Repudiating a Good Wife Is Out of the Question

175. “Father Empress”

 

Translator: Sissy That Walk

 

“You’ve done a great job this time.” Han Qi praised Prince Xing, “It will benefit the future grain raising undertakings as well, but it’s a shame that this system is only being implemented in Hunan and Hubei region, why not make overall arrangements through the Ministry of Revenue?”

Prince Xing smiled, “We’ve thought about it too, Your Highness. But the officials in the capital city will line their pockets with public funds if we really establish a department under the Ministry of Revenue. I had no alternative but to appoint merchants in Hunan and Hubei region, because firstly the merchants are good at securing personal gains no matter how hard the circumstances are, and secondly, they don’t have those pedantic ideas like the scholars.”

“That’s very convincing.” Han Qi smiled and asked the eunuch to take the screen away.

“Your Highness!” Prince Xing gave a start.

“I’m going to report to the emperor that I want to register you under my name, can a Father Empress talk to his son without a screen in the way?” Han Qi looked so complacent.

Prince Xing trembled with excitement, he had waited for this moment for so long, he was one more step closer to the throne with Han Qi’s support.

“Can I really call you Father Empress?” tears brimmed in Prince Xing’s eyes.

“I’m going to report to the emperor today, finally I have someone to rely on with you being my son!” Han Qi’s voice turned soft.

“I won’t let you down, Father Empress, I will be the most filial son.” said Prince Xing in earnest.

Han Qi nodded his head with a big smile, he didn’t care whether Han Qi meant it or not, he was pleased to hear that. “Poor boy has been living in the palace without maternal love, you should have got married a long time ago, is there anyone you take a fancy to?”

Prince Xing hesitated, he had no idea should he tell Han Qi the truth about Yao Wenyuan or not, he didn’t want to upset Han Qi and lose his support.

Han Qi frowned as he saw Prince Xing’s hesitance, “Are you worried that I will find you an ugly princess?”

“Don’t tease me, Father Empress, I will follow your arrangements happily.”

“You won’t regret it.” Han Qi chuckled.

Imperial Concubine Fair who had heard the news gnashed her teeth, “Look at you all puffed up with pride, just wait and see… …”

Han Qi showed up in court dressed in his ceremony attire, asking the emperor to register Prince Xing under his name.

Prince Ning turned green with envy, he glared at Prince Xing with resentment. Prince Ning hated Prince Xing to the guts, Prince Xing had raised grains successfully, Prince Xing had disintegrates his clique, and now Prince Xing was registered under the empress’s name, all these meant one thing — Prince Xing was one more closer to the throne.

Prince Ning simmered with rage, he clenched his fists and swore he would not be defeated like this!

Prince Ning sent a message to Imperial Concubine Fair right after the morning court, but Imperial Concubine Fair replied that the emperor had turned her down about the purchasing proposal about the Dragon Boat Festival in the palace, but she was trying her best to gain powers from the empress.

Imperial Concubine Fair tried so hard to infiltrated into the Imperial Kitchen and the Imperial Academy of Medicine but to no avail.

Quite a few imperial physician tried to visit the empress to pull a few strings for their relatives for an official post.

Prince Ning had been on tenterhooks in his manor, this day he decided to visit his mother in person to discuss the solution.

“My son, good news, a continuous stream of visitors had been visiting the empress these days.” Imperial Concubine Fair showed a cunning smile.

“What does that have to do with me?” Prince Ning asked impatiently.

“This is a great opportunity for you!” Imperial Concubine Fair held her head high, “My son, who doesn’t like to see officials visiting the empress to pull strings?”

Prince Ning’s eyes sparkled, “Mother, you mean… …”

“Of course it’s your Father Emperor!” Imperial Concubine Fair said in a fierce tone, “Your father loves him, but your father loves his power more than his empress! It’s a taboo when someone appears as he is forming his own clique.”

“You mean chances are father will give Prince Xing the cold shoulder soon?” Prince Ning showed a bright smile.

Twenty years had Imperial Concubine Fair married the emperor, she knew the emperor the best. No way would the emperor give anyone the chance to form their own clique, including his own empress. As a matter of fact, Prince Xing was not in a favorable position at the moment.

“Just wait and see, my son, your father will entrust you with important tasks soon.” Imperial Concubine Fair put down her tea cup and added, “What you need to do now is to get rid of Cao Mo and Xiao Yi out of the picture!”

“I won’t let you down this time, mother!” Prince Ning said indignantly, “I will get them out of the picture for good!”

Imperial Concubine Fair nodded, “I need to remind you, Xiao Yuqi is no longer useful to us, you better take care of that soon.”

“But we will end up having no one in Xiao Manor if we discard Xiao Yuqi.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got that taken care of. I have arranged someone in Xiao Manor years ago, she will continue to lie dormant if things go smoothly on your side, and I will use her at the right time if otherwise.”

“I have so much to learn from you, mother!” Prince Ning admired his mother from the bottom of his heart at this point. “Shall we grant Cao Le’s proposal of building new ships?”

“Yes, we will grant, but ask him to write everything down as evidence in case Prince Xing finds that out. We will make Cao Le the scapegoat, thus the Xiao family will be implicated as well, no way will Prince Xing be your match by then!” Imperial Concubine Fair said viciously.

… …

In the temporary residence.

Cao Mo didn’t have much to do while Xiao Yi had been busy going to meet the magistrate to check the accounts.

However, the magistrate and the petty officers all tried to avoid Xiao Yi for they couldn’t reap profits from Xiao Yi. They would even try to give Xiao Yi a hard time when Xiao Yi visited, Xiao Yi was fed up with it this day, he told the magistrate that Prince Xing now was registered under the empress’s name, they couldn’t afford to slight their duty.