"That old woman... I won't let you be smug for long," Concubine Chen murmured to herself silently, her eyes turning cold.
Suddenly, at that very moment, Xiao Huaishi, who had been in a coma, unexpectedly woke up, muttering the name of the Fourth Prince in his mouth.
"Fourth... "
When Xiao Huaishi regained consciousness, the imperial physicians no longer cared about the rules and decorum. They rushed to his side to examine the emperor's condition.
Originally, Concubine Chen was still in a fit of anger because the queen had stolen her limelight. However, Xiao Huaishi's sudden change instantly rekindled her confidence.
She desperately pushed forward, squeezing past the queen and taking her place beside Xiao Huaishi.
Looking at Xiao Huaishi in such a state, she even shed a couple of tears on purpose. "Your Majesty, I'm Rong'er! Does Your Majesty miss the Fourth Prince?"
Xiao Huaishi nodded groggily. No one knew exactly what was going on. As he spoke, he even took Concubine Chen's hand.
Before anyone could ask further questions, Xiao Huaishi fell back into a coma.
Out of the corner of her eye, Concubine Chen noticed the queen standing there, looking stunned and at a loss. So, while she feigned sadness on the surface, she couldn't help but show a triumphant smile when she glanced at the queen.
Because of this groggy utterance, Xiao Hanzhi, who was originally supposed to be under house arrest for three months, was released after only one month.
...
Recently, as Xiao Huaishi's health showed no sign of improvement, the situation in the Dongling Kingdom became increasingly tense. He had long since stopped attending to state affairs, leaving everything in the hands of Xiao Hanzhi.
It was also because Xiao Huaishi had murmured Xiao Hanzhi's name when he was conscious that, with the support of many ministers, Xiao Hanzhi began to feel as if he were on the verge of ascending the throne.
Some scheming officials had already formed their own speculations. They were certain that Xiao Huaishi would pass the throne to the Fourth Prince. So, even before the imperial edict was officially issued, they had already flocked to pledge their allegiance to the Fourth Prince, Xiao Hanzhi.
For a moment, Xiao Hanzhi had become the de facto ruler of the Dongling Kingdom. The voices of those who opposed him gradually faded from public view. No one knew exactly whose doing it was, but everyone knew that Xiao Hanzhi would not tolerate such opposition, and this matter was more or less related to him.
In recent days, Xiao Hanzhi had been visiting the palace more and more frequently. Sometimes, when it was already late, he would even stay in the palace overnight, giving the impression that he was trying to seize the throne.
In the Chengan Palace, at night, the candlelight flickered gently.
Chen Rong sat on the main seat, feeling uneasy. She tightly clutched the handkerchief in her hand.
In the room, Concubine Chen had dismissed all the servants and was waiting for the arrival of the Fourth Prince, Xiao Hanzhi. From time to time, she would lean forward and look out into the outer room, her face showing great anxiety.
It wasn't long before Xiao Hanzhi finally arrived. When Concubine Chen saw him, she immediately let out a sigh of relief. She quickly got up from the main seat and grabbed her son's wrist, looking extremely panicked. "Hanzhi, you're here!"
Xiao Hanzhi nodded calmly and explained, "I had a lot of memorials to deal with today, so I was delayed on the way. What did you want to see me about, Mother?"
Concubine Chen looked around, but didn't notice anything suspicious. She leaned closer to Xiao Hanzhi and whispered in his ear, "How's the matter going?"
Whenever this matter was mentioned, Concubine Chen always seemed extremely nervous.
Xiao Hanzhi patted Concubine Chen to comfort her and said softly, "Don't worry, Mother. Everything is almost ready."
Although her son had comforted her, Concubine Chen still felt nervous. Her brows were tightly knitted, and her heart was in a constant state of unease. She was afraid that this matter would be exposed.
Xiao Hanzhi could see his mother's concerns. Gentle persuasion wouldn't work, because this was a matter of life and death. So, he frowned and looked at Concubine Chen. "Mother, I hope you understand the importance of this matter. If you show all your concerns on your face, won't others know what's on your mind? Didn't you teach me that?"
Hearing Xiao Hanzhi's words, Concubine Chen was slightly stunned at first, but then she understood. The worry in her eyes disappeared, and she smiled gently. She looked at her son with great relief. "Hanzhi... You've grown up!"
Looking at her son, who was now taller than her, she couldn't help but think of the little baby who used to be in her arms. In the blink of an eye, he had grown up so much. Now, he was a handsome young man, on the verge of becoming the ruler of the country!
"Mother, I've been growing up, but in front of you, I'm still your child," Xiao Hanzhi said.
Concubine Chen's hand involuntarily touched Xiao Hanzhi's face. Her eyes were filled with a mother's love, and the fine lines at the corners of her eyes were a testament to the passage of time.
"Mother understands. It's just that Mother is worried about you..."
"Mother, you don't need to worry about me. Now, I just don't know how to bring up the matter of my marriage to Princess Helian Shu with the ministers. Father is in such a sickly state now. If I mention the marriage now, it might arouse the dissatisfaction of the people," Xiao Hanzhi said hesitantly, not knowing what to do.
If he didn't marry Princess Shu, he wouldn't be able to get her dowry of a hundred miles of red bridal gifts. Although he was now in control of the overall situation in the Dongling Kingdom, without the support of a strong army, he seemed like a mere show.
If someone wanted to rebel, it would be an easy thing to do.
This matter had always been a thorn in Xiao Hanzhi's heart.
A mother knows her son best. Concubine Chen understood what her son was worried about.
"You don't need to worry about this matter, Mother will handle it for you. You just need to keep an eye on Shen Li. Make sure she doesn't let the Night Shade Division bite you back. That would be a great loss," Concubine Chen, who had survived in the harem for many years, was naturally alert to any potential danger.
Xiao Hanzhi nodded in agreement with his mother's words. "Mother is right. But you don't need to worry about this matter anymore. I've mentioned this to Helian Shu. She has already arranged for the princess to stay in the Night Shade Division. It can be considered as our inside information."
Concubine Chen nodded and said softly, "That's good..."