ASTRP -Chapter 235 Each Side’s Schemes

Actually, Shan Yue had already come to report at the door yesterday.

At the time, Prince Yu was so exhausted that even speaking seemed difficult, but he still listened to most of it.

“His Majesty and Fang Dijun went to inspect the site the day after the fire. Fang Dijun fainted from crying on the spot.”

“Ah? Seriously?”

“Shan Yue already secretly passed word to Fang Dijun, so you can rest assured about that matter.”

Xi Qing Liyue nodded.

Prince Yu rubbed his aching lower back.

“They’re saying outside that the Princess accidentally knocked over a candle stand in her sleep, which caused the fire and burned her to death.”

“There’s another matter too. Something also happened on the Crown Prince’s side.”

“They used the same method against him. Fortunately, my imperial uncle had already guessed the Emperor would make a move on the Crown Prince as well.”

“So he’s fine.”

“But everyone else believes the Crown Prince is dead. Next, the entire Xi Qing Kingdom will seem to have no successor. Let’s see how that damned Emperor handles things.”

“My imperial uncle said that if luck is on our side, the Emperor will choose the Fifth Prince.”

“If luck isn’t on our side and he establishes some collateral branch prince instead, then after the Emperor falls, we’ll still have to deal with that collateral prince too.”

Xi Qing Liyue also hoped it would be the Fifth Prince.

“The Fifth Prince is rather foolish and easy to control. He’s the best candidate, though nothing is certain.”

“The Fifth Prince of Xi Qing is the son of the Emperor’s younger sister, basically someone else’s child.”

Xi Qing Liyue lowered her head and kissed Prince Yu’s nose. Prince Yu stared into her bright sparkling eyes.

Unable to resist, he rolled his eyes at her slightly and lifted his head.

Then he pecked her lips.

“Your Highness, how about today—”

Before Xi Qing Liyue could finish, Prince Yu already guessed what she wanted to say.

“You still want to drain me dry?”

“Does this ever end…? I think you should just go find someone else!”

Xi Qing Liyue laughed and deliberately teased him.

“What if I really do find someone else?”

As she spoke, she pretended to get off the bed.

The moment Prince Yu heard that, he panicked.

Supporting himself with difficulty, he reached out to grab her wrist.

“Get back here! If you dare find another man, I—I…”

“But wasn’t Your Highness the one who told me to?”

“……”

This was truly the definition of lifting a rock only to smash one’s own foot.

“I let you squeeze me dry for four whole days, and now you still want another man? I could strangle you to death!”

Prince Yu cursed indignantly for a while. Only after calming down did he continue,

“Then… then I won’t say things like pushing you toward other men anymore. You’re not allowed to find anyone else!”

Prince Yu was genuinely anxious now.

After all, if he failed to satisfy her and she truly returned to find another man…

Xi Qing Liyue burst into even louder laughter.

“Your Highness, I was only teasing you!”

“I just wanted to pour you a cup of water. Your voice is terribly hoarse.”

Xi Qing Liyue thought to herself that she could never truly seek another man.

She wanted no one else. She would only ever love Prince Yu alone.

Hearing those words, Prince Yu felt warmth spread through his heart.

This girl had really become bolder now.

She even dared tease him.

Still, that only proved their relationship had grown much closer.

Not long after, Feng Jinge instructed Shan Yue to bring in food.

When Shan Yue entered, Prince Yu was still lying on the bed.

Xi Qing Liyue deliberately pushed the screen farther inward, completely blocking him from view.

She did not want other women seeing her man.

Not even Shan Yue, her own maidservant.

“Shan Yue, spend more time visiting my imperial mother these next few days.”

“You originally belonged to my mother’s side anyway, so accompanying her is perfectly normal.”

“I doubt the Emperor will suspect anything. Publicly, Prince Yu, the Crown Prince, and I have all supposedly died in the fire. If you continue wandering around outside, it would seem strange.”

“Yes.”

Shan Yue said she had already warned everyone in the residence that absolutely no information could leak out.

