Devious Means, Leaving (2)
The court officials felt awkward. In front of his Majesty, they really were just a bunch of ‘punching bags’.
“Your Highness, speaking of which, this originally should be her Highness the Empress’s duty. If his Majesty doesn’t have others by his side, the people of the world will inevitably criticize her Highness for being not virtuous.”
The ‘little crown prince’ sneered, “Then, should this prince even thank you all in imperial mother’s place for considering for her?”
These people were all able to clearly sense the ‘little crown prince’s’ abnormal attitude. Would he not know? His Highness was already demonic to this degree, so would he not know?
Switched with other empresses, this kind of situation, perhaps can still say it as not being virtuous, but the current empress, they really didn’t dare to casually pin this hat on her.
“This prince has always felt that imperial mother has worked too hard. That’s why, in the future, if anyone has anything, don’t look for imperial mother anymore.” When time comes, even if getting sorted out to death by imperial father, it’s also deservedly so. Imperial mother tirelessly worked all day long, even needing to help you all pacify imperial father, yet each and every one after having benefited, don’t know to be grateful, instead even wanting to give her trouble. No matter who, can immediately turn around and give you all a slap.
And once the ‘little crown prince’s’ words came out, quite a few court officials indeed trembled inside. If her Highness were to bear grudges because of this matter, then the ones out of luck will absolutely be them. Never mind not being able to find someone to put out the fire, if her Highness were to also blow a little pillow talk, then she can let them suffer from the aftermath in seconds. Therefore, exactly how muddled were they to cause such a scene?
Afterwards, those that didn’t participate in this matter finally stood out. The emperor and empress had deep feelings; the crown prince was intelligent; the father and son joining hands, bringing benefit to the people, that is a blessing for the world. Besides, whether to select candidates for the imperial harem or not, that is all his Majesty’s private affair. As subjects, they should help share his Majesty’s burdens, assisting his Majesty in governing the world, and not continuously eye his Majesty’s harem.
Clearly, knowing that this matter most likely won’t succeed, each and every one also just followed down on the ladder, just hoping that his Highness the Crown Prince can have the previous matter forgotten, and also hope that her Highness the Empress won’t mind this matter and not hold a grudge against them.
The ‘little crown prince’ didn’t say anything, but he used his actions to directly tell them, this matter wasn’t over.
The things that should be investigated will continue to be investigated. Moreover, his certain means were also used. ‘Reality’ proved that the contents of those accusations were too little. The things that got ‘dug out’ were even more and even more terrifying. It also wasn’t assembling morning court in another five days, but rather summoning again in just two days. The ‘little crown prince’ directly had the ‘evidence’ thrown at their face, and when he said he would add to the offense, it was just adding to the offense, forfeiting the salary and getting demoted. There were even those few that directly got thrown out of the imperial court. Their post was still there, but in the future, don’t think about getting promoted back up.
Wrongly accused? Heheh.
Actually, everyone was all well aware inside. Things indeed weren’t serious to that degree, but they were just subjects. As the ruler, never mind just determining their official post, even their life and death were all just a matter of a word. His Highness the Crown Prince was killing the chicken to warn the monkey, and even now, on his Majesty’s side, there still isn’t any movements. Her Highness also didn’t come out to stop the crown prince from being ‘willful’. It can be seen, they have tacitly approved of the crown prince’s actions.
What? They might not know? These words, if said out loud, how many would believe?
Her Highness was a reasonable person, someone that can distinguish right from wrong, yet this time, even she was aloof. It can be seen, she was also angry inside.
Easily jealous? Not virtuous? Aside from his Majesty, no one has the right to define her Highness as such.
This matter also just stopped at this point. Although many years later, when the court officials got replaced with new blood, there were some that were unaware, raising this same old topic again. At that time, Li Hong Yuan actually followed along their wish, but shortly after, just once again brought out his powerful ‘wife cursing’ fate. The two people that were picked just ‘died’ the next day. However, it wasn’t deliberately creating some accident, but rather, Li Hong Yuan directly sending people to their respective manor, sending a long strip of white silk, clearly stating, either directly have the person strangled to death by the people from the palace, or obediently have the person sent out of the capital on their own, and announce to the outside that the person suddenly died of illness.
