The crown prince's words were extremely sarcastic.

He was distressed, as were Mingzhu and Kangxi, members of the First Prince's faction.

Upon hearing the news, Mingzhu immediately sent the servant who wasn't joking to the manor to feed the horses; anyone who wasn't smart should be sent away quickly.

Soetu's career was over, and so was his.

"That old bastard, why don't you just sleep with him until he dies? Is he that desperate for women...?"

You need a woman? Just say so! I'll personally deliver her to you. Having a wild meal with your brother's concubine in the back garden, how exciting! So exciting it makes me want to die.

Mingzhu almost cried as she cursed.

He had already gotten into the eldest prince's carriage when he was told that his opponent was injured and could not withdraw from the competition, and that withdrawal would be for life.

He might be disqualified by the organizers next because he has no opponents, and he's feeling wronged! Why?!

If he hadn't gotten on the First Prince's train, things would have been fine. Unless another princeling emerges with comparable abilities, he'll definitely have to withdraw from the race.

It made him even consider creating a clone to work part-time for the Crown Prince.

Emperor Kangxi was also unhappy.

Suo'etu and Mingzhu were the ministers he had carefully selected to balance the court. If one of them got into trouble, he couldn't just leave the other to do nothing and wait for him to become the only one in power!

A bunch of messy things.

Others aren't bad, but they're not as useful as Suo'etu and Mingzhu. Although they fight, they're capable.

He's essentially sold all the tickets, but if something goes wrong with the performance and they have to replace the performer at the last minute, the result will definitely be poor.

Emperor Kangxi couldn't help but berate Suo'etu in his study for his lack of manners and disgraceful behavior.

As for Suo'etu, he fainted immediately after learning that he had lost sight in one eye; he couldn't accept the outcome.

The truth could not be kept secret; such romantic affairs spread very easily and soon became the subject of everyone's laughter.

Few high-ranking officials and nobles are not lecherous, but it is truly shameful for them to ruin their future because of a woman.

The family traditions of the Hesheli clan have deteriorated considerably.

This is also why Wu Lingzhu took "sick leave." Although she didn't care and was even happy about it, she didn't want to hear those people ridicule her.

Other people's families are useful, but her family, though seemingly powerful, isn't for her to use.

With the defeat of Suo'etu dealt with, the Hesheli clan suffered a major blow and would likely be unable to provide significant assistance to the Crown Prince for at least ten years, at most serving as errand runners for him.

As for ten years from now?

The crown prince may not still be the crown prince ten years from now.

Although Consort Cheng knew that Wu Lingzhu and the Crown Prince did not get along well, she never thought that Wu Lingzhu and her own family were also at odds.

After learning of Suo'etu's heroic deeds, she heard that Wu Lingzhu was ill, so she made a special trip to comfort her.

"Sister Lao still remembers me."

"I should come and check on things between us eventually. What did the imperial physician say?"

"What can I say? I'm just in a bad mood."

This is how Consort Cheng comforted people.

"Don't be sad. Lord Suo is still a step away from you. You entered the palace when you were ten years old, and you still have Yinyu. The Emperor won't hold a grudge against you."

"I know, I just haven't figured it out yet. Now that I'm sick, it'll save me from being laughed at."

Seeing that her expression was not forced, Consort Cheng believed her.

"It's good that you can figure it out."

She understood perfectly well that although Emperor Kangxi was prone to taking his anger out on others, he could distinguish right from wrong.

It is true that Suo'etu is her uncle, but he represents the Crown Prince. When Wu Lingzhu did not run to the Crown Prince to express her opinion when Kangxi was seriously ill, Kangxi regarded her as separate from the Crown Prince.

The fact that Suo'etu could not attend court would not affect Kangxi's favor towards her.

However, the other concubines in the harem might not be aware of this. They all felt that Wu Lingzhu's family had brought shame upon her, and Kangxi would definitely take his anger out on her.

There are quite a few people waiting to see her make a fool of herself.

Her absence is more about giving them peace and quiet. Let them be happy for a few days, and when they find out she hasn't fallen out of favor, they'll be the ones who suffer.

"Does the Princess Consort Chuxiu have any intention of seeking a different future?"

"No, there really isn't."

Wu Lingzhu thought about it and agreed. She was a person of some standing, and anyone who could get into her palace, even if not exceptionally intelligent, wouldn't be too stupid. If she wanted to change course, she would have to wait until the situation became clearer.

They're all incredibly shrewd!

However, I still have to say: "Keep a close eye on them. It's not that we're afraid of smart people, but we are afraid of someone who is stupid and makes a mess of things."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Chuxiu Palace was heavily guarded and remained safe and sound.

Mingzhu struggled for a while, but to no avail, so she resigned herself to being dismissed from her post and staying at home.

Then Kangxi quickly arranged for the crown prince to get married.

The selection of the Crown Princess was thus decided. However, Emperor Kangxi felt a great responsibility towards the Crown Princess and arranged for a matron to tutor her.

Now he doesn't care about anything else, he directly bestows a marriage upon them and arranges for their wedding.

The Crown Prince's wife's family, the Guarjia clan, began to make a name for themselves in the court.

The eldest prince acquired a concubine whose family background was even more outstanding than that of the primary consort, and she quickly became pregnant and gave birth to a son.

The two sides started fighting again.

However, these things were not particularly related to Wu Lingzhu, and in the blink of an eye, it was the thirty-seventh year of Kangxi's reign.

A lot has happened in the past few years. Consort Tong passed away. She became Empress the day before her death. The Fourth Prince was heartbroken, but he also felt a sense of relief.

He was caught between his two mothers, and his life was really difficult.

The Crown Prince and the First Prince were exhausted from their battles. They were both tired. In fact, Emperor Kangxi was also tired, but he couldn't stop now.

They're practically beating each other senseless.

When Suo'etu and Mingzhu were around, they also fought, but those two had a sense of propriety and wouldn't cross the line in a short time. They fought back and forth with a sense of proportion, and they knew how much Kangxi would tolerate. They would stop when they had a chance to strike. Although they seemed to fight fiercely, it was just a big show with little actual damage. It was all show and no substance.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!