Chapter 288: Rotting in the mines, eternal slavery
In Concubine Jing's palace, the atmosphere was as stagnant as ice.
Her usually pretty face was now shrouded in a layer of gloom, and her brows were filled with anger.
"This Chu Ruohan is really not simple." She stroked the sandalwood table with her slender fingers, a cold light flashing in her eyes.
The palace maid beside her knelt cautiously, not daring to look up.
"Your Majesty, calm down. Chu Ruohan is just a weak woman with no one to help her. Your Majesty will not trust her easily."
"A weak woman?" Imperial Concubine Jing sneered, "Don't be fooled by her gentle and virtuous appearance."
"This woman is deep-minded and ruthless. She can reverse the tide of events in a short time..."
She stood up and paced back and forth in the hall, her sleeves swaying gently with her movements.
"Although the Emperor didn't ask me, he already had suspicions in his heart."
"Clang—"
The white jade porcelain cup hit the floor tiles and shattered into pieces in an instant.
The scalding hot tea splashed everywhere, and Concubine Jing's chest heaved violently, her fingertips turning slightly white due to the force.
The more I think about it, the angrier I get...
Prince Su sat on a chair nearby, still holding his teacup, his fingertips stroking the warm wall of the cup from time to time.
He took a sip before slowly putting it down, with a faint smile even appearing at the corner of his lips.
"She's very smart."
This incoherent sentence was like a bucket of oil poured on the fire in Concubine Jing's heart.
She turned her head suddenly, her eyes filled with murderous intent, staring at her son.
"Are you still here to encourage others?"
A hint of displeasure flashed across the depths of Prince Su's eyes, so fast that it was impossible to catch, and then it was immediately covered up by his usual expression.
He raised his eyes and met Concubine Jing's angry gaze, his tone calm and almost cold.
"Mother, this is indeed too reckless."
"This secret has been hidden for many years and has far-reaching implications. How can it be released so easily?"
Concubine Jing was so angry at his attitude that her heart ached, but she forced herself to suppress her anger.
"I'm not looking for the descendants of the Tian family. They came to me on their own accord, and the emperor ordered the Dali Temple to conduct a thorough investigation."
"Now is the perfect time to take advantage of the situation and overthrow the Queen in one fell swoop!"
She thought it was a godsend.
Prince Su disagreed.
"Then mother should also go find that crucial doctor Qian and calm him down, or have him beat the drum to denounce the queen to death."
"Why are you provoking that woman Chu Ruohan?"
When Chu Ruohan was mentioned, Concubine Jing's expression became even uglier.
She glared at her son again in annoyance.
"I am the Emperor's concubine! How can I casually summon a man from outside the palace?"
She paused, frowned, and looked at Prince Su suspiciously.
"What's wrong with you today?"
"Why are you always speaking in favor of Chu Ruohan?"
Prince Su did not give a direct answer, but tapped the table lightly with his fingers.
He changed the subject.
"The ones who are anxious now should be the Queen and the Crown Prince."
"us……"
Before he could finish his words, Concubine Jing interrupted him, with deep worry and fear in her eyes.
"The Emperor has few children. Besides the Crown Prince, there's only you... No, there's another one who's being raised in a temple."
"For so many years, no prince has been born in the harem, and the emperor has long been suspicious."
"Either I suspect the Queen has done something, or I suspect..."
She didn't say anything else, but the meaning was self-evident.
I just suspect that she respects the imperial concubine.
Prince Su stood up and shook the corner of his clothes.
"In that case, let's give them another push."
"Let the Wei family be cautious and expose their true colors."
The Wei family is the queen's maternal family and the most solid support behind the prince.
Concubine Jing understood instantly, and the anger in her eyes faded a little, replaced by a calculating gleam.
"I will arrange someone right away."
"no."
Prince Su immediately spoke out to stop him.
His eyes were sharp. "Father is suspicious by nature. This matter must not be done by our people, otherwise it will only bring disaster upon ourselves."
After throwing out this dirty water, you must make sure you are clean.
"Change someone."
Concubine Jing frowned.
"Whose turn then?"
Prince Su walked to the window, looked at the gloomy sky outside, and his voice was low and clear.
"Isn't there another Wei Qiming over there at the mine?
Concubine Jing was stunned for a moment, then reacted.
Wei Qiming, the only son of the Wei family, is now doing the lowest kind of hard labor in a mine where he never sees the sun.
Prince Su's voice contained a hint of cold smile.
"Everyone knows about the scandal between the young princess Lin Xingyao of Prince Yong's mansion and Wei Qiming."
The Prince Yong’s Mansion played an “indispensable role” in Wei Qiming’s fate.
"If the Emperor truly doubts the Crown Prince's background and intends to depose him..."
Prince Su paused, his tone meaningful.
"Then Wei Qiming will really have to rot in the mines for the rest of his life, a slave forever."
How could a young man from a noble family, who was once high and mighty, not feel resentment when he fell to this point?
"His only hope is that the crown prince will succeed to the throne and the Wei family will regain power."
"Once the crown prince falls and the Wei family loses power, his last glimmer of hope will be shattered."
Prince Su slowly turned around and looked at Concubine Jing who seemed to be lost in thought.
"A desperate person will do anything to grab the last straw."
And they just need to sit back and reap the benefits...
"Then how can we ensure that Lin Xingyao will go to find Wei Qiming?"
"Mother, don't worry, I have my own plans." Prince Su said.
Concubine Jing looked at her son, and for the first time her eyes revealed genuine wonder and admiration.
This strategy is closely linked, but it allows one to get away with it completely.
She was silent for a moment before she spoke slowly, her tone complicated.
"Mother feels that you have made a lot of progress recently."
"This look of a man with a broad mind and a strategic vision, compared to before..."
There was obvious relief in her words.
Concubine Jing did not notice her son's subtle reaction and was still immersed in joy and anticipation.
"You've been doing a great job in the court lately, suppressing the Crown Prince."
"From now on, Mother will depend on you."
Her eyes became scorching, and she barely concealed her ambition.
"Then the Queen Mother's position..."
There was always a faint smile on Prince Su's face, and he accepted all her praise and expectations.
However, when Concubine Jing mentioned the word "Empress Dowager", his drooping eyelashes trembled slightly.
Beneath that gentle smile, there seemed to be an abyss hidden that others could not see.
He didn't stay for long, and soon found an excuse to leave.
"I still have some things to take care of, so I'll take my leave first."
Concubine Jing was in a much better mood at the moment. She didn't think much about it and waved her hand to let him go.
After leaving the palace gate, it was already late at night, and the lanterns on both sides of the palace road emitted a dim glow.
The servants of Prince Su's Mansion had been waiting outside for a long time.
Seeing Prince Su coming out, he immediately stepped forward and reported in a low voice, "Prince, I have bought the things you wanted."
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