Chapter 275: Taking Back Her Identity
After Qin Canglan told Emperor Jing Xuan everything, Emperor Jing Xuan did not sleep well for the entire night.
Fortunately, there was no need for morning court assembly the next day.
Eunuch Fu heard the commotion on the dragon couch and came to help Emperor Jing Xuan change his clothes and wash up.
“Your Majesty, is there something on your mind?” Eunuch Fu put on the dragon robe for Emperor Jing Xuan.
Emperor Jing Xuan sighed. “Why do you think Qin Canglan… really dared to say it? Why didn’t he hesitate?”
From the timeline Qin Canglan had instructed, it was obvious that he had just confirmed Qin Che’s identity and immediately entered the palace to meet him.
This was not a happy occasion. On the contrary, it was a secret and scandal of the Protectorate.
As the saying went, family scandals should not be exposed.
There were many ways to punish Qin Che. It did not have to go to the imperial court.
Eunuch Fu smiled. “The old Duke Protector is a general with a straightforward personality.”
Emperor Jing Xuan shook his head and said, “He’s not being straightforward. He’s completely disregarding the reputation of the Protectorate. But it’s true that he earned his military merits.
Why would he need that false reputation?”
Did Qin Canglan really not care about his reputation?
Not necessarily.
However, compared to the reputation of the Protectorate, he was more concerned about whether the children would suffer.
He had to make his stand clear from the beginning, not giving anyone any room for negotiation.
Even if Emperor Jing Xuan wanted to persuade him to think twice.
Eunuch Fu smiled and said, “It’s also because he met a wise ruler like Your Majesty that he dares to be honest with you.”
Emperor Jing Xuan was amused by him. “This mouth of yours! It’s not that Qin Canglan trusts me. He’s ruthless, really ruthless. He abandoned the ‘son’ he raised for twenty years… Qin Che didn’t just fake his identity. I conferred him the title of Protector Duke because he committed the crime of deceiving the emperor as Qin Canglan’s legitimate son. I can sentence him to death. ”
Eunuch Fu said, “His Majesty won’t do that.”
Emperor Jing Xuan sighed. “That’s right. Qin Canglan can turn against his son, but I can’t do the same to him. Back then, Qin Feng and his son followed the late emperor to the south and attacked the north. Qin Canglan was still young, and Qin Feng was the one accompanying the late emperor most of the time. Qin Feng and the late emperor went through life and death together. Before the late emperor died, he still remembered him and arranged a marriage for the two families. I can’t kill Qin Feng’s youngest son.”
Eunuch Fu said softly, “Your Majesty is benevolent.”
Emperor Jing Xuan mocked himself, “I’m just too benevolent. If I could have been as ruthless as Qin Canglan back then…”
Emperor Jing Xuan did not finish.
Eunuch Fu understood.
If His Majesty had been as ruthless as Qin Canglan back then and immediately eliminated King Nanyang after ascending the throne, how could there have been a rebellion plotted by King Nanyang later?
After washing up, Emperor Jing Xuan sat down and prepared to eat breakfast.
Eunuch Quan was also a favorite of His Majesty. He placed the dishes on the table and began to pick up food for Emperor Jing Xuan.
These dishes were naturally only presented after the young eunuch tried them.
Emperor Jing Xuan did not have a good appetite. He was almost full after eating some silver fungus lotus seed soup.
Emperor Jing Xuan said, “I remember that Qin Canglan said that his son changed his name to Su Cheng?”
Eunuch Fu hurriedly said, “Yes.”
Emperor Jing Xuan was puzzled. “He’s not changing it back?”
Eunuch Fu smiled. “That’s a name used by the commoners. After acknowledging his ancestors, he should change it back.”
Emperor Jing Xuan nodded and said, “Su Cheng has a daughter?”
Eunuch Fu said, “Yes. She’s the same age as Qin Yanran and has a son. He’s about the same age as Qin Yun. What a coincidence.”
An intriguing glint flashed across Emperor Jing Xuan’s eyes.
Eunuch Fuls eyes moved, and he understood in a second.
If that fake Qin Che was not the real Duke Protector, Qin Yanran, as his daughter, would have a lower status.
Emperor Jing Xuan had issued a decree for the Third Prince to marry the eldest daughter of the Duke’s Protector. Qin Yanran was no longer the same. Logically speaking, this marriage should fall on Su Cheng’s daughter.
Eunuch Fu reminded, “Your Majesty, that daughter of the Su family… got married in the countryside.”
Disappointment flashed across Emperor Jing Xuan’s eyes.
As Eunuch Quan served the emperor food, he smiled and said, “Your Majesty, I remember that Emperor Sage Ancestor’s wife married someone among the common people and even had a daughter. However, after she entered the palace, she supported Emperor Sage Ancestor to expand his territory and settle down internally… Emperor Sage Ancestor conferred her as Empress Virtuous Ren. It’s also a legend in our Great Zhou.”
Emperor Sage Ancestor was the founding emperor of the Great Zhou. This person had countless legends in his life. Marrying a woman who had been married as an empress was insignificant.
Emperor Jing Xuan’s expression softened.
Seeing that his words had touched the emperor’s heart, Eunuch Quan was extremely happy. “Emperor Sage Ancestor even brought Empress Virtuous Ren’s daughter into the palace and made her a princess.”