Happy Spring Every Year

Chapter 173 Concubine and Imperial Tutor

Zhao Huailang frowned when he heard this.

It's just a personal matter, and it's an old story, so it's not enough to shake the imperial teacher.

Cui Daoyuan noticed the disappointment in Zhao Huailang's eyes, and raised his lips meaningfully, saying in a low voice:

"Lin Wanting, a native of Yangzhou, was born into a family of minor officials and scholars. He was brilliant and intelligent from a young age. He later passed the imperial examinations, excelling in the provincial, metropolitan, and palace examinations. He became an official with great ability and a distinguished reputation in the court."

"It is said that he had once arranged a marriage with the daughter of Lin's father's immediate superior, but Lin Wanting, who was deeply absorbed in poetry and literature at the time, declined the proposal, and the matter fell through."

"Everyone knows that Yangzhou is known for its beauties. When the late emperor expanded his harem, Yangzhou sent many beautiful women, but in the end only one was kept. She was named a talented person by the emperor and taken into the harem."

When Zhao Huailang heard this, his eyes widened slightly.

Since Grandpa mentioned it, it must be for no reason. Could it be that this beautiful girl who was left behind was the one that Old Master Lin had arranged to marry, and now - she is still in the harem!?

Seeing Zhao Huailang's reaction, Cui Daoyuan chuckled: "Back then, the man and the woman were unmarried, and they hadn't participated in the selection yet, so it was normal to discuss marriage."

"But...what if one of them becomes a concubine and the other a minister, and they still have entanglements?"

Hearing this, Zhao Huailang felt his breathing become a little rapid.

The Emperor favored Concubine Chen, who was the mother of the honored prince, so there were not many concubines in the harem.

When he was seriously ill, the emperor issued an edict that concubines did not have to be buried alive with him.

Therefore, after the emperor's grandfather passed away, the concubines who had no children either went to guard the tomb or became nuns. Only the concubines who gave birth to children remained in the harem and were honored as concubines dowagers.

who can that be?

Cui Daoyuan no longer kept the secret, smoothed his wrinkled sleeves, and said calmly, "This matter is extremely secretive, but after all, a message remains, especially this time... the eldest princess of Yue, who was married off to the Kingdom of Yue, has returned to the capital."

When these words were spoken, Zhao Huailang and Cui Mingjue stood up in surprise.

"Concubine Rong?"

Zhao Huailang even let out a low cry in a loss of composure.

At this moment, everything that had happened since the eldest princess came to Beijing flashed through Zhao Huailang's mind like a kaleidoscope.

He was stunned at first, then suddenly realized, and finally murmured softly: "So that's it... So that's it..."

Seeing that Zhao Huailang reacted so quickly, Cui Daoyuan nodded in satisfaction.

"Grandpa has checked and found out that Concubine Rong is indeed from Yangzhou. She was the one who arranged a marriage with Lin Wanting back then. This also made Grandpa recall an event from the past."

"Twenty years ago, in order to defend against the Mo Kingdom, the court officials proposed an alliance with the Yue Kingdom. At that time, the three princesses were unmarried, but the mother of the three princesses, Concubine Rong, was of the lowest birth and rank."

"Compared to our dynasty, Yue is a barbaric land. The first two princesses are naturally unwilling, but there is an order of seniority. There is no reason to simply bypass the first two and push the third princess out."

"But, in the end, everything depends on human effort..."

"Although Grandfather doesn't know what exactly happened back then, I imagine that during that time, Concubine Rong, who had no foundation and no favor from the emperor, must have had an extremely difficult time."

"It happened to be the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the palace held a banquet. Two days after the banquet, the third princess stepped forward and offered to marry into the Kingdom of Yue."

"This incident caused a huge uproar at the time, and soon everyone knew about the Third Princess's righteousness. Concubine Rong was even promoted directly to Concubine Rong because of this."

"At the time, Grandfather felt that, given the unfavorable situation, the actions of Concubine Rong and the Third Princess were already a wise move."

"Since the marriage is inevitable, why not go with honor and leave a good reputation behind?"

