When An Ning and her husband arrived, the Changping Earl's Manor was already shrouded in a cloud of gloom and despair. Two generations of legitimate male heirs had suffered misfortune in succession, and it was only Zhou Jinxing, barely over ten years old, who was forcing himself through his grief to receive and see off guests.
Fortunately, by now, the two daughters and sons-in-law, along with the Fourth Young Master Zhou who was studying outside and An Ning's own younger brother, had all rushed over one after another.
After a few brief inquiries, paying no mind to the clearly urgent and pleading look in Eldest Young Master Zhou's eyes on the sickbed, the three sisters soon left together.
However, the third son-in-law, Chen Hui, cast a complex glance at his eldest brother-in-law lying on the bed with a face full of unwillingness. While feeling relieved, he couldn't help but admire the intelligence and thods of the lady of the manor here even more.
Even so, regarding his own wife's nature—seemingly clever but actually transparent at a glance—Chen Hui still felt a sense of relief.
As for the other two, knowing A-Ning's attitude, Shangguan Huai simply wouldn't care and wouldn't bother wasting any ntal energy thinking about it.
Only the eldest son-in-law, Han Dalang, seeing his father-in-law and brother-in-law fall victim one after another, was now speculating whether soone was deliberately targeting the Zhou family.
Or perhaps targeting the Crown Prince's maternal family.
If this was happening to the Zhou family, would their family be next? He could no longer spare the effort to curry favor with His Highness the Prince. He imdiately couldn't help but pull aside his brother-in-law, Chen Silang...
However, the next second, after subtly expressing his concerns to the other party,
Chen Hui: "..."
His gaze swept over the other's face. Seeing the other's eyes genuinely filled with worry, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly that a good background truly brought many advantages. People like them were naturally not on the sa starting line. With such aptitude and intelligence, they could...
After a brief mont of complex emotions, Chen Silang soon adopted a serious expression and said:
"Brother Han speaks reason. Although the Crown Prince is His Majesty's only child, the Late Emperor still has descendants alive. Whether in the forr court or among the Imperial Clan, it's likely not everyone has completely given up hope."
"Because of her status, those with designs on her are probably even more nurous. We, by nature, belong to the Crown Prince's faction, which already makes us targets of attention. If we are even slightly careless..."
Sure enough, as soon as the words fell, Han Dalang's face visibly turned grave, even subconsciously showing a hint of nervousness.
Chen Silang: "..."
His face also wore a grave expression. In reality, Chen Silang was currently feeling sowhat speechless inside.
To be honest, the Eastern Palace has already been established. Compared to the countless followers behind His Highness the Crown Prince, what kind of insignificant specks are we, these petty officials who haven't even climbed to the third rank!
The Zhou family at least holds the position of the maternal family. If sothing happens, it might still affect His Second Highness's image a bit. Us?
Give a break! Chen Silang scoffed inwardly.
Moreover, given that Crown Prince's intelligence and thods, as well as the Princess Consort's attitude towards these two mbers of the Zhou family, as long as they don't shield them and act swiftly enough when the ti cos, it's rely an unaffectionate maternal family!
I'm afraid it wouldn't even touch a single pinky finger of the young Crown Prince. It might even earn her a wave of good reputation for handling affairs impartially and without favoritism.
And incidentally, purge a wave of opponents hiding in the shadows.
Based on what he had occasionally witnessed of that Crown Prince's thods, this was the most likely scenario.
Chen Silang suspected that it was probably precisely because she had thought of this point that this Lady Zhou had acted so decisively and resolutely, even against her own son...
Although he thought this way, it didn't prevent Chen Silang from now also wearing a worried expression. He raised his hand and lightly patted his brother-in-law's shoulder beside him:
"Brother Han speaks extrely well. Given the current situation, no amount of caution from us is excessive!"
We must indeed be cautious. Don't let those with ulterior motives eliminate us before the Crown Prince even ascends the throne and we get to taste the real benefits.
