Something happened. This is not going to be bloody.

It was unknown when a piece of news began to spread in the imperial capital of Yecheng. The general content of the news was that the eldest prince was the reincarnation of the star god in the sky, and was followed by several major families such as the Bai family, the Zheng family, and the Lou family. There were even rumors that the eldest prince was an eternal wise king, who was reincarnated with the aura of a real dragon.

For a while, people were discussing the appointment of a crown prince everywhere.

After much investigation, the source of the rumors was finally revealed.

It turned out that a well-known scholar from the Zheng family asked the equally famous Zhang Zhenren to write calligraphy.

Master Zhang observed the celestial phenomena at night many times and deduced the secrets of heaven before he glimpsed a trace of the true dragon's aura, which led to the various theories that are circulating today.

When enough people tell a lie, it becomes the truth. However, about ten days later, Master Zhang was secretly summoned to the Taiji Hall.

Master Zhang has white hair and a youthful face. He wears a Taoist robe and has an air of immortal pride. In fact, he is just an albino and is only about 30 years old. However, he claims to be a hundred years old and everyone believes it.

Because of his special hair color and appearance, Zhang Zhenren was quite prestigious in the field of Taoism. Many people asked him about the secret of longevity.

The old emperor saw that Master Zhang was just performing a Taoist ritual for him and did not pursue the matter. He asked calmly but sincerely:

"It is widely circulated that Master Zhang observes the celestial phenomena at night and tells fortunes. I have many doubts about this, so I have asked the Master to come and answer my questions in person."

Zhang Zhenren's voice was a little hoarse and vicissitudes, and his expression and tone showed compassion for all living beings. He said in a deep voice:

"I just observed the celestial phenomena unintentionally. The Dao is boundless, and I only understand a part of its true meaning. Now that His Majesty the Emperor has asked, I will tell you everything I know. The true dragon energy should be in the body of the Son of Heaven, because the eldest prince is the reincarnation of the Purple Star Lord in the sky. This is why the two dragons are competing for luck, and one of them will definitely be injured."

Gao Zhao's pupils shrank slightly, and he said without changing his tone:

"My son is the reincarnation of a real dragon. As long as it allows my Northern Qi to be passed down for generations, there is no harm in me giving all the dragon energy to the eldest prince."

After paying his respects, Master Zhang said:

"Your Majesty is wise, but the true dragon spirit lies in the true dragon body, I am afraid that he cannot abdicate. Your Majesty cares about the people, selects officials, and has made contributions to the present. I think even if he is the reincarnation of the Purple Star Lord, if two dragons fight, your Majesty will definitely win. I am afraid that things will not go as your Majesty wishes, and the eldest prince will only be slightly injured, and he will not be in any serious trouble."

Gao Zhao's eyebrows were full of joy. He instructed: "Master, please don't spread this matter. I don't want to cause conflicts between the monarch and his subjects."

Zhang Zhenren replied: "Your Majesty, rest assured. If Your Majesty had not summoned me to ask about this matter, I would have kept my mouth shut. Most of the rumors are just rumors, not what I said."

The emperor nodded and waved his hand.

Cao Fu personally escorted Zhang Zhenren out of the palace.

However, after that, Master Zhang never appeared in the world to tell fortunes again, and he retired from the world.

*****

The queen had no children in the harem, so she completely blocked out the rumors that were obviously about a fight, and only prevented the people in her palace from passing on the news.

One day.

All the people in the harem gathered in the queen's bedroom.

Everyone looked at the eldest prince's biological mother, Wang Zhaoyi. After all, there had been rumors rife in and out of the palace recently, and as the mother of the rumors, she would naturally attract more attention.

The queen's chamber was filled with people seated in order of rank. Concubine Shu was naturally next to Concubine Wang.

Zhou sneered and joked:

"Wang Zhaoyi has been radiant and beautiful recently. I noticed that the hair ornament she wore today is a new style offered this year. No one has sent it to me yet. In the harem, only the Empress and Wang Zhaoyi have these items. I am really envious."

