Chapter 191: Chapter 190: Slapping the Green Tea Empress Dowager (Part 7)
Anning watched Helan Zhi cry until she collapsed, feeling even more displeased with Prince Kang.
This scumbag, how did he harm my daughter in the previous life?
Helan Zhi clearly opposed entering the palace, but in the previous life, Prince Kang still forcibly sent her into the palace.
Anning tried hard to recall and soon figured out the reason.
At that time, her original body was not well due to being punished by Emperor Jianwu to kneel; just before Helan Zhi entered the palace, her body became even more problematic, and Prince Kang used her original body’s illness to threaten Helan Zhi, promising to find a Divine Doctor for her if she obediently entered the palace.
For the sake of her mother’s health, Helan Zhi had to endure the heartache and enter the palace.
After recalling these memories, Anning felt even more sorry for Helan Zhi.
She hugged Helan Zhi tightly: "Alright, we won’t enter the palace, no matter what, mother is here, mother will find a way for you."
Helan Zhi cried until her eyes were bright red.
She nestled in Anning’s arms, wiping the tears: "Mother, you must take good care of yourself; now I only have you."
He Zhenyu was slightly displeased.
He pulled on Helan Zhi’s sleeve: "Sister, you still have me, I will also help you."
Anning, holding one child on each side, smiled through tears: "You both just be at ease, I will watch over and protect, I won’t let you enter the palace and be humiliated."
After calming her children, Anning quietly said to He Zhenyu: "Find time to help me arrange a meeting with Mr. Xiao, I need to talk to him."
Although He Zhenyu didn’t understand why Anning wanted to see Mr. Xiao, he always listened to his mother and promptly agreed.
Anning waited until their emotions stabilized, then recounted how she encountered Emperor Jianwu after entering the palace, how Emperor Jianwu found faults, and how she fought back.
"Now, your father has not yet completely turned against us, so you don’t need to be afraid, as long as he still wants face, he won’t dare to go too far, and he can’t do much to the three of us. Moreover, even if we encounter the little Emperor and Empress Dowager, there’s nothing to worry about, your father after all is still the powerful Regent King, they are merely paper tigers in front of you."
Anning’s words finally gave Helan Zhi and He Zhenyu some confidence and reduced their fears.
After sending He Zhenyu and Helan Zhi away, Anning instructed her servants to pack up, preparing to live for a few days in the hot spring manor outside the city.
Meanwhile, she pondered about Mr. Xiao.
From her original body’s memories, Anning discovered something quite interesting.
Prince Kang’s chief strategist, Mr. Xiao is indeed an extremely intelligent man.
He assisted Prince Kang wholeheartedly, being highly competent, and Prince Kang highly trusted him, entrusting many matters to Mr. Xiao’s management.
It could be said that Mr. Xiao had great authority among Prince Kang’s subordinates; his words represented Prince Kang.
Yet, such a person, who had dedicated himself to Prince Kang, started preparing his exit route as Prince Kang started to lean more towards the Empress Dowager, even marrying his own daughter to the little Emperor.
Before the little Emperor completely took over the reign, Mr. Xiao resigned from Prince Kang.
As for where he went, surprisingly no one knew.
When the little Emperor finally overthrew Prince Kang slaughtering all of Kang King’s followers, countless people couldn’t find that nearly demonically clever Mr. Xiao.
Thinking about this, Anning found Mr. Xiao quite fascinating.
He is someone who assesses the situation wisely and is not blindly loyal.
Perhaps, this Mr. Xiao could be someone to collaborate with.
Late into the night, after Anning had finished dinner, Prince Kang arrived.
Anning was somewhat unwilling to deal with him, so she made the excuse of feeling unwell and lazily nestled on the couch.
Prince Kang wasn’t angry, either.
After all, her original self had done well enough over the years, treating Prince Kang with great respect and care, managing the Prince Kang Mansion well, and raising their children excellently, leaving no faults for Prince Kang to pick on.
No matter what, her original self was Princess Kang, handpicked by Prince Kang’s parents, and though he couldn’t give her love, he still had the respect that was due.
Prince Kang lifted his robe and sat down, sitting upright and proper.
He was very handsome, truly a gentle and refined gentleman at first glance.
But Anning felt nothing but intense disgust towards him.
"Did I hear that you had a quarrel with His Majesty today?"
The first thing Prince Kang asked wasn’t about how Anning was feeling or whether she was getting better, and if she needed a better doctor, but rather about the little Emperor’s affairs.
Anning inwardly sneered, yet her face remained gentle as she said: "Prince knows, it wasn’t really a quarrel. Possibly His Majesty had some anger in his heart, and he spoke harshly upon encountering me, naturally I had to gently advise him. I think His Majesty bears some dissatisfaction towards you, you should be cautious when instructing His Majesty in the future, after all, being too harsh on a child might not be good."
This response left Prince Kang at a loss for words.
After a while, Prince Kang finally said: "That’s His Majesty, even if he speaks harshly to you, you shouldn’t talk back. Also, concerning the upbringing of His Majesty, it’s better for you as a woman not to intervene."
"Yes."
Anning agreed with a smile, but then added: "I endured His Majesty’s harsh words, thinking only of myself wouldn’t matter much, but I did it for the Prince. If I bore it silently, or even let His Majesty punish me, would that look good for the Prince? I am Princess Kang, representing Prince’s dignity and stance. If I yield, it shows that the Prince has yielded. In the future, how are we to suppress those courtiers with ulterior motives or support His Majesty in handling the court affairs?"
This was akin to a soft knife, each word stabbing precisely, causing internal frustration for Prince Kang, yet he had no choice but to put on a smile for Anning: "In that case, you did well. It’s getting late, you should rest. I will attend to some official duties."
Anning made a slight move as if to see him out, but Prince Kang quickly waved her off: "No need to get up, just rest."
Anning then said: "These days I often feel troubled, so I was thinking of staying at the hot spring manor for a few days, just to change my mood. Yu’er and Zhi’er are worried about me and want to stay with me for a few days."
"Go ahead, play a few more days."
Prince Kang nodded with a stern face: "Take whatever you need from the storeroom, and bring more servants when you go."
"Thank you for your concern, Prince."
Anning formally bowed slightly, watching as Prince Kang left quickly.
Once Prince Kang had left, Anning dismissed the servants and sat alone on the bed to feel the world’s laws.
During the day, there was too much going on, and Anning could only manage to receive the original host’s memories, she hadn’t felt the world’s rules yet.
Now, with the surroundings peaceful and no one around, she finally had the chance.
This world was stronger than the last world she had been in; the world’s laws allowed the existence of Cultivators.
Also, this world contained some Spiritual Energy, although it was so faint it was almost imperceptible, it was still present.
Anning knew that although one could cultivate, it was only up to the Qi Cultivation Stage, and probably impossible to achieve Foundation Establishment until death.
However, she was not afraid.
Her first action was to start practicing cultivation.
Anning didn’t Cultivate the true essence; she practiced martial arts.
Since this world only allowed cultivation up to the Qi Cultivation Stage, it was better to directly train in high martial arts.
After all, having a high Combat Power could make many things more convenient.