Chapter 63
Zhao family.
Liu Ju was invited into the inner hall, and Zhao Guo and Wang Wanyi came forward to pay their respects.
"Why is Your Highness here?"
Liu Ju didn't directly state his true intentions, but simply said, "I was out of the palace for a bit and happened to pass by here. I remembered you lived here, so I stopped by to see you."
He seemed to be genuinely just looking at it, his eyes wandering around, observing: "Is this the mansion that Gongshujia gave me? It also has two courtyards, slightly smaller than the usual two-courtyard house, but more than enough for you and your wife to live in.
"It's particularly good because of its well-organized layout and prime location in the heart of Lingyi, close to the market, making it very convenient for daily shopping."
Zhao Guo responded while asking the servants to pour some warm water, and took out the snacks he had just bought today to entertain the guests.
"There's nothing good in my house, Your Highness, please don't despise me."
Liu Ju naturally didn't mind. He invited Zhao Guo and Wang Wanyi to sit down together and chat about family matters. He smiled and asked Wang Wanyi, "Why are you still wearing a cloak at home? It's so hot now, and it feels stuffy."
Seeing Zhao Guo about to speak, Liu Ju waved his hand and said, "I remember you said your wife had a scar on her face. It's just a scar, it won't scare me."
Having said that, it would be disrespectful for Wang Wanyi to insist further.
She hesitated for a moment, then took off her cloak. Liu Ju finally saw her complete face.
The right half of his face was smooth and intact, and the left half wasn't entirely covered in scars either. There were just some winding burn marks running from the neck along the edge of the jawline to the temples.
But her forehead, eyes, nose, and cheekbones were intact, so although there was some damage, one could still vaguely make out her facial features on that side. Blending in with the other intact half...
Like, just as he had thought before, there was indeed some similarity.
A thought arose in Liu Ju's mind, and he could no longer suppress it. However, he didn't show it on his face. Instead, he joked, "How could such a small injury scare me?"
There was no disdain, no disgust, no disgust in his eyes, but rather a hint of curiosity: "Scars like this must have been very painful when they were first injured. I wonder how they got injured?"
Wang Wanyi was speechless for a moment and didn't know how to start.
"Is it inconvenient to say?"
Liu Ju thought that this scar might be a painful past that she didn't want to recall. Asking this question would seem like deliberately poking at her sore spot, so he immediately changed the subject. "If it's inconvenient to talk about it, then forget it. I was just asking casually, don't make it difficult for me. If you don't want to talk about it, then don't talk about it. Let's talk about something happy."
"We've been chatting for so long, but I still don't know your name or how to address you. Zhao Guo is from Jizhou, so you should be from Jizhou too. I don't know how you met him and got married, but was it your parents who made the decision?"
Wang Wanyi and Zhao Guo looked at each other, seeming to want to say something but stopping themselves.
Liu Ju was stunned, his eyes flickering: "Is it not convenient to talk about this?"
If the first question touched upon pain, then the second question was purely idle chat, so it was a bit strange that he still didn't speak.
Wang Wanyi took a deep breath. She knew it wasn't inconvenient, but if she wanted to talk about it, she would have to talk about the past. And the past...
As she was hesitating, Zhao Guo reached out and held her hand: "Speak, Wanyi. Your Highness is listening, and I am listening too."
Liu Ju looked at this and that, realizing that there was something fishy going on. He wisely chose to remain silent and watch from the sidelines.
Zhao Guo knelt down and said, "Your Highness, regarding the request for the Craftsmanship Competition, you said that we should take our time to think about it and not rush. Now that we have thought it through, I wonder if it can be used today?"
Liu Ju nodded.
Zhao Guo looked at Wang Wanyi, his eyes full of encouragement. Wang Wanyi squeezed his hand, finally making up her mind to step forward. Kneeling, she said, "Your Highness, my surname is Wang, my maiden name is Wanyi. I am from Zhao, and I am the cousin of Madam Wang, the mother of the Second Prince."
Zhao Guo was stunned when he heard this. He had thought that Wang Wanyi might be from the same family as Madam Wang, but he had never expected their relationship to be so close.
Liu Ju was even more confused. Madam Wang? Her surname was Wang, so shouldn't it be Li? This wasn't what he expected.
Wang Wanyi continued, "My father and Madam Wang's father are brothers from the same mother. Madam Wang's father is the elder, and my father is the younger.
"Although my grandparents passed away early and we separated and didn't live together, our two families had a good relationship. I and Madam Wang were very close sisters in our boudoir.
