Chapter 272 Consort Zhao's Retaliation (Part 2)
Of course, he's a child, but he's not stupid.
Consort Zhao is a woman who competes with the Empress Dowager for the Emperor's favor. Her kindness towards me is definitely not just because she pities me!
Perhaps she just wanted to sow discord between herself and her mother.
Perhaps she just wants to buy him off and use him for her own purposes.
Don't be fooled by how kind she is to me now; once she gives birth to her son, she will support him to compete with me for the position of crown prince.
Therefore, while drawing maternal love from Consort Zhao, he also carefully guarded against her.
Until Consort Zhao exposed his thoughts and drank the bowl of strong saffron water in front of him, enduring the excruciating pain, she earnestly told him that she didn't want any other sons, only him.
From then on, in his heart, Consort Zhao was his mother, and Princess Li Jingyue was his younger sister.
...
After reminiscing about the past, the Crown Prince slowly stepped out of Consort Zhao's arms, turned away somewhat embarrassedly, and wiped away his tears.
Consort Zhao did not expose him, but pretended not to see it.
After the Crown Prince composed himself and sat down again in the chair to the left of Consort Zhao, Consort Zhao asked with concern, "What exactly happened today? I heard that His Majesty was so angry with you that he fainted."
The crown prince nodded guiltily, "Father's fainting was indeed because of me."
Then, the crown prince recounted everything that had happened.
"Mother, did I do something wrong?" The Crown Prince was somewhat confused. "Should I not have been so fixated on the Zhong family girl? Father must have his reasons for not allowing me to marry her. I believe Father would not harm me."
Sensing the wavering in the Crown Prince's words, Consort Zhao sighed and said earnestly, "I know what your father is worried about."
"He's simply worried that the Zhong family will become too powerful and difficult to control in the future. I understand his feelings. If I were in his position, I would make the same decision as him."
"Then why does Mother insist that I marry a girl from the Zhong family?" The Crown Prince stared intently at Consort Zhao, yearning for an answer.
"Your mother is making you marry a girl from the Zhong family for your own good!" Consort Zhao said sternly. "Only by marrying a girl from the Zhong family can your position as crown prince be as secure as Mount Tai."
"Mother?" The Crown Prince frowned slightly.
He was the crown prince from a young age, and was personally raised and educated by his father. Wasn't his position as crown prince secure enough? Why would his mother say such a thing?
"Oh, silly child, your mother only has one son, but your father has more than one prince!"
Consort Zhao said earnestly, "As long as you haven't ascended the throne, your position as crown prince could be replaced at any time."
"Only by constantly winning people's hearts and gathering enough power will your father be wary and he will not easily replace you."
"If you marry a daughter of the Zhong family, the Zhong family will be your greatest support!"
"Mother is right." The Crown Prince nodded in agreement, but he was still somewhat worried. "The Zhong family is powerful. Will they become difficult to control in the future, as Father Emperor fears?"
Consort Zhao smiled and reminded her, "Your Highness, those are all matters for the future. If you cannot even inherit the throne, what right do you have to worry about the Zhong family?"
Seeing that the Crown Prince wanted to say something more, Consort Zhao raised her hand to stop him and continued, "Your Highness, don't forget that His Majesty was able to ascend the throne only with the help of the Yue family's Yongchang Marquis family."
"The Yongchang Marquis's mansion back then was no weaker than the Zhong family is now."
"Your Highness, take another look at the Yongchang Marquis's mansion now. Even the small Wu family dares to trample on them."
"Therefore, Your Highness need not worry. It is not too late to deal with the Zhong family after Your Highness has successfully ascended the throne."
"Mother is right." The Crown Prince was completely relieved, and he smiled as he stood up and bowed deeply to Consort Zhao. "Your son thanks Mother for her guidance."
"Good child, we are mother and son, there's no need for thanks." Consort Zhao looked at the Crown Prince with a gentle smile, displaying the demeanor of a loving mother. But deep in her eyes was a calculating and mocking gaze.
The royal family has wronged her father and her Lu family, so she will destroy the crown prince and the Li family's empire!
Just wait, the real show is yet to come!
***
The news that Emperor Xiaozhao had fainted from anger at the Crown Prince eventually spread, shocking everyone.
This was the first time the father and son of the Tian family had a disagreement.
So, everyone began to speculate: What had happened to the father and son? Was Emperor Xiaozhao signaling his dissatisfaction with the Crown Prince? Had the Crown Prince fallen out of favor? Was it possible for one of the other princes to replace him? Which prince had the best chance? ...
Everyone was discussing the matter, and after hearing it, Madam Min Qiao simply smiled slightly and silently kept it in mind. She then turned around and took Doctor Mu to the Yongning Marquis's residence.
These past few days, Doctor Mu finally finished his work. Madam Min Qiao then made an appointment with Lady Yongning Marquis and took Doctor Mu to her house to treat the scar on Zhen Huan's face.
When Lady Min Qiao and Doctor Mu arrived, Lady Yongning was already waiting for them at the door.
"Madam, you've finally arrived!"
Lady Yongning quickly stepped forward and personally helped Lady Min Qiao down from the carriage.
"Why are you still waiting at the door yourself? You could have just sent someone to guard it." Madam Min Qiao smiled and took the hand of Lady Yongning.
Although Lady Yongning was somewhat embarrassed, she still spoke the truth: "I was just in a hurry."
During this period, she invited all the imperial physicians in the palace to examine Zhen Huan's face, and also consulted many doctors in the city. However, apart from the head of the Imperial Medical Academy and an old imperial physician who had retired from the palace and opened his own clinic, everyone else was helpless.
The chief physician and the old imperial physician only said that they could try to lighten the scar a little.
The scar was so deep, and it wasn't properly treated after the injury, that it's impossible to completely remove it now, let alone even fade it a little to make it look less gruesome.
According to them, the final result will at most be less severe and not much different from the current situation.
Lady Yongning had also heard of Doctor Mu's reputation, but while she was skilled in detoxification, she might not be able to treat scars. Besides, she was only in her twenties; how much real skill could she possibly possess at such a young age?
Lady Yongning was initially skeptical of Doctor Mu, but she still sent someone to invite him.
However, she learned that Doctor Mu was not there. She went twice in a row but did not find anyone. So she gave up the idea of inviting her to her residence.
It wasn't until Min Qiaoshi told her a couple of days ago that she would bring someone to treat Zhen Huan's face, and that the person she was bringing was Doctor Mu, that she started to take it seriously again.
He then sent someone to inquire about Mu Jin's whereabouts.
Only then did they realize that Mu Jin had not only cured Madam Zheng's poisoning, but also healed the scar on the forehead of Miss Min from the Xuanping Marquis's mansion.
The incident of Min Yuexi being disfigured caused quite a stir. This suggests it actually happened.
But when Miss Min reappeared in public, her forehead was completely unharmed, and there was no sign of disfigurement.
When Lady Yongning heard about this, she couldn't sit still any longer. She eagerly awaited the arrival of Lady Min Qiao and Doctor Mu.
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