TFWYH – Chapter 666 Winning Over Ling Yu

No!

Tang Wan was Su Qing’s goddaughter. They were already at odds to begin with. Even if the Empress had never offended her, Tang Wan still wouldn’t have given her face!

The more the Empress thought about it, the angrier she became.

Right then, the Crown Prince came to pay his respects.

The Empress quickly had him invited in.

Before she could even complain to him, the Crown Prince spoke first:

“Mother Empress, I want to win Ling Yu over to our side.”

The Empress: ?

What nonsense was this?

Win over Ling Yu?

Wasn’t that Tang Wan’s husband?

And wasn’t Tang Wan Su Qing’s goddaughter?

Why would they possibly let themselves be recruited by him?

The Empress held it in for a long time before finally saying:

“Did you not wake up properly?”

Huangfu Xiao frowned.

“I’m serious.”

The Empress looked at her son as if he were an idiot and said weakly:

“Did you forget that we killed Su Qing’s two children? Tang Wan is Su Qing’s goddaughter, and Ling Yu is her husband. Why would he pledge loyalty to you?”

Huangfu Xiao sneered disdainfully.

“So what if he doesn’t want to? Right now Father Emperor has only one choice left—me. Anyone with eyes knows this prince is the future Crown Prince. Ling Yu is a smart man. He should know very well whose side he ought to stand on.”

The Empress: …

That actually sounded somewhat reasonable.

But…

“Tang Wan seems very close to Su Qing, and Ling Yu dotes on her. Would she really allow Ling Yu to work for you?”

Huangfu Xiao laughed lightly.

“Mother Empress, you understand men too little. For men, establishing achievements and power is what matters most. Once a man stands at the top, what woman can’t he have?”

“…That’s not wrong either,” the Empress admitted, though she still felt Ling Yu would not buy into it.

“Xiao’er, are you sure you want to win Ling Yu over? Your father has indeed favored him greatly lately. To be accurate, your father’s recent actions are becoming more and more strange. I simply can’t understand him anymore.”

Hearing this, Huangfu Xiao’s eyes darkened.

After a long silence, he suddenly asked:

“Mother Empress, are you certain Father Emperor only has three sons?”

The Empress replied immediately:

“Of course. The entire empire knows that. Back then, all those little troublemakers were dealt with by the Empress Dowager. There definitely can’t be any fish that slipped through the net.”

“Good.”

Huangfu Xiao relaxed slightly, though unease still lingered in his heart.

Mainly because the Emperor’s behavior lately had become too bizarre. He could no longer read the Emperor’s thoughts.

Unlike before, when he could guess the Emperor’s intentions from even a single glance.

People always said one should not speculate on imperial intentions, but which favored ministers or consorts didn’t rely on doing exactly that to gain favor?

Naturally, he was no exception.

The Empress, however, did not think as deeply as the Crown Prince. After all, she was still a woman, and what she cared about was only one thing:

“Xiao’er, that little bitch Tang Wan has excellent medical skills. Since you want to win Ling Yu over, why not use this matter to test him?”

If Ling Yu could persuade Tang Wan to examine the Crown Princess, it would mean Ling Yu was willing to submit.

If he could not do it, then he clearly lacked sincerity.

Huangfu Xiao nodded.

“That is exactly what I was thinking.”

“My son truly thinks as one with me.” The Empress smiled in satisfaction.

…

Second Prince Manor.

After Huangfu Yi returned, he looked deeply troubled.

No matter how hard Yuan Yuan tried to please him, he showed little interest.

Not long after the two had gone to bed, a subordinate arrived with news that the Third Prince’s Consort had safely delivered a young heir in the palace, with both mother and child unharmed.

That made Huangfu Yi even more unable to sleep. His brows furrowed tightly.

Yuan Yuan walked to his side and asked gently:

“Your Highness, is something troubling you?”

After a moment of silence, Huangfu Yi finally said:

“Yuan Yuan… Tang Wan’s medical skills are truly extraordinary. Do you think… I should ask her to examine me?”