newbobooks Chapter 380: Secretly Leaving Beijing
Chapter 380: Secretly Leaving Beijing
The title of Concubine Qi was just a surname, and she was not favored by Jing Xian. Jing Xian would only visit her palace occasionally for the sake of the eldest prince.
The eldest prince, as the eldest son, failed to win the position of crown prince. In addition to the fact that Emperor Jing favored Xiao Jingyi, it was also because his mother was of humble origin and his in-laws had little power and could not provide him with much help.
The eldest prince had some complaints in his heart, and he even went to great lengths to find a good marriage for himself.
Since he can’t borrow power from his in-laws, he can only borrow power from his wife’s family to increase his bargaining chips.
Otherwise, he probably wouldn't even be qualified to sit at the table and compete with the Third Prince and others.
Although the eldest prince had complaints in his heart, the relationship between him and Concubine Qi and her son was still very good.
He thought that Jing ** was most likely infected with smallpox, and the Third Prince might take action at any time. Concubine Qi was in the inner court, so he couldn't help but worry about her safety.
He couldn't help but remind her, "Mother, you should stay in your palace recently on the pretext of feeling unwell, and don't leave the palace too often."
"If the Queen Mother or Concubine Cui summons me, I will try to refuse it..."
Concubine Qi was able to climb up the harem step by step to the position of concubine, and gave birth to the eldest prince safely and raised him to adulthood. Naturally, she was not a naive person.
When she heard the eldest prince's words, she immediately thought of something, grabbed the eldest prince's hand, and her expression became solemn.
"Hong'er, but the Third Prince..."
The eldest prince patted Concubine Qi's hand, interrupted her and said comfortingly: "Don't worry, mother, I have already made preparations."
"If anyone wants to take advantage of my father's illness to do something, I will not let him do it!"
Upon hearing this, Concubine Qi understood what she should do.
If the Third Prince, together with Empress Dowager Cui, Concubine Cui and others, took the opportunity to do something, then these concubines who were in the inner court and had given birth to princes would most likely be captured as hostages to threaten the princes to submit.
Concubine Qi knew that she came from a humble family and could not give her son much help, so she naturally could not hold him back.
She raised her head and gazed at the eldest prince, smiling slightly, "Mother understands."
"Mother, you are now claiming to be ill and staying in the palace. If the Queen Mother or Imperial Concubine Cui come to tell you, Mother will also refuse."
The eldest prince was relieved when he saw that after his reminder, Concubine Qi already knew how to be on guard.
What he was waiting for was for the Third Prince's party to take action, but he was afraid that he was out of reach and Concubine Qi would suffer without any preparation.
The eldest prince chatted with Concubine Qi for a while before leaving.
As soon as he returned to the palace, his confidant came to report: "Your Highness, there is something unusual happening with the Third Prince."
"A quarter of an hour ago, the Third Prince met with Qi Shaokun, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, at Baiwei Tower."
The eldest prince raised his eyebrows, knowing that the third prince was about to take action.
After all, this matter cannot be delayed, and the goal is to catch the enemy by surprise and cut the Gordian knot.
After all, no matter how carefully Jing**’s illness was kept secret, it couldn’t be concealed for too long, and the truth would eventually come out.
Once the court and the people knew that Jing** had smallpox, the ministers in the court would naturally write a joint letter requesting that a successor be chosen as soon as possible.
However, not all ministers in the court support the third prince.
In addition, once Xiao Jingyi learned the news, he would definitely lead his troops back to the capital.
Therefore, the third prince's plan was quick, accurate and ruthless.
The eldest prince's power is not as strong as the third prince's, so he has no chance of winning in a head-on confrontation. He can only take a different approach and hope to take advantage of an opportunity.
With his power, it was very difficult to infiltrate the Third Prince's inner circle and obtain intelligence, so he could only keep a close eye on the Third Prince's every move.
Now that he knew that the Third Prince had started to take action, the First Prince concealed his excitement and told his confidant, "Keep keeping a close eye on the Third Prince, and report any situation immediately!"
After his confidants left, the eldest prince carefully worked out his plan in his mind.
He always felt like he had overlooked something.
After a long while, he slammed the table and stood up suddenly.
It’s Xiao Jingmo.
The eldest prince suddenly remembered that Jing Xi had been ill these days, and all the princes and grandchildren went to the Zichen Palace to pay their respects, but he had never seen Xiao Jingmo.
This is indeed a bit abnormal!
The eldest prince quickly called his men and asked them to investigate Xiao Jingmo's whereabouts.
Not long after, his men came back to report that the results of their investigation were exactly the same as those of the Third Prince, that Xiao Jingmo had gone to the hot spring resort with Lady Pingle.
The eldest prince thought about it, and always felt that there was something strange about Xiao Jingmo's absence at this critical moment.
He is cautious by nature and always likes to think twice about everything.
The eldest prince pondered for a while before speaking again, instructing another confidant, "Take someone to the hot spring resort in Pingle Mountain and find out if Xiao Jingmo is there."
"No need to do anything else, let alone alert others. Just find out whether Xiao Jingmo is there!"
Xiao Jingmo, who was noticed by the eldest prince and the third prince, was now sitting in a bumpy carriage heading north.
As the sky gradually darkened, the convoy stopped in a sheltered place.
Xiao Jingmo lifted the curtain and jumped out of the carriage.
Tianshu, who was riding on the side of the carriage, also got off his horse and stepped forward and said, "Young master, let's rest here tonight."
They did not stay in any post stations or inns along the way, and even avoided prosperous cities, sleeping in the wild most of the time.
Xiao Jingmo had suffered a lot in the past, and even fled famine with Yun Fuling, so he accepted it well and was not spoiled.
This made everyone in the group look at him with new eyes, this young master who, although young, has a great chance of becoming the heir to the dynasty in the future.
Xiao Jingmo stretched his almost stiff body, nodded, and asked:
"Uncle Tianshu, how long will it take to get to Shuozhou?"
Tianshu replied: "We will almost be there in two more days."
Xiao Jingmo nodded to show that he understood.
The rest of the team was already busy.
Some were collecting firewood, some were washing rice, some were feeding horses, only Tianshu stayed by Xiao Jingmo's side, holding his sword and never leaving.
After Xiao Jingmo moved his body for a while, his right hand unconsciously touched his chest and pressed it gently.
Feeling something in his chest, he let out a long sigh, a faint light flashing in his eyes.
He still remembered the day when his grandfather suddenly called him over, handed him a sealed wooden box, and told him to give it to his father after seeing his father. He then asked Tianshu to escort him with a team of Jingwei to secretly leave the capital and head north to Shuozhou.
Xiao Jingmo didn't know what was going on, but his royal grandfather's attitude that day was very serious, and it was obvious that something big was about to happen.
Xiao Jingmo understood that his royal grandfather might have already made preparations, and sending him away to find his father was probably a backup plan.
He believed in his grandfather, and he believed in his father even more.
So he had to get to Shuozhou as soon as possible.
As long as he sees his father and hands over the things that his royal grandfather entrusted to him to his father, he will have nothing to fear no matter what happens!