Chapter 6

She appeared slightly disappointed, "Is it that my father is afraid of disturbing the moral order?"

Indeed, a clever scheme has been devised, but unfortunately, Fu Wei cannot agree. She stood up, struggling to wave her hands a couple of times, "This is nothing but child's play. Does my father want me to establish a male heir? Even if it seems inconsequential now, what about in the future? He will grow taller and develop a beard; how will we silence the voices of the masses then?"

Fu Wei was astonished, raising her hand to point over, "What does this... this mean, Father?"

She suddenly changed her tone, and thereafter unexpected twists would always occur. The Prime Minister was mentally prepared and still nodded, "I speak from the heart, all for Your Majesty."

Her actions were utterly rebellious, leaving the Chancellor's face pale and cold. Such an absurd situation was something the Chancellor had likely never even contemplated. The court was still deliberating on how to control the future of the Great Yin for the next ten or even twenty years, yet within just two hours, the young emperor had turned the tables on them. Each party was placing their bets, but his wager was placed on Nie Lingjun, while Fu Wei's only bet was on herself.

"The regent has overstepped his bounds." She chuckled lightly, "My father was the late emperor, and he has already passed away"

The Prime Minister furrowed his brows, feeling deeply insulted: "Your Majesty, have you been drinking today?"

The Prime Minister seems displeased, pursing his lips and remaining silent. However, Ling Jun spoke up: "Your Majesty has misunderstood; my father is Nie Yun. During the Battle of Chen Guan, when eight thousand valiant cavalry fought on without retreating a single step, my father was one of the three men and three horses who stood firm."

What is there to fear? She has feared too much. Initially, she only wanted to find a legitimate excuse to smoothly take power, but unexpectedly, experience proved to be invaluable, and in the end, she even had to sacrifice herself.

What about the Empress Dowager? Surely we cannot avoid seeing her! For now, we can manage to deceive her, but as time goes on... I fear that if the Empress Dowager is startled, people will say that I have a fondness for Longyang, and that would be troublesome

The Prime Minister was clearly displeased with her lack of restraint in speech, but a person of considerable depth would not be provoked to anger by mere words. Instead, he sighed with melancholy: "Your Majesty has been under my tutelage since the age of six, and after all these years, I have failed to instill in you the respect for teachers and the importance of learning, which shows how inadequate I am. I understand that Your Majesty is displeased today due to the matter concerning Ling Jun, and I recognize that you need time to contemplate. I do not wish to rush you..."

She empathized deeply, speaking in a very emotional manner, believing that this would earn her a reputation for virtue. Unexpectedly, as soon as she finished speaking, Ling Jun suddenly drew his sword and pressed it against his own neck. Fu Wei was startled and rushed to stop him, exclaiming in astonishment, "What are you doing? Are you going to resort to death if the deal doesn't go through?"

The hall was silent, and both sides were quiet. Fu Wei slowly walked, stepping into the bright band of light at the door. She lowered her head and saw that beneath her deep robe were red shoes, which, due to the wide sleeves of her gown, revealed only a slight glimpse, yet they remained strikingly red. As she admired it from the side, she asked the Chancellor, "Father Xiang, you said that as long as there is an imperial heir, I need not fear, is that so?"

Then how can one speak nonsense so freely

The Chancellor said it is not a problem, "Ling Jun's appearance will not undergo significant changes in this year. Even if he meets the Empress Dowager, he may not be recognized. The Empress Dowager is longing for her grandson; as long as the Lord has accounted for his ancestors, the rumors will naturally dissipate. What is there for the Lord to fear?"

He said, "It is not entirely the case. I have made a vow that I shall not marry anyone who is not a beauty in this life. Therefore, I must apologize, as I can only disappoint Your Majesty's good intentions."

The Chancellor remains undeterred, "Your Majesty, we are still uncle and nephew."

Fu Wei is certainly not a dull person. Although initially surprised, she quickly understood that this was an intention to go along with the mistake. Since the emperor is a woman, the empress must be a man. The child before her is younger than she is, seemingly only about thirteen or fourteen years old, and appears to be in the early stages of growth. This state, which lies between man and woman, is just right; if he were to don the empress's crown and attire, and apply a thick layer of powder, he could easily pass for a genuine empress.