TN: All
Li Hong Yuan didn’t hide this matter in the slightest, also letting the court officials clearly understand his attitude. That’s why, no one dared to mention this matter again, and towards Jing Wan’s reputation, they also carefully protected.
Of course, these were all later talk, needless to mention for the time being.
Several days later, his Majesty finally returned to court, but her Highness didn’t appear, letting some can’t help but wonder whether or not she was still offended by the previous matter.
And in reality, Jing Wan’s mood lately wasn’t too good. Even though nothing was said, but she still sensed that her son seemingly was about to leave.
In this way, everything else all got tossed aside, even Li Hong Yuan wasn’t an exception, accompanying the ‘little crown prince’ all day long. Towards those children’s games, the ‘little crown prince’ already lost interest, so he just quietly accompanied Jing Wan everyday, simply chatting and laughing.
Even though Li Hong Yuan was unhappy inside, but at this time, he was also sufficiently tolerant and magnanimous. What will happen to his son, he didn’t care, but he absolutely can’t disregard Jing Wan’s feelings. Sometimes, his possessiveness was abnormally strong, but he actually has always had his bottom line grasped very well, and he can aptly restrain himself and endure.
On this day, even if at night, Jing Wan still watched over the ‘little crown prince’, and didn’t let others stay behind to serve, also not leaving the light.
The ‘little crown prince’ rested on her lap, occasionally and randomly chatting with Jing Wan. Jing Wan lightly swayed the fan in hand while lightly caressing his head.
Between them, they still didn’t poke through that thin veil.
Unknown as to when, the sound gradually disappeared. Neither of them continued speaking, but Jing Wan knew that he didn’t fall asleep.
Time slowly passed little by little, unknown as to how long this kind of state lasted for.
“Imperial mother.” The ‘little crown prince’ softly opened his mouth.
“En? Imperial mother is here.”
“Imperial mother, this son will be leaving.”
Jing Wan’s hand froze, and a moment later, continued waving the fan as usual.
“Imperial mother, don’t worry, regardless of where, this son will always be well, so imperial mother also needs to be well.”
“En.”
“Imperial mother, this son perhaps will come back again someday.”
“En.” In reality, Jing Wan also had this kind of hope inside.
“Imperial mother, this son is sleepy, so will first sleep for awhile, but will wake up very quickly.”
“Alright.” She knew, after waking up, he won’t be the current him anymore.
The ‘little crown prince’ didn’t speak anymore, seemingly having fallen asleep.
This kind of silence lasted for about an hour. Afterwards, the person laying on Jing Wan’s lap just bursted into tears, his entire person also not as quiet as before, nearly jumping up, and shortly after, also tearfully called out, “Imperial mother, imperial mother……”
Jing Wan tightly held her son in her arms, lightly patting his back, “Tian Lin, what’s wrong, did you have a nightmare? Imperial mother is here, don’t be scared.”
The little crown prince also sensed who it was holding him, and this time, cried even harder.
The tears accumulated in Jing Wan’s eyes also uncontrollably fell. There was both joy and sorrow. What was joyous was that this mischievous little son has returned, but what was sorrowful was that her other son that she owed a lot to has left, perhaps never seeing again.
Jing Wan patiently consoled her son, all the way until her son calmed down did she finally softly ask him what’s wrong. In the dark, one was completely unable to make out anything wrong with her emotions.
“Imperial mother, imperial mother, let me tell you, there’s this bad guy that locked me in a little dark room, the kind that imperial mother said, where it’s pitch black everywhere, with nothing around, don’t even know how long I was locked up for. Afterwards, he suddenly appeared again, and strangely said a bunch.”
“Oh? What did he say?” Jing Wan curiously asked.
“Said a lot, but I for the most part don’t remember anymore, but there’s one thing I remember, he said I need to be filial to imperial mother, and if I don’t listen to imperial mother, he will come back and lock me up again.” The little crown prince somewhat angrily said, “This kind of thing even need for him to say? I certainly will properly be filial to imperial mother and listen to imperial mother.”
Jing Wan helplessly smiled, feeling both sorrowful and joyous. She understood that child’s meaning.
