Chapter 58: How Dare Shangguan Ze on This Horse!

“Your Majesty, you should take care of your health.” Concubine De was also very angry. Over the years in the palace, she had developed a good relationship with Princess Changping.

Especially during the time she was demoted to the cold palace, Princess Changping often visited her.

“The reason I’m angry is not just because Shangguan Ze interfered in the imperial examinations. Did you also hear what that maid said today? Shangguan Ze actually kept a mistress and had children with her behind Changping’s back!”

“Your Majesty, I understand that as a brother, it is natural for you to be concerned about Princess Changping. However, this matter still depends on Princess Changping’s wishes.”

The Tyrant Emperor can imprison Shangguan Ze for his involvement in official affairs, but they cannot interfere with his actions regarding his mistress.

“Over the next few days, you should try to comfort Changping,” the Tyrant said. “When we selected Shangguan Ze as the Prince Concubine, both the Queen Mother and I disagreed. But Changping liked him and insisted on marrying him.

We conceded to her wishes, and despite not having children, they have lived relatively well over the years.

It’s just that we didn’t expect Shangguan Ze to do such a thing.”

[The Tyrant is truly angry this time.]

[The Tyrant feels sorry for the Princess.]

[But the Princess is infatuated with him.]

[If the Princess doesn’t stay away from the scoundrel, she’ll suffer even more!]

The Tyrant: ?

The scoundrel has kept a mistress and had children outside, and this isn’t considered a big loss?

Is there something worse?

[In the near future, the scoundrel might even bring the mistress’s child into the Princess’s residence.]

What?

The Tyrant could no longer sit still!

How dare Shangguan Ze on this horse!

Concubine De lowered her head, visibly shocked.

[The mistress and the scoundrel deceived the Princess, raising a child who is ungrateful. In the end, the Princess might be driven to death by the three of them.]

[Infatuation is really terrifying! Mother and Father, please help the Princess, or she will suffer terribly.]

“Simply intolerable!” the Tyrant shouted angrily.

Concubine De thought the Tyrant was still absorbed in the maid’s report and hadn’t regained his composure. “Your Majesty, calm down. This matter should be clarified by Princess Changping. If you act rashly against Shangguan Ze and Princess Changping were to follow suit and harm herself, it would be even more painful for everyone.”

The Tyrant: …

Given Princess Changping’s infatuated nature, this was quite possible.

The Tyrant rubbed his forehead. “Concubine De, keep a close eye on Changping over the next few days. Persuade her well and prevent her from doing anything foolish. It would be best if she could divorce Shangguan Ze.”

For both public and private reasons, he wanted to deal with Shangguan Ze!

…

In the Princess’s residence.

After the Tyrant left, Princess Changping found an excuse to say she was tired and went back to her room alone.

Shangguan Ze, feeling extremely frustrated, left the residence that very night.

In the Jinlou Alley.

Shangguan Ze sneakily entered a house and immediately heard the sound of a woman crying softly inside.

“My little darling, why are you crying?”

Xiao Liangliang wiped her tears. “My brother died yesterday. How can I not cry? My brother and I have relied on each other for so many years. Now he’s tragically dead, leaving only me and the child, orphaned and widowed. And you’re always with your esteemed princess. No one cares about us. How can I not cry?”

Shangguan Ze frowned and irritably sighed, “Today you cry, but in a few days, it’ll be my turn.”

Xiao Liangliang was taken aback. “How?”

“Today, the Tyrant Emperor and Concubine De took the little princess to the Princess’s residence.”

Xiao Liangliang was shocked. “The Tyrant Emperor?”

“He is investigating the examination scandal. You know why Ziran died tragically—it was because he offended the Tyrant Emperor in disguise on the street, which caused trouble.

But what I didn’t know was that Ziran actually revealed in front of the Tyrant Emperor that he was the top scholar. Just think, how could Ziran do something so dishonorable, digging a pit for me even before his death?”

Shangguan Ze was extremely frustrated and, normally, would have already gone to comfort Xiao Liangliang by now.

Today, however, he was too preoccupied to pay attention to her.

Xiao Liangliang was also a bit scared. “Has the Tyrant Emperor investigated you today?”

“Hmm.”

“You’re the Prince Concubine. If you’re in trouble, Princess Changping likes you so much that she’ll surely protect you, right?”

Shangguan Ze frowned angrily. “Don’t even mention it. Today, I don’t know what happened with Changping. She actually took the initiative to have the Tyrant Emperor investigate me. I seriously doubt if she’s lost her mind.”

“Could it be that she discovered you and I…”

Shangguan Ze shook his head. “Impossible! I’ve been extremely secretive. Given Changping’s temperament, she trusts me completely and would never suspect that I have a mistress outside.”

Xiao Liangliang sighed in relief.

She wiped her tears with a handkerchief.

The baby on the bed was crying loudly, and Xiao Liangliang couldn’t help but sob, “My poor child, your father doesn’t care, and your mother is powerless. If something happens to your father and we’re left uncared for, what will become of us?”

“Good Liangliang, good son, even though the Tyrant Emperor is investigating me, with Changping as my shield, I’ll be fine.”

“So… when do you plan to bring our son to the Princess’s residence?”

Shangguan Ze looked troubled. “Let’s wait a bit longer, until the storm blows over.”

“Ha, a year ago when I was just pregnant, you said the same thing. A whole year has passed, our son is now three months old, and you’re still saying this. It’s clear you’re just making excuses.

Yes, I’m not the Princess, I don’t have her capabilities. If you’re in trouble and can’t protect us, then let’s end this. You go find your Princess, and from now on, we won’t appear in front of you.”

“Liangliang, what are you saying? You are my wife, and he is my son, the only bloodline of the Shangguan family. How can I not take care of you? It’s just that right now, I need Changping to help me resolve the examination issue. At this critical moment…”

“In the end, you’re still afraid of Princess Changping. Didn’t you say she trusts you completely? If she trusts you so much, why would she let the Tyrant Emperor investigate you?”

“Who knows what went wrong with her.” Shangguan Ze grew angry at the mention of the matter. “I’ll go back and comfort her. She’ll definitely listen to me.”

Xiao Liangliang’s eyes lit up, and she continued wiping her tears. “I actually have a method we can try.”

“What method?”

Xiao Liangliang mysteriously pulled out a red toad from a drawer, which was glowing. “I know someone who gave me this treasure. It’s called a Soul-Stealing Bug. They say it can confuse a person’s mind. Aren’t you worried that Princess Changping won’t help you?”

“Just put this in her room, and within a couple of days, she’ll be completely obedient to you.

By then, you can discuss with her about adopting our son.”

Shangguan Ze took the blood toad and examined it closely. “Does it really work like that?”

“If it works or not, we’ll only know by trying. It’s only a couple of days. Husband, you wouldn’t be so soft-hearted as to be unwilling to use this on Princess Changping, would you? If so, I’ll stop bothering you and the Princess. We’ll just…”

Shangguan Ze gritted his teeth. “What’s to be soft-hearted about? Out there, she’s a princess; here, she’s just a useless chicken who doesn’t lay eggs.”

—