"The most precious thing is the ability of the Third Princess, which has made it possible for her to return to the capital in glory and for mother and daughter to be reunited."

When Zhao Huailang heard this, he understood instantly.

"Grandpa's point is that Concubine Rong most likely had a private meeting with Elder Lin at the palace banquet, and Elder Lin suggested this plan to Concubine Rong?"

Cui Daoyuan nodded repeatedly, "That's right."

But Zhao Huailang quickly frowned, "But Grandpa, this happened more than 20 years ago, and there is no evidence left..."

Cui Daoyuan was very calm when he heard this. He smiled and said, "Evidence? Concubine Rong has so many servants around her. Isn't it easy to get 'witnesses'?"

"Of course, the most important thing is the return of the eldest princess to the capital."

At this time, Zhao Huailang couldn't help but nod his head and said in a deep voice: "My father intended to detain Ning'er, so he arranged a marriage for her, but the day Ning'er returned to the capital, she mentioned Jiang Xun."

"At the welcoming banquet, Ning'er made no secret of her affection for Jiang Xun. Now it seems that this was most likely Master Lin's plan."

Cui Daoyuan nodded, "The eldest princess has great prestige. If she comes out to support the emperor's grandson, the people will naturally turn to her side."

"Whether Lin Wanting intended to use Jiang Xun's marriage to Princess An Ning to firmly bind the eldest princess to the emperor's grandson's camp, or was deliberately creating mystery to test the attitudes of other parties and the emperor's intentions, it is undeniable that he was involved."

"Your Majesty has been very concerned about Princess An Ning's marriage recently. I'm sure he never expected that the Imperial Tutor would get involved, right?"

"Furthermore, if His Majesty knew that Lin Wanting was entangled with the late emperor's concubines, his crime would be even more serious."

Cui Daoyuan said calmly, with a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

When Zhou Shan went to pray for blessings, Lang Er had given out a trump card that could bring down General Dingguo's Mansion, so Jiang Xun naturally could not escape this time.

But if Jiang Xun gets into trouble, Lin Wanting will definitely not sit idly by, as he holds a great deal of importance in the emperor's heart.

If Jiang Xun were to escape unscathed, it would be a waste of Lang'er's good move.

Therefore, these days, he began to unravel the mystery and conduct another in-depth investigation into Lin Wanting.

It is true that God will not let down those who work hard, and God also helped him. The eldest princess happened to return to the capital, and he really found some clues.

This time, let Lin Wanting be in trouble!

The beauty of this situation is that there is no need to go to great lengths to kill Lin Wanting. As long as he loses his status in the emperor's heart, an old man without real power is nothing to be feared.

As for His Majesty...

Cui Doyuan's eyes were dark.

He knew this emperor... too well.

He is dedicated to governing the country, and is both civil and military savvy, but he is too narrow-minded, suspicious, overthinking, and... cruel enough.

Therefore, this time they don't even need to produce any solid evidence. As long as the emperor listens and takes it to heart, that will be enough.

Zhao Huailang thought about this matter carefully in his mind and felt that he had a great chance of winning, and he couldn't help but feel excited.

"Then, Grandpa, when do you think the best time to attack is?"

Cui Daoyuan pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, "How are things over there?"

Zhao Huailang shook his head, "It will take some time."

When Cui Mingjue heard this, he suddenly tilted his head.

Grandfather and my cousin are playing charades? Is there something...that needs to be hidden from him?

Cui Mingjue frowned slightly, but suddenly thought of something and his pupils shrank slightly.

He is a member of the Cui family, so his feelings towards his cousin and the Cui family are naturally unquestionable. He knows that his grandfather and cousin also believe in him.

If there was something that needed to be hidden from him, it was probably because they were worried that he would act on impulse, and the matter was so serious that no accidents could be allowed.

If this is true, then it can only be that... Miss Shen is involved!

Thinking of this, Cui Mingjue clenched his hands slightly, and then he heard his grandfather's voice sounded solemnly:

"In this case, it's better to do it sooner rather than later, let's do it in the next few days."