0p0 Chapter 254 Civil strife
Chapter 254 Civil strife
The moonlight flowed like water in the magnificent palace. In this solemn imperial family, Xu Jiaoran quietly changed her former temperament, no longer being fierce and resisting, and she stayed by the side of Emperor Li Zhen with unprecedented tenderness and obedience.
Xu Jiaoran figured it out. Li Zhen didn't like her pretending to be flattering and fawning, as it seemed fake, so she would feel more at ease.
The sharpness in her eyes has turned into a trickle, gently bypassing the palaces of the royal family. She is as gentle as spring water, as if all the sharp edges have been smoothed by time and become as gentle as jade. Her behavior is no longer stubborn and unruly, but more graceful and humble.
When Li Zhen first saw Xu Jiaoran's transformation, he couldn't help but be a little surprised. She used to be so sharp and piercing, but now she has become so gentle and pleasant, like a ray of sunshine in the morning light, which warms people's hearts.
"What? Have you figured it out?" Li Zhen looked at Xu Jiaoran casually.
Xu Jiaoran nodded: "Yes, the situation is like this now. I am just a little girl. If I don't figure it out, how am I going to live for the next few decades?"
"Very good!" Li Zhen was somewhat satisfied when he heard this.
He thought Xu Jiaoran had really accepted her fate and was willing to stay quietly by his side.
Then, a hint of relief flashed in Li Zhen's eyes.
Xu Jiaoran's performance was not as good as usual. She seemed to have really returned to her former self, staying safely in the palace, staying by her side.
"Your Majesty, I've been feeling really bored these days. Can you let me go out for a walk?" Xu Jiaoran slowly tested Li Zhen's bottom line.
Li Zhen was a little skeptical when he heard her request, but he thought it was not good for him to keep her locked up for such a long time, so he said, "I'll send someone to take you out for a walk tomorrow."
Li Zhen also wanted to take this opportunity to test whether Xu Jiaoran had really accepted her fate.
However, Li Zhen was wrong this time. There was indeed nothing unusual about Xu Jiaoran. She just walked around in the imperial garden and then returned to the palace. She really looked like she was bored.
Li Zhen thought, maybe she really accepted her fate and was unwilling to resist anymore.
She had always been such a docile person, how could she have any strong mind?
So, he began to summon Xu Jiaoran more frequently, asking her to stay by his side, listening to her soft whispers and watching her beautiful smiles.
Xu Jiaoran's gentleness and obedience were like a spring breeze on his face, which made him immersed in it.
However, all this was just Xu Jiaoran's strategy. She knew that in the dangerous place of the palace, it was not enough to survive by being strong and unyielding. She chose to change herself and paralyze Li Zhen with the most gentle attitude, making him mistakenly believe that she was really willing to be content with the status quo.
Xu Jiaoran still has a raging fire in her heart, and she has her own plans and strategies for the power struggle in the royal family. She wants to use this gentle appearance as a cover to secretly plan her own revenge and resistance.
Whenever it was late at night and everyone was asleep, Xu Jiaoran would sit alone in front of the window, looking at the bright moonlight, silently planning her future. A hint of determination and resoluteness flashed in her eyes, as if she had already decided on her own path.
However, Li Zhen was deceived by Xu Jiaoran's appearance. He felt that his rule had finally gained real recognition and support.
He began to favor Xu Jiaoran more and more and gave her more power.
She changed Xu Jiaoran's name, had her enter the palace as the youngest daughter of the Xu family, was named a noble concubine, and also promoted the Xu family's officials.
Xu Jiaoran lost her former name and became Li Zhen's concubine, which she couldn't help but find hard to accept.
Late at night, she picked up the small box at the bottom of the dressing table, which contained a pony.
This was her son Li Mingquan's toy. She hadn't seen Mingquan for a long time and wondered how he was doing in Li Zhen's hands.
And her husband? Li Ji, how is he doing now?
Xu Jiaoran didn't notice the person behind her, and the toy in her hand was suddenly snatched away.
"What are you doing?" Xu Jiaoran asked in surprise.
Li Zhen held the pony in his hand, his eyes gloomy, and reminded her: "You are no longer Xu Jiaoran, your name is Xu Jiaolan, and you are my imperial concubine!"
"I just want to keep a thought in mind. I don't have any other thoughts." Xu Jiaoran said with some fear.
"I don't allow it!" Li Zhen suddenly threw the colt out the door.
Xu Jiaoran was a little annoyed and wanted to pick it up, but was picked up sideways by Li Zhen.
"If you want a son, we will have one."
Xu Jiaoran looked at Li Zhen like this and knew that she could not resist or she would anger her. At this moment, she had no choice but to endure it.
Wait a little longer, until he completely lets down his guard.
The noise in the room calmed down. Li Zhen hugged Xu Jiaoran and said, "Forget about the past."
"Yes!" Xu Jiaoran said weakly.
Only after hearing her reply did Li Zhen calm down a little.
I thought I finally got what I wanted.
However, Xu Jiaoran appeared in front of Emperor Li Zhen in the most gentle manner. There were stars in her eyes, and her words were full of obedience and respect, as if she really fell in love with the emperor. She cleverly pretended to cater to Li Zhen, but secretly brewed a plan of revenge.
Xu Jiaoran has never succumbed to power in her heart. Recently, she has contacted people belonging to Crown Prince Li Ji.
So, she began her own scheme. She used sweet words to confuse Li Zhen, making him mistakenly believe that she had completely surrendered to him, and her heart was full of desire for power. In fact, she was just secretly plotting and preparing for Li Mingzhao's return.
On a dark and windy night, Xu Jiaoran asked someone to release a carrier pigeon to secretly pass the message to Li Ji who was far away outside the palace.
Her brushstrokes moved like strings, and every word represented her deep hope and sorrow. Her plan succeeded, and Li Ji received her message, and the fire of revenge in his heart burned again.
Thanks to Xu Jiaoran's efforts, the Xu family became the top leader in the court, which caused complaints from many people in the court.
The news spread to the northwest.
Duke Yingguo and Qi Shuo were currently mobilizing troops to quell Li Ji's resistance, but after learning about this, they couldn't help but feel a little worried.
Britain said: "The emperor shouldn't be so fond of the Xu family!"
You know, the Xu family supported Crown Prince Li Ji in the beginning, and Crown Princess Xu also had Li Ji's son. Now that he favors the girl from the Xu family, the Xu family may not really surrender, but instead will become a wavering fence-sitter.
If Li Ji secretly contacted the Xu family at this moment, it would be dangerous...
Qi Shuo said: "Your Majesty must have his considerations."
Qi Shuo had met Li Zhen. If this cunning man was deceived by a woman, he would not be able to sit in his current high position.
The Duke of Yingguo did not want to get involved in the affairs of the court at this moment. After all, the current emperor was in the same boat with him. The most important thing now was to quell the civil strife. If Li Ji really made trouble, not only would the people suffer, but the entire Xie family would not have a good ending.
Therefore, for the sake of the people and himself, the Duke of England must find a way to quell the civil strife.