Everyone is not stupid, and no one will argue on the surface. Jingfei also pushed back and said "Ask Zhao Wang's own heart".

  Lin Wan looked at the Empress with a hint of mockery. Could it be that Emperor Taizong actually went to discuss this matter with her? Wasn't he afraid of infuriating Empress Xiao? As the Empress, she had no biological children, and yet the Emperor asked for her opinion on who was suitable when Prince Zhao was already present.

  As for who can win the favor of Emperor Zhao, the consorts all have their own calculations. It's likely to be one of the four top-ranking consorts who are favored in the palace. Jing Fei is 24 years old and has a good temperament, so she might be able to raise Emperor Zhao well and also comfort her grief over losing her child. Wang Shu Rong is not bad either, but she's not favored, so it's unlikely that Emperor Xian will give this big opportunity to her. Zhao Shu Yuan seems the most likely, as she already has a daughter and is skilled at raising children, and Emperor Xian also likes her.

  The lower ranks of Guipin and Pin are also competitive positions.

  However, on the second day of February, the Dragon's Head Day, the palace people were shocked and spread a message - Zhao Wang arrived at Jianzhang Palace to see the Emperor, requesting that his father issue an edict to raise himself under the name of Wen Pin.

  At that time, Lin Wan was still with the empress and other concubines in the Shanglin Garden to enjoy the scenery. The early spring peaches and elm blossoms were just beginning to bloom, and the scene was perfect. A small palace maid ran over to report to the empress about Zhao Wang's affair, and she also said very affirmatively: "Zhao Wang is still in the Jianzhang Palace at this time."

  Xiao Huanghou's face flashed a hint of gloom, and then returned to normal. Zhao Wang, although the eldest son, had been spoiled by Shen Shi since childhood, with mediocre talent, and couldn't get his way anyway.

  Among the concubines around, there were not a few who showed discontent on their faces. Someone said in a low and gloomy tone: "Really can't see through it, Concubine Wen is actually the first to take action, I thought she was cold and proud, and didn't bother to compete with others." As they spoke, they also let out a cold laugh.

  Wen Pin had always been a loner and rarely joined the other consorts for banquets or outings, so she didn't come today either.

  Jing Fei raised her eyes and glanced at the person who spoke, Chen Pinniang, also a foolish thing, as foolish as five years ago. She didn't have the ability to fight for it herself, but waited for others to gain an advantage before coming to pick faults, what's the use!

  However, Wen Pin is also a good candidate. Emperor Zhao personally requested it from the emperor, and it might just come true. Wen Pin was selected in the second year of the three consecutive years of selection after the emperor's ascension to the throne, only one year later than Jing Fei, and now she is 22 or 23 years old, not young anymore. Moreover... her personality is resolute and knowledgeable, making her suitable for teaching the emperor's eldest son who has a weak personality, which might be her greatest advantage!

  Unlike the Empress, Wei Zifu had no interest in Zhao Wang at all.

  She doesn't like to settle for second best. If it's not the best, then don't bother.

  Lin Yan gazed at the circle of concubines' expressions, secretly laughing to herself - Zhao Wang's popularity was indeed beyond her imagination! Although that child was mediocre, his father had few offspring, and calculating it out, he also had a high chance of inheriting the throne.

  Yu Wen Piao interfered, and with so many hungry wolves eyeing her, Chu Hua Shang thought it would be extremely difficult to get Zhao Wang.

  At this time, King Zhao, who was kneeling in the side hall of Jianzhang Palace, did not have the consciousness of being a "filling". He was very afraid, fearing that his father would not agree to his request and that he could not find a place to hide.

  He was tired of the humiliation he suffered at the hands of the palace people, and if he could find another person who treated him well, even if it wasn't his own mother, it would be much better than being alone and helpless. He only wanted to ask the Emperor to let himself become Princess Wen's child, and he was very afraid that this request would not be granted.

  But he didn't realize that many people in the palace were fighting to be his foster mother, compared to those who fought with their heads broken and bleeding, he was the one with the right to choose.

  If it were a clever child, he would definitely choose one with the strongest power among these people, rather than choosing Wen Bao.

  His legs were aching from kneeling for so long, but the attendants standing beside him remained motionless. He thought that his father emperor really didn't like him, this time he came to ask his father emperor, his father's face was not only stern but also gloomy, and he ordered himself to kneel for a long time...

  I don't know if Father Emperor will be unhappy when he hears me making such a request.

  He didn't dare get up, and after a long time, an old eunuch finally came in from the outer palace, bowed to him and said: "Your Highness, the Emperor has summoned you."

  Zhao Wang was overjoyed as if he had been granted a great amnesty, and hastily got up to follow. In the study, Tuoba Hong held a folded book in his hand, looking at it, and when he heard someone coming in, he asked without lifting his head: "Have you thought it through? Are you really going to acknowledge Wenpin as your mother?"

  "Yes... I've thought it through..." Seven-year-old King Zhao strained to keep his voice from trembling: "I like Consort Wen very much..."

  Tuoba Hong listened and instead laughed: "Like? Is she good to you?"

  "Yes," replied Zhao Wang, then changed his words: "It's not her, Wen Pin Niang has a very cold personality, and she never talks to me. However, Wen Pin Niang's father, Mr. Xu, is the teacher who taught me 'Wen Jing', he is very good to me, better than other teachers."

