The Fourth Prince was not that old either. He was only seventeen years old now, a few months younger than Dong Xiyun. Logically speaking, this marriage should be delayed a little longer.
However, the Fourth Prince’s camp was upset.
They hoped that the Fourth Prince would have descendants soon. When the Emperor had a grandson in the future, perhaps the favor could be shifted a little.
The emperor was annoyed by the constant urging of the wedding in the imperial court, so he was forced to agree to it.
He agreed, but he was frustrated by the Dong family.
After the marriage was decided internally, Dong Xiyun’s father had been reprimanded by the emperor several times.
Xiao Yurong knew quite many affairs in the imperial court. He spilled the beans and explained it clearly to Xie Qiao.
“The Emperor didn’t want to choose a princess consort for the Crown Prince because he didn’t want the Fourth Prince to steal the Crown Prince’s limelight. The Second and Third Princes aren’t well off as well. Even if they get married again, the wedding will be messy and no one will pay attention to it.” Xiao Yurong did not know whether he should sympathize with the other princes, or be happy for the Crown Prince.
To the country, in fact, the Crown Prince being favored was a good thing. It was better than a father-son discord.
“The Dong family is not a powerful official. How could they be chosen by the Fourth Prince’s camp?” Xie Qiao asked in surprise.
“Although the Dong family is not favored, Young Lady Dong has a good reputation outside. Besides, many people in the court knew that the Emperor would never agree to choose someone with a strong family background to be matched with the Fourth Prince,” Xiao Yurong explained.
The past emperors usually used a balanced approach when it came to their children.
Either the righteous will suppress the evil or the other way round. In short, the regular emperor would not show any special favor to anyone.
However, the current emperor was completely different.
On the first day of the Crown Prince’s appointment, he once said that only the eldest son could inherit the throne.
In the early years, he often whispered in front of the Crown Prince, “Son, this great country is all yours…”
It was said that the emperor’s words of favoring the Crown Prince were spread, and they were all recorded in a book!
When Xiao Yurong said this, Xie Qiao understood what Dong Xiyun was thinking.
Mo Chusheng was an old witch…
They were both “daughters-in-law of the royal family”. One was famous while the other was a swindler. If they stood together, the swindler would be embarrassed and the Crown Prince would lose face.
How awful.
It was not easy for Zhao Xuanjing either.
However, Xie Qiao did not know that Zhao Xuanjing, whom she thought was having it tough, was currently punishing people in the palace.
Relying on the emperor’s favor, Zhao Xuanjing hesitated for two days before calling Zhao Xuzhi into the palace.
There were some things that he did not need to say personally.
Instead, he got someone else to do it. The subordinates who had followed Zhao Xuzhi to Xun County had also gathered and knelt outside the imperial study obediently. Later on, a few ministers came.
“All of you have been staying with Zhao Xuzhi. You all know what he has heard and seen. Since that’s the case, why don’t you tell us what Zhao Xuzhi did when he went to Xun County? Did Master Mo and I have an affair in secret?” Zhao Xuanjing’s gaze was like a torch, he swept his gaze across the crowd and spoke slowly.
Zhao Xuzhi clenched his fists.
At this moment, the people behind him said, “Reporting to Your Highest, I did follow the First Young Master all the way. On the way to Xun County, he hastened his journey on purpose. He said that he wanted to arrive in Xun County before the Crown Prince did to handle the case!”
The person who spoke was Zhao Xuzhi’s confidant who had also been bitten by a snake earlier.
When he said that, Zhao Xuzhi turned around and glared at him. “How dare you accuse me?!”