novelraw Chapter 606 - 18: Peace and Prosperity to the Empress Dowager (18)
Chapter 606 - 18: Peace and Prosperity to the Empress Dowager (18)
In the dream, the Empress seemed a bit different, as did the Emperor himself.
He had various apprehensions about the Empress.
He had no inkling of everything about the Eldest Prince and the Second Prince.
The Third Prince became the Emperor, while the Empress who aided him became the Empress Dowager.
The Emperor thought it was quite alright.
Although it seemed a bit different, like that, it seemed to also be the best choice for the Empress.
Moreover, the Third Prince was also his final choice.
In the dream, the Eldest Prince utilized worldly forces to target the Emperor repeatedly, attempting to assassinate him, yet he never succeeded. The Empress, through the power of the Li Family, annihilated those worldly forces.
The Second Prince used the ministers on the court to restrain the Emperor. It was the Empress’s father who personally stepped in to protect the Emperor, allowing the Third Prince to proceed smoothly.
Once the Third Prince gained a firm foothold, the Empress retired to the harem, rarely making appearances.
He was not mistaken about the Empress; her character was good, consistent inside and out.
But what did he see?
The Third Prince actually established two palaces and let Princess Consort Xian and the Empress duel?
What kind of thing is Princess Consort Xian? She even dared to call herself the Empress Dowager?
In the dream, when the Empress was forced to such an extent by the Third Prince, and was even violated by the Third Prince, the Emperor, whose mind was continually filled with these images, wanted to wake up but simply couldn’t.
Those images forcibly appeared in his mind.
Naturally, all of this was manipulated by Li Shuning.
With her spiritual power, she could naturally control the Emperor’s mental fluctuations. Although he was very anxious, he was still controlled within a manageable range.
The once-meritorious Li Family was actually destroyed by the Emperor’s own hands, and the Empress vomited blood and died.
The Emperor was somewhat bewildered. What on earth was going on?
Why did everything he saw seem so real?
He remembered the Third Prince earlier, behaving exactly like the Third Prince in the dream, always obedient before him.
So did he also covet the Empress like in the dream?
Immoral and reckless, eventually destroying the entire empire?
No, no, he had to change the edict; he absolutely could not allow such things to happen.
But the Emperor wanted to wake up, yet found he couldn’t wake up no matter what he tried.
Meanwhile, outside, the Emperor remained in a deep sleep, having not awakened for many days.
Such a situation was naturally untenable, and the Empress being just a woman couldn’t hold onto political power for long.
As per the Emperor’s instruction, the Empress took out the edict, and after discussing with the ministers, the Third Prince became the Crown Prince, temporarily managing state affairs.
All this was done in front of the Emperor, so naturally the Emperor was aware.
He was anxious, wishing to tell the Empress not to take the edict out.
But he couldn’t; he couldn’t wake up, nor could he make a sound from his mouth.
So he could only let the situation develop as it did.
Because the Emperor had already cleared the forces of the Eldest Prince and the Second Prince in advance.
The Third Prince’s ascension to Crown Prince faced no obstacles.
To the ministers, this was already quite favorable.
After all, among the older princes, only the Third Prince was deemed truly useful, while the Fourth Prince was a virtual nonentity, mediocre and cowardly, and even a bit disabled, completely unfit to be Emperor.
The Fifth Prince had mysteriously disappeared for a long time.
The Sixth Prince was becoming increasingly promising, yet ultimately too young.
If the Sixth Prince became Crown Prince, the elder brothers might not agree, leading to chaos in the country, and whether the Empress would intervene was uncertain. The Third Prince was the most suitable.
Therefore, the Third Prince managed various affairs very smoothly.
Gradually, the Third Prince became somewhat arrogant, recalling the darkest corners of his heart.
Now that he had become Crown Prince, did he now have the chance?
Knowing that Father would never wake again, he asked the Imperial Physician, who confirmed Father wouldn’t wake up.
After the Emperor fell into a deep sleep, Li Shuning always stayed by the Emperor’s side, personally caring for the Emperor.
When the Crown Prince came, Li Shuning sat beside the Emperor, helping him wipe his face and hands.
The Crown Prince, seeing those snow-white and delicate hands, felt his heart pulse violently.
He waved his hand, and the little eunuch beside him smilingly led Wang Yin out, and all other attendants were also led away.
In the entire sleeping quarters, only the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and Li Shuning were present.
The Crown Prince approached: "Empress, it’s been hard on you."
The Crown Prince stepped forward intending to grasp Li Shuning’s hand.
Li Shuning deftly evaded and solemnly said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, please mind yourself."
The Crown Prince replied somewhat rakishly, "Empress, you’re still young, following Father must be an injustice for you. Why not come with me?"
The Empress seemed a bit incredulous: "Crown Prince, what are you saying?"
The Crown Prince sneered, "Empress, how many do you think would believe it if I said the Empress seduced me out of loneliness?"
"How dare you! I am the Empress, your father’s Empress. Your father still lies here; where are your morals and decency?"
The Crown Prince’s eyes flashed with madness. The recent times had driven him somewhat mad: he had lost all his informants, his wife didn’t love him and often quarreled with him, and his concubine mother was also troublesome. Now that he had become Crown Prince, he thought of the Empress.
He barely restrained himself until today, when he couldn’t hold back any longer.
He was impatient to tear off the Empress’s calm and gentle mask and have her submit to him.
He was eager to regain his lost confidence and arrogance.
Were the Emperor able to wake at this moment, he would likely cough up blood. Hearing his favored son daring to flirt with the Empress and treating her so despicably.
Beast.
Even worse than a beast.
What could be done?
The Emperor was extremely anxious but had no means of interfering.
Suddenly, there was a cry from the Empress, and the Emperor tried to open his eyes but couldn’t. He was filled with resentment.
Soon after, there was the sound of a slap, clearly someone had struck someone else.
The Emperor grew even more frantic, fearing that the Empress he had always protected was struck by that beast.
Yet he did not know it was the Crown Prince who was hit.
Li Shuning’s skills were no match for the Crown Prince.
Even the original owner, born into a family of Military Generals, had trained in martial arts from a young age.
In the plot, it was only after being drugged that things unraveled as they did.
The Crown Prince was somewhat incredulous, had he been struck by a woman?
"How dare you strike me,"
Li Shuning sneered, "The Crown Prince is not clear-headed. As the Empress, I slapped the Crown Prince for his own good. Is the Crown Prince now preparing to commit rebellion and lay hands on me?"
The Crown Prince took a deep breath; his face felt hot and irritating.
Today had gone this far. If he couldn’t seize control, this woman was no ordinary woman to be easily manipulated. Should word get out, it wouldn’t end well.
No matter what, he must deal with her today.
As the Crown Prince attempted to rush forward, suddenly the door to the sleeping quarters opened, and then Wang Yin and several others barged in.