After Marrying The Paranoid God of War (Rebirth) - Chapter 48 Part 2
As Huo Xi wiped his tears with his small hands, he sobbed and walked to his grandfather’s side.
“I ask you, is crying useful?”
While speaking, Huo Lang signaled Steward Su to wipe his tears.
Steward Su covered the boy’s cheeks with a handkerchief, letting Huo Xi blow his nose.
After the boy’s tears had somewhat stopped, he shivered and replied, “No… it’s not useful…”
“Crying won’t change anything.”
Huo Xi sniffled and softly asked, “So, if I stop crying, can I change the situation? Can the Fourth Princess… still live?”
Huo Lang’s tone was not as gentle as usual, not as cold and distant, but patiently said, “Only if you are strong enough can you protect those you want to protect.”
Huo Xi didn’t quite understand what Huo Lang meant by being strong.
Was it about being tall and strong like his father?
Seeing the boy’s confused expression, Huo Lang didn’t say anything more, only ordering Steward Su to take good care of Huo Xi, ensuring he ate dinner and didn’t go to bed on an empty stomach.
The next morning, Huo Lang sent someone to the Guangwen Pavilion to excuse Huo Xi from school, not letting the boy go to school as usual.
Today, the Emperor made his way to the Prime Minister’s residence in a splendid carriage, continuing a decades-long tradition of finding time each year to sit with Huo Lang under the pavilion, enjoying tea and playing chess.
Unnoticed by the Emperor, Huo Xi was quietly standing behind a rockery not far away, accompanied by a servant tasked with his care. To keep the boy from getting cold, the servant held a brown otter fur jacket in his hands.
With a “snap”, the Emperor placed the final white piece on the jade chessboard.
The chief eunuch hurried to pick up the captured black pieces, smiling as he said, “Your Majesty, you have drawn with the Prime Minister again.”
The Emperor chuckled lightly, responding, “It’s because Huo lets me; otherwise, I would have lost the entire game.”
This wasn’t an exaggeration; the Emperor’s rise to his current status owed much to Huo Lang’s support in the early days.
As autumn winds began to stir, the aged figure before him had white hair but still possessed the dignity and integrity of his younger days.
To hold a position like Huo Lang’s, one must match power with ability, lest the power consumes them.
Since being appointed a prince with his own estate at twenty, the Emperor had relied on this minister’s talent for counsel in uncertain times, always consulting Minister Huo Lang first.
The court’s rising young officials, though talented, couldn’t compare to Huo Lang’s stature.
Should Huo Lang suddenly pass away, the Emperor would struggle to find a suitable replacement.
He regretted overly depending on the capable Huo family.
Meanwhile, Huo Xi, hidden behind the rockery, held his breath, listening intently to the conversation between the Emperor and Huo Lang.
The Emperor vented his frustration to Huo Lang, “I never thought such a thing could happen in my harem. I’ve been generous to her, but that wretched Consort Li dared to betray me with a court physician!”
“Did you and Consort Li have a princess together?” Huo Lang inquired.
The Emperor sighed, “The timing in the records is accurate, but her lineage is unclear. I cannot bear her presence in the palace, under my watch every day.”
In front of Huo Lang, the Emperor had nothing to hide, but he wished to keep this scandal from becoming public knowledge.
If the scandal were to leak, it would only tarnish his reputation. The investigation was conducted quietly, without drawing attention.
Huo Lang, playing with his jade ring, asked lightly, “But yesterday, Huo Xi returned to the Prime Minister’s residence and mentioned that Princess Xiao Yan claimed in the Imperial Academy that the Fourth Princess is not your biological daughter.”
“She even called her ‘bastard’ and said you would have her executed.”
The Emperor’s expression shifted slightly, surprised that Xiao Yan would spread palace scandals, making it known to Huo Xi and potentially everyone in the Imperial Academy.
Thinking of the recent troubles caused by the Empress, the Emperor grew increasingly displeased with his daughter Xiao Yan, whom he usually doted on. Her indiscretion in exposing his vulnerabilities angered him.
He resolved to strictly discipline this increasingly arrogant legitimate princess upon his return to the palace.
Seeing the Emperor’s displeasure, Huo Lang softly advised, “Your Majesty need not panic. Doctor Du was already negligent at the Qianqiu Banquet. Moreover, the offenses of the consorts have nothing to do with the princes and princesses. It’s unnecessary to send the Fourth Princess to the imperial clan’s estate or have her executed. Just announce she’s frail and the climate of the traveling palace is better for her health. Send her there to quiet the rumors.”
Hearing this, the Emperor’s brows relaxed.
He had been torn about how to deal with the Fourth Princess, whose lineage was uncertain. Huo Lang’s suggestion seemed to clear his doubts.
He couldn’t execute the Fourth Princess now.
Doing so would only confirm the rumors about Consort Li’s betrayal.
Though he harbored doubts, the true parentage of the Fourth Princess remained unconfirmed.
Huo Lang’s advice offered a timely solution to his dilemma.
Huo Xi didn’t miss a word of the conversation between Huo Lang and the Emperor, suddenly understanding why his grandfather had spoken thus.
It seems that Grandfather has thoroughly understood His Majesty’s thoughts and guided the situation to his advantage, making His Majesty develop an aversion to Princess Xiao Yan and smoothly revealing his intentions, thereby saving the Fourth Princess’s life.
