Emperor Kangxi had indeed grown tired of the power struggle between his son and the eldest prince; their infighting was exhausting for him.

After a series of actions by Emperor Kangxi, the Crown Prince and the First Prince were reduced to nothing.

This is not just the disappointment of two people, but the disappointment of the whole family.

Kangxi's impatience was palpable; anyone could see his displeasure with the power struggle between the Crown Prince and the First Prince.

This signal excited the princes below. The crown prince started attending court in his teens, and they also entered the court after getting married. How wonderful it was to have power!

The Crown Prince's position is unstable, and the First Prince isn't much better off. Why can't they compete for it?

"Your Majesty, Consort Hui is ill."

Chunying said this with a smile, adding that Consort Hui had done a lot of disgusting things over the past few years.

Is it a real illness or is it feigned?

"It must be true. The eldest prince is probably really going to be devastated this time."

Having followed Wu Lingzhu for many years, Chun Ying has developed a high level of political sensitivity. As an insider who knows a lot of inside information, she can easily see through many things.

The Crown Prince still has a title; the heir apparent is born with a group of followers. It's certain that the Crown Prince has suffered a major blow this time, but there's still a way out.

But the eldest prince is truly doomed; all his years of hard work have been wasted.

Consort Hui's ambition was obvious; the eldest prince's failure was her failure.

Has the Emperor given any indication?

"No."

"What about the Crown Prince?"

"The Crown Prince is currently studying behind closed doors and there has been no movement. However, I heard that the Crown Princess is not well and is seriously ill."

"These people are all sick. Send some tonics to the Crown Princess... and the same to Consort Hui."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Wu Lingzhu has always been very good at saving face.

The next day, Chunying came in: "Your Majesty, Consort Liang requests an audience."

Wu Lingzhu was genuinely surprised: "What is she doing here?"

However, she still said, "Let her in!"

Consort Liang, the birth mother of the Eighth Prince, had little interaction with him. One was a favored concubine, while the other was relatively unknown. Consort Liang's rank as a consort was only confirmed when the Eighth Prince got married.

Could it be that she came for the Eighth Prince?

If that's really the case, then they're really shameless.

Thinking this, Noble Lady Liang was led in by Haru-sakura.

Lady Liang was a very beautiful woman. Even though she was getting old, time never defeats a true beauty, and she had a certain elegance about her.

"Greetings to Consort Yi, may Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

Wu Lingzhu smiled and said, "No need for such formalities, sir. Chunying, please offer Lady Liang a seat."

Chunying: "Yes, Your Majesty."

After Consort Liang sat down, she began to flatter Wu Lingzhu. She wasn't very good at flattering people, and her tone was somewhat stiff. Wu Lingzhu frowned as she listened and interrupted her flattery.

"Does Your Excellency Liang have something to say that you have come to visit so suddenly today?"

Consort Liang then explained her purpose: "Your Majesty, the Eighth Prince recently met your niece on the estate. He is enamored with her and wants to marry her as a secondary consort. I would like to ask Your Majesty's opinion."

Wu Lingzhu almost thought she was hallucinating; what was going on?

The Eighth Prince used to be the First Prince's man. After the First Prince fell from grace, he could be considered the best successor. The Hesheli family were the Crown Prince's men. What did it mean to ask her?

Or is it that the Eighth Prince wants to inherit the First Prince's political "legacy" while also not wanting to let go of the Crown Prince's influence?

Surely there aren't really people this greedy and clueless!

Despite having a thousand guesses in her heart, she remained calm on the surface and only asked, "My maternal family has quite a few nieces. I wonder which one the Eighth Prince has taken a fancy to? Has she ever participated in the imperial concubine selection?"

Consort Liang: "She is the third princess of your fifth uncle's family. Speaking of which, this third princess and the eighth prince's wife are cousins."

Wu Lingzhu then remembered that the Eighth Princess's nominal maternal grandmother was her eldest aunt, who was also her niece's great-aunt.

They are indeed distant cousins, but not related by blood.

If Consort Liang hadn't mentioned it, Wu Lingzhu would have almost forgotten that Prince An's second wife was her aunt.

The Eighth Prince's mother was born to the concubine of Prince An.

"What a coincidence, you haven't mentioned the talent show yet!"

Consort Liang's voice was much softer: "Third Princess hasn't entered the selection yet."

Wu Lingzhu was not surprised, but her face darkened: "Consort Liang, you should know the rules. What the Eighth Prince did was not fair. You are trampling on the reputation of our Hesheli family!"

Consort Liang was startled: "This concubine dares not, Your Majesty, please calm down. This concubine is sincerely asking for the Third Princess to marry the Eighth Prince."

"Then go and ask the Emperor to grant us a marriage! If the Emperor agrees, I will have nothing to say."

Liang Guiren seemed surprised that Wu Lingzhu would be angry, and quickly apologized.

Seeing Consort Liang's submissive demeanor, Wu Lingzhu realized that Emperor Kangxi had no interest in keeping such a beautiful woman as a mere decoration.

This person isn't good at talking. When they do talk, they give off a humble feeling. It might be nice at first, but in the long run, it's exhausting to be around them.

What an idiot.

"Haru-sakura, escort Noble Lady Ryo back!"

After Consort Liang left, Wu Lingzhu immediately lost her temper: "The Eighth Prince really has no manners..."

Before they could exchange more than a few words, Yinzhi arrived.

"Mother, who is so capable as to make you so angry?"

In Yinyu's memory, Wulingzhu rarely got angry; she was always elegant and composed.

Seeing her son, Wu Lingzhu felt a little better, but only a little.

"Your brother is unrefined in his work."

Yinyu became interested. The Eighth Prince was one of the most famous among his brothers. What had he done to make his mother so angry?

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