Completely unaware of his third brother-in-law's thoughts, Han Dalang nodded heavily at that mont, his face serious as he said:
"Alas, although the Crown Prince is His Majesty's only child, she is after all a woman, and unlike His Majesty who has military achievents to her na, it is still rather difficult after all!"
Chen Silang: "………"
How co I never noticed before that this eldest brother-in-law was such an idiot? It seems steadiness and ntal agility have absolutely nothing to do with each other.
A woman, a hindrance? Ha!
Chen Silang inwardly dismissed the notion.
If the Crown Prince only had average or slightly above-average aptitude, or if she weren't as visibly accomplished in both civil and military affairs, with top-tier intelligence as she is now. Then, undeniably, being male would naturally make it easier to wield power.
But possessing such top-tier intelligence, coupled with not-low martial prowess, and being the current ruler's only child, I ask you, what difference does being male or female make?
In fact, compared to a man, a woman might not be without benefits. At the very least, among the court officials currently loyal to the royal family, that is, the Shangguan clan, the voices of opposition wouldn't be too strong.
First, and most importantly, the right to continue the family na. Since ancient tis, it's not uncommon for the sons of live-in sons-in-law to return to their paternal clan's surna after three generations.
If it were a man, one would still have to worry that on the day he fully grasps power, he might revert to his father's surna. Although in Chen Hui's view, such an act is not wise, but since ancient tis, have there been few willful emperors?
At the very least, there are not a few who, after being adopted and ascending the throne, couldn't wait to posthumously honor their biological parents as emperor and empress.
But if it's a woman, even for her own sake, she would definitely not engage in such behavior. As long as the surna of the country remains unchanged for a single day, this is at most an internal matter of the Shangguan family, and also the royal family.
Moreover, if sothing unexpected were to happen to the Crown Prince in the future, it's not impossible to support a mber of the Imperial Clan to ascend the throne.
Chen Hui thought to himself, this was probably the real reason why those supporters of the Shangguan clan, that is, the royal family, in the court hadn't opposed fiercely to the point of a fight to the death. Of course, it also had a lot to do with the Late Emperor's cold and unforgiving nature, which truly didn't tolerate others.
Second, for those supporting the Grand Princess's ascension, not to ntion Her Highness's high martial arts skills and no lack of military strategy and cunning, having her own confidence and backing, it's not easy for incidents of being unable to tolerate military generals to occur in the future.
To so extent, it is indeed not easy for a woman to wield power. Even if only to deal with those obstinately conservative civil officials, while better continuing His Majesty's policies, it's also not easy for her to easily discard us followers. There might even be an opportunity to send our own descendants into the Eastern Palace...
The Crown Prince's status is not easy?
Ha, Chen Silang scoffed inwardly. Where in this world are there absolute good or bad things? Only benefits and ability are the most tangible...
Looking at his brother-in-law before him, who still hadn't thought of this point, Chen Silang had just fallen speechless for a mont when, the next second, he rembered the other's official rank, which was several grades higher than his own.
He took a deep breath. His gaze paused for a mont on his wife not far away, and only then did Chen Silang calm down sowhat:
Thank goodness...
People and people are just born different, aren't they?
At least he still had a chance to catch up now.
At the sa ti, after everyone had withdrawn, the inner chamber soon beca empty and silent. After personally feeding her son the dicine, looking at her son on the sickbed, who had quickly fallen into a deep sleep due to the dicine's effect, her gaze swept over his left leg wrapped tightly in bandages. Lady Jiang's eyes couldn't help but flash with a trace of heartache, yet she retracted it at an extrely fast speed the next mont.
As the saying goes, if virtue does not match position, calamity will surely follow.
Wen'er, don't bla your mother...
We must indeed be cautious. Don't let those with ulterior motives eliminate us before the Crown Prince even ascends the throne and we get to taste the real benefits.
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