Chapter 346: Gambling Life for a Way Out
Miss Zhou was so enraged she became speechless, turned around, and ran off.
"County Princess Chang Sheng is impressive."
A girl of about eight or nine nearby gently clapped her hands and walked toward Chu Changsheng.
"In my memory, the Little Commandery Princess of the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor was a mute. I never expected her to be so eloquent now. It truly proves the saying: 'After three days apart, view someone with new eyes.' I like girls like this. Can we be friends?"
Ting Shuang whispered a reminder: "This is the legitimate second daughter of Minister of War Lord Qiu."
"Miss Qiu." Chu Changsheng curved her lips into a smile. "Do you like making friends with eloquent girls?"
Miss Qiu nodded: "Yes, exactly like you."
Chu Changsheng fell silent.
She wasn't actually an eloquent person. She preferred painting quietly alone or sitting with Xie Xian reading books in silence.
What Miss Qiu liked wasn't her true self.
But what did that matter?
Her elder brother had said that she could be herself freely at home, but once she stepped outside the manor gates, she must properly play the role of the Little Commandery Princess.
Thinking this, she extended her hand: "Alright then, I'll be friends with Miss Qiu."
The two sat together laughing.
When Yun Chu returned and saw her daughter had made a new friend, she couldn't help but smile with relief.
Although she tried her utmost to protect Changsheng, she also knew that Changsheng's status destined her for an extraordinary life—she couldn't remain like a flower growing forever in a greenhouse.
The banquet soon drew to a close as guests gradually dispersed.
The Crown Princess also returned to the palace with her daughter.
Along the way, she instructed her daughter to socialize more with noble ladies from various families, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining connections... They continued discussing this until they reached the Eastern Palace.
Entering the main hall, she immediately saw the Crown Prince sitting inside drinking tea, with Consort Wu serving beside him—the two appearing extremely intimate.
She had thought Consort Wu was just a passing fancy for the Crown Prince, but never expected him to let Consort Wu reside in the main hall. She had lived there for over a year now—the Crown Prince had never favored any woman for this long.
Yet she also knew the Empress disliked Consort Wu. Once the Crown Prince ascended the throne, Consort Wu likely wouldn't even qualify as a consort.
The Crown Princess didn't even enter the main hall, turning to leave instead.
Xie Ping looked up and caught a fleeting glimpse of the Crown Princess's disappearing sleeve.
She curved her lips slightly. Though she lacked stunning beauty, a graceful figure, or an illustrious family background, she had value—she could ease the Crown Prince's worries and serve as his comforting companion...
"Your Highness! Wonderful news!" A young eunuch rushed into the hall. "Consort Fang is pregnant! She's with child!"
"What!"
The Crown Prince immediately stood up.
He had three daughters but only one son. For the imperial family, one son was far too few.
Without a thought for Xie Ping, he followed the eunuch to Consort Fang's quarters.
Xie Ping remained seated, her lips pressed tightly together.
Consort Fang had miscarried a year ago and damaged her health—how could she conceive again so quickly?
She was younger than Consort Fang—why, after serving the Crown Prince for so long, had her body shown no response at all?
What she needed most now was a child. Only with the Crown Prince's bloodline could she truly establish herself in the Eastern Palace...
When the Crown Princess heard about Consort Fang's pregnancy, her expression darkened.
The Crown Prince hoped for more heirs, but she did not.
However, as the Crown Princess, she couldn't show her true feelings. Composing herself, she went to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility to announce the joyful news."Excellent, excellent." The Empress beamed with joy. "Although Consort Fang is foolish, her womb is productive. Crown Princess, you must take good care of her. This pregnancy must not encounter any mishaps."
Now that the second prince Chu Mo was under house arrest, the Crown Prince's greatest threat had finally been eliminated.
Currently, the most urgent matter was to find a way to eliminate the third prince Chu Yi from contention. However, unlike the aggressive second prince, the third prince required a more gradual approach. She already had a general plan in mind. Though Chu Yi appeared cold and unfeeling, he was a devoted father. Having just welcomed a legitimate heir, if she used that child in her scheme, she might completely remove the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor from the game...
But it was still too early to dwell on such thoughts.
There were more pressing matters at hand.
"Crown Princess, there is something I must inform you about," the Empress spoke slowly. "That Consort Wu cannot be allowed to remain. Find an opportunity to deal with her."
The Crown Princess froze. "By 'deal with her,' do you mean... kill her?"
The Empress had intended to keep it concealed, but considering the Crown Prince's foolishness, she could only rely on the Crown Princess to be more perceptive. She revealed Consort Wu's true identity.
"It... it's actually like that..." The Crown Princess's hands trembled. "If His Majesty were to find out, the Crown Prince might not even retain his position. How could His Highness be so reckless..."
"The Crown Prince needs your guidance," the Empress said earnestly. "You are the future mother of this nation. Do not harbor any sentimental attachments. Only when the Crown Prince thrives can you thrive, and only then can your son become the next Crown Prince. Do you understand?"
The Crown Princess nodded solemnly.
No sooner had she left the Palace of Earthly Tranquility than the waiting matron entered and reported, "Your Majesty, Consort Jin requests an audience."
The Empress's lips immediately curved into a smile.
Over the past year, she had lost her authority over the imperial harem due to Li Jingshu's schemes.
But now, with the second prince Chu Mo under house arrest and Li Jingshu's ally gone, had she come to surrender?
Soon, Li Jingshu entered, bowing her head in greeting. "I pay my respects to Her Majesty the Empress."
"Consort Jin, you are too courteous." The Empress smiled faintly. "Please, have a seat."
With a glance, she signaled the palace attendants to withdraw quietly.
Li Jingshu sat in the lower seat, her eyes scanning the Palace of Earthly Tranquility before a peculiar smile spread across her face. "Everything Your Majesty enjoys today should have been mine."
"What did you say?" The Empress's expression darkened abruptly.
Though both women were aware of certain truths, they had never spoken of them openly.
Especially now, when Li Jingshu had lost all her support—how dare she speak so insolently in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility?
"Is it not true?" Li Jingshu's face was full of mockery. "The Emperor and I were deeply in love. He once vowed to marry me as his principal wife. Your position as Empress should have been mine. You stole the Emperor from me, you stole my rightful place as Empress. All these years, have you rested easy on that throne?"
"You're insane!!"
The Empress had never been so openly challenged before.
She raised her hand and delivered a sharp, resounding slap.
The crisp sound echoed through the hall.
"At your age, spouting such shameless words." The Empress's chest heaved with rage. "The Emperor and I were wed by parental decree, bestowed by the late Emperor. When did it become your place to criticize? You married the Duke yet secretly seduced the Emperor. A wanton woman like you deserves to be drowned in a pond. That you have lived to this day is by my grace. How dare you cause a scene in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility!"Li Jingshu's hand fumbled inside her sleeve, slowly drawing out a dagger.
She forcefully unsheathed the blade.
The Empress's face changed color as she retreated several steps, immediately shouting: "Guards! Guards!"
She thought Li Jingshu meant to assassinate her.
But then she saw the woman across from her raise the dagger and plunge it into her own abdomen.
Li Jingshu slowly collapsed to the ground.
With Gong Xi Prince under house arrest, no one would help her deal with the Empress anymore. She could only use her own life to fight for a way out...
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