The Crown Prince lay prostrate on the floor, weeping tears and snot. "I know you hate Ye Qingmei and Fan Xian, but if you could endure this indignity just once, once I take the throne, I will kill Fan Xian with my own hands to vent your anger!"
The Empress closed her eyes weakly, unwilling to look at him.
Only after a long while did she open her eyes, trembling, and look at the Crown Prince, who was still kneeling with his head bowed.
"You..." she murmured. "So you're the one most like him after all."
The Crown Prince remained motionless, listening to the Empress.
He knew that "him" referred to Emperor Qing.
He dared not speak.
"Get up."
The Empress sighed.
"Admitting fault is impossible. Even if I die, I will never admit fault to that woman's son."
She paused.
"But as for anything else, I will neither make demands of you nor stop you. Do whatever you wish."
The Crown Prince raised his head, cautiously studied the Empress's expression, then quickly wiped his face.
He swiftly rose and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Mother!"
The Eastern Palace.
The Crown Prince sat in his study, tapping his fingers lightly against the desk, one rhythmic beat after another.
He was making calculations.
He had told the Empress that winning over Fan Xian was intended to deal with Li Chengze and Zhou Cheng, but in truth, it was chiefly aimed at the latter.
He had long since begun gathering evidence of Li Chengze's smuggling with Northern Qi. Once he had those accounts, letters, and records of transactions that could not bear the light of day, he could easily counter Li Chengze at a critical moment.
Now, to him, the greatest trouble was Zhou Cheng instead.
Normally speaking, with so many dark