"Six years ago, the imperial court issued an order for all regions to select family members to fill the harem and serve His Majesty. At that time, my family used their connections to get both Madam Wang and me on the candidate list.
"According to the list, officials from Zhao land visited the candidates and examined their family background, knowledge, appearance, talent, temperament, and other aspects. Finally, five candidates were selected. The common woman was chosen as one of them, while Madam Wang was not selected."
Zhao Guo & Liu Ju:!!!
They were both shocked. If Wang Wanyi had been chosen, why was it Lady Wang who entered the palace? Looking at the scars on Wang Wanyi's face, they understood clearly that this matter was not simple.
"I was only fourteen at the time, still naive and without much of a say. Although I wasn't enthusiastic about entering the palace, I wasn't opposed to it either. I figured since my parents had made the decision, I'd just follow their orders.
"Later, I learned that my elder sister was also going, and I thought that if I could be selected together with my elder sister, we could keep each other company in the palace and look after each other, which would be nice.
"However, my sister is different from me. Ever since the news of the selection came, she has been looking forward to becoming a family member and pursuing a bright future.
"After the results came out, she was gloomy and unhappy. This was what she wanted, but it was dispensable to me. So I thought, why not just not go and let her go? That would be her wish."
"She was delighted to hear this and took me to tell my father and uncle about the matter, asking them to mediate. Although my uncle was interested, he just shook his head.
"Father scolded us severely, saying that the quota had been determined and it was a matter of imperial selection, so how could we change it just by saying so?
"There was nothing I could do. I could only comfort her. She locked herself in her house for several days and refused to come out. A few days later, she finally showed up to see me and asked me privately if I was really willing to give her the opportunity to enter the palace. I said yes, and she said she had a way."
way……
At this point, Wang Wanyi took a deep breath and clenched her hands. At that time, she never thought that the method the other party mentioned would actually harm her!
"My sister told me to pack up and hide away for a few days. The government has already set a date for my family to leave for the capital. If I don't show up now, my family will surely be worried about not being able to hand me over and being convicted. They'll naturally try to intercede with the selection officials and have her take over.
"Our Wang family isn't considered a local aristocratic family, but we do have some wealth and connections. This might be possible, but I was still uneasy and didn't agree at first. I just asked her, what if it doesn't work out and my family is actually convicted? I can't let this harm my parents and everyone else."
"She said she wasn't asking me to travel far; the place she was looking for was near the outskirts of the city. If I didn't succeed, my family wouldn't enforce my absence. I just needed to get back at the last minute, and everything would be in time. I thought this made sense. Thinking I'd at most get a scolding from my elders, I agreed.
"So I simply packed some clothes and got on a carriage out of the city. But I never expected..."
Wang Wanyi's heart trembled, and she clenched her teeth: "I never thought that I would encounter bandits as soon as I left the city and be kidnapped by them.
“I couldn’t defeat the bandits, and I was afraid they would bully me, so I could only use my status to bluff, saying that I was a family member chosen by the government, and if they dared to do anything to me, the government would not let them go.
"The bandit leader was stunned when he heard this, his face livid. He questioned those around him about the inaccurate information. From their words, I learned that they hid in the mountains and committed crimes on the move, but they were not reckless or foolish.
"They only target merchants from other places, targeting those whose families are not powerful, especially those without local connections. They rob and leave, seeking only money, not lives.
"In cases like these, the victims have no power, influence, or connections. Even if they file a lawsuit, the local authorities will see that the incident is not a big deal and will be cautious, so they generally won't put too much effort into suppressing the bandits. They have experience and can handle ordinary raids.
"This time, they received news that a merchant from Yizhou was passing through, and they wanted to make a killing as usual. However, they didn't know there was much cargo or property in the carriage, only a little girl like me and some valuables.
"They were a little puzzled at the time, but didn't dwell on it, nor did they have time to think about it. They heard noises in the distance, clearly someone was coming this way. They were worried about getting too many people involved and running into local tyrants, so they had no choice but to take me back to the stronghold to discuss the matter later.
"When I revealed my identity, they began to grow suspicious. I took the opportunity to ask them where they got the information. The leader said they received a letter. I read the letter, and the handwriting seemed to be deliberately distorted and unreadable. But I recognized the ink."
Wang Wanyi's eyes were red. "Madam Wang and I usually make small things when we have nothing to do, such as sachets or ink sticks. The ink is made by us. It is different from other inks. In addition to the ordinary scent of ink, it also has a light floral fragrance. When you grind the ink and write with it, it can last for three days.
