They are all concubines, so of course they choose the future emperor.

Anyone with eyes can see from the current situation in the court that the world will belong to the prince in the future. Now that there is such an opportunity to curry favor with the prince, King Zhao will naturally not miss it.

Prince Zhao was the emperor's cousin, and his father was the brother of the previous emperor. Both father and son were honest and had no ambitions. They never thought of seizing the throne, so they lived peacefully.

Of course, having no ambition does not mean just living a life of idleness and waiting for death without thinking about anything else.

King Zhao also has to make plans for his sons and grandsons!

His father is a prince, and he is the heir to the throne. When the title is passed to his son, he will be a prince of a county, and when it is passed to his grandson, it will only be a duke of the state.

King Zhao loved his grandson so much that he thought if he tried harder, maybe he could get his title promoted!

As for him, a cousin in his fifties or sixties, flattering and currying favor with the prince's nephew who was in his twenties, King Zhao felt that it was not shameful!

Li Ce didn't expect that someone would ask for a meeting not long after he returned to the Eastern Palace.

As soon as he heard that it was King Zhao who came, he knew what was going on.

Previously, it was Prince Zhao and his wife who helped to organize Lu Qingshuang's funeral, so Li Ce's attitude towards Prince Zhao was easy-going.

"Uncle Wang, you've been traveling all day, why don't you go back and rest first?"

Li Ce led King Zhao into the inner hall for receiving guests and asked someone to serve tea.

King Zhao smiled kindly.

"The emperor just kept me for a while and ordered me to take care of the affairs of Prince Liang and his wife. I thought it was on my way, so I came to see the prince."

Li Ce's eyebrows twitched.

"Since the emperor has entrusted this matter to Uncle Wang, it shows his trust in him. Uncle Wang, don't worry about it. Just do it."

King Zhao stroked his gray beard.

"The weather is getting hot, and time is running out. We need to bury the body as soon as possible, so I thought, let's keep it simple..."

He briefly outlined the arrangements for the funeral.

Li Ce's expression didn't change, and he didn't even pretend to be sad.

He responded only after King Zhao finished speaking.

"Uncle Wang is very considerate."

King Zhao became more certain of his previous guess.

The sudden death of Prince Liang might have involved the Crown Prince.

He didn't say any more pleasantries, just got up and left after finishing his business.

After seeing off King Zhao, Li Ce had the gate of the East Palace closed and turned around to give orders.

"Go to Yichun Palace."

Eunuch Wang stepped forward hesitantly to remind him, "Your Highness, Madam Jiang is still in Yichun Palace..."

He hadn't finished speaking, but his meaning was clear.

Your mother-in-law is here, you can't call Concubine Liang to sleep with you, right?

Li Ce frowned.

"Forget it, let's go to Changming Palace."

Eunuch Wang hurriedly called for someone to prepare the carriage.

In the Changming Palace, Li Chengye couldn't sleep, so he sat at the table, apparently reading a book.

But the book was held in his hand for a long time without moving.

The matters concerning the palace were not completely concealed, and the news of Prince Liang's death had already spread. Li Chengye did not know the truth and was very worried.

When his father returned, he should have gone to the palace gate with everyone else to greet him. However, it was not convenient for him to go out in mourning, so he could only endure it and wait until the next day to ask to see his father.

But he didn't expect that Li Ce came first.

Hearing the eunuch's voice outside, Li Chengye was still a little dazed and unbelieving.

He didn't stand up until Li Ce walked in.

"Father..."

Just as he was about to salute, he was pulled up by Li Ce.

"Reading a book?"

Li Ce walked to the table and looked at the four words "A New Account of Tales of the World" on the cover of the book, frowning habitually.

Just as he was about to reprimand her, what Jiang Wanyue had said suddenly popped up in his mind.

So, the words that came to my lips became.

"Is this book interesting? What is it about? Tell father about it."

Li Chengye was stunned for a moment, and only when Li Ce's gaze fell on him did he realize it.

"I have just started to read it, the teacher has never taught me..."

"It's okay, just remember to say whatever you want. This is a night talk between father and son, not a test of homework. You don't have to be nervous." Li Ce said, waving at him, "Come here and sit with father."

The eunuch was quick to move a stool over.

Li Chengye walked over and sat down somewhat stiffly.

Before Li Chengye was five years old, he had never met Li Ce. Later, when Li Ce returned to Beijing, although he cared about him, every time they met, he would ask about his studies and homework.

Although the two are father and son, in reality, they get along like a superior and subordinate, and it is rare for them to be so casual.

Li Ce also noticed his son's restraint and nervousness.

He wanted to say something, but he was not very good at it, so in the end, the two of them were still talking about schoolwork.

When Li Ce left, he couldn't help muttering in his heart.

It is not an easy job to coax a child.

Let Wan'er come from now on!

She is gentle, patient, and knowledgeable, making her suitable for this job.

Although Li Ce felt that he had not done well, it was a very happy thing for Li Chengye.

That night, Li Chengye slept more soundly than usual.

Even the things I was worried about before were completely forgotten.

The East Palace is always the most up-to-date on news.

The situation in other places in Beijing is not necessarily the same.

Many families in the capital did not learn of the death of Prince Liang and his wife until the next day.

In one night, Prince Zhao had settled Prince Liang's mansion, set up the mourning hall, and sent people to each household to announce the death.

When relatives and friends came to pay their respects, he took the trouble to inform them one by one, and the body would only be kept for three days. As for the reason... it was said that King Liang had a special fate, and it was difficult to find an auspicious day for burial. If you missed the three days, you would have to wait another two months.

This excuse is quite good.

Whether others believe it or not, at least no one can find fault with it.

On the second day after the funeral of Prince Liang, two unexpected imperial decrees were issued from the palace.

The first one was sent to Prince Ding’s mansion. The emperor adopted Prince Liang’s son to Prince Ding.

This news is too shocking.

The news of Prince Ding's adoption has only been out for a short time, and already the person has been chosen?

Although the Liang Wang is gone, his title is still there! He has only one son, but he doesn't want to inherit his father's title, but adopts his second uncle?

It's only been a few days, how much news have I missed?

The officials and noble families in the capital who did not go on the spring hunt were constantly speculating and talking about the matter. Some of them could not sit still and ran to the princes' mansions to inquire.

While everyone was enjoying the gossip in Prince Liang's Mansion, the second decree to appoint the Crown Prince's eldest son as a Prince of a County had no appeal to them.

It is not uncommon for the eldest son of the crown prince to be conferred the title of a prince.

Only Li Ce and Jiang Wanyue knew that this was the emperor's compensation to the Eastern Palace.

News outside the palace spreads quickly, but news from the harem does not spread so quickly.

On the same day, the emperor named a woman outside the palace as Concubine Xin, but her name was not announced outside the palace until two days later.