CHAPTER 245: CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY-THREE

"Even if Qin Xiulian is trained to become like Si Youying, it’s still not certain that she’d be more favored than Noble Princess Consort Rong." Yu Hai still found it unlikely, "That is Noble Princess Consort Rong, after all."

"Duke Zhen is so confident for only one reason, and that is because Si Youying was very important to Father Emperor, even more important than Noble Princess Consort Rong," said the Eighth Prince. "Father Emperor must have been holding a grudge over Si Youying’s death all these years and hasn’t forgotten about Si Youying. Now that someone who looks exactly like Si Youying has appeared, what do you think Father Emperor will do?"

"Of course, he would want to make amends..." Yu Hai said up to this point, and a look of shock appeared on his face, "Your Highness, is this Duke Zhen’s scheme?!"

"Yes, this is Duke Zhen’s scheme." The Eighth Prince instructed Yu Hai, "Go investigate Si Youying." Si Youying’s name was somewhat unfamiliar, but the surname Si resembled someone he had seen before.

"I will go at once."

Yu Hai went out for a while and then returned.

"Your Highness, do you think this Qin Xiulian will really be more favored than Noble Princess Consort Rong?"

The Eighth Prince crossed his hands under his chin and smiled meaningfully, "That depends on how important Si Youying is to Father Emperor’s heart."

"I think Duke Zhen’s clever plan has failed this time," Yu Hai said. "Perhaps Si Youying was very important to the Emperor when he was young, but after so many years, it is less significant. Moreover, over these years, Noble Princess Consort Rong has always been by the Emperor’s side, and Si Youying couldn’t possibly outweigh her importance."

"Yu Hai, who do you think is more important in Father Emperor’s estimation between Noble Princess Consort Rong and the late Empress?"

Yu Hai didn’t hesitate to say, "Of course, the late Empress."

"Why do you think it’s the late Empress?"

"Because the Emperor admired the late Empress the most. When the late Empress passed away, the Emperor suspended court for three days, and this year, on her death anniversary, he suspended court for a day again. And also..." Yu Hai listed many things the Emperor did to honor the late Empress.

"Father Emperor values the late Empress for another most important reason, besides what you’ve mentioned just now."

Yu Hai asked curiously, "What’s the most important reason?"

"The most important reason is that the late Empress is no longer alive."

"The late Empress is no longer alive?" Yu Hai looked puzzled, "I don’t understand."

"The living can never compare to the deceased," the Eighth Prince said, raising the corners of his mouth in an intriguing smile. "The deceased will always be remembered, and only their good deeds in life will be recalled, understand?"

At this, Yu Hai finally understood. Like himself, his best friend had died, and he would never forget, always remembering his friend’s goodness.

"I have been enlightened."

The Eighth Prince chuckled lightly, "There’s a good show to watch now."

"Your Highness, if that Qin Xiulian does become more favored than Noble Princess Consort Rong, then what follows..." Yu Hai still couldn’t imagine the scenario where Noble Princess Consort Rong loses favor.

The Eighth Prince spoke deeply, "Afterward, we only need to watch the show unfold."

"The prince says..." Yu Hai suddenly thought of something else, "Your Highness, you instructed us earlier that when Duke Zhen makes his move, our people should seize the opportunity to attack the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince. Now that Duke Zhen hasn’t acted against Prince Dai, should our people still go ahead with attacking the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince?"

The Eighth Prince pondered for a while and said, "Proceed."

"Your Highness, without Duke Zhen dispatching people to attack, wouldn’t it be too dangerous for us to make a move?" Yu Hai was very worried, "Didn’t you say earlier that the Emperor already suspects that the mastermind behind the attack on the Crown Prince is in the capital, not in Yangzhou among the noble families? If we rashly attack again, won’t that expose us?"

"No," replied the Eighth Prince, "as long as we don’t attack Prince Dai and the Crown Prince, we won’t be easily exposed."

"But Your Highness, why must we attack the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince?" Yu Hai asked, puzzled.

The Eighth Prince smiled slightly, "Because it’s entertaining."

"Entertaining?" Seeing the intriguing smile at the corners of the Eighth Prince’s mouth, Yu Hai’s scalp prickled. He dared not continue questioning and respectfully said, "I will arrange it immediately."

"Go ahead."

At the hunting grounds in the eastern outskirts, Zhao Yao had already finished lunch with the Fourth Prince. After returning to his tent, he summoned Lingyun.

Before returning to his tent, he had blown a whistle, his way of calling Lingyun.

"Lai Fu, what’s the matter with that Qin Xiulian?" When the Emperor went hunting in the morning, Lingyun was beside him and naturally witnessed what happened in the morning. "Who does she resemble?"