frightfiction Chapter 1287 Suspicion
Chapter 1287 Suspicion
She spoke slowly, her voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Miss Min Yue's identity is unknown, her origins unclear. She has bewitched the king with only a few beauties. If she is allowed to stay by the king's side, it may invite criticism from the people. I urge the king to reconsider."
King Wu's face darkened, and he pulled Min Yue to his side protectively: "Sister, you are mistaken! Yue'er is gentle and virtuous, and she is sincere to me. We are mutually in love, so how can you say she is bewitched?"
The Holy Maiden frowned, her piercing gaze sweeping over Min Yue's pale face: "Has the King forgotten the teachings of his ancestors? When choosing an Empress, one should select someone from a prestigious family, someone of both virtue and talent, so that she can serve as a model for the world and stabilize the foundation of the nation. Min Yue is merely a distant orphan from the Prime Minister's household, without family support, without virtue or reputation. How can she be worthy of the position of Empress?"
King Wu slammed his fist on the table and stood up abruptly, glaring at the Holy Maiden. "I am the King of Li Kingdom! Can't I even decide who I like and who I should make my queen? Elder sister, you're meddling too much!"
The Holy Maiden also stood up, exuding a dignified aura: "As the ruler of Li Kingdom, Your Majesty should prioritize the well-being of the nation! Min De has caused unrest in Li Kingdom. If Your Majesty insists on making Min Yue your queen, it will not only chill the hearts of the officials but also alienate the soldiers. When the borders are in danger and internal strife breaks out, how will Your Majesty stabilize the country?"
King Wu was furious. "Min De is Min De. Yue'er has already severed ties with him. My sister just doesn't like Yue'er and is deliberately making excuses to stop her!"
A complex expression flashed across the Holy Maiden's face, her eyes filled with heartache. "I am not targeting Min Yue, but for the sake of the Li Kingdom! Min Yue may seem weak, but she is actually very cunning. Her approach to the King is no accident. If she were to become Empress, she would likely interfere in politics and disrupt the court!"
King Wu pointed at the Holy Maiden, trembling with rage, "I know Yue'er better than anyone! She is innocent and kind, and has never had the slightest ambition. Sister, don't slander her!"
Min Yue grabbed the sleeve of the King of Wu at the right moment, tears streaming down her face: "Your Majesty, please don't be angry. The Holy Maiden was only doing this for the good of Li Kingdom. I shouldn't have been here, and I shouldn't have made things difficult for you..."
Seeing Min Yue's tearful appearance, King Wu felt even more heartache. He turned to the Holy Maiden and said angrily, "Sister, I'm making this clear today: I'm protecting Min Yue, and the Empress's position is rightfully hers! Anyone who dares to obstruct her is an enemy of me!"
Seeing the stubbornness of the King of Wu, the Holy Maiden's heart sank, and her tone turned icy: "If Your Majesty insists on this, then you must agree to my conditions!"
King Wu's face immediately lit up with joy, and he asked eagerly, "Sister, tell me quickly, what conditions do you want me to agree to before you will allow Yue'er to become the Queen of Li Kingdom?"
The saintess spat out three words through gritted teeth: "Establish an heir apparent!"
Min Yue's expression changed drastically. Her child was not yet born, so how could she establish a crown prince?
No, she would never agree!
She quickly spoke up: "Your Majesty, Yue'er no longer wants to be Empress. Yue'er doesn't want to see you in a difficult position!"
King Wu frowned and said, "What's so difficult about that? I was never able to have children anyway, so it was only a matter of time before I had to establish a crown prince. Why not agree to their request now? That way, you can rightfully become the Queen of Li!"
Min Yue sobbed sadly, her frail body swaying precariously, which made the King of Wu's heart tighten.
He reached out and pulled her into his arms, gently comforting her: "Yue'er, don't be afraid, I know what I'm doing. Although I have no children, Zhan Xuan is of good character and is my own nephew. Making him the heir apparent will not only silence the gossips, but also allow you to smoothly ascend to the position of empress. Why not?"
The saintess watched this scene coldly, a mocking smile playing on her lips: "The king has certainly thought things through, but this understanding flower before you probably has other ideas!"
King Wu's face stiffened, and he subconsciously looked at Min Yue: "Yue'er, do you not agree to let Zhan Xuan be the crown prince of my Li Kingdom?"
Just one sentence made her face turn pale and ugly!
She quickly shook her head vigorously: "No, Yue'er really wouldn't dare to have such thoughts. Yue'er just doesn't want to implicate the King in doing things he doesn't want to do because of herself!"
King Wu smiled, his eyes narrowing: "How could I not want to? My sister and I had already discussed making Zhanxuan the crown prince. He should inherit the throne of our Li Kingdom in the future!"
A flash of murderous intent crossed Min Yue's eyes, but she clenched her fists tightly, suppressing her resentment and anger.
At this moment, the King of Wu turned to the Holy Maiden and said, "Sister, I agree to your conditions. The day Zhan Xuan becomes the Crown Prince will be the day I make Yue'er my Empress!"
The saintess's expression finally softened: "I have already had someone calculate that the eighth day of the month, three days from now, will be an auspicious day, and the ceremony to confer the title of crown prince will be held on that day!"
Min Yue's heart skipped a beat. Three days. She had three more days to kill Zhan Xuan.
She absentmindedly followed the King of Wu back to the palace, only to hear him say joyfully, "Yue'er, are you happy? You will soon become my Empress!"
Min Yue threw herself into his arms: "Your Majesty, are you really going to make Zhan Xuan the crown prince? He... he's clearly an outsider!"
The King of Wu spoke with certainty: "Although he is not of the same surname, he is my own nephew. Since I cannot have children of my own, I can only choose him as my successor!"
Min Yue tentatively asked, "What if, what if I could get pregnant with your child?"
The King of Wu was stunned at first, then his face darkened.
He frowned and warned Min Yue, "This is not a joke. I have a hidden health condition, that's an indisputable fact!"
Min Yue boldly argued, "Your Majesty, do you remember what my adoptive father told you before? He said I was born with a fertile body and that I was extremely likely to get pregnant. Perhaps there is even the slightest chance?"
King Wu's expression softened, and he soothed her in a hoarse voice, "Yue'er, we don't necessarily have to have a child. Aren't we happy together? Besides, Zhan Xuan is a talented young man. With Li Kingdom in his hands, I'll have even more time to spend with you!"
Min Yue's heart sank to the bottom; she couldn't persuade the King of Wu to change his mind no matter what she did.
She had no choice but to resort to her trump card: "Your Majesty, you have a hidden ailment. Who diagnosed it?"
The King of Wu instinctively replied, "It's Wanwan!"
Min Yue spoke coldly: "Lin Yiwan is Zhan Xuan's mother. Doesn't she want her son to inherit the throne of Li Kingdom?"
King Wu frowned, glanced at Min Yue, then turned and strode out.
He hurried to the council hall, his face grim and solemn.
After thinking for a long time, he finally spoke: "Someone, go out of the palace and find a common doctor to secretly bring into the palace!"
"Yes!" The guard hurriedly accepted the order and left.
Upon learning the news, Min Yue immediately ordered people to make arrangements.
Before long, an old man with a white beard, dressed in blue robes, stood before the King of Wu.