The eldest daughter's scheming, the crown prince's exclusive favor to the venomous concubi

Bai Jianan paused, looking at Murong Chuan's increasingly sinister face, and continued: "I am not interested in the country and its people, and I do not know the true cause of my father's death, so I did not want to expose you. But you have not only made no contribution to the court, but you also killed the entire Shangguan family who were devoted to the country, and allowed the Yue family to make Yue Kingdom riddled with holes."

A few days ago, I discovered all the evidence of your cruelty towards Father Emperor in the Qilin Pavilion. Considering everything you've done, as a citizen of Yue, I simply cannot tolerate you continuing. Therefore, Crown Prince, I urge you to step down from that position and prepare to spend the rest of your life in death row!

Murong Chuan clenched his fists tightly and gritted his teeth, saying, "Impossible! What evidence do you have?"

Bai Jianan said, "Ha! What evidence? Isn't everything that's happening here evidence? If you want evidence of my identity, all we need is a blood test between the two of us. I believe the Crown Prince would be happy to do that!"

As Bai Jianan spoke, he waved his hand, and some people immediately approached Murong Chuan. Murong Chuan shouted loudly, and golden-armored guards surrounded him. He coldly said, "Who dares to come over?"

Bai Jianan laughed and said, "Don't be nervous, Crown Prince. I just want to take a drop of blood from your fingertip. Didn't you ask me to prove it?"

Murong Chuandao said, "So what if it proves you are a prince? I was the crown prince personally chosen by my father. My father died suddenly from his illness, which was a natural disaster. Now you bring it up, which is nothing more than coveting my current position. If that's the case, why bother with such high-sounding words?"

Bai Jianan stepped forward and beckoned. A woman behind him handed him a bright yellow imperial edict. Looking at the dragon embroidery on it, Murong Chuan's heart was pounding, but he still forced himself to say, "It seems you've prepared quite a bit. You've even forged an imperial edict."

Bai Jianan shook his finger and said, "No, this is a real imperial edict. It not only has the imperial seal, but also my father's handwritten cursive script and official seal. If you don't believe me, take a look!"

As he spoke, he unfurled the imperial edict and walked around the entire hall, showing it to all the ministers present. One of the officials who had drafted the edict for the emperor knelt down immediately after seeing it and exclaimed, "Your Majesty's original handwriting! Long live the Emperor!"

Upon hearing this, the rest of the people knelt down as well, and the guards who had been hesitant just moments before all switched sides, pointing their fingers at swords and looking at Murong Chuan.

Only Murong Chuan's personal guards, the Golden Armor Guards, were still protecting him. Murong Chuan looked coldly at Bai Jianan and said, "You've schemed and plotted, but in the end, you've ruined everything. It seems that Heaven is punishing me. I failed to protect my beloved, so you're going to destroy my empire."

"The one you love?"

Bai Jianan sneered, unable to suppress the anger in his eyes, and said, "Who is the person you love? Is it the Qiu family woman who bore you children? Or the Mobei princess who died in the palace because of you? I think it should be this Yue family daughter who you personally ordered to die!"

Murong Chuandao said, "My affairs have nothing to do with you. The victor is king and the loser is villain. Today, I will settle this with you right here."

As Murong Chuan spoke, he snatched the sword from the golden-armored guard and attacked Bai Jianan. Bai Jianan sneered, waved his folding fan, and also leaped up. The two immediately clashed, their weapons clashing.

At the same time, the two sides quickly clashed. Unfortunately, although the Golden Armor Guards were brave, they were few in number and no match for Bai Jianan's side. Before long, they were all wiped out by the enemy's strong offensive.

At this moment, Murong Chuan had also been defeated. He was struck in the chest by Bai Jianan and fell to the gallows.

He stared at Bai Jianan, his resentment turning into cold despair.

"I didn't expect that your playboy persona was also a lie."

Bai Jianan sneered: "Do you think everyone is as sharp and ambitious as you? I never liked fighting for these useless things. It's a pity that you have the most beautiful things in the world, but you will never cherish them. What right do you have to have all of this?"

Since you're not qualified, I'll take it back. After all, it was something I gave you as charity; taking it back and giving it to someone else is the same thing.

After Bai Jianan finished speaking, he raised his hand high and then lowered it. Instantly, arrows flew everywhere, and Murong Chuan was hit by several arrows, dying with his eyes wide open.

The woman looked at Bai Jianan and said, "You have achieved your goal."

Bai Jianan nodded, exhaled a breath of stale air, and said, "Yes, don't worry, I will definitely keep my promise to you."

The woman lowered her eyes, her voice low: "You know, I want more than just this."

Bai Jianan turned his head, pointed to his heart, and looked at her earnestly, saying, "But this is all I can give you. There's no room left here for anything else."

The woman smiled, a bitter look in her eyes. Bai Jianan walked up to her, patted her shoulder, and said, "Hong'er, I'm sorry. In this life, I, Bai Jianan, have wronged you. If you don't want it, I won't force you. I..."

Upon hearing this, the woman quickly replied, "I am willing, how could I not? Even if all I can do is stay by your side like this, I am willing."

Seeing this, Bai Jianan nodded helplessly and said, "Alright, if you change your mind, you can leave at any time."

The following day, Bai Jianan ascended the throne with the support of the people. He then married Heli Hong, a sorceress from the Miao region, but only bestowed upon her the title of Imperial Noble Consort. He then proclaimed to the world that the injustice done to the Shangguan family had been redressed, and that Shangguan Yu'er, the eldest daughter of the Shangguan family, had been made Empress. Thereafter, no more Empresses would be appointed. Shangguan Yu'er's eldest daughter was raised by the Imperial Noble Consort and was given the title of Princess Changping.

After that, there was no more empress in Bai Jianan's harem, and no empress was ever appointed again.

Five years later.

In a bamboo forest ten miles outside the capital, there stands a blue stone tablet with no name on it, only a bloodstained phoenix hairpin carved on it.

Every year, Bai Jianan would bring Changping to the tomb to sweep the graves. They would light incense and place some fruit in front of the tombstone, and then have Changping kowtow in front of it.

Now, Changping is five years old. Bai Jianan brought her here again. When he saw the phoenix hairpin on the stone tablet, he smiled faintly and said, "I've come to see you again, but I don't know if you've remembered me at all."

That year, the grass grew tall and the birds sang. That year, a smile that turned around on the street left a deep impression on his mind. It wasn't her stunning beauty, but her kind and innocent heart.

After some investigation, it was discovered that she was an unfavored illegitimate daughter of the Qiu family, but it was also discovered that she had already been adopted by her stepmother and had become the future crown princess of the current crown prince.

Looking at her radiant smile, he understood that this woman deeply loved that man, but did that man also deeply love her?

But seeing her so immersed in that love, he simply couldn't bear to break the spell.

If he could turn back time, he would hope to be braver in his feelings for her, which would be much better than just looking at his beloved's tombstone now.

That's right, Bai Jianan loved Qiu Lingyu. It was love at first sight, and from then on, no one else could enter his heart.

Therefore, he and his sister collaborated to dismantle this corrupt court, but they were always unprepared for the sudden crisis.

Finally, for reasons unknown, he managed to escape, holding her child in his arms. Later, he heard that Consort Ling had died tragically, killed by that man. He then realized that Consort Ling had given them their last chance to escape.

"Father, is this Mother? But why isn't she buried in the imperial mausoleum? Isn't it said that all empresses of past dynasties were buried in the imperial mausoleum alongside the emperor?"

Changping's voice interrupted Bai Jianan's thoughts. He smiled faintly and lowered his head, saying, "Yes, but the Empress Dowager is tired of everything in the palace. She wants to live a peaceful life, and I don't want her to be sad, so I buried her here."

Rouge, remember this: after your father is gone, secretly bring his remains here and bury them with your mother. That way, your father and mother can be together forever and never be separated.

Rouge scratched her head in confusion, staring at Bai Jianan. Bai Jianan squatted down, patted her head and smiled, "Changping, your father named you Ping because he wanted you to live a peaceful and uneventful life without any strife in the future."

"Imperial power and thrones are all empty illusions. Those things are nothing compared to love in this world. When you meet such a person, you can pursue your past. Don't be timid, don't end up like your father, filled with regret."

Changping seemed to understand but not quite: "So, Father doesn't like Mother now? But Father was very happy when he saw Consort Yang!"

Bai Jianan shook his head and sighed, "It's not that I don't like her, it's just that my heart is already filled with your mother, so it's hard to make room for anyone else. I don't have the same feelings for your current concubine as I do for your mother, but it is still love, it is heartache, it is the care and respect between family members."

"Your mother, the Imperial Concubine, has had a tough time. She's been quietly by our side for five years now, and there will be many more five-year periods to come. So remember, when you grow up, you must treat your Imperial Concubine mother very, very well."

Changping nodded: "I know, Father, don't worry."

Bai Jianan nodded, turned to look at the tombstone and said, "Yu'er, Changping is very good. Don't worry, just wait for me over there. I'll come find you on the Bridge of Helplessness and make up for the things I never told you."

A cold wind blew by, rustling the bamboo forest, as if the owner of the tomb was responding. Bai Jianan smiled, his handsome face beaming with joy. Heli Hong, standing deep in the bamboo forest, saw this, and a look of sadness flashed in his eyes, but a smile of relief appeared on his lips.

Everyone has been kind, and everyone has been treacherous, but when she repents and understands the true meaning of love in the world, it is the season when love blossoms everywhere.

Walking step by step to the father and son, Heli Hong gently took Changping's hand and looked at Bai Jianan, saying, "It's getting windy. Changping is still young and will easily catch a cold. Let's go back!"

Bai Jianan nodded, glanced at the tombstone again, his fingers tracing the engravings on the phoenix hairpin, lingering there for a long while before finally saying, "I'm leaving now, take care."