The Prime Minister did not respond, indicating for the young man to pay his respects. The young man extended his sleeves and bowed his head, saying, "I am Nie Lingjun, here to pay my respects to Your Majesty"

She was puzzled in her heart and turned her head to scrutinize the Prime Minister. His face was calm and composed, devoid of any superfluous expression. This person was always like this, trying to keep things ambiguous and not speaking directly. In the end, when the truth was revealed, it often left people with unexpected shock.

The notion of an uncle-nephew relationship is rather far-fetched. Although Emperor Wen treated him generously in the past and conferred upon him the title of a noble, he is neither of the same ancestry nor of the same clan, and fundamentally, no one in the Gen family recognizes this kinship. Fu Wei raised his hand to touch his forehead and said, "I know that the late emperor and my father-in-law referred to each other as brothers, but my father-in-law should not forget that my surname is Gen and yours is Yan, which are not within the five degrees of kinship. Even if the affection has exceeded the bounds, no one would blame either of us."

The Prime Minister said: "In two years, Ling Jun will have grown up."

The Chancellor felt somewhat powerless, "Because Your Majesty has appointed me as the Grand Preceptor, I shall be a teacher for a day and a father for life"

It is indeed difficult to say now; it turns out that he is truly a descendant of loyal and virtuous individuals, no wonder he is so resolute at such a young age

How can one speak nonsense? "This is my heartfelt truth, just as my father sincerely wishes the best for me, my deep affection for my father is also a testament to the heavens and the earth."

A person who is about to take their own life can be so calm. Ling Jun said: "Your Excellency has given instructions. If Your Majesty does not comply, in order to prevent me from leaking information, I must have my mouth sealed forever"

The wind whistled past the eaves, creating a howling sound. After a prolonged stalemate, the Prime Minister issued an eviction order: "It seems that the weather is about to change, Your Majesty, please return!"

She knew that this statement would provoke his great anger, but what of great anger? A secret buried in the heart, if kept for too long, will sprout and become increasingly vigorous, uncontrollable

Indeed, she admires this cunning demeanor, appreciates his imperious attitude, and is also fond of his ability to achieve great results with minimal effort. Perhaps some may not understand why she could favor someone who tramples upon the dignity of the emperor, who might even harbor ambitions of usurping the throne. How could she possibly like a treacherous minister? Does she not care for the state?

Fu Wei said no, "I never touch alcohol during the day"

As a young lady, it actually requires a great deal of courage to speak up, yet she managed to do so. She smiled with a boldness that was almost shameless; the expression of an emperor should always be dignified and serene, not like this. This smile not only unlocked the shackles around her neck but also sent a tremor through the heart of the chancellor.

This is the extreme nature of the Chancellor; if one does not succeed, one must sacrifice oneself. If she is ruthless enough, she can simply turn a blind eye. However, if she does not wish for this person to die, then apart from welcoming him into the palace, she cannot think of any other solution

It was wrong, in fact, everything was wrong. Only by grasping him could one maintain control over this world. One must have both fish and bear's paw; this is a truth realized years ago. She was too lonely, even the old eunuchs in the palace felt pity for her. She needed to find someone to fill this loneliness. The unspeakable truth was shared with him, was that not fate? Seeking another would entail new risks, so turning to him was the most logical choice. Thus, the treacherous minister had never been seen as utterly wicked in her eyes; rather, he had occupied her thoughts for many years, as she often felt troubled by her inability to take action.

Thus, in his eyes, her weight as an emperor is truly not significant; he is even too lazy to ask who it is that she likes

Fu Wei released Ling Jun and took a glance at him. The beautiful youth's eyes held a decisive light; in a few more years, he would likely grow to be unparalleled in the world. Should she marry him? Should she have children with him? She bit her lip in contemplation, feeling quite troubled, "Father does not know, I prefer older men."

The Chancellor, however, did not agree, stating, "Which areas within the palace the court ladies may enter and which they may not, are determined solely by the Emperor and Empress. As long as the imperial heir is born, the Empress may claim illness to avoid seeing outsiders, and all matters related to the imperial silkworm and similar affairs will be entirely exempted. In this way, there will be no risk whatsoever."

The Prime Minister's face was stern, exuding a terrifying sense of impending storm, as he coldly gazed at her and spoke in a very firm tone: "I absolutely will not consider it; I urge Your Majesty to dispel this thought as soon as possible"

Fu Wei glanced outside, the sun hung high in the sky, and there was not a cloud in sight, showing no signs of a change in weather. It seemed that the clouds in the Chancellor's heart were piling up! She pressed further, asking, "Does Father Xiang truly not consider it? I am willing to keep this secret with Father Xiang. When the heir ascends the throne, would Father Xiang not be pleased?"

