Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1106: Chapter 135: The Crown Prince Position Slipped Away

After Prince Dai returned to the capital, as expected by everyone, he exchanged his military achievements in the northern frontier resisting the Xiongnu for Marquis Xuanping’s title to be restored.

Everyone originally thought that once Marquis Xuanping’s title was restored, Noble Princess Consort Rong’s "illness" should be cured. Unexpectedly, she continued to be "ill." The concubines in the harem were very disdainful; they hadn’t expected that Noble Princess Consort Rong, having enjoyed feigning illness, would shamelessly continue to gain the emperor’s sympathy.

After a few days, everyone discovered that Noble Princess Consort Rong was truly ill, and not pretending. This shocked everyone. They hadn’t imagined that Noble Princess Consort Rong would actually make herself sick to ensure the restoration of Marquis Xuanping’s title. Noble Princess Consort Rong was indeed harsh on herself.

Everyone believed that Noble Princess Consort Rong deliberately made herself sick, but this was not the case. In the beginning, when everyone mistook her for feigning illness to gain the emperor’s sympathy, Noble Princess Consort Rong did not have anyone come forward to explain. She knew that no matter how she explained, people would not believe she was truly ill.

Now that the world thought she intentionally made herself ill, she was even less inclined to offer an explanation. Actually, whether or not she explained if she was truly ill was not important. It didn’t matter how others viewed her, as long as the emperor believed her.

Since falling ill, Noble Princess Consort Rong never asked the emperor to summon Prince Dai back to the capital, much less for his intervention in restoring Marquis Xuanping’s title. From beginning to end, she had not uttered a single word.

When the emperor decided to summon Prince Dai back to the capital, she even advised against calling him back just for her sake, as Prince Dai was in the northern frontier to resist the Xiongnu. The emperor told her the northern frontier was now peaceful, and it was time for Prince Dai to return.

Learning that the emperor indeed agreed to have Prince Dai use his military achievements to restore Marquis Xuanping’s title, Noble Princess Consort Rong opposed it. She wasn’t afraid of becoming a target of public criticism, she simply didn’t want to squander the military achievements her son risked his life for.

At this time, in Yongxin Palace, Noble Princess Consort Rong glared at her son, disappointed: "Didn’t I write to you, telling you not to use your achievements in the northern frontier to restore your uncle’s title? Why didn’t you listen..." Before she could finish her sentence, she started to cough violently, "Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough..."

"Mother Consort, I can’t just stand by and do nothing for my uncle." After all, he was his uncle.

Noble Princess Consort Rong’s face turned red with anger, pointing at Prince Dai furiously: "Your uncle is alive and well, what are you trying to save him from?"

"Uncle lost his title," in Prince Dai’s eyes, losing the Marquis Xuanping title was a very serious matter for his uncle.

"Your uncle may have lost his title, but no one dares to bully him." In recent days, Noble Princess Consort Rong’s condition had improved somewhat, but now it worsened again because of Prince Dai. "Besides, your uncle will eventually regain the title. Even if the emperor refuses to restore it, once you ascend to that position, you can reinstate your uncle’s title. Why rush to restore your uncle’s title now?"

Prince Dai responded with some grievance, "Without his title, how can uncle help me?"

These words made Noble Princess Consort Rong so angry that she almost fainted, "You... you... are going to be the death of me."

Seeing that Noble Princess Consort Rong was about to pass out from anger, Jin Mei quickly extended her hand to calm her.

Prince Dai was scared and looked anxiously at her, "Mother Consort, are you alright?"

If she weren’t seriously ill, Noble Princess Consort Rong would have dearly loved to give Prince Dai a few slaps.

Under Jin Mei’s cooing, Noble Princess Consort Rong finally regained some composure.

Trying to appease her, Prince Dai brought a cup of ginseng tea for Noble Princess Consort Rong, even though she was tempted to throw the tea in his face, thinking of Prince Dai as her own son, she had to endure.

After drinking the ginseng tea, Noble Princess Consort Rong felt less dizzy. She reached out and poked Prince Dai’s forehead hard, scolding angrily: "You fool, you’ve lost the position of Crown Prince that was within your grasp."

"What?" Prince Dai was startled by Noble Princess Consort Rong’s words, "What do you mean I’ve lost the Crown Prince position that was within my grasp?"

Seeing that Prince Dai still didn’t understand, Noble Princess Consort Rong’s chest pained with anger again. How could she have given birth to such a foolish son?

"Mother Consort, speak up," seeing Noble Princess Consort Rong delay, Prince Dai urged anxiously, "What on earth is going on?"

Noble Princess Consort Rong took a deep breath to steady her mind and said, "This time, in the northern frontier, was it not a significant military achievement resisting the Xiongnu?"

Prince Dai didn’t understand why Noble Princess Consort Rong was asking this question. He nodded and said, "Of course, it’s a significant military achievement."

"Then tell me, how does this achievement compare to your previous ones?" Noble Princess Consort Rong continued to ask, "Is it greater or lesser?"

When it came to military achievements, Prince Dai had a clear understanding, and he answered without hesitation, "Greater than previous achievements." Previously, he had quelled numerous rebels, earning significant military merit, but the Xiongnu were different. They were an external tribe, intending to invade Great Zhou from the south, so by comparison, resisting the Xiongnu was indeed a greater military achievement.