Yun Fenghuang was from a low background and had never had a particularly reliable ally in the court. Yin Qu, the most reliable and most relied upon, could not openly discuss state affairs with her because they only used each other.
As for Chunjia, he was not particularly afraid of Yun Fenghuang's involvement in politics.
It's just that after he took office, he became obsessed with state affairs and couldn't extricate himself. He even rarely went to the harem because of this. At that time, Gu Zhen was there and King Chongxin was there. Yun Fenghuang was busy fighting for favors and it was too late, and he really had no time to care about the government.
So she really didn't hear any news about the vassal reduction.
But this is also a reasonable thing. During the past dynasties, when the country was founded, the four regions were enfeoffed. Later, one was the increased burden on the court, and the other was the alienation of blood between the reigning emperor and the vassal kings... In short, after the dynasty was inherited to a certain extent, the vassal capital was reduced. It's what it should be.
Chunjia is naturally no exception.
As the distant branch vassal king, he has been passed down alone for several generations. It can be said that he has no friendship with other tribes of the Gongxiang clan.
Judging from the main branches, during the reign of King Sejong, there were still many royal bloodlines.
But after Shenzong was wiped out, the closest people to the main branch were Shizong's brothers and sisters. Even if this generation is still alive, this friendship was from many years ago. Even the Queen Mother may not recognize it, let alone Chunjia.
The emperor had previously consecrated King Qin, King Song, King Shu, King Wei, King Yan... These were all his own flesh and blood, especially King Qin, King Wei, King Yan and King Yan were his favorite children, so of course there was no reluctance to part with him. He wanted to choose a place that was rich and close to the imperial capital. ; The manpower is also found to be reliable, loyal and of good character; even if the taxes are intercepted and misappropriated, they still turn a blind eye, after all, are they their own sons
But the emperor, like the king of Zhou, was not so easy to talk to.
Such hereditary and irreplaceable vassal kings often have ancestors who have either made great contributions or are extremely favored.
Otherwise such grace would not be given.
But for Chunjia...
What does this have to do with him
The credit is not given to him, nor is the favor given to him.
So it’s okay to find excuses to cut them off a little bit. After all, he has so many children. What if there aren’t enough good places for canonization in the future
Furthermore, the main branch of the Gongxiang clan had been weakening for decades due to the decline of its population, and it was only under his hands that it regained some of its vitality.
Although he was quite satisfied with the prince he personally selected and believed that Gong Xiangbing was not the kind of useless emperor who would be influenced by the clan and ministers, as an emperor in his prime, he could not say that he had established a prince he admired. Just do nothing.
The imperial power must always be as powerful as possible.
"Did the news of this matter leak out?" Yun Fenghuang pondered for a moment, "Then the reason why the clan members came to inquire about the Imperial Grandmother this time is because of this matter?"
"I have ordered people to spread some news." The emperor nodded and said calmly, "It doesn't matter, they can't cause any trouble."
This is not the seventh year of Chunjia.
Even if the affair and assassination happened, the court, or rather the emperor, was highly suspected of massacring his clan members, but it didn't matter. The emperor's current stability in the throne and his skills were enough to calm the situation: even if he really sent someone to assassinate him. What about Prince Zhou and his son
If you want your minister to die, you must die!
Seeing him so calm, Yun Fenghuang felt relieved.
She still missed the Jin kings very much. Seeing that the emperor was busy directing and responding, he stopped staying and resigned.
By the lotus pond, King Jin and King Yan looked at each other with regret after receiving the news.
It is also a pity for the prince.
The brothers all hoped to take advantage of the chaos to give each other a few blows, but after all, there was no real chaos in the palace, so they could only continue to be brothers and sisters.
So the prince first went to greet Empress Dowager Yuan, and then turned back and asked the older imperial heirs in Zhaoqing if they wanted to send Empress Dowager Yuan to be resettled together.
King Jin was the first to agree, and even stepped forward to hold Empress Dowager Yuan's arm, and said some sweet words in a coquettish way.
The prince looked on with a smile. From his eyes to his posture, he was a good brother who couldn't fault anything.
King Yan stood beside King Jin and cast an admiring look at the prince from his younger brother.
The worst performer was Princess Zhaoqing, who curled her lips and frowned. Although she didn't say anything unpleasant, her eyes and brows were filled with dissatisfaction with the prince.
Princess Changqing privately pulled her clothes several times before Zhaoqing managed to restrain herself.
King Jin noticed it, twitched the corner of his mouth, and exchanged a helpless look with King Yan. He couldn't help it. This eldest sister was spoiled. The emperor and the queen were not willing to say harsh words, and it was even harder for their younger brothers to say anything.
Such a group of royal heirs hugged Empress Dowager Yuan to rest, and there was a lot of filial piety among them. Those who didn't know it thought they were all full brothers and sisters from the same father and mother.
When Yun Fenghuang rushed over, he rushed over and learned that the prince had already gone to settle the Queen Mother Yuan. He didn't catch up, so he went back to Lanzhou Yeyu Pavilion and asked the few palace people who were left behind: "Just now What's going on here?"
"Reporting to the empress, there was some commotion here just now, but under the comfort and scolding of the loving mother, the Empress Dowager, and Her Majesty the Crown Prince, they quickly went down." The palace servant reported, "In addition, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince once asked to find you and His Majesty. , Her Royal Highness Princess Zhaoqing heard about it and wanted to go together, but after arguing for a while, Her Royal Highness the Crown Prince gave up."
After a pause, seeing no one else around, he whispered, "Just now, His Royal Highnesses King Jin and King Yan were discussing privately. If the commotion spreads to the poolside,... guard against the princes!"
