CHAPTER 58: CHAPTER 58 I DON’T WANT SUCH GOOD FORTUNE 16

Not only was Empress Chu anxious, the Crown Prince was also tense.

He leaned forward, his eyes fixating on Mrs. Zhou.

Mrs. Zhou knew well that both Empress Chu and the Crown Prince held Princess Anning dear.

After all, by the time Empress Chu was pregnant with Princess Anning, the Crown Prince had already come to his senses and had always eagerly anticipated and adored this younger sister or brother.

As a result, while carrying the child, Empress Chu suffered numerous attempts on her life by Imperial Concubine Tian.

Had it not been for the great fortune of Princess Anning, mother and daughter might have long been harmed to death.

Afraid that Imperial Concubine Tian would not stop at anything, Empress Chu had her confidant leave with Anning immediately after giving birth.

Empress Chu then used a stillborn infant as a decoy, falsely proclaiming the princess had died upon birth.

The Crown Prince was aware of Empress Chu’s doings and was immensely angry and grieved for Princess Anning, but being too young, he was powerless to do anything.

Over the years, Empress Chu and the Crown Prince were deeply frustrated about Princess Anning’s situation, yearning for her, but dared not even mention it, leading truly bitter lives.

Thinking about all this, Mrs. Zhou’s eyes reddened.

Kneeling on the ground, she sobbed softly, "Replying to Your Highnesses, the Princess is well, she has grown up to be very beautiful, gentle, and virtuous, and the Princess has even married..."

Empress Chu’s pent-up breath suddenly relaxed.

Her body went limp, reclining on the couch.

A hint of a smile crept onto the Crown Prince’s face.

"Princess is none other than Mrs. Xiao, who cultivated high-yield crops. A few days ago, when the Princess visited to see the Emperor, she discovered that Your Majesty was bewitched by Imperial Concubine Tian. Over the years, Imperial Consort Tian has been absorbing Your Majesty’s Dragon Energy. If this continues, the Dynasty Destiny might get stolen, chaos will descend upon the land, and also, the Crown Prince..."

Mrs. Zhou knelt on the ground and told Empress Chu and the Crown Prince everything Bai Desheng had explained to her.

Hearing this, both Empress Chu and the Crown Prince bore grave expressions, making the atmosphere in Changle Palace grow tense.

"Little Zhongzi, upon hearing the Princess mention this matter, thought it to be of grave importance. Without regard for exposing himself, he immediately used his connections to contact us."

Having said this, Mrs. Zhou knelt sitting on the ground, her heart pounding with fear.

Empress Chu and the Crown Prince felt a mixture of shock, anger, and hatred.

Empress Chu gritted her teeth: "Well, well, so it is, indeed so. I wondered why Ms. Tian, though not particularly attractive and with a foul temperament, received such favor from Your Majesty, even allowing her to persecute the Dragon Son and Dragon Daughter. It turns out she employed these filthy tactics."

As she spoke, Empress Chu looked at the Crown Prince with worry: "What should my son do now?"

The Crown Prince had by now collected himself.

His thoughts were stable, not succumbing to fear as Empress Chu did.

He smiled, comforting Empress Chu: "Queen Mother, if we can’t deal with Imperial Concubine Tian, the best we can do is stay away from her for now. Your son will think of a way to leave the palace. I doubt she has the ability to leave the palace and poison your son."

This was indeed the case.

Empress Chu also smiled: "I was too anxious."

Without delay, the Crown Prince immediately went to Zichen Palace to see Emperor Shengping.

Speaking frankly, he expressed his admiration for Mrs. Xiao’s actions that greatly benefited the country and the people, wished to visit the Xiao home, and expressed his desire to live outside the palace for a while to help Mrs. Xiao clarify the imperial manor’s geography, and to lend support to Uncle Xiao and Mrs. Xiao.

Though Emperor Shengping was distant toward the Crown Prince, the natural bond between father and son remained unbroken, especially since he had only this son, naturally, he cared.

The Crown Prince stated his intention to leave the palace not for leisure but to undertake tasks, and Emperor Shengping naturally granted permission.

The Crown Prince immediately changed into casual clothes, took his guard, and left the palace.

No sooner had he left than Imperial Concubine Tian received word.

Imperial Concubine Tian, intending harm to the Crown Prince, naturally disliked the idea of him leaving the palace.

She had her own means to deal with him while he was in the palace.

Although, naturally, it would be impossible for her to kill the Crown Prince directly with so many eyes within the palace, but the thought of using a poisonous insect on him was not too difficult.

