in2ebook Chapter 256: The 3rd Prince's Reading
Chapter 256: The 3rd Prince's Reading
Wan'er can enter the palace anytime? That's not bad.
The emperor wanted to agree, but when he saw the empress dowager's unhappy expression and thought of Wan'er's appearance just now, he did not say anything.
"Does the Queen Mother think so too?"
The Queen Mother said, "If Wan'er is not happy, then forget it."
"That's all right," the emperor said with a smile. "Wan'er's parents are here. You don't have to be so nosy in the future."
The imperial concubine was unhappy in her heart, but she didn't show it on her face. She forced a smile and said, "Yes, I will remember it."
After returning to the Qinzheng Palace, the emperor was still thinking about what happened in the Shoukang Palace. He closed his eyes and pondered, when he heard the sound of Eunuch Wu coming in with tea.
He asked, "Do you think that the Si family is afraid of having no successor, so they have formed an alliance with the Cui family, which is why Concubine Cui wants to adopt Wan'er?"
Eunuch Wu dared not reply to such a question, and only said: "Your Majesty, I am stupid and cannot figure out the key to this."
The emperor still had his eyes closed, but his expression darkened. "I am willing to let them come back. It is my grace. Si Xingzhi actually doesn't understand what gratitude and contentment are!"
There was obvious anger in these words.
Eunuch Wu did not answer. He waited for a moment before saying, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."
"Say!"
Eunuch Wu said cautiously, "It's like this. The Third Prince's study companion went berserk today and nearly injured the Third Prince. The imperial physician diagnosed him with insanity..."
"Last month, a tutor broke his leg, and this month, another one went insane?" The emperor asked impatiently, "What's going on with these tutors? How many tutors have we changed for the third son over the years?"
Eunuch Wu lowered his eyes and waited until the emperor's anger subsided before he said, "Your Majesty, this mad companion is a young man from the Tong family's side branch. Should we send him back, or..."
"Beat him to death!" The emperor's face was filled with coldness. "They are dissatisfied. They are dissatisfied with my love for the third son. They think I will depose the crown prince and make the third son the heir. So they have been plotting this way to oppose me. It is really ridiculous, ridiculous!"
Eunuch Wu said nothing. He had followed the emperor since he was a child and understood the emperor's character best.
The emperor was very suspicious of everything, no matter who it was or what they did.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the Third Prince had a violent temper. The eunuchs and palace maids around him had been replaced one after another, and it was considered lucky if a tutor could survive a year.
It was also in recent years that Concubine Xin tried her best to suppress the Third Prince, which made him restrain himself a lot.
He also had two very stable study companions. It was not because they were well chosen, but simply because they were the same type of people as the third prince.
Eunuch Wu sighed. He didn't know whether the court officials were really resisting the emperor, but he knew that the emperor had such intention, but he didn't want others to guess his thoughts.
Especially he didn't want the harem to guess what he was thinking.
He loved the Third Prince and also doted on Concubine Xin, but he was extremely wary of her.
Eunuch Wu responded, but he didn't have much sympathy for the poor Tong Jialang.
The Tong family had known about this situation for a long time, which was why they chose an insignificant boy from a side branch to enter the palace. From the very beginning, they abandoned this child.
The emperor pondered for a moment and said, "Let Si Jing'an enter the palace to be the third son's study companion."
Eunuch Wu's eyelids jumped: "This..."
"You think it's wrong?"
Eunuch Wu hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I am extremely disrespectful. I simply feel that although His Royal Highness the Third Prince is a descendant of the royal family, and the Marquis of Anle is also from a high-ranking family, he grew up in the countryside and may lack some manners."
The emperor's expression improved slightly. "You are always considerate, but Xiao An is a coward. He would never do anything to harm the third brother. Let's leave it at that."
Eunuch Wu responded and retreated out of the hall, feeling somewhat helpless.
He had some old acquaintances with Si Xingzhi, though not close, but he still understood Si Xingzhi's character and temperament. Moreover, when the emperor restored the Si family's title, he asked him to travel thousands of miles to announce the decree.
At that time, it was to show how much we valued the Si family.
But he had lived and eaten with the Si family for more than a month, so it would be a lie to say that he had no feelings for them.
It’s a pity that no matter how much emotion there is, it means nothing in the face of imperial power.
The eunuch next to him came forward and called out, "What are your instructions, Chief Wu?"
Eunuch Wu smiled and said, "Go tell Concubine Xin that the Emperor has personally appointed a study partner for His Royal Highness the Third Prince. It's the young master of the Anle Marquis Si family."
The young eunuch was incredibly shrewd, knowing that this was meant to flatter Concubine Xin, and also as a reminder. After all, the status of the Third Prince's companions was declining. They used to be legitimate sons of prominent families, but now they were just ordinary side branches of aristocratic families.
Now that a prince from a marquisate has arrived, Concubine Xin has no choice but to take care of it personally.
Seeing Eunuch Zhong coming from not far away, Eunuch Wu's eyes flashed slightly and he called to another young eunuch next to him.
"You, leave the palace and go to the Anle Marquis's residence and tell him that this is His Majesty's wish. The young prince will be blessed to be a study companion to His Royal Highness the Third Prince."
When Eunuch Chong heard this, he was stunned, but he didn't say anything. He calmly went to stand guard.
His purpose was to help Si Muwan gain the emperor's favor, and everything else had nothing to do with him.
Eunuch Wu shook his head imperceptibly, thinking that these people didn't understand the trick.
The Si family was all surprised when they heard the emperor's will.
Being a study companion wasn't a bad job; being chosen to be a study companion to the crown prince or a prince was generally considered a great feat. However, there were certain rules. For example, a prince's study companion was usually the second or youngest son from an aristocratic family, not the eldest son.
Because the eldest son is often trained to inherit the entire family.
Only under special circumstances, such as when the legitimate son of the Empress is named the Crown Prince at birth, will the legitimate son of a noble family be chosen to be the Crown Prince's study companion since childhood. The first purpose is to cultivate the Crown Prince's own power, and the second purpose of these legitimate sons studying in the palace since childhood is to learn how to assist the emperor, rather than simply to accompany the Crown Prince.
For example, since the Anle Marquis Mansion only has one son, Xiaoan, it is absolutely impossible to choose Xiaoan as the prince's study companion.
Unless, the emperor values the third prince and wants to change the crown prince, and also values the Si family.
Si Muyan didn't know whether the emperor valued the third prince, but she knew very well that the emperor would not value the Si family. He only wanted Si Xingzhi to be an idle marquis, and it was even more impossible for him to use Xiao An.
Si Xingzhi also knew the key to this, and called Si Muyan to discuss it: "What do you think about this matter, big sister?"
Si Muyan asked, "Daddy, do you know about the situation of Concubine Xin and the Third Prince?"
Si Xingzhi thought for a moment and said, "Xin Fei was a concubine that the Emperor took in when he was still living in the palace. There was nothing special about her at the time. The only difference was that on the day the Third Prince was born, the late Emperor named her the Crown Prince and made her his heir."