The Crown Princess is busy fishing

After Xiao Yunqing and Lin Yuge left.

Emperor Qianyuan swept his cold gaze over the princes: "You should all go back and reflect on your actions."

I hope that in the future, what I see in the court is you working together for the sake of the country, not scheming and fighting for power.

Even after everyone had left, Emperor Qianyuan remained seated behind his desk, staring intently at the doorway, his expression inscrutable.

Xiao Yunqing and Lin Yuge quickly returned to the Prince's Mansion, followed closely by the imperial edict of reward from Emperor Qianyuan.

As the eunuch finished reading the imperial decree in his high-pitched voice, everyone in the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion received the decree in accordance with etiquette.

Each person wore a complex expression, a mixture of gratitude for the Emperor's boundless grace and a vague worry about the uncertain future.

After the messenger left, Xiao Yuan gave Xiao Yunqing a deep look and said in a low voice, "Come to the study with me."

Xiao Yunqing responded and followed her father through the winding corridor.

The father and son remained silent throughout the journey.

Only the sound of footsteps echoed on the stone path, as if telling of their heavy feelings.

Stepping into the study, Xiao Yuan gently closed the door, and the room became so quiet that only the two of them could be heard breathing.

After a long silence, he turned to look at Xiao Yunqing and slowly said:

"Now that you have been granted the title of king, our Zhenbei Prince's Mansion has two kings in one family."

Such glory, in the eyes of others, is undoubtedly like a blazing fire, a tall tree attracting the wind!

Although the Emperor and I grew up together and have a deep bond, he has always trusted my father and me implicitly.

But within this palace, intrigue and treachery abound, and the hearts of men are unpredictable.

It's hard to guarantee that others won't be secretly eyeing us and seize any opportunity to attack us.

Xiao Yunqing nodded slightly, knowing full well that his father's words were true.

Along the way, they have witnessed countless power struggles and intrigues, and now the Prince's Mansion is in the eye of the storm.

Xiao Yunqing then recounted in detail the performance of the three princes in the imperial study.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuan frowned, remained silent for a long time, and then said in a deep voice:

"Your royal uncle is using us to test his son."

As an emperor, what he feared most was whether his sons' ambitions matched their abilities and whether they were capable of shouldering great responsibilities.

Our current predicament is merely a move in his game.

Xiao Yuan paced to the window, gazing at the courtyard outside, seemingly lost in memories:

"My father spent half his life on the battlefield, guarding the northern lands, and witnessed too much bloodshed, intrigue, and scheming."

Given the current situation, after much deliberation, I have decided to relinquish my military power in the north and simply live as a leisurely prince.

Moreover, now that we have An'an, your mother and I are planning to go to Lingnan with you to live out our remaining years in peace.

To get away from the troubles and chaos of the capital, and to avoid all the noise and commotion.

In Lingnan, perhaps we can enjoy a few truly comfortable days.

Xiao Yunqing was taken aback upon hearing this, and a look of worry appeared on her face:

“Father, the military power in the north has been the foundation upon which my Zhenbei Prince’s Mansion has survived for many years.”

It is also a key force for protecting our country's northern border and deterring foreign enemies, so it would be inappropriate to hand it over rashly.

If you are worried about the current situation of the Prince's Mansion, your son will be extra careful and cautious, proceeding step by step, and will certainly not allow the Prince's Mansion to fall into danger.

Xiao Yuan shook his head slightly, his expression solemn and tinged with weariness:

"Yunqing, although you are exceptionally intelligent, your royal uncle's thoughts are as deep as the ocean and difficult to fathom."

Now, he is using your investiture as a prince to cleverly incite a struggle between the princes, and our royal family has become the focus of this struggle.

If I still hold a large army, in this complex situation, I will only become the target of everyone's criticism, bringing endless disasters to the Prince's Mansion.

Moreover, after years of fighting, I am weary of power struggles and only wish to enjoy family life with your mother.

With the generals we trained in the past guarding the north, I don't expect any major trouble to arise.

Seeing that his father had made up his mind, Xiao Yunqing's expression turned cold.

After pondering for a long time, he could only reply helplessly:

“If Father insists on doing so, I can only obey without question.”

"Father, rest assured, your son will certainly find a way to ensure the safety of everyone in the royal palace and prevent them from being bullied by others."

Xiao Yuan patted Xiao Yunqing on the shoulder and said earnestly:

“Yunqing, I understand your worries.”

However, our Zhenbei Prince's Mansion has been operating in the court for many years and has a deep foundation, so it cannot be easily shaken.

Even if we relinquish military power, as long as we keep a low profile and avoid provoking trouble, we can succeed.

With your influence in Lingnan, the Prince's Mansion will not be reduced to a state of being at the mercy of others.

"Your royal uncle is not a heartless person. As long as we don't cross his bottom line, he won't go so far as to exterminate the entire royal family."

Xiao Yunqing nodded slightly. Although she still had concerns, seeing her father's firm stance, she didn't say anything more.

“What Father says is absolutely right, and I will certainly keep it in mind. I will work hard to govern Lingnan and establish a firm foothold as soon as possible.”

At the same time, we will keep an eye on the situation in the capital, and prepare countermeasures in advance if there are any disturbances.

Xiao Yuan smiled with satisfaction.

"With your words, I can rest assured."

Although the Lingnan region is far from the capital, it is full of opportunities.

You should make good use of local resources, recruit talented people, develop the economy, and train the army.

Perhaps in the future, Lingnan will become a strong backing for our Zhenbei Prince's Mansion.

Once the father and son had made their decision, they began to prepare and make arrangements.

Xiao Yunqing returned to the inner courtyard with slightly heavy steps. Stepping into the room, he saw Lin Yuge sitting at the table arranging some books.

He slowly approached and gently pulled over a chair to sit down.

With a solemn expression, he told her in detail about his father's decision.

Upon hearing this, Lin Yuge raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her clear eyes.

She never expected that her father-in-law would be so farsighted, determined to relinquish his military power in the north and stay away from the capital, the center of the power struggle.

However, this surprise was fleeting. After careful consideration, she realized that she was not too surprised.

After all, the tragedy of "when the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked" has been repeated many times throughout history, and it is nothing new.

The heart of an emperor is as deep as the ocean, unfathomable.

Although Emperor Qianyuan seems to have great trust in the Prince of Zhenbei's Mansion.

But as time goes by, who can say that this trust won't quietly change over the years?

Moreover, the princes were gradually growing up.

The struggle for the crown prince position will inevitably begin sooner or later, and bloodshed is unavoidable.

The Prince of Zhenbei's Mansion now boasts two princes, a truly glorious status.

However, precisely because of this, he has become the target of public criticism in this complex political situation.

Rather than becoming a scapegoat in future struggles and facing unknown dangers.

It would be better to follow my father-in-law's suggestion, retire gracefully, and go to the land of Lingnan.

In Lingnan, they could focus on developing their own power, stay away from conflicts, and quietly accumulate strength.

In this way, when the imperial power changes hands and the situation becomes turbulent in the future, the Prince of Zhenbei's Mansion will have enough confidence and resources to protect itself.

They might even find a place in the new political landscape and continue to safeguard the family's honor and peace.

Having thought these things through, Lin Yuge stopped worrying.

She raised her head, her gaze fixed firmly on Xiao Yunqing:

"Although Father's move may seem like he is sacrificing many things, it is actually a strategic plan for the long-term future of the royal family."

Although Lingnan is a remote region, it is brimming with vitality and potential.