The boy blinked but then thought that if Grandfather didn’t hold such power, His Majesty wouldn’t sit down and listen to him speak earnestly.
It appears that the strength Grandfather mentioned yesterday refers to this kind of power.
Huo Xi for the first time realized the benefits of power and deeply understood the teachings about the relationship between ruler and ministers from “Mencius.”
The boy draped over himself the mink coat handed to him by a servant and silently left behind the rockery, constantly thinking about when he could become as powerful as Grandfather.
Huo Xi wished to grow up faster and become even more powerful than his Grandfather.
The birth of the newborn dispelled the gloom in the Emperor’s heart. Upon returning to the forbidden palace, the Emperor went straight to Consort Chen’s sleeping quarters.
Having survived this ordeal, Consort Chen’s mindset changed. The Empress became increasingly isolated in the palace, while Consort Chen’s bargaining chips became even more substantial.
Not only did she have the Emperor’s favor, but the prince she bore was immediately bestowed the title of a royal prince upon birth.
Her father was a military commander who rarely interacted with civil officials and had some military power in the previous dynasty.
The person who saved her, Lady Fang of the Marquis of Dingbei’s household, came from the noble family of the Duke of Pei. Although the Fang family’s influence had diminished over the years, their influence among civil officials remained significant.
Moreover, Lady Fang’s father in law was the Prime Minister Huo Lang, and their Huo family, besides Huo Pingxiao, also had an eldest son serving as the minor prefect of Jingzhao.
Thinking of this, Consort Chen couldn’t help but consider drawing closer to Ruan An.
She had already sent several boxes of congratulatory gifts to the Marquis of Dingbei’s household, but these were far from enough.
Consort Chen thought carefully about what Lady Dingbei needed most right now.
Suddenly having an idea, she approached the Emperor, who was happily playing with the tender infant, and said softly, “Your Majesty, your concubine and child were safe and sound, all thanks to Lady Dingbei’s efforts.”
The Emperor waved his hand, indicating for the wet nurse to take the prince away, and replied, “Haven’t you already rewarded her with gifts?”
Consort Chen, always spoiled and willful in front of the Emperor, pouted and said with a feigned sadness, “It seems, Your Majesty, that you never really cared about your concubine and child.”
The Emperor’s brows furrowed slightly, but the palace maids around them seemed accustomed to their interaction, showing no sign of fear.
“Look at what you’re saying. How could I not care about you and the prince? I’m afraid I care too much about you, allowing you to speak to me like this!”
Although the Emperor pretended to be stern, his expression showed no signs of real anger.
At this moment, Consort Chen straightforwardly expressed her thoughts: “Your Majesty, since Lady Dingbei has contributed to protecting the prince, if you don’t grant her a decree, other noble ladies will feel disheartened.”
The Emperor glanced at Consort Chen’s beautiful face with a light gaze.
It was only a matter of time before Lady Fang would be granted a decree. With the current unrest at the borders, Huo Pingxiao would soon lead troops into battle again.
Having a wife, he would naturally seek a decree for her through his military achievements.
Whether it was sooner or later, since the Consort brought it up, he might as well go with the flow and grant it directly, making Lady Fang a decreed lady, to prevent Consort Chen from saying he didn’t care about her.
“Your consort speaks wisely.”
After leaving the Consort’s quarters, the Emperor immediately ordered the drafting of the decree.
That evening, envoys from the court arrived at the Marquis of Dingbei’s household with the decree for Lady Fang, carrying the ceremonial robe and crown of a decreed lady.
Ruan An, just back from the medicinal garden, heard that people from the palace had arrived and hurriedly changed her clothes without fully understanding the situation.
Upon arrival at the hall, she immediately heard the eunuch’s sharp voice announcing, “Madam Fang of the Marquis of Dingbei’s residence, receive the decree.”
Ruan An pursed her soft lips, knelt on the ground, and with both hands raised, respectfully said, “This servant-wife receives the decree.”
—”By the mandate of heaven, the Emperor decrees: The wife of the Marquis of Dingbei, Madam Fang, is virtuous, cautious, diligent, gentle, and compliant; her conduct is warm and kind, her virtue is evident. She has also contributed to the protection of the imperial heir during the Qianqiu Banquet, and is hereby conferred the title of a second-rank official lady. This is to be respected.”
“This servant-wife expresses gratitude for His Majesty’s grace. Long live the Emperor, may he live forever.”
Ruan An received the heavy imperial decree, and even after the envoys had left, she still felt somewhat unreal. When Bai Wei and Ze Lan presented her with the official lady’s attire, Huo Pingxiao just happened to return home.
The man saw his young wife staring in astonishment at the elaborate attire. Ruan An, sensing his return, still found it hard to believe.
To be conferred the title of a second-rank lady just like that.
However, Huo Pingxiao’s expression was not very pleasant. He glanced slightly, signaling the female servants to take away the official lady’s attire.
Ruan An, puzzled, asked, “My lord, I’ve received the decree, why don’t you seem happy?”
Recalling his vows from the previous night, promising to secure a decree for her, Huo Pingxiao couldn’t help but snort softly in self-mockery, “Your husband is indeed useless, not having secured a decree for you, yet you’ve obtained one yourself.”