I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 210 - 143: Seizing Power

Rong Jing was slightly shaken inside upon hearing Rong Miaoyan’s words.

He gazed at Rong Miaoyan’s delicate and beautiful face, which closely resembled Su Zhixue’s, yet was much more intelligent and rational.

Rong Jing did not care for anyone, nor did he like anyone. Marrying Su Zhixue as the principal wife, the Crown Princess Consort, was for the Su family’s support and because Su Zhixue had the reputation of being the most talented woman in the Capital City, which benefited his reputation as the Crown Prince.

Rong Jing actually knew that the woman liked Rong Jue, and they were at the stage of discussing marriage, but the moment he showed the slightest interest, Su Wenzhong obediently chose him, the Crown Prince, dismantling their plans.

Later, rumors in the Eastern Palace grew more rampant, and Rong Jing didn’t really care whom Su Zhixue had in her heart. After all, he didn’t love her either, but there were too many rumors, which undermined the dignity of the Crown Prince.

After ascending the throne,

he had Su Zhixue kill Rong Jue.

Rong Jue died on the third day after he ascended the throne. After his death, the deep hatred in Su Zhixue’s eyes when she looked at him became more frequent.

He found it amusing that Su Zhixue didn’t like him, yet had to marry him for the Su family’s sake;

she loved Rong Jue but had to kill him;

she hated him so much but didn’t dare to harm him in the slightest.

He never cared about the thoughts of these people. What he couldn’t obtain, he would either tame or destroy.

As for the Empress Dowager, Rong Jing admired her in his youth, but later realized she spent her days bitterly cursing Wu and Princess Consort Xiao like a resentful woman, ultimately because she loved the former Emperor but couldn’t obtain his love, which turned love into hatred.

He didn’t want to become someone like the Empress Dowager, so he chose not to love anyone, only himself.

Even Rong Qichun and Rong Qijun, he didn’t like.

Some people are born as dazzling as a brilliant pearl. He admired such people, envied them, and wanted to become one of them, until he saw the light in Wu extinguish completely, and the edges were ground down, only then did he feel at ease, but not content.

Fortunately, Miaoyan was also such a person. She was his daughter and would never betray him.

At this moment, as Rong Jing listened to Rong Miaoyan’s words, he couldn’t help but feel proud to be the father of this young girl.

Qichun and Qijun, those two fools, proved nothing. Miaoyan was the most like his royal daughter, inheriting his mindset and methods, akin to the most brilliant gem in the world, though still young. In the future, she would surely shine brightly in the world.

At the same time, a trace of unease quietly rose in Rong Jing’s heart.

How great it would be if Miaoyan were a boy.

Thankfully, Miaoyan was a girl.

Rong Miaoyan met Rong Jing’s scrutinizing gaze, her eyes soft, her voice carrying a hint of grievance:

"Miaoyan met Lu Rufeng in the Imperial Family, this person is without talent or virtue, learning or appearance. Is father really willing... to let Miaoyan marry such a mediocre man and spend her life in the backyard like an ordinary woman?"

Just moments ago, Rong Miaoyan had taken a stance on righteousness.

But now, with these words, she played on emotions.

Rong Jing pondered for a moment, then said: "Across the entire court, there is no more suitable family to elevate the Lu family than the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, so Gu Lan and the Second Miss Lu must marry."

Pausing, he fixed his gaze on Rong Miaoyan:

"As for you, the Empress Dowager’s decree is not for me to retract, but you do not need to be as urgent as Gu Lan. If you are dissatisfied, you can cultivate feelings with Lu Rufeng first and make plans after he comes of age."

Currently, Lu Rufeng is only eighteen years old, and it will be another two years until he comes of age; this was the greatest compromise Rong Jing had made.

A streak of coldness flashed in Rong Miaoyan’s eyes as she asked: "How does father know that after forcing Gu Lan into marriage, the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion will be willing to assist the Lu family?"

"Once they become in-laws, they will naturally help each other."

"But I know Young Master Gu," Rong Miaoyan said softly, "If she is forced to marry Lu Feifei, she will not only refuse to help the Lu family but will also fill with resentment toward them, making things difficult for them at every turn, potentially becoming enemies. Besides... who says there isn’t a more suitable person in court?"

Rong Jing’s eyes deepened as he said:

"Do you mean Prince Rui? Unfortunately, Rong Shuo’s temperament is too different, even if I were to bestow the Lu family’s Second Miss on him as a side concubine, he wouldn’t care about the Lu family, and Changle and Rong Yunhao are even less suitable."

Rong Miaoyan and Rong Jing locked eyes, her voice gentle yet calm: "Does father aim to support the Lu family to balance against the Su family?"

"Yes."

"But the Lu family currently has weak foundations and needs to form an alliance with the Marquis Mansion, and also needs me to marry Lu Rufeng, right?"

Rong Jing nodded: "Correct. When I ascended the throne, the Su family did indeed contribute significantly, but now Su Wenzhong is becoming increasingly restless, even attempting to meddle in the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel. Moreover, having produced two empresses was one thing, but recently, the Inner Supervision found that the Prime Minister secretly planted women beside the Crown Prince, are they trying to make it a family of three empresses?"

