Suddenly, the Empress felt that being cautious was too meaningless. No matter what she did, others would still suspect her, even though she was not the mastermind.
Everyone knew about her grievances with the Second Prince. She felt there was no need to pretend anymore and couldn't help but sneer, "How times change. I wonder who did such a good deed, sending the Second Prince to lie in bed. If you know, please tell me, I must thank them in person. What is this called? It's called retribution."
Rufei looked at the Empress's arrogant demeanor and opened her mouth to retort, but couldn't say anything. Regardless, her own son was at fault first; he had killed the Crown Prince. Knowing that the Empress had always wanted revenge, although she suspected the Empress was the mastermind, she had no evidence and could only endure it silently, burying all her hatred in her heart and waiting for an opportunity for revenge.
Seeing Rufei's suppressed anger, the Empress laughed even more heartily. As she laughed, she almost cried. In the past, they fought to the death over their sons. No matter what, his son was still in the world and had a slim chance of survival, while her son had no chance forever. If she could have recruited a master like Wu Caiwei, perhaps her son wouldn't have encountered such a fate. But it was too late to say anything now. She couldn't help but sigh at the Third Prince's good fortune.
"Empress, don't be so smug. Everything done leaves a trace. Although the Emperor hasn't found evidence yet, facts are facts. It's true that my son is lying in bed unconscious, but the doctor said he won't die. At most, he'll be disabled. In any case, it's better than the Crown Prince's fate. After this incident, the Emperor has already written off my son's past mistakes. As long as he can survive, he can live well in the capital from now on. Truly, blessings and misfortunes are intertwined." Rufei was filled with hatred but pretended to be calm. So what if it was about attacking people? She could do it too. Sudancx.com
"Is that so? We shall wait and see. Let's see if your son will face retribution. He killed my son and did so many wicked deeds. I don't believe his enemies will allow him to live in this world. Just watch, soon he will go down to accompany my son." The Empress's heart churned, but her face remained exceptionally calm. What she said also had a point. Seeing him so badly injured, the Emperor couldn't help but feel a bit soft-hearted, especially when the imperial physicians said he would be confined to bed due to leg problems. The Emperor's heart ached even more.
As she walked out of the Second Prince's palace, the Empress's face couldn't help but darken. She wanted to contact Wu Caiwei but realized she didn't even know his address. Moreover, her surroundings were full of the Emperor's men. Any slightest disturbance would reach the Emperor's ears. Although she wished the Emperor would arrest and interrogate the person thoroughly, the Second Prince was not dead yet and still had some use. She had to protect him.
The Third Prince watched the Empress slowly approaching him and felt that their recent meetings had been too frequent. Fearing that it would attract the Emperor's attention, he quickly lowered his head and bowed respectfully.
"I visited the Second Prince today. So young and already lying in bed. I heard the Emperor's attitude towards him has softened. My son died unjustly. I wonder if he will be able to live safely in the capital in the future." The Empress seemed to be chatting casually, but the Third Prince knew she was probing his attitude.
He smiled somewhat awkwardly and said, "Who knows? But if you do nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear. It's best if we meet less often. Everyone thinks that we are the masterminds behind the Second Prince's current state. If anything else happens, I believe the Emperor will summon us. Heaven and earth are my witnesses, this matter truly has nothing to do with me."
The Empress nodded and turned to leave without a word. The palace maids following her were confused, not understanding what they were talking about. Soon, this conversation reached the Emperor's ears. In the Emperor's eyes, their relationship was unusual. This was the second time they had met in a short period. Was the Empress telling the Third Prince about the Second Prince's condition to get closer to him and switch to him for support? This was not impossible.
That old fox from the Xu family, although he had been recuperating in bed recently, how could he be content with the status quo? Even though they had voluntarily handed over their military power recently, the Emperor still had reservations. The Third Prince was currently the most reliable among his princes and the most likely to inherit the throne. Although he was still alive and well, it was too early to groom a successor, but preparations had to be made.
Therefore, the next day, the Third Prince received exceptional attention from the Emperor. The Emperor hinted repeatedly that he should stay away from the Xu family. The Third Prince understood that the Emperor had learned about the Empress's visit to him yesterday and quickly nodded.
He thought that after the morning court, he could return to his palace as usual. Unexpectedly, this time the Emperor uncharacteristically kept him behind and personally taught him how to handle state affairs and review memorials. This was the treatment previously given to the Crown Prince, and even the Second Prince had not enjoyed it. He never expected such a windfall to fall upon him. He was somewhat disbelieving and tried his best to do each step well, hoping to gain the Emperor's approval.
The Emperor's expression was stern, but in reality, he was extremely pleased with the Third Prince. Among his three princes, the Crown Prince was the most foolish. Without the Xu family's support, he would not have been able to ascend the throne smoothly. The reason he had made the Empress's son the Crown Prince was a condition of exchange. Later, when he became dissatisfied with the Crown Prince and wanted to support the Second Prince, although he felt the Second Prince was smarter than the Crown Prince, he was still far inferior to the Third Prince. Indeed, among his sons, in terms of ability, it had always been the Third Prince. The reason he had favored the Second Prince was that his most beloved concubine in this life was Rufei. This morning, the Empress went to Rufei and uttered a few taunts, which reached the Emperor's ears. Although the Emperor was somewhat displeased, the Second Prince had erred first, so he could only let her endure it.
She began to cry and complain about her grievances to the Emperor. She and the Emperor were originally deeply in love. For the sake of the family's interests, he married the Empress. Thinking of this, she felt indignant. Later, the Emperor intended to make her son the Crown Prince, but unexpectedly, the Empress had gotten there first. Was it just because she had a powerful maternal family?
Her son had made a mistake and offended the Xu family. In the past, she might have been worried, but now the Emperor's foundation was firm, and knowing that the Emperor's heart was with her, she was confident that in a while, she would make the Emperor appoint her son as the Crown Prince. Unexpectedly, such a thing happened, and he was destined to be unable to attain that position in this life, as no emperor in history had been disabled.