CHAPTER 28: CHAPTER 7: DANCING PRINCESS (7)

When Prince Yu woke up, he discovered to his surprise that he was entangled with Lou Ge.

Frowning, Prince Yu looked at Lou Ge with some disgust. If not for her usefulness, such a woman was not even fit to carry his shoes, and was ugly to boot.

Lou Ge also woke up. Seeing Prince Yu and herself in a state of undress, a hint of joy flashed in her eyes.

"Your Highness, what is happening here?"

"Alright, get up and dress properly first, there is important business to attend to. Since you and I have had intimate relations, after the matter is settled, naturally, I will grant you what you want."

Lou Ge was overjoyed: "Thank you, Your Highness."

Seeing Prince Yu and Lou Ge coming out, the little eunuch waiting outside quickly bowed.

"Has His Majesty the Emperor left?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, His Majesty is still in the study."

Prince Yu was overjoyed. He had been worried that the matter on that side was already completed, which would have been a bit inconvenient. Fortunately, the heavens seemed to be aiding him.

Prince Yu and Lou Ge arrived at the small study of Yongqing Palace, where they saw Xiao Lin standing guard outside.

Upon seeing the two of them, Xiao Lin hurried to salute: "Your Highness Prince Yu."

"Has His Majesty and Miss Shuning finished talking yet?"

Xiao Lin’s eyes were somewhat evasive: "No, Your Highness."

Prince Yu frowned: "It’s been a long time, nothing must have happened, right?"

Xiao Lin hurriedly said: "No, Your Highness, I’ve been standing here all along."

"The Empress Dowager has arrived."

"Greetings to the Empress Dowager."

"Your son greets Mother, wishing Mother all health and prosperity."

"Rise."

"Where is the Emperor?"

Xiao Lin knelt on the ground, not daring to look up. Just as Prince Yu was about to speak, the study door opened.

His Majesty and Li Shuning emerged from inside.

Prince Yu scrutinized, not finding anything unusual, though he noticed that the jade hairpin Li Shuning wore before was missing.

Prince Yu smiled, just as he intended to expose the affair between the two, His Majesty suddenly said: "Mother, what brings you here?"

The Empress Dowager, smiling, said: "Prince Yu mentioned there was good news here, so I was invited over. I didn’t expect the Emperor to be here as well. What is this good news?"

Prince Yu hadn’t expected that the little eunuch he sent to invite the Empress Dowager would reveal it directly, but so be it. After today’s events, he had nothing to worry about anymore, even if the Emperor held suspicions towards him.

"Mother, I wish to appoint Shuning as a concubine."

The Empress Dowager’s face changed drastically: "Emperor, didn’t I tell you not to get ideas about Shuning?"

"Mother, Shuning and I couldn’t help ourselves and have already been together."

The Empress Dowager wobbled, her face turning ashen, pointing at the Emperor and Shuning: "You, you..."

Then the Empress Dowager fainted directly.

Yongqing Palace descended into chaos.

Prince Yu, whispering, had an air of pride and excitement in his eyes.

The events were unfolding more smoothly than he had imagined.

With the Empress Dowager gravely ill, the Emperor stayed at the Purple Cloud Palace for several days without attending court.

The court too became somewhat chaotic.

Having succeeded in his scheme, Prince Yu began handling the subsequent affairs, but one thing caught him off guard.

Lou Ge was sent to Yu Wang Mansion by the Emperor and was directly titled as a Concubine.

Prince Yu could understand, as he had indeed called for the Empress Dowager, and he imagined His Majesty the Emperor held it against him, seeking to trouble him a bit.

Yet, how much trouble could an additional concubine cause? He was a prince, it was but a concubine.

Regarding Minister Gu, the Emperor also had words conveyed to him.

"Mr. Gu, liveliness between Prince Yu and a Dancing Girl took place in the palace. The Emperor doesn’t want people to criticize His Highness Prince Yu, thus he gifted the Dancing Girl. I ask Mr. Gu not to misunderstand; Miss Gu is the Main Wife regardless."

Upon receiving this news, Gu Youran cried out her heart, making Minister Gu’s heart ache, and he blamed Prince Yu inwardly.

Prince Yu had initially sought their doorstep to ask for Youran’s hand in marriage. These years without the wedding were bearable, but no Main Wife and yet already a Concubine, this was insufferable. Having a concubine’s first son would make Youran’s future unbearable.

To think, after the engagement, I handed that thing to Prince Yu, otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to burn bridges after crossing them.

Two months passed, and Prince Yu learned a piece of news from the palace, discovering Li Shuning was pregnant.

Upon learning this, Prince Yu was overjoyed.

However, Prince Yu knew that the child in Li Shuning’s belly couldn’t possibly be born; if born, the Royal bloodline would become troublesome.

Surely the Empress Dowager would have Li Shuning abort.

Thinking of this, Prince Yu immediately sent someone to the Imperial Hospital, claiming he was unwell, asking for the Imperial Physician.

After the Imperial Physician left, Prince Yu sent someone to one of his pharmacies, obtaining a package of medicine.

"Come, deliver this into the palace and make sure to find Seventh Aunt at Yunfei Pavilion and place it in her hand."

"Yes."

Within days, the Emperor summoned Prince Yu to the palace.

Only then did Prince Yu know, Li Shuning had already died, and the Empress Dowager’s spirit seemed blurred, unrecognizing anyone. After meeting her once, he was somewhat astonished—Had she gone mad?

Ha ha, madness is satisfactory too, what goes around, comes around.

The Emperor, weighed down with troubles, coupled with Li Shuning’s death and his child merely over two months old, appeared exhausted and bewildered.

Meanwhile, upheaval spread in the court.

The Emperor had little desire to attend court, and as usual, Xiao Lin called, "If there’s a petition, present it; otherwise, the court is dismissed."

"Your Majesty, I have a petition to present."

The Emperor glanced; it was the Minister of War: "Present it."

"Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Yu is the legitimate eldest son of the previous Emperor, yet it was Your Majesty who inherited the throne. Over the years, we’ve felt uneasy. Now, the chaos in the court seems to stem from defying the late Emperor’s will. The Empress Dowager’s mind is unsound, and Your Majesty neglects state affairs. We can bear it no longer and risk our lives to remonstrate: please abdicate in favor of His Highness Prince Yu to set things right for the Great Ning Dynasty’s stability."

"I second this."

"I second this."

"We all second this."

Prince Yu, as a Vassal King, wasn’t in the hall then, but hearing those ministers clamoring for his enthronement, the Emperor chuckled coldly, his anger rising rapidly.

"Each of you displays unfailing loyalty, come, summon Prince Yu for his audience."

"Summon Prince Yu for his audience."

The Emperor’s face was stern, and those ministers all stood there with dark determination, quietly awaiting Prince Yu’s arrival.

"This humble servant pays respect to Your Majesty." Prince Yu was exceedingly respectful.

The Emperor said with a smile: "Prince Yu, these ministers say you are more suited to be Emperor, what are your thoughts?"

However, Prince Yu stood up: "Your Majesty, I am the legitimate eldest son; I don’t understand why it was Your Majesty who inherited the throne. I am very eager to know what is going on; could Your Majesty clarify things for me?"

Clearly, Prince Yu had no more reservations.