Previously, as Emperor Shengping’s health was quite robust and the Dragon Energy was abundant, Imperial Concubine Tian naturally didn’t want to leave the Crown Prince behind.

But now that Emperor Shengping’s health was failing, Imperial Consort Tian had no choice but to use the poisonous insect to control the Crown Prince, hoping that he would be loyal to her and heed her words.

But once the Crown Prince had left, even with sky-reaching abilities, it was impossible to catch up and poison him outside the palace.

Knowing that Empress Chu sought to protect the Crown Prince, the personnel by his side had been thoroughly vetted numerous times. Those people were absolutely loyal to the Crown Prince and Empress Chu, shielding him tightly. In the palace, where she found it difficult to even bribe them, it was even more unlikely outside.

In a fit of fury, Imperial Concubine Tian ran straight to Zichen Palace to cause a commotion to Emperor Shengping, claiming it was improper for the Crown Prince to meet Mrs. Xiao, given that men and women should not have physical contact. She complained that it was only farming after all, why should the Crown Prince personally oversee it? Any minister could have been sent instead.

Imperial Concubine Tian also made a scene, demanding that Emperor Shengping immediately summon the Crown Prince back, citing fears for his safety outside.

Had it been any other day, Emperor Shengping might have consented to her demands.

But today, Emperor Shengping paid no heed to Imperial Concubine Tian at all.

It was entirely because of Imperial Concubine Tian’s remark about men and women not touching, a statement that besmirched the reputations of both the Crown Prince and Anning.

Emperor Shengping felt a peculiar closeness to Anning, a fondness from the depths of his heart, as if she were especially dear to him. He also doted on Anning and could not bear others speaking ill of her.

Even if that person was Imperial Concubine Tian.

Imperial Concubine Tian’s tantrum did not make Emperor Shengping budge, and she stormed out of Zichen Palace.

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince was already at the Lu Family’s residence outside the palace.

Upon his first sight of Anning, the Crown Prince felt a surge of tender affection.

He stood in the hall, surveying Anning with undisguised care and tenderness in his eyes.

Anning’s face bore a smile, and she looked at the Crown Prince with a special fondness too.

Xiao Yuan had already retired with Bai Desheng and Zhang Yue Mei to another room.

There, he looked nervously at Bai Desheng: "Father-in-law, the Crown Prince didn’t come to recognize Anning, did he?"

Xiao Yuan was very anxious for Anning, aware of Imperial Concubine Tian’s character in the palace, fearing that once Anning claims lineage she might be harmed by Imperial Concubine Tian.

Bai Desheng shook his head: "No, the Crown Prince has come to avoid disaster."

Since they were all family, Bai Desheng did not conceal from Xiao Yuan the matter of Imperial Concubine Tian’s plot against the Crown Prince.

Xiao Yuan grew even more anxious.

In the great hall, Anning stepped forward and greeted the Crown Prince with a bow: "Greetings, Crown Prince..."

The Crown Prince quickly steadied Anning, his eyes faintly red: "Sister, why do you treat me as a stranger, I..."

Anning stood up, smiled at the Crown Prince, and sweetly called out: "Crown Prince brother."

That call sweetly resonated within the Crown Prince’s heart.

The Crown Prince had seen Anning once when she was born.

Although Anning’s face was covered in a birthmark then, looking unattractive, the Crown Prince still favored his little sister.

Over the years, the Crown Prince had thought more than once about how to acknowledge his sister in the future.

Now that she stood before him, grown so beautifully and outstandingly, his affection for her naturally deepened.

Thinking about the hardships Anning must have endured in the years she drifted outside, the Crown Prince felt a wave of heartache.

"Sister."

The Crown Prince holding Anning’s hand, sat down with her and couldn’t stop observing her, as if afraid she would disappear if he blinked.

"Nearly twenty years have passed, and I have finally seen my sister again. It’s a pity the Queen Mother cannot leave the palace, how delighted she would be to see you."

Anning pressed her right hand on the Crown Prince’s left wrist, seizing the chance to take his pulse.

At this pulse, Anning’s face went pale: "Brother, how can there be so much poison in your body?"

The Crown Prince gave a wry smile and shook his head: "Having been targeted so often, although I’ve kept my life, my body..."

He didn’t finish, but Anning understood it all.

She pointed to her own face: "I have been studying medicine for many years, and I healed the poison on my face myself. If brother trusts me, let’s stay at the imperial manor these days, and I will detoxify you, how about that?"

The Crown Prince smiled and nodded: "That would be great, but it’s a bother to you, sister."

"Being family, why the need for such politeness."