Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved
Chapter 443: The Honor of a Mother Depends on Her Child; I Say You’re Worthy

Chapter 443: Chapter 443: The Honor of a Mother Depends on Her Child; I Say You’re Worthy

The Emperor had not suddenly gone mad.

He looked at Consort Yun and said, "A son lends glory to his mother, as the mother of the Young Prince, if I say you deserve it, then you deserve it."

Consort Yun vaguely guessed what was going through the Emperor’s mind.

She couldn’t believe it in her heart, even found it absurd.

Anyone with eyes could see how outstanding Prince Ling, the Emperor’s eldest son, was; the other Princes were not even qualified to compare.

Yet after such a great setback, the Emperor was thinking of cultivating another candidate for Crown Prince instead of choosing Prince Ling!

How old was the Young Prince!

Did the Emperor really think he could hold on for another decade or more with his failing health?

How could an Emperor be so selfish!

Obviously, establishing a successor early was the way to stabilize public sentiment!

Consort Yun simply couldn’t understand how, when she first entered the palace, she had been blind to think the Emperor was a reliable and upright man; she must have been blinded by lard.

Luckily, the Emperor’s heartlessness had awakened her early, otherwise she didn’t know what she might have become.

"Your Majesty feels apprehensive, I know, but with me here, I will support both you and our son."

The Emperor did not know what Consort Yun was thinking at the moment and continued to comfort her.

"When my health has improved, you and the Young Prince will move to the neighboring Yuxiu Palace. I want to be with the Young Prince as he grows and teach him the Art of Sovereignty."

Consort Yun had no wish for her son to be placed in a high position; her only desire in life was for her son to grow up healthy and safe.

Once the Emperor passed away and Prince Ling ascended the throne, she would pretend to accompany him to the Imperial Mausoleum, her son would feign death, and then she would take her son and live incognito.

She had never even considered the matter of a fief; her son was a Prince, and naturally, he would have one upon the Emperor’s death, but she knew only too well that her son was not of the Royal bloodline, and having a fief and a title would pose a threat to the Royal Family.

Prince Ling and Princess Consort Ling had been so kind to her; how could she let her son become a hidden threat to them?

But Consort Yun knew she had no way to change the Emperor’s mind; she could only discuss it first with Princess Consort Ling.

Having been constantly at the Emperor’s side tending to his illness, going to see Princess Consort Ling might arouse the Emperor’s suspicion.

Thinking of this, she said:

"Your Majesty, I am truly too excited. You have been so good to your concubine and the Young Prince, but now the Imperial Court is still in turmoil, and the rebellion in the south has not yet been quelled. If people learn that You have made a Noble Consort at this time, I fear it may provoke rebellious thoughts among the subjects."

"I will see who dares to make baseless accusations!"

"Of course, the subjects wouldn’t dare to make baseless accusations against Your Majesty, but as a concubine of ordinary birth, with the Young Prince lacking a powerful maternal family, how can I not worry? In my opinion, it might be better to wait until the rebellion has been settled before bringing this up again."

Consort Yun gently and tactfully spoke to the Emperor.

"You indeed consider the bigger picture; I didn’t know you were so sensible before. From now on, I must treat you and our son well," said the Emperor, also speaking gently.

He wasn’t unaware that Consort Yun and Prince Ling’s Mansion were close; for the Young Prince’s medical treatment, they always turned to Murong Jiu.

But he didn’t believe anyone could be indifferent to power.

For the sake of the Young Prince, Consort Yun would also turn against Prince Ling’s Mansion.

In the past, no one took the Young Prince seriously, but from now on, his youngest son would also be involved in the struggles for the throne.

Those who coveted his throne were dreaming!

Consort Yun showed a moved expression and leaned into the Emperor’s embrace, saying insincere words:

"Your Majesty, may your dragon body recover quickly. This consort longs for you to take the Young Prince horseback riding and archery shooting in the future, displaying your majesty like yourself!"

"Good, good! I will definitely recover soon!"

The Emperor was filled with joy.

The words of Consort Yun had reached deep into his heart. When he was young, he was a majestic figure, and wasn’t it because Jun Yuyan resembled him so much that he became the War God?

Once he was healthy again and the Young Prince grew up, he would spend his days teaching the Young Prince horseback riding and archery, turning him into a prince even better than Jun Yuyan.

Then, who would dare to say that only Jun Yuyan was suitable to be the Crown Prince?

He now understood why the Third Prince was mediocre in every aspect—it was because he had only sent people to teach him and had never taught him personally.

The Young Prince would be different.

Because he was in a good mood, the Emperor even had two more bowls during his evening meal.

The next day, the news traveled out of the palace and reached the ears of Murong Jiu.

Murong Jiu was not surprised at all and laughed, "I didn’t expect my husband to guess right, he understands the Emperor best."

Hong Yi frowned tightly, "But, isn’t this bad for Prince Ling’s Mansion? Consort Yun, I’m afraid, will hold a grudge against you from now on."

Who doesn’t care about power and influence?

If the Emperor was determined to promote the Young Prince and lived several more years with increasing supporters, perhaps Consort Yun would be able to govern behind a curtain as the Regent Dowager.

Murong Jiu chuckled:

"Consort Yun doesn’t have such ambition. She is someone who could endure revenge for the sake of two palace maids. Although the harem is a big dye vat, there are people who can hold on to their bottom line, and Consort Yun is such a person."

Hong Yi also remembered the matter of the two young palace maids, Gui Zhi and Qing Zhi.

Since the palace was full of Prince Ling’s Mansion’s eyes and ears, the news of Consort Yun’s mistreatment of Su Jin reached the Princess Consort, and she also heard that the other party did it to avenge two loyal palace maids.

Murong Jiu told her, "Consort Yun’s struggle for favor in the past was to have the ability to take revenge, not for herself. Do you know why the Prince and I helped her have a child?"

Hong Yi shook her head.

"It’s because her purpose in life was to avenge the palace maids, and after taking her revenge, she might lose the will to live. Now, having the Young Prince, she wants to live on."

"Princess Consort, you and the Prince are truly kind and benevolent."

"There are too few such people in the palace, help if you can. People are mutual, she treated me with sincerity first, so naturally, I treat her well in return."

Hong Yi smiled.

"This servant feels that both you and the Prince are good people. In Capital City, perhaps only you two truly care for the people, considering the welfare of the nation."

"There are indeed upright people in Capital City, but they are hardly put to use. Moreover, Hong Yi, I believe that some people live with a mission. Perhaps I should have died during the massive hemorrhage when giving birth to Zhijin and Zhiyu, but Heaven allowed me to survive. Since I survived, I want more people of Great Yan to live on as well."

Hong Yi’s heart trembled, and her eyes reddened slightly. The words, serene as they were, caused a tremendous stir in her heart.

She wouldn’t believe it if someone else said it.

But the Princess Consort truly acted for the country and the people: many displaced peasants found work and housing because of her; many children who couldn’t read learned to read and write; and many poor people unable to afford medical care received treatment.

And there were countless other deeds.

She realized her vision was too narrow, for the Prince and Princess Consort’s thoughts had long transcended power and influence.