Wen Chu was stimulated by Xie Huaiqiang’s words to the point that his entire body was trembling ever so slightly.
Xie Huaiqiang’s gaze swept over the frail emperor before him with a casual intensity, while in his heart bloomed an urge: the more fragile the other appeared, the more fiercely he wanted to bully him.
His steps instinctively pressed closer and closer toward the weak sovereign.
At that moment, a guard came forward to report, “Prince Regent, the Madam has matters that require your return to the estate.”
Xie Huaiqiang halted his steps. Just as he turned as if to leave, Wen Chu hastily called out, “Return Yu’er to me.” He added, “You no longer have any need to use Yu’er to threaten me.”
Xie Huaiqiang detected the unmasked desperation hidden in the depths of Wen Chu’s eyes, and his thin lips curled into a cold, callous arc. “Wait.”
With that, he turned and walked away.
With a lost and disconsolate expression, Wen Chu watched the tall figure of the man vanish from his sight.
“Yu’er, your Imperial Father misses you so much!”
Over at the Prince Regent’s Mansion, upon entering the main hall, Xie Huaiqiang caught sight of Bai Rong, a junior official in the Ministry of Rites.
Bai Rong bowed to Xie Huaiqiang, his respectful voice carrying a soft, gentle warmth as he said, “May the Prince Regent be blessed with myriad fortunes.”
His father was the Commander of the Imperial Guard and deeply loyal to Xie Huaiqiang. Because Bai Rong disliked martial arts and the clash of blades, he had entered the civil service. Naturally, he was likewise utterly loyal to Xie Huaiqiang, harbored a deep admiration for him, and yearned in his heart to become someone belonging to Xie Huaiqiang’s inner chambers.
To achieve this goal, he went to great lengths to ingratiate himself with Madam Wang, catering to her preferences by bringing her items that caught her interest every few days to win her favor.
Today, Bai Rong brought a piece of peerless, exquisite jade as an offering to Madam Wang.
Madam Wang was utterly enchanted by the jade, unable to put it down. “Huaiqiang, look at this Dushan jade; its color and luster are simply peerless, a true masterpiece!”
Xie Huaiqiang walked over, lowered his gaze, and inspected the Dushan jade in Madam Wang’s hands for a moment before praising, “It is indeed a fine piece of jade.”
Xie Huaiqiang cared not a whit for pearls, treasures, or jade wares; he had merely put on an appearance of keen interest because Madam Wang loved them.
Gently stroking the Dushan jade in her hands, Madam Wang remarked, “This mother intends to find a master artisan with exquisite skills to carve an imperial seal out of this piece of Dushan jade.”
As she spoke, she lifted her eyelids to look at Xie Huaiqiang. “My son, when will you slay that little Wen brat and ascend the imperial throne?”
She was once again urging Xie Huaiqiang to usurp the throne.
“Soon,” Xie Huaiqiang replied. “Once your son finishes dealing with the matters concerning the Longshu Kingdom, I shall strip him of his imperial title and claim this realm for my own.”
Since he had put it that way, Madam Wang could only wait a little longer.
Bai Rong brought over a cup of tea and presented it to Xie Huaiqiang. “Please have some tea, Your Highness.”
Xie Huaiqiang accepted the tea vessel and lowered his head to sip from it, while Madam Wang addressed him, “As for the matter of ascending the throne and becoming emperor, this mother is a woman who understands nothing of state affairs, so I leave it to Huaiqiang’s discretion to wait a little longer. However, regarding your lifelong affairs, this mother must make the decision for you and cannot wait any longer.”
Xie Huaiqiang paused in his tea-drinking, handed the teacup back to the maid waiting nearby, and cast his gaze toward the frequent visitor to the estate—Bai Rong.
He evidently understood what was happening.
Bai Rong lowered his gaze with a look of coy shyness.
Madam Wang pulled him by the hand, her gaze filled with maternal warmth as she said, “Rong’er here has a gentle disposition, knows how to be considerate of others, and his family background is beyond reproach. As for his appearance, it goes without saying—with his red lips and white teeth, he is more delicately charming than any woman. He is the ideal candidate to become your secondary consort, and in the future, he can be elevated to the rank of Noble Imperial Consort.”
A secondary consort? The fingers inside Bai Rong’s sleeves tightened slightly; he had not expected Madam Wang to have him enter as a secondary consort rather than as the formal primary spouse.
Madam Wang handled matters with flawless discretion. She could not allow Xie Huaiqiang to think that she, as his mother, harbored the slightest selfish motives and wasn’t acting entirely with his best interests at heart.
After all, no matter how exceptional Bai Rong was, he was still a man and could not bear children to continue Xie Huaiqiang’s lineage. The position of primary spouse and empress in the future had to be reserved for a woman capable of reproduction.
Sighing lightly, Madam Wang continued, “You are no longer young. Others your age already have three wives and four concubines, taking bride after bride. This time, just listen to your mother once.”
Xie Huaiqiang answered, “Your son obeys Your Mother’s decision.”
The worry vanished from Madam Wang’s face. “Then this mother shall select an auspicious date and have the two of you prepare for the wedding.”