Read Novel Full Chapter 727 - 357: Cooperating with the Li Family to Eliminate the Crown Prince_3
Chapter 727: Chapter 357: Cooperating with the Li Family to Eliminate the Crown Prince_3
Sun Kui suddenly thought of something and whispered, "It might be related to Prince Chu."
In the Imperial Study, it was unknown what the Emperor and Princess Consort Li discussed. When Princess Consort Li emerged from the Imperial Study, she seemed utterly devastated, as if she had suffered a huge blow. If Qiu Sang weren’t supporting her, she probably wouldn’t have been able to walk.
Sun Kui and Sun Doudou: Princess Li, what happened?
"Your Highness, do you need me to assist you back to the palace?" Sun Doudou approached and inquired.
Princess Consort Li did not respond, as if she hadn’t heard anything.
Qiu Sang shook her head at Sun Doudou, "Thank you, Mr. Sun, I can assist Her Highness back to the palace."
Sun Doudou didn’t follow any further and withdrew back to Sun Kui’s side.
"Master, this..."
Sun Kui surmised that something major must have happened, otherwise, Princess Li wouldn’t appear so heartbroken and devastated.
"Do not inquire about anything." After saying this, he turned and entered the Imperial Study, seeing the Emperor reading memorials as before, his face calm as if nothing had happened, which struck him as odd. However, he didn’t have the courage to ask.
Princess Consort Li wept silently all the way back to the palace, seen by many eunuchs and palace maids.
Upon hearing the news, Jiang Chuan immediately reported to Empress Xie.
Empress Xie listened and smiled triumphantly, "The Li Family will never spare the Crown Prince."
"To offend the Li Family is to offend the majority of the scholars in the world, now the Crown Prince and his ilk will have to face the consequences." Having said this, Qiu Sang hurriedly helped Empress Xie lie down, "Your Majesty, you need to rest now."
"I have a slight headache and indeed need a good rest."
Empress Xie caught a cold, but she and those around her didn’t take it seriously.
After returning to her palace, Princess Consort Li put away her sorrowful expression, but her demeanor remained serious.
Seeing the drastic change in Princess Consort Li’s expression, Qiu Sang was puzzled and asked hurriedly, "Your Highness, what did His Majesty say? Is it that Your Highness was not harmed?"
"His Majesty told me that Prince Chu did not go to Jinling. He also said he sent Prince Chu to Peng City, not Jinling."
"The Emperor means that the Crown Prince did not go to Jinling, so the Crown Prince is unharmed," Qiu Sang appeared relieved, "That’s really great."
"Things are not that simple." Princess Consort Li was a very astute person. Empress Xie would not have told her without reason about Prince Chu being assassinated. Presumably, Prince Jing in Jinling indeed received news about Prince Chu’s incident. However, the Emperor’s reaction was very strange, he seemed unaware of this matter. Although Jinling and the capital are miles apart, if Prince Chu really met with misfortune, it would be impossible for the Emperor not to receive the news.
Before her son left, he told her that no matter what news she heard about him, she should not believe it. Also, not sending a message back was good news. If someone told her news of his misfortune, she should outwardly acknowledge it but inwardly not believe it.
"Did Prince Chu send any messages back to the capital?"
"No, he didn’t."
Princess Consort Li, still uneasy, thought for a while and said, "Go and summon Dou Le."
"Yes."
Soon, Qiu Sang brought Dou Le to see Princess Consort Li.
Upon seeing Dou Le, Princess Consort Li asked if he had received any news about Prince Chu today.
Dou Le told Princess Consort Li that since Prince Chu left the capital, he hadn’t received any messages from Prince Chu. Today was the same as usual with no news received.
Hearing this from Dou Le, Princess Consort Li felt reassured.
It seems her son had foreseen today’s situation.
Seeing Princess Consort Li’s changing expression, Qiu Sang felt uneasy and anxiously asked, "Your Highness, are you alright?"
"I’m fine." Princess Consort Li replied, then instructed Qiu Sang to prepare the writing materials. She wrote a letter and asked Dou Le to deliver it to Minister Li outside the palace.
"Your Highness, did something really happen to the Crown Prince?"
"There should not have been."
"Then was Empress Xie lying when she said the Crown Prince was killed in Jinling?"
"She wasn’t lying to me, but the person who was killed might not be Prince Chu." Princess Consort Li speculated that Prince Chu should have already found the stolen copper. By letting ’himself’ be assassinated in Jinling, Prince Chu intended to deceive the Crown Prince’s people, making them truly believe he was dead, thus ensuring his safe and smooth return to the capital.
Qiu Sang was confused by Princess Consort Li’s words, "Your Highness, I don’t understand what you mean."
"From today on, we must pretend that Prince Chu was indeed harmed, understand?"
"Understood." Although Qiu Sang did not fully understand what was happening, she knew how to put on an act.
Shortly after, the entire palace knew about Prince Chu being attacked in Jinling and his whereabouts being unknown. It wasn’t long before the news reached the ears of the ministers, causing an upheaval.