Chapter 292 In an avalanche, no snowflake is innocent.
While Fan was strolling around the courtyard with Dou Wenyi, not far away, Sheng Jinlin broke free from his sister's hand and rushed towards her like a firecracker.
He stopped just ten feet away from her, his small face puffed up with anger. He stretched out his hands to block her path and insisted, "They say you're the Crown Princess, powerful and influential, a person from the clouds. We met at the theater that day, wasn't it you who took my mother away?"
"Give me back my mother! Give me back my mother..."
Dou Wenyi paused slightly. The child's innocent and clear questioning voice gave people the illusion that she was the villain who had taken the child's mother away.
In a sense, Wen Jingchu did indeed get into huge trouble because of her.
Sheng Jinshu caught up in a few steps, hurriedly bowed, lowered her eyes and brows, "Your Highness, please forgive me. My younger brother is ignorant and speaks without thinking. I hope you will not hold it against him."
A hint of schadenfreude flashed in Madam Fan's eyes, which Dou Wenyi noticed despite her excellent attempt to conceal it.
She smiled and smoothed things over, saying, "The Crown Princess is still young. She'll understand how pitiful a child without a mother is when she becomes one herself!"
Dou Wenyi seemed to agree wholeheartedly, and said quietly, "Yes, back then, when Empress Wen suddenly passed away, the Crown Prince lived alone in the palace and had to face endless conspiracies and intrigues. It was truly remarkable that he was able to survive."
When she thought of what Pei Siyan had suffered back then, she felt that Wen Jingchu's current fate was unforgivable.
They should know that no snowflake is innocent in an avalanche.
However, the grudges and entanglements of adults will eventually affect the children.
Even if they are completely innocent and have done nothing wrong.
Given the Wen family's nature, Dou Wenyi was now absolutely certain that today's events were intentional, and that they simply wanted to use the child to gain their sympathy.
The Crown Prince had informed the Wen family in advance beforehand that he was going to visit Old Madam Wen. The fact that Wen Anjingchu's two children were still here, repeatedly asking her for their return, could not be a coincidence.
If the Crown Prince softens his stance and shows leniency towards Wen Jingchu, then they can follow suit.
Unfortunately, everyone has to pay the price for their mistakes, and no one is an exception.
Even though she is a mother of three.
"The Crown Princess is right. His Highness did indeed have a very difficult time back then." Madam Fan's face stiffened, and she gave a vague reply.
She secretly thought she was easy to manipulate, but she didn't expect that she would be defeated in just two short exchanges.
Dou Wenyi gave Sheng Jinshu a deep look and kindly reminded her, "You've come of age and are quite sensible. Young ladies must never go astray, for some mistakes, once made, can lead to utter ruin. As the eldest sister, you must properly discipline your younger brother. After all, your father's concubines would be more than happy if you and your brother were spoiled."
Sheng Jinshu's stiff, cold fingertips gripped the handkerchief tightly, a chill running down her spine. Biting her thin lips, she replied respectfully, "Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness."
She naturally understood the Crown Princess's implied meaning:
Firstly, it's possible that my mother really won't be coming back.
Secondly, after they return to the Sheng family, they will likely have no one to back them up and will have to be constantly on guard against being framed by others.
Seeing that Dou Wenyi was not responding at all, Madam Fan's expression turned sour. "Jinshu, take Lin'er downstairs. There will be a result soon regarding your mother's matter."
After the Sheng siblings left, Madam Fan bluntly admitted, "Princess Consort... your aunt was forced into this situation and was desperate, so she decided to let the children try. I won't beat around the bush with you anymore. The Crown Prince has weak connections in the capital and no other relatives."
“How could those members of the Pei family be of one mind with him? As the saying goes, a single tree cannot make a forest, and a single thread cannot make a line. If the entire Wen family returns to Longxi, and if these aristocratic families are determined to oppose him, who among them will wholeheartedly stand on his side?”
"Ever since the Duke returned to his residence that day, he has been sighing every day, worried that in the future, the Crown Prince will not have anyone to speak up for him in court. No matter how bad the Duke and his second uncle are, they are still on the same side as the Crown Prince."
"Your Dou family's foundation is weak. You used to have the Sheng family's help, but now you've offended them... Protecting the Great Zhou's territory won't be so easy!"
"The Wen family and the Crown Prince are blood relatives. It would be of no benefit to the Crown Prince if the Duke went back to guard the tomb! As the Crown Prince's bedmate, even if you have no connection with us, you should at least think more about the Crown Prince and offer some advice!"
"Think about it, doesn't that make sense?"
Dou Wenyi raised her eyebrows slightly, a hint of coldness hidden in her eyes.
Fan's words were well-chosen, but she overlooked one fact: the Wen family and the Crown Prince were not of one mind.
If they could betray Empress Wen, who can guarantee they wouldn't betray Pei Siyan?
“I understand what my aunt means. But you all know the Crown Prince’s temperament. Once he makes a decision, no one can change it. To be honest, my marriage with him was arranged by a blind date to bring good luck, so our relationship is still shallow and my words don’t carry much weight.”
"Don't laugh at me, Auntie, it's not that I don't want to help, it's just that I'm too insignificant to speak up!"
Her tone was full of helplessness, which made Fan's anger surge. How could someone so young be so stubborn!
Madam Fan was still angry but couldn't show it, so she immediately put on a stern face and said, "If the Crown Princess doesn't want to help, why make up excuses? The Crown Prince once told the Duke that he wanted to be with you for life. With such deep affection, why are you being so modest?"
Dou Wenyi was slightly taken aback, her ears felt faintly hot, and various thoughts flashed through her mind. Why did he tell everyone everything?
"Yi'er—"
A deep voice broke the awkward atmosphere.
She turned around and saw Pei Siyan standing under the long corridor outside the flower hall, smiling and gazing at her.
While she was still in a daze, Pei Siyan had already strode up to her. "Aunt, we are busy with state affairs, so we will take our leave now."
Madam Fan smiled and invited them to dine, but Pei Siyan refused without a second thought.
After getting into the carriage, Dou Wenyi hesitated for a long time before finally asking, "Wen Jingchu, what exactly do you plan to do?"
Pei Siyan grasped her delicate hand, interlocking their fingers. "Your heart softened when you saw those two children?"
She shook her head, then nodded.
What happened today just reminded her of Pei Siyan for no reason; how helpless he was back then!
"Didn't you say that living is the best punishment? I want her to spend every moment of the rest of her life atoning for her sins!"
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