"But..."
"The matter of Duke Ying's Estate has only just settled. If you still wish to preserve the Crown Princess's life, then do not stir up any further trouble. Do you understand?"
The Crown Prince fell silent. The stagnant atmosphere seemed to swallow every sound in the space. The palace servants had long since withdrawn from the hall, leaving only this mother and son, the most exalted pair beneath heaven, to speak alone.
"Mother Empress, will you truly spare the Crown Princess's life?" After a long while, the Crown Prince's voice finally sounded.
Of course not. If Duke Ying's Estate still stood, then the Crown Princess would naturally remain the Crown Princess. But now that Duke Ying's Estate had been utterly destroyed, even if it were vindicated someday, it would never regain its former power. Her son would be the next emperor—how could an emperor have, as his first wife, the descendant of a condemned minister? Naturally, after she "died of illness," they would choose another noble young lady from a lofty household.
"The Crown Princess has borne the Imperial Grandson, so she may be considered to have rendered merit through childbirth. Naturally, she will not share the guilt of the others from Duke Ying's Estate. No matter what your imperial father does, he cannot possibly reach into your inner residence."
Yet the Crown Prince felt chilled to the bone. How could he fail to hear the perfunctory intent hidden in his mother empress's words?
"Mother Empress, why..."
"Do not speak childish words. Crown Prince, your mother empress will not harm you. When you look back upon this someday, you will surely understand your mother empress's intentions at this moment."
Empress Lu's hands hurt terribly. Even after medicine had been applied, they still hurt immensely. The pain gnawed at her,