Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!-Chapter 127: Very Confident in Himself

The Old Emperor reminisces about the past decades. When he was young, he met the Empress, and their feelings were always good. The only thing he let the Empress down with was marrying the daughter of the Tao Family back then, which led to subsequent events.

At that time, Mr. Xie had suddenly passed away, and the news repeatedly came from the border of the defeat of the army led by Xie Yu’an, making the Empress displeased with the Xie Family.

The Second Prince’s power was at its zenith. He feared the collapse of the Xie Family and urgently needed to unite with the forces of other courtiers to contend with the Second Prince, who had married a daughter from the Pei Family and was supported by the Dingbei Army’s commander.

The Tao Family was deeply trusted by the Empress, but the Tao Family’s daughter was jealous and arrogant. At that time, the Empress was already pregnant. To be safe, he arranged to send her away to recuperate, claiming she was ill, but unexpectedly, she was pursued and killed, resulting in the loss of their only daughter.

It was a critical moment, and he couldn’t turn against the Tao Family. After contending with the Second Prince for over a decade, once he ascended the throne, he immediately disposed of the Tao Family’s daughter, elevated the Empress, and didn’t rely heavily on the Tao Family. Hence, the Tao Family later declined and now has no officials in the court.

He knew the Empress held resentment in her heart, but so many years had passed. In a few more years, they would both be sixty, yet the Empress still couldn’t let go of those past events and harbored resentment.

During the birthday banquet that day, the Empress asked for the White Deer. He had thought she finally let go of those matters, but as it turns out, she hadn’t.

She might even... already regret marrying him back then.

He stood outside and, in the end, didn’t enter.

The Eunuch stood behind him, puzzled as the Emperor did not summon anyone or enter, and then he left.

On the way back to the Imperial Study, the Emperor suddenly asked, "Ding Ping, have you ever regretted anything?"

The Eunuch was startled, and before he could answer, the Emperor asked and answered himself, "Why am I asking you? You haven’t married or had children; that must be regrettable."

The Emperor shook his head and didn’t speak again.

At that moment, the Eunuch’s feelings were indescribable: "..."

The Old Emperor walked ahead, followed by the servants and guards. They all admired the Emperor of high status and authority, but only the Emperor knew in his heart that in his youth, he valued power above all else, and now in his old age, he couldn’t even keep those around him, lonely and in solitude.

In the hall, the Empress, hearing Su Juan’s words, only smiled and said, "Regretting marrying the Emperor is like regretting marrying at all. If I had a chance to choose again, I would have followed my brother to the border back then. Although it would be bitterly cold there, at least my heart would be free." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Or I would have left the Capital City, ventured into the world, and seen the vast landscapes."

"But how can one have a chance to start over? These palace walls have always bound me. What’s the use of thinking more?"

Su Juan vaguely remembered that both times after the Emperor’s death, the Empress also died not long after.

At that time, there were rumors in the palace about the deep affection between the Emperor and Empress, saying the Empress was buried with the Emperor. But now it seems the Empress was obviously not willing to be buried with the Emperor. She must have been pressured to death by Song Qianfan.

Su Juan chatted with the Empress for quite a while and then accompanied her to see the White Deer they were rearing. The White Deer looked vigorous and was being carefully nurtured by those around the Empress.

Seeing Su Juan liked it, the Empress even let her go and be close to the White Deer for a while.

The palace attendants around them couldn’t help but be astonished. This Immortal Deer, after all, was tied to the fate of Da Jin, yet the Empress let Lord Su approach it so intimately, not fearing anything would happen to it, showing her great fondness for Lord Su.

Lord Su truly had good fortune. Just the daughter of a merchant, yet she was personally permitted by the Emperor to enter court as an official and could enjoy such favor from the Empress, truly enviable to others.

These happenings reached the Prince Jing Mansion, and Song Qianfan was so angry that he flipped the table.

When Yu Ting arrived, Song Qianfan was in a rage, and Li An, looking dejected, became the target of his outburst.

Entering the study room and seeing Song Qianfan so angry, Yu Ting couldn’t help but say, "A woman, how can she make you like this, even taking out your anger on your own guards?"

Song Qianfan was resentful, "You saw it at the palace banquet that day. The Empress was so against me, and the recent happenings in the palace, you probably know better than I do. Now, it seems the Empress’s actions that day were all for Su Juan."

Yu Ting frowned, naturally understanding what his cousin was talking about, but women are like clothes. How can one lose their composure over a woman?

His eyes showed displeasure, "Your temper is still so unruly. How can you achieve great things?"

Your Majesty has no offspring, and even now, there’s no clear choice for the Crown Prince. But this realm will sooner or later fall into the hands of either Prince Han or Prince Jing, who are the most powerful now.

The Yu Family and Prince Jing Mansion have long been intertwined in prosperity and loss. This world can only be Prince Jing’s.

But his cousin was so upset over a woman, not controlling his temper, and it really disappointed him.

Song Qianfan realized his loss of composure and immediately apologized to Yu Ting, "Forgive me, cousin. I was merely upset, and this won’t happen again in the future."

Seeing his sincere attitude in admitting mistakes, Yu Ting was finally somewhat satisfied.

"The Empress is just a woman in the deep palace. Since ancient times, the harem must not interfere in politics. Why worry?"

"Now, Prince Han lost Lou Shiye from the Ministry of Justice, and Your Majesty is also thoroughly investigating the Ministry, which will implicate many people. Now, as the Zhongzheng evaluation nears its end, we must look long-term, firmly grasp the power of the Six Ministries, and that’s what’s most important."

"When Uncle seizes the throne, you’ll be the Crown Prince. What’s a Su Juan then? In the world, which woman can’t you have?"

At this moment, Yu Ting thought his cousin was truly infatuated with his former Heir Consort, feeling that it’s really foolish to act like this over a woman and not worth it.

Song Qianfan said, "Cousin is right. I walked a narrow path."

"Rest assured, cousin, the Ministry of Personnel is already arranged for. After the Zhongzheng evaluation, the Six Ministries and the Nine Temples and Five Supervisors will all have people with whom Prince Jing Mansion can speak favorably."

For this matter, he had spent much wealth and effort. This grand scheme he had prepared for years, and now it was merely going through the motions.

Yu Ting nodded, acknowledging Song Qianfan’s ability to win people over.

"Don’t worry, cousin. Now with Prince Han affected by Lou Shiye’s issue, we must act with more caution on this side of Uncle’s, ensuring not to let anyone catch anything."

Yu Ting’s concerns were not unfounded.

But Song Qianfan was confident in himself. This game he had played for many years, even if Su Juan were more divine, she couldn’t know what he was thinking, let alone know which evaluated scholars were his people.

Yu Ting reminded him again, "Safety’s the way to a long journey."

"Rest assured, cousin."

...

"These three people’s relatives have all previously interacted with Prince Jing Mansion. Among the evaluated scholars this time, they must be of superior rank and are expected to take on important roles in various ministries, with a high grade."

"These two are from the same clan as Princess Han and are presumed already to be Prince Han’s people."

Shen Ruhui pointed at the people on the list, analyzing the evaluated scholars from this Zhongzheng evaluation with Su Juan.

Su Juan slightly nodded, agreeing that Shen Ruhui’s analysis was indeed correct. Those three indeed later became staunch supporters of Song Qianfan ascending the throne.

"Has the lady thought of a counter-strategy?"