Chapter 79: Saving the Aloof Crown Prince 30

The bell chiming ended.

Xiao Zhuoxian rose, his gaze toward the officials carrying a faint dignity.

"Who still has objections?"

The Second Prince's faction and the Crown Prince's faction had been notified beforehand; they knelt first, shouting, "Long live the Emperor!"

The neutral faction had no choice and also knelt.

"Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years!"

The Eldest Prince's faction was furious, especially those close to the Liu family.

Xiao Zhuoxian glanced around and asked, "Do you all have a better candidate?"

"Or do you intend to proclaim yourself king?"

"That charge is serious."

Even if they still had objections, for now they could only kneel, waiting to discuss later.

Thus, all civil and military officials agreed.

The succession of the throne concluded.

"Step back; the Imperial Household Department will announce the mourning."

"Yes!"

Xiao Zhuoxian and Yun Lingfeng exchanged a glance; he smiled and nodded respectfully.

——

The former emperor passed away, and the empress, unable to bear the grief, followed shortly after.

The new emperor ascended the throne, and the realm observed mourning.

Xiao Zhuoxian took the era name Eternal Health Emperor, meaning he wished for the realm's health and eternal peace.

He honored his birth mother as Empress Dowager, moving her to Yongshou Palace.

He appointed the daughter of a third-rank secretary, Yun Ji'nan, as empress, holding the coronation and the empress's investiture on the same day to show his cherishing of affection; the emperor and empress brought auspicious dragon and phoenix, a general amnesty was declared, and taxes were exempted for three years.

Ten days after the coronation, the former Crown Prince Xiao Su died from frailty; the new emperor grieved, had an imperial mausoleum built for him, and buried him with the rites due a prince.

Since the former emperor's mourning had not ended and there was another funeral, the new emperor specially decreed that within ten years no court officials could submit remonstrances for selection.

Twenty days after the coronation.

These days Xiao Zhuoxian is exhausted; he still has to feign grief before outsiders, and as soon as court ends he returns to the Nourishing Heart Palace, where the Empress is waiting.

"Nan'er..."

Xiao Zhuoxian sighed, leaning on his Empress's shoulder, "I am so tired."

Yun Ji'nan gently smoothed his forehead, "Your Majesty, today your cousins will come to bid farewell."

"Today?"

Xiao Zhuoxian sat upright, "Yes, it's time to go."

His gaze grew wistful, "It's a pity I cannot see them marry."

"Don't grieve, elder brother; when I marry I will surely send someone posthaste to inform you."

Xiao Su and Jin Chen entered the inner hall.

Free of the title of Crown Prince, Xiao Su looked refreshed and spirited, much happier.

On the day Xiao Zhuoxian ascended the throne, Xiao Su's Blackening Value had already dropped to zero.

Jin Chen knew the remaining ten points of Heartbeat Value were unfilled because of this promise made but not yet fulfilled—the wedding ceremony.

"Then that's best."

Xiao Zhuoxian looked at his younger imperial brother and sighed softly.

"I said I'd make you a leisurely prince, but you refused, insisting you had died."

Xiao Su smirked, "The Crown Prince has passed; from now on I am merely an ordinary person unrelated to the imperial family—this is good."

"I and Ah Chen will go to Jiangnan Hangzhou; if there is any interesting joy, I will surely write to share the happiness with my elder brother."

Jin Chen nodded, promising to Xiao Zhuoxian.

"Your Majesty, rest assured; with me I will not let Su Bao endure a hard life."

"What does Xiao Zhuoxian have to worry about?"

He again gave some miscellaneous instructions, and Xiao Su listened attentively.

In the end, there really was nothing left to say.

Only then did Xiao Zhuoxian gulp a mouthful of tea.

"Take care on the journey."

Xiao Su's eyes reddened; "The court's winds shift, dangers abound—elder brother and elder sister-in-law, you too must take care."

Yun Ji'nan lightly laughed, "You and your cousin are also."

——

After two quarter-hours, an inconspicuous carriage left the imperial palace.

It did not linger in the capital, went straight out the city gate, leaving the place that had once trapped Xiao Su his whole life.

Thereafter, mountains high and waters far—they had their own destination.

