Quick Transmigration Hoarding: My Selfishness Leads to a Killing Frenzy

Chapter 409 The Emperor's Son 5

Inside the Jiaofang Palace, the Empress sat before a mirror, carefully applying makeup to her eyebrows.

She was dressed in a bright red phoenix robe and wore a nine-phoenix golden crown, as if she were going to attend some kind of celebration.

"Your Majesty, it's time to set off."

Jue Er gestured to the person behind him to present a tray with a cup of poisoned wine on it.

The Empress chuckled: "I have been in charge of the harem for twenty years and am His Majesty's first wife. How can I face death in such a sorry state?"

She picked up the white jade wine cup, the wine inside clear to the bottom. "Even His Majesty chooses the finest poison, so naturally I must be more dignified."

He knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly, "Your Majesty..."

"Your Majesty, the time has come."

The empress calmly rose, raised her wine cup, and drank it all in one gulp.

Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, yet she still smiled: "Tell His Majesty, I am waiting for him in the underworld... to reunite with our son."

Look, it really is a mother and son; they say almost the same things.

Jue Er sneered: "Your Majesty, rest assured, His Majesty will live to a ripe old age. I'm afraid he won't live to see that day."

The empress's body slowly fell, and her golden crown hit the ground with a crisp sound.

No one could have imagined that the emperor would be so ruthless, killing even the person who had been by his side for decades.

The hearts of people in both the imperial court and the harem were unsettled, and everyone lived in fear.

However, Qingmo did not do anything out of line after that.

Once the matter was settled, the court officials felt relieved and began to stir again.

For example, now that the Crown Prince is dead, should His Majesty reinstate him?

With the position of empress vacant, should an empress be appointed?

They feared that the emperor's cruelty would lead to future generations repeating the same mistakes, yet at the same time they could not resist the temptation.

That position is coveted by far too many people.

Of the ten princes, one died, leaving nine.

Qingmo sat on the dragon throne, listening to the courtiers' discussions, her eyes cold.

She naturally understood what these people were thinking; they simply wanted a share of the spoils in this power struggle.

"Silence!" she shouted angrily, and the court fell silent instantly.

"I will make arrangements for the position of Crown Prince. As for the matter of establishing an Empress, I have my own plans."

Her gaze swept over the crowd. "Anyone who dares to speak recklessly again will face my ruthlessness."

The court officials all lowered their heads, not daring to utter another word.

Qingmo didn't care much about who became the crown prince, as long as there wasn't a rebellious son who was obsessed with love and committed patricide and regicide.

If she wants to become emperor, the crown prince will probably have to wait until she dies and is very old.

She didn't want to get up before dawn to attend court, so the matter of the crown prince still needed to be put on the agenda.

"Eunuch Jue, who do you think should be made crown prince?"

Jue Er stood respectfully to the side, and slightly raised his eyes upon hearing this.

“Your Majesty,” his voice was like a viper’s hiss, “this old servant believes that the Second Prince is steady and prudent, and the Third Prince is exceptionally intelligent; both are excellent choices.”

Qingmo lightly tapped the dragon table with her fingertips, "Issue the imperial decree."

She slammed her hand on the table and stood up abruptly, declaring, "From this day forward, the Second Prince shall take over the Eastern Palace."

There's no point in considering it; if it doesn't work out, then so be it.

She has ten; surely none of them can be useless.

Even a contest between nine princes for the throne could produce one.

The imperial decree caused an uproar in the court.

The second prince's faction looked delighted, while the other princes and their backers were filled with resentment.

Fortunately, none of them dared to cause any trouble.

Qingmo summoned the Second Prince for a look, and indeed he was composed.

At such a young age, he looks just like his father. Is that brat Jue Er judging people by their appearance?

Qingmo squinted and carefully examined the Second Prince kneeling in the hall.

“Absolute Two,” Qingmo suddenly called out.

"The old slave is here."

"Tell me the truth."

Qingmo touched her well-defined jawline. "Did you choose him because of his face?"

Jue Er was not at all skeptical: "Your Majesty is wise. This second prince looks very composed."

He's not mature at all. He's only in his twenties, but he looks like he's in his forties. I don't know how he got such a face.

"Who is your mother?!" Qingmo really couldn't remember for a moment.

The Second Prince's eyelashes trembled slightly: "Your Majesty, my birth mother... was the late Consort Jing."

Qingmo searched her memory for a moment.

Consort Jing, the woman who always wore a moon-white dress, was a commoner woman brought back by the original owner during her southern tour. She died in childbirth.

"Get up."

"From now on, study diligently the ways of a ruler, and never follow in your elder brother's footsteps. I will have the Grand Tutor instruct you..."

The crown prince has been chosen, so the empress is no longer important. The emperor is already quite old, and the old ministers don't care anymore.

However, the ladies of the harem couldn't sit still.

The position of Crown Prince has been decided, but the Empress is without a ruler. Who can guarantee that the Emperor won't suddenly have a whim and establish a new Empress?

Moreover, the Crown Prince's birth mother died early, so if he could become Empress Dowager, he would be the future Empress Dowager.

Who can resist this temptation?

Consort De was the first to become restless.

She came from a prestigious family; her father was a high-ranking official in the court, and she had five sons. She believed herself to be the most qualified candidate to ascend to the position of empress.

On this day, she specially prepared a pot of ginseng soup and personally delivered it to the Imperial Study.

"Your Majesty works tirelessly day and night, and it pains me to see you like this," she said softly, her eyes filled with tenderness.

Qingmo raised her eyes, a half-smile playing on her lips: "You're very kind, Consort De."

Consort De was delighted and was about to offer her more favors when she saw the Emperor casually hand the ginseng soup to a nearby eunuch: "This is a reward for you."

Jue Er bowed and accepted the drink, then downed it in one gulp in front of Consort De.

Consort De's face stiffened, but she dared not lash out and could only force a smile and take her leave.

Consort Shu, however, took a different path.

She had always been on good terms with the Second Prince, and now that the Crown Prince had been chosen, she would send some homemade pastries to the Eastern Palace every day.

She showed concern and care, behaving like a loving mother.

The prince appeared respectful, but secretly ordered all the snacks to be thrown away.

"I cannot accept Consort Shu's 'kindness'," he said calmly.

The Emperor did not like his sons getting too involved with the harem. In the past, he was just a prince and it didn't matter.

Now that he is the crown prince, his status is different, so naturally he can no longer displease his father.

Consort Xian was the most intelligent. She neither vied for the empress's position nor tried to curry favor with the crown prince, and she was not interested in Emperor Qingmo.

Instead, he stayed indoors all day, chanting scriptures and worshipping Buddha, seemingly having no interest in power.

However, the seemingly most harmless person is often the one who hides the deepest secrets; who knows them all?

The second prince is indeed composed. Since becoming the crown prince, he has always acted steadily and without arrogance or impetuosity.

Qingmo saw this and became increasingly satisfied with him.

However, just when everyone thought he had secured his position as crown prince, this guy caused trouble again.