studiobondurri Chapter 177 Pei Yuanqing: I'll sit at the kids' table from now on.
Chapter 177 Pei Yuanqing: I'll sit at the kids' table from now on.
It's good that Yang Yu'er came to the manor.
If the two women work together to train Lü Xiao, they should be able to bring out some of the ambition in this stubborn mule.
When his son ascends the throne in the future, Lü Xiao can be posthumously honored as an emperor, right?
It can't be that the new emperor of the Sui Dynasty will be just a loyal king of a different surname.
"How enlightened!"
Lu Xiao silently gave a thumbs up.
Such magnanimity, such composure.
Where can you find a woman like this who actively urges her husband to marry another woman?
"So," Yang Ruyi lowered her voice and leaned closer, her tone sounding just like a devil's whisper.
"Don't you really have even the slightest desire for Father's throne?"
Here we go again.
Lu Xiao rolled his eyes at her.
Even before Emperor Yang Guang passed away, his daughter was already preoccupied with the matter of succession to the throne.
If Yang Guang knew this, he would probably faint from anger on the spot.
A daughter who's always scheming to seize her family's throne—who can stand that?
"I, Lü Xiao, am utterly loyal to the Sui Dynasty," Lü Xiao said, straightening his chest and speaking with a powerful voice.
"Even in death, I will face the late Emperor with a clear conscience!"
These words were spoken with such conviction that even he himself was moved.
It feels so good to be a loyal subject!
Yang Ruyi shook her head, her eyes filled with a disappointed and resentful look: "Don't you want to be posthumously honored as an emperor after you die?"
"Ruyi, huh?" Lu Xiao sighed and raised his hand to tap the rebellious head.
"I wouldn't even want to be an emperor while I'm alive, what's the point of being a ball after I'm dead!"
How tiring is it to live like an emperor?
Every day he had to review memorials, attend the morning court, and deal with the harem. Why would Lü Xiao, who could have lived a carefree life, choose to suffer like that?
Are you out of your mind?
"Then take a look at this thing."
Yang Ruyi remained calm and took out a piece of paper from her sleeve, slowly unfolding it.
A bright red stamp was stamped on the paper.
That's the seal of the imperial seal.
The characters are in seal script and red ink, eight large characters in total.
By the mandate of Heaven, may your life be long and prosperous.
Lu Xiao's gaze fell on those eight words, and he paused slightly.
It must be said that the imperial seal is extremely alluring to any man.
It is a symbol of power, proof of supreme authority, and something that countless people throughout history have dreamed of.
Even Lü Xiao, who was loyal to the Sui Dynasty and Yang Guang, couldn't help but take a second look at him.
The bright red seal seemed to possess some kind of magic under the candlelight.
"Is it pretty?" Yang Ruyi waved the paper, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze across a lake. "Would you like to cover it up yourself?"
When she picked up the imperial seal and stamped it, she felt as if the whole world was in her hands.
That feeling was more intoxicating than any treasure.
She couldn't believe that anyone could refuse the imperial seal.
Lu Xiao stared at the paper for a long time.
Then he looked away and said indifferently, "I don't want to. I find this thing too heavy to even use to smash walnuts, let alone stamp them."
"It's ruined."
"You're finished."
Yang Ruyi held the paper up to the candle flame, the flame licking at the edge of the paper and spreading rapidly.
In the blink of an eye, the paper stamped with the Imperial Seal of the State turned to ashes, fluttering down onto the table.
Lu Xiao silently walked to the table, bent down, and blew a sharp breath.
The ashes turned into puffs of dust, scattering and falling without a trace.
Meanwhile, in Beiping Prefecture, a thousand miles away.
Qin Qiong led the Yanshan Iron Cavalry back, where Luo Yi had been waiting for a long time.
"Shubao, how is the campaign against Wagang going?"
The three thousand iron cavalry he gave Qin Qiong were all elites among elites. Destroying a small Wagang would be a piece of cake.
"Uncle," Qin Qiong bowed, "Wagang has been destroyed."
"Okay." Luo Yi nodded, a satisfied smile on her face.
This hurdle is now behind us.
It won't be so easy for Yang Guang and Lü Xiao to cause him trouble again.
"By the way," Luo Yi frowned slightly after waiting a moment and not seeing Luo Cheng, "Where's your cousin? Did he get into trouble again and is too scared to come see me?"
Qin Qiong remained silent for a moment.
"My cousin..." he said, his head bowed, his voice dry, "went to the Eastern Capital to meet the Emperor."
"What?"
Luo Yi suddenly stood up, slamming the teacup in her hand to the ground.
That smiling face instantly turned into shock and horror.
"Here's what happened..."
Qin Qiong recounted everything that had happened that day in detail.
Luo Yi's brows furrowed more and more as she listened.
Since he was stationed in Yanshan, the imperial court has never asked him to send a hostage to the capital.
Now, the imperial court, under the pretext of suppressing bandits, has forcibly taken Luo Cheng away.
Once this precedent is set, it will be difficult to stop it from happening again.
"Uncle," Qin Qiong said cautiously when he saw Luo Yi remain silent, "You command a large army, so the court certainly wouldn't dare to make things difficult for my cousin."
"I'm not worried about that," Luo Yi said slowly as he sat down, his voice low.
The imperial court would certainly not make things difficult for Luo Cheng.
Yang Guang was not a fool, and Lü Xiao was not a hothead either.
They knew that Luo Cheng was a hindrance, a bargaining chip, not a hostage.
As long as Beiping Prefecture does not rebel, Luo Cheng will remain safe and sound.
But the problem is.
From now on, Luo Yi must consider his son's safety before making any move.
When he wants to make a move, he has to consider whether Luo Cheng is having a good time in Luoyang.
When he wanted to turn against the imperial court, he had to consider whether Yang Guang would take action against Luo Cheng in a fit of anger.
This restraint is more ruthless than any sword or spear.
"You can go now," Luo Yi waved her hand. "I'll go and mention this to Cheng'er's mother."
Qin Qiong bowed and took his leave.
Luo Yi watched his retreating figure, her gaze gradually turning cold.
If Qin Qiong had been more assertive that day, given the prestige of Beiping Prefecture, Lü Xiao might not have dared to escalate the situation.
But Qin Qiong did not. He chose to back down and watched helplessly as his cousin was taken away.
Ultimately, it just won't work if they're not blood brothers.
In crucial moments, they can't be relied upon.
……
Luoyang, the Eastern Capital, the Prince of Shuo's Mansion.
Before they knew it, it was time for Yang Ruyi to give birth.
Upon receiving the news, Yang Guang rushed from the palace to the Prince of Shuo's residence without stopping.
"How is it?"
Upon seeing Lü Xiao outside the room, he asked anxiously.
When they arrived at the Prince Shuo's residence, a large crowd was already standing outside the delivery room.
Lu Xiao stood with his hands behind his back under the eaves, his face unusually blank: "I don't know."
He genuinely didn't know.
When Yang Ruyi gave birth to Lü Zhen, he was far away on a military campaign and could not be by her side.
This second child was a first for him.
Asking you is pointless.
Yang Guang was amused by his foolish appearance.
The mighty God of War of the Sui Dynasty could take the head of a general from among thousands of troops as easily as taking something out of a bag.
Standing outside the delivery room, he looked like a clueless young boy.
Apart from Lü Xiao and Yang Guang.
Others were standing outside the courtyard, including Yuwen Chenglong and Pei Yuanqing, who also appeared very anxious.
Yuwen Chenglong was in a hurry to prepare some big gift for the second son of the Lü family.
Pei Yuanqing was thinking that if it was a boy, he would have a second brother.
If it's a girl, wouldn't she be the eldest sister?
Oh no, it seems he really will be sitting at the kids' table from now on.