully, "Dad, Mom is checking my homework."

At this moment, Princess Jinyang's eyebrows were as beautiful as black ink, and her eyes were as bright as dew. She looked at the young man in the python robe with a gentle look and asked, "Have you taken care of all the disaster relief work in Taiyuan?"

Jia Heng walked closer, sat down, and said, "It's almost done."

Princess Jinyang raised her eyebrows, her moist eyes flickered, and she said softly, "I didn't want such a big thing to happen while you were on your way to the capital. Did you go to the palace to see Concubine Rong just now?"

He had already brought Jia here, so naturally he went to the palace to meet Concubine Rong.

While Jia Heng was talking, he picked up the Thousand Characters that Jia Jie had put down and asked, "Have you memorized all of this?"

"I've memorized them all." Jia Jie said in a low voice.

Princess Jinyang asked curiously, "What did Concubine Rong say?"

"Persuade me to accept this." Jia Heng said in a low voice with a blank expression.

Princess Jinyang paused for a moment, hesitated, and asked, "Then you..."

Jia Heng's face was solemn, his eyes were firm, and he said in a deep voice: "This matter of deposing and enthroning is against the virtues of two generations of emperors. I will never agree to it."

When Princess Jinyang heard this, her beautiful eyebrows furrowed and she asked anxiously, "Then, what about Concubine Rong and Chen Ze? Do they want to support Chen Jie as the emperor?"

The so-called, first abolish and then establish, then abolish and then establish again.

Jia Heng said: "Since the civil and military officials of the whole court doubt Chen Jie's bloodline, then we should appoint Song's son Chen Luo as the heir. He is still the son of Emperor Shizong Xian, and his bloodline is pure and legal."

Princess Jinyang frowned, her eyes flickered, and she asked, "The emperor's sister-in-law has already become notorious among the civil and military officials because of the affairs of the King of Wei and the King of Liang. Now she wants her son to be made emperor. How could Li Zan, Xu Lu and others agree to this?"

Jia Heng's face was solemn, his eyes flashed fiercely, and he said in a deep voice: "This is not up to them! The young emperor Chen Jie is the legitimate son of Emperor Guangzong. What is his reputation? Aren't they allowed to slander and defame him?"

Princess Jinyang's beautiful eyes showed a hint of worry under her slender eyebrows. She asked, "What did Concubine Rong say?"

Jia Heng said in a deep voice: "This matter concerns the long-term stability of the Han Dynasty. The people in the harem cannot interfere."

Upon hearing this, Princess Jinyang could not help but say yes softly, and then without saying anything else, she looked at Princess Xianning beside her and said softly: "Xianning, you should also come to the palace more often and persuade your mother."

Princess Xianning hummed softly, and then sat down on the embroidered cushion beside her, but she sighed softly in her heart.

At this moment, Jia Heng was holding Jia, the baby in the cradle, with eyebrows and eyes curved like crescent moons, and a smile all over his face.

After a while, a maid walked into the hall quickly and said, "The princess and Miss Song are here."

While they were talking, Li Chanyue and Song Yan were seen walking slowly into the room, arm in arm.

Jia Heng cast a gentle look over and asked, "Chanyue and Yan'er, you are here."

Li Chanyue responded softly, with a hint of joy in her eyes, and whispered, "Mr. Xiao Jia."

Jia Heng smiled and said, "Chanyue, come and see your nephew."

Li Chanyue said "hmm", walked lightly forward, came close to Jia Zhu, and held the little guy's soft, white hand.

And Jia Jie, who was in Jia Heng's arms, looked at Jia Heng intently with his eyes as bright as black grapes.

At this moment, Song Yan walked close to Princess Xianning and looked at Jia Heng with affection, with an indescribable joy welling up in her heart.

Princess Jinyang raised her slender eyebrows, her beautiful eyes sparkling like water, and said, "It's getting late. I'll ask the kitchen to prepare some food to welcome you."

Jia Heng said "hmm", then sat down with Jinyang.

……

……

Kunning Palace, in the hall——

It was almost evening, and the autumn wind blew the sycamore tree in the courtyard, making the leaves rustle.

Bronze palace lanterns in the shape of cranes stood beside the gauze curtains, with orange candles burning inside. Circles of light and shadow as quiet as water were reflected on a brocade screen and also fell on the beautiful woman with a slender and graceful body sitting in the warm room.

As time passed silently, the news of Jia Heng's return to Beijing gradually reached Zhen Qing's ears.

In other words, although Concubine Duanrong was temporarily "in charge" of the eunuchs and female officials in the palace, Zhen Qing had been the empress and queen mother for quite some time after all, and she also had some trusted spies lurking in the palace. She could not do anything else, but it was still possible for her to tip off the people.

Zhen Qing was very excited. She looked at the female official and asked in surprise, "Prince Wei has returned to the capital."

The female official lowered her voice and said, "Your Majesty, this is what the female official from Funing Palace said. She said that when Prince Wei came out of Funing Palace, he was holding Princess Xianning's son in his arms."

When Zhen Qing heard this, her beautiful eyes, which were as bright as green and dark as willow eyebrows, flickered with light, and she immediately understood the pros and cons of the matter.

That bastard must have had a breakdown in negotiations with the Funing Palace.

But after a while, Zhen Qingxiu frowned, her eyes flickered, and an inexplicable worry surged in her heart.

Now that that bastard has returned to the palace, shouldn't he come and see her?

So, should he support Jie Er to ascend the throne again?

This is his own son, how could he lie to her like that?

The beauty was lost in thought, and a sense of inexplicable resentment arose in her heart.

When that bastard comes, she will teach him a lesson.

On the other side, in the palace where Queen Song lived——

The lights are bright, shining brightly.

Queen Song was now sitting in a warm room with a screen, sewing small clothes under the bright light.

There was also a hint of loss on that beautiful and bright face.

At this moment, a clear and crisp voice was heard, saying, "Mother."

As they were talking, a little child in brocade clothes was seen walking around a screen embroidered with lotus flowers and coming to the warm room with carved windows.

Queen Song's eyes were filled with a smile as she said, "Luo'er is here."

"Mother, what are you doing?" the little child called out in a soft and cute voice.

Children of this age are innocent and like to stick to their mothers.

Queen Song's graceful and beautiful face was filled with a gentle and lovely smile, and she said, "I'm sewing autumn clothes for Luo'er."

"Your Majesty, Concubine Rong is here." At this time, a nanny came in quickly, bowed to Queen Song and said.

When Queen Song heard this, she was surprised and wondered why her sister came here at this time instead of preparing for the coronation ceremony.