Chapter 304 The Crown Prince Goes to the Cold Palace

Empress Cheng was so angry that her chest ached when she saw that Jiang Fenghua didn't say a word. She finally understood that Shang'er was completely under her control. She let the Crown Prince say all the emotional things, while she, the Crown Princess, kept everything clean.

If Jiang Fenghua were to express her opinion now, Shang'er wouldn't dare to oppose her. Empress Cheng knew that if she continued, her son would probably get angry again.

Therefore, Empress Cheng directly asked Jiang Fenghua, "Consort Ye is pregnant. What is the Crown Princess's opinion?"

Jiang Fenghua said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I will listen to you. I had already made plans to send more palace maids to the Cold Palace to serve you. I will also have Imperial Physician Mei come to examine you regularly. I will send you tonics and medicines. It will not affect the health of the imperial heir. If Your Majesty feels sorry for that child, you can send him to your palace to be raised after he is born. Perhaps Ye Liang's child will be more honorable if raised by Your Majesty's side."

"The Crown Prince has been busy with state affairs these past few days, and only Consort Song has been able to attend to His Highness. From now on, I will ensure that all the ladies take good care of their health and give birth to imperial heirs as soon as possible."

Empress Cheng thought Jiang Fenghua was sensible and that as long as she gave in, Shang'er wouldn't hold on. But Jiang Fenghua pulled this stunt.

Empress Cheng didn't necessarily want Ye Susu to leave the Cold Palace, after all, she and Su Tingwan were causing trouble and disrupting the peace of the Eastern Palace. However, Shang'er's protection of Jiang Fenghua made her feel resentful.

"In that case, I will bring Ye Susu to Kunning Palace to rest during her pregnancy. Is that alright?" Empress Cheng finally revealed her purpose.

Xie Shang adopted a cold and unyielding attitude, showing no mercy whatsoever. His eyes were icy, as if telling her to stop interfering in the affairs of the Eastern Palace.

Empress Cheng, with tears streaming down her face, said, "I also feel sorry for Shang'er's offspring. If the child is born in the Cold Palace, how will he ever be able to hold his head up in the future? No matter how big a mistake Consort Ye made, the child is innocent! The Crown Princess is also a mother now, how can she not feel sorry for that child? What kind of place is the Cold Palace? Even adults can't stand it, let alone a child."

Jiang Fenghua looked up at Empress Cheng. Was her head filled with shit? Didn't she hate Consort Su to the bone? Su Tingwan and Ye Susu were in cahoots. Consort Su was sent to the Cold Palace, and she finally got her chance. Instead of cultivating a relationship with the Emperor, she came to the East Palace to meddle.

Now that Consort Su has escaped from the palace again, the Su family's treacherous intentions are clearly exposed.

Ye Susu is carrying the Su family's illegitimate child, and she has to raise the child for the Su family. If she knew that the child in Ye Susu's belly was not Xie Shang's, what would she do?

Empress Cheng, you are truly foolish!

After some thought, Xie Shang conceded, "Mother, you should decide this matter! After all, the child is innocent."

Jiang Fenghua remained calm and said gently, "I will obey Your Highness."

Just as the wet nurse and Granny Wang carried Xie Ziyan and Xie Hongyou out of Kunning Palace, Empress Cheng suddenly kept Jiang Fenghua behind, saying, "Your Majesty, I just want to have a chat with Ruan Ruan. Your Highness, please go and attend to your official duties!"

Jiang Fenghua spoke gently to Xie Shang, "Isn't Your Highness supposed to return to Taihua Palace to attend to official business? This concubine will keep the Empress Dowager company for a while."

Xie Shang nodded and bowed before leaving Kunning Palace.

After seeing the Crown Prince off, Xie Shang felt a little worried and said to Xi Mama, "If Mother wants to make things difficult for the Crown Princess, Xi Mama, please give her some advice."

"Yes," said Granny Xi softly. "Ever since Her Majesty the Empress visited Consort Ye in the Cold Palace yesterday, she has been determined to bring Consort Ye out."

Xie Shang asked疑惑地, "What did she say to the Empress Dowager?" He was also puzzled as to why the Empress Dowager would suddenly speak up for Ye Susu; perhaps it really was for the sake of the imperial heir.

Granny Xi's face changed slightly in fright. "She didn't say anything, just... this servant dares not say."

Xie Shang glanced around and said coldly, "To tell you the truth, I will not tell Mother what Granny Xi said to me. Over the years, Granny Xi has often prepared snacks for me, and I still remember her kindness."

