Concubine Chen heaved a long sigh. Looking at her grown - up son, she knew how difficult it was to win in this war! The battlefield without gunpowder was even more terrifying.
"Forget it, forget it. You are my only son. Don't worry. I'll remove obstacles for you! It's just a seventh princess from the Western Yue State. I don't believe she can stir up much trouble here. It's just a pity for my son. If you marry her, your future path may become more and more difficult!" Concubine Chen said earnestly, looking at her son lovingly. She tightly clutched a small handkerchief in her hand, as if she was going to tear it apart.
Her hatred for the queen could only be vented like this.
In the harem, Chen Rong had long understood a truth!
Relying on men was unreliable! Especially the current emperor. If she only relied on the emperor's favor, she couldn't go far in the harem.
Moreover, she and the queen were already in an irreconcilable situation in the harem. The queen seemed to be indifferent and uncompetitive, but Chen Rong knew in her heart that although she seemed not to fight for anything, in fact, she had her eyes on the throne. She didn't care about other things. So Chen Rong couldn't let the queen have the last laugh!
"Mother, please rest assured. I'll figure out a way for this matter. I just hope Father doesn't push me to the last step!" As he spoke, Xiao Hanzhi's tone became colder. But only in front of his mother could Xiao Hanzhi show his true self and expose his inner ambition.
Because his mother fully supported him and would offer him advice.
Concubine Chen nodded, indicating that she agreed with her son.
After 20 years in the harem, Concubine Chen was no longer the simple and kind - hearted Chen Rong she used to be. Power and money were what she pursued now. As for love? Forget it. Chen Rong would never expect Xiao Huaishi to give her love in this life. After all, in the harem, one always saw new concubines smiling but never saw old concubines crying.
"By the way, if necessary, let the tenth prince step in. I've raised him for so many years. He should be of some use!"
"Thank you, Mother. I understand!"
"By the way, Mother, I have another thing to tell you. It seems that there is also a princess consort accompanying the princess on this marriage alliance. Father intends to match the princess consort with Shen Yi." Xiao Hanzhi voiced his doubts and asked Concubine Chen to analyze the reason.
After all, Concubine Chen was the emperor's bed - mate and knew Xiao Huaishi better. The emperor's mind was hard to fathom.
After hearing this news, Concubine Chen's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. It seemed as if she had seen something. Her delicate eyebrows knitted tightly as she was thinking about the emperor's mind.
After a while, Concubine Chen slowly said, "Hanzhi, I think you also need to pay attention to the eldest daughter of the Shen family."
Xiao Hanzhi was a little puzzled. He turned his head to look at his mother and asked, "Why? Didn't you say that Shen Li, the eldest daughter of the Shen family, was very strong - willed? Although she had the support of the Night Shade Division behind her, she was not the best choice. Besides, the things she did before were really not presentable. What's the point of contacting her now?"
Although Xiao Hanzhi didn't mean to satirize Shen Li in his words, his tone revealed his disdain for her.
A glint flashed in Concubine Chen's eyes. Although her son didn't understand the emperor's actions, she had some guesses in her heart. So she told her guess: "Hanzhi, although you are going to marry the seventh princess of the Western Yue State, which has distanced you from the throne by one step. Since Shen Yi also has to marry the princess consort of the Western Yue State, it means that the power of the Night Shade Division won't be directly handed over to Shen Yi. Now there is only Shen Li left in the Shen family. If..."
Chen Rong didn't continue. She believed her son would understand her meaning.
So, based on his mother's little hint, Xiao Hanzhi gradually understood what his mother meant.
"So, Mother, you mean that I should get in touch with Shen Li more and preferably make her fall in love with me. Then... won't the Night Shade Division be in our pocket?"
The more he said, the more excited he became. Xiao Hanzhi's voice involuntarily got louder.
Concubine Chen put her finger in front of her lips, making a gesture of silence, and whispered, "Shh, just keep these things in mind."
Xiao Hanzhi nodded excitedly. The joy on his face made it seem as if the Night Shade Division was already in his hands.
Since her son came in, Concubine Chen's eyes had been fixed on Xiao Hanzhi without leaving for a moment. After all, the time she could see her son was getting shorter and shorter. She heaved a sigh: "Okay, Hanzhi, you can go first. Don't let that old woman find out that you've come to see me again. Although it's not a big deal, it's always hard to explain to your father. I don't have the patience for that."
Xiao Hanzhi nodded and said seriously, "I understand, Mother. I will never make things difficult for you in the harem! I'll come to see you again after I get Father's permission next time!"
"You are the most considerate one."
Concubine Chen was almost forty years old, but she still maintained a face like a woman in her twenties or thirties. However, as her son gradually walked away, the vicissitudes of time gradually showed on Concubine Chen.
Xiao Hanzhi was vigilant and avoided the queen's people. Finally, he safely left the palace.
Not long after, the news that the fourth prince was going to marry the seventh princess of the Western Yue State as his main wife spread in the capital. Everyone was in an uproar. People had always been speculating about who the seventh princess would be betrothed to.
Now the answer finally came to light.
It turned out that the seventh princess had taken a fancy to the fourth prince.
The people in the capital were extremely excited and wanted to see what the princess from another country looked like.
However, Xiao Hanzhi was not happy at all. After he heard this news, he had smashed many sets of precious tea sets in his mansion. His anger didn't subside for a long time.
"Who spread this news? Find out for me!"
After this news spread, the fourth prince clearly felt that the court officials who were originally neutral. He still wanted to recruit them under his command. But during this period, no matter how he invited them to his mansion, they all gave Xiao Hanzhi the same reply - feeling ill and not convenient to receive guests. They would come to apologize another day.