"And to avoid my family finding out, only Madam Wang and I knew about my departure from the city. It's almost self-evident who leaked the news, except... except..."
Wang Wanyi closed her eyes, and after a while she slowly opened them: "The bandit leader and I both guessed that this was a setup, but before we could exchange information and come up with a countermeasure, word spread outside that the soldiers were coming to attack us.
"The bandit leader couldn't care less about me and had to tie me up and take me out to fight. I didn't know what was happening outside, I only heard the chaotic sounds of fighting and shouting, and then a fire broke out.
"I used my foot to reach the nearby clay pot and broke it, then used the broken clay pot to rub the ropes on my hands. By the time I had broken the ropes and freed myself from the shackles, the fire had grown bigger and bigger.
"I endured the pain and found a way out of the sea of fire. However, when I rushed out of the village, I panicked and rolled down the hillside, fell into the river, and was swept downstream by the current. And then..."
Zhao Guoran: "And then you met me?"
Wang Wanyi nodded.
Zhao Guo leaned over and hugged her, feeling even more distressed. He could hardly imagine what kind of situation she had faced that day.
Wang Wanyi felt his concern, and her heart warmed. The resentment and anger in her chest also lessened a little.
She continued, "I blame myself for trusting her too much. I truly never thought she would harm me. Later on, I realized that if she wanted to succeed, simply asking me to leave wouldn't be enough. The most effective method would naturally be for my reputation to be completely ruined, forcing me to no longer be a member of the family, or even... for me to die."
Wang Wanyi almost squeezed out the last three words from between her teeth.
She sneered, "When ordinary merchants are robbed, the government is afraid of suffering heavy casualties and is unwilling to do its utmost. But I am a family member."
“Even if this matter is exposed, no matter whether I am innocent or not, I will never be able to enter the palace again. But someone dares to rob my family, which is a contempt for the government and a provocation to the court.
"Once the higher-ups learn of this, they'll definitely investigate and hold those responsible accountable. How can the government sit still? They'll naturally mobilize all forces, fighting to the death. This way, at least they can save face and report to the court.
"She just needs to have someone take action during the bandit suppression. If I die, and the bandits who were used by her die, then this conspiracy can be buried underground and no one will know about it anymore."
Liu Ju's eyes flickered: "How do you know they took action when suppressing the bandits?"
Wang Wanyi scoffed, "My dear husband, I was saved by you and spent a long time recuperating at your home. After I recovered, I found an excuse to return home without telling you. I heard... I heard that my parents were deeply traumatized by my situation, and they became bedridden due to their anger and passed away soon after."
Wang Wanyi had been holding back when she spoke about herself before, but now when she mentioned her parents, grief flooded her heart and she burst into tears.
"My parents had a hard time having children. Besides me, they had no other children. Once they left, it was only natural for my uncle's family to take over all the land and property in my name."
Wang Wanyi gritted her teeth.
Hearing the hidden meaning in her words, Liu Ju asked, "Do you suspect that your parents' deaths were unusual?"
"Yes. My parents were under 40 at the time, in good health, without any previous illness or pain. Even if my accident really did shock them, causing them to become anxious and ill, that's possible. But how could they just... how could they just be gone? I don't believe it. I can't believe it!"
Wang Wanyi said painfully, "Especially...especially since it was said that my uncle and cousin were in charge of my family affairs at that time, and my parents had not been seen for many days.
"My cousin threatened to rescue me and personally followed the soldiers into the mountains. Although he didn't save me in the end, he made great contributions in the battle against bandits and was commended by the government, and his reputation spread far and wide."
Wang Wanyi sneered, "Not only did she get rid of me and replace my family members, she also took over all our land and property. She also created a reputation for her good brother as a hero. She killed three birds with one stone and reaped all the benefits!"
Liu Ju understood: "So what you are asking me to do now is to redress your injustice, uncover the truth, and severely punish the murderer?"
Wang Wanyi knelt straight and bowed deeply: "Yes."
Liu Ju shook his head and sighed, "Although Madam Wang is highly suspected, both from various suspicious points and from her vested interests, it's only a suspicion. What you said is purely speculation."
Wang Wanyi smiled bitterly: "I know."
That's why she hesitated and struggled several times.
"Where's the letter? Is it still there?"
Wang Wanyi stood up and apologized, then went into the inner room to find the letter and handed it to Liu Ju.
