"Imperial Princess, this...this..." Wang's face was a mixture of emotions. She knew that even the most favored servants in the palace didn't dare to show such arrogance, and yet this Fan Yu dared to call her "Imperial Princess", giving her face. But deep down, she felt empty, because the Emperor was still watching from the front.

  The jade in his hand, even if it's broken, can't be taken out at all costs.

  After a long pause, Wang's nanny could only smile and say: "Imperial Concubine, it's not valuable jade, what's there to look at..."

  "What, not worth money?" Fan Yu widened her eyes: "Just now when I held it, I recognized that it was Dianchi jade!" She said angrily: "Give it back! You are a slave, how can you have such valuable jade? Did you steal it from your master?"

  This shout scared Wang's old heart to pieces. She knelt down with a thud and said, "It's not true, it's not true, the princess must have made a mistake..."

  Fan Yu was already impatient and slapped her face with a loud slap, ordering the two sword-bearing guards at the door: "Search her body."

  At this point, Emperor Taizong of Tang also couldn't help but look over. The two guards in front of the emperor didn't dare to slack off and pressed down on Wang's nurse, pulling off her outer garment. Several palace maids came forward, tearing at her neck and hands, pulling off several pieces of jewelry. Fan Yu widened his eyes and said: "Wow! Wang's nurse is really rich and noble, this South Sea's pink pearl, Tian Shan's white jade, 99% pure red gold..."

  Wang's wife was already trembling with fear, Taizong saw that there was no misunderstanding here, and stepped forward in anger: "Indeed a deceitful slave of the ruler! After searching, she will be sent to the Department of Punishment, let's see what things she has stolen!"

  Zhaowang stood on one side, speechless, only lowering his head and pursing his lips tightly. Shanyu squatted on the ground and picked up something again, saying: "Is this a jade hairpin? Ah, there is a 'Yan' character engraved on it! Father Emperor, take a look, isn't this something you gave to Zhaowang?"

  The slave is used to stealing things in the palace, and it's not surprising that something has happened. But when Tuoba Hong saw this jade hairpin, his face turned thoroughly dark, and he waved his hand: "Forget it, don't let the Ministry of Punishment handle it. Take her out and beat her to death."

  The queen's plea for mercy hadn't even escaped her lips when she was gagged and dragged away. Tuoba Hong glanced at King Zhao, his expression unimpressed, furrowing his brow as he said, "As a prince, you should have the demeanor of one!"

  Since Shen Fei's death, Zhao Wang has become increasingly afraid of his father. As soon as he hears a scolding word, he lowers his head and trembles all over. Tuoba Hong is even more displeased, saying coldly: "You may withdraw! The purple jade ring was given to you by me at your birth, it's the token of the princes of the Great Qin Dynasty! You let the slaves around you play with this thing, you really disappoint me." He glanced at Fan Yu with a calm expression: "Not as good as a daughter."

  In the imperial palace, once you fall out of favor, it's truly a fate worse than death. This royal nanny, a mere servant, dares to take everything that belongs to Prince Zhao for herself; she must have some backing. With his mother gone and being only seven years old, how easy is it for him to survive in this vast palace? The consorts mock him, the servants treat him coldly, and the emperor doesn't like him, so naturally, the royal nanny can do as she pleases, since no one will stand up for Prince Zhao.

  For these, Tuoba Hong was clear, but in his heart, a prince who could not protect himself was not worthy of owning the world.

  Zhao Wang retreated with caution. Tuoba Hong furrowed his brow and pondered for a moment, then ordered Yao Fu Sheng: "The slaves in the palace should be strictly controlled. You are the eunuch general manager, so replace all the servants who served Zhao Wang. Those who are cunning and deceitful will be flogged to death like Wang Shi. Choose good servants for Zhao Wang." As he spoke, he glanced at Shan Yu again, seeing that she was wearing out-of-fashion soft silk: "Replace the emperor's concubine as well. I think the wet nurses beside her are also treacherous. After all, they are my children, and I cannot treat them harshly."

  Tuoba Hong hoped his son would become a dragon, but looking at Zhao Wang's appearance, he was really afraid that he would be bullied to death. In the palace, children without mothers were like weeds, and only Ning Emperor's daughter had her mother's love and had never suffered any grievances.

  Shan Yu was overjoyed, and hastily knelt down to thank the Emperor's kindness. She understood that getting these benefits was already the limit, so she didn't ask for more, and pulled Chang Ning's hand to retreat together.

  Lin Yujing sat aside and didn't interrupt. Seeing Tuoba Hong's face not looking good after sitting back, Fang personally poured a cup of flower tea for him.

  For the unfaithful slaves, Tuoba Hong was not too angry, as this had been the case in the palace for generations. What he was dissatisfied with was Prince Zhao, who still missed his mother day and night until now, and his studies were far from what they used to be. According to the imperial tutors, he became more melancholic, timid and weak-willed.

  Tuoba Hong thought to himself that he couldn't help but scold him, saying "rotten wood can't be carved", Shen's death was like the sky falling for him? As the son of an emperor, he should have had the courage and wisdom to obtain the world. The fall of the Shen family meant that he had qualified for the throne. Although he was down on his luck at this time, as long as there was a possibility of entering the Eastern Palace, why worry about the future? Without his birth mother Empress Shen, who knows how many other women would be eager to become his stepmother!