"Concubine Ye cried to Her Majesty the Empress, saying that the Crown Princess wanted to harm the child in her womb. Her Majesty then assumed that the Crown Princess couldn't tolerate Concubine Ye. Your Majesty was only thinking of the imperial heir, so Your Highness shouldn't be angry with Her Majesty." Granny Xi's words were ostensibly helping Empress Cheng, but in reality, they were accusing Concubine Ye of deliberately slandering the Crown Princess in front of the Empress, and of being a scheming woman.

Xie Shang's eyes grew even colder after hearing this. Ye Susu really knew how to say one thing to someone's face and another behind their back. Yesterday's events were clearly her and Su Tingwan's attempt to frame Song Fengyi and make Tang Qianran make a mistake. In the end, the Empress Dowager even came to blame the Crown Princess for mismanagement.

Jiang Fenghua was already feeling wronged, and today she was further instigated by Ye Susu to use the Crown Princess's child as a threat.

When he was drugged by Su Tingwan, Ye Susu happened to be outside the door. How could there be such a coincidence?

When did Su Tingwan and Ye Susu become so close?

Xie Shang was originally very busy, but now he has decided to personally make a trip to the Cold Palace.

Inside the palace, Jiang Fenghua stood respectfully to one side. She knew that the Empress was the true ruler of the harem, and she could not disobey her; she could only obey—that was power.

She knew all too well that the uphill road in the palace was extremely difficult, but she insisted on facing the challenge head-on. In front of the Empress, she, a mere Crown Princess, could only endure.

Her ability to ride horses, shoot arrows, and possess some self-defense skills are merely insignificant highlights of her character. Her knowledge, intelligence, and hard work might attract men, but to survive in a place like the palace, especially with her mother-in-law being the Empress, these skills are utterly useless.

She was not Empress Cheng's daughter, but another woman who was vying with her for the son. In the eyes of a mother-in-law, a daughter-in-law is just an outsider, so all her good qualities were like thorns in the eyes of the Empress.

In ordinary households, a daughter-in-law can only turn her life around after she becomes a mother-in-law. In the imperial palace, a mother-in-law always has a legitimate reason to find fault with her daughter-in-law.

Just like now.

Empress Cheng raised her teacup, took a sip of tea, and said leisurely, "From the first moment I saw you, I knew you were clever enough to capture Shang'er's heart, so I like you."

But I am also the Empress. As the Empress, I cannot only help you in the harem, otherwise it would be unfair. I have long told you to consider the imperial heirs. This is the duty of the Crown Princess.

"If you cannot urge the Crown Prince to distribute his favors evenly and produce an heir for the royal family as soon as possible, or if you cannot protect the children in the wombs of the concubines, I think you should abdicate your position as Crown Princess." This was a blatant threat.

She wanted to declare that she was the true mistress of the harem, and to warn Jiang Fenghua not to think that she could disobey her just because she had won the Crown Prince's favor.

"Yes, daughter-in-law understands." Jiang Fenghua's attitude became even more respectful. In her previous life, she was able to sit on the throne until Xie Shang ascended the throne because she was obedient enough.

It's likely that Ye Susu was brought out to use the child in her womb to suppress her two children, because she had already deviated from Empress Cheng's path.

Unfortunately, her son didn't like her in his past life. In this life, she used her to steal Su Tingwan's place in Xie Shang's heart, and then she turned her back on him.

Empress Cheng, having displayed her authority, saw that Jiang Fenghua didn't argue back and felt there was nothing more to say, nor could she find fault with her. "You can go back now." Shang'er had already agreed to take Ye Susu out, and if she made things difficult for Jiang Fenghua, she was afraid it would displease Shang'er.

"Yes." Jiang Fenghua bowed respectfully before turning to leave.

At this moment, Granny Xi rushed in and bowed to Jiang Fenghua, saying, "Greetings, Crown Princess."

Jiang Fenghua nodded, her steps slowing slightly.

All that could be heard was Granny Xi's soft voice, "Reporting to the Empress, His Highness the Crown Prince has gone to the Cold Palace..."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Fenghua quickened her pace and walked away. A faint, enigmatic smile played on her lips, her gaze cold and sharp, as if she had fallen into an abyss. It seemed the Cold Palace was about to become lively.

We'll have to wait and see if Ye Susu will be successfully rescued by Empress Cheng!