bookpower Chapter 444
Chapter 444
as the late empress had said, she only wished for the fifth prince to grow up safe, peaceful, and happy, free from the struggles for imperial power.
as for jiang xinyue, fenyun felt both respect and fear toward her.
the fifth prince nodded and let go of the emperor's pant leg. "father, will you come to see me again?"
tang shiliang carried him aside. "don't worry, your highness. as long as his majesty has time, he will surely come to see you. you must eat well and grow tall, understand?"
the fifth prince pouted. "i understand."
what fenyun worried about was also what the emperor worried about. though their concerns were for different people, the outcome they feared was the same, and thus their choices aligned.
once seated in the imperial carriage, wang dequan reported everything that had happened in the capital to the emperor. the armrest of the carriage nearly shattered under the emperor's furious grip.
"consort jin plotted to harm the crown prince, causing him to nearly lose his life to an allergic reaction. she deserved death. it was only out of concern for the relationship between great yan and its vassal state, and to avoid sowing discord between great yan and goguryeo, that jiang xinyue persuaded me to spare consort jin's life. how could she possibly have killed consort ru?"
wang dequan glanced at the emperor but dared not say anything more.
the emperor's trust and favor toward empress jiang xinyue had surpassed everyone's imagination.
based on his understanding of empress jiang xinyue, wang dequan believed that it was indeed she who had killed consort jin.
for empress jiang xinyue's character was such: if others did not provoke her, she would not provoke them; but if they did, she would eradicate them completely.
the crown prince was empress jiang xinyue's achilles' heel. how could she allow anyone who sought to harm him to live in this world, let alone under her very nose?
impossible!
this simply did not align with empress jiang xinyue's character.
it was likely that on the day the emperor left the palace, when the assassins killed mu qianqian and discovered her face was a disguise, empress jiang xinyue had already planned to kill consort jin.
precisely because consort jin was dead, everyone suspected her, making it impossible for her to be the murderer. people often thought things couldn't be so simple, that it must be a frame-up.
this made them feel particularly sharp and clever.
moreover, rumors spread throughout the capital that goguryeo spies were spreading falsehoods, claiming that empress jiang xinyue had killed their princess.
both the ministry of punishment and the ministry of justice mobilized, arresting many people. the common folk believed these individuals were all spies, deliberately sent to frame empress jiang xinyue, further reinforcing their belief in her innocence.
those who spoke ill of empress jiang xinyue behind her back would not be released anytime soon.
even if they did not consider themselves, they would surely think of their families and children.
if their identities as spies were exposed, it would be a devastating blow to their families.
a man's wife and children were always his greatest weakness, regardless of whether he was good or evil.
thus, ma yiyang could make them say whatever he needed them to say.
jiang xinyue smiled softly, the danger in her eyes dissipating as her expression softened. "minister ma, i have always trusted your work. you handled the matter of consort jin very well."
"it is an honor to serve your majesty."
the fact that empress jiang xinyue entrusted him with such a secretive task, without even informing jiang xinyue's most trusted confidants, showed that she regarded him as a secret weapon.
ma yiyang was never afraid of being used as a blade by jiang xinyue. what he feared was being overlooked, his abilities unrecognized.
if he was to be a blade, he would be the sharpest, most indispensable one.
only then would he have the opportunity to stand behind the crown prince, becoming the blade the crown prince needed most.
he never hid his ambitions, and this was what jiang xinyue admired most about him.
"i heard that minister ma has been spending much time with my cousin. are you planning to propose to her?"
was empress jiang xinyue concerned that his family background was unworthy of the jiang family's eldest daughter?
or was she testing him on behalf of her cousin?
regardless, ma yiyang's attitude remained unchanged. "your majesty, i have already proposed to the governor. in the coming days, the governor and my mother will meet over a meal to finalize the marriage between myself and the eldest daughter of the jiang family."
after a moment of silence, he added, "your majesty need not worry. my feelings for the eldest daughter are genuine. your majesty need not favor me due to familial ties. i have risen to my position through my own abilities, and i will ensure that the eldest daughter lives a life envied by all."
the eldest daughter trusted, pitied, and loved him.
he, in turn, respected, pitied, and loved her.
he would not use her to pave his path to success. he wanted her to live a life of happiness and fulfillment.
jiang xinyue laughed. "if i did not trust you, i would not have entrusted you with the matter of consort jin. i have high hopes for you and my cousin, and i wish you a harmonious union with many descendants."
his eyes were sincere, and the light in them when he spoke of her cousin could not be feigned.
he was genuine.