CHAPTER 190: CHAPTER 8: STRIFE BETWEEN LEGITIMATE AND ILLEGITIMATE OFFSPRING (PART 8)

Prince Kang indeed felt some regret. Before the grand marriage, he thought Li Shumeng was charming and considerate.

But after the wedding, all of Li Shumeng’s thoughtfulness seemed to disappear. Her behavior was erratic, embarrassing the Prince Kang Mansion.

He always felt they were incompatible.

Inevitable to say, some things were different from the storyline.

In the storyline, Li Shumeng was always Prince Kang’s treasured jewel, but now, things had become interesting.

As time passed, three years have gone by. The puppet had already given the Duke Dingguo a son. Speaking of which, Li Shuning was still curious about what kind of existence the puppet was to even bear children.

However, Li Shumeng had never been pregnant; it was said to be due to a cold womb.

There was also the problem with her knees. Back then, Li Shumeng, before recovering from her injuries, braved the bitter cold to go to Qianqiu Mountain. The cold penetrated her bones, which was detrimental to her health.

Moreover, during the spring, when she took the Seventh Princess boating, she fell into the water and ultimately left sequelae.

Li Shuning, however, felt no guilt.

One must know that Li Shumeng tried to push her into the water during an even colder winter, so it was just a taste of her own medicine.

In the past three years, things have been peaceful, but from this year onward, Xuanjing was about to change.

One day, while Li Shuning was playing with her child, the Duke Dingguo was reading, and suddenly a maid rushed in, saying a servant close to the Duke Dingguo had an urgent request for a meeting.

Li Shuning’s heart skipped a beat; she knew something had happened.

The Crown Prince should have been schemed against.

As expected, soon after, the Duke Dingguo entered with a grave expression.

After dismissing the maids, the Duke spoke to Li Shuning: the Crown Prince was on the brink of death and he had to enter the palace.

Over the years, all intimate matters were delegated to the puppet, but Li Shuning handled everything else herself. The Duke was aware of Li Shuning’s intelligence and capability.

Therefore, he informed Li Shuning about the matter to prevent any panic from arising due to rumors.

Li Shuning contemplated and said: "Marquis, go quickly. The Empress is the mother, she will be the most anxious about the Crown Prince’s situation. You must support her well, you know, there’s that one above."

The Duke Dingguo, being intelligent, nodded: "Alright, I understand. I’ll leave the household to you."

The Duke entered the palace while Li Shuning took the child to the old lady’s place.

For three whole days, the Duke did not return to the mansion.

On the fourth day, the Duke returned, exhausted but looking somewhat better.

The Crown Prince was out of danger.

Li Shuning merely nodded; she had already known the Crown Prince would be fine, but it would be the Empress who would be in trouble.

The Third Prince met with misfortune on the seventh day after the Crown Prince’s recovery. Li Shuning had the means to control Li Shumeng, but having gone through so many task worlds, she had developed certain ideas about completing tasks.

Coming to this world did not mean completing tasks with brute force directly.

Li Shuning knew what the Empress wanted to do, and the key now was how to let the Duke Dingguo know about it.

Intentionally or not, Li Shuning mentioned concerns about the Empress in front of the Duke, considering if the Empress might do something since her son was harmed.

The Duke heard and naturally paid attention to it.

Upon further attention, he discovered something significant, which startled the Duke.

On the third day of the Crown Prince’s awakening, Li Shuning entered the palace.

The Empress was still pleased with Li Shuning, knowing she wouldn’t enter the palace without reason, so she dismissed the palace maids.

Li Shuning thought for a moment and said: "Empress, I came today because the Marquis sent me. As a mother, I understand your feelings well. Your Highness, are you planning to act against that person during the forthcoming hunt?"

The Empress’s expression changed. She had not shared this matter with Shaohua, yet Li Shuning knew. Who had informed Shaohua?

The Empress suspected someone reported secretly.

Li Shuning, however, sighed: "Your Highness, no one reported to the Marquis; the Marquis himself sensed it."

In fact, if not for Li Shuning’s reminder, the Duke would not know what the Empress was planning, and the events from the storyline would ensue.

After all, the people under the Empress were all trained by the Jiang Family.

"Has Your Highness considered that if the Crown Prince got into trouble, wouldn’t the Emperor be aware of who was responsible? Yet the Emperor took no action. If Your Highness makes a move against that person, what would the Emperor think? What would happen to the Crown Prince henceforth? Having been in the palace for many years, surely you understand better than me."

Li Shuning was uncertain because if the Empress were rational, so many things from the storyline wouldn’t have happened.

Sighing inwardly, Li Shuning used a decisive tactic: "The Marquis said, no matter what you do, the Jiang family would support you even if it meant their downfall."

The Empress was taken aback, recalling her brother and old father.

Entering the palace meant being part of the royal family, even her father and brother had to kneel in her presence.

She rarely saw them even once a year.

But the Empress knew, her father and brother’s feelings for her remained unchanged.

Even Shaohua suffered much for her sake as an aunt.

The Empress understood what Li Shuning was suggesting; with the Emperor still alive, if she did something excessive, it would only implicate the Jiang Family, but they would not regret it.

Suddenly, the Empress wept.

Li Shuning hurriedly handed over a handkerchief.

After a while, the Empress said: "Those people, relying on the Emperor’s favor, dared to harm the Crown Prince; why can’t I strike back?"

"Your Highness, my mother once told Shaohua and me about your hardships upon entering the palace, and how difficult it was even with the Crown Prince. So many years have passed, and there will be plenty of opportunities to make them pay. Even Prince Kang is dear to the Emperor’s heart, let alone the Crown Prince."

Li Shuning persuaded for a moment, and the Empress calmed down.

On the Duke’s end, he also became vigilant, ensuring the Empress wouldn’t do anything foolish.

If something needs to be done, there’s an appropriate way.

While the Empress here laid low, the Third Prince’s side grew even more smug.

In the storyline, the Crown Prince recovered fine after treatment from the Imperial Physician, but this time, the recovery was prolonged.

It was because the Crown Prince, realizing the Empress’s intentions, discussed with the Duke for an entire afternoon, deciding it was necessary to inform the Empress beforehand, lest she was pushed to a dangerous brink.

The Emperor was already elderly and couldn’t afford such turmoil, but that day, while resting, a young eunuch rushed in panicking.

"Your Majesty, something terrible happened, the Crown Prince isn’t well, the Crown Prince..."

The Emperor was satisfied with the Crown Prince; how could he not be concerned about his own son?

But he preferred Prince Rui more, despite disliking how Prince Rui treated his siblings. However, the day he summoned Prince Rui, and seeing his tearful repentance, his heart softened.

Thus, no action was taken against Prince Rui these days, but hearing about the Crown Prince’s issues now, the Emperor broke into a cold sweat from anxiety and felt even more guilt towards the Crown Prince.