Liu Ju took a look and found that the characters were indeed crooked, but not crooked like a child who had just learned to write. It looked like an adult had deliberately written them with the hand that they did not usually use.
I smelled it again, and there was no smell at all.
That’s right, Wang Wanyi said that the fragrance can only last for three days. Now six years have passed, and there is still nothing left.
Such a letter might not have much to offer, but it at least proved that someone had indeed colluded with the bandits to set up this scheme. Wang Wanyi's misfortune was not an accident, but a deliberate act.
Liu Ju handed the letter to Feng He and told him to keep it safe. He turned to look at Wan Yi and said, "You have preserved the letter well, but its use is limited."
"I know." Wang Wanyi raised her eyes. "I understand that it's difficult to verify what happened back then, but what happened today may be a breakthrough."
Liu Ju was stunned: "Today?"
Zhao Guo and Wang Wanyi immediately told him all about the danger today.
Thinking of her mention of a "breakthrough," Liu Ju's eyes rolled: "Do you suspect this wasn't an accident?"
"Yes. A few days after arriving in Beijing, I went with you to Liuli Street. I happened to run into Wang Dalang. I turned my head away just in time, and I thought he hadn't seen me, but now it seems that's not the case."
Wang Wanyi's lips moved as she continued, "I know this is just my guess, but it just happened and many traces are still there. Your Highness is the Crown Prince, so if you want to investigate, it's easier than it would be for anyone else. Whether it was an accident or a deliberate act, we'll know."
Indeed. Liu Ju winked at Yan Sui, and Yan Sui took his orders and left.
Liu Ju thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I'll check. I promised you that day that as long as your request is not against the law, morality, and is within my ability, I will agree to it. So I will grant your request."
Princess Wanyi of Zhaoguo was extremely delighted and kowtowed repeatedly: "Thank you, Your Highness, thank you, Your Highness."
Liu Ju raised his hand to stop them: "That's not necessary. I haven't finished what I want to say. I agree to this, but I can't guarantee the outcome."
Wang Wanyi was also a smart person, so she naturally understood what he meant.
Whether today's events will lead to the truth of six years ago remains to be seen. Time has passed, the bandits are all dead, the thieves' den has been reduced to ashes, but that's all that matters.
The most heartbreaking thing is that even if evidence is found, the Wang family will try every means to smear her to protect Madam Wang, who has the second prince and is favored by the emperor.
Can the “murderer” really be brought to justice?
Wang Wanyi knew that this might not be the case, but at this point, the Wang family had already taken action against her again, and she had no way out.
Wang Wanyi's lips trembled as she gritted her teeth and said, "It all depends on God's will. Regardless, I thank Your Highness."
After saying this, all her strength seemed to drain out, and she could no longer hold on and fell into Zhao Guo's arms. Zhao Guo was also in a complicated mood. He wanted to help her, but he didn't know where to start. He could only kneel down to Liu Ju, again and again.
Liu Ju sighed softly, "Get up. Since I've promised, I'll naturally do my best."
If it was really Madam Wang, with such scheming and means, and being so cruel to her relatives, how could one not be terrified! Wang Wanyi had done nothing wrong to her, she just happened to be in her way.
If I were to say she was in the way, did my mother also block her way? What about me? Did I also block Liu Hong's way?
Thinking of this, Liu Ju's face changed. He stood up and was about to return to the palace, but then he seemed to think of something and looked up at Wang Wanyi again. At this time, she had already sat down with the support of Zhao Guo, and her mood had calmed down a little.
Liu Ju examined her features and asked, "Is your last name really Wang, not Li?"
Wang Wanyi was stunned, thinking Liu Ju didn't believe her. She raised her hand and swore, "Your Highness, I guarantee with my life that my name is Wang Wanyi, and I am Madam Wang's cousin. Your Highness, you can go to the place where my household registration is located to investigate. Although it's been six years, there should still be people there who remember me."
The truth behind Wang Wanyi's misfortune might not be known, but her identity was easily discovered. Liu Ju believed she hadn't lied, nor did she need to.
He thought for a moment, then asked, "You said your parents had difficulty in having children?"
"Yes. My parents didn't tell me about this, but I overheard the doctor prescribing medicine for my father. The problem isn't with my mother, but with my father. When he was young, he got sick and took the wrong medicine. His life was saved, but it's not good for his offspring. The doctor said the chances are very small."
Liu Ju pursed his lips: "With such a small chance, how could I be so lucky to have you?"
ah?
