Emperor Wen returned to his study, his face brimming with rage. He slammed the table, summoned the secret guards, and ordered them coldly, "Go and remove all the secret agents the Prime Minister has planted in the palace! I want to see how capable he is. How dare he poison the heir to the throne!"
Not long after, the secret guard hurried back to report to Emperor Wen: "Your Majesty! He Fang from the Imperial Kitchen slipped and fell into the well in the backyard of the Imperial Kitchen at 3:30 AM this morning and drowned!"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Wen frowned, his anger growing even stronger. He gritted his teeth and said word by word, "Go and find out who he has had dealings with!"
The secret guard clasped his fists and replied, "I've already checked. This person is alone, and there's no trace of his past!"
Emperor Wen closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his inner turmoil. He knew very well that this must be the Prime Minister's conspiracy. How dare he do such a thing just for the Queen to return to the palace!
He opened his eyes, a look of determination flashing in them, and ordered the secret guards: "Send someone to secretly monitor the Prime Minister and the Crown Prince. If they make any unusual movements, report immediately!"
The secret guard knelt down to receive the order and left quickly.
Eunuch Gao led the Imperial Guards solemnly to the back hill of the White Horse Temple. He walked steadily into the courtyard where the royal family prayed for blessings. Standing in front of the chanting room, he raised his hand and gently knocked on the door.
The door opened and Eunuch Lin appeared at the door with a respectful smile on his face: "Chief Steward Gao, you are here."
Eunuch Gao smiled slightly and said softly, "Eunuch Lin, we are here to take the Queen back to the palace."
Before he finished speaking, Li Jingshu slowly approached. She was wearing a gray monk's robe, holding Buddhist beads in her hands, and her face was pale, as if filled with endless sorrow.
Eunuch Gao's gaze fell on Li Jingshu and he said softly, "Miss Li, you have prayed for the great omen, and His Majesty is very sympathetic. He has specially sent the Imperial Guards to escort you back to the palace. Once you return, you can begin preparations for the selection of a concubine."
A flash of pain flashed across Li Jingshu's eyes. She bit her lower lip, her trembling hands gripping the Buddhist beads tighter. After a moment, she took a deep breath and tried to keep her voice calm. "Thank you, Mr. Gao."
Eunuch Gao bowed slightly, his tone carrying a hint of regret: "Miss Li, this is His Majesty's holy wish. I hope you will not let His Majesty down."
Li Jingshu smiled wryly. She looked past Eunuch Gao and into the distance, as if she had seen through everything before her, the fickleness of fate. She whispered, "I understand. Thank you, Eunuch Gao, for your guidance!"
On the way back, Li Jingshu sat in the carriage with an extremely heavy heart.
She closed her eyes and recalled her hard life in the temple. It was a world of silence and loneliness, and the torture of the Queen Mother and Zhong Lengqiu was always with her, causing great suffering to her soul.
This was a rare opportunity, and she had thought that her aunt, the Queen, and her father would protect her, but reality was so cruel. She now understood that only by standing at the top could she control her own destiny and no longer be at the mercy of others!
The carriage slowly pulled into the mansion, and Li Jingshu, supported by a maid, stepped out. She looked up at the familiar yet unfamiliar mansion gate, a complex mix of emotions welling up in her heart.
As for running for the position of Crown Princess, Aunt Queen had already promised her that the position would definitely belong to her. This meant that her future status would surpass Luo Lingyue's!
Luo Lingyue, that ignorant woman, Li Jingshu secretly swore that she would make her bow down to him! No, not just bow down to him, but also make her fall into hell! Li Jingshu clenched her fists tightly, a determined ray of revenge flashing in her eyes.
The queen returned to her bedroom exhausted, a hint of worry in her eyes. She softly asked Madam Liu, "Have they sent anyone out?"
Aunt Liu lowered her head and replied softly, "Don't worry, Queen, the people have already been sent out!"
The Queen frowned slightly, as if she was thinking about something, and then asked, "Why is the virtuous prince involved with Xiao Jinghan?"
Aunt Liu hesitated for a moment, then replied cautiously, "It is said that Princess Xian's father was once an attendant of Prince Wu'an, Xiao Qichen."
The Queen snorted lightly, a trace of disdain flashing in her eyes: "How much trouble can a lazy prince with a completely ruined appearance and a sickly person who is about to die make?"
Aunt Liu still lowered her eyes, her voice becoming even lower: "Don't worry, Your Majesty! Even if the assassins we sent this time can't kill Nanzhi, they will definitely replace the antidote."
The Queen gnashed her teeth and said, "I will make that woman's son suffer from illness forever!"
Eunuch Lin cautiously entered the Empress's chambers and reported, "Your Majesty, the Third and Fourth Princes remain steadfast in their love for Luo Lingyue and wish to marry her. Consort De and Consort Shu are currently with Your Majesty, earnestly pleading for His Majesty's approval of this marriage."
The Queen's eyes revealed a hint of coldness, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, revealing a subtle contempt. She thought to herself, "I must go and see how capable those two sisters are, and whether they can persuade His Majesty to change his mind."
The empress moved to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. As soon as she stepped into the hall, she saw Concubine De and Concubine Shu arguing with each other, while Emperor Wen was sitting on the dragon throne with a gloomy face, obviously in a bad mood.
Concubine De said sharply, "Your Majesty, the Third Prince and Luo Lingyue are truly a match made in heaven. I hope Your Majesty will grant their blessing."
Concubine Shu was not to be outdone: "The Fourth Prince is deeply in love with Luo Lingyue. Your Majesty, please do not break them up."
Emperor Wen rubbed his brows and said angrily, "We'll discuss this later!"
Seeing this, the queen sneered and thought: Let's see how you end up.
At this time, the Queen walked into the hall and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty."
Emperor Wen glanced at the Empress and said, "You've come just in time. Look at these two concubines, arguing in front of me over their children's personal affairs. How disgraceful!"
The Queen smiled faintly and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. The Third and Fourth Princes are both outstanding men. Luo Lingyue is truly blessed to have won the favor of both princes. However, the matter of marriage requires further consideration."
When Consort De and Consort Shu saw the Empress approaching, they felt a little uneasy. They knew that the Empress held a very important position in the palace, and her opinions often influenced the decisions of the Emperor.
The queen went on to say, "My two sisters, there is no need to be so anxious. His Majesty will weigh the pros and cons and make the most appropriate decision." After that, the queen said no more and just stood quietly by.
Emperor Wen looked at the Empress, then at Consort De and Consort Shu, his mind lost in thought. After a moment, he said, "Let's put this matter aside for now. I'll consider it later."
Although Defei and Shufei were unwilling, they had no choice but to bow and retreat.
The Queen watched them depart, feeling secretly pleased. She knew she had the upper hand in this struggle. As for Luo Lingyue, the Queen also had her own plans...
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