Chapter 104

The Empress Consort felt a pang in her heart when she saw Prince Xi kneeling there.

Her Little Xi was indeed different.

Looking at his calm and resolute expression, he was just like the young prince from years ago.

She remembered back then, when that woman never came to the betrothal, the young prince was as innocent and carefree as Little Xi.

But soon, the Emperor’s indifference, favoritism towards the Concubine Yu, and disdain for her, the Empress, made the prince gradually hide his true nature.

When the Concubine Yu was diagnosed with pregnancy, she faced opposition from all the concubines in the harem and officials from the previous dynasty.

However, none of this could stop the Emperor’s insistence. He even saw her, the Empress, as the biggest enemy, guarding against her day and night, fearing that she would harm his Concubine Yu.

It was from that time that the smile on the prince’s face disappeared completely, and he became silent and cautious, growing step by step into the heir praised by all.

Only when Little Xi was born did the prince gradually become gentle and mild.

The Empress Consort knew in her heart that the prince regarded Little Xi’s birth as a symbol of reconciliation between her and the Emperor. He thought that their family was slowly returning to the past.

Deep down, the Empress Consort harbored countless grievances. Little Xi’s birth… had once been her deepest pain.

But for the sake of her two sons, she chose to silently endure everything.

Little Xi was intelligent and kind, while the prince was respectful and caring. Everything was going well, and she was already very satisfied.

She put away all her sharp edges, completely released the Emperor, and diligently fulfilled her role as a qualified Empress.

Yet even so, someone still reached out their claws towards them!

Last time, when Little Xi was attacked in the study, although the Emperor caught the real culprit, he refused to thoroughly investigate the harem, leaving her heart cold.

If it weren’t for the Qiao family’s Second Young Master today, Little Xi would have lost his life at Yuhua Lake!

This matter was inseparable from the Second Prince!

If this time, the Emperor, in order to save the Second Prince, still turned a blind eye and refused to seek justice for Little Xi…

Then, if the Emperor, as a husband, father, and ruler, had no conscience, she, as a wife, mother, and Empress, would abandon the norms of the world and do something rebellious!

The Empress Consort tightly grasped her sleeve, a hint of determination appearing on her originally pale face, unshakable!

When Prince Xi was about to speak, the prince’s gaze did not turn to him, but remained fixed on the Emperor’s face.

His eyes were deep, calmer than ever before.

Little Xi was the last bottom line for him and his mother.

If… if in the Emperor’s eyes, the Second Brother and the deceased Concubine Yu were more important than him, his mother, and Little Xi, then… he would completely sever any illusions!

Emperor, what would you choose?

Prince Xi stood tall, his tone calm. He recounted everything from the moment he entered the side hall and heard Consort Yu Zhao speaking, to the moment Consort Yu Zhao threw him into the lake, without exaggeration or concealment.

When the Emperor heard that Consort Yu Zhao had such disgust towards him, his face turned terrifyingly dark.

When he heard that Consort Yu Zhao had met with the Second Prince in secret, his expression suddenly changed, and he finally couldn’t sit still anymore.

When he heard that Consort Yu Zhao said she wanted to harm him and the prince, the Emperor was furious. He kicked Consort Yu Zhao’s chest fiercely!

“You wretch, how dare you!”

Consort Yu Zhao flew backward in an instant, feeling as if her chest was about to split open. She spat out a mouthful of blood in a daze.

The Emperor still felt unreconciled. He strode forward and grabbed Consort Yu Zhao’s hair, half-lifting her up.

Consort Yu Zhao’s face was ashen, looking at the Emperor, who was already gnashing his teeth, and he asked through gritted teeth:

“What is your relationship with the Second Brother!”

Got it, here’s the revised version:

Consort Yu Zhao slowly opened her eyes and saw the distorted expression of Emperor Yong. Suddenly, she smiled faintly:

“Your Majesty, this humble concubine merely admires the Second Prince in her heart. The Second Prince and I bear some resemblance, and I felt joy the first time I saw him.”

“So I arranged for the beloved Miss Sheng of the Second Prince to be captured, hoping to force him to take me away, but why is he unwilling?”

Cough cough cough—

At this point, Consort Yu Zhao couldn’t help but cough heavily.

She slowly caught her breath and looked up to see Emperor Yong’s furious gaze, as if he wanted to kill her. She suddenly sneered.

“Your Majesty, you should understand this kind of unrequited love the most. After all, what you seek from me every day is nothing but the shadow of others, isn’t it?”

“Silence!”

Emperor Yong seemed stung by her words and fiercely slapped Consort Yu Zhao.

Consort Yu Zhao suddenly staggered to the ground. That slap from Emperor Yong was truly heavy. Her vision darkened, and the taste of blood in her mouth became stronger.

Not enough, it’s still not enough.

She hadn’t completely removed Shen Lang yet, nor had she stirred up Emperor Yong’s infatuation and guilt towards Yuliu Niangniang.

Thinking of this, Consort Yu Zhao endured the severe pain in her chest and chuckled softly.

“Your Majesty, do you dislike hearing these words? Do you feel sorry for Yuliu Niangniang? After all, you claim to love her to the bone, yet you revel in pleasure on my body~”

“She is also a pitiful woman, leaving her child early and the man who claimed to love her the most, one after another, seeking similar women.”

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yong’s eyes reddened slightly, and his face was filled with murderous intent.

Suddenly, he raised his foot, as if to strike her fatally.

“Your Majesty, please hold on!”

The Empress stood up and stopped Emperor Yong in time.

Her face was calm, but her tone was urgent and fast, fearing that Emperor Yong, in his rage, would kick Consort Yu Zhao to death.

“Your Majesty, Consort Yu Zhao seems to be seeking death. Every word she says provokes you, but she has left the Second Prince completely untouched.”

“Consort Yu Zhao dares to speak of harming Your Majesty and the Crown Prince in front of the Second Prince. I do not believe they have no relationship at all!”

“After all, such treasonous words, besides confiding in someone with whom one shares their heart, who else would dare to utter them?”

“Your Majesty, are you still unwilling to confront the Second Prince?”

Hearing this, Emperor Yong turned to look at the Empress. Seeing her standing in her phoenix robe with a cold and resolute expression, exuding the majesty of a queen mother, Emperor Yong couldn’t help but pause.

Indeed, the Empress hadn’t shown such sharpness and dominance for a long time, almost making him forget that she had always been like this.

Consort Yu Zhao had already prepared herself for death, but the Empress’s interruption suddenly filled her with panic.

No, she couldn’t involve the Second Prince!

If it weren’t for her desperate efforts to see him today, so many troubles wouldn’t have arisen. If she ruined his achievements because of this, she would truly be an unforgivable sinner!

Thinking of this, Consort Yu Zhao wanted to provoke Emperor Yong again, but the Empress suddenly raised her eyebrows, cutting off her escape route.

“Consort Yu Zhao, I know you are wholeheartedly trying to protect the Second Prince, but if you say any more, it will be overly deliberate.”

“If I were you, this act would have been played out by now. Do you really think His Majesty is so easily deceived?”

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yong’s face darkened, and he shouted sternly:

“Huang Pei, summon the Second Prince!”