The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

Chapter 189 The Banquet Sparks the Crisis

That night.

Changxin Hall.

Emperor Jing sat on the high platform, with the Empress Dowager sitting to his right. To his right below her sat Jing Fengyao and Jing Anle, followed by Consort Li, Consort Chen, and Consort Lin.

On the left is Prince Qing, Princess Qing, and Jing Rou, a family of three.

In the middle, the singers danced gracefully, accompanied by the rising and falling music.

After the song and dance ended, Emperor Jing spoke first, "There's no need to be reserved at today's family banquet." He then turned to Prince Qing, "I specially ordered the Imperial Kitchen to cook your favorite Eight Treasure Duck. Prince Qing, you must eat more."

Prince Qing was disdainful, but he still stood up and pretended to be respectful, saying, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty."

Jing Rou felt a surge of anger looking at the composed Jing Anle across from her. She desperately wanted to crush Jing Anle, but her plans had failed time and again, leaving her extremely frustrated. Fortunately, they already had a new plan…

Recalling Qi Zhi's gentle and considerate attitude towards her this afternoon, Jing Rou felt more confident.

"Very well, although we were born into the royal family, it is only right for brothers to help each other. There should be no grudges between brothers." The Empress Dowager said slowly, seeing that the time was about right.

Jing Anle took a sip of sake and couldn't help but snort softly, knowing that this old hag was up to something again.

But Jing Anle knew even better that after all that had happened, Emperor Jing would naturally not compromise.

Sure enough, the Empress Dowager spoke again, "I don't know about the affairs of the court, but my son, you are handling the affairs of the country all by yourself, which is really tiring. Why don't you lift up your hand and let Qing'er help you share some of the burden? Firstly, it will make you feel more relaxed, and secondly, it will make you brothers more harmonious."

Not only Jing Anle, but Jing Fengyao was also stunned. Ever since Jing Anle enlightened him last time, he had been keeping an eye on Prince Qing in private. Although he hadn't caught any substantial evidence, he already had some reservations and was on guard.

It's utterly absurd that the Empress Dowager is now so brazenly asking Emperor Jing for power!

Jing Fengyao had also learned his lesson. Although he was displeased, he remained unmoved on the surface.

The hall was eerily silent. After a long while, Emperor Jing's voice could be heard: "Your Majesty, you may not know this, but although there are many affairs of state, our Jing Kingdom is not lacking in talented people."

"Furthermore, although there was no evidence regarding the hairpin incident last time, if we immediately appoint Brother Qing to an important position, wouldn't it cause criticism from the world, saying that our Jing Kingdom disregards the law and etiquette?"

After speaking, Emperor Jing ignored the Empress Dowager's gaze and looked directly at Prince Qing sitting below, asking, "Brother Qing, do you think my words make sense?"

Prince Qing knew that the chances of regaining military power were slim, but he still went to the Empress Dowager to ask her to intercede. Even if it didn't work, it would be good to upset Emperor Jing.

Prince Qing stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty is quite right, but as Your Majesty just said, there is no concrete evidence. I am truly innocent regarding the hairpin. As for why the hairpin was stolen and why it led to the death of the Consort, I really do not know." It was impossible to get him to confess.

"Enough, enough, it's all in the past, why bring it up again!" The Empress Dowager coughed lightly, interrupting Emperor Jing and Prince Qing.

"Your Majesty, the late Emperor did not have many children. Apart from Yongping who was married off, and Prince Wen and Prince Xian who were sent to other places, there were only you two brothers in the capital. You should support them more."

Jing Anle felt nauseous. Was this some kind of coercion? She was about to speak when Jing Fengyao interrupted, "Grandmother, you are overthinking it."

In an instant, everyone's attention was drawn to it.

"Your Majesty is in the prime of your life, and I, your humble grandson, am willing to share your burdens."

Emperor Jing stared at Jing Fengyao, his eyes revealing no emotion.

"Fengyao has truly grown up. As His Majesty's eldest son, it is only right that he shares His Majesty's burdens. However, he must not harbor any ill intentions." Although the Empress Dowager smiled, her words were laced with provocation. She was implying that Jing Fengyao was restless and had ambitions of usurpation.

For a moment, the entire hall fell silent. Jing Fengyao also realized what was happening and hurriedly stood up, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect, saying, "Father, I had absolutely no such intention."

She set a trap with just a few words, sowing discord between father and son. This empress dowager is truly shrewd.

“Father,” Jing Anle suddenly spoke up, “yesterday my brother was talking to me about how the medicine you’ve been taking recently is really harming your health, and we were discussing going to the Imperial Medical Bureau to get you some mild and nourishing medicine.”

As she spoke, Jing Anle glanced at Jing Fengyao again and continued, "The Classic of Filial Piety says, 'Filial piety is the foundation of virtue.' Your Majesty is loyal and filial; you can't even bear to see Father unwell, let alone some nonsense."

"Hahaha, Anle has such a clever tongue." The Empress Dowager laughed. "I only said one sentence, and look at this child. If someone who didn't know the situation heard it, they would think that I was trying to sow discord between you and your father."

"You old hag, you were the one who spoke, and now you're the one turning the tables on me." Jing Anle smiled politely and said softly, "It's all Anle's fault for being so talkative."

After saying that, Jing Anle raised her head and tried her best to use a coquettish voice to say, "However, my grandmother is kind and loving, so she probably won't let outsiders spread rumors. That would be truly nonsense!"

This means that if any rumors spread in the future, it will all be the Empress Dowager's doing. What a clever girl! Sitting opposite Jing Anle, Princess Qing, Ji Shuting, smiled and subtly observed Jing Anle.

"Alright, sit down," Emperor Jing finally spoke.

Jing Fengyao respectfully said, "Thank you, Father Emperor."

Seeing this, the Empress Dowager could not say anything more, so she changed the subject, "Speaking of which, I haven't seen Yongping for a long time. I wonder how she is doing in the southern border."

Emperor Jing smiled and said, "The people of the southern border are simple and honest, and Yongping is a princess, so naturally she will not be wronged."

Yongping was the youngest daughter of the late emperor. To preserve the friendship between the two countries, Yongping was married off to the other side. Now, more than ten years have passed, and she has never returned.

The Empress Dowager sighed, "Although I am not Yongping's birth mother, I have watched her grow up. Now that the end of the year is approaching, why doesn't His Majesty issue an edict to allow Yongping to return to the capital to visit her family?"

"Firstly, it will alleviate Yongping's homesickness, and secondly, it will allow you siblings to reunite happily."

Emperor Jing pondered for a moment and said, "The southern border is remote, and the journey home is long. Yongping's health has never been good, and the arduous journey will likely..."

"Your Majesty, you are mistaken." Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was Prince Qing who spoke.

"Now that the official road has been repaired, even if Yongping is weak, if he can return to the capital for a visit, all his ailments will probably disappear."

Yongping? Jing Anle tried hard to recall. In her previous life, she only knew that Princess Yongping had married far away to the southern border and had never returned to the capital. Had something changed?

Now that the Empress Dowager and Prince Qing want Yongping to return to the capital, what are they planning?