Madam He had come to say her farewells.

She had already stayed at the Prince Mansion for two days. If she stayed any longer, people would start to gossip.

Li Ji said, "You don’t have to worry about what others think. Stay as long as you like."

Madam He was surprised. She had only said she wanted to go home, so how did Prince Zhao know of her worries? ’Prince Zhao’s ability to read people is truly remarkable.’

She said with a smile.

"Even if no one says anything, I must go back.

I can’t stay here forever.

There are all sorts of things to take care of at home. The sooner I go back, the sooner I can get them in order.

As long as you don’t find me a bother, I’ll come impose on you again when I have the time."

Seeing that she had made up her mind, Li Ji didn’t try to persuade her further. He only said.

"I’ll have Gao Shan prepare a carriage to take you back."

Madam He: "Then I must thank you for your trouble, Your Highness."

Hua Manman watched her with longing eyes.

"Mother, I can’t bear for you to leave."

Madam He was just as reluctant to part, but she forced herself to look relaxed and at ease.

"It’s not as if we’ll never see each other again. What’s there to be so sad about?

You just focus on recovering at home. Don’t run around, and be sure to listen to the Prince. I’ll come visit you again when I’m free."

She had wanted to bring up the matter of having children, but the memory of her daughter’s despairing look the last time it was mentioned made her genuinely afraid Hua Manman might do something foolish. She had no choice but to swallow the words back down.

’No matter how important having a child is, it’s not more important than my daughter’s life.’

With Li Ji’s support, Hua Manman walked out of the bedroom.

She wanted to see Madam He to the main gate, but Madam He refused.

"It rained yesterday, and the ground isn’t completely dry yet. It’s bound to be a bit slippery. It would be terrible if you fell. Just see me off from here."

With that, Madam He steeled her heart, not daring to look at her daughter again, and quickly turned to leave.

Watching Madam He’s retreating figure, Li Ji suddenly said in a low voice.

"I quite envy you."

Hua Manman looked up at him, confused. "Envy me for what?"

Li Ji didn’t answer.

He didn’t just envy Manman; he also envied Li Yan and Li Yi.

They all had mothers who loved them deeply.

...

The palace announced to the public that Consort Liu had contracted a sudden illness and died without responding to treatment.

The Emperor decreed that she be buried with the rites befitting an Imperial Concubine.

Five days later, Liu Ze was paraded through the streets in a prisoner’s cart before being taken to a bustling market, where he was executed by slicing, his flesh carved away piece by piece until he bled to death.

The male members of the Liu Family were all exiled to the frontiers, while the women were forced to become official prostitutes.

The once-great Liu Family fell apart in the blink of an eye.

When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.

The sycophants who had once flocked to Liu Ze’s side all scattered in a flash.

In the blink of an eye, the day of Consort Liu’s burial arrived.

Fifth Prince Li Yan, holding the memorial tablet, limped at the very front of the funeral procession.

His eyes were red and terribly swollen from crying. His cheeks were slightly sunken, and he had become so thin he was almost unrecognizable.

In a private room on the second floor of a certain teahouse, Li Ying stood by the window.

He quietly watched Consort Liu’s funeral procession as it moved further and further away.

Only when the procession was no longer in sight did Li Ying retract his gaze and close the window.

At the same time, the door to the private room was pushed open. Wu Wang, dressed in the clothes of a commoner, walked in, followed by Liang Yong.

Li Ying greeted him, "Uncle."

The two sat down at the table, and Liang Yong picked up the teapot to pour them tea.

Wu Wang said, "Consort Liu is dead, and Zijuan has committed suicide in the Judicial Department. The trail has gone completely cold. No one can trace it back to the Fourth Prince."

Li Ying replied, "Even without a trail, Father won’t be any less suspicious of me and the Eldest Prince."

The Fifth Prince has been crippled, completely losing his chance to compete for the position of Crown Prince. The two who stand to gain the most from this are the Second Prince, Li Hao, and the Fourth Prince, Li Ying.

One less competitor meant they were one step closer to success.

Liang Yong asked tentatively.

"Why don’t we find a way to divert the blame and deepen the suspicion on the Second Prince, making him the scapegoat?"

Wu Wang frowned. "The Saint is not someone easily deceived by appearances. The more we try to sling mud at the Second Prince, the more we’ll arouse the Saint’s suspicion. In the end, it will likely backfire."

Liang Yong said sheepishly, "It was I who was being too simplistic."

Wu Wang looked at his nephew sitting across from him.

"Fourth Prince, what do you think should be done about this?"

The pad of Li Ying’s finger gently traced the rim of his teacup. "I think we should do the opposite. Although Zijuan is dead, her parents and family are still alive. We can use this to our advantage."

He paused here, his expression becoming unreadable.

"But doing so would mean digging up Zijuan’s past. After all, the woman is dead. It would be a dishonorable thing to do."

Wu Wang gave him a deep look and said, "As long as we can achieve our goal, some sacrifices are understandable."

Li Ying said slowly.

"You were the one who saved Zijuan back then. You were also the one who had her get close to Consort Liu, step by step.

She was even willing to end her own life to protect you.

She was truly loyal to you. Are you really willing to let her lose her honor even in death?"

Wu Wang was silent.

Li Ying stared at him, speaking word by word.

"If you just say no, I’ll pretend I never said any of this. I will drop the idea of using Zijuan."

Wu Wang met his nephew’s gaze.

Hidden in that gaze was an expectation that even Li Ying himself might not have been aware of.

’What is Li Ying hoping for?’ Wu Wang wondered.

’Could he be hoping I’ll abandon this plan out of concern for Zijuan’s reputation?’

Wu Wang said calmly.

"Since Zijuan was willing to die for me, it means she was willing to do anything, even sacrifice her reputation.

There’s no need for me to alter the plan out of consideration for her feelings. We will proceed as the Fourth Prince has suggested.

I believe that if she is aware in the afterlife, she will understand my decision."

Li Ying stared at him, dumbfounded.

’He had thought Zijuan held a special place in his uncle’s heart.

After all, Zijuan had given everything for his uncle, including her life.

If his uncle had even a shred of human feeling, he should have been moved, at least a little.

But he wasn’t.

From beginning to end, his uncle was perfectly calm, like a cold stone that nothing could move.’

Wu Wang said in a grave and earnest tone.

"If you want to achieve great things, the first step is to sever all emotional ties. Don’t let such ephemeral feelings ruin your grand ambitions."

Li Ying muttered, "A person without feelings or desires... can they still be called human?"

Wu Wang asked casually in return.

"As long as you can be the final winner, does it really matter if you are human or not?"

Li Ying lowered his gaze to the tea in his cup. His voice was clear and cold, like emotionless jade.

"Since even you, Uncle, don’t care about Zijuan’s feelings, what reason do I have to hesitate? Liang Yong, have someone make a trip to Zijuan’s hometown and take care of something for me."

Liang Yong stepped forward to receive his orders. "Your Highness, please give your command."