"Beware of the prince?" Yun Fenghuang snorted and said, "If it was King Yan's idea, it would be enough here. But King Jin... isn't that boy Fifteen so honest?"
Seeing the palace man's awkward nod, she raised her eyebrows and said nothing.
The difference in the behavior of the two children is not that King Yan is timid, but that King Yan knows that he is not his biological flesh and blood, so he can't help but hesitate in doing things, fearing that if he causes too much trouble to the adoptive mother, he will be rejected, and even doubt his intentions.
King Jin doesn't have this worry, he is his biological son anyway.
If he causes trouble for his mother-in-law, she can't ignore him.
Therefore, the King of Jin may not be more profound and cruel than the King of Yan, but his actions are much more radical.
"It's a good thing to have ideas, but you have to weigh the pros and cons. You don't have to ask me to tell them everything." The queen pondered, "When the children come back later, let them all come to see me."
But after a while, Princess Zhaoqing and her party came back from the Empress Dowager Yuan, but Yun Fenghuang couldn't take care of them at all.
Because the assassination of the guests attending the Wanshou Banquet, especially what happened to Prince Zhou and his son, has suddenly spread!
But that’s not the most important thing!
The most terrible thing is that at the same time, King Mao, who was also a time-honored vassal king like King Zhou and whose fiefdom was flourishing. He came to the imperial capital in person this time, was escaping to the fiefdom while offering a trump card: "The late Emperor Shenzong's edict, Xiaozong , the regent are not of royal blood, and there will be no heirs left!"
As for Chunjia, who was born in the lineage of King Fuyang, in terms of bloodline, whether the Xiaozong brothers were really not of royal blood or not, it would not affect his status as a royal child.
The problem is, his throne comes from Xiaozong!
If Xiaozong himself is unorthodox, or even confused, then Chunjia's throne will naturally be illegal!
"How is this possible?!" Not only Yun Fenghuang, but also the entire former harem were shocked when they heard the news.
In line with the principle of approaching the queen when she had something to do, Concubine De hurried to Lanzhou Yeyu Pavilion to ask for an audience. Before she even finished her salute, she said in panic, "The Empress Dowager is also a daughter of a noble family. , how could it be possible to do something that was unworthy of the late Emperor Shenzong?! Moreover, even though the late Emperor Shenzong relied heavily on the Ji family at that time, the late Emperor Shenzong was also a wise king, how could he be so easily deceived?!"
"What's more, even if the Empress Dowager... is confused, what about the regent's biological mother?! Is it possible that a little-known palace concubine would dare to offend the late Emperor Shenzong?!"
"..." Yun Fenghuang's face was as dark as water, his thoughts were changing rapidly, and he said after a long while, "It's not impossible."
Seeing Concubine De's eyes widen, she whispered, "I don't believe that the Empress Dowager and the concubines of Shenzong dare to betray the late Emperor Shenzong! But... what if this matter is the intention of the late Emperor Shenzong?"
Concubine De gasped and subconsciously wanted to deny it, but soon understood what she meant. She couldn't help but hold her chest and said in surprise: "Sister, are you talking about the late Emperor Shenzong?!"
"The reason why the main branch of the royal family has so few heirs started with Shenzong." Yun Fenghuang said, "Shenzong has two sons, the regent also has two sons, and Xiaozong only has three daughters... In short, the father and son have no prosperous heirs. This is because it is not unheard of in history. The situation is that there are many people in the Three Palaces and Sixth Court but not many heirs, so although everyone was saddened by it, they didn’t say anything.”
"Even because Shenzong massacred Shizong's flesh and blood, many people suspected that this was retribution for Shenzong. Therefore, when the throne was passed to Xiaozong, it had to be passed to our Majesty."
"But Xiaozong..."
She paused and wondered whether the three golden branches and jade leaves were not of royal blood... Wait, at that time the Empress Dowager only said that the three Ming Hui were not of royal blood, but she didn't say that they were not of Xiaozong's blood? !
Yun Fenghuang suddenly thought of this, what about this? !
If Xiaozong himself is not of royal blood, even if Minghui and his three children are his children, they are naturally not of royal blood!
If so, does this mean that what King Mao said is true
Is the edict in his hand also true? !
Yun Fenghuang's face changed drastically, and thoughts flashed through his mind. It took him a long time to calm down, and said in a deep voice: "If the late emperor Shenzong was like Xiaozong, it would be difficult for him to have an heir. But when Xiaozong and the regent were born, Shenzong Already started to participate in seizing reserves..."
No matter how outstanding a prince is in seizing the heir apparent, if he cannot have an heir, no one will support him.
It would be nice if it doesn’t become a joke!
Therefore, unless Shenzong wants to give up halfway, he must have a son!
This situation is different from Xiaozong's heirlessness. Xiaozong was already the emperor when he had no heirs. If he hadn't originally wanted to establish an emperor's younger brother and then died quickly, he would have been able to adopt a legitimate heir.
But Shenzong can’t!
He must have a biological "son" to stabilize the morale of the army.
And then he came to the throne...
Since he has two "real sons", Xiaozong and the Regent, there is absolutely no reason to have a step-heir, right
As for letting these two children die suddenly, and then naturally adopt heirs, not to mention the years of raising these two children in front of them, for the Shenzong couple, they have accumulated some affection.
Just say that Shenzong slaughtered many brothers at that time, which itself was discussed and criticized by the government and the public. In this case, the two "princes" are dead. What will everyone think, including history books
He must have thought that he was really nothing, and had been so damned by God that even his own bloodline could not survive!
Can Shenzong endure it? !