AWB Chapter 1017 I Need a Puppet
Chapter 1017 I Need a Puppet
Seeing the emperor coming, Shi Anxia and Xiao Jiu stood up to greet him and bowed respectfully, "Your sons and ministers respectfully welcome the emperor."
Xiao Yunde walked in slowly and sat down on the rosewood chair. Although he had deliberately softened his voice, he still couldn't hide the coldness between his brows, "Sit down. I have something to discuss with you two today."
Shi Anxia's eyes moved slightly, and he glanced towards the door inconspicuously.
"No need to prepare tea." Xiao Yunde raised his hand to stop him. "I have sent the people in the courtyard away, and there are people guarding outside."
Xiao Jiu's heart skipped a beat and he didn't dare to look up.
Xiao Yunde's eyes were heavy, and he went straight to the point, "Xiao Jiu, do you know why your father is so anxious to pass the throne to your brother?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jiu immediately stood up, folded his hands and bowed deeply, his voice slightly tense, "Father, I think... it's because my brother is diligent and wise, and he is deeply loved by the people..."
"Wasn't I diligent and wise enough when I was in office, and wasn't I popular among the people?" Xiao Yunde pressed.
This! Xiao Jiu's brain suddenly twitched, and he looked up with courage, meeting Xiao Yunde's gaze, "Is it because... Madam Tang refused to enter the palace as the queen?"
Xiao Yunde: “???”
Shi Anxia: "..."
Xiao Jiu suddenly remembered that Madam Tang was the biological mother of the emperor's sister, and almost bit his tongue, "My son is talking nonsense, my son is talking nonsense!"
"I think you are talking nonsense!" Xiao Yunde glanced at the bastard in front of him, "Go sit down."
Xiao Jiu hurried back to his seat with his head lowered.
Xiao Yunde changed the question, "Xiao Jiu, what do you think should be done now?"
Xiao Jiu knew that his father was asking about the matter of dethroning and enthroning, and was about to stand up to answer, but Xiao Yunde raised his hand to stop him, "Just sit down and talk."
He could only sit up straight and choose his words carefully, "I think... Father is a man of great talent and strategy, and is in his prime. If he can take charge of the government again, it will be a blessing for the Northern Wing."
The room was silent for a moment. Xiao Yunde turned his gaze towards Shi Anxia, his eyes revealing something unfathomable.
Shi Anxia understood and continued softly, "Father abdicated in his prime, and he really had his own reasons. At that time, the Imperial Astronomical Observatory observed the sky and said that the Emperor's Star was dim..."
After the truth was revealed, Xiao Jiu finally understood. No wonder his father passed the throne to his fourth brother as soon as he returned from the imperial expedition. It turned out that there were so many twists and turns involved.
Xiao Yunde said, "I had high hopes for your fourth brother. I hoped he could really be a good emperor. However, he was disappointing."
Xiao Jiu didn't dare to criticize the current emperor, he just lowered his eyes and listened.
Then the Grand Emperor said solemnly, "I want to take back the throne and take control of the government again."
Xiao Jiu was overjoyed, "Father should do this."
Why listen to the nonsense from the Imperial Observatory!
But the next moment, he heard the emperor say something that frightened him to death, "But I need a puppet."
Xiao Jiu raised his head suddenly and met Xiao Yunde's meaningful gaze: "???"
After a long while, he stammered, "Me?"
This is not difficult to guess. The eldest brother suffers from a leg disease, and the fourth brother is about to step down from the throne. He is the only one left.
Xiao Yunde nodded, "Yes, it's you."
The puppet Pig Head Nine was full of resistance, "Son, I...can't handle this important task."
"You don't need to take on any important responsibilities." Xiao Yunde has also learned that only when power is in his own hands can he be free from worries. "You sit firmly on the throne, and your father will rule for you."
The puppet was numb, "Father, is there room for negotiation?"
"No." Xiao Yunde said firmly.
The puppet's face fell.
He also heard his father make promises to him, "In fact, you are not sitting on this throne for nothing. After you succeed to the throne, I will allow you to leave the palace incognito, and you don't have to be bound by the court meetings every day."
Xiao Jiu's eyes moved slightly. This condition is indeed... really prepared for the puppet.
"And..." The Emperor suddenly leaned forward and lowered his voice, "When I hear good news from Liang, I will give you an unexpected surprise."
Shi Anxia couldn't help laughing when she saw the emperor fooling his son.
The puppet Xiao Jiu was so confused that his body trembled. Could it be that his father wanted to annex the Liang Kingdom?
Xiao Yunde looked at his son's indescribable and disapproving expression, knowing that he had misunderstood, and couldn't help but get angry, "I, your father, haven't even managed my own little piece of land, how can I have the ability to swallow up anyone else?"
Xiao Jiu finally felt relieved and said, "It's the best if your father thinks so. When two countries go to war, the common people will suffer."
These words made Xiao Yunde and Shi Anxia feel very comfortable.
"Liang is our ally in the north. If we can maintain friendship for generations, it will benefit the people." Xiao Yunde said meaningfully, "So you should be prepared. I may send you to meet the emperor of Liang someday."
Xiao Jiu originally thought that he was just going to be an envoy to Xiliang, and did not take it too seriously.
As a prince, serving the country was his duty. Whether he was serving as an envoy to a foreign country or guarding the border to defend the territory, he was happy to do it.
But there was one thing he had to make clear, "Father, it's not that I don't want to do my best, but when I was in my fiefdom, I met a fortune teller who said that I would not live past the age of twenty."
Actually, the fortune teller originally said fifteen. Now that he had safely passed the age, he took it upon himself to move the age back.
He does not care about life and death as determined by fate, but if his fate is damaged and it brings disaster to the country's destiny, then he will be blamed for it.
The room suddenly fell silent. Xiao Yunde and Shi Anxia exchanged meaningful glances.
After a while, Shi Anxia suddenly chuckled, "Man can conquer nature. As long as you keep a righteous heart and an upright mind, God will bless you. How can you take the words of the quacks seriously? They just say scary things to cheat people out of their money."
Xiao Jiu was simple-minded, and his eyes lit up when he heard that. "My sister is right! Mother believed that and cried every day. I don't know how much money she gave to the sorcerer to change her fate."
When he mentioned his adoptive mother, Concubine Lin, his brows softened. Now Concubine Lin was contented in his fiefdom, and she was even healthier than when she was in the palace.
Xiao Yunde made the final decision, "It's settled. The Imperial Astronomical Observatory has also looked at your horoscope and said that you have the Purple Star as your destiny sign, which means you have the appearance of a true dragon."
This time, he had learned from the previous experience and was much more cautious. "You have the empty title of emperor, so you should go out and see the people more often, understand their sentiments, and feel the sufferings of the world. When I am old and you are capable, I will truly hand over the North Wing to you. If you make a mistake and have evil intentions like your fourth brother, I will not let you off easily."
Puppet Xiao Jiu stood up and bowed, "It is my honor to be able to benefit the North Wing with my eight characters. If I want to go to Iron Horse City, can the emperor allow it?"
Xiao Yunde pondered for a moment, "After the matter in the capital is settled, you will go to Tiema City with your sister. Listen to your sister more in the future. Tiema City is also close to Liang State. We will arrange for you to go directly to Liang State to meet the person you want to meet."
Xiao Jiu was so happy that he only paid attention to the words "go to Tiema City". As for the words "meet the person you want to meet" at the end, he ignored them.
He felt that the person he wanted to see most was his prince consort. Could he possibly meet his prince consort in Liang State?
How is that possible? Hehe, I can go to Iron Horse City! In this way, it is not impossible to contribute my horoscope and be a puppet.