The Cen Family Was Demoted

Xiao Lingyan continued to feign muteness and showed no intention of regaining his ability to speak.

Xiao Ge and Noble Consort Cen were both very anxious, and the pressure on the Imperial Medical Bureau was increasing.

That day, Noble Consort Cen went to Xiao Lingyan's palace and saw Xiao Ge there asking the imperial physician about the situation.

Noble Consort Cen hurried over to greet Xiao Ge.

Xiao Ge waved to the imperial physician, glanced at Xiao Lingyan inside, sighed, turned to look at Noble Consort Cen, signaling her to follow, then left the palace and stopped in the courtyard. He turned back and asked her, "Did the Cen Family send someone to tell you about sending Cen Family girl to Little Five as a concubine?"

Noble Consort Cen's heart tightened, and she dared not hide anything, so she told Xiao Ge everything the Cen Family had said.

Xiao Ge raised his eyes and looked directly at her. "What are your plans? Are you asking me to grant Cen Family permission to enter the family with Zhiwei?"

Noble Consort Cen was an extremely intelligent person. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to give birth to two sons despite Xiao Ge's obvious fear of the Cen Family, raise them safely, and then take charge of the palace affairs after the Empress's death.

She understood the meaning behind the emperor's question.

She said, "No, that's not what I meant. Not only is Little Five's health not yet fully recovered, but even if he does, I will not agree to him taking a woman from the Little Five Cen Family as a concubine."

"Oh?" Xiao Ge raised an eyebrow.

"Little Five once told me that he only wanted one true love and didn't want to create chaos in the harem by taking concubines. He loves Zhiwei, Zhiwei stayed by his side through thick and thin. I don't want to let Little Five down, nor do I want to let Zhiwei down. If Little Five is unwilling, I will not force him to marry anyone else."

"Even the Cen Family daughters are like this?"

"Yes. The Cen Family daughter is the same."

"What if the Cen Family forces you to let Cen Family daughter into the family?" Xiao Ge stared directly at her.

Noble Consort Cen returned his gaze, speaking frankly and openly, "Little Five is first and foremost the Emperor's son, a prince, and only secondly my son. He is a member of the royal family, while the Cen Family are merely subjects, having no right to interfere in a prince's marriage."

Xiao Ge then asked, seemingly casually, "If I were to weaken the Cen Family's power, would you, Consort, plead for them?"

Noble Consort Cen's heart tightened instantly, then relaxed again.

She had been waiting for this question for many years, and now that it had finally come, she felt a sense of relief, as if a shoe had finally dropped.

She turned her gaze towards the outside of the palace and said softly, "Your Majesty, I only beg you to spare their lives."

Xiao Ge looked at Noble Consort Cen with great satisfaction. "My beloved consort is indeed a clever person."

Noble Consort Cen twitched the corner of her mouth, squatted down and bowed, but did not speak.

In the past few days, she seemed to be only concerned about her two sons' injuries and illnesses, but in fact she had been keeping a close eye on the Emperor's movements in the court.

The power of the Crown Prince and Prince of Qian Prince of Qian collapsed with their deaths; Prince of Ming's power was also uprooted and completely eradicated in a rebellion.

Of the several factions that were originally locked in fierce battles, only the faction Xiao Lingpu and Xiao Lingyan remains. The Cen Family was originally Xiao Lingpu's greatest support.

Whether it's for Xiao Lingyan's sake or for the sake of the Sixth Prince inheriting the throne if Xiao Lingyan's illness cannot be cured, the Emperor will not keep the Cen Family and let it become a hidden danger to the Great Jin.

Previously, the princes' power was mutually supportive, and eliminating the Cen Family's power would disrupt the balance. Therefore, the emperor did not touch the Cen Family. Now that the Cen Family has lost its rival, they have no reason to exist.

Noble Consort Cen understood this, and so did Cen Hanchang and the others. Cen Hanchang had always known her attitude.

That's why the Cen Family was in such a hurry to send Cen Family daughter to Xiao Lingyan and bring her into the family as soon as possible, hoping to use her beauty to persuade Xiao Lingyan to plead for the Cen Family.

Unfortunately, Xiao Lingyan cannot speak, and the Emperor does not intend to give the Cen Family this opportunity.

"Don't worry, I won't take their lives. But I can't give them anything else." Xiao Ge said, giving Noble Consort Cen a slight nod before turning and leaving.

Noble Consort Cen stared at Xiao Ge's retreating figure, remaining motionless for a long time.

After a long while, she returned to Xiao Lingyan's side.

The next day, Xiao Ge issued an imperial edict in the main hall, either transferring or demoting Cen Hanchang and several other powerful members of the Cen Family.

The Cen Family was greatly alarmed.

After the court session ended, Madam Cen hurriedly went to the palace to see Noble Consort Cen, while Cen Hanchang went straight to Prince of An's Residence to tell Xiao Lingpu.

"Your Highness, the Cen Family has always served you wholeheartedly; they have worked hard even if they haven't achieved great things. Now that the Emperor has taken back the Cen Family's power, could you plead with him to spare the Cen Family? The Crown Prince and Prince of Ming's faction were investigated because they committed crimes. You and Prince of Qi have done nothing wrong, so why punish the Cen Family? This is unfair."

Since the day his finger was cut off, Xiao Lingpu had been unusually silent and had become somewhat gloomy. It wasn't until Xiao Lingyan poisoned and fell into a coma that he showed some vitality again, his face filled with sorrow as he spoke of the matter, worried about his younger brother's life.

Noble Consort Cen understood the Cen Family's affairs clearly, and he was naturally fully aware of them as well.

He said, "Uncle, you fought for power for me before. Now that I've become like this, and Little Five is bedridden, what else do you still have to worry about? Look at those families whose property was confiscated and who were exiled; we're already lucky. Why don't you retire gracefully? Perhaps you can still preserve the Cen Family family. You understand the principle that what goes up must come down better than I do."