The Queen seemed not to have heard what Concubine Shu said. She picked up the tea and took a sip slowly.

Wang Zhaoyi reached out and stroked the hairpin on her head. She said with great pride:

"Of course I can't compare with the Empress, but I am a few years older than the Concubine Shu, so the people in the palace still give me some face."

Zhou Leng thought to herself: Look at you, you are courting death! Do you know how to be low-key? But if God wants to destroy someone, he must first make her arrogant. She said more politely:

"Wang Zhaoyi has more than just a few thin faces in this palace."

Wang Zhaoyi saw that the usually arrogant Consort Shu, who flirted with her son, had retreated, which made her feel very proud. Once a person is arrogant in his heart, it is easy to lose his status when speaking. At this moment, she said:

"Of course I can't compare with Madam Shufei. Madam Shufei is an old lady in the palace. She has seen all kinds of jewelry and jade. My little bit of face is nothing."

After Wang Zhaoyi said this, the air in the room became a little colder.

After all, the emperor had issued an imperial decree. Concubine Lou Shufei is the Concubine Lou Shufei of this dynasty. The Empress Lou of the previous dynasty has died. Now Wang Zhaoyi is still vaguely mentioning things from the previous dynasty, which is clearly a disobedience to the imperial decree.

The sound of tea bowls hitting the table.

The Queen finally put down her tea bowl. She said with displeasure, "Wang Zhaoyi, you better be careful with your words."

Wang Zhaoyi had a look of disdain on her face and said, "Yes, I know my crime." It was probably that in her heart she had already secured the position of empress dowager and the empress was no longer in her eyes.

The atmosphere is tense here.

The queen said directly: "Everyone should go back to the palace and rest early today."

"promise."

All the concubines stood up, bowed, and left.

On the way out, Zhou Leng and Wang Zhaoyi's sedan chairs were crowded at the main entrance. The palace maids and eunuchs naturally did not give way to each other. According to the rank, Shufei was one level higher, but the emperor had attached great importance to the eldest prince in recent days, and Wang Zhaoyi's status rose accordingly.

Zhou Leng sat on the sedan chair and raised his hand and said, "Cai Ling, have someone make way for Wang Zhaoyi."

The sedan chairs left the Queen's palace one after another. The news that Concubine Shu "courtesy" Wang Zhaoyi had spread to everyone in the palace somehow.

****

The old emperor Gao Zhao ate medicinal food for half a month and did several health care operations. He felt the changes in his body and mind, and on weekdays he preferred to have meals in the palace of Concubine Shu.

In addition to his appreciation for Concubine Shu's hard work, Gao Zhao was even more certain of one thing in his heart: ever since he had made up his mind not to rely on the great prince anymore, his true dragon spirit had returned and so his health was getting better and better.

What a beautiful misunderstanding, but I don’t know how much of it is man-made.

Today is a little special, as it is a rare occasion for the family of three in Concubine Shu's palace to have dinner together.

Before the meal, Gao Zhao specially tested the Third Prince's knowledge. How should I put it? It was average, not wrong but not outstanding either. Gao Zhao praised him slightly, but Concubine Shu rubbed the Third Prince's head with pride and said:

"My son is really amazing. Mother thinks you must be the smartest person in the Imperial College."

Gao Ze was very happy to be praised by his mother. He looked at her with a silly smile on his face.

Gao Zhao looked at the mother and son who felt good about themselves and smiled with satisfaction. It was better to be a little stupid. It was easier to control them and see what they were thinking. A simple-minded person would not be the reincarnation of a star god, and would not steal his true dragon energy.

Gao Zhao thought unconsciously that since he often came to the Shufei Palace, he ate everything deliciously and slept much more soundly at night. He should come here more often in the future. No one here would compete with him for luck, and it would be comfortable to talk to two simple-minded people.