Ye Qingchi's eyes were deep, and he poured hot tea for himself and the person opposite, saying lightly, "Since this is the case, it would be best to resolve Prince Shu early. Having Prince Duan being suppressed like this all along is not a good thing."
Su He said, "If Concubine Wan was not stationed in the palace and the garrison commander Xia Zixi was not protecting him, could Prince Shu have lived until now? Prince Shu's intention to seize the throne is as clear as day. It's just that His Majesty dotes on Concubine Wan and turns a blind eye. Besides, didn't younger sister say to hold off our troops first?"
Ye Qingchi thought, "It’s not unreasonable to refrain from taking action, but I’m afraid Prince Duan’s health cannot wait."
Su He's mouth slightly moved as he slowly said, "His Majesty truly loves and favors Concubine Wan immensely. The imperial physician in Prince Duan’s residence was also recommended by Concubine Wan, no? His son has always been of poor health, yet he refuses treatment by the imperial doctors and instead believes in quack physicians. This emperor..."
Ye Qingchi glared at him, "How dare you discuss the affairs of His Majesty?”
Su He smiled charmingly with his peach blossom eyes. "Why not? If you don't say it and I don't say it, then who would know?"
The Su family were in-laws who assisted Tianqi Emperor in ascending to the throne. They were once very powerful and extremely wealthy. Countless people in Bianjing envied them.
But after Concubine Wan gained favor, they gradually declined.
In the entire Su family, only Su He was considered an outsider and raised as such. In regards to fame and official career, Su He always stood aloof.
In the eyes of others, Su He was just a carefree young master who toyed with the human world. And since he did not have any favor, besides having money, he also did not have the power to inherit the property of the Yong’an Marquis Manor in the future.
Because others did not value him and did not take him seriously, it allowed him to stand apart from the political situation, thus enabling him to see the big picture clearly.
Ye Qingchi always felt something was not right. "Speaking of Concubine Wan, how much does your Hanging Clouds Brothel know about this person?"
Speaking of this, Su He suddenly remembered a palace secret from that year.
When Concubine Wan had just been brought back to Bianjing, she had already given birth to Li Yang. Li Yang's one year birthday celebration was even held in the palace.
Concubine Wan said she had carried Li Yang to full term, but when she took him back, he was shrivelled up like a raisin, weighing only five catties.
At that time, many people were already spreading rumors that the child was not His Majesty’s.
But His Majesty cherished Concubine Wan in his heart, so of course he did not believe those rumors.
Because of this matter, Concubine Wan had even fallen gravely ill in the palace. His Majesty felt so distressed that he did not hold court for half a month, staying by her side to personally attend to her.
There were many malicious rumors circulating in the palace. His Majesty was furious and killed a group of palace maidservants before the matter finally died down.
Afterwards, no one dared to bring it up again.
"But don't you really think that Prince Shu looks nothing like His Majesty?” Su He said, “When he was young he resembled Concubine Wan, so it was hard to tell. But now that he has grown up, his facial features have sharpened, and he looks nothing like His Majesty no matter how you look at him."
Ye Qingchi said in a deep voice, "Go investigate Concubine Wan."
Su He's peach blossom eyes slightly narrowed. "Alright. Since Eldest Master Ye has spoken, I’ll reluctantly take it upon myself to personally go investigate."
...
Zhao Changdu said nothing when he knew Su He was going to Jiangnan in person. He secretly sent a team of men to protect him.
Gu Ying pondered the words Su He had left with. She also remembered that in her previous life there were rumors that Prince Shu was not His Majesty’s biological son.
But in the end, His Majesty publicly did a blood recognition in front of all civil and military officials with Prince Shu.
It confirmed their blood relationship.
After that, anyone who dared say anything more would be immediately imprisoned.
"What are you thinking about so intently?” The man hugged her from behind. “So engrossed in your thoughts?"
Gu Ying could hear the man's low and sexy voice by her ear. Her earlobes itched slightly. She smiled and said, "It’s nothing. I was just thinking Su He makes sense that Prince Shu really looks nothing like His Majesty."
Zhao Changdu nuzzled the girl's neck with his chin. "Everyone says he resembles Concubine Wan."
Gu Ying’s breathing became erratic, and her cheeks flushed slightly. "Although that's the case, I still feel that his appearance resembles Concubine Wan’s at most...if you look closely, their facial features don't actually match that much..."
Zhao Changdu gazed at her eyes attentively. He turned her body to face him, put his big hand around her slender waist, and carefully examined her appearance. He meaningfully said, "It would be best if Ah Rong can give birth to a son for me who resembles his mother."
Somehow the topic had turned to this.
Gu Ying glared at him resentfully, but her face turned somewhat pale. "It's still early to talk about having children..."
She was not ready to have children for him yet.
Deep down, she always felt that she would not be able to conceive.
The disgusting things that happened and the medicine she took in her previous life made her nauseous. She was unwilling to make herself become neither ghost nor human just for the sake of having a child again.
Zhao Changdu gazed deeply into her eyes. Seeing her avoidance, he did not continue to entangle her with this topic.
He had always known that she secretly took contraceptive medicine behind his back.
Although he was unhappy about it in his heart, he would not say anything. He would wait until the day the little girl was willing to have children for him.
He lightly kissed the tip of the little girl's nose. "Let nature take its course."
Gu Ying secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay."
The man turned and entered the pure room. She stiffly sat on the incense burner, knowing that the Crown Prince was probably unhappy.
Although he never said anything, she could feel it—the Crown Prince had a special yearning for children.
She sat there and waited for a while, until her body warmed up before she slipped under the quilt.
In the room, the lamp looked like red beans.
Zhao Changdu came out after his bath, rubbed his slightly damp hair dry, and walked to the bedside. Seeing the slight bulge of the little girl's figure under the quilt, the corners of his lips lifted up slightly as he smiled. He probably thought she was too tired and had fallen asleep.
He turned off the lantern and got into bed.
But as soon as he got under the quilt, he felt a soft body rustling closer on her own initiative.
It was rare for the little girl to take the initiative like this.
In the darkness, the man calmly lifted his eyelids open.
The little girl's head cautiously leaned against his arm. He moved his chin and pressed it against her hair, asking gently, "Not asleep yet?"
The little girl muttered, "No."
Zhao Changdu habitually put his arm around her slender and smooth waist. "Can't sleep?"
"Mm...waiting for you to come back before sleeping."
"Being so obedient?"
"Haven't I always been quite obedient?"
Listening to the little girl's gentle voice, Zhao Changdu's heart gradually became restless.
"Ah Du, are you tired?"
"I’m fine. I’ll chat with you for a while if you can’t sleep.”
"Okay."
Gu Ying moistened her lips and nervously snuggled up closer to his chest.
She had mustered up her courage before daring to reach down with her hand.
Moonlight like frost and snow shone in through the window lattices. Zhao Changdu was caught off guard by the little girl's actions. He gritted his teeth, and his voice quickly turned hoarse. "Who taught you?"
Gu Ying's lips and tongue were dry, and she was mentally tense. Hearing his suppressed voice, she lightly lifted her thick and long eyelashes. For the first time taking the lead under the hazy canopy, she looked towards his handsome face. Her eye sockets grew damp. "Ah Du, do you like it?"
