Reactions from All Sides, Part Two

Third Watch

"Get out!"

The Crown Prince's hoarse voice reached Sun Shaozong's ears the moment he stepped into the chilly study.

Sun Shaozong paused and looked toward the corner, where the Crown Prince sat listlessly in a high-backed chair. Though his body was clearly relaxed, he somehow gave the impression of being curled up in a ball.

Was he really this easily crushed?

Without betraying any emotion, Sun Shaozong walked up to the Crown Prince and bowed. "This humble servant, Sun Shaozong, pays his respects to Your Highness."

The Crown Prince shuddered all over and abruptly looked up at Sun Shaozong. Delight first appeared on his face, only to give way to despondency. At last, he forced a smile. "So it is Beloved Subject Sun."

Fortunately, the Crown Prince did not seem to be taking out his resentment over the Sun family's ties to Rongguo Mansion on him.

Sun Shaozong secretly let out a small sigh of relief and spoke bluntly. "Your Highness, Virtuous Consort has merely become pregnant. Whether she carries a prince or a princess is still impossible to determine. Why have you become so dispirited?"

Yet after hearing this, the Crown Prince looked even more lifeless. Slowly shaking his head, he smiled bitterly. "What if Virtuous Consort is carrying a princess? As long as Dongxu Zhenren assists him, one of the imperial concubines will eventually bear a prince to replace me as Crown Prince."

Dongxu Zhenren?

Who the hell was that?

Sun Shaozong was thoroughly baffled and hurriedly pressed the Crown Prince for details.

Only then did he learn that, in his desire for another son, the Emperor had actually placed his hopes in ghosts and gods.

Over the past two years, several waves of monks and Daoists had come and gone through the palace. At present,