An elegant room, filled with the aroma of incense.
When Feng Guang woke up again, she was still a little dizzy, but she quickly realized why she had fainted. She sat up abruptly and checked her clothes. Seeing that they were intact, she breathed a sigh of relief. She then looked around the room and saw that there was no one else there. She got out of bed and pushed open the door without hesitation.
Before her stood the imperial study, adorned with golden dragons and jade pillars, and she was stunned.
Zhou Li, who was reviewing memorials, put down his pen and said with a smile, "Your Highness, you're awake."
"Your Majesty..." Feng Guang forced a smile, glancing around with the corner of his eye. There was no one else around.
"No need to look, it's just the two of us here."
"Your Majesty... what does this mean?"
Zhou Li stood up and smiled, "There is only one man and one woman here. What does the Crown Princess think I mean?"
"Does Your Majesty wish to discuss the Crown Prince's injuries with me?"
"I must say, I admire the Crown Princess even more." Zhou Li took a few steps over. "Remaining calm in the face of danger, with such beauty and such a temperament... no wonder Xing'er married you."
Feng Guang stepped back, her mind racing, but her face remained calm. "Your Majesty wishes to chat with me, and I am naturally willing, but if I do not inform the Crown Prince, he may worry about me."
"Your Highness underestimates Xing'er. He's a clever man in this palace." Zhou Li's gaze darkened considerably. "Otherwise, why do you think Xing'er hasn't come looking for you yet?"
"Perhaps he was delayed by something..."
"Why deceive yourself? In this world, I will always be the ruler, and he will always be the subject. Xing'er is a smart child."
Feng Guang gripped the hem of her clothes tightly and said calmly, "The Crown Prince is very clever; he will find me soon."
"I didn't realize the Crown Princess trusted the Crown Prince so much, but unfortunately, he will disappoint you."
"What does Your Majesty mean by that?"
Zhou Li chuckled. "Why do you think he so readily agreed to relinquish his position as crown prince at the palace banquet?"
That's because...
“No, it’s not because of other people’s opinions, nor because of his own injuries, but because he knows very well what the consequences will be if he disobeys me.” Zhou Li’s laughter turned ruthless. “From the moment he was born, he has been poisoned. He must rely on my antidote to live. Do you understand?”
"You poisoned him!" Feng Guang exclaimed in shock. She had never expected this answer. She said incredulously, "He's your son!"
"He is not my only son." The imperial family has always been ruthless. The fake smile on Zhou Li's face disappeared. He said, "The Empress is the daughter of the Prime Minister's family. In recent decades, the power of the Prime Minister's family has grown. If the Empress gives birth to another prince, it is hard to guarantee that the Prime Minister's family will not have the idea of raising a puppet emperor. I am making plans for the long term. If it weren't for the fact that Xing'er also has half of my blood, he would not have been able to grow up safely to this point."
Zhou Li's plan was sound. Zhou Xing would be a good pawn to keep the Prime Minister's Mansion in check. Didn't he suppress the rebellion in the Prime Minister's Mansion more than a year ago very well? As long as Zhou Xing was "sensible and obedient," there was nothing wrong with keeping the child.
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