The queen spoke slowly, her voice carrying a hint of fatigue and solemnity.
"I discovered that the maid Ru'er not only had the Crown Princess's golden hairpin, but also An Liangdi's handkerchief."
"Last night's events were filled with doubts. I have to speculate that the target wasn't just Tang Fengyi. The biggest target might have been your concubine."
The Queen's tone became more serious, and her face was full of worry.
"Imperial Physician Li was summoned to the Hall of Supreme Harmony because of Tang Fengyi. If Concubine Su hadn't taken good care of her fetus during pregnancy, she might have met with an accident last night..."
Having said this, the queen paused and did not continue speaking, but her eyes said it all.
Jun Zechen remained silent, with no expression on his face.
He couldn't refute every word his mother said.
He knew very well in his heart that Ling Yue was indeed not suitable to be the Crown Princess.
But it was he who married her in the first place, and now his mother's severe punishment of Ling Yue made him feel even more guilty towards Ling Yue.
Perhaps what my mother said was right.
Liking someone doesn't necessarily mean they're suitable. If he marries her, he might actually be harming her.
A trace of pain appeared on Jun Zechen's face. He lowered his head slightly, clenched his fists, and blamed himself in his heart.
He sighed in his heart, with a hint of helplessness on his face.
Since it was his fault, Ling Yue shouldn't be solely responsible for it.
"Mother, I will send someone to teach the Crown Princess carefully. Please keep the Golden Book for me. When the Crown Princess has grown up, please give it to her again."
Jun Zechen said slowly, "As for the matter of the concubine's palace dress being stained with motherwort yesterday, I will send someone to investigate thoroughly and will not miss any clues."
A sharp glint flashed in Jun Zechen's eyes.
"Crown Prince, you are my son. I don't like the Crown Princess. First, she cannot give you a royal heir; second, she will make you feel exhausted both physically and mentally."
The Queen's voice was filled with dissatisfaction with the Crown Princess and heartache for her son.
Jun Zechen frowned slightly, a puzzled look on his face.
What does this mean, mother?
The queen sighed softly.
"Now that your father is seriously ill, all policy decisions need to be made by you, and all memorials need to be reviewed by you. Out of the twelve hours a day, you spend more than six hours dealing with state affairs. Do you think you will still worry about these trivial matters between women when you return to the East Palace?"
"Your attention should be on the 108 cities of your kingdom, on the people of the world, and on the government affairs of the previous dynasty."
"I have never made your father feel embarrassed or worried about the affairs of the harem. As the queen, I believe that I have been magnanimous, decisive, and virtuous." The queen's eyes were full of determination.
"But where is your princess?"
The Queen shook her head and stopped discussing the Crown Princess with the Crown Prince. She turned to talk about Su Jingyao.
"I will investigate the matter of the concubine thoroughly. Your Highness does not need to interfere. Your Crown Princess is so useless. As your mother, I will naturally help you manage the backyard."
The Queen's tone was firm and left no room for doubt.
Jun Zechen knew that his mother was always strong and her decisions were difficult to change.
What's more, everything his mother said was for his own good. How could he refuse?
However, he will continue to let Anshun investigate Yaoyao's matter.
"Mother, I will also investigate the matter of the concubine. No matter who hurt her or my prince, I will not let them go."
Jun Zechen's voice was firm and powerful, his eyes full of determination.
The queen shook her head helplessly. She really didn't want her son to spend too much energy fighting in the backyard.
But she also knew that the prince, like his father when he was young, always had too many unrealistic expectations for love.
She never doubted her son's outstanding ability in government affairs, but he still had a one-sided view of women's disguises and tricks.
He only knew that the women in his father's harem were as vicious as snakes and scorpions.
Well, maybe when he ascends the throne and becomes emperor in the future and experiences more, he will truly understand that a woman's heart is not black and white, but complex and changeable.
"If the prince is willing to investigate, then go ahead. I will not let the person behind the scenes go." There was a hint of fatigue and determination in the queen's voice.
"Yes, I will take my leave."
Jun Zechen bowed slightly, saluted, then slowly turned and left, his back revealing a hint of fatigue and helplessness.
After he left Kunning Palace, he felt extremely depressed, as if a huge rock was weighing heavily on his heart.
There was also worry between his brows, hanging over him like a thick cloud.
He didn't know how to comfort Ling Yue.
When he thought of Ling Yue's sad and grief-stricken expression, he didn't know what to do.
He also had to find out the truth about Yaoyao's palace dress, and there were piles of memorials piled up in the imperial study, waiting for him to deal with.
In order to deal with these tedious matters, he even had to move the time of meeting with court officials from the afternoon to the evening.
Although he had many worries in his heart, Jun Zechen had become accustomed to keeping a straight face in front of others during the years since he became the crown prince.
Don't let anyone see his vulnerability.
In the eyes of others, he is always the majestic crown prince, a superior and inviolable existence.
Jun Zechen walked slowly towards the Qiluan Palace.
At this moment, Ling Yue looked exhausted, sitting powerlessly on the couch, his eyes dull and lifeless, like a pool of stagnant water, without a trace of life.
The once bright eyes have now become dim, filled with loss and helplessness.
She never imagined that her mother would be so decisive in taking away her golden book. This move was like a bolt from the blue to her.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