The Chancellor stood with his hands clasped, adopting a posture of watching from the sidelines, "I have said before, for the sake of the state, sacrificing one or two individuals is not a significant matter"

Should this account be calculated this way? She feels a bit discouraged, "As for my lifelong affair, I should still take charge myself; I have a suitable candidate in mind."

There is truly no need for beating around the bush; since everything has been laid bare, why not be straightforward? Fu Wei said: "There is no need for you to excuse yourself on my behalf, what I just said is indeed what I think in my heart. You mentioned that the heir is of utmost importance, and I completely agree. Since anyone can be the father of the heir, why can’t you be the one?"

Fu Wei, in a huff, circled around Ling Jun twice as if selecting goods. A person as flawless as a white jade cannot be found to have any defects anywhere. She turned back to look at the Chancellor and felt that this young man was like a miniature version of Yan Xiangru. When she first met him, he resembled Ling Jun today, even sharing the same gaze.

"So, do you think it doesn't matter who I have a child with?" She raised her head, her gaze falling on the flowing curtains. "With the essence of the father and the blood of the mother, to have a beloved child, one must first choose the father wisely. In this world, who can rival you in terms of governance and strategy? In my opinion, rather than recommending Nie Lingjun, you might as well recommend yourself. I was raised by you, and you understand me best. Now that we are both unmarried, why not make do with each other and live together?" In my opinion, rather than recommending Nie Lingjun, you might as well recommend yourself. I was raised by you, and you understand me best. Now that we are both unmarried, why not make do with each other and live together?

Fu Wei immediately retracted her smile, cleared her throat, and said: "I have great admiration for the Three Heroes, so I must remind you that you are still young. Do not casually agree to anyone's requests, lest you regret it in the future. You may leave now; there are some matters I need to discuss privately with the Chancellor."

Fu Wei was truly frightened this time.

Fu Wei coldly smiled and said, "Father Xiang truly does not take human life seriously."

She crossed her arms and murmured, "Is he really not the son of Xiangfu? Why does he look so much like him to me! It's not about the features, it's about the demeanor. Lingjun's appearance must have taken after his mother, right?"

The person who entered through the door was not the delicate and graceful young lady she had imagined. Of course, the delicacy and grace were not entirely lacking, but the main issue was the deviation in gender. In this world, apart from her, where could one find a girl dressed entirely as a man! The newcomer wore a deep robe with sky-blue cuffs, adorned with entwined branches and soft colors, which highlighted his bright and handsome features like the sun and moon. He truly had a beautiful face, with long eyebrows and bright eyes, exuding a noble spirit. The newcomer wore a deep robe with sky-blue cuffs, adorned with entwined branches and soft colors, which highlighted his bright and handsome features like the sun and moon. He truly had a beautiful face, with long eyebrows and bright eyes, exuding a noble spirit. Standing there, he resembled jade set in a sword, with colorful patterns on his shoulders, creating an ambiguous charm that was difficult to distinguish between male and female.

Ling Jun listened to the Prime Minister's instructions, and seeing that he showed no particular reaction, he performed a respectful gesture and said yes, then withdrew.

The Prime Minister did not even furrow his brows, "The state is of utmost importance, the ruler is of lesser significance, I implore you, my lord, to make an effort to accommodate this."

The time has come; she has already reached adulthood, and he can no longer regard her as a child. At times, she even feels fortunate that he has never married, as this is the only hope left for her. If he were to have a wife and children, then in this lifetime, she would only be able to become his enemy, engaging in a struggle in the realm of power that would lead to mutual destruction

She lowered her head to look at the youth prostrating on the ground, gently resting her hand on his elbow, and with a furrowed brow, she said to the Chancellor: "The days of concealment are too difficult to endure. You, my esteemed father, have not experienced this and cannot understand the sorrow within. This matter is something I can still manage, but for a man of dignity, being trapped in confinement is like having his wings clipped; it is too unfair to him. Over the years, I have relied on you for everything, and you have exhausted yourself for my sake. Now, I do not wish to trouble you with this matter any longer; I ask for your permission to resolve it on my own." This matter is something I can still manage, but for a man of dignity, being trapped in confinement is like having his wings clipped; it is too unfair to him. Over the years, I have relied on you for everything, and you have exhausted yourself for my sake. Now, I do not wish to trouble you with this matter any longer; I ask for your permission to resolve it on my own.