Anyone who disobeyed would be executed without mercy.

She also said she would return to the palace shortly afterward.

After Shan Yue left, Xi Qing Liyue saw Prince Yu struggling to get up and hurriedly stopped him.

“Your Highness, don’t get down. Just stay on the bed. I’ll bring it to you.”

Hearing this made Prince Yu’s heart feel even sweeter.

Xi Qing Liyue placed a pillow behind his waist.

Then she carried over the porridge and said,

“Just open your mouth. I’ll feed you.”

Prince Yu grew embarrassed and wanted to take the bowl himself, but Xi Qing Liyue chuckled softly.

“Your arms are sore right now, aren’t they?”

“I’ll do it. Don’t move.”

“So now you realize how exhausted you made me and want me to forgive you, is that it?”

Xi Qing Liyue knew Prince Yu cared deeply about saving face.

So she deliberately said,

“Yes, four whole days. Even the Regent Prince wouldn’t be able to endure that!”

“But Your Highness shouldn’t leave this room tonight either. Let’s sleep holding each other again, alright?”

Prince Yu laughed.

“I knew you couldn’t bear being apart from me.”

“That’s right. No matter who else I leave, I could never leave you.”

Only then did Prince Yu open his mouth and take a bite of porridge.

Just as he was happily being fed, Xiao Jinghan’s voice sounded from outside the door.

“My wife, these four days must have exhausted you.”

“But from now on, you should really train your body more!”

“If merely four days is enough to wear you out, your health is far too poor.”

“……”

Prince Yu felt that Xiao Jinghan was mocking him indirectly.

But he had no proof.

Xi Qing Liyue could not help laughing. Prince Yu glared at her.

“No laughing.”

“Alright, I won’t laugh.”

After this, Xi Qing Liyue and Prince Yu began living a peaceful and tranquil life together.

Meanwhile, the people under Xiao Jinghan, through General Anren’s network and Fang Dijun’s younger brother, secretly informed the court officials of something important.

No matter what the Emperor said, they only needed to listen.

There was no need to argue or take things seriously.

The Emperor had begun punishing people recklessly.

From palace maids and servants all the way to military commanders close to him.

With Xiao Jinghan secretly assisting behind the scenes, the Crown Prince’s faction now lacked only military authority.

If the Emperor died, the Crown Prince would immediately ascend the throne.

General Anren commanded troops and fully supported the Crown Prince’s ascension.

However, military authority was not entirely under General Anren alone. The Emperor still controlled part of the armed forces.

The tiger tally was also still in the Emperor’s hands, and he refused to relinquish it.

It was at this moment that another matter spread through the palace.

The Emperor had taken a liking to the only daughter of General Dingyuan.

Coincidentally, both General Anren and General Dingyuan had no sons, only a single daughter each.

Naturally, they treasured them beyond measure.

Yet now the Emperor wanted General Dingyuan’s daughter.

General Dingyuan refused.

In his early years, he had devoted himself to warfare and never considered taking concubines. He had only one lawful wife.

His wife had also wholeheartedly supported his patriotic ambitions. Only after the realm stabilized did they finally have a child together.

Not long afterward, however, his wife passed away from illness.

Hearing this, Feng Jinge could not help smacking her lips.

“General Dingyuan’s daughter is only sixteen and hasn’t even had her coming-of-age ceremony yet. Yet the Emperor has taken a fancy to her.”

“So Pang Daying has truly fallen out of favor.”

Xi Qing Liyue sat before the mirror, using pearl powder to cover the marks on her neck before replying,

“I heard the Emperor even plans to make the girl one of his four favored consorts, skipping the rank of Noble Lady entirely and directly granting her the rank of Concubine.”

“General Dingyuan said even if she were made Empress, he still wouldn’t agree.”

“The Emperor is already over fifty while his daughter is sixteen. That would ruin her life.”

Feng Jinge nodded.

“So the Emperor punished General Dingyuan heavily?”

“Yes. And the punishment was extremely severe.”