Chapter 259: Old Matters Revisited

Bixiao Palace.

With a "bang", Li Xiuyuan placed the teacup heavily on the table, splashing tea all over the table. Without even looking at it, she gritted her teeth and said, "Noble Concubine Chen!"

This strict investigation of the Imperial Household Department resulted in the elimination of all the spies she had carefully cultivated over the years since she entered the palace. This was a heavy loss.

Li Xiuyuan felt distressed and angry at the same time.

Cultivating these spies not only cost a lot of money, but also a lot of energy. Now that they are being plucked out, how can we not feel distressed? How can we not be angry?

More importantly, the Imperial Household Department lost its spies, which was equivalent to losing its eyes and ears. From then on, it would be extremely difficult to do things or to gather information.

Sang Zhu, who was serving beside them, quickly stepped forward and wiped the tea that had spilled on the table. "Your Majesty, calm down. The Imperial Concubine has conducted a thorough investigation of the Internal Affairs Department and has punished so many people. Not only have we lost some of our men, but others have too!"

Li Xiuyuan closed her eyes, and her soft and beautiful face became gloomy.

"Oh, this Concubine Chen really played a good hand. Over the past few days, she has completely controlled the harem.

We underestimated her in the past. This woman not only had the scheming to win the emperor's favor, but also had the ability to control the harem. No wonder, no wonder so many concubines had targeted and framed her in the past, but she was able to escape unscathed and even retaliate.

It turns out that she is the one who is pretending to be a pig and eating the tiger in this harem!"

The master and servants in the hall were silent for a while.

After a dead silence, Sang Zhu timidly said, "So what should we do next?"

Li Xiuyuan opened her eyes, a faint light flashed in them, and she sneered, "It's time to bring up our plans. Since Concubine Chen won't let us have an easy time, then of course we have to vent our anger!"

Sang Zhu immediately understood: "Your Highness is saying..."

Li Xiuyuan ordered in a cold voice: "Take some money and ask the imperial kitchen to prepare some exquisite snacks this afternoon. I want to go see Yu Shi."

Sang Zhu responded respectfully.

*

Wait until the afternoon.

Li Xiuyuan packed the cakes into four food boxes and took a sedan chair to Wenhua Palace.

Arriving at Wenhua Palace, Li Xiuyuan went to a side hall to wait. After class, the Third Prince came in with bright eyes.

"Mother...Mother...Princess...is here..."

Yes, in order to save him, he was given a poisonous drug. He didn't show any symptoms when he was young, but it gradually became apparent as he grew older. He actually had a severe stutter.

Hearing his halting words, a hint of annoyance appeared in Li Xiuyuan's eyes, but thinking of her necessary purpose, she finally suppressed her emotion.

A gentle smile played on her lips, "Yes, mother came to see if you listened to the teacher's words well?"

The third prince could not understand the emotions in his mother's eyes.

He only knew that his mother had come and he was very happy.

Ever since he started school after the Lunar New Year, he had been envious of his fourth brother. His mother, Consort Pei, often came to see him off or pick him up from school, and sometimes even ate lunch with him, always bringing him delicious snacks.

Now he doesn't have to envy his fourth brother anymore, because his mother has also come to see him!

The third prince was filled with joy.

"Mother...Mother, your son...your son will...will be obedient."

Li Xiuyuan gently touched his head: "Our Yushi is so good, mother brought some cakes, can you have some?"

The Third Prince only felt that his mother was doing well today. He nodded vigorously, "Okay..."

Li Xiuyuan handed him a piece of milk cake, watched him eat it, and then said, "Mother told Yushi that good things should be shared, right? Mother brought a lot today. Yushi and Yuzhou go to school together, so shouldn't we share some of this cake with Yuzhou?"

The Third Prince nodded and said, "Yes!"

Li Xiuyuan smiled and said, "Mother brought a lot. Yu Shi, please give one to Yu Zhou. Mother will give the remaining two to your eldest and second brothers."

The third prince said obediently: "Okay... okay..."

The palace maid followed him with the food box.

After he left, Li Xiuyuan stopped smiling and took the other two food boxes to the eldest prince Yuqi and the second prince Yuchuan.

He first explained his purpose and then gave the two of them some pastries.

She smiled and said to the eldest prince, "A few days ago, I got some fine material and wanted to make some clothes for you brothers. Now only the eldest prince's is finished, and I happened to bring it here today. Why don't you try it on? If it doesn't fit, I can ask the embroidery room to make some changes."

The eldest prince, Yuqi, was already ten years old this year. He was very steady and solemn. After hearing this, he thanked her in a serious tone, "Thank you, Empress Li, for your concern."

Li Xiuyuan's smile grew wider: "Let's go to the side hall to try on clothes."

The eldest prince said something to his two study companions and followed her to the side hall.

This was a light blue brocade robe with bamboo leaf patterns embroidered on the lapels and cuffs. When the eldest prince put it on, although he was young, he looked like a handsome young man.

"Thank you, Madam Li. This dress fits me perfectly."

Li Xiuyuan praised him a few words and then gave Sang Zhu a look.

Sang Zhu understood and took the palace maid away.

In an instant, only Li Xiuyuan and Yu Qi were left in the side hall.

The eldest prince was confused and asked, "Empress Li, why is this happening?"

Li Xiuyuan patted his shoulder and asked him to sit down. "It's okay. Empress Li wants to talk to you."

The eldest prince sat down.

Li Xiuyuan asked tentatively, "You have a good relationship with the Second...Second Prince?"

The eldest prince was stunned, then slowly said, "It's fine. Most of the time, it's the second prince who accompanies me."

Li Xiuyuan shed tears.

She looked at him with a look that was half distressed, half blaming.

The eldest prince's heart skipped a beat. He frowned and asked, "Empress Li, why... is she looking at me like that?"

Li Xiuyuan's tears welled up even more: "Do you know... do you know..."

Seeing her crying so hard, the eldest prince was inevitably flustered, "Empress Li, Yuqi is right here, please speak slowly."

Li Xiuyuan nodded and slowly calmed down.

After a long moment, she spoke in a hoarse voice, "There must be something Wen Zhaoyuan hasn't told you yet. But today, I saw you and the Second Prince acting so intimately, and I was deeply saddened, so I couldn't control my emotions for a moment."

The eldest prince frowned even more deeply after hearing this. At his age, he had already grasped the key points. "Sad? Why would Empress Li be sad?"

Li Xiuyuan's eyes turned red and she almost cried again, but she managed to hold it back.

After taking several deep breaths, he slowly said, "You are old enough now, you should know what happened back then..."

The eldest prince looked straight at her.

Li Xiuyuan said, "Your mother, Imperial Concubine Shunzhen, died because of the Second Prince's biological mother, Imperial Concubine Xie Xian, and Imperial Concubine Chen."

The eldest prince's face immediately lost all color. "Empress Li, what did you say?"

Li Xiuyuan said in a serious tone,

"During a banquet that year, Concubine Chen was nearly insulted by thieves in Linde Hall.

Your father doted on Concubine Chen and, after mistakenly listening to what her maid said, he confined your mother to the palace.

Your mother, desperate to prove her innocence, chose to commit suicide."

The eldest prince breathed rapidly.

Li Xiuyuan glanced at his expression and continued, "The murderer who planned this incident was none other than the Second Prince's mother, Consort Xie..."