  Whenever Xu Daoren is mentioned, Zhao Wang's heart feels sour. When Shen Fei was around, regardless of whether it was officials, consorts or palace maids, they all treated him with respect and a smile. After Shen Fei died, even the wet nurse Wang Nai Nai dared to hit him, and his tutors no longer showed him deference. His status in the Qian Xi study room wasn't even as high as that of Rong Shou Xiao Junwang and Huainan Wang Shizi who studied with him.

  Only Mr. Xü remained as kind to him as before. In the past, everyone had treated him with great respect and courtesy, but he hadn't realized how good Mr. Xü was to him. Now that others had changed their attitude towards him, only Mr. Xü still showed him respect by bowing and addressing him as "Your Highness". The two mischievous young princes often bullied him, causing trouble in Mr. Xü's class, but Mr. Xü scolded them impartially, unlike General Wei who had taught archery and was biased towards the others when they came together to bully him.

  There were several times when the Shang Shi Bureau treated him harshly, and he went to the study room without eating his fill. After Mr. Xü learned about it, he scolded a few of the officials in charge in person. As a high-ranking official of the second rank, after saying this, there was no longer any servant who dared to slack off in front of Mr. Xü and Zhao Wang.

  Although Zhao Wang was young, he knew that Mr. Xu was a good man.

  In his simple mind, Xu Daren's daughter Wen Pei was also a good person.

  He was used to the faces of the people in the palace, everyone was self-interested, and it was difficult to feel comfortable calling them mothers, and it was also very dangerous. He had seen Wen Pin Niang, who was cold on the surface, and would not respond to anyone she saw. But that appearance and Mr. Xu were surprisingly similar, neither flattering those in high positions nor bullying those in lowly positions.

  "Oh, so it's because of Mr. Xue." Taizong Hong seemed to have understood something. He raised his head, put down the folding fan in his hand, and stared straight at his eldest son: "I want to know, who told you that Wen Pin is Mr. Xue's daughter? Was it Wen Pin herself?"

  If it's said that no one is involved in this matter, Tuoba Hong absolutely won't believe it. Such a major event as the dispute over the crown prince, how can it be simple?

  Zhaowang was young and not precocious, so how would he know about the entanglements between the harem and the imperial court? Wenpin's family was not a prestigious clan like the Xiao family, who had produced an empress. As for Xu, who served in the Qing Shui alleyway without any real power, how many people would pay attention to him and know that his daughter was a pinfei?

  Zhao Wang looked at his father's face, his heart pounding faster and faster. He knew that his father was angry. He hesitated, thinking about how to answer his father, but the words stuck in his throat.

  Can't say, can't say...

  That woman is a formidable person, she entrusted that it cannot be said, otherwise he will not be allowed to become the child of Wen Pin.

  That day, after finishing Xu Daren's class, he wanted to go to Jianzhang Palace to pay respects to his father, but his father did not want to see him. Then Concubine Hui also arrived at Jianzhang Palace - Concubine Hui was very beautiful, surrounded by a group of servants, and the manager of Jianzhang Palace, Yao Gonggong, even bowed and greeted her with great respect. As a result, Concubine Hui didn't even need to report, she just went in directly. While he still had to wait in the side hall.

  When Hui Bin came out from the Emperor's place, he hid far away and didn't dare to come forward because he was afraid of being bullied. The powerful concubines in the palace would always bully him. A Consort Wu had once ordered someone to catch him, drag him to a secluded place, and let the eunuchs slap his face with their shoes while scolding him loudly as "little beast", saying that his mother had ruined her chance of having children this lifetime, and she wouldn't let that woman's child have a good life either.

  But unexpectedly, Huisheng found him in the corner of the west wall of Jianzhang Palace. She looked at herself with cold eyes, her expression not friendly at all, completely different from the smiling face she had when following Father Emperor. However, she didn't hurt herself either, but instead spoke softly to herself: "You don't have a mother, you must be very sad, don't you want to find a mother?"

  He was afraid of Huisheng, but being asked this made him want to cry, so he cried and said: "My mother has already passed away. There is no one in the palace who treats me well, I don't want them to be my mother."

  But Huisheng continued: "No, there are also good people to you. I heard that Master Xu of the Imperial Study is good to you and even scolded Rongshou Xiaoshizi for bullying you, he's a good person, isn't he? His only daughter is in the palace, her title is Wenpin..."

  King Zhao's eyes lit up when he heard this. He asked eagerly: "Empress Wen? Will that empress treat me well?"

  "She is Xu Daren's daughter." Huishang raised an eyebrow and replied, "Although she has never helped you, she has also never bullied you, right?"

  It was only then that Zhao Wang remembered Wen Pin, and indeed, that princess was different from the others - she never bullied people.

  Zhao Wang suddenly became happy. He seemed to have found a way to make himself better off.

  He jumped up, wanting to leave, but Hui Bin pulled him back and told him that what she had just said must never be repeated to anyone else. Zhao Wang looked a bit dazed, so Hui Bin coldly told him: "If you dare to breathe a word of this, I'll make sure your wishes are never fulfilled. You should know how much your father loves me - if I speak up, he'll definitely listen to me. If I tell your father that you, Zhao Wang, were rude and defiant towards me, he'll punish you. And I can say even worse things..."

  Zhao Wang's face turned white with fear. He had grown up in the deep palace and fully understood how powerful the favored concubines by his father's side were. When his mother was in favor, she once said a sentence in front of his father: "The Zhang Liangren in the Biandian is rude to me." After that, he never saw Zhang Liangren again.