Chapter 44 Undercurrents
When Ye Wanqing came out of prison, it was already dark.
Seeing that her complexion was not good, Wang Mama said, "Your Highness, don't take that slut's words to heart. She's just trying to gain your trust so she can save herself."
Ye Wanqing shook her head, seemingly unwilling to discuss the matter further. After a long while, she sighed, "Let's go back. I know what I'm doing..."
Upon returning to the palace, he saw Su Wenxuan sitting on the bed, sipping tea.
"Your Highness," Ye Wanqing said slowly, bowing.
"Rise." Su Wenxuan put down his teacup and glanced at Ye Wanqing indifferently. "Why did it take you so long to get back?"
"I caught up with my sister for a while," Ye Wanqing said softly, feeling a little guilty as she recalled what Ye Wanning had said to her in prison.
"Oh?" Su Wenxuan stared at her, as if trying to see through her. After a long while, he stood up and said, "Fine, you are sisters after all. It's really unfair to ask you to say these things."
He pursed his lips. "It's getting late. You should have dinner and get some rest."
Ye Wanqing was taken aback, looking at Su Wenyi. Was he really leaving? "The Crown Prince isn't staying..."
"Now that my third brother is back, I naturally want to spend more time with him," Su Wenxuan said casually. "As the future mother of the nation, you must learn to consider the bigger picture."
"What a consideration for the greater good!" Ye Wanqing bit her lip, finally hardening her heart, and said, "Since our marriage, the Crown Prince has rarely slept with me. I only ask for one son, so that I may have something to look forward to in the future. I wonder if the Crown Prince can grant me this wish!"
Su Wenyi looked at Ye Wanqing, his eyes devoid of any emotion. After a long while, he finally spoke, "I didn't know that the daughter of the Prime Minister could say such things."
He looked at Ye Wanqing with a hint of mockery and said, "If others heard this, what would they think of the usually dignified Crown Princess saying such things?" Suddenly, his expression turned serious. "Don't let me hear you say such things again!"
With that, Su Wenxuan strode out of the hall. “If anyone says that the current Crown Princess is outspoken and vulgar, then you should relinquish your position and leave it for someone else!”
Watching Su Wenyi's departing figure, Ye Wanqing's body went limp, and large tears rolled down her cheeks. What a heartless person! He probably only married her to win over the Prime Minister!
She bit her lip. She knew about the Prime Minister's recent attitude towards her, and she was unwilling to accept it! Unwilling! Thinking this, a fierce glint flashed in Ye Wanqing's eyes. She clenched her fists. "You've done the first thing! Don't blame me for doing the fifteenth!"
Inside a small hall in the palace, Su Wenyan quietly watched Su Wenzhen watering flowers beside him.
"How is she?" After a long silence, Su Wenzhen finally asked.
“The Empress Dowager witnessed the death of the palace maid who served her in the palace. I’m afraid…” Su Wenyan glanced at him, “that will have some repercussions in the future…”
Hearing this, he paused in watering the flowers, and after a long while, he sighed again, "It was all my fault after all..."
Hearing Su Wenzhen say this, Su Wenyan also felt a little uneasy, "Brother... this is not your fault..."
Su Wenzhen kept his head down, his expression unreadable. "If I can't even protect the people closest to me..." he gritted his teeth, spilling water from the kettle in his hand from the force of his grip. "Then how can I deserve to live in this world..."
“Brother…” Su Wenyan looked at him, speechless. He had never seen Su Wenzhen like this before.
Su Wenzhen half-closed his eyes, remained silent for a long while, and then asked, "Never mind... This was my mistake. I just want to rescue her as soon as possible and make it up to her in the future..."
He glanced at Su Wenyan, "Any movement from the Crown Prince's side?"
“Although that palace maid took all the blame for the Empress Dowager, but…” Su Wenyan frowned, “the Crown Prince doesn’t seem to have any intention of releasing her.”
He hesitated for a long time before saying, "It is said that the Crown Prince is investigating this palace maid's background outside the palace, and he said..." He glanced at Su Wenzhen, somewhat hesitant to speak.
Su Wenzhen was taken aback and looked at Su Wenyan with a puzzled expression. "Speak."
Su Wenyan pursed his lips. "The Crown Prince sent word that it's highly likely someone bribed that palace maid to do it on purpose..."
"Bang!" Su Wenzhen threw the kettle in his hand away forcefully, and shouted angrily, "Is he trying to kill Wan Ning?!"
Upon seeing Su Wenzhen's anger, Su Wenyan was startled and quickly said, "Brother, please don't be angry!" He looked at Su Wenzhen earnestly, "It's not like the Crown Prince can do whatever he wants. If..."
"Do you intend to kill all of that palace maid's relatives?!" Su Wenzhen glared at Su Wenyan. "If that's the case, it's utterly absurd!"
"No, Your Majesty..." Su Wenyan blushed with anxiety and hurriedly explained, "We can find them before the Crown Prince, and then secretly..."
"Do you really think Su Wenzhen is someone to be trifled with?!" Su Wenzhen retorted angrily, "He's always been meticulous in his work, he must have planned all this long ago! The people are already in their hands!"
“What Your Majesty says is true…” Su Wenyan thought to himself with remorse, “It’s all my fault…”
"Stop talking!" Su Wenzhen couldn't help but feel a little impatient, thinking that Ye Wanning must be having a hard time in prison.
He turned his head and saw Su Wenyan beside him, who looked guilty. He couldn't help but sigh, "Wenyan, I..."
“I know, Your Majesty is naturally anxious, and it’s understandable that you’re angry,” Su Wenyan said softly, then smiled. “Let’s discuss how to rescue Your Majesty first.”
Su Wenzhen paused, then half-closed his eyes, "If he takes all the advantages, then we..."
As he spoke, Su Wenzhen suddenly opened his eyes, a shadow of gloom flashing in them. "Let the old ministers put pressure on us!"
Su Wenzhen always valued the opinions of others and usually presented himself as a gentleman, which was a good method. However, applying pressure... Su Wenyan looked at Su Wenzhen with some confusion, "This... what reason should we use..."
"The Emperor is critically ill, yet the Crown Prince is so eager to kill his own brother. Is there a better reason than this?" Su Wenzhen smiled strangely.
Upon hearing this, Su Wenyan was startled. If this was the reason… He looked at Su Wenzhen in surprise, “Brother… then… you might be exposed…”
Su Wenzhen waved his sleeve, a resolute glint in his eyes, "For Wan Ning, even if it means tearing apart my relationship with Su Wenzhen right now, it's worth it!"
Just as Su Wenyan was about to say something, Jiang Hai, who had been patrolling outside, suddenly burst in. "Your Highness, the Crown Princess has arrived. She says she has urgent business with the Fourth Prince."
Upon hearing this, Su Wenyan and Su Wenzhen exchanged bewildered glances. What was the Crown Princess doing here at this time?
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