Zheng of Changchun Palace
Lanqin was also very surprised after hearing this.
She never expected that Hongzhou still cared about that matter. The monk from Huangjue Temple had told her that the Prince had secretly inquired about what happened back then. She thought the matter was over, but she didn't expect that Hongzhou still remembered it.
A dull ache throbbed in her heart, as if an invisible hand were tightly gripping it, making it hard to breathe.
Lanqin was truly terrified. If she were younger, she would never have felt such heartache and worry, but now she was genuinely afraid. She didn't want to cause trouble because of what happened years ago, and she didn't want a rift to form between Hongzhou and Hongli after Hongzhou learned that she was his biological mother.
Seeing the pain in Lanqin's eyes, Hongli felt a pang of sorrow in his heart. After a moment's hesitation, he cautiously asked, "Why don't we tell Hongzhou?"
Upon hearing Hongli's words, Lanqin shook her head and slowly said, "It's best not to tell Hongzhou about this. As long as we don't admit it, Hongzhou will only have suspicions."
Hongli never understood why, after so many years, the truth that had been buried could not be told to Hongzhou. If they were worried that people in the court would have ulterior motives, they could have told Hongzhou in private. Why did they have to torture each other like this?
Hongli truly didn't understand; he knew that Lanqin had feelings for Hongzhou.
"Mother, why are you so insistent on keeping this a secret? Why can't you tell Hongzhou?" Hongli couldn't help but ask the question that was nagging at him.
"Could it be..."
Mother, don't you want to hear Hongzhou call you "Mother"?
However, Hongli dared not ask this question, fearing it would cause Lanqin even more heartache...
Lanqin sighed softly, looking at Hongli's puzzled eyes, and said slowly, "Doing this might create a rift between you and Hongzhou, so it's better not to."
Upon hearing Lanqin's words, Hongli's expression froze. He knew that he had been blinded by his own involvement and did not see things as clearly as Lanqin. Therefore, he did not say anything more. "Your subject understands. It was your oversight."
"Mother, what should we do now?" Hongli asked, his brows furrowed.
Upon hearing Hongli's words, Lanqin knew that she couldn't let Hongzhou continue his investigation. After all, secrets can't stay hidden forever, and it wouldn't work if Hongzhou continued to be suspicious like this. The most urgent task was to find out who was behind it all.
After a moment's thought, Lanqin comforted Hongli, "Tomorrow, I will invite Lady Geng to Changchun Palace and discuss this matter with her again."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."
Lanqin pressed her throbbing head and said slowly, "Go back and rest first. I will handle this matter properly."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I take my leave." Hongli bowed to Lanqin and then slowly withdrew, leaving Lanqin alone in the hall.
Looking at the distant, empty space, Lanqin felt a vague unease.
The next day, Madam Geng arrived, and Lanqin invited her to sit down.
“Sister…” Lanqin wanted to talk to her about Hongzhou, but there was Qiuyun following behind Gengshi, so Lanqin called out to Gengshi, glanced at Qiuyun behind Gengshi, and signaled to Qiuyun, whom Gengshi had instructed, to leave and not serve here.
Geng Shi naturally understood Lan Qin's meaning, so she said to Qiu Yun behind her, "You can go down now."
Upon hearing Geng's words, Qiu Yun's eyes flickered slightly. She was very reluctant to go down, as she had a premonition that what Lan Qin and Geng were about to discuss was not simple.
But she had no reason to stay there, so she lingered for a while before leaving.
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