Rong Jing’s handsome and delicate face flushed with a faint red, his eyes flickering with the thunderous rage of deep-seated apprehension towards the Su family.

Although the Empress Dowager was Rong Miaoyan’s grandmother, and Empress Su Zhixue was also from the Su family, Rong Jing did not avoid discussing these matters with Miaoyan.

He knew that Miaoyan was a smart and proud child, and because of the matter with her mother, she had never been close to the Su family since she was young. The Empress Dowager forcing her to kill Qian Ruotong earlier had only infuriated her further.

Rong Miaoyan looked at Rong Jing, suppressing the tension in her heart, and said with a composed demeanor, "Since the Lu Family is useless, why not choose someone else for your support, Father?"

Rong Jing spoke with interest, "There aren’t many suitable people in the court, and Lu Bingxin is already the Minister of Revenue. Who else could it be? The Minister of Justice, Zhou Xing? The Ministry of Rites’ Gu Chengye? Or the Ministry of Personnel’s Han Ande? Miaoyan, who do you wish to recommend?"

Rong Miaoyan’s dark eyes were proud and sharp as she said word by word:

"Princess Ning’an, Rong, Miao, Yan."

"You recommend yourself?"

"Since women in our dynasty can be officials, why not let Ning’an take power? Ning’an is willing to stand against the Su family for Your Majesty, so why rely on the Lu family?"

Rong Miaoyan knelt to the ground, her forehead touching the hard wooden floor, the hairpin on her forehead colliding with a crisp sound.

Her voice was unyieldingly resolute.

Outside Qianyuan Hall, Zhang Fengcai, who heard the words of Princess Ning’an, shivered.

Who would have thought that the princess would persuade His Majesty to revoke the marriage decree not by acting spoiled, shedding tears, or threatening to die, but by offering to replace the Lu family herself to fulfill His Majesty’s purpose of the decree!

With this, there was no need for her marriage to the Lu Family’s son. If the princess could indeed contend with the Su family, there was no need for His Majesty to support the Lu family. What purpose would the Lu family serve?

Inside the hall, the charcoal fire crackled softly.

Rong Miaoyan held her breath nervously; she could hear her heart pounding.

At that moment, Rong Miaoyan remembered the words Baoyi said when joining the army, the weak yet extraordinarily firm words of Qin Zhenghu, and Qian Ruohua’s tragic self-determined end before her death.

And the little sugar figurine Gu Lan had given her.

She had yet to leave the palace to see the vast world outside.

She absolutely did not want to leave the palace only to marry someone she did not love.

Therefore, she wanted power.

What did being a woman matter, as long as she wielded enough power, everyone would fear her, no one could force her to do anything, she could protect her mother, and she could also protect her friends—

Her mother said that her father was a cold-hearted man, who would never agree to her request for compassion.

But no one knew that the moment she stepped into Qianyuan Hall today, she had resolved to convince her father not with emotions, but with her own person, making the Emperor submit.

Rong Jing said, "Rong Shuo’s daughter wants to join the army, and my daughter wants to be an official and take power. This ambition is naturally superior."

"Father, are you..."

"I approve."

Miaoyan wept tears of joy.

She suddenly recalled that her mother had coughed blood before she came... Once she shared this news with her mother, her mother’s pent-up feelings might be somewhat relieved.

*

At this time, Gu Lan had arrived at the Imperial Palace.

She entered the palace under the pretense of studying with the Imperial Family, but upon learning that Empress Su was not at Yonghua Palace but in the Buddhist Hall, Gu Lan headed straight to Concubine Yi’s Yanfang Palace.

As a man, she naturally could not meet with the Empress without a reason, nor could she wander freely in the palace.

A moment later, Concubine Yi led Gu Lan to the Buddhist Hall to seek an audience with the Empress.

The palace attendants on the way watched the imposing Young Master Gu and Concubine Yi and discussed among themselves.

"Could it be that Young Master Gu is desperately seeking the Empress to avoid marrying the Second Miss Lu?"

"What good would the Empress do? She can’t even decide her daughter’s marriage, let alone Young Master Gu’s affairs."

"I heard the princess led an imperial decree and went to Qianyuan Hall, still talking with His Majesty there."

"Alas, the Empress can only pray to the gods in the Buddhist Hall, hoping the princess can eloquently persuade His Majesty."

Gu Lan turned a deaf ear to this; she just wanted to confirm whether Empress Su had done something foolish.

The Buddhist Hall of the Imperial Palace was previously a place of worship for the Empress Dowager and Consort, but since Rong Jing ascended the throne, it had been occupied by the Empress due to her devout beliefs, and naturally, no one dared to say anything.

As for Yonghua Palace, except for occasions where the Empress needed to fulfill her status and hold ceremonial banquets there, it was mostly occupied by Princess Ning’an.

Soon, Concubine Yi and Gu Lan arrived at the Buddhist Hall.

Concubine Yi stepped forward, slightly bowing to the chief palace maid standing outside, and said softly, "I have been studying Buddhist scriptures recently and have many questions. I came specifically to seek enlightenment from Her Majesty the Empress."