Wang Wanyi was completely stunned. What did he mean? Listen to what he said. Did he mean she couldn't be so lucky? There was no more insulting statement than that.
If the other person wasn't the Crown Prince, she would have definitely cursed him back on the spot. But because he was the Crown Prince and she still needed his help, Wang Wanyi could only endure it.
Unexpectedly, Liu Ju asked again: "Are you your parents' biological child?"
Wang Wanyi took a deep breath and said, "Your Highness, it was difficult for my parents to have children, so they married for many years before they had me. Therefore, they treat me like a treasure and dote on me. How could I not be their biological child?"
There is indeed a difference between biological and non-biological children, but it is not tenable to base this solely on feelings. There are parents in the world who treat their adopted children as their own.
Liu Ju thought so in his heart, but did not refute it. He looked at Wang Wanyi meaningfully, nodded slightly, got up and left, and went straight into the palace to the Pepper Room.
********
Pepper Room Palace.
After listening to Liu Ju's account, Wei Zifu asked, "Do you suspect that Wang Wanyi is Li Yannian's sister, and this Lady Li in the palace is a fake?"
"Yes. Wang Wanyi bears some resemblance to Li Yannian. She also claimed to be from Zhao. Zhao is in Jizhou. Madam Li was from Jizhou. The flood that separated her from the Li family occurred in Jizhou. Everything matches, what a coincidence."
Wei Zifu chuckled, "What a coincidence. Mother just happened to find something."
She handed a scroll of bamboo slips to Liu Ju and said, "This was sent up today."
When Liu Ju opened it, he was completely stunned.
Wei Zifu smiled. "You guessed right. Wang Wanyi is indeed not the biological daughter of the Wang family. Back then, there was a flood in Jizhou, which affected a large area. Unfortunately, Madam Wang fell into the water and was swept away. She was saved by a woman who was also protecting her child at the time."
"At that time, a flood was raging, and the water level in the city was very high. Her ability was limited, and she couldn't find a safe place. So she gathered a few planks, tied them together with ropes, and made a simple raft, which she let her children and Lady Wang stay on.
"The raft wasn't big enough for two children, but it couldn't hold a single adult like her. So she sank underwater, trying her best to push the raft forward, and finally landed on a roof.
"Later, when the water level receded, the Wang family came looking for her. The child was fine, but she had been in the water for too long, weakened and hypothermic, and could not be saved. Only a two-year-old girl was left beside her.
"The girl was very young, and her origins were unclear. Mrs. Wang's parents were unable to find any information about her family, and since her mother had saved their daughter's life, they decided to raise her at home.
"But Madam Wang's uncle and aunt were there. They hadn't had any children in years, so they suggested giving the child to them to raise. A two-year-old girl doesn't remember much. The uncle and aunt genuinely cared about the child, and they agreed to treat her as their own. No one was allowed to mention adoption from now on."
Flood, two years old...
The real Li Xiaomei was also two years old when she was separated from her family, so they matched up.
It can almost be concluded that this woman and child are Li Yannian's real mother and sister.
Liu Ju, however, thought of another point, his expression complicated. "That is, Wang Wanyi's biological mother was Madam Wang's savior. If what happened six years ago was truly Madam Wang's doing, then she is not only cruel to her family, but also ungrateful to her benefactor, repaying kindness with hatred!"
Wei Zifu looked at him and asked, "Do you think it's her?"
Liu Ju opened his mouth and then closed it. Wei Zifu certainly didn't understand what he meant.
She thought: "Even if there is evidence, I'm afraid it won't be traced back to her."
Liu Ju was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood what she meant. At most, they could find the Wang family. But there was a difference between finding the Wang family and finding Madam Wang.
He returned his gaze to the bamboo slips, and Wei Zifu understood: "You want to start with Madam Li?"
Liu Ju nodded in agreement.
"That's indeed a solution. Madam Li was promoted to the position by Madam Wang, not to mention that the two of them now have Wang Wanyi as a link. They belong together. If there's something wrong with Madam Li, Madam Wang can't escape responsibility. But..."
Wei Zifu looked over and continued, "My son, your mother's investigation has no real evidence. Similarity alone cannot prove anything. Especially since the Li family will insist that Madam Li's murder was the real reason."
Liu Ju opened his eyes wide, somewhat puzzled. Helping the fake sister, not the real one? What kind of trick was this?
Wei Zifu smiled and explained, "Wang Wanyi's appearance has been damaged, and she's already married to Zhao Guo. Lady Li, on the other hand, is the most favored concubine in the harem. To the Li family, Lady Li is useful, while Wang Wanyi is useless."
