Chapter 76 Isn't she just relying on her father's favor?
Just then, Su Qingci, dressed in a blue official robe, hurried over. The hem of his robe was still covered in dust, indicating that he had traveled a long way.
She walked to the outside of the pavilion and saw that besides Li Yuanzhao, there were also Shen Churong, Chen Yanqing and Lin Xuean. She paused and quickly bowed to greet them: "Your subject Su Qingci greets the Princess and General Shen."
When Li Yuanzhao saw her, his smiling eyes instantly darkened, and his tone turned cold. "All of you, step back."
Upon hearing this, Shen Churong, Chen Yanqing, and Lin Xuean exchanged glances.
Although filled with doubt, he could only bow and quietly retreat with the other two.
After the person had walked away, Li Yuanzhao spoke directly, "Speak, what happened?"
Su Qingci stepped forward and lowered her voice, saying, "This morning, there was a prison break at the Dali Temple. Qi Sheng... was actually stabbed to death in front of the jailers."
Upon hearing this, Li Yuanzhao's lips curled into a cold smile. "The assassin was captured on the spot?"
Su Qingci was startled upon hearing this and looked up at her: "Your Highness, how did you know?"
Li Yuanzhao ignored his question and continued, "Did the assassin also reveal the mastermind behind it?"
“Yes!” Su Qingci was even more shocked. “After the assassin was captured, he confessed on the spot that he was instructed by Minister Lu. He said that Minister Lu harbored resentment towards the Second Prince, so he sent someone to kill Liu Jinzhang and frame the Second Prince. Now, fearing that Qi Sheng would reveal the truth, he made him kill someone to silence him.”
Upon hearing this, Li Yuanzhao pondered for a moment, then sneered, "Lu Yuandao? That's not a bad move. But... this move is full of flaws."
She looked up at Su Qingci, her eyes sharp and all-knowing. "If I'm not mistaken, Father Emperor believes it, doesn't he?"
Su Qingci never expected that His Highness, who claimed to be ill and not attending court, actually knew everything.
"His Majesty was furious and has already imprisoned Lu Yuandao."
"Father's previous indecision was simply because he was waiting for someone to 'overturn the verdict'."
Li Yuanzhao suddenly stood up, her light blue gauze skirt fluttering gently in the wind.
"What he wanted was not the truth, but a way to quell public anger without harming the prince's foundation. Now that someone is willing to take the blame, what does he care about wrongful convictions?"
Su Qingci frowned: "Then what do we do? With Lu Yuandao gone, the Cui family is essentially crippled, but it also temporarily absolves the Second Prince of any responsibility..."
Li Yuanzhao said directly, "Change your clothes and enter the palace."
During the time that Li Yuanzhao was absent from the palace due to illness, the Third Princess Li Yuanshu became a frequent visitor to Yanying Palace.
In previous years, she always harbored resentment, feeling that her father was biased and only had eyes for Li Yuanzhao.
Therefore, every time he saw the emperor, he would stubbornly refuse to get close to him.
Only now does she truly see things clearly.
Whether they were princes or princesses, their power and status ultimately depended on the emperor's favor.
Just like Li Yuanzhao, isn't her current power and influence in the court simply because her father favors her?
Therefore, she will have to rely heavily on her father in order to get what she wants.
So she went to Yanying Hall every day, always using the excuse that "I heard that Father Emperor is worried about Second Brother's affairs, so I came to keep Father Emperor company and talk to him" to stay in front of the Emperor.
She had a natural advantage over Li Yuanzhao.
At sixteen, she was at the age of being charming and adorable. When she acted coquettishly, it didn't feel forced at all, but rather revealed a pure innocence that showed no signs of naivety.
"Father, look at all these memorials piled up like a mountain. Take a break, shall we? I'll peel an orange for you."
"Father, the almond milk made by the Imperial Kitchen yesterday was quite good. I'd like to eat some. Please rest for a while and eat with me."
Those flattering words only made the emperor's smile grow wider.
The Emperor was indeed much more at ease with this second daughter than with the grown-up Li Yuanzhao and Li Yuanyou.
Li Yuanzhao held real power, and many court officials were loyal to him.
Although Li Yuanyou was incompetent, he was the only prince and had the Cui family backing him.
Both of them had become forces that could threaten the imperial power.
Only Li Yuanshu, who was carefree and playful, had neither followers nor a base of influence, which made him feel much more at ease.
So these days, Li Yuanshu occasionally whine and asks for things.
Whether it was fertile fields on the outskirts of the capital, or her wish for her father to allow her to study at the Imperial Academy, the Emperor smiled and agreed.
When Eunuch Xu led Li Yuanzhao into the palace, he immediately saw Li Yuanshu standing beside his father's desk, holding an ink stick in his hand and obediently grinding ink for his father.
She sneered inwardly, then looked away and stepped forward to pay her respects. "Father, I have recovered from my illness and have come to pay my respects."
When Li Yuanshu looked up and saw her, a fleeting, almost imperceptible hint of smugness flashed in his eyes.
But before his smugness could even spread, he saw his father stand up from the dragon throne and personally help Li Yuanzhao up, his tone full of concern: "You've just recovered from your illness, why are you in such a hurry to enter the palace? Why don't you rest for a few more days?"
Li Yuanshu froze on the spot, his fingers tightening suddenly around the inkstone.
She spent half a month in the imperial study with her father, serving him tea and water, grinding ink and laying out paper. She never saw him move an inch for her, let alone get up to greet her personally.
Seeing his father's caring manner towards Li Yuanzhao, he felt as if his eyes were being pricked by needles.
“I am well now,” Li Yuanzhao said, rising to his feet. “It’s just that I haven’t been able to be by my father’s side to fulfill my filial duties these days, and I’m always worried about your health.”
"Why are you worried about me?" The Emperor pulled Li Yuanzhao toward the soft couch on the side, his tone affectionate. "Recently, Yuanshu has been coming to keep me company every day, it's quite lively."
Hearing this, Li Yuanshu felt even more displeased.
As a father?
My father has never referred to himself as "father" in front of me.
This was the first time she had ever heard such an intimate tone.
Upon hearing this, Li Yuanzhao looked at Li Yuanshu and said meaningfully, "In that case, it must be hard on Third Sister."
Li Yuanshu bit her lip and replied reluctantly, "It's not hard work. It's my duty to be filial to my father."
As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them so much that she wanted to bite off her own tongue.
The way she said that made it sound as if she was serving her father on Li Yuanzhao's orders, which made her seem less important.
Li Yuanzhao didn't look at her again, but turned to the Emperor and said, "Father, I have something important to report."
The Emperor nodded, then said to Li Yuanshu, "Yuanshu, you should go back to the palace and spend some time with your mother."
Li Yuanshu curtsied and said reluctantly, "Yes, Your Majesty, I take my leave."
Why should she be expected to leave as soon as Li Yuanzhao arrives?
These days, she has been staying by her father's side every day. How come she has to "abdicate and give way" as soon as Li Yuanzhao appears?
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