Tian Xun suddenly changed his expression. Mother Tian hesitated to speak, and finally compromised in a low voice: "But what can we do now?"
Tian Xun chuckled softly, and her face suddenly became full of smiles: "As long as mom is willing, there will naturally be a way."
Empress Dowager Tian's depressed mood did not last long. One evening a few days later, after Emperor Yuanfeng came, the matter of Princess Jingming was finally settled.
Emperor Yuanfeng ordered the cabinet to posthumously confer the title of Princess Jingming, Princess Protector of the Country, on the grounds that Princess Jingming was deliberately murdered by the evil queen.
Considering the seniority, if Princess Jingming were still alive, she would indeed be the eldest princess.
And with the words "Protect the Country" added before the title of "Eldest Princess", the meaning is even more different.
Emperor Yuanfeng also asked the Ministry of Rites and the Taichang Temple to jointly discuss the funeral regulations for Princess Huguo Jingming. All regulations were to be followed in accordance with the regulations for the princess, and he also ordered the eldest grandson of the emperor, Xiao Heng, to carry the coffin for Princess Huguo Jingming.
Queen Mother Tian was choked with sobs and cried with joy. She herself was somewhat surprised that the princess could be buried in the imperial mausoleum and that she would be buried with such extremely high standards.
Because of this, when she heard Emperor Yuanfeng say that he would also issue an edict to posthumously confer the title of Crown Prince Duanrui on the former Crown Prince, she did not feel the slightest bit of dissatisfaction, but instead nodded in agreement and said, "It should be so. Duanrui was also badly harmed by Qi Yunxi and Xu Shun! I was also wrong back then. If I had been more gentle with them..."
Emperor Yuanfeng no longer wants to talk about what happened in the past.
It was actually not easy for him to make the decision to posthumously confer the title on Xiao Pei, as it meant admitting that he was wrong.
"Mother, there is no need to mention these things anymore. They are all in the past." He lowered his eyes, took the soup handed to him by Tian Xun, and looked at Tian Xun deliberately: "Is this girl still in the palace?"
Tian Xun hurriedly bowed and replied softly, "Yes."
Empress Dowager Tian said, "Yes, this child is filial. He has been making soup and medicine for me these days. He is a good child."
Emperor Yuanfeng could now understand Empress Dowager Tian's feelings. Seeing that Tian Xun could make Empress Dowager Tian happy, he praised him and bestowed him many rewards.
Tian Xun hurriedly expressed his gratitude.
Emperor Yuanfeng, however, did not take it to heart. He waved his hand to let it go, and then said to Empress Dowager Tian, "By the way, speaking of this matter, I have something else I want to discuss with you, mother. Now that the crown prince has been posthumously named, then Ah Heng...his status and age are suitable, so he should also be named the crown prince."
Tian Xun was startled, and then he excitedly chanted the Buddha's name in his heart.
Empress Dowager Tian remained calm. After finishing her soup, she nodded and said, "That's just as it should be. He has been wronged for so many years. Moreover, he is about to go to Yunnan to quell the rebellion. If we appoint the Crown Prince in advance, it will be cheaper for him to go out. However, since we have appointed the Crown Prince, shouldn't we also appoint the Crown Prince's Consort?"
Tian Xun couldn't help biting his lip, then quickly lowered his head again.
Emperor Yuanfeng obviously didn't think about it. He shook his head after hearing what Empress Dowager Tian said: "Now is not the right time. He was just posthumously named the crown prince, and I'm afraid he's feeling uncomfortable. Besides, this child... he has a lot in common with his father. I don't want to make things difficult for him. Let's wait a little longer."
Queen Mother Tian did not force him this time, and took over the conversation naturally: "Yes, Ah Heng is a child with his own ideas. He finally accepted his life experience with great difficulty. Now we can't force him anymore, so let's discuss it again."
Tian Xun couldn't help but feel disappointed.
She thought that the empress dowager would strike while the iron was hot and mention herself to Emperor Yuanfeng, but Empress Dowager Tian had no such intention at all.
Ever since the incident of Princess Jingming, the Queen Mother's mind has been completely occupied by this matter and she has no time to care about her at all.
Emperor Yuanfeng stayed for a while before leaving. As soon as he left, Empress Dowager Tian leaned back on the pillow and let out a long breath.
She had to say that she was very satisfied with Emperor Yuanfeng's handling of the matter this time. She had fought for everything she could for her daughter.
After relaxing, Empress Dowager Tian finally saw Tian Xun standing aside. She raised her eyebrows and said, "Xiao Xun, you heard it too. This matter cannot be rushed. Besides, Ah Heng is not an ordinary prince or grandson of the emperor. He has always been a very opinionated person. Even the emperor doesn't want to be his master. If you want to be his grandson's consort, you may have to start with him."
Tian Xun was extremely disappointed. Without the help of the Queen Mother, she wouldn't even be able to get in touch with Xiao Heng, let alone start with him.
However, Xiao Heng, who was being discussed by them, was not in the palace. He was telling Song Che and Song Xiangyu about the palace's decision.
Before Song Che could say anything, Song Xiangyu suddenly shouted "Great!" and all the depression in his body was swept away. Years of caution and fear were finally over. He felt indescribably happy.
Then he laughed and slapped the table: "Ah Heng, now we have done justice to your father and mother. All these years of hard work have finally paid off. You don't know how many people have come to our door these days, begging us to show some leniency. If it weren't for this, we wouldn't have known that there were these people behind the Xu family..."
Song Che glanced at Song Xiangyu, and when he saw that Song Xiangyu stopped talking, he looked at Xiao Heng and shook his head: "That's about it. You cooperated very well with the girl from the Su family this time. The two of you found out about the Xu family and Qi Yunxi at the same time, and took the opportunity to find out what happened back then. By taking advantage of the Queen Mother and Princess Jingming's affairs, the Xu family and Qi Yunxi were defeated. But Ah Heng, you have to understand that too much is as bad as too little. His Majesty has already made a huge concession now."
You can't expect an emperor's guilt to support you in doing whatever you want.
There is a line in everything. Once you cross that line, your advantage will turn into a disadvantage.
Xiao Heng smiled and said, "Don't worry, Grandfather. I know everything in my heart. He asked me if I hated him, and I answered truthfully. Since he can still posthumously confer the title on my father, it means that I have passed the test."
Song Che was very satisfied. Being able to bend and stretch is what it takes to accomplish great things. Otherwise, if he just relied on his own bravery, even if he succeeded by chance this time, he would still fall in the future.
He patted Xiao Heng's shoulder and said, "Good boy, although the Xu family, the mastermind behind the scenes, is now finished with Qi Yunxi, the Tong family has not been implicated this time, because the marriage was granted by the emperor, and Tong Tai did not ask for it. So, Tong Tai was also kept in the dark. But after so many years of marriage, is it possible that he really knows nothing about Qi Yunxi's life experience? I don't think so. In addition, there is also Princess Fenyang..."
These people were not implicated this time.
Xu Shun had a trick up his sleeve until his death. (To be continued)