  But what about him? His eyes can't see his bright future, only the tender and weak personal feelings.

  What a misuse of power...... Currently, except for Zhao Wang, the third and fourth princes are not eligible to inherit the throne. The only hope lies in the bellies of Ye Shi and Lin Yu, but they haven't given birth yet...

  His offspring is still too few.

  At this time, Empress Tanyin reached out and grasped the arm of Emperor Xiaoming, saying softly: "The slaves should be punished as they deserve, but the Crown Prince is pitiful, still young and having to face everything alone."

  Tuoba Hong remained silent. Consort Tian's face showed even more pity, and she sighed: "He is only seven years old, the age when he needs his mother..."

  Tuoba Hong turned his face towards her and said lightly: "What Huashang means is that I should find a foster mother for him?"

  The emperor's face was not good. Chu Huashang shrank her hands, suppressing her tension, and bowed her head to respond: "It's just the concubine's foolish opinion..."

  Lin Yan coldly gazed at Chu Huashang, her eyes shifting again to the sweet potato in her hand that was being treated as a treasure. Jingzhou belonged to the jurisdiction of the Huguang Governor-general, but it was also... the fiefdom of Prince Zhao.

  When Changhe Guifei left the palace, the two small emperors were granted kingships and fiefdoms. As the elder brother, Prince Zhao naturally could not be left behind, and Tuoba Hong also designated Jingzhou as the fiefdom for Prince Zhao at that time.

  If Chu Huashang were to obtain the king of Zhao, the power of the Chu family would be in the territory of Jingzhou again. In the future, the two will cooperate...Chu Huashang is indeed very clever, losing the right to give birth, and simply taking a foster son over, although not comparable to her own child, but also has the qualification to compete for the throne. Moreover, since ancient times, the establishment of a successor has been one of three kinds: establishing a legitimate heir, establishing an eldest son, or establishing a virtuous one. The king of Zhao occupies the position of the eldest, which is a great advantage.

  If Zhao Wang knew that Chu Huashang's father was the Governor of Huguang, and if Chu Huashang explained the pros and cons to him, the child would also be willing.

  Lin Wan had long expected Chu Huashang to take this step. What else could she do? In the palace, there was only one prince without a mother, Zhao Wang, although he wasn't a genius, but she had no choice.

  Lin Yan smiled and looked at Tuoba Hong, seeing that Chu Huashang wanted to say something, she said: "Sister Tian is right, I also think the eldest son of the emperor is pitiful. In the past, I heard the Empress Dowager say that this child needs a strict father and a good teacher, but also needs a loving mother. Many of the world's great principles need to be taught by mothers rather than teachers."

  Tianpin's eyes suddenly turned to him, and Lin Yuan didn't look at him either, but smiled brightly at Tuoba Hong: "There are many virtuous and experienced ladies in the palace, Your Majesty might as well choose a suitable one from among them."

  Lin Wan looked at Tian Pin's changing face, and in her heart, she just sneered - Chu Huashang, you can't wait either, wanting to compete for the prince in front of the emperor so early. Don't forget the example of the Shen family, an uncontented aristocratic family will not end well. Also, if she waits another two years, Zhao Wang will be ten years old and his mind will slowly mature, even if he is recognized as a foster son, it's still impossible to raise him properly. The concubines who are pregnant one after another give birth to sons, the concubines without sons also set their sights on Zhao Wang, wanting to compete again would be too late.

  It's laughable just thinking about it, Chu Huashang is only seventeen this year, raising a seven-year-old crown prince...

  Tuoba Hong smiled suddenly and raised an eyebrow to look at Lin Yuan: "Then, according to what you see, who should take care of King Zhao?"

  Although Lin Wan was favored, she didn't dare to be careless in such matters, and hurriedly waved her hand: "The concubines are still young, how would they understand these things."

  Taizong of Northern Wei smiled slightly: "There are many concubines in the palace, I will discuss this matter with the empress and we should be able to find a suitable person."

  It has been decided that a foster mother will be found for the Crown Prince. However, Consort Tian's expression became increasingly difficult to look at, she bit her lip and looked at Lin Yuan, her eyes full of resentment.

  The emperor may have had this in mind, but it's not necessarily going to let her raise the King of Zhao... According to Lin Yu's words, the best choice for a foster mother should be steady, virtuous, and knowledgeable about teaching children. The young concubines are not suitable at all.

  The matter of raising the imperial eldest son was not mentioned again by Tuoba Hong, and he left with Consort Tian soon after. Before leaving, he, as usual, left a reward for Lin Yuan, which was a very generous gift in the eyes of everyone - a basket of sweet potatoes.

  Lin Wan's mouth twitched even more fiercely, ordering the palace people to cut the sweet potatoes into strips and dry them in the sun, then generously distributing them to the masters of each palace.

  A few days later, the palace indeed had rumors that the emperor wanted to select concubines to raise the eldest son of the emperor. In the Changxin Palace, the empress also mentioned this matter to the concubines and asked for the opinions of high-ranking ladies such as Jingfei, Wang Shurong, and Zhao Shuyuan.