kvmb Chapter 827 She Understands Him So Well
Chapter 827 She Understands Him So Well
Cheng Ruoxue smiled gently, "Your Highness, please don't flatter me. Your Highness is wise and resourceful, how could you be troubled by such a small matter? It's just that you're worried about the Imperial Concubine and are anxious for a moment."
After saying that, she comforted the Third Prince: "Your Highness, please don't worry too much. The Imperial Concubine and His Majesty have a long-standing relationship. Once the matter is investigated, His Majesty will surely clear the Imperial Concubine's name."
The Third Prince sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose: "This matter is probably not that simple."
"Your Highness, please don't worry. I may not be able to do much else, but I can still listen to you," Cheng Ruoxue said understandingly.
The Third Prince looked at Cheng Ruoxue tenderly.
Originally, the Third Prince wouldn't have told Cheng Ruoxue these things. He loved Cheng Ruoxue because she was truly understanding and considerate. Even before their marriage, he loved associating with her. There were many noble ladies in the capital—beautiful, intelligent, and strong-willed, even those like Sheng Yunzhu who had extraordinary adventures. What kind of women hadn't he seen, what kind of women couldn't he have? But only a confidante like Cheng Ruoxue was truly rare.
Being with her was like receiving timely rain after a drought; there was nothing that wasn't comfortable and pleasant. Every word she spoke, even her tone, hit the mark perfectly in his heart.
If he were to truly marry, even setting aside the Cheng family's military power, he would still prefer a woman like Cheng Ruoxue.
However, as a prince, he had many unavoidable circumstances. He had to guard against his father's suspicions and could only watch helplessly as the woman he loved married his cousin.
The various flavors, if you get them, you may not feel this heart-wrenching, but if you don't get them, you will toss and turn every day, like being drunk and getting more and more drunk.
Can't stop.
She understood him so well.
He only played along with other women, but he had genuine feelings for Cheng Ruoxue.
The two could not meet often, and even now, he could only speak to her briefly.
Thinking this way, there was nothing he couldn't tell her. After all, even though she was already married, the Xiao family was still one with him, so there were some things he could let her know.
"This case originally had little to do with Mother Consort; it was all the work of Consort Xu. But Consort Xu implicated Granny Zhuang, who served Mother Consort," the Third Prince said in a low voice to Cheng Ruoxue, his tone tinged with impatience. He was always mindful of his image, and only in front of Cheng Ruoxue would he reveal a bit of his true nature. "Granny Zhuang was a former servant of the Lu family. After the Lu family was raided, she was sent to Mother Consort's side. The Lu family had close ties with the palace during the previous Jing Dynasty and held a lot of secrets. Granny Zhuang was quite cunning. When I was young, I saw her force-feed medicine to disobedient palace maids, causing them to be covered in festering sores. It was disgusting. Mother Consort is quite naive, and Granny Zhuang has often deceived her. I'm worried that Granny Zhuang used Mother Consort's name to do something and then framed Mother Consort. Father Emperor's attitude is unclear now, and I'm afraid Mother Consort will be implicated because of this."
The Third Prince was no fool. His father clearly had no better choice, yet he hesitated to make him the Crown Prince. Perhaps he didn't want him to be as popular and famous as his former second brother, Zong Que. So, in the past two years, he had kept a low profile as much as possible. That's why, even though he wanted to marry Cheng Ruoxue, he eventually gave in and watched her marry someone else.
It's not impossible that they might punish his mother to suppress him.
This is what he's really worried about.
As Cheng Ruoxue listened to his words, she had already made up her mind.
The fact that even the usually arrogant Third Prince is starting to worry suggests that the Emperor is now somewhat dissatisfied with the Xiao family.
Or to put it another way, it's not dissatisfaction with the Xiao family, but rather with the fact that more than half of the court now supports the Third Prince. Especially with the death of the Tenth Prince, the Emperor may not care about this son, but he hasn't even had a chance to elevate him before the Tenth Prince died in the struggle for the throne. If things continue like this, wouldn't the next step be a coup?
It would have been fine if the Tenth Prince had died outside, but he just happened to die in the palace.
Even if the Emperor truly wanted to establish a third prince, he would absolutely not allow such a thing to happen in the palace. If he continued to condone it, he would be putting himself in danger as well.
The person who gave Consort Xiao this idea seemed to be helping the Third Prince eliminate the threat of the Tenth Prince, but once the truth comes out, Consort Xiao will be the first to bear the Emperor's wrath.
interesting.
Cheng Ruoxue subtly probed, "Since this Granny Zhuang is so despicable, why not get rid of her sooner? Isn't the Lu family supposed to be related to the maternal family of Crown Prince Chongwen by marriage? How can we keep such a person by our side? Wouldn't the Imperial Concubine suffer an undeserved disaster?"
These words struck a chord with the Third Prince, who shared the same thought. "You understand perfectly. To be honest, I don't know why things are like this either. Lu Jibai, the eldest son of the Lu family, was the Crown Prince Chongwen's cousin and his study companion. With such a relationship, even if he didn't go north with the Crown Prince and stayed in the capital, who knows what he might be plotting? I can only say this to you. I asked my uncle the same question before, but he only said that the inner palace is dangerous, and keeping someone like Granny Zhuang around is to prevent my mother from being schemed against. But in my opinion, it's my mother who has been schemed against by this wretched woman."
As the Third Prince was speaking, a report came from outside: "Your Highness, the Duke and the Heir Apparent have returned to the manor. The Duke, having learned that you are here, requests that you go to the study in the front courtyard."
Upon hearing the voice, the Third Prince's face stiffened. He looked at Cheng Ruoxue with a hint of reluctance. It was a rare opportunity to talk to Cheng Ruoxue, especially since he was in a bad mood. Yet, he was interrupted again so soon.
But the most important thing right now is his mother's matter, so he can't stay any longer. He quickly got up and left. Cheng Ruoxue saw him to the door and watched him leave. She raised her hand and gently wiped the lipstick off her lips. Her eyes were filled with tears, and she looked quite tired and helpless.
Sure enough, no sooner had the Third Prince left the courtyard than Xiao Tianshi, the heir of the Duke of Xiao, rushed over. As soon as he pushed open the door to the small study, he was caught off guard and saw his wife with lipstick on her lips and slightly red eyes.
Xiao Tianshi, disregarding the fact that the door wasn't even closed yet, quickly took two steps forward and hugged Cheng Ruoxue, his voice low and angry: "You brat!"
Cheng Ruoxue hurriedly raised her hand to cover his mouth, shaking her head with tears in her eyes: "Husband, I'm sorry, Ruoxue really can't hold on any longer. His Highness told me today that he will take me away in the future. Since I married you, my husband and I have been deeply in love. I only hoped that we could be together for a long time, but in the end... in the end... Ruoxue has nowhere to go. If that day really comes, my husband, please don't blame me. Let Ruoxue take a white silk ribbon and go first!"