"Why do you think the Li family was so overjoyed upon meeting Madam Li and seeing her jade pendant and the scar behind her ear that they brought her home and painstakingly planned for her?
"There may be some kinship, but it's more because Madam Li is so beautiful that she can be a ladder for them to climb up. They need this ladder."
Although this is cruel, it is very realistic.
Liu Ju took a deep breath, pursed his lips and said, "What if there is a problem with Madam Li's true identity?"
The smile in Wei Zifu's eyes grew even wider. "That's right. Madam Li is definitely problematic. If she were just an ordinary orphan who wanted to find a good future for herself, with her beauty and figure, she would be enough to convince the Li family and reach a consensus on cooperation with them. They could just adopt her as their adopted daughter or sister. There's no need to take over the title of Li Xiaomei, as that would only create hidden dangers."
"She could only have done this for two reasons. One, she had other plans and had to borrow this identity. The other was that she wasn't an ordinary orphan. Her identity couldn't be revealed to anyone, not even allowed to walk in the open. She needed to choose a clean background for herself."
Wei Zifu paused for a moment, the corners of her mouth curled up. "This also explains why Lady Wang favored her and helped her enter the palace, ensuring that she could be used for her own purposes and would not betray. This is the leverage Lady Wang holds. I just wonder if Lady Wang knows her true identity."
In order to have something to hold against her, you don't necessarily need to know her identity. You just need to know that her identity is different and unusual, so that Madam Li will be afraid and dare not act rashly.
but……
"If she knew and still dared to use Madam Li, it would mean she didn't want to live, nor did she want the Wang family to live. If she didn't know..." Liu Ju sneered, "Then she's really brave. Knowing there's a bomb here, she's not afraid that it will explode and destroy her."
I don't want to live, and my body will be gone...
Wei Zifu's expression changed slightly: "Do you know who Madam Li is?"
"I have a guess, and I think it's highly likely, but I have no solid evidence. She's currently in great favor, and to my father, whether she's the real Li Xiaomei isn't actually important. But her identity must not be too sensitive, or even implicated in treason. So even if it's just a guess, and I can't put her to death, it will definitely arouse my father's suspicions."
Rebellious traitor.
Wei Zifu's heart was pounding. She had thought of countless possibilities, but she didn't dare to think about this at all.
Now that Liu Ju reminded her, she recalled all that Madam Li had done during this period, and all the people she knew who were involved in the rebellion, and an answer came to her mind.
She looked at Liu Ju and slowly uttered a name.
"Mother, you are truly formidable." Liu Ju raised the corner of his mouth and said, "Mother, I don't want to rely solely on speculation. I plan to test Madam Li and Madam Wang. If Madam Li is truly the one, then she will undoubtedly die, and Madam Wang, who is implicated, will also undoubtedly die."
If you want to kill a snake, you should kill it completely, rather than leaving it half-dead, seemingly unable to jump again, only to recover and bite back at some unknown opportunity.
Therefore, he was unwilling to convict anyone based on mere speculation, nor could he act based on mere speculation, thus leaving hidden dangers.
Wei Zifu looked up at him for a long moment, then beckoned him to her side and asked softly, "Do you have a plan in mind?"
"Yes. I know that my mother doesn't want me to interfere too much in the affairs of the harem and wants me to focus on more important things. However, this matter is requested by Zhao Guo and his wife, so I will keep my promise and do my best. In addition, this matter involves treason and rebellion, so it is not just a matter of the harem."
Wei Zifu nodded: "Mother understands. If you want to be the Queen Mother, I will not stop you. But Mother wants to ask you one thing: can you guarantee that your temptation and your plan can be concealed from your father?"
Liu Ju was stunned and shook his head slowly.
"Then your mother would like to remind you: do not conceal anything that cannot be hidden from your father. You do not have to reveal every detail of your plan, but you must report it to him, so that he is aware of your actions and approves of them.
"That way, your actions will be approved by him. He won't harbor suspicions when he discovers it, and it won't be used by those with ulterior motives to attack you and alienate you from your father."
Wei Zifu's voice was still gentle, but she spoke very seriously.
Liu Ju took a deep breath and said, "Mother, I understand. I will go see Father right away."
Just as he turned around, he saw Feng He coming to report: "Prince, Madam Wang and Wang Yuzhe just hurried to Xuanshi Hall."
Liu Ju:……!!!
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