When Princess Duanhui went to Qingning Hall, she came up empty—Empress Lu wasn’t there at all. Instead, she encountered the equally worried Princess Rongcheng. Though the Prince Consort had said there was no need to worry, how could she truly not be anxious? No matter what, Prince Gong was still her biological younger brother. If things were truly as the Prince Consort said and he was plotting treason, she naturally needed to come advise Empress Lu. But if not… then she should also come comfort her mother.

When the two met, they realized the other had already heard the news and couldn’t help but fall into mutual silence for a while.

Empress Lu, however, was so frozen that her teeth were chattering. Facing Emperor Jianzhang, who seemed to have suddenly aged a dozen years, she couldn’t utter a single word.

How could this be?! She had always held onto hope that as long as things went on day by day, while Emperor Jianzhang was on the throne her son could at least live peacefully as a wealthy idle nobleman. Having caused such enormous trouble, spending his entire life as a wealthy idle man would actually be quite fortunate.

But she hadn’t anticipated that her son’s ambition had grown so enormous—to a degree she couldn’t even imagine.

The deep autumn wind was exceptionally cold. When it blew in, Empress Lu’s cold sweat stuck to her exquisite palace robes, freezing her until she finally couldn’t help but shudder.

Recently, with great difficulty, things had finally calmed down. The three months were almost over. Perhaps after Zhou Weizhao married, there might be time for the conflicts between both sides to ease—Song Chuyi treated Zhou Weiming extremely well too. Perhaps in the future, for the children’s sake, there might be times when people softened…

But now, everything was completely ruined.

Empress Lu couldn’t help but cover her face and weep again. What evil had she committed to raise two sons who turned out like this?!

Emperor Jianzhang coughed twice, removing his fragrant leaf crown and tossing it aside. After a long while, he suddenly let out a cold laugh: “Very good…”

His voice hoarse, he looked at Empress Lu who had suddenly raised her head, repeating with icy clarity: “Very good. Since he dares to do such a thing, it shows he has something to rely on.”

His son was still in the capital, yet he could be so ruthless.

When all was said and done, from beginning to end Emperor Jianzhang had never failed to leave Prince Gong a way to survive. On the contrary, he had everywhere tried to leave Prince Gong a way out. He had still been too softhearted. Even after such a major incident, he had only wanted to completely cut off Prince Gong’s ambition and path to the throne—the edict had been so clear, merely ordering him to guard the imperial mausoleum for three months, then be demoted in rank.

But clearly Prince Gong’s ambition had grown too large. He was simply, purely unwilling to accept it.

This unwillingness made him disregard his parents’ intentions to protect him, disregard his children’s safety, and even more disregard his children’s future circumstances, fleeing without looking back.

Empress Lu slowly rose from the ground, her voice already so hoarse that her original gentle sweetness was unrecognizable: “Fortunately…”

Emperor Jianzhang turned to look at her.

Empress Lu’s spirit was radiant, her eyes bursting with a brilliance that had disappeared for many years. With utmost resolution, she let out a cold laugh: “Fortunately it’s not too late. Your Majesty, issue the edict. From now on, we no longer have this son.”

What compassionate maternal heart? Empress Lu only wished she had never given birth to these two sons. These two sons had truly broken her heart completely.

Emperor Jianzhang sat behind his desk, his face hidden in the shadows of the deep autumn afternoon sunlight, his expression flickering and unclear. After quite a while, he finally pulled Empress Lu up, drawing her to his side.

“The path We arranged for them previously, they have decided not to take.” His voice slowed, his expression seemingly softening, but the words he spoke made Empress Lu’s heart pound as never before: “This is also extremely good. Indeed extremely good.”

Since they refused to walk the path he had arranged, since despite his painstaking efforts to protect them they showed no gratitude whatsoever, then so be it.

He tilted his head slightly to look at Empress Lu and sighed softly: “You may return.”

Empress Lu didn’t heed his words. She slowly knelt before Emperor Jianzhang, solemnly prostrating herself on the ground: “It’s because I failed to teach the children properly. You are right—I am not a qualified mother…”

Emperor Jianzhang raised his eyebrows, about to speak, when he saw Empress Lu lift her head with a resolute expression, staring directly at him.

“Nor will I be one in the future.” Empress Lu bowed down again, her words decisive as iron, carrying the resolution of a warrior severing his own arm: “From now on, this Empress will have only one son—the Crown Prince.”

Emperor Jianzhang silently regarded her for a long moment. Empress Lu had not pleaded again for Prince Gong—this was a wise move. If she had pleaded once more, his patience would have been exhausted.

Princess Rongcheng and Princess Duanhui finally awaited the return of the haggard-faced Empress Lu. After exchanging glances, they simultaneously stepped forward to support her hands, one on each side, helping Empress Lu sit down on the couch.

“Sit.” Empress Lu raised her hand to rub her brow, pointing to the seats beside her for them both to sit, then asked: “You’ve both heard the news?”

With such commotion spreading everywhere outside, how could they not hear?

Princess Rongcheng hesitated a moment. Seeing Princess Duanhui beside her also looked anxious and worried, after thinking briefly she asked: “Mother Empress, what exactly is going on?”

The suspicious elements in this matter were so obvious they couldn’t be ignored. They absolutely didn’t believe Prince Gong had truly been kidnapped.

Empress Lu let out a cold laugh, her eyes and brows carrying unprecedented severity: “As early as a month ago, an urgent dispatch came from the imperial mausoleum, saying Prince Gong was gravely ill.”

Princess Rongcheng knew of this matter. At the time, both she and Empress Lu had thought it was because of Madam Yang’s death—that Prince Gong was overcome with grief, and being demoted to the imperial mausoleum had left him depressed and unable to find relief, which led to his illness.

“Your father Emperor ordered imperial physicians to go. The imperial mausoleum is guarded by the Heir of Marquis Guangping. The physicians said Prince Gong was too severely ill and required acupuncture every few days, which could only be effective at a hot spring estate. The Heir of Marquis Guangping naturally submitted a memorial, and your father Emperor approved it.”

Empress Lu lifted a mocking smile: “Originally for over half a month there were no major incidents. But suddenly one day, when the Heir of Marquis Guangping went to pay his respects, he couldn’t see anyone—they said he was unwell. He went several times in succession but never saw anyone. Only then did he realize something was wrong, but he didn’t dare offend a prince’s dignity, so he could only send word back to the capital.”

Princess Duanhui and Princess Rongcheng exchanged glances, both understanding the situation.

Empress Lu’s voice grew colder and colder: “Lai Chenglong was ordered to the imperial mausoleum and joined with the Heir of Marquis Guangping to go to the hot spring estate where Prince Gong was recuperating. Only then did they discover the corpses of several Imperial Guards and imperial physicians, all already rotted and reeking. As for Prince Gong, where was there any trace of him?”

What kidnapping? This was merely the explanation Emperor Jianzhang gave publicly to save face, too ashamed to admit the truth. This was clearly a long-premeditated escape plan!