Marrying a concubine and swallowing her dowry? The mistress turns around and marries a high-ranking

Chapter 597

Consort Xing thought it over and over and felt that Huo Tingsheng simply did not want to make the Third Prince the Crown Prince, nor did he want to make her the Empress.

Now that her faction holds absolute power, and the Xing family still controls the military, making the Third Prince the crown prince would be extremely dangerous. Given Huo Tingsheng's suspicious nature, he might be trying to keep the Xing family in check while elevating other forces to create a balance of power.

Consort Xing was very upset and sent someone to invite the Third Prince to the palace to discuss the matter.

The third prince was dressed very formally and elegantly, with a dark blue robe embroidered with auspicious clouds, flowers, and a four-clawed golden dragon. He wore a golden crown and a jade pendant at his waist. He was exactly what a prince of the highest rank and with great presence should look like.

He had an average appearance, neither handsome nor unattractive, with a gentle and mild temperament. There was no sharpness in his eyes, but he had a scholarly air about him.

Consort Xing frowned and said, "Bin'er, I heard today that your father intends to make Consort Zhou the empress. I guess he doesn't want you to become the crown prince. What do you think?"

The Third Prince glanced at Consort Xing and said cautiously, "Father must have his reasons, and I dare not presume to comment..."

Consort Xing was furious: "What do you mean 'daring not to speak out'! If His Majesty doesn't mean it that way, we have to figure out a solution ourselves! Are you just going to sit there and wait? By the time we get there, it'll be too late!"

The Third Prince said with difficulty, "But didn't you say that I am the most qualified to inherit the throne? His Majesty's refusal to make me Crown Prince is intentional. What can we do?"

Consort Xing: "......"

The Xing family members are all extraordinary individuals. She herself has worked tirelessly and used every means to climb up the social ladder to reach her current position. How could she have given birth to such a good-for-nothing son?

Consort Xing was exasperated: "If His Majesty doesn't want to make an emperor, you must force him to! If you do nothing, you'll have no chance at all!"

The Third Prince remained silent, lowering his head. His indifferent gaze clearly indicated that he did not care about the matter.

Consort Xing felt like she had punched cotton; she was filled with anger but didn't know how to vent it, and she was about to explode with rage.

"Did you even hear me?! How many times have I told you, as a prince, your only way out is to seize the throne! If someone else inherits the throne, do you think the Xing family, holding military power, will end up like this? Would you and I still be living the life we ​​have today?"

As Consort Xing was cursing, she suddenly noticed that the area around the Third Prince's fingernails was mottled with paint that hadn't been washed off.

Consort Xing grew even angrier: "Are you still painting?! I told you to stop painting! Stop painting! You never care about anything important, you don't do what you're supposed to do, all you do is indulge in frivolous pursuits! Can your painting put food on the table? Can it preserve the wealth and prosperity of the entire Xing family?!..."

The Third Prince was a breath of fresh air among the princes. He was naturally indifferent to power, had a peaceful temperament, did not compete or fight for the throne, and had no interest in it. His greatest hobby was painting.

He does indeed have a high talent for painting. His skills have been amazing since childhood, and his paintings are now comparable to those of many masters of painting in the Western Qi Dynasty. If he focuses on studying and refining his skills in this field, he will most likely become a master in the future and leave his name in the history of painting.

But unfortunately, Consort Xing only had one son.

She and the Xing family's hopes rested entirely on the Third Prince; how could they possibly let him pursue the useless path of art?

Consort Xing had been trying to brainwash the Third Prince for many years, cultivating his ambition and desire, and instilling in him the idea that he must fight for the throne, but to no avail.

The Third Prince did not resist. He did whatever Consort Xing told him to do, but he had no initiative at all. He was like a puppet, letting Consort Xing and the Xing family do whatever they wanted.