Only after being reborn did I realize that I was the white moonlight of a powerful minister.

Prince Cheng fled, but he didn't take Xie Lingxian and her daughter with him. Even Consort Pei got wind of it and fled with them.

When the Imperial Guards surrounded Prince Cheng's residence, Xie Lingxian realized that Prince Cheng had fled. Standing at the gate, looking at the leader of the Imperial Guards, Xie Lingxian asked palely, "Is there some misunderstanding?"

"I don't understand. The late Emperor has just passed away, and Prince Cheng isn't even keeping vigil. What are his intentions? Your Highness, why don't you wait for Prince Cheng to return and then question him properly?" The commander of the Imperial Guards ordered, "Until Prince Cheng is captured, entry into Prince Cheng's residence is permitted, but no one is allowed to leave. Everyone must be on high alert and no one is allowed to send any messages out!"

After saying that, the leader of the Imperial Guard told Xie Lingxian to go back, "Don't make things difficult for us, otherwise the palace has issued an order that anyone who disobeys will be executed without exception."

Xie Lingxian turned around stiffly, and only after the gate of the Prince's Mansion was closed did she lean against the door and gasp for breath.

The maidservant beside her cried out in distress, "Your Highness, what do we do now?"

"What can I do? How would I know?" Xie Lingxian's voice choked with emotion.

King Cheng has escaped and will surely rebel. At that time, the mother and daughter will definitely be escorted to the front line.

What would King Cheng be willing to sacrifice for them, mother and daughter?

impossible.

Xie Lingxian knows Prince Cheng too well.

Even if King Cheng had succeeded in his rebellion, she would have been dead long ago.

"Just wait and see." It's only a matter of time before they die.

After Xie Lingxian returned to her room, she dared to bite her handkerchief and cry.

On the other side, Xie Bohuai followed the trail out of the city and learned that Prince Cheng had been taken away by someone. He immediately sent a message to the nearby garrison, while he returned to the city first.

The late emperor passed away, the new emperor ascended the throne, and Prince Cheng raised an army in rebellion.

In just these few days, a lot has happened.

As for the wise king, we must keep an eye on him. Although the wise king has shown submission, it is only on the surface.

Ye Wanning hadn't seen Xie Bohuai for three days until Princess Xihe came looking for her.

When Prince Duan ascended the throne, Xihe's status rose from a county princess to a princess, but she was not so happy when she arrived.

"Why did they choose my father? I really don't understand." Princess Xihe didn't really want her father to ascend the throne. Being a county princess was already troublesome enough, and now she had to be a princess too. "You don't see it, all those rules and regulations, just looking at them makes me tired. Besides, the palace used to be so nice. Now that Father is the emperor, there will definitely be more women in the palace, and my mother will definitely be sad. Wan Ning, why do they all have to fight for the throne?"

"Good princess, please forgive me! How could I dare to say such a thing?" Ye Wanning was at her wit's end.

“What’s there to be afraid of? This is Xie Bohuai’s territory. With his abilities, he’s bound to have people all over the place. Don’t worry, what I’m telling you won’t get out.” Princess Xihe sighed. “I’m truly heartbroken for my mother. Look at you, you haven’t arranged for Xie Bohuai to take a concubine. You can understand that, right?”

The best way for a new emperor to consolidate his power is through marriage. Although the new emperor is getting on in years, he is not too old to die. Sending his daughter into the palace now, if she can give birth to a prince, would bring him immense wealth and honor.

Ye Wanning could understand, but at the same time, she felt that the Empress could do a very good job.

In fact, she had guessed who the Emperor would choose to ascend the throne. If it were Prince Cheng or Prince Xian, Xie Bohuai would not be so calm.

Even now that she knows the result, Ye Wanning is not relieved.

Although she and Princess Xihe had a good relationship, their interactions were limited to the two of them alone.

Seeing Princess Xihe's sad face, she changed the subject and asked about Princess Xihe's in-laws.

Speaking of this, Princess Xihe was even more helpless. "Originally, their whole family was sarcastic and said that only men can't be infertile, and that I couldn't have children myself, so they blamed others. But ever since my father ascended the throne, their attitude changed so quickly. They said it didn't matter that I didn't have children, and that I could just adopt one from one of my brothers. Tell me, do you think I'm the kind of person who would raise someone else's child?"

Ye Wanning shook her head. Princess Xihe's temper was not that of a generous and gentle person.

"That's why I said there's only the possibility of my family line ending. Asking me to be adopted? Dream on!" Princess Xihe said, her eyes suddenly lighting up. "Right, right now my father is the emperor, and I'm a princess. I should use my power to bully others and divorce his family!"

"Aren't you afraid of damaging the Emperor's reputation?"

"What's there to be afraid of? You're already the emperor, why be afraid of this and that? You might as well not be one at all. I'm not talking to you anymore, I'm going to the palace." Princess Xihe acted immediately and had someone take her to the palace.

When the Empress heard that her daughter wanted a divorce and learned that she had come from Xie Bohuai's residence, she asked, "Was it Ye Wanning who gave you the suggestion?"

"No, she's so timid, how could she dare to make such a suggestion?" Princess Xihe hugged her mother. "Oh, please, Mother, I'm your only daughter. How can you bear to see me suffer in the He family?"

The Empress naturally felt sorry for her daughter, but she also had her own difficulties. "Your father has just ascended the throne, and the court is not stable yet. Let's wait a little longer. Now that you are a princess, the He family will not dare to mistreat you. Please endure it for half a year before we talk about divorce."

Since her daughter's marriage was not going well, she would not force it, but the timing was not right.

"Oh dear, we have to wait another six months. Just thinking about the He family's faces makes me want to vomit. They're all cunning and scheming. Oh well, Father and you have had a tough time, so let's wait six months." Princess Xihe nestled in her mother's arms. "It was so much better when I was a young woman. I really don't want to get married."

The Empress smiled and embraced her daughter, then inquired about matters concerning Xie Bohuai's residence.

"You mean the Xie family? There's nothing special about it. Wan Ning rarely goes out because of those people in the capital. As for Xie Bohuai, I haven't seen him. Wan Ning said he hasn't returned for three days. Mother, do you think Father will demote Xie Bohuai?" Princess Xihe was somewhat confused. People said Xie Bohuai was all-powerful, and even the new emperor would have to live under Xie Bohuai's thumb. But she also felt that only with Xie Bohuai around could Ye Wan Ning be protected.

The Empress's eyes flickered, and she patted her daughter's back. "I don't know about what's happening in the court. But you can rest assured, with your feelings for Ye Wanning, she will be fine."

I may not be able to do much else, but I can still protect someone for my daughter.

Meanwhile, Xie Bohuai was in the Renzheng Hall, where the Crown Prince was also present.

"According to news from the front lines, Prince Cheng has long colluded with the Wu family and others in Lingnan, and is now leading an army of 80,000 northwards." The Crown Prince frowned. "At this time, shouldn't we gather all our forces and march south together?"

The Emperor glanced at the Crown Prince, then turned to look at Xie Bohuai.

Xie Bohuai: "Your Highness must have heard the story of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. If we lead our troops south and the capital is emptied out, who do you think will be the happiest?"

"It is...it is the Wise King."

“Yes, the Wise Prince is not one to be easily subdued. He is more cunning than the Prince Cheng. His current quiet is merely a prelude to waiting for the right opportunity. Once we and the Prince Cheng have fought to the bitter end, he will reap the benefits,” Xie Bohuai said. “Since the Wise Prince is eager to ascend the throne, why not let him lead the troops into battle?”

"What if the Wise King and the King Cheng join forces?" the Crown Prince asked.

"This requires planting spies within the Prince Xian's army. If the Prince Xian harbors any rebellious intentions, they should be beheaded on the spot. If the Prince Xian is unwilling to lead troops, this opportunity can be used to strip him of his title and demote him to a commoner. By sparing his life, we can eliminate a major threat and preserve the Emperor's reputation." Xie Bohuai said that this arrangement seemed perfect no matter how you looked at it.

After listening, the Crown Prince gradually figured out the reasoning behind Xie Bohuai's statement and agreed with it.

After Xie Bohuai left with the imperial decree, the Crown Prince said to the Emperor, "No wonder Grandfather values ​​Xie Bohuai so much. As long as Xie Bohuai is loyal, he is the sharpest knife to be used. There is nothing he cannot accomplish."

The problem is that Xie Bohuai is too powerful and will be difficult to control in the future.