Three months later.

Xiao Zhuoxian then received Xiao Su's letter.

They settled in Hangzhou, got married; Jin Chen treated him well, the manor had plenty of servants, no one constantly schemed against him, and he lived happily in Hangzhou.

He also mentioned in the letter that he and Jin Chen went together to pay respects to the earlier Jin family ancestral tomb, and also paid respects together with Yun Ji'nan and the senior lady.

The senior lady received the news and was very happy.

Two years later.

The Empress conceived a dragon heir; unable to bear the scorching heat, the Yongkang Emperor had the Jiangnan travel palace readied and brought the Empress, in a grand procession, to Jiangnan to escape the heat.

The day after the emperor and empress arrived at the palace, Jin Chen and Xiao Su went to meet them.

Imperial Elder Brother!

Xiao Su happily bowed and said, "Imperial Elder Brother, Imperial Sister-in-Law, long time no see."

"Su'er, you… have changed too much."

Xiao Zhuoxian could hardly believe it.

Over the past two years, Xiao Su has been pampered by Jin Chen, with no worries, and Jin Chen has not restrained him; as long as safety is ensured, he lets Xiao Su do whatever he wants.

Thus, his complexion was rosy; though his figure still appeared slender, he was no longer frail, truly the picture of a graceful young gentleman.

Jin Chen, however, hadn't changed much; he simply no longer wore the ordinary dark guard's black robes, often wearing matching-colored brocade robes with Xiao Su, so as to give the impression of a couple.

Xiao Su smiled, pursing his lips, and said, "Not much different, but Your Imperial Elder Brother looks far more dignified, and… a bit rounder."

He sat down, instinctively leaning into Jin Chen's embrace, and joked,

"Could it be that the Empress is pregnant, and you're also nurturing yourself?"

Jin Chen chuckled low, ruffled his hair, and agreed with his wife, saying, "You're right."

"You, you, you're becoming more and more outspoken."

Xiao Zhuoxian laughed despite being annoyed, and looked resentfully at his own Empress.

"Have I become hard to look at?"

Yun Jianan couldn't help but laugh out loud, pinching his cheeks, and said, "Your Majesty, you've gained quite a bit of flesh lately, but you're still handsome."

Xiao Zhuoxian sighed.

"It's not like you refuse to eat the nourishing medicinal food, saying it makes you vomit, and you don't want to answer to the Imperial Household Department, so in the end it all goes into my stomach."

Jin Chen, hearing this, looked toward Yun Jianan.

"Is the morning sickness severe?"

Yun Jianan, embarrassed, rubbed his belly and said, "The imperial physician said I'm carrying twins, which will be more tormenting than a normal pregnancy."

"Wow, twins."

Xiao Su narrowed his phoenix eyes in a smile and said, "Congratulations, Your Imperial Elder Brother and Imperial Sister-in-Law; this is an auspicious omen."

He patted Jin Chen's shoulder and said, "A Chen, quickly give our congratulatory gift to the Empress."

"Good."

Jin Chen took out the medicine box and handed it to the palace maid who came to receive it.

"This medicine is one of the treasures we gathered during our two years of wandering the world; it can completely free pregnant women from morning sickness, and I expect it will also help you."

"Thank you, Cousin."

Yun Jianan smiled happily.

The four of them again ate dinner together, but the travel palace was ultimately crowded and full of watchful eyes.

To avoid drawing attention, Jin Chen and Xiao Su stayed only one day.

"Where are you off to this time? Didn't you settle down in Hangzhou?"

Xiao Zhuoxian asked.

"The world is vast, and there are still many places I haven't taken Su Bao to see."

Jin Chen curled his lips and said, "Naturally, we will continue wandering the world."

"That's fine, but once His Majesty's imperial son is born, I will certainly expect to receive your congratulatory gift."

Xiao Su: "That's only natural."

The carriage departed from the travel palace.

Xiao Su leaned against Jin Chen's chest and said, "A Chen, where shall we go for fun this time?"

Jin Chen: "To the coastal regions; you recently said you wanted to experience gathering seafood."

"Good."

Xiao Su happily flung